Page:Lalla Rookh - Moore - 1817.djvu/24

 Ere manhood darkened o'er his downy cheek, O'erwhelmed in fight and captive to the Greek, He lingered there, till peace dissolved his chains;-- Oh! who could even in bondage tread the plains Of glorious GREECE nor feel his spirit rise Kindling within him? who with heart and eyes Could walk where Liberty had been nor see The shining foot-prints of her Deity, Nor feel those god-like breathings in the air Which mutely told her spirit had been there? Not he, that youthful warrior,--no, too well For his soul's quiet worked the awakening spell; And now, returning to his own dear land, Full of those dreams of good that, vainly grand, Haunt the young heart,--proud views of human-kind, Of men to Gods exalted and refined,-- False views like that horizon's fair deceit Where earth and heaven but seem, alas, to meet!-- Soon as he heard an Arm Divine was raised To right the nations, and beheld, emblazed