Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/247

 REDEMPTION. 241

I ween, before us; fields of strenu'ous fight;

A varied war, that varied arms demand,

And utmost skill. Nor underrate our foes;

Nor smallest things despise; strange though it seem,

The weakest here oft times o'er strong prevail,

As boys with pebbles, giants have o'erthrown.

Meantime be active, bold, courageous, strong;

Gird on your swords puissant, shields and spears;

Perpetual harass, each strong hold sap;

Give rest to none ; of miserable, make

Most miserable, those who follow him.

Broad is the way, well peopled, that ours tread;

Narrow their road, and few to him succeed.

Ours, all th' advantage is; man's thoughts, adverse

To good, still tend to ill; facile descent

Is, though it lead to hell. Then arm, advance ;

Time bids you quick pursue and flesh your prey;

Success determine, and success ensues ;

Doubt nothing boldly, but intend and win,

And long be empire as your trophy held."

Thus they, estiferous, the hollow sphere Within, rack'd, and raged against the Highest. Earth, in her entrails torn, felt the sharp throes, Upheaved her tenuous crust, with fearful sounds, And ominous in all her craters burn'd. Hard by Jerusalem, in Hinnom's vale, A ravine, deep and dark, polluted lay, Tophet, wherein th' arch traitor, Judas, seal'd His compact firm with the infernal powers. Now o'er the earth had night her sombre veil Profoundly cast, when this grand thief, as wont, With stealthy step, obverse, to count his hoards,

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