Page:The West Indies, and Other Poems.djvu/21

 The Hesperian isles, from distance dimly blue, With gradual beauty open'd on his view. In that proud moment, his transported mind The morning and the evening worlds combined, And made the sea, that sunder'd them before, A bond of peace, uniting shore to shore.

Vain, visionary hope ! rapacious Spain Follow'd her hero's triumph o'er the main. Her hardy sons in fields of battle tried. Where Moor and Christian desperately died, A rabid race, fanatically bold, And steel'd to cruelty by lust of gold, Traversed the waves, the unknown world explored. The cross their standard, but their faith the sword ; Their steps were graves ; o'er prostrate realms they

trod ; They worshipp'd Mammon while they vow'd to God.

�� �