Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/121

 1830-40.] OTWAY CURRY. 105 And fierce Intolerance, with alternate sway, Do desolate alway. The loud and sullen peal Of hoarse artillery, and the frequent clang Of echoing trump and keenly-glancing steel Came o'er the hill, where freedom's pil- grims sang Their hymn of gladness in the olden time, And to their forest clime Proclaimed the onset of the invading horde ; And instant from the hills and valleys poured Fast hunying ranks of freedom's chivalry. Unto the dread melee, Where flashing sword and serried bayonet Along stern hues in clashing conflict met. And many a streamlet shore, And many a curdling wave and smoking plain Grew darkly crimson, while the sprinkling gore Came down like summer rain, And the harsh din of stormy battle clove The overarching concave, in whose light The blinded minions of ambition strove To whelm in gloomiest ni2;ht The last bright star of hope, whose glim- mering ray Gave promise to the world of freedom's rising day. And far-off cHmes beheld, In the dark days of toil, that hope forlorn Awhile with fierce intolerance overborne. Then, marshaled and resistlessly impelled By the strong hand of heaven, their bright array. Like the on-rushing tempest, swept away Oppression's minions to their doom of shame, While hymns of victory clave The broad expanses of the world, and gave Unto bright glory's scroll its brightest name, And to the firmament a new-born star of fame. How calm, how holy is the undreaming sleep Of freedom's martyrs when their homes are won ; And hallowed are the gory graves that keep The cerements of the patriot dust which down In living hope is laid. Beneath the unfolded splendor and the shade Of star-lit banners and bright eagle-wings, Whose brilliant woof upsprings. Where late the lightning of the battle played ; While far aJofl the sulphurous mists that rise Seem clinging in the clouds hke flowers of sacrifice. Then turn thee to the past — Sublime, immortal, vast ! Lorn garner of the wrecks that evermore Forth from the windings of the shadowy shore Of present life are cast. Among its fanes and phantom temples walk Till all its frowning heroes round thee stalk. Till fitfully its dream-like melodies Come chiming like the sound of whispering seas, And its unfading memories, deeply fraught With all life's lessons, meet thy spirit's thought. There win that wisdom which alone is true ; Which lives forever in the chastening view Of sinless virtue and of infinite love — • Erst dimly symboled by the elysian dove. So shall a holier life-spring, in thy heart Like murmuring waters, wake ; and thou shalt go Forth to perform thy brief and changeful part In this wide world of woe.