Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/119

 REDEMPTION. 113

Had my attempt not been short interrupt.

But what dire change o'erclouds the prospect now?

Peace ! where my warring legions most embroil'd !

Nations, which I had much enrich'd with spoils,

Whose feet to war led, fingers taught to fight,

With vict'ry crown'd where e'er their standards stood,

Now, sooth, court dastard peace ! and sit astare,

With marv'ling gaze, at this new prodigy,

Which om'nous looms invasive of my sphere !

Here had I thought myself at length secure,

Without oppose to build my empire free,

And the democrity prove of my reign.

For I no slavish vassalage have claim'd,

But freedom giv'n from vassalage to Him,

To all the race of man, of old ingrate ;

Ingrate to me, who liberty achieved,

Who, when he had forbade to taste the fruit,

(So aimless else amidst the garden placed,)

Did set them free, and made like us, as gods,

The evil as the good to equal know;

What could they less than own my equal pow'r,

And do me homage, equal power's just meed ?

So did they; but what now defends, and leads

Them after, whom I hotly hate, did meet,

And bold, with daring front, durst meet again,

Were but to thaw this adamantine frost,

Which holds me paralized to these bleak hills,

And tenfold plagues inflicts o'er hottest fires;

Frore fire, that chills, yet burns, benumbs my limbs,

Proves how inexorable is his ire,

And how exhaustless his unswerving hate.

Not more than mine, and here I tell thee, Son

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