The Daughter of the Isles, and Other Poems

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844 edition. Excerpt: ... How beautifully she behaves! She tosses off the spray As coyly as the bird that laves Its plumage in the bay. Gaze ye! for starry eyes look down From battlements of bliss; And saints forget their harp and crown To look on sight like this. They see, too, ships, all bristling o'er With implements of strife, That seek the Asiatic shore In quest of human life. They look on her, who from her isle (iives law to lawless deep; If such in scorn can smile, they smile, If such can weep, they weep. 'T is well, Britannia! war to wage On unoffending men; And loose, in its ungoverned rage, Your Lion from its den i 'T is godlike to promulge decree At kingly Leadenhall; And pagan pride subdue to ye By bayonet and ball! 'T is well a realm so poor, so great, Whose millions beg their bread--For power, should crush a foreign state, For plunder, blood should shed! A Christian nation, too, whose feet Have proud cathedrals trod; Your pious prayers and hymns, how sweet Their incense unto God! Ambition whispers in your ear, And Mammon lures you on; Your path is hell, --an angel's tear Blasts every laurel won. Yet go!--a heartless queen and court By selfishness must rule, Till terribly is lesson taught In Retribution's school. O when in blood you 've washed away Her insolt to your throne, And China, humbled to your sway, No more with realms is known--In your old temples chant " Amen!" To loud Te Deum staves;--You 've made a continent of men A hemisphere of slaves.a Sail on! sail on! O, mission bark! The church is still at sea; Winds roar, waves tumble, skies are dark, And strong the tempests be. Yet winds and waves are in God's fists, And at His sovereign will, He chides all tumults as he lists, And storms and states are still. On, lovely Mary...