The young,

the gray in years, the rich, the bold, The slaves of pleasure, and the slaves of gold;

Nobles, the lofty tenants of the throne,

And those who state nearest its splendours own,—
(Yes, witness HIM, from a great nation reft,
Who now to sorrowing multitudes has left,
And to a weeping Consort, but a Name,

Yet, "Pure and Good" that Name, as far above
All mortal fame, as heavenly, earthly love;

Yea, as yon arches of empyrean blue,

Earth's glittering gawds, which take from them their hue!)

All, at His sovereign will and high command,

By transmutation of His plastic hand,

Eager their several offices fulfil,

Advance His glory, and perform His will.

He knows each varying talent, temper, mood;
Rebukes the evil, and refines the good:
His power the rebel nature loyal makes;
He touches, and the slumbering spirit wakes;
He calls, and earth's enchantments strait dissolve;
He nerves the will, and prompts the firm resolve.-
"Twas thus He great Elijah called; no rays
Of tempering morn ushered his noon-tide blaze;
But, in meridian greatness, he was set

In stern resistance to a sinning state:

'Twas thus Heaven's fires were placed at his command, And idol-priests fell powerless in his hand;

Thus, as Religion's rampart, he upstood;

Thus breasted vice, and stemmed th' apostate crowd:

And, when his work was done-earth's sleep-bound clay
And crumbling dust unshared-no flickering ray,
No cloud obscuring his triumphant day—

On wheels of flame, and-waved around his head.
The victor's wreaths-his heavenward way he sped!

Here leave we him awhile; and aim to trace The chequered tale of Israel's kingly race; Whose virtues now Heaven's choicest favours won, Now, whose offences brought His judgments down; Tarnished their crowns, and shook their dynasties; Hurled some to dust, and others bade to rise; Till-brought His chosen champion to the field, Clothed in His armour, with His sword and shieldHe taught to ears unwilling-and in vain! That by Jehovah's favour monarchs reign; That faithfulness to Him makes nations great, But disobedience overthrows the fairest state.

END OF CANTO II.

CANTO III.

MONARCHY.-SAUL.-DAVID.

THROUGH varying years, when the inconstant race Of Israel had Jehovah from His place

Deposed; a mortal's sway to His preferred;

And on a son of dust His throne conferred;—
Midst chequered fortunes-as their passions swayed;
As they Heaven's rule rejected or obeyed,-
Now basking in the sunshine of His grace,
Now steeped in suffering, ruin, and disgrace ;-
Still to His altars Israel faithful proved,
And gracious souls His sacred service loved.

First of their monarchs, Saul, by lenient Heaven(Th' affront done to Himself absolved) was given. Richly he was with regal gifts endued ; The stately form, the valorous breast, the mood Generous, though rude and changeful, and a soul That, for his people and himself, control

Of heathen tyrants spurned :-had he the sway,
Alas! of gentler Heaven but learned to obey,
His kingdom had, like rocks that breast the flood,
Unshaken to his children's children stood.

But in the Throne vain are endowments fair,
If loyalty to God be wanting there;

He who would best direct a nation's will
Must most implicitly Heaven's laws fulfil:
Saul's error was, presumptuous, to aspire,
Unauthorised, to light His altar's fire;
To blend with civil office sacred things,
The priesthood's hallowed function with the king's.
That fault forgiven, disobedience still
Betrayed the unsound heart, and rebel will:
His early grace exhaled like early dew,

Sin after sin the state to ruin drew :

Darker and darker grew his course; the blood
Of guiltless crowds at his stern bidding flowed:
The unoffending priesthood was not spared;
'Gainst his own flesh his wrathful arm was reared:
The passive rival, whom his fault upraised,

From home, from new-formed ties and friendships chased,—
Then-Heaven's protection lost-his deadly foes

Around him, like the baited lion, rose:

He sought, in ways occult and banned, to find
The secret purpose of th' Eternal mind,

The fate of battles; and received his doom

From the dark precincts of the solemn tomb!

Then sank the orb, that flung its beams so bright Along the opening sky, in rayless night;

Yet still no idol-rites the nation stained,

And, to Jehovah true, people and king remained.

Deep was thy guilt 'gainst Heaven, unhappy Saul! Yet pity shall thy greatness still recall,

And weep thee, and those Three-young, princely, brave— Banded, from fierce Philistia's grasp to save

Their fair inheritance, on that red field,

Where they were doomed, hope, kingdom, life, to yield,
Yield all but glory! For there was One, who grieved
Their fall, who told their graces, and who weaved
For them the song, touched with immortal fire,
And wed in loftiest strains to the sweet-breathing lyre.
Left to Eternal Justice that great wrong,
'Gainst Heaven committed-great, alas! and long;
All, all forgot the wrongs himself received;
Thy kingly gifts, O Saul, his generous spirit grieved:
Though pledged successor to the vacant throne,
He mourned the monarch, great and fallen, alone;
While, for that Friend, that Brother-him, whose love
And friendship were all earthly love above;—
Friendship and love, which now, like some pure pyre,
Burnt with a brighter and a holier fire;-
Tears, like the blood-drops from a wounded soul,
Down his wan cheeks in staunchless currents roll!

"How are the mighty fallen !" he cried;

Twas thus rolled sorrow's tide ;