Page:Translations from Camoens; and Other Poets.pdf/89



We watched her childhood from its earliest hour, From every word and look blest omens caught; While that young mind developed all its power, And rose to energies of loftiest thought. On her was fixed the Patriot's ardent eye, One hope still bloomed—one vista still was fair; And when the tempest swept the troubled sky, She was our dayspring—all was cloudless there; And oh! how lovely broke on England's gaze, E'en through the mist and storm, the light of distant days.

Now hath one moment darkened future years, And changed the track of ages yet to be!— Yet, mortal! midst the bitterness of tears, Kneel, and adore th' inscrutable decree! Oh! while the clear perspective smiled in light, Wisdom should then have tempered hope's excess, And, lost One! when we saw thy lot so bright, We might have trembled at its loveliness: Joy is no earthly flower—nor framed to bear, In its exotic bloom, life's cold, ungenial air.