JERUSALEM. Fall'n is thy throne, O Israel! On Etham's barren shore? That fire from Heaven which led thee, Thy long-lov'd olive-tree; 5 10 15 20 HARK! 'TIS THE BREEZE. Hark! 'tis the breeze of twilight calling Earth's weary children to repose; While, round the couch of Nature falling, Gently the night's soft curtains close. Soon o'er a world, in sleep reclining, Numberless stars, through yonder dark, Shall look, like eyes of Cherubs shining From out the veils that hid the Ark. 5 Guard us, oh Thou, who never sleepest, Thou who, in silence throned above, 10 Throughout all time, unwearied, keepest Thy watch of Glory, Pow'r, and Love. Grant that, beneath thine eye, securely, Our souls, awhile from life withdrawn, May, in their darkness, stilly, purely, Like 'sealed fountains,' rest still dawn. (Ibid.) 15 THOMAS CAMPBELL. THOMAS CAMPBELL, born in Glasgow, in the year 1777, was the youngest son of a family of ten. He attended the university in his native city for six years, and gained much distinction by his knowledge of the Greek language and literature, which he extended by attentive study in Germany under Prof. Heyne. Campbell wrote his poem entitled, 'Love and Madness' in Argyleshire, where he resided a year upon leaving the university. In 1799 he published his 'Pleasures of Hope,' which went through four editions in one year. After this, he spent some time on the Continent, and whilst in Bavaria he is said to have been an eye-witness of the Battle of Hohenlinden, which he has described in the poem bearing that name. He was prevented by the existing hostilities from continuing his journey as far as he had intended, and was obliged to return from Vienna. In Hamburgh 1801 he wrote his 'Exile of Erin' and 'Ye mariners of England;' he published HOPE TRIUMPHANT IN DEATH. Unfading Hope! when life's last embers burn When soul to soul, and dust to dust return, Heaven to thy charge resigns the awful hour! Oh! then thy kingdom comes, Immortal Power! What though each spark of earth-born rapture fly 5 The quivering lip, pale cheek and closing eye! Bright to the soul thy seraph hands convey Oh, deep enchanting prelude to repose, run, From your unfathomed shades, and viewless spheres, A warning comes, unheard by other ears. 'Tis Heaven's commanding trumpet, long and loud, Like Sinai's thunder, pealing from the cloud! While Nature hears, with terror-mingled trust, The shock that hurls her fabric to the dust; With mortal terrors clouds immortal bliss, And shrieks and hovers o'er the dark abyss! 'Lochiel's Warning' a year after his arrival in Edinburgh. In 1803 Campbell resolved to devote himself to literature as a profession, and for that purpose took up his residence in London: soon after his arrival there, he brought forward his 'Annals of Great Britain from the Accession of George III. to the Peace of Amiens." In 1809 he published his 'Gertrude of Wyoming,' in 1820 he wrote his splendid poems, 'O'Connor's Child' and "Theodoric,' and between 1820 and 1830 many of his most beautiful poetical pieces made their appearance in 'The New Monthly Magazine:' of these we may mention "The Last Man, which is considered one of his finest productions. In 1842 'The Pilgrim of Glencoe and other pieces appeared. Besides his poems, Campbell published in 1837 the 'Life of Mrs. Siddons,' the 'Life of Petrarch,' and 'Letters from the South,' in which he has described a visit to Algiers. He died at Boulogne in 1844, and was buried in Westminster-Abbey. 'And say, when, summoned from the world and thee, 15 I lay my head beneath the willow-tree, Wilt thou, sweet mourner! at my stone appear, And soothe my parted spirit ling'ring near? Oh! wilt thou come at ev'ning hour, to shed The tears of mem'ry o'er my narrow bed; With aching temples on thy hand reclined, Muse on the last 'farewell!' I leave behind, Breathe a deep sigh to winds that murmur low, And think on all my love, and all my woe? So speaks affection, ere the infant eye 25 A mother's ear by that endearing name,- That shall no longer flow. What though beneath thee man put forth And arts that made fire, flood and earth, His pomp, his pride, his skill; The vassals of his will;Yet mourn I not thy parted sway, Thou dim discrowned king of day: For all those trophied arts Heal'd not a passion or a pang And triumphs that beneath thee sprang, Entail'd on human hearts. Go, let oblivion's curtain fall 35 40 Its piteous pageants bring not back, Of pain anew to writhe; Ev'n I am weary in yon skies Behold not me expire. 45 50 My lips that speak thy dirge of death-55 Receive my parting ghost! This spirit shall return to Him And took the sting from Death! Go, sun, while Mercy holds me up The dark'ning universe defy Or shake his trust in God. O'CONNOR'S CHILD. Oh! once the harp of Innisfail (1) 60 A hero's bride! this desert bower, That grew on Connocht Moran's tomb. For here these pathless mountains free O'Connor's child, I was the bud 65 Still as I clasp my burning brain, A death-scene rushes on my sight; 20 25 30 35 40 The bloody feud-the fatal night, 75 80 Witness their Eath's victorious brand, Glory (they said) and power and honour But he, my loved one, bore in field Ah, brothers! what did it avail Was strung full high to notes of glad- And what was it to love and me That barons by your standard rode, Or beal-fires (1) for your jubilee 50 55 Upon an hundred mountains glowed? 60 What though the lords of dower and dome, From Shannon to the North-Sea foam,- At bleating of the wild watch-fold Thus sang my love-'Oh, come with me: (1) Originally kindled in honour of the God Belus or Bel. When all was hushed, at even-tide I heard the baying of their beagle: And every hand that dealt the blow- 115 Warm in his death-wounds sepulchred, And go! (I cried) the combat seek, Beneath a sister's curse unroll'd. 150 155 160 165 170 They would have cross'd themselves, all mute; They would have pray'd to burst the spell; 120 But, at the stamping of my foot, Each hand down pow'rless fell! 125 But know that where its sheet unrolls (1) Harp. (2) A building or inclosure for sheep or cattle. 175 180 |