Heard by that shore, where Calpe's armed steep The sightly trappings of a marshalled host; |And weeping France her captive king(17) de- And cursed the deathful point of Ebro's sword. war. -Wo to th' usurper then, who dares defy But theirs the kindling eye, the strenuous arm; "So when stern winter chills the April showers, Sweet as the martial trumpet's silver swell, In that good fight, shall Albion's arm be there? Of that chaste king whose hardy mountain Too long her sons, estranged from war and toil, train(13) O'erthrew the knightly race of Charlemagne; And the wild murmurs of the waving wood; Have loathed the safety of the sea-girt isle; Say, shall my country, roused from deadly sleep, And dim its beams in Roncesvalles' vale?(19) How their brave fathers fought, how thick the in- Or shall foul sloth and timid doubt conspire vaders fell. Oh! virtue long forgot, or vainly tried, And spent in northern fights the flower of Spain; To mar our zeal, and waste our manly fire?" Still as I gazed, his lowering features spread, Who in mid conquest, vaunting, yet dismayed, Chilled the pure stream of England's energy, And lost in courtly forms and blind delay And the weak victor flung his wreath away;)— "Yes, through the march of many a weary day, "Oh! if such hope can plead, or his, whose bier Drew from his conquering host their latest tear; powers; While one brave heart defies a servile chain, care Defends the orphan's tear, the poor man's prayer; Who, Lord of nature, o'er this changeful ball Decrees the rise of empires, and the fall; Wondrous in all his ways, unseen, unknown,(24) Who treads the wine-press of the world alone; And robed in darkness, and surrounding fears, NOTES. Note 1, page 8, col. 1. In Dresden's grove the dewy cool I sought. The opening lines of this poem were really composed in the situation (the Park of Dresden), and under the influence of the feelings, which they Frederic's campaign took away from the author attempt to describe. The disastrous issue of King all inclination to continue them, and they remained neglected till the hopes of Europe were again revived by the illustrious efforts of the Spanish people. Note 2, page 8, col. 2. Pratzen's hill. The hill of Pratzen was the point most obstinately contested in the great battle which has taken its name from the neighbouring town of Austerlitz; and here the most dreadful slaughter took place, both of French and Russians. The author had, a few weeks before he wrote the above, visited every part of this celebrated field. Note 3, page 8, col. 2. And, red with slaughter, Freedom's humble crest. It is necessary perhaps to mention, that, by freedom, in this and in other passages of the present poem, political liberty is understood in opposition to the usurpation of any single European state. In the particular instance of Spain, however, it is a hope which the author has not yet seen reason to abandon, that a struggle so nobly maintained by popular energy, must terminate in the establishment not only of national independence, but of civil and religious liberty. Note 4, page 9, col. 1. Gallia's vaunting train. The confidence and shameful luxury of the French nobles, during the seven years' war, are very sarcastically noticed by Templeman. Note 5, page 9, col. 2. Where youthful Lewis led. Prince Lewis Ferdinand of Prussia, who fell gloriously with almost the whole of his regiment. Note 6, page 9, col. 2. By her whose charms, &c. The Queen of Prussia; beautiful, unfortunate, and unsubdued by the severest reverses. Note 7, page 9, col. 2. The covering cherub, &c. "Thou art the anointed cherub that coverest." Addressed to Tyre, by Ezekiel, xxviii. 14. Note 8, page 11, col. 1. Inez' grave. cording to the Spanish romances, and the graver authority of Mariana, the whole force of Charlemagne and the twelve peers of France at Roncesvalles. Bertrand del Carpio, the son of Alonzo's sister, Ximena, was his general; and according to Don Quixote (no incompetent authority on such a subject) put the celebrated Ordando to the same death as Hercules inflicted on Antæus. His reason was, that the nephew of Charlemagne was enchanted, and like Achilles only vulnerable in the heel, to guard which he wore always iron shoes. See Mariana, l. vii. c. xi.; Don Quixote, Inez de Castro, the beloved mistress of the Infant book i. c. I.; and the notes on Mr. Southey's Don Pedro, son of Alphonso IV. King of Portugal, Chronicle of the Cid; a work replete with powerand stabbed by the orders, and, according to Ca-ful description, and knowledge of ancient history moens, in the presence of that monarch. A foun- and manners, and which adds a new wreath to tain near Coimbra, the scene of their loves and one, who “nullum fere scribendi genus intactum misfortunes, is still pointed out by tradition, and reliquit, nullum quod tetigit non ornavit." called Amores.-De la Clede, Hist. de Portugalle, 4to. tom. i. page 282-7:-and Camoens' Lusiad, canto 3, stanza cxxxv. Note 9, page 11, col 1. Who dared the first withstand The Moslem waters of their bleeding land. The Asturians, who under Pelagius first opposed the career of Mahometan success. Note 10, page 11, col. 1. Thy spear-encircled crown, Asturia. Note 14, page 11, col. 1. Chiefest him who reared his banner tall, &c. Rodrigo Diaz, of Bivar, surnamed the Cid by the Moors.-See Mr. Southey's Chronicle ledge. "La couronne de fer de Dom Pélage,-cette British have since obtained a melancholy knowcouronne si simple mais si glorieuse, dont chaque fleuron este formé du fer d'une lance arrachée aux Chevaliers Maures que se heros avoit fait tomber sous ses coups."- Roman de Dom Ursino le Navarin, Tressan, tom. ix. 52. Note 11, page 11, col. 1. Rude ancient lays of Spain's heroic time. Note 12, page 11, col. 1. Him in Xeres' carnage fearless found. The Gothic monarchy in Spain was overthrown by the Mussulmans at the battle of Xeres, the Christian army being defeated with dreadful slaughter, and the death of their King, the unhappy and licentious Roderigo. Pelagius assembled the small band of those fugitives who despised submission, amid the mountains of the Asturias, under the name of King of Oviedo. Note 13, page, 11, col. 1. Of that chaste king, &c. Note 16, page 11, col. 1. Tlascala. An extensive district of Mexico; its inhabitants were the first Indians who submitted to the Spaniards under Cortez. Note 17, page 11, col. 2. Her captive king. Francis I. taken prisoner at the battle of Pavia. Note 18, page 11, col. 2. Yon Baotic skies. Andalusia forms a part of the ancient Hispania Boetica. Note 18, page 11, col. 2. Roncesvalles' vale. See the former note on Alonso the Chaste. Note 20, page 12, col. I. The poised balance trembling still with fate. This line is imitated from one of Mr. Roscoe's Alonso, surnamed the Chaste, with ample rea-spirited verses on the commencement of the French son, if we believe his historians; who defeated, ac- revolution. The ancient siege of Saguntum has been now Note 23, page 12, col. 1. Bethulia's matron. Note 24, page 12, col. 1. Who treads the wine-press of the world alone. "I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of rivalled by Zaragoza. The author is happy to the people there was none with me, for I will tread refer his readers to the interesting narrative of his them in mine anger, and trample them in my friend Mr. Vaughan. fury."-Isaiah Ixiii. 3. Hymns WRITTEN FOR THE WEEKLY CHURCH SERVICE OF THE YEAR. Several of these hymns were originally published in the Christian Observer, in the years 1811 and 1812, and were then accompanied by the following prefatory notice, which it is thought due to the author, should be here preserved. "The following Hymns are part of an intended series, appropriate to the Sundays, and principal holidays of the year; connected in some degree with their particular Collects and Gospels, and designed to be sung between the Nicene Creed and the Sermon. The effect of an arrangement of this kind, though only partially adopted, is very striking in the Romish liturgy; and its place should seem to be imperfectly supplied by a few verses of a Psalm, entirely unconnected with the peculiar devotions of the day, and selected at the discretion of a clerk or organist. On the merits of the present imperfect, essays, the author is unaffectedly diffident; and as his labours are intended for the use of his own congregation, he will be thankful for any suggestion which may advance or correct them. In one respect, at least, he hopes the following poems will not be found reprehensible;-no fulsome or indecorous language has been knowingly adopted: no erotic addresses to him whom no unclean lip can approach, no allegory ill understood, and worse applied. It is not enough, in his opinion, to object to such expressions that they are fanatical; they are positively profane. When our Saviour was on earth and in great humility conversant with mankind; when he sat at the tables, and washed the feet, and healed the diseases of his creatures; yet did not his disciples give him any more farni liar name than Master or Lord. And now at the right hand of his Father's majesty, shall we address him with ditties of embraces and passion, or language which it would be disgraceful in an earthly sovereign to endure? Such expressions, it is said, are taken from Scripture; but even if the original application, which is often doubtful, were clearly and unequivocally ascertained, yet, though the collective Christian church may very properly be personified as the spouse of Christ, an application of such language to individual believers is as dangerous as it is absurd and unauthorized. Nor is it going too far to assert, that the brutalities of a common swearer can hardly bring religion into more sure contempt, or more scandalously profane the Name which is above every name in heaven and earth, than certain epithets applied to Christ in our popular collections of religious poetry," Bishop Heber subsequently arranged these hymns, with some others by various writers, in a regular series adapted to the services of the Church of England throughout the year, and it was his intention to publish them soon after his arrival in India; but the arduous duties of his station left little time, during the short life there allotted to him, for any employment not immediately connected with his diocese. This arrangement of them has been published in England since his death, and republished in this country. ADVENT SUNDAY. HOSANNA to the living Lord! Hosanna, Lord! thine angels cry; Oh, Saviour! with protecting care, But chiefest, in our cleansed breast, And make our secret soul to be So, in the last and dreadful day, SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. JOHN I. THE Lord will come! the earth shall quake, The Lord will come! but not the same The Lord will come! a dreadful form, Can this be Thee who wont to stray Go, tyrants! to the rocks complain! SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT. In the sun and moon and stars Soon shall ocean's hoary deep, Tossed with stronger tempests, rise: Shall the Judge of men appear. Come, Jesus! come! return again; With brighter beam thy servants bless, Who long to feel thy perfect reign, And share thy kingdom's happiness! A feeble race, by passion driven, In darkness and in doubt we roam, And lift our anxious eyes to Heaven, Our hope, our harbour, and our home! Yet mid the wild and wint'ry gale, When Death rides darkly o'er the sea, And strength and earthly daring fail, Our prayers, Redeemer! rest on Thee! Come, Jesus! come! and, as of yore The prophet went to clear thy way, A harbinger thy feet before, A dawning to thy brighter day: So now my grace with heavenly shower Then come and reap thy harvest there! THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT. THE world is grown old, and her pleasures are past; The world is grown old, and her form may not last; Our heart is in heaven, our home is not here, THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT. MATT. XI. OH, Saviour, is thy promise fled? No longer might thy grace endure, To heal the sick and raise the dead, And preach thy gospel to the poor? CHRISTMAS DAY. OH, Saviour, whom this holy morn Incarnate Word! by every grief, |