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 << < 


 
 BROKEN CHAINS, 
 
 A POEM
 
 HAVRE. - PRINTED BY AI.PHONSE LEMALE. 
 
 nor 
 
 /
 
 BROKEN CHAINS 
 
 A POEM 
 
 IN yov:^ cantos 
 
 BY A YOUNG ENGLISHMAN 
 
 PARIS 
 
 PUBLISHED BY G. G. BENNIS, 
 
 at the French , English , and American Library, 
 
 N° 5 5 , rue Ncuve-Si-.4uguslin. 
 
 mr,2
 
 PR 
 3<7<?/ 
 
 A Mb 
 
 
 
 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 The setting sun's reflected fire 
 Adorn'd with gold the gotliic spire 
 Of a small village-church , that stood , 
 Where gently ilow 'd Seine's azure flood , 
 When from a cottage-porch , intwin'd 
 
 With roses and each other flow'r , 
 Which it had shelter'd from the wind, 
 
 To make a gay and blooming bow'r, 
 
 8166H8
 
 BROKEX CIIAIA8. 
 
 Came a fair girl, with beaming eyes, 
 And raven hair, and form as light, 
 
 7 9 ' 
 
 As ever left the eastern skies , 
 To lead the fairies in their flight. 
 
 Her head-dress conical in shape , 
 
 Her plaited frill, her snow-white cape, 
 
 Her velvet bodice neatly lac'd , 
 
 Her apron short with pockets grae'd , 
 
 Her crimson kirtle , that conceal'd 
 
 Just half the leg , whilst it reveal'd 
 
 The foot and ankle — all betray'd 
 
 A young and lovely Norman Maid. 
 
 Her ebon beads with care she told , 
 And kiss'd with zeal her cross of gold , 
 When , lo ! a courser's rapid tread 
 Was heard afar — her check grew red 
 But , tho' she felt both hope and fear , 
 
 She strove the rising blush to hide — 
 A horseman came in full career , 
 
 And soon was standing by her side :
 
 c a:\to i. 
 
 « My Adelaide ! at length I see 
 
 cc All , that is truly dear to hie ; 
 
 cc Believe me, love , the hours have past 
 
 <( Like years , since I beheld thee last — ■ 
 
 (( But now forgotten is my pain, , 
 
 <x For I can clasp that hand again , 
 
 u And all my own emotions trace , 
 
 «. Reflected in that beauteous face. » 
 
 She rais'd her eyes , and thus replied y 
 
 In a sweet-ton'd , hut trembling voice : 
 « Not all alone has Darcy sigh'd , 
 
 c( Nor does he all alone rejoice — 
 <c But , come ; my mother longs to see 
 
 « The truant to his friends restor'd ; 
 « How welcome will his presence be , 
 
 (( When seated at our frugal board — 
 « And, Darcy, thou must take repose, 
 
 a Before we can together rove , 
 « Again to cull the dewy rose , 
 
 « Again to view each well-known grove 
 « To read the talc of fabled woes ,
 
 8 BROKEN CHA1\K. 
 
 (C To sing the moving songs of love. » 
 She said , and sniil'd with native grace , 
 
 Oppos'd to "which all art is poor ; 
 Then turn'd , her arm in his to place , 
 
 And led him to the cottage-door. 
 
 Left early in the world alone , 
 With quite sufficient wealth his own y 
 To bask in pleasure's genial ray , 
 And be the gayest of the gay , 
 Young Darcv for awhile had found , 
 That Paris was enchanted ground — 
 But soon far other thoughts were giv'n , 
 
 For he had gaz'd on Adelaide — 
 A Norman village was his heav'n , 
 
 His goddess was a rural maid — 
 And , oh , when absent from the home 
 
 Of her , his warm heart lov'd so well , 
 Mid mirth and splendour he might roam 
 
 But in his bosom burn'd a hell ! 
 
 He had relurn'd at last , to claim
 
 (iAMO I. 9 
 
 The hand of his affiane'd bride , 
 To feel the lover's gen'rous flame 
 
 Anticipate the husband's pride — 
 Yet now , when Hope her pinions shook , 
 
 Which she had drench'd in streams of bliss , 
 To sprinkle him , and bade him look 
 
 For moments brighter ev'n than this — 
 Now, that lie bent bis head to sip 
 
 The draught of love , his boding fears 
 Told , that before it touch'd his lip 
 
 The bowl might overflow with tears ! 
 
 
 Tho' all too proud to entertain 
 Unworthy thought , suspicion vain , 
 Or that mad jealousy , which clings 
 To Love , because it dreads his wings , 
 And , rankling in a little mind , 
 Creates the faults , it cannot find — 
 Darcy could not himself deceive , 
 And soon had reason to believe , 
 That Adelaide was not the same , 
 As when lie first ador'd her nam? :
 
 10 BROKEN CHAIAS. 
 
 Once she would ev'ry moment chide , 
 
 That "was not with her lover spent , 
 But now she often left his side , 
 
 On some mysterious scheme intent ; 
 Her face assum'd a pensive air , 
 
 She seem'd to fly each cheerful feast , 
 She gave her sleepless nights to pray'r , 
 
 And knelt whole hours before the priest. 
 
 The offspring of a soldier-sire y 
 
 Who had attain'd renown in fight , 
 And follow'd in the track of fire , 
 
 That mark'd the Gallic eagle's flight — 
 Who fell , when Fortune left her lord , 
 
 Her wedded lord, and spurn'd him too, 
 And Britain wav'd her two-edg'd sword , 
 
 Upon the plains of Waterloo ; 
 Whilst France beheld , with tearful eye , 
 
 Her warriors strew th'ensanguin'd field , 
 Yet smil'd to hear their latest cry : 
 
 « The Guard can die , but cannot yield ! » 
 The offspring of a soldier -sire
 
 CANTO I- 11 
 
 To some distinction might aspire ; 
 But Darcy fled the paths of fame , 
 The tinsel honours of a name , 
 The gaudy triumphs of the brave , 
 The foam upon ambition's wave , 
 And all fond glory's dazzling toys , 
 To seek for purer , nobler joys , 
 With soothing intervals of rest , 
 On Nature's free and glowing breast. 
 His love became a saving creed — 
 
 A faith more simple , trusting , true , 
 Than that , which makes the Victim bleed , 
 
 Than that , which Saint or Martyr knew — 
 And , if this holy faith should fail , 
 
 From his last anchor he must sever , 
 His bending mast and swelling sail 
 Must snap and shiver in the gale , 
 His little bark be wreck'd for ever ! 
 
 Darcv was wand'ring , lost in thought , 
 When chance his heedless footsteps brought , 
 W here Avooden cross and rugged stone ,
 
 jq mioiiEx chai:\s. 
 
 The faded flow'rs around them thrown , 
 The willow , that in silence shed 
 The night-dews o'er the lowly dead , 
 Or just sent forth a murm'ring bound , 
 
 As through it's branches rush'd the wind — 
 Announc'd the modest burial-ground , 
 
 That held a portion of mankind : 
 A portion , which , however small , 
 
 However scorn'd by pride , 
 Had shar'd the destiny of all , 
 Had sought to rise , and fear'd to fall , 
 Had tasted honey mix'd with gall , 
 
 Had liv'd , and lov'd , and died. 
 
 Before a niche , where rustic art 
 
 Had carv'd a form of stone , 
 And pious wealth had done it'*, part y 
 
 A maiden knelt alone ; 
 And softly as the voice of air 
 Breath'd Adelaide her ev'ning pray'r : 
 
 « Holy Mary ! Virgin Mother ! 
 « If I dare reveal to thee
 
 CANTO 1 15 
 
 <.( Feelings , which I ought to smother , 
 
 « Thoughts , which are not meet for me — 
 a 'Tis because , tho' rais'd on high , 
 
 cc Thou Avert once a child of earth — 
 « 'Tis because a human eye 
 
 (( Watch'd the moment of thy birth ! 
 « Thou hast felt each sudden throb , 
 
 « That my feeble bosom knows — 
 « Felt such anxious cares , as rob 
 
 (( Thy poor suppliant of repose — 
 c< Then , in mercy , do not spurn me ; 
 
 (C Let , oh j let ray spirit live : 
 a Think upon the fires , that burn me , 
 
 » And my impious doubts forgive ! 
 « I had scarcely deem'd , that dulv 
 
 a Could exact so hard a task ; 
 « That religion , mild in beauty , 
 
 « Such a sacrifice could ask. : 
 « But my doubts may be forgiven , 
 
 <c Since I have renounc'd their syvav , 
 « And am ready, Quern of Heaven, 
 
 a. All thv orders to obr-v ■' —
 
 14 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 (( Now the fatal vow is spoken ; 
 
 « To thy will my soul's resign'd : 
 « But, when this fond heart is broken, 
 
 (( Pity those I leave behind ! 
 « For I have an earthly mother, 
 
 cc Whose support I long'd to be , 
 « And there is — there is — another , 
 
 « Lov'd — how dearly lov'd ! — by me. » 
 She paus'd , and lower seem'd to bow , 
 
 As each dark tress the herbage swept : 
 A fervid blush suffus'd her brow , 
 She trembled , and in anguish wept. 
 
 Darcy approach'd , and gently took 
 
 Her lily hand , to raise the maid ; 
 Then , gazing on her with a look 
 
 Of manly tenderness , he said : 
 (( Why does that glance of wild surprise 
 
 « With those enchanting features blend? 
 « Canst thou no longer recognise 
 
 « Thy lover — thy devoted friend ? 
 « What means this agony of grief —
 
 CANTO I. I.i 
 
 H The stifled sob — the falling tear ? 
 <( Ah ! may I proffer no relief, 
 
 (( When sorrow visits one so dear? 
 « If such a dark and sudden blijdit 
 
 « Have fallen on thee , that 'twere vain 
 <( For him j who lives but in thy sight, 
 
 (( To bid thee hope and smile again — 
 (( Then , Adelaide , I claim my right , 
 
 « To bear a portion of thy pain. )) 
 
 She answer' d not — her downcast eye 
 Seem'd to be seeking a reply , 
 Jn each wild flow'r , so simply sweet, 
 That spread it's fragrance round her feet — 
 When peals of laughter , light and glad, 
 Disturb'd the silence, drear and sad, 
 As, mingling in some joyous game, 
 \ troop of sportive children came : 
 The ruddy cheek , the flaxen hair , 
 
 The sparkling eye, the cherry lip, 
 The dimpled arm , the ankle bare , 
 '\\\f frank expression , free from care,
 
 IG BROKEN CUAINS. 
 
 The unsophisticated air , 
 
 The buoyant step, the frequent skip — 
 All these were there , to mark the spring , 
 
 The bloom of innocence and youth , 
 When Pleasure waves a stainless wing , 
 
 And Nature is the friend of Truth. 
 
 She slowly rais'd her quiv'ring hand , 
 And pointed to that infant band : 
 (( Darcy , » she said , « I once was gay , 
 « And fond , and frolicsome as they — 
 (( Eager for what might next befall, 
 « Determin'd to be pleas" d with all , 
 (( And prompt each mirthful thought to woo 
 « But , Darcy , I was guiltless too — 
 « For childhoods bliss can only last , 
 « Till childhood's harmlessness be past. 
 (( Oh ! had I died , before we met , 
 
 a Before our hearts obey'd the spell, 
 « I had not ask'd thee to forget , 
 
 cc We lov'd so vainly and so well .' » 
 She ceas'd, and sought the dial's face,
 
 CANTO I. 17 
 
 And in it's figures seem'd to trace 
 Some tidings, which slie fear'd — 
 
 A new idea , a sudden pain , 
 
 Shot rapidly across her brain ; 
 She turn'd , and disappear'd. 
 
 When Darcy left the darkening scene , 
 He look'd as Iho' lie just had been , 
 \N here ghastly spectres till the wood 
 U ith tales of horror and of blood — 
 So sad , so aller'd , so estranged , 
 His very walk Avas greatly chang'd , 
 For disappointment's vcnom'd dart 
 Had sunk more deeply in his heart , 
 Because it came not from a foe, 
 Because affection gave the blow ! — 
 The peasant-girls were dancing round 
 
 An old and ivy-curtain' d tree , 
 To them , the quick and clatt'ring sound 
 
 Of wooden shoes was melody : 
 The men , their daily labours o'er , 
 
 With copious draughts refresh'd the »Oul > 
 
 2
 
 13 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 Nor wisli'd the vineyard's costly store , 
 Whilst cider sparkled in the howl : 
 
 But Darcy heeded not the crowd , 
 And scarcely heard the jo\ial song , 
 
 Whose notes , so lively and so loud , 
 Were carried by the breeze along. 
 
 At length he saw a well-known thatch , 
 
 Approach'd the door , and rais'd the latch ; 
 
 An aged woman left her seat , 
 
 With kindly words her guest to greet , 
 
 Laid by her wheel , the table spread 
 
 With luscious cream , and fruit , and bread , 
 
 And^ whilst the housewife's part she play'd, 
 
 Inquir'd : (( Where lingers Adelaide ? » 
 
 But all his thoughts appear' d to roam , 
 
 And, when the maiden reach'd her home, 
 
 At a late hour, his bitter smile 
 
 Show'd what his spirit felt the while ; 
 
 He feign'd fatigue , retir'd to rest , 
 
 And strove to calm a torturM breast. . . . 
 
 He could not sleep - — the poppy -crown
 
 CANTO I. 19 
 
 Is oft withheld , when most desir'd — 
 The limbs may sink on beds of down , 
 
 But are the passions quickly tir'd ? 
 The tedious hours , that mock'd repose , 
 
 Had slowly brought the morning near, 
 When piercing shrieks , that wildly rose , 
 
 Discordant smote on Darcy's ear. 
 He look'd around — the room -was light ! 
 
 He look'd abroad — the sky was red ! 
 The gloom , the darkness of the night , 
 
 In scarce a moment's space , had fled ! 
 But 'twas not young Aurora's touch , 
 
 That gave those rosy tints to air ; 
 They chang'd too swiftly , warm'd too much, 
 
 And shed a far loo baneful glare. 
 The smoke, that now, above, below, 
 
 In thick and sable volumes came , 
 Announc'd an elemental foe — 
 
 The presence of destroying flame !. . . 
 He drew r his garments round his form , 
 
 And through ihc casement found a way ; 
 About him ragM a fearful storm
 
 t<> ItUUKEX CHAIA'S. 
 
 Of anguish, terror, and dismay — - 
 Tost from the mantle of the wind , 
 The agents of destruction dire 
 
 Soon wreath'd the porch, where flow'rcts tAvin'd, 
 
 With fatal coils of serpent-fire. 
 Then Darcy bore , with vig'rous arms , 
 
 The good, old matron from the place; 
 But nowhere could he find the charms 
 
 Of one more lov'd , more valued face : 
 Ke trod the heated, scorching floor, 
 
 He climb'd the burning, crackling stair, 
 He fore'd the frail, the narrow door, 
 
 And search'd the chamber of the fair — 
 There white-rob' d Neatness lov'd to be , 
 But her young vot'ress — where was she? 
 
 The youth regain'd the open ground , 
 
 Amidst a show'r of cinders hot, 
 When , lo ! without a sign or sound, 
 
 His Adelaide approach'd the spot — 
 But pale as one , immur'd by doom 
 
 In some old charnel-house of dread ,
 
 CAATO I. 21 
 
 Where shadows of sepulchral "loom 
 Confound the h\m< r "Willi the dead. 
 
 She thrice essay' d aloud to speak — 
 
 Her failing \oice she could not sway — 
 
 She sank to earth , confus'd and weak , 
 And gasping, shudd ring , swoon'd away. 
 
 The sight was strange — upon the green 
 That fond and fainting girl was seen , 
 As placid as a babe at rest, 
 And pillow'd on her mother's breast — 
 Whilst Darcv o'er her hung , to try 
 If he covdd rouse her with a sigh ! 
 Such silent groups were soon forgot ; 
 The peasants saw , but mark'd them not : 
 The mind of each intent to save 
 Some treasure from the common grave , 
 Could leave but little time to know 
 The merit of a neighbour's woe.... 
 
 And now what outcries of despair 
 
 From beggar d wretches came , 
 A* more oppressive grew the air ,
 
 22 
 
 UKOfiEX CilAIAS. 
 
 And higher rose the flame ! 
 As crashing rafters yielded fast , 
 
 And roofs , that shelter'd well , 
 And walls , that stood the wintry blast , 
 
 In mimic thunder fell — 
 As , from the church , the molten lead 
 
 Pour'd down upon the plain , 
 And wash'd the dwellings of the dead 
 
 With that unusual rain — 
 As hundreds gather' d on the lea , 
 
 Like mourners round a pyre — 
 And Seine roll'd onward tow'rds the sea , 
 
 A stream of liquid fire ! 

 
 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 
 
 W HERE lale the village smil'd around , 
 
 And Peace and Plenty join'd their hands , 
 Dull heaps of ruin deck'd the ground , 
 
 With half-extinguish'd , smoking brands : 
 But num'rous huts had there appear'd , 
 
 As at some sorc'rer's magic call ; 
 That they, who felt what others fcar'd , 
 
 Might not be ihus depriv'd of all.
 
 2 4 BROKEN CEiAIXf 
 
 The Savage , in his gloomy den , 
 
 When siekness lays his manhood low , 
 Or fails the chase in wood and glen , 
 
 Or falls some unexpected blow ; 
 Consigns to earth his useless arms , 
 
 Upon his mat neglected lies , 
 And , lost to life's redeeming charms , 
 
 Without a groan the stoic dies — 
 But Social Man on hope depends , 
 
 And scorns the whispers of despair ; 
 When danger or distress impends , 
 
 He seeks to rescue or repair : 
 No settled frown his brow deforms , 
 
 Tlio' passing clouds a tempest bring , 
 Because he knows , that chilling storms 
 
 Are oft the servants of the spring ! . . . 
 In mild , but melancholy mood _, 
 Young Darcy by his lov'd one stood , 
 As from his lips , with equal flow , 
 Came words of comfort and of woe : 
 « The past is nothing — vain the task > 
 « For explanations now to ask —
 
 CAM'O II 'I .', 
 
 « Thy secret , whatsoe'er it be , 
 « Shall never be unveil' d by me ! 
 « Enough of lliis — but let us look 
 « Upon the more mysterious book 
 « Of future life , therein to write 
 « A page of what our hearts indile. 
 <c Had all been well , and ev'ry hour 
 « Produc'd a fruit , or rear'd a flow'r , 
 « JNor left another trace to say , 
 c< That it had sweetly past away ; 
 « I had not rush d with boist'rous haste , 
 « The joys of wedded love to taste — 
 « But now , that boding forms of sorrow 
 cc Have cast their shadows o'er the morrow 7 
 « That scarce a miserable shed 
 « Remains , to shield thy mother's head ; 
 « 'Tis honour , that impels the mind 
 « To give all scruples to the wind , 
 « To let no false reserve prevent 
 « A long-delay \l , long-wish'd event, 
 « To act at leasl an honest part , 
 « And claim at once lliv hand and heart ! » 

 
 20 BRO&E$ CHAIN'S. 
 
 « I knew , » slie answer' d with a sigh , 
 
 cc That both thy words and deeds would prove , 
 c< Consistent with thy feelings high , 
 
 (( And worthy of a maiden's love — 
 a But , great as is my bosom's pain , 
 
 (( And stern as grows the inward strife , 
 cc Thy gen'rous cares are all in vain , 
 
 « For I can never be thy wife. » 
 
 He started — like some wand'ring bard , 
 
 By contemplation's witch' ry led , 
 Who sees , when least upon his guard , 
 A wave just breaking o'er his head — 
 Then spoke, but in as cold a tone , 
 
 As might have issued from the mouth 
 Of that poor mother , turn'd to stone , 
 Who grac'd the fables of the south : 
 cc You have dismiss'd your slave — 'tis well — 
 « He will not murmur and rebel , 
 « Nor basely grovel at your side , 
 cc To raise your mirth , or sooth your pride. 
 « I have been weak — 1 have been fond —
 
 CANTO II 27 
 
 « Your words destroy a sacred bond — 
 «. But , since your prudence deems it fit , 
 « It best becomes me to submit — 
 (( Farewell ! my presence might annoy , 
 « And damp , perchance , a rival's joy. » 
 
 « No , Darcy ! thou art too unkind — 
 
 « It is not thus , that Ave must se\er — 
 « The mem'rv , which I leave behind , 
 
 (( Must not disgrace thy choice for ever. 
 « Go ! sport with beauty far and wide , 
 
 « Till thou hast known another flame ; 
 « Be happy in a fairer bride , 
 
 « Possess'd of wealth , and rank , and fame ; 
 « But , whilst ye bind the nuptial flow'rs , 
 
 a And two warm hearts with rapture swell , 
 « My pray'rs alone will mark the hours , 
 
 « Within a convent's dreary cell. » 
 
 « A convent-cell — the thought at best , 
 
 « Were sad in earnest , dull in jest. 
 
 (( Thou canst not mean to court thy doom ,
 
 28 imoitMX CHAINS. 
 
 « To live the in male of a tomb , 
 
 « Where Virtue , girt Avith walls of s»tone , 
 
 (( Must linger friendless and alone ; 
 
 (( Where Sloth , Depravity, and Pride, 
 
 « To vile Hypocrisy allied , 
 
 « On Silence call , to guard the place , 
 
 « That Vice may boldly show her face — 
 
 « Thou dost not wish to forfeit bliss , 
 
 « Thou wilt not meet a fate like this ! » 
 
 « Why should I hesitate to tell , 
 
 « That , could I choose a place of rest , 
 « My foolish heart would bid me dwell , 
 
 « In Darcy's arms , on Darcy's breast ? 
 « But there are others , whose command* 
 
 « I long , yet dread to disobey : 
 « A pow'r unseen betwixt us stands — 
 « It seals my lips — it ties my hands — 
 
 « And more than this I must not say. » 
 
 cc Thy fears are idle , causeless , wrong ; 
 « For guilt is weak , and love is strong —
 
 CANTO II. 20 
 
 <x The pow'r , that would our hopes o'er threw - 
 
 (c Must league with crime , to deal the blow , 
 
 <c When both the Charter and the laws 
 
 « Combine to shield a rightful cause. 
 
 cc Thy mother too has bless'd our loves — 
 
 cc All nature sanctions and approves — 
 
 « Then let me only call thee bride , 
 
 « And noujrht shall tear thee from my side. » 
 
 Her answer was a languid smile , 
 
 The emblem of expiring hope — 
 Tlie trusting bosom's latest Avile , 
 
 With sceptic reason's force to cope. 
 But he continued : <x Life and death 
 
 (( May now depend on thy reply ; 
 (( I'd rather yield my vital breath , 
 
 « Than cease on woman to rely. 
 « Oh ! let me bear a husband's name , 
 
 « Which faithful love may well have Avon — 
 « Oh ! bid thy honour' d mother claim 
 
 a The kind attentions of a son. )> 
 How soon our boasted caution fails ,
 
 30 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 \\ hen hope invites , or love assails — 
 
 How soon we credit fancy's dreams, 
 
 Whene'er a phantom radiance gleams — 
 
 How vain is ev'ry mental art, 
 
 Against the music of the heart ! 
 
 Thus Adelaide forgot her dread, 
 
 Or took the peril on her head — 
 
 She whisper' d : « Thou must have thy will j 
 
 (( And , oh , may heav'n protect us still ! y> 
 
 cc My dearest girl ! mine own — mine own ! 
 
 cc Thou hast secur'd our future bliss ! » 
 His arm around her waist was thrown ; 
 
 They seal'd the compact with a kiss. 
 Then breast to breast responsive beat , 
 
 And lip to lip impassion'd clung : 
 That warm embrace is doubly sweet _, 
 Where all the feelings seem to meet , 
 And chain old Time's too rapid feet , 
 
 Whilst love is new , whilst life is young 
 
 The day was fix'd , the ring was bought , 
 And little space was left for thought ,
 
 CANTO 17. 51 
 
 When Adelaide with terror saw 
 
 The fruit of Nature's sternest law , 
 
 Which Lids the pangs of sickness rage , 
 
 To crush the feebleness of a< r e — 
 
 On languor's bed her mother lay , 
 
 And felt the progress of decay. 
 
 The shades of her impending doom 
 
 Pass'd nightly through the sufFrer's room • 
 
 Her vision fail'd , and ev'ry breath 
 
 W as thicken'd with the fogs of death. 
 
 One day , the rain in torrents fell , 
 
 And ceas'd but with the vesper-bell — 
 
 So , having merelv staid to place 
 
 Her cushion , with it's robe of lace , 
 
 Upon a creaking shelf, that bore 
 
 The bulk of all her worldly store , 
 
 Fair Adelaide a pitcher took , 
 
 And hasten'd to the swollen brook : 
 
 Refusing Darcy's profi'er'd aid , 
 
 On him her strict command she laid , 
 
 A good and careful watch to keep ,
 
 52 KUOKKA' CHAI.\». 
 
 That nought should break her mother's sleep. 
 
 He sat beside the bed of pain — 
 
 Primeval quiet brooded round , 
 Save where huge drops of trickling rain 
 
 Made solemn cadence on the ground — 
 One arm was o'er the pillow thrown , 
 
 The other somewhat rais'd , to hold 
 A curtain , like some streamer blown , 
 
 And scarcely proof against the cold. 
 He sat beside the bed of pain , 
 
 The young , the gallant , and the gay , 
 Who might have walk'd in beauty's train , 
 
 Without once leaving glory's way ! 
 If man be great , when all rejoice 
 
 To wreath for one the laurel crown , 
 When senates listen to his voice , 
 
 Or armies tremble at his frown — 
 Far greater he , who lays aside 
 The brow of thought , the eye of pride ; 
 The iron hardihood of soul , 
 That mocks at fear , and spurns control j
 
 CANTO II 53 
 
 The firm resolve, that nought can shake, 
 And passions , that a word can wake ; 
 To cherish A irtue's purer flame , 
 
 In gentle Pity's holy name 
 
 So long was Adelaide away , 
 
 That Darcy left the hut , to see 
 If ought had chanc'd to cause her stay , 
 
 Or if his aid could useful be. 
 Dark clouds , that boded future harms , 
 
 Had canopied the stormy skv , 
 But , through the gloom , the flash of arms 
 
 Soon caught his penetrating eye : 
 He hasten'd tow'rds the spot , and found 
 
 His Adelaide by soldiers led ; 
 With cords each tender wrist was bound , 
 
 Her looks betoken'd worse than dread. 
 He made one spring to reach her side , 
 
 And disengag'd her from the rest ; 
 His glance the closing ranks defied , 
 
 A bay'net glitter' d at his breast : 
 He wrench'd the musket from the hand 
 
 Of one , who rccl'd beneath his stroke — 

 
 54 liSUtllKA CHAINS. 
 
 He rais'd the Aveapon — from the band 
 
 An officer advanc'd , and spoke : 
 (( Rash youth , forbear ! Too vainly bra\ 
 (( You may destroy , but cannot save — 
 a 'Tis in the name of sov'reign law, 
 <( That I'm prepar'd my sword to draw , 
 (( And j should my men to force resort , 
 cc Your time on earth indeed were short, 
 cc Our orders are , forthwith to lead 
 <( This maiden , with convenient speed , 
 cc Where we may place her in the hands 
 « Of proper magistrates — she stands 
 '( Accus'd of giving ( dire the shame ! ) 
 (C Her native village to the flame. 
 « Altho' we fain would doubt the charge 
 «: Altho' , respecting youth and beauty , 
 (( We long our captive to enlarge — 
 cc Obedience is the soldier's duty. » 
 
 The list'ning youth had ccas'd to clasp 
 The gun , which slowly left his grasp , 
 And thus he answer'd : cc I regret , 
 
 S^ >
 
 C.WTO II. Zo 
 
 «. That , through my violence , you met 
 
 « With such a -welcome here ; 
 « But I -would pledge my life , my soul , 
 cc And wait the issue of the "whole , 
 
 cc Without one thought of fear — 
 (( That she , -whom you have seiz'd and hound , 
 cc As pure , as guiltless will be found , 
 cc As Mercy , register'd on high , 
 (C Or Gratitude , that mounts the sky , 
 cc Or Piety about to die , 
 
 « Or Innocence asleep ; 
 cc For , tho' her lips be silent now , 
 cc The modest candour on her brow , 
 « Her air , her gestures , these avow , 
 
 « That Virtue makes her weep. 
 « She was , she is , whate'er befall , 
 « My best-belov'd , my hope , my all : 
 (C Then hear me — do not turn away — 
 (( Your onward march awhile delay , 
 cc And let me to yon maid impart 
 (( The thousand feelings of my heart , 
 cc Where none are likely to intrude
 
 36 BIIOIIEIV CHAINS. 
 
 (( Upon our moment's solitude. 
 (( However early you began 
 
 cc In all the pomp of arms to shine , 
 « Remember , you are still a man , 
 
 cc And , oh , is not that title mine ? » 
 
 « More weak than -wise , more kind than just , 
 « Were I to grant what you implore , 
 
 « How could my thoughts your promise trust , 
 cc That you the pris'ner would restore ? 
 
 cc A fortress , seiz'd in other lands , 
 
 a May be consign'd to foreign hands , 
 
 « But not till hostages be sent, 
 
 (C All secret treason to prevent. )) 
 
 cc If you have seen , in early life , 
 cc How proudly Gallia's eagle rose — 
 
 cc If you have mark'd the varied strife > 
 cc And wept our glory's darker close — 
 
 cc Amongst the valiant chiefs , that led 
 cc Our warriors on to deeds of fame , 
 
 cc And now are slumb'ring with the dead ,
 
 CANTO II. 37 
 
 cc You may , perchance , have heard the name 
 a Of Gen'ral Darcy. Ere he fell , 
 
 « The Emp'ror's praise he oft had Avon — 
 « His rank let this commission tell ; 
 
 « You here behold his only son. 
 (( 'Tis mine to cherish , whilst I live , 
 
 cc The stainless honour of my sire : 
 (( What better hostage could I give ? 
 
 (( What more could courtesy require ? )> 
 Respectfully the soldier bow'd , 
 
 And laid his hand upon his heart ; 
 The lover pass'd the martial crowd , 
 
 And walk'd with Adelaide apart. 
 
 a Oh , Darcy ! look not on my face , 
 
 « My guilt or innocence to trace : 
 
 « The simple truth my lips shall speak — 
 
 « Then hate me — scorn me — be not weak , 
 
 (( But far from thy remembrance throw 
 
 « The wretched cause of all thy woe ! 
 
 « Oh , Darcy ! I have been deceiv'd*" 
 
 « By wolves , that took the lamb's disguise ;
 
 SO ItROKE.N CH-UXSL 
 
 « Too readily my soul believ'd , 
 
 « They had a mission from the skies, 
 a I struggled long 'twixt doubt and dread r 
 
 « But yielded to despair at last ; 
 « The fatal net was subtly spread , 
 
 (( And , once ensnar'd , the die was cast : 
 « Yet even then Compassion came , 
 
 « To bid me think of former years : 
 « And, as I watch'd the kindling flame, 
 
 cc Mine eyes grew blind with falling tears. 
 (( Ah , cruel error ! dreadful crime ! 
 
 « My motives seem'cl so good , so pure ! 
 « The feelings wept — but, all the time, 
 
 « The cheated conscience slept secure ! 
 (( My final doom had been delay'd , 
 
 « Had I agreed the veil to woo — 
 « But now my tempters have betrav'd ; 
 
 « Their dupe must be their victim too ! » 
 
 « Had Adelaide deriv'd her creed 
 
 <( From Nature's book , where all may read , 
 
 <x She had not kiss'd the bigot's rod,
 
 CANTO ir. r.9 
 
 (( Nor made a tyrant of her God ! 
 
 « For she had learnd , that nought but Love 
 
 (( Directs the mandates from above — 
 
 « That HE, who thund'ring shakes the plain, 
 
 « And sweeps in tempests o'er the main j 
 
 « Who midst the forky lightning glows, 
 
 (( And with the boiling lava flows ; 
 
 (( Who smiling blends the rainbow's hues, 
 
 (( And weeps, as fall the ev'ning dews; 
 
 « Who bids eaeli vernal flow'r rejoice , 
 
 « And tunes each bird's melodious voice 
 
 (( Who radiance lo the sun has giv'n , 
 
 (( And forth his silver chariots sent, 
 (( To bear the minor lights of heav'n 
 
 cc Around the crystal firmament r 
 (( Whose dread omnipotence we find , 
 
 cc At ev'ry hour , in ev'ry place ; 
 cc Whose wisdom moulds the thinking mind , 
 
 <c Whose goodness beams from woman's face • 
 cc That HE through all his works diffuses 
 
 « A soul of harmony and joy , 
 cc And all his mighh engines uses,
 
 40 JJROKEN CIIAIWS 
 
 « To fix, but never to destroy — 
 « That HE alone, who knows not change, 
 
 « Who rules the various modes of time , 
 (( Will ev'ry deed in order range, 
 
 cc And never , never sanction crime ! 
 « Ah ! why should I recall the past , 
 « When this offence ( thy first and last ) 
 « Has rais'd above thy head the glave, 
 « That soon may bring thee to the grave ? 
 (( One plan remains — thou must reveal 
 « The names of those, whose impious zeal 
 (( First led thee on : their blood will pay 
 (( For threefold guilt, that hates the day, 
 (( And thou , thy errors all forgiv'n , 
 « Be reconcil'd to man and heav'n. )> 
 
 ((It may not be — altho 1 a word 
 (( Indeed sufRc'd to bless us both , 
 
 « I must await the lifted sword , 
 « I could not violate an oath. » 
 
 <( Nay, Adelaide! when men unite,
 
 CAXTO 1!. 41 
 
 « To lead the \an in freedom's fight ; 
 
 « When Friendship Makes at Honour's call, 
 
 « Or Love survives Ambition's fall — 
 
 «. A stolen glance , a smother' d breath , 
 
 cc Can more than vows the spirit bind, 
 <x Endure the fiery test of death , 
 
 cc And clench the rivets of the mind. 
 a. But when an oath is made the price 
 « Of confidence in fraud or vice, 
 (( And us'd to sanction all, that springs 
 « From foolish or inditf'rent things, 
 « It loses ev'ry higher claim , 
 « And seems the mock'ry of a name. » 
 
 « In vain we strive to draw the line , 
 
 « To take the sting from infamy ; 
 « For , even as the sin was mine , 
 
 « Mine be the fated penalty : 
 « But , if thou really love me still , 
 
 « Thy place is near my mother's bed; 
 « Forget me — 'lis my fate, my will — 
 
 « But, oh, support her drooping head !
 
 42 EROiiEX CHAINS. 
 
 a Thou will not leave her , Darcy ? No ; 
 
 « Thine eyes a world of promise tell — 
 a Be firm , be tranquil, Darcy ! Go ; 
 
 « May heav'n reward thy faith ! Farewell I » 
 She tore herself away , and found 
 
 Her guards just sinking to repose ; 
 Their leader spoke, and, at the sound, 
 Each musket rattled on the ground , 
 
 And swiftly to the shoulder rose : 
 « March ! » and the darkness of the night 
 Soon hid the little hand from sight. 
 
 A week was added to the past, 
 
 When bell, and book, and candle, told, 
 That one , who lately breath'd her last, 
 
 Must now be laid in hallow 'd mould : 
 The sad , funereal dirge was sung , 
 
 The water sprinkled o'er the sod , 
 The earth upon the coffin flung, 
 
 And then — they left her with her God. 
 But , shrouded in his thoughts of gloom , 
 Within the shadow of a tomb
 
 CANTO 11 43 
 
 Did Dare\ linger, whilst his eve 
 
 Bespoke a world of agony. 
 
 Ofttimes will great misfortunes bring 
 
 Great consolations — scorn and pride 
 Give vigour to the spirit's wing, 
 
 And stem destruction's surging tide. 
 When Marius sat, where rival hate 
 
 The walls of Carthage had o'erthrown , 
 He smil'd to think , that city's fate 
 
 Was but the emblem of his own. 
 When on his rock. Napoleon stood, 
 
 And 'neath him rag'd the seething brine, 
 He said in his unbending mood : 
 
 (( Proud sea, my name is haught as thine! 
 « The slaves, who once obey'd my will, 
 
 « Detest me much , but fear me more : 
 
 « My voice is lost amidst thy roar, 
 (( Yet cowards hear and tremble still ! » 
 Thus deadly poisons of the mind 
 A secret antidote will find ; 
 I3ut who, that has not fell, can know 
 The anguish of domestic woe ?
 
 
 44 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 When even hope's delusive beam 
 
 Has fled with pleasure's transient day, 
 And all the boasts of self-esteem 
 
 Are vain and impotent as they : 
 When nothing outward can express 
 
 The inward heart's desponding tone — 
 The heart, that does not bleed the less, 
 
 Because it bleeds alone ! 
 
 « And now for Adelaide's abode, » 
 Said Darcy , as he look'd around ; 
 But tow'rds the spot a horseman rode, 
 
 And %htly vaulted to the ground. 
 His hair was white , and brown his cheek 
 But age had fail'd to make him weak ; 
 His eye was brilliant still , and war 
 Had mark'd his forehead with a scar , 
 Whilst on his breast , in proud display , 
 The Cross of Honour's Legion lay. 
 With iron nerves , with soul of fire , 
 He long had follow'd Darcy's sire , 
 And, since that gallant captain fell r
 
 CANTO II 45 
 
 Had serv'd his child, and serv'd him well — 
 Had nurs'd the infant, taught the boy, 
 And felt almost a parent's joy , 
 When o'er his form the youth would bend, 
 To kiss his brow , and call him friend. 
 
 « What news , good "\ ictor ? » « Such as might 
 
 « Teach all thy youthful blood to glow, 
 « Altho' a Russian winter's night 
 
 « Had buried thee in flakes of snow. 
 « The man , who wears the crown of France , 
 
 (c Has dar'd her Charter to despise , 
 « And bids a horde of slaves advance , 
 
 « To chain our limbs , and veil our eves : 
 « Resolv'd to blast a sacred cause , 
 
 « And little doubting of success , 
 « He saps our freedom, breaks our laws, 
 
 « And throws his shackles o'er the press. 
 (( No choice remains — the people must 
 « Resist, or grovel in the dust ; 
 « I view a naked sword alone 
 « Betwixt the nation and the throne.
 
 
 4H BP.ORE\ CHAINS 
 
 « 'Twas mine to seek this distant place, 
 
 (( And tell the tale — 'tis thine to trace 
 
 « A course of action ; there's but one, 
 
 « That's worthy of thy father's son. x> 
 
 « To Paris ! )) cried the youth , and led 
 His mettled steed from 'neath a shed : 
 Then paus'd awhile, and, ere he went, 
 This letter to his lov'd one sent : 
 
 « Were I to say, that pain and woe 
 
 « Have been entail' d on man ; 
 « That tears have seldom ceas'd to flow , 
 « Since light and air began — 
 « Methinks, I should a truth impart, 
 (( That has it's witness in the heart. 
 
 <X And all must share the common doom, 
 
 (( The wisest and the best j 
 « And , in the end , the silent tomb 
 « Affords a pleasing rest : 
 cc And even Adelaide must brook, 
 <( Upon a mother's grave to look. 
 
 « Her death was worthy of her life y
 
 CANTO II. 47 
 
 a A sweet and holy death ; 
 c< 1 scarcely mark'd (he spirit's strife, 
 « So gently pass'd her breath : 
 cc Her latest glance was clear and mild, 
 cc Her latest accents bless' d her child. 
 cc When all was over, I prepar'd , 
 
 cc To thee , my love , to fly • 
 « Thy prison I had gladly shar'd, 
 <c Or gain'd thy liberty : 
 « I fondly hop'd , that thou wouldst see 
 « A guardian, brother, friend, in me. 
 (( But new events my hopes o'erthrew ; 
 
 cc My country calls her son — 
 
 cc I burn'd for her, before I knew 
 
 cc How woman's heart is won , 
 
 cc And that young passion, fix'd as fate, 
 
 cc Might conquer love, or rival hate. 
 
 cc Should I the coming hour survive, 
 
 cc We may be happy yet : 
 cc There is no fear, that, whilst alive, 
 cc I ever can forget 
 (c The light and shade, behind us cast,
 
 48 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 « Which form the vision of the past. 
 « And should a prouder lot be mine , 
 
 a Should I with heroes sleep , 
 « Where glory's dazzling sunbeams shine , 
 « I'd beg thee not to weep , 
 a But that I deem , such idle pray'r 
 « Would soon be lost in empty air. 
 « Oh ! put thy trust in ONE above, 
 
 « Whose mercy , like the wren , 
 a Oft wakes a melody of love , 
 « Beside the homes of men ; 
 « Remember, HE is always nigh, 
 <x Altho' thy human lover die. 
 
 « If, after death, we live again, 
 
 (( If brighter worlds be our's, 
 cc Where from each drop of earth-born pain 
 « Will spring immortal flow'rs ; 
 « Where , as prophetic dreams have told , 
 « Our dross will all be turn'd to gold — 
 « If such things be , expect thy friend , 
 
 « Beyond the sable gate ; 
 « A pow'r divine our souls will blend ,
 
 CAXTO II. 
 
 41) 
 
 « When in Ihat oilier state , 
 « And one sweet sound, one lengthen'd kiss, 
 cc Make an eternity of bliss. 
 
 <x My words are wild , and wilder still 
 
 « The thoughts, that in me dwell — 
 « When passion rends the heart at will, 
 (( "Tis but a milder hell — 
 « Yet, could a wish oblivion give, 
 « 1 love, and therefore would I Jive. )> 
 
 1
 
 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 I he patt'ring sound of busy feet 
 Was heard, like hail, in ev'ry street, 
 And, as fresh myriads join'd the throng, 
 A living ocean roll'd along. 
 All Paris form'd a moving show, 
 A stage, where none appear'd to know 
 What scene came next ; but, through the whole 
 Spread one community of soul.
 
 &2 ltfrOItr* CUAIA'S. 
 
 All fell a tyrant's Litter slights , 
 All mourn'd their violated rights — 
 And , tho' no shout of thunder rose , 
 
 To make the welkin ring , 
 Yet countless lips proclaim'd their woes, 
 Invok'd their friends, defied their foes, 
 
 And curs'd their perjur'd King. 
 
 Hark ! the slaves of pow'r have said : 
 « Mount the charger, hare the blade , 
 
 (( And disperse the crowd ! » 
 Hark! the fools, that toil and bleed, 
 When a despot claims the meed 
 Of some dark and selfish deed , 
 
 Give an answer loud. 
 Look ! through ev'ry narrow way , 
 Clad in battle's dread array , 
 
 Rush the prancing cavalry : 
 « On ! away with curb and rein \ 
 (( Teach the people , that 'tis vain , 
 « With their monarch to maintain 
 
 cc A rebellious rivalry ! »
 
 CANTO III S3 
 
 Children now are trampled down , 
 Women shriek , and o'er the town 
 
 lude despair and flight ; 
 Save that, here and there, a band, 
 Gaith'ring pebbles , take their stand , 
 ^Mtli the Charter in their hand , 
 
 Ready for the fight. 
 
 « They love not, but they needs must fear 
 
 (( A sov'reign's might, a Bourbon's ire : 
 « Let tried battalions straight appear j 
 
 <x All pity now were weakness — Fire ! v 
 From triple hue , and hollow square , 
 
 A rapid train of Hashes broke , 
 And, as new echoes fill'd the air, 
 
 The troops were lost in curling smoke. 
 A scream arose — as wild a cry , 
 
 As ever chill'd the blood of man — 
 And, through the multitude, a sigh, 
 
 A thrill oi kindred horror ran. 
 The fatal lead had victims found, 
 
 And work d it's will, on ev'rv side —
 
 34 BROKEN CIIA1N3. 
 
 Here grey-hair 7 d virtue Lit the ground , 
 And there unflinching manhood died ; 
 Whilst from a maiden's breast of snow 
 A crimson fountain 'gan to flow. 
 
 « Shall we tamely , basely see 
 
 (( Such enormity of sin ? 
 «. Shall we bend a passive knee , 
 
 (( And a shameful safety win ? 
 (( Never ! Were the fiat giv'n , 
 
 « To annihilate us all , 
 « W T e would still appeal to heav'n , 
 
 « Bravely fight , and nobly fall. 
 « Freedom , leave thy pathless crag ! 
 
 c< Glory , sound thy loud alarms ! 
 (( Vengeance , wave thy blood-stain'd flag ! 
 
 « Citizens , to arms ! » 
 
 Each sought for weapons — ev'ry hand 
 Grasp' d pike or dagger, staff or brand — 
 Some seiz'd the pistol , usM before 
 In private feud , whilst others bore
 
 CAXTO III. iio 
 
 The light equipments, meet for men, 
 
 That love the chase in wood or ylen ; 
 And some there were , who loosely pil'd 
 The stones, their feet had oft deiil'd. 
 But scarcely had the strife begun, 
 When, like a hero, clos'd the sun 
 His bright career, on purple lying, 
 And girt with glory, ev'n in dying. 
 Then was each vig'rous arm employ d, 
 
 And friendly lamps, that lent their light, 
 
 To cheer the mighty city's night, 
 In one short hour , were all destroy'd — 
 Then darkness great assistance gave 
 
 To those , who felt the patriot flame ; 
 
 The soldiers blindly onward came, 
 To iind , at ev'ry step , a grave. 
 
 « Down with yonder lofty trees ! 
 « Through long years of joy and ease, 
 a Well we lov'd the pleasant shade , 
 « By their ample foliage made — 
 « Yet 3 alas ! their heads must how ;
 
 66 BttOKEN C1IAIAS. 
 
 « They must serve to guard us now. 
 « Lift the axe, the lever wield — 
 « This will be a bloodv field ! 
 « Bring the chariot — we shall need 
 (( All our strength , and all our speed ! 
 « Comrades , we must toil despise • 
 
 « Here our labours just begin — 
 (l Bid a thousand ramparts rise ; 
 
 « Freedom's fortress lies within ! » 
 
 As morning dawnd , a warrior came , 
 And barter'd talent, honour, fame, 
 To aid oppression's monstrous cause, 
 Against a people's chartered laws — 
 That people caught , with ready ear , 
 
 A Marmont's name, and quickly show'd, 
 In eyes that sparkled , cheeks that glow'd 
 Far more of hatred than of fear. 
 But now was us'd each baneful art , 
 That man imagines , man to slay : 
 Ah ! why should science lead the way , 
 To nierce the brain , or rend the heart ?
 
 CANTO III. B7 
 
 The shrill vibrations of the bell, 
 
 The hollow drum's inspiring sound , 
 Were now in louder thunders drown d , 
 
 Lost in the cannon's wilder knell. 
 
 When Darcy reach'd the town, and look'd 
 On scenes of rapine, slaughter, woe , 
 
 His ardent soul no respite brook'd , 
 
 And urg'd him on , to meet the foe — 
 
 But Victor first a musket sought, 
 
 Which long had slept, entomb'd in dust, 
 
 To light the precious weapon brought, 
 
 And cleans'd it from corroding rust. 
 A crooked sword the vet'ran gave 
 
 To his impatient friend , and said : 
 (( Be sure to prove thyself as brave , 
 
 (( As one, who own'd this stainless blade. 
 « It was thy sire's — in youthful pride, 
 
 « He trod the old Egyptian shore, 
 (( And , from an Aral) Chieftain's side , 
 
 « This rich ami glilt'ring prize he tore : 
 « Nor Alpine snows, nor Austrian blood,
 
 i»3 UltOkU.X CHAINS. 
 
 « Nor wasting tire, nor frozen flood, 
 
 (( Nor all the hardships, mortals feel, 
 
 « Have dimm'd it's tried and temper'd steel. 
 
 (( As Avan'd our glory's latest day, 
 
 (( This sword had cut it's master's wa\ , 
 
 « If his great mind could e'er have home 
 
 (( The stranger's yoke , th'invader's scorn j 
 
 c( But, no ! he rather chose to die, 
 
 t( Than see the eagle fore'd to fly, 
 
 <x And left behind this dang'rous toy , 
 
 (( A relic for his infant hoy. 
 
 « Then take it — on a river's brink , 
 
 « It soon grows thirsty ; let it drink. )) 
 
 As forth they sallied , Darcy saw 
 
 A well-known hand, who now prcpar'd 
 To take the vacant place of law , 
 
 And for the gen'ral safety car'd : 
 They bade the masses straight divide 
 
 In sep'rate troops , and leaders find ; 
 Then call'd on Order to preside, 
 
 And thus the force of all combin'd —
 
 CANTO HI 89 
 
 Yet were they not experienc'd men, 
 
 Whom age instructs , restrains , and cools ; 
 A child the lively race might ken , 
 
 The beardless students of the schools. 
 \\ ith joy unfeign'd , did Darcy greet 
 
 His ancient comrades, little chang'd , 
 Since, warm, ingenious, frank, and fleet, 
 
 The heedless youths together rang'd. 
 
 Where is the man , that has not sought , 
 
 To early friendships long to cling , 
 And hoard them with as fond a thought, 
 
 As faithful wives their bridal ring ? 
 Or , if he have the treasure lost , 
 
 Who has not paus'd, in later years, 
 To weigh the profit 'gainst the cost, 
 
 And water raem'ry's wreath with tears ? 
 Like mystic voices of the blest , 
 
 Associate forms are ever rife , 
 And still we love a rounded breast , 
 
 For thence we drew the milk of life, 
 The freshness of the morning air
 
 CO BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 Can ne'er return , and th<y the sky 
 At noon be bright, at eve be fair, 
 
 It ne'er can boast so deep a die — 
 And therefore docs affection dwell 
 
 On things, that long have ceas'd to be 
 And therefore signs and sounds , that tell 
 
 Of youth , are sweet to hear and see. 
 Oh , Nature ! thine the wondrous art, 
 
 If some wild tone, or darling spot, 
 Can lull to rest the fever'd heart , 
 
 Till all the present be forgot. 
 When , after wand'rings long and dark , 
 The dove of Noah reach'd the ark , 
 
 And there it's pinions furl'd, 
 The patriarch's soul could find relief, 
 From fear and pity , doubt and grief, 
 In one green sprig , one olive leaf, 
 
 That had surviv'd a w r orld ! 
 
 Now Darcy stood , where loudlv rose 
 The shouts of fierce , contending foes , 
 And more intensely drew his breath,
 
 CAJVTO HI. 6! 
 
 As first he view'd thai work of death. 
 He felt the flush of honest rase. 
 The future hero's surest gage. 
 But, more than this, he felt his brain 
 Grow dizzy with o'erwholming pain , 
 As glow'd within the proud desire, 
 To force a path through steel and fire, 
 And win such taintless palms, as grace 
 The angels , in their highest place — 
 This very feeling may have crept 
 
 O'er the young Sophocles , when first 
 He brealh'd his verse ( whilst Envy wept ) 
 And rous'd emotions, that had slept, 
 
 And quench'd his emulative thirst : 
 How must his rival, justly fam'd , 
 
 Have watch'd his trouble still increase , 
 Have seen him shrink, confus'd, asham'd, 
 fill one tremendous shout proclaim'd 
 
 The sentence of applauding Greece ! 
 
 A wide-mouth'd cannon, pointed well, 
 An open causewav did command ;
 
 <»2 BROKEX CHAINS 
 
 Its winged globes successive fell, 
 
 And serv'd to thin the patriot band — 
 But Darcy , w ith a chosen few , 
 
 Whose courage scorn'd the hireling host, 
 A gallant party forward threw, 
 
 And drove the soldiers from their post. 
 These quickly rallied , as they burn'd 
 
 Reproach and rage at once to stun : 
 The youth , with steady coolness , turn'd 
 
 Upon them the disputed gun — 
 He rais'd the lighted match , and glanc'd 
 Along the files, that now advane'd , 
 When close beside, with accent wild, 
 A female shriek' d : « My child ! my child ! )> 
 Just as the mother's words were spoken 
 A bov, who from her arms had broken 
 Each novel pageantry to see , 
 And clap his little hands with glee , 
 Sprang 'twixt the ranks , in laughing mood , 
 And right before the cannon stood. 
 The danger press'd, but those , who feel 
 The force of mercy's soft appeal , 
 
 5
 
 CANTO III 
 
 Which vies A\ith Echo's gentlest llute, 
 And then grows eloquently mute, 
 Will scarcely marvel, when they hear, 
 That he, whose hosoni knew not fear, 
 All chilling doubts at once forgot, 
 Or dar'd to cut each Gordian knot, 
 And forward rush'd , the child to place 
 Within it's parent's fond embrace. 
 
 That moment ruin'd all — it gave 
 A passage to the coming wave , 
 And Darcv's single arm remain'd , 
 To guard the station , he had gain'd : 
 But there he stood, unmov'd, alone, 
 
 And, for a moment, turn'd the tide. 
 Whilst some beneath his feet were thrown, 
 
 And many on his sabre died. 
 His strokes at last greAV faint and slack — 
 
 He gasp'd — he reel d — his vigour fail'd 
 More fiercely rag'd the loud attack , 
 
 And numbers over right prevail'd ; 
 Then had he never left the spot ,
 
 Ci BROKEN CHAINS 
 
 \\ licre ev'ry slone reveal'd a stain , 
 And where each dread , each crimson blot 
 
 But told of those , his hand had slain , 
 If ^ ictor had not rescue brought, 
 With more than human brav'ry fought, 
 And, clearing through the troops a way, 
 Withdrawn him from th'unequal fray. 
 Thus , when the struggle's hopeless length 
 Has bow'd a shipwreck'd traveler's strength , 
 And , on an eddy's horrid brink , 
 His outstretch'd members pow'rless sink — 
 Whilst aid from man 'twere vain to ask , 
 A faithful dog will court the task, 
 
 All careless of the billow's roar, 
 Will on the waters find a road, 
 And, happy in bis precious load, 
 
 Will bear his master to the shore. 
 
 Undaunted by his ill success , 
 Again did Darcy forward press, 
 Nor curb'd his efforts , till he found , 
 That he had won the spot of ground,
 
 CA.vro in 6* 
 
 Where stood that engine, dealing death , 
 In ev'ry blast of sulph'rous breath. 
 To compensate his first defeat, 
 His present triumph was complete , 
 And , leaning on his sword , he took 
 The rest, for which fatigue must look, 
 Since weary limbs repose will need , 
 Howe'er the spirit onward lead — 
 So feels a colt of noblest race , 
 Who ev'ry other horse has past , 
 And reach'd the destin'd goal at last, 
 With reeking sides, and flagging pace. 
 
 Throughout the day , the people fought , 
 Resolv'd to free the land from thrall ; 
 Without a mean or selfish thought, 
 
 Demanding nothing, slaking all. 
 Oh ! 'tis a grand, a fearful sight, 
 A nation rising in it's might, 
 Like some enormous mammoth , when 
 It crush'd those giant, sons of men , 
 Who, long ere dreaded Nimrod's Jirth,
 
 SO 13KOfet:.\ CMA1.\S. 
 
 Were hunters on the infant earth f 
 What force can combat or assuage 
 The many , in their headlong rage ? 
 And •why should Kings that rage provoke , 
 Unmindful of th'aveninnir stroke ? 
 Can nothing charm a royal hour, 
 But thy delights, Despotic Pow'r ? 
 Thou art, perchance, the precious gem ? 
 
 Of which the Grecian story told , 
 
 And which Polycrates of old 
 Held dear as throne or diadem — 
 Which haying lost, his ceaseless pain 
 
 Still made him murmur and repine , 
 
 ( All idly flow'd the Samian wine, 
 The Teiau song was rais'd in vain ) 
 
 Until a native of the brine 
 Had brought the jewel back again. 
 
 Where'er the people nobly bled , 
 
 Bv women were their clangers shar'd ; 
 
 These fair, but dauntless champions led 
 Their ranks , where vet'rans had despair'd
 
 CANTO III. 07 
 
 Eacli lender breast the storm defied , 
 
 Tho' worse than that of common wars ; 
 
 The sculptor's art no longer lied , 
 And A ENIJS bore the spear of Mars. 
 
 Tis night — a thousand stars on high 
 Relieve the blueness of the sky , 
 
 Where not a cloud has left a trace , 
 That there it spread it's milky sails, 
 And waited for auspicious gales, 
 
 When floating through th'abyss of space ; 
 But earth no answ'ring beam returns , 
 Save where the watch-fire dimly burns, 
 
 Or where , amidst a press of smoke , 
 The lightnings of the cannon play , 
 Still to prolong the sanguine day , 
 
 And stain t}ie night- queen's ebon cloak. 
 
 'Tis late , and silence once again 
 Assumes a momentary reign , 
 Till , in that vast , assembled throng , 
 Some blrnggliiig voices wake the song J
 
 03 BROKEN CHAIIVS. 
 
 cc With martial pomp , and measur'd tread , 
 cc With banners waving o'er their head , 
 
 cc With bright and flashing blades ; 
 (( With polish'd bay'nets , made to jar , 
 cc With huge artill'ry , brought from far , 
 « With all the thunderbolts of war , 
 
 cc They sought our Barricades — 
 cc But Valour to the combat springs , 
 cc Whilst new-born Hope , with rainbow wings , 
 
 cc The brow of Freedom shades ; 
 a And hearts , that now with pride beat high , 
 cc In Death's cold grasp must bleeding lie , 
 a Ere pamper'd bondsmen see us fly , 
 
 cc Or force our Barricades, 
 cc At Hist'ry's hand , our sons may claim 
 cc This dear bequest — the patriot's fame , 
 
 cc The wreath , that never fades ! 
 cc The poet's lay shall rise and swell , 
 cc When he , in future times , shall tell 
 cc Of those who fought , and those who fell , 
 
 cc Behind the Barricades !....» 
 Whilst Darcy o'er the wounded bent ,
 
 CASTO III 69 
 
 And some slight skill , which long had lain 
 Within him dormant , gladly lent , 
 
 To battle with the pow'rs of pain — 
 Old \ ictor knelt , -where watch-fires shed 
 
 The glimmer of their fitful flame , 
 And , in his hands , the flowing lead 
 
 A messenger of death became. 
 His pious labours at an end , 
 The youth rejoin'd his aged friend , 
 Who m utter' d : cc On a soldier's word , 
 (( Since first I learn'd to draw a sword , 
 <( I have not seen , in camp or fray , 
 « Such deeds as have been done to-day. 
 « Yes ! shamefae'd striplings here have caught 
 
 « The warlike passion , doubly steel'd , 
 <( And boldly ^entur'd , all untaught , 
 
 (( The marshal's dread batoon to wield. 
 « I saw a bridge , by grape-shot swept , 
 « Which still a purple current wept , 
 « And stood impervious , till a boy , 
 « With all a martyr's fervid joy , 
 k Exclaim'd . as back a glance he threw ;
 
 70 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 « Remember — Arcole dies for you ! 
 
 « Then rush'd across his chosen tomb , 
 
 (( And triumph'd in his gory doom. 
 
 « Oh ! great and daring is the spirit , 
 
 cc That Frenchmen from their sires inherit , 
 
 « When rous'd by suffering Freedoms cry , 
 
 « And fighting 'neath their native sky ! » 
 
 c( Ay ! 'tis a pure , a righteous cause , 
 
 cc That gives the value to the deed — 
 a A nation's peace , a world's applause , 
 
 cc At once the motive and the meed ! 
 <( Ere that brave youth had breath'd his last , 
 
 (( Ere came the death-film o'er his sight , 
 « A glorious vision must have past , 
 
 cc To glad him with it's heav'nly light — 
 (( A vision of enduring fame , 
 
 « And liberty's reviving spring ; 
 « Of thoughts , that turn the blood to flame , 
 
 (( And godlike inspiration bring, 
 cc It is the cause (a people's call) 
 « That sanctions and ennobles all :
 
 CANTO Elf. 7! 
 
 <( \ on brawny artisan , who stands, 
 
 « With naked breast , and unwash'd hands , 
 
 « Points to the bodies of the slain , 
 
 « Then lifts his eves to heav'n again , 
 
 « And , in that one , that mute appeal , 
 
 « Savs more to minds , that think and feel , 
 
 « Than if a Mirabeau had spoken , 
 
 « Fresh from the forum's mimic fight , 
 K Where crests were how'd, and sceptres broken, 
 
 « Beneath the thunders of his might. » 
 
 The third great day arriv'd — the sun 
 His splendid course had just begun , 
 ( As bright, said \ ictor , as when first 
 On Austerliiz his radiance burst ! ) 
 When Fate rcsolv'd to end the game, 
 And they , who bold assailants came , 
 Their cannon lost, their standards ri\ : n , 
 From ev'ry post dislodg'd and driv'n , 
 As drowning men, remote, from land, 
 
 To frail and floating roc.ds will cling, 
 Now took their last and desp'rate stand,
 
 73*'; imOREIV CHAINS. 
 
 'g 
 
 Within the palace of their Kinj 
 And there, whilst flew the murd'rous ball 
 From ev'ry loophole in the wall, 
 A stubborn hedge of bay'nets made, 
 Behind the princely colonnade. 
 In vain , in vain — the people swarm'd , 
 Thick as the darts, that Mithras threw, 
 When erst the vernal bull he slew , 
 And Persia's early poets warm'd. 
 
 But , ere they reach'd the royal dome , 
 
 They through the Louvre forc'd a way , 
 Wliere all the skill of Greece and Rome 
 
 Enjoys a new and genial day — 
 Wliere still the artist glory gives , 
 
 And animates the coldest earth, 
 Whilst canvass glows , and marble lives , 
 
 In beauty's own ideal birth. 
 Thence, like a pent, but swelling flood, 
 
 They forward urg'd the headlong march , 
 And soon their reckless vanguard stood , 
 
 Beneath the proud , triumphal arch :
 
 CANTO III. 7J 
 
 There ^ ictor for a moment slaid , 
 
 But Darcv caught his arm , and said : 
 
 « Not now, old soldier — yonder halls 
 
 c( Must see our banner in their walls , 
 
 (( Before the Bravest of the Brave 
 
 <x Will rest within his lowly grave. 
 
 « Hast thou not heard , throughout the fray 
 
 (( The voice of Vengeance and of Ney ? » 
 
 Tho' with their blood the ground was wet , 
 
 And often rose the dying groan , 
 The hardy patriots struggled yet, 
 
 Until the palace was their own : 
 There gems and costly stuffs abound, 
 
 With works of art, that charm the eve ; 
 There tempting piles of gold are found — 
 
 They gaz'd — and pass'd them b\ ! 
 
 Ye sons of wealth , who long have slept , 
 Upon the air-blown couch of ease , 
 
 "\\ hilst willing slaves the vigil kepi , 
 
 And flail ring visions sought to please —
 
 74 BROKEft CIIA1AS. 
 
 In heartless fashion's gay saloon , 
 
 In ostentation's gewgaw coach , 
 Ah ! can ye pierce through mis'ry's gloom , 
 
 Or paint starvation's dull approach ? 
 If such ye cannot , ye may slight 
 
 The lofty -virtue , pure and strong , 
 Which thus could lead the poor man right , 
 
 When all the passions pointed wrong ! 
 
 But , sav ! when danger rul'd the hour , 
 
 When all was to be fear'd , 
 ( Ere vict'ry's own tri-colour'd flow'r 
 
 It's welcome head had rear'd ) 
 With words of dignity and pow'r , 
 
 What re\'rend form appear'd ? 
 That eye had seen the thirteen stars , 
 
 Upon their field of blue ; 
 That cheek , in transatlantic Avars , 
 
 Had iiain'd it's darker hue. 
 Oh , Lafayette ! in better times , 
 When tyrants slumber with their crimes , 
 
 And all the world is free —
 
 CAMO IIJ. 7 
 
 The grateful nations will combine , 
 To build the temple , raise the shrine , 
 To Washington and thee ! 
 
 The fi""ht is Avon — m solemn state , 
 
 Tlie Deputies of France debate , 
 
 To trace the limits , that fulfil 
 
 The nations universal am 11 , 
 
 And fix the compact , that must bind 
 
 Themselves , their country , and mankind. 
 
 Behold ! above the Chamber sweep , 
 
 Tho' all unseen by vulgar eye , 
 The shades of those , whose honour' d sleep 
 
 Might teach us how to live and die — 
 Of those, who , in degen'rate days, 
 
 First dar'd a wholesome change to woo , 
 But perish' d in the after blaze , 
 
 It's heroes and it's martyrs too — 
 Of Malesherbes , whose persuasive pen 
 
 Was carl\ pluck'd from Freedom's wing , 
 In virtue! eloquenl , as when 
 
 He flew to shield lii>> captive King —
 
 7G l»IU)ItE\ CHAINS. 
 
 Of Bailly , who his science bore , 
 
 Far as the satellites of Jove , 
 Then sought the tennis-court , and swore , 
 
 To save the people of his love ; 
 Who , sacrific'd to brutal rage , 
 
 When less by time than learning old , 
 Replied to those , who mock'd his age : 
 
 (( I tremble... but it is with cold ! » — - 
 Of him , whose philosophic toil 
 
 Obtain' d the chemist's useful fame , 
 A Priestley's erring scheme to foil , 
 
 And gild with light Lavoisier's name ; 
 AVho , when the scaffold claim'd it's part , 
 
 Ask'd nothing but a scanty space , 
 To crown the trials of his art , 
 
 To serve and guide the human race — 
 Of Charlotte too , the fiercely bland , 
 
 Who in her youth and beauty stood , 
 A deadly weapon in her hand , 
 
 Black with a Marat's horrid blood — 
 
 Of Barnave , who , with diction rare y 
 Responded to the gen'ral crv —
 
 CANTO 111 77 
 
 Of all , who scorn'd each meaner care , 
 And ask'd for death or liberty. 
 
 'Tis this alone , that can sustain 
 
 The patriot soul , in want and pain — 
 
 A dream of tidings , that will come , 
 
 To cheer it , in it's final home — 
 
 A thought , that , when the churchyard worm 
 
 Has feasted on the lifeless form , 
 
 That portion of our nature's web , 
 
 Uninjured by the ocean's ebb , 
 
 May bathe it's threads in incense , burn'd 
 
 By those , the man has tried to bless , 
 Whilst all his views , which once were spurn'd , 
 
 Are render'd sacred by success. 
 
 The Chamber doubts — ill' eventful past 
 
 A sober tint around lias cast ; 
 
 Alike they shun the path , which leads 
 
 To lawless swav , and savage deeds , 
 
 And that , which winds round baseless thrones, 
 
 And ruin'd fields, and whittling bones,
 
 73 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 Tlio' Glory llicre her Column raise , 
 Or Fame repeat her darling's praise. 
 They poize ihc scales — the means afford 
 Contending factions to accord, 
 And, having hurl'd a despot down, 
 To Orleans give the vacant crown. 
 Oh ! never may that prince forget 
 His awful trust , his holy debt ! 
 Proclaim'd by no celestial voice, 
 
 Nor arm'd with lightnings from above — 
 His only right, the nation's choice : 
 
 His strongest guard , the nation's love ! 
 
 And where w r as Charles ? Throughout the strife,, 
 
 A cautions distance sav'd his life : 
 
 Now blam'd by those, who once advis'd , 
 
 .Deserted, pitied, and despis'd , 
 
 He wander'd forth , a second Cain , 
 
 And strove to hide the branded stain y 
 
 That marks the tyrant's foul disgrace, 
 
 Which years of penance ne'er efface. 
 
 In foreign lands, no shield he found
 
 
 C.AMO III. 71) 
 
 Against opinion's rays — 
 Such Avcrc the grand results, that crown'd 
 Those three immortal days ! 
 
 Yet are there some , "who mourn the fall 
 
 Of that misguided, haughty race, 
 And former centuries recall , 
 
 The deeds of chivalry to trace : 
 They mourn — ah ! thus they "would not "weep , 
 
 When talking of the peasant's fears , 
 Or viewing humble virtue steep 
 
 The bread of bitterness in tears .' 
 They mourn — for what ? Away with sighs , 
 
 That seem reserv'd for courtlv breath, 
 Like proud and splendid obsequies, 
 
 Which mock the nothingness of death : 
 Rejoice in all, that Freedom brings, 
 
 With confidence the future scan, 
 And sculpture, o'er the grave of Kings, 
 
 The great, th'eternal Rights of Man ! 
 
 • * *

 
 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 1 he bright sun is shining above , 
 
 Creation is laughing around, 
 The music of joy and of love 
 
 Has lent it's perfection to sound, 
 Whilst Paris , all brilliant and gay , 
 
 Stands there like a beautiful bride , 
 Forgetting the terrible fray , 
 
 The wounds , that disfigur'd her side. 
 
 6 
 

 
 82 B210HE.\ CiIAI.\S. 
 
 
 The dead are remov'd from her halls, 
 
 Th ) blood has been wash'd from her streets, 
 Tho' bullets remain in her walls , 
 
 And sorrow is mingled with sweets; 
 But few for that sorrow can care, 
 
 Where nothing of sympathy tells, 
 Where Fashion is giddy as fair , 
 
 And Pleasure sits weaving her spells , 
 Whilst Wisdom is stooping to share , 
 
 With Folly , his cap and his bells. 
 
 When Darcy saw , that all was over , 
 
 He sheath' d his blade , with carnage red , 
 Forgot the hero in the lover , 
 
 And far from scenes of triumph fled — 
 He felt the rapture and the pangs , 
 
 That rule alternately the breast , 
 When on a thread of lustre hangs 
 
 The hope of happiness and rest. 
 Oh ! rightly deem the Hindoo sages , 
 
 Whose fancied Love , as shifts the breeze , 
 Now softly melts , now wildly rages ,
 
 CA\TG IV. C3 
 
 And strings his flow'rv bow with bees ! 
 
 The faithful Victor folWd still , 
 
 With honest heart , and ready "will , 
 
 Altho' within his soul was pent 
 
 The germe of secret discontent ; 
 
 For ill he Lrook'd , that France should own 
 
 Another prince , an alter'd throne , 
 
 INor turn her eyes to one , who bore 
 
 A guiltless exile from her shore — 
 
 The boy , whose image lent a ray , 
 
 To sooth the hero's dying day. 
 
 In him , the soldier's simple mind 
 
 Could hopes of future vict'ries find , 
 
 Nor heed the sanguine tears of War , 
 
 That clog the wheels of Glory's car. 
 
 The vet' ran knew not , that the time 
 
 Of high and specious names is past — 
 That men have somewhat ceas'd to mime , 
 
 And many idols down have cast — 
 That France , tho' ready for the fight , 
 
 When self-defence or honour bids , 

 
 34 BROKE* CHAINS. 
 
 No more will visit with her might 
 The Kremlin or the Pyramids — 
 
 That he , the Samson of his age , 
 
 As much in blindness as in strength , 
 
 Were he again to tread the stage , 
 
 Might learn , that his imperial rage 
 Was bounded by his weapon's length. 
 
 As on they went , the travellers saw , 
 And with the novel sight were charm'd , 
 A nation disciplin'd and arm'd , 
 
 Beneath the guardian eye of Law — 
 
 A citizen militia , springing , 
 
 Like Pallas from her father's head , 
 A prudent liberty to spread , 
 
 And order into chaos bringing 
 
 At length they reach'd the destin'd spot , 
 Where luckless Adelaide — was not : 
 The startling myst'ry's cause t'unfold , 
 A wondrous tale the gaolers told , 
 Asserting , that a daring band 
 
 Had vis'd the darker hours of night ,
 
 C WTO IV. 8i5 
 
 (Whilst vet the whole enfranchised land 
 Was drunk and madden'd with delight) 
 
 Attack'd the prison , sword in hand , 
 And forc'd the wretched girl to flight. 
 
 Tho' Darcy felt the sudden stroke , 
 
 He soon to life and action woke , 
 
 For great and constant minds , we know , 
 
 Still gather energy from woe — 
 
 Thus , o'er the wreck of visions fair , 
 
 Of fruitless love , and hope as vain , 
 By hate revil'd , oppress'd with care , 
 
 A Byron rais'd his potent strain , 
 To wring forth beauty from despair , 
 
 And immortality from pain 
 
 « If still on earth , » th'enthusiast said , 
 
 « She shall not thus be lorn away : 
 a My own betroth' d — my gentle maid — 
 
 c( To horse — there's torture in delay ! 
 « Yet whither ? and in whom confide ? 
 
 (( ]No clew is giv'n , her course to track — 
 « Then , Love , be thou my trusty guide ,
 
 80 BUOJIEN CHAINS. 
 
 « And thou shall bring the lost one back ! 
 « \ictor , we travel southward — Rest 
 « Is for the slothful or the blest. » 
 
 They journied on , in joyless mood , 
 
 And daily vain inquiries made , 
 Tiil , crossing Loire's delightful flood , 
 
 They found a thicker , darker shade. 
 One ev'uing , when their jaded steeds 
 
 Within a village-hostel lay , 
 They wander'd o'er the neighb'ring meads , 
 
 And watch'd the daylight's pale decay : 
 A crowd approach'd — a lonely man , 
 
 Discover'd in the act of rending 
 That flag , which Frenchmen gladly scan , 
 
 Those hues, which Fame is ever blending, 
 Had just been seiz'd , whilst spread the cry : 
 « Down with the Carlist ! he shall die ! » 
 But Darcy interpose! : « My friends , 
 « Your means are bad , tho' good your ends. 
 « Our sacred colours may disdain 
 « The whims of each disorder' d brain ,
 
 C.-WTO IV. T,7 
 
 « And scarcely need , to mend their lot , 
 « A wicked murder's shameful Mot. 
 « That greatness imitate , which Lent 
 « It's halo to the glorious week — 
 cc On one so poor no vengeance wreak ; 
 « Your pity he his punishment ! » 
 Much more he s[>oke , so calmly strong , 
 That reason show'd them , they were wrong j 
 Tliev check'd their rage with errors rife , 
 And spar'd their destin'd victim's life. 
 
 The crowd dispers'd ; the stranger drew 
 
 A long, long breath, which seeni'd to tell, 
 That , till their numhers overthrew , 
 
 He struggled manfully and well — 
 
 no * 
 
 Then full on his deliverer turn'd 
 A scrutinizing glance , and said : 
 
 «. May 1 in hell's hot lire he l.mrn'd , 
 « If this good deed be not repaid ! 
 
 (( I know \on , Darcv — ask no more — 
 « I fain would serve you — follow me - 
 <x My aim is kind , my offer free ,
 
 «ft BROKE* CHAINS. 
 
 « For gratitude has gone before. )> 
 
 « Your words are strange as frenzy's dream , 
 
 « Your name unknown , nor can I deem 
 
 (( This question bootless or unjust : 
 
 « In whom and what am I to trust ? » 
 
 « The peevish patient may recpnre 
 
 (t The name of him , who sooths his pain — 
 « The liberated slave aspire , 
 
 « To learn what hand has burst his chain — 
 (( But you would cease demands to make , 
 
 « And trust at once a stranger guide , 
 cc Could you but guess , for tvhose dear sake 
 
 (( You now are call'd on to decide. "» 
 
 « You cannot mean — yet wherefore, doubt? 
 « Oh ! if it be so , I prefer 
 « Suspicion , danger , death , with her , 
 
 « To all the sweets of life without ! 
 
 « Lead on ! :» He said , and forward went , 
 In spite of Victor's warning look ,
 
 CANTO IV. 8» 
 
 Who soon the same direction took , 
 And feard , but shrank not from th'event. 
 
 Through narrow lanes , with rapid tread , 
 And silent lips , the stranger led 
 The travelers , till the twilight grew 
 To darkness , such as Egypt knew , 
 And j leaving all the haunts of men , 
 They gain'd a wild and heathy glen , 
 Where , on the borders of a wood , 
 An old and wretched hovel stood. 
 « Conceal yourselves near yonder chink , 
 
 « To watch how treason works and thrives ; 
 « You there mav see , and hear , and think , 
 
 « But stir not — breathe not — on your lives ! » 
 
 Thus having whisper' d , tow'rds the door 
 The guide advanc'd , and whistled thrice — 
 
 A watch-dog bounded from the floor , 
 And , barking , seiz'd him m a trice ; 
 
 But soon his well-known voice obey'd , 
 Submissive crouching , as he trod
 
 
 90 BIUHiEN CHAINS. 
 
 The ground , where he so oft had paid 
 His homage to the vineyard's god. 
 
 A single lantern serv'd to light 
 
 The cobwebs on each mould'ring rafter , 
 But claret shone in flagons bright , 
 
 And still the walls w r ere loud with laughter — 
 The laughter of a savage band , 
 
 Fantastic in their air and dress , 
 Whose features , stamp'd with passion's brand , 
 
 Were blear'd and bloated by excess : 
 The moral sense seem'd lost or shrouded , 
 
 The animal absorb'd the whole , 
 As hotly round the board they crowded r 
 
 And drown'd reflection in the bowl. 
 Apart from them , within a nook , 
 Sat one , whose stern and thoughtful look 
 Bespoke dark feelings more define! , 
 And higher energies of mind ; 
 His tonsure told his priestly calling , 
 But dense and coal-black locks w r erc Killing 
 O'er his broad shoulders — his the form , ,
 
 CANTO IV. 91 
 
 Thai marks the demon of the storm , 
 And his the mingled scowl and sneer , 
 
 \N Inch , seen beneath the monarch's crown , 
 The friar's hood , the beggar's gown , 
 Make good men hate , and weak men fear. 
 
 « Now welcome , Roland ! » cried the priest , 
 
 As on the threshold pans'd the stranger ; 
 )) Onr ev'ning sun will seek the east , 
 
 « Ere thou art known to fly from danger : 
 « Thou hast been wanted here — thy place 
 
 « Is ill supplied , in time of need ; 
 « But, by the Holy Virgin's grace, 
 
 (( Our pious duties gaily speed. 
 (( And dost thou pleasant tidings bring , 
 
 (( Or words of evil import ? Say ! 
 « What loyal hearts revere their King ? 
 
 « What recreant do< r s their God betrav ? » 
 
 « Nay , Father ! were 1 all to tell , 
 
 « Mv breath might fail — but thou canst spell , 
 
 <( And here arc papers, which relate
 
 *>2 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 « To friends, and foes, and things of weight. 
 (( Peruse them freely, ponder, sift; 
 
 « The labour and the praise be thine — 
 (( Ere thou shalt have my ghostly shrift, 
 
 « My lips must be baptiz'd in wine. » 
 
 Whilst on his hand repos'd his head , 
 
 The churchman mutter'd, as he read : 
 
 « No news from Rome — indeed, indeed, 
 
 « The popedom is a broken reed. 
 
 <c What's this ? The man was counted wise , 
 
 (( But there he's wrong — the south will rise ; 
 
 « He asks for money — he shall find 
 
 (( Both cash and credit to his mind. 
 
 « This list is useless — ill befall 
 
 « The fool, that wrote this other scrawl. 
 
 « What have we next ? The gage is good ; 
 
 « To Saint Ignatius thanks and glory ! 
 (( The bold and subtle brotherhood 
 
 « Will not belie their name in story. » 
 
 Now Roland told whate'er he knew,
 
 CANTO IV. 05 
 
 That might assist the lawless crew, 
 
 And furnish ladders, hung in air, 
 
 For heads that plan , and hearts that daie — 
 
 Then chang'd the theme , some hopes express'd , 
 
 And thus the musing priest address'd : 
 
 « Thy pretty captive — is t>he still 
 
 <( The guiltless instrument of ill ? 
 
 « Poor girl ! enough of sin and sorrow 
 
 a Have made her dread each coming morrow ; 
 
 « She cannot serve thee more , and thou 
 
 (( Wilt surely have some mercy now. » 
 
 But darker grew the other's frown , 
 
 As he replied : (( I scorn the shine 
 « Of maudlin Pity's tawdry crown ; 
 
 « Each has his victim — she is mine ! » 
 
 « So he it, Father ! Whilst we prate , 
 (( The moments fly ; 'tis growing late — 
 « All present here, methinks , may say, 
 « That Time's a greater thief than they. 
 « But, come j ere sinks the drowsy soul, 
 « I'll pledge them in a parting howl. »
 
 1)4 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 He said , and mix'd the fluid pure 
 
 With fervid liquor , brightly flaming , 
 And sugar, all it's faults to cure, 
 
 And lemon , all it's fury taming • 
 Then , unobserv'd by those , whose look 
 
 Was losing fast each mental gleam, 
 A powder in his hand he took , 
 
 And threw it in the burning stream. 
 
 « Now drink, » cried Roland ! « Hark , sir priest ! 
 « One friendly , farewell cup at least ! 
 « But, ere I join your cheerful throng, 
 « What say you, comrades, to a song? 
 « I'll give you one, that might awake 
 <c The slumb'ring waves of Sodom's lake, 
 cc And lend a somewhat warmer glow 
 a To Polar seas , and Alpine snow r : 
 
 « Away with cold caution — 'tis treason — 
 « Be merry , and fill to the brim ! 
 
 (( The idiot , that talks about reason , 
 (( Disgrace and confusion to him !
 
 CANTO IV. V.\ 
 
 o For it", when the gay glasses rattle, 
 
 c( He shrink from the nectar-stain'd hoard , 
 
 <x Oh ! how will he rush to the hatlle, 
 
 cc When clashes the blood-bedewd sword ? 
 
 «. They tell us, our life is a bad one, 
 
 « Repulsive , and cruel , and strange — 
 « But , since we have found it a glad one , 
 
 (( We feel no ambition to change, 
 cc We ask not for rank , wealth , or pleasure — 
 
 « On patrons we never shall call — 
 c< Our steel is our only true treasure , 
 
 « But steel , boys , will purchase them all ! 
 
 (( They preach virtue , justice , and duty , 
 
 « And sav , that mankind are all brothers — 
 « If so , we have claims on the beauty , 
 
 (( The goods , and the purses of others — 
 « Yet , as such a logical question 
 
 « Would render our ditty the longer , 
 (( We'll take the proud lion's suggestion , 
 
 « And trust to the right of the stronger ! »
 
 i)6 BROKEN CHAINS 
 
 » 
 
 He ceas'd , and glanc'd around , but sleep , 
 Unlook'd for , whelming , silent , deep , 
 Had fall' n on all , so Roland flew , 
 A torch to kindle , ere he drew , 
 With ready art , and practis'd hand , 
 From 'neath the churchman's silken hand , 
 An iron key , and pass'd the light 
 Across the eyes , conceal'd in night : 
 Then tow'rds the wakeful dog he cast 
 
 A piece of flesh , and left the shed , 
 Whilst Darcy , thus releas'd at last , 
 
 His old associate forward led. 
 
 cc Now swear, that "what you here have seen , 
 
 cc And what you yet may have to see , 
 cc Shall rest untouch'd by daylight's sheen , 
 
 cc Shall ne'er to others mention'd be. )) 
 They took the oath , and follow'd still , 
 
 Directed by the flambeau's glare , 
 Through silvan paths , reserv'd for ill , 
 
 And fit for murder's hidden lair 
 
 When Roland stopp'd , he put aside
 
 CANTO !\ <J7 
 
 Some clust'iing boughs ; a door appear' d — 
 His stolen key at once he tried , 
 
 Like one , who risk or hind'rance fear'd : 
 It open'd , just enough to show 
 
 A narrow stair , whose windings ended 
 In dark , cold , clammy vaults below , 
 
 Tow'rds which the fearless three descended. 
 There , stretch'd on straw , oppress'd with gloom, 
 Fair inmate of so foul a tomb , 
 
 They found a living maid — 
 Ah ! who shall Darcy's thoughts impart , 
 When first he knew , with shudd'ring start , 
 The Psyche of his yearning heart , 
 
 His long-lost Adelaide ? 
 Altho' her face of sulFring told , 
 Yet sweet as health , more priz'd than gold , 
 
 In all her milder charms , 
 She rais'd her head , and look'd around , 
 Then sprang bcwilder'd from the ground , 
 Half brcalli'd a faint , convulsive sound , 
 
 And rush'd into his arms 
 
 « We have not space for rapture's kiss , »
 
 0« ti KG 51 EX CiiAlXS. 
 
 Was Roland's phrase , as low'rd his brow : 
 « Hereafter you may talk of bliss , 
 
 « But think of life and safety now. » 
 They heard him , and prepar'd to mount , 
 
 With fluttering pulse , the dang'rous stair , 
 And , ere a sylph the drops could count , 
 That form a rose-bud's dewy fount , 
 
 They felt the pure , reviving air. 
 
 Their guide proceeded to a rock , 
 
 In whose huge base a cavern yawn'd : 
 « Here rest secure from peril's shock ; 
 
 « Till morning shall again have dawn'd — 
 « I must rejoin my sleeping friends , 
 
 (( For absence would suspicion waken , 
 (( And men , who aim at mighty ends , 
 
 « May oft in flimsy nets be taken. 
 <c I will return , as breaks the day ; 
 « Farewell ! » He said _, and strode away. 
 
 'Twas August , but , in wood and cave , 
 Where vapours rise , and branches wave ?
 
 CA\TO IV. 99 
 
 The midnight hour is chill , and flame , 
 At Victor's bidding , quickly came , 
 A "welcome guest ; then , seated near 
 The gladsome fire , uncheck'd by fear , 
 The lovers all their feelings told , 
 And prob'd the bosom's inmost fold. 
 Since last they parted , many things 
 
 Had burdens on affection laid , 
 But Youth has strong , elastic 'wings , 
 And Time an even balance brings — 
 
 This was the tale of Adelaide : 
 
 « My dungeon was a silent place — 
 
 « The soldiers left me there alone — 
 « Nor did I see a human face , 
 
 (( Nor answer to a mortal tone , 
 <c Save when my gaoler gave me food , 
 
 « With churlish aspect, or when those, 
 (( Who deal out law , were in the mood , 
 
 cc By questions to increase my woes. 
 « A hopeless stupor o'er nie stole , 
 
 « With that uncertainty , wh'u h hangs , 

 
 100 BR OX EX CHAINS. 
 
 (c Like nightmare , on the sinking soul , 
 
 (( Redoubling all it's other pangs ; 
 « I waver' d long on reason's brink — 
 (( I could not pray — I scarce could think ! 
 
 (( Thy letter next arriv'd — I read 
 
 (( Thy words of comfort and of pain — 
 « Oh, God ! to know, that she was dead, 
 
 « To feel assur'd, that ne'er asrain 
 <<. Should I behold the placid eye , 
 
 « The lip , which gratitude endears — 
 cc The ear, which heard my infant cry — 
 
 (( The hand , which wip'd my childish tears 
 (( Ah! worse than terror's death -bed strife, 
 
 « Or heated brain , or bosom sore , 
 (C To think , that I was full of life , 
 
 « And that my mother liv'd no more ! 
 
 (( I slept , and had a wondrous dream — 
 (( A scaffold in the market stood j 
 
 « An axe did there at sunrise gleam , 
 « Suspended , ready for my blood :
 
 CAXTO IV. 101 
 
 « The headsmen came, my doom lo seal — 
 
 « A scarf across mine eyes they bound , 
 <( And bow'd me 'nealh the fatal steel, 
 
 « Which grated, with a hollow sound... 
 (( The scene then shifted — birds were singing, 
 (( The joyous sabbath-bells were ringing, 
 « And, gay as once we us'd to be, 
 cc We wander'd tow'rds the churchyard-tree , 
 c< When , ere thy outstretched hand coidd save , 
 « I stumbled o'er a grassy grave — 
 « It was my mother's ! With a groan , 
 « I turn'd to thee , but vain my moan , 
 « For thou wert gone, and, in thy stead, 
 (( A horrid demon rear'd his head , 
 « Who, through the air, o'er sea and shore, 
 a Mv trembling form on whirlwinds bore... 
 « Again it chang'd — before a shrine , 
 
 cc 1 humbly knelt, and strove to pray, 
 « When suddenly a light divine 
 
 « lUum'd the temple with it's ray ; 
 « Mv guardian angel hover' d near , 
 (c Sublime, and redolent of hea\ n ,
 
 102 BROKE IV CHAOS. 
 
 « Display'd the Book , that spirits fear , 
 « And mark'd this passage with a tear : 
 « Daughter, thy sins are all Jorgiv'n ! 
 
 (( This "was consoling — I awoke, 
 
 (( Resign'd to God's supreme decree, 
 « And waited for the deadly stroke , 
 
 (( Serene, but from presumption free. 
 c( One still , dark night , the sound I caught 
 
 cc Of trampling feet , of heavy blows , 
 (( And language rough , witli curses fraught , 
 
 (( That wildly through the damp air rose • 
 « The door was forc'd , and ruffians press'd 
 
 (( Around me , all equip' d for war — 
 « They seiz'd me with their hands unbless'd , 
 
 <( And straightway hurried me afar. 
 « It seems , that those , who first betray'd 
 « A weak and simple village-maid , 
 « Now fear'd , that , as a people's voice 
 « Had nam'cl a monarch of their choice , 
 « Exact Inquiry's piercing eye 
 « Might into guilt's black secrets pry - y
 
 CANTO iv. ior> 
 
 (( They therefore doom'd me ave to dwell 
 « Within a subterranean cell, 
 a Where I had died, unknown, unwept, 
 cc If Love had paus'd , or Pity slept. » 
 
 cc Too much , my fair , thou didst endure , 
 a But let us now the past forget — 
 
 « To-morrow all our ills may cure , 
 (( And thou and I be happy vet ! » 
 
 « 'Twas thus I hop'd — but , Darcy , no ! 
 
 « It cannot, must not, shall not be — 
 « Thou mightst have shard a beggar's woe , 
 
 (c But not a felon's infamy ! » 
 
 c( My dearest girl ! and dost thou think , 
 
 (( That I from shame itself would shrink ? 
 
 « But this is not the only shore, 
 
 cc Where hands may join, or hearts adore, 
 
 « And, far away from pleasant Fiance, 
 
 a We yet may realize romance. 
 
 « Then hear my vow — Avhate'er betide ,
 
 104 BKGIvEX CHAIA'S. 
 
 (( We'll bear our portion , side by side j 
 c( And were a world's united breath 
 
 cc To offer Europe's proudest throne , 
 (( I'd rather hug the spectre , Death , 
 
 cc Than mount it's iv'ry steps alone ! » 
 
 The source of light appear'd at last, 
 
 And with it Roland, who had brought 
 Provision for a slight repast , 
 
 And thus express'd his private thought : 
 « You have not long to tarry here ; 
 
 (( The wolves may miss their prev , and I y 
 cc Were things to happen as we fear , 
 
 cc Could only choose to do or die. 
 cc Then laer not o'er your morning meal , 
 cc For seaward we must quickly steal ; 
 cc A smuggler's hoy , a fisher's bark , 
 cc May prove at need your safety's ark. » 
 
 cc How shall we pay you , » Darcy said , 
 
 cc How thank you as Ave ought , for all , 
 cc That you have done , our flight to aid ,
 
 CANTO IV. 10J 
 
 « To guard us from a second fall ? 
 « Oh ! much I marvel , that a heart , 
 
 « So truly grateful ? gea'rous , kind , 
 « Could e'er have ta'en a factions part , 
 
 cc Could e'er with anarchs have combine! ! )) 
 
 « Alas , young man ! if you had led 
 
 cc A life of ■want , in darkness spent — 
 <x Had suff'ring been your daily bread , 
 
 « And shame vonr sole habiliment — 
 « Or had vou , midst adventures low , 
 
 « Coudemn'd to lloat on Lethe's tide , 
 « Still felt ambition's furnace glow , 
 
 « And wrestled with aspiring pride — 
 « You might have understood the cause , 
 
 « That bids me ev'ry tendon string , 
 « To spurn the world's cphem'ral laws , 
 
 « And back it's puny scorn to fling. 
 
 <x There was a curse upon my birth , 
 
 « A marls upon my brow — 
 « That curse has chas'd me o'er the earth ,
 
 100 BROKEN CHAINS. 
 
 « That mark is burning now ! 
 (( Unlawful love , and vain remorse , 
 
 (( And terror , waxing pale , 
 « The broken heart , th' unburied corse , 
 
 « Make up my parents' tale. 
 <( The daring mariner , who braves 
 
 « The risk of foreign seas , 
 « Commits a message to the waves , 
 
 « When ruffled by the breeze j 
 « A brittle vessel , tightly seal'd , 
 
 « That message may contain — 
 « But I , without a glassy shield , 
 
 (( Was cast upon the main ! 
 
 « Repuls'd , neglected , or misus'd , 
 
 « Despis'd by all , of all accus'd , 
 
 « In tatters clad , with offal fed , 
 
 « How oft , a self-taught boy , I fled , 
 
 « From bitter words , from sneering looks , 
 
 « To nature , solitude , and books ! 
 
 « Whatever else might he denied , 
 
 « My mental wants were soon supplied \
 
 C1.MO IV. 107 
 
 (( The thirst for letters parchd my soul , 
 « And what I could not beg , I stole. 
 « W ell I remember , when mine eye 
 
 (( First caught the sunlight of Rousseau — 
 « The trellis- work of varied die , 
 « Like Jacob's ladder , plac'd on high , 
 « ]\ow almost joining earth and sky , 
 
 cc Now quench'd in tears , it forc'd to flow : 
 « Well I remember , when the page 
 
 « Of hist'ry open'd to my view — 
 « When those, who rul'd or chang'd their age, 
 « The chief, the orator , the sage , 
 « Could all my childish thoughts engage, 
 
 cc And seem , like Proteus , ever new ; 
 « But most I lov'd the tilings of war, 
 
 « The Macedonian's lightning-blast, 
 (c Stern Sylla's adamantine car, 
 (( Proud (Lesar's bright, unclouded star, 
 « Dark Cromwell, skill'd to make or mar, 
 
 « And he, the greatest and the last. 
 
 « The sense of wrong, the pangs, the strife,
 
 108 BROKEN CI1AI\S. 
 
 « The black realities of life , 
 
 c( Suffic'd illusion to destroy, 
 
 « And conquer' d hope , and banish' d jov : 
 
 « I left my books — a certain token , 
 
 « That ev'ry social tie -\vas broken — 
 
 a And, stung to rage, no longer blind, 
 
 « I learn'd to hate, to loathe mankind. 
 
 « With what disgust , I view'd the wiles 
 
 « Of fiends , that wear a seraph's face , 
 « That mingle poison with their smiles , 
 
 <x And clothe the canker'd breast in lace ! 
 « An open foe I do not dread , 
 
 (( Nor wild revenge , nor anger's din ; 
 « I fear the poniard's diamond head , 
 
 « The beauty of the tiger's skin. 
 « Oh ! better than the courtier's fate , 
 
 (( The poorest peasant's native fire , 
 « Who dares be honest in his hate , 
 
 cc And can be gen'rous in his ire ! 
 
 « I turn'd upon a world , that sought 
 
 « To crush the wretch , who bore it's brand —
 
 CAXTO IV. 109 
 
 « There's guilt within tnv silent thought , 
 
 « There's blood upon my lifted hand. 
 « Nay, gentle maiden ! do not start, 
 
 « A vampire's ruthless glance to see , 
 « For woman's form , and woman's heart , 
 
 a Are sacred images to me ! 
 « I am not fashion'd to forget , 
 
 « Or good , or ill , of former days ; 
 (c I owe a long arrear of debt , 
 
 cc But Patience hoards , and Time repays : 
 <( Society provok'd a slave , 
 (( It's edicts to dispute and brave — 
 « Let force decide the victor's right ; 
 « Woe to the vanquish'd in the fight ! 
 « If now I serve a rovai line , 
 « I do but further schemes of mine , 
 « When thus the Capets hatch a nest 
 « Of scorpions , to chastise the rest. » 
 
 (( Nor you , nor they , will e'er succeed , » 
 
 Said Darcy , « in each dang'rous plan ; 
 (( The specious glare , the reckless deed ,
 
 no broke:* Chains. 
 
 (( Have lost their hold on reas'ning man. 
 « When feudal tow'rs , or monkish halls , 
 
 « Are level with the earth , we mark 
 « The rusty links, that grac'd the irwalls, 
 
 (( Their noxious vaults, their dungeons dark — 
 <c And , having let the daylight in , 
 « Shall we rebuild the house of sin ? » 
 
 a It may be so — our hopes are charm'd — 
 
 « But deem not , that I hope alone — 
 « For Bigotry is standing , arm'd , 
 
 « Beside a shatter'd altar-stone — 
 « The melting fair , that never wept , 
 
 cc For low-born grief, or vulgar things, 
 (( Her sickly sympathy has kept , 
 
 (( For falling stars , and banish'd Kings — 
 « The peer still dreams of new Crusades , 
 
 (( And swears to raise the lily's head , 
 « Upon the point of Gothic blades , 
 
 « Altho' he turn the leaves to red — 
 « The Avan mechanic , who beholds 
 
 « A cheerless hearth , a starving child ,
 
 CAXTO IV. ill 
 
 « His nervous anus dejected folds , 
 
 « And asks for change , however wild — 
 
 (( The restless spirits , who abhor 
 cc Monotony in earth or heav'n , 
 
 « Are more unquiet than before , 
 
 (( And seem by vengeful furies driv'n. 
 
 (( Believe me , Darcy — hope remains ; 
 
 <c The Gallic cock will find his chains. » 
 
 « Forbid it , Sense ! forbid it , Pride ! 
 
 (( I feel the truth of what you say — 
 « But Freedom too has champions tried , 
 
 « Who to your night oppose their day : 
 ce With noiseless tread , Instruction walks , 
 
 <( From town to town , from door to door , 
 (( Whilst Prejudice no longer chalks 
 
 « So large a circle round the poor — 
 <c With many eyes , and many feet , 
 
 « Like some huge spider , in whose den , 
 « Unnumbcr'd threads concentring meet , 
 
 « The press observes the deeds of men — 
 <( The patriot's hand is on the links ,
 
 114 HUOKE3 CHAINS. 
 
 cc Tliat he has help'd to rend asunder — 
 <x Whilst Honour watches , Wisdom thinks , 
 
 (( And Courage plays •with sleeping thunder, 
 cc But , come ; our friends accuse our stay , 
 cc And justly chide this vain delay. » 
 
 The four approach'd the cavern's mouth , 
 And felt the breathings of the south , 
 When Adelaide was heard to call : 
 cc A shadow r moves on yonder wall ! » 
 And Victor , springing forward , cried : 
 cc That odious priest is at our side ! » 
 The caitiff spy , with treach'ry fraught , 
 In his own trap thus fairly caught , 
 Rais'd his stout arm , and struck a blow , 
 That laid the sturdy vet' ran low — 
 Then turn'd and fled ; but Darcy threw 
 
 His form across the rugged way ; 
 
 The churchman paused, a stag at bay, 
 And from his vest a dagger drew — 
 So firm his grasp , so true his aim , 
 
 So stern his brow , and flush'd his cheek ,
 
 CANTO IV. 113 
 
 That none will mock Ihc thrilling shriek, 
 Which from the fear-fix' d maiden came : 
 In that dread moment, Roland iir'd 
 
 A pistol, whose unerring lead 
 
 Crash'd homb-like through the shaven head ; 
 At Darcy's feet, the priest expir'd. 
 
 Impassive , moveless , Roland stood : 
 
 « And thou hast died by act of mine ! 
 cc Thou Avert not of the eagle's brood ; 
 
 « The vulture's carrion taste was thine — 
 « And yet I mourn thee , and will wear 
 
 « Thy beads and crucifix — 'tis done — 
 « The cause a heavy loss must bear ; 
 
 a Your life , young man , is dearly won ! » 
 
 That night, the stars beheld a pair 
 
 Of lovers, in a bark at sea _, 
 With one, whose blanch'd and froth-like hair 
 
 Shone in the moonlight sparknngly ; 
 Whilst, on lln' fast-receding shore, 
 
 A low'ring form was sren to ttand, 
 
 8
 
 114 
 
 BROKEN GHATXS. 
 
 That gaz'd, till it could gaze no more , 
 
 And track'd their course with steady hand. 
 The maiden spoke not , but her eye 
 
 Appear' d to say : (( Where'er we roam , 
 (( Whilst he , whom I adore , is nigh , 
 
 « My heart at least -will find it's home. » 
 The youth's fond glance this answer told : 
 
 (( Thou trusting girl , thou ne'er shalt find 
 <x A base alloy , instead of gold , 
 (( lllib'ral thoughts , or feelings cold J 
 
 cc I will not ? cannot prove unkind. » 
 IS T o wonder , love like their's could braVe 
 The frowning sky , and rolling wave !
 
 C0^CLA3SlCm. 
 
 Ye chords, be still ! Be hush'd, thou idle song, 
 Nor pall with fond excess , too weakly long ! 
 But, ere my Muse her silv'ry wing expands, 
 To hasten stork-like over distant lands , 
 She must the heroes of her talc retrace , 
 And give to each in turn his proper place. 
 
 Where mad Rebellion leagues with secret Crime , 
 And Havoc waits the destin'd harvest-time , 

 
 iiO CONCLUSION. 
 
 Is Roland seen , enduring trials rude , 
 
 To earn at best a sleril gratitude — 
 
 To meet , it may be , with an outlaw's doom t 
 
 A cell , a scaffold , and a pauper tomb. 
 
 In that fair Isle , whose wind-bleach'd cliffs were giv'n , 
 
 As guardian giants , by the hand of heav'n — 
 
 Whose sons command , where'er a keel can float , 
 
 And crowd with flapping sails her wide-spread moat — 
 
 To whose vast cities all the arts resort ; 
 
 On whose green herbage elves of fancy sport — 
 
 A cottage stands , where Darcy spends a life 
 
 Of active virtue , with his charming wife. 
 
 Their hearts would scorn the love of raving schools , 
 
 Mad whilst it burns , and selfish when it cools ; 
 
 But their"s the faith unchanged , the hallow'd kiss , 
 
 The milder radiance of domestic bliss , 
 
 And , when they view their own , their first-born boy y 
 
 Theirs the full measure of terrestrial joy. 
 
 Not long could Victor's courage bear repose , 
 And , as the cry of injur'd Poland rose — 
 As , waking at the voice of old allies y
 
 COACLUSIOA.' 117 
 
 She shook the dust of slav'ry from her eyes , 
 Rais'd her torn flag , where once her freemen trod , 
 And made her last, her grand appeal to God — 
 He flew to aid her cause , with gen'rous heat , 
 Shar'd her short triumph , her deplor'd defeat , 
 And , crown'd with laurel , reft of all beside , 
 On Warsaw's batter'd wall the vet'ran died. 
 
 Unhappy Poland ! fall'n , hut not dismay'd , 
 Tho' seiz'd by bloodhounds , and by friends belray'd , 
 (By toward friends , that slunk behind thy shield , 
 And left thee breathless on the hard-fought field) 
 Thy glorious deeds shall live, by thousands sung, 
 Like orient strains, in Mecca's temple hung; 
 And , if the Russian murd'rer boast awhile , 
 That Europe truckles , that the guilty smile , 
 'Twas even thus, when Greece beheld the tears 
 Of lost Messenia , for three hundred years, 
 Till one great blow the gyves of ages broke , 
 And nations ceas'd to fear the Spartan yoke. 
 
 Deluded Europe ! thine a sordid fate , 
 Submissive victim of despotic hale —
 
 ii8 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Each petty tyrant apes th'imperial tone ; 
 
 The Tagus answers to the Neva's groan. 
 
 But this can scarcely last; progressive light 
 
 Must chase afar the creatures of the night , 
 
 For HE, by Czars blasphem'd , th'eternal Lord, 
 
 Whom Newton rev'renc'di and whom Locke ador'd , 
 
 Ne'er set the seal of bondage and disgrace 
 
 Upon the features of the human face. 
 
 Oh , no ! the time will come , when earth shall be 
 
 The home of "Virtue , Peace , and Liberty — 
 
 A second Eden , excellently fair , 
 
 Without a foul and envious serpent there : 
 
 Then man may safely grant the woman's suit, 
 
 For all will eat alike of wisdom's fruit — 
 
 Then will the falcon spare the harmless dove , 
 And life itself become a name for love. 
 
 Till that bless'd calm arrive, the howling storm 
 Requires , that each a function should perform — 
 Each in his proper sphere — that , when shall speed 
 The bolt of death , and we be doom'd to bleed , 
 We may be found , where Valour learns to glow t 
 Not lurking basely in the hold below,
 
 COXCLUSIOX. 
 
 110 
 
 But on the quarter-deck, like Nelson drest, 
 Wilh all our honours glitt'ring on our breast, 
 And genily sink to sleep, by labour won , 
 Our truth unquestion'd , and our duty done !
 
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