Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/673

 SIR WALTER SCOTT

The vernal sun new life bestows

Even on the meanest flower that blows;

But vainly, vainly may he shine

Where glory weeps o'er NELSON'S shrine;

And vainly pierce the solemn gloom

That shrouds, O PITT, thy hallow'd tomb!

Deep graved in every British heart,

O never let those names depart'

Say to your sons, Lo, here his grave,

Who victor died on Gadite wave*

To him, as to the burning levin,

Short, bright, resistless course was given.

Where'er his country's foes were found

Was heard the fated thunder's sound>

Till burst the bolt on yonder shore,

Roll'd, blazed, destroy'd and was no more.

Nor mourn ye less his perish'd worth, Who bade the conqueror go forth, And launch'd that thunderbolt of war On Egypt, Hafnia, Trafalgar; Who, born to guide such high emprise, For Britain's weal was early wise; Alas' to whom the Almighty gave, For Britain's sins, an early grave' His worth, who in his mightiest hour A bauble held the pride of power, Spurn'd at the sordid lust of pelf, And served his Albion for herself; Who, when the frantic crowd amain Strain'd at subjection's bursting rein,

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