XXIII. "So in the populous City, a young maiden And throng in arms; but tyranny disowns Their claim, and gathers strength around its trembling thrones. XXIV. « Blood soon, although unwillingly, to shed .There is a plain beneath the City's wall, And that his power hath past away, doth knowWhy pause the victor swords to seal his overthrow? XXVI. << The tyrant's guards resistance yet maintain : Fearless, and fierce, and hard as beasts of blood; They stand a speck amid the peopled plain; Carnage and ruin have been made their food From infancy-ill has become their good, And for its hateful sake their will has wove The chains which eat their hearts-the multitude Surrounding them, with words of human love, Seek from their own decay their stubborn minds to move. XXVII. Over the land is felt a sudden pause, As night and day those ruthless bands around Dies suddenly, the mariner in fear Feels silence sink upon his heart-thus bound, The conquerors pause, and oh! may freemen ne'er Clasp the relentless knees of Dread, the murderer! XXVIII. If blood be shed, 't is but a change and choice The spear transfix'd my arm that was uplifted Gush'd round its point: I smiled, and—«< Oh! thou gifted With eloquence which shall not be withstood, For which thou wert aught worthy be subdued-Ah, ye are pale,-ye weep,-your passions pause,"T is well! ye feel the truth of love's benignant laws. X. << Soldiers, our brethren and our friends are slain : XII. Join then your hands and hearts, and let the past Be as a grave which gives not up its dead To evil thoughts-A film then overcast My sense with dimness, for the wound, which bled Freshly, swift shadows o'er mine eyes had shed. When I awoke, I lay 'mid friends and foes, And earnest countenances on me shed The light of questioning looks, whilst one did close My wound with balmiest herbs, and soothed me to re pose. XIII. And one whose spear had pierced me, lean'd beside With quivering lips and humid eyes;—and all Seem'd like some brothers on a journey wide Gone forth, whom now strange meeting did befall In a strange land, round one whom they might call Their friend, their chief, their father, for assay Of peril, which had saved them from the thrall Of death, now suffering. Thus the vast array Of those fraternal bands were reconciled that day. XIV. Lifting the thunder of their acclamation, Towards the City then the multitude, And I among them, went in joy-a nation Made free by love;-a mighty brotherhood Link'd by a jealous interchange of good; A glorious pageant, more magnificent Than kingly slaves array'd in gold and blood; When they return from carnage, and are sent In triumph bright beneath the populous battlement. XV. Afar, the City walls were throng'd on high, When from before its face some general wreck had past. XVI. Our armies through the City's hundred gates And as we past through the calm sunny air I trod as one tranced in some rapturous vision: Those bloody bands so lately reconciled, Were, ever as they went, by the contrition Of anger turn'd to love from ill beguiled, And every one on them more gently smiled, Because they had done evil;-the sweet awe Of such mild looks made their own hearts grow mild, And did with soft attraction ever draw Their spirits to the love of freedom's equal law. She stood beside him like a rainbow braided Where was that Maid? I asked, but it was known of I press'd those softest eyes in trembling tenderness. Which starred with sunny gems, in its own lustre shone. And when I spake, for sobs she could not answer me. XXI. Alone, but for one child, who led before him 'Mid her sad task of unregarded love, XXVII. At last the tyrant cried, She hungers, slave, That to no smiles it might his speechless sadness move. Knew nought beyond those walls, nor what such change 'T was midnight now, the eve of that great day A rite to attest the equality of all Who live. So to their homes, to dream or wake All went. The sleepless silence did recal Laone to my thoughts, with hopes that make Sunk in a gulf of scorn from which none may him rear! The flood recede from which their thirst they seek to |