When doom'd of old by every Prophet's lyre,
Theme of the Saints' appealing cry,

While underneath the shrine they lie,

Proud Babel in her hour sinks in her sea of fire.

While worldlings from afar bemoan

The shatter'd Antichristian throne, The golden idol bruis'd to summer dust

"Where are her gems ?-her spices, where ?

Tower, dome, and arch, so proud and fair

Confusion is their name-the name of all earth's

trust."

The while for joy and victory

Seers and Apostles sing on high,

Chief the bright pair, who rest in Roman earth :
Fall'n Babel well their lays may earn,

Whose triumph is when souls return,

Who o'er relenting Pride take part in Angels' mirth.

Y.

CLVIII.

THUS evermore the Saints' avenging God

With His dread fires hath scath'd th' unholy ground; Nor wants there, waiting round th' uplifted rod, Watchers in heaven and earth, aye faithful found.

God's armies, open-ey'd, His aim attend

Wondering how oft these warning notes will peal, Ere the great trump be blown, the Judge descend : Man only wears cold look, and heart of steel.

Age after age, where Antichrist hath reign'd,
Some flame-tipt arrow of th' Almighty falls,
Imperial cities lie in heaps profan'd,

Fire blazes round apostate council-halls.

And if the world sin on, yet here and there

Some proud soul cowers, some scorner learns to

pray;

Some slumberer rouses at the beacon glare,

And trims his waning lamp, and waits for day.

U

THE EXCHANGE.

CLIX.

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the Word of our GOD shall stand for ever."

'Tis sad to watch Time's desolating hand
Doom noblest things to premature decay :
The Feudal court, the Patriarchal sway
Of kings, the cheerful homage of a land
Unskill'd in treason, every social band

That taught to rule with sweetness, and obey
With dignity, swept one by one away;

While proud Empirics rule in fell command.
Yet, Christian! faint not at the sickening sight;
Nor vainly strive with that Supreme Decree.
Thou hast a treasure and an armoury

Locked to the spoiler yet: Thy shafts are bright:

Faint not: HEAVEN'S KEYS are more than sceptred

might;

Their Guardians more than king or sire to thee.

B.

CLX.

"Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children, whom thou mayest make princes in all lands."

SAY, who is he, in deserts seen;

Or at the twilight hour?

Of garb austere, and dauntless mien,
Measured in speech, in purpose keen,
Calm, as in heaven he had been,
Yet blithe when perils lower.

My Holy Mother made reply,
"Dear Child, it is my Priest.

The world has cast me forth, and I
Dwell with wild earth and gusty sky;
He bears to men my mandates high,
And works my sage behest.

Another day, dear child, and thou
Shalt join his sacred band.

Ah! well I deem, thou shrinkest now
From urgent rule and severing vow;

Gay hopes flit round, and light thy brow :

Time hath a taming hand!"

d.

COMMUNE PONTIFICUM.

"At even, being the first day of the week, the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews."

CLXI.

"ARE the gates sure?—is every bolt made fast?
No dangerous whisper wandering through-
Dare we breathe calm, and, unalarmed, forecast
Our calls to suffer or to do ?"

O ye of little faith! twelve hours ago,

He whom ye mourn, by power unbound The bonds ye fear; nor sealed stone below

Barred Him, nor mailed guards around.