Classic Poem

XI.

Grim War, with prancing steeds and rattling wheels,
May all her pomp of circumstance display;
But studious Art the deadly weapon steels,
And patient Toil supports her awful sway.
Commerce herself, with streamers blazing gay,
In pearl and gold, like old barbaric kings
Arrayed, may boast her liberalizing ray —
But ask her whence her inborn vigour springs?
The Plough, the peaceful Plough alone can imp her wings!

XII.

She is indeed the nursling of the Plough,
And playful once a helpless urchin smiled
On Zoan's fertile field, beneath the glow
Of genial suns, and plenty flowing wild.
And Labour there, by drudgery unsoil'd,
Refresh'd by Nile's invigorating wave,
Careless with her his easy hours beguiled,
And many a comfort, many a joy she gave,
Till, overgrown at length, she chain'd him for her slave.

XIII.

Then free to rove in verdant fields, no more
Cheer'd by the various prospects of the year,
His every day was spent in travail sore,
His spirit crush'd by toils the most severe.
For Vanity the splendid dome to rear!
For Luxury the sickly loom to ply!
For Idols vile to bid the mountains wear
Ten thousand sculptured forms, and idly high
The Pyramid to raise, huge heaving to the sky!

XIV.

Avails him not, o'er all the bustling land,
That riot rings, and florid splendours glow!
These only deeper wreath his iron band!
Or smile derisive on his growing woe!
But Vengeance, though she seems to travel slow
Heavy with foot of iron, once on the way
Unhesitating moves, nor will forego
One iota on her retributive day!
Though Wisdom wake at length, and late Repentance pray!

XV.

And all that wakes her most relentless mood,
The poor man's cry, the orphan's weeping moan,
All mournful pour'd, while, clamouring long and loud,
With shameless front th' oppressor goads them on,
Have reach'd the ear of Him that fills the throne,
Th' eternal throne which heaven and earth obeys!
Already forth the dread decree is gone;
With ruin fraught the Assyrian streamer plays!
And rising dark, behind unnumber'd banners blaze!

XVI.

Pelusium falls beneath the whelming tide;
Red over Tanis rolls the burning wave;
Syene stoops with all her towers of pride,
And, silent, Memphis fills the oblivious grave!
Nor populous No her hundred gates can save;
Nor idols, temples, palaces and towers!
The mountain pyramids alone can brave
The storm that from the boisterous North devours,
And dry the withering wind that burning Libya pours!

XVII.

But not destroy'd the honours of the Plough;
O'er other lands her peaceful triumphs sped;
And hope was felt, and joy's delightful glow,
And the full stores of flowing plenty spread:
And Uz, and Teman's cultured dales made glad,
Exulting smiled beneath a glowing sky;
And over all the blameless patriarch shed, —
Such was his worth, his faith, his patience high, —
A living lustre bright, on Earth that cannot die.

XVIII.

And peaceful ploughmen once made Arnon glad,
And Kir look proudly o'er her corn-clad vales;
Made Heshbon, joyful, lift her flowery head,
And Sibmah's vine perfume the summer gales
But Kir hath fall'n, and Arnon lonely wails!
Heshbon and Sibmah, each is but a name!
O'er Ar for aye the curse incurr'd prevails,
Famine, and hate, reproach, contempt and shame,
A parching heaven of fire and winds of burning flame!

XIX.

Why should I speak of Canaan's promised rest,
Of snow-white Hermon with her vales around,
Of Carmel sweet in flowery verdure drest,
Or Sharon's vale with roses rich imbound?
Or Gilead, for her healing balm renowned,
Or Eshcol, for her grapes of wondrous size,
Or Argob, with her threescore cities crown'd,
Or of that mount where, glittering to the skies,
Jerusalem's sacred towers were glorious seen to rise?

XX.

There Happiness, prolong'd for many an age,
And Glory flourish'd founded on the Plough;
And Mercy sooth'd the fiercer passions' rage,
And Truth to all held up her mirror true,
And over all Devotion's holy dew,
In Contemplation's placid moments shed,
Bestowed a grace and grandeur on the view,
Which Envy with her jaundiced vision fled,
And Change that Anarch old beheld with secret dread.