104
ENGLAND: AN ODE.
Things of night at her glance took flight: the strengths
of darkness recoiled and sank:
Sank the fires of the murderous pyres whereon wild
agony writhed and shrank:
Rose the light of the reign of right from gulfs of years
that the darkness drank.
Yet the might of her wings in flight, whence glory lightens
and music rings,
Loud and bright as the dawn's, shall smite and still the
discord of evil things,
Yet not slain by her radiant reign, but darkened now by
her sail-stretched wings.
II.
slain,
Stilled the discord, slew the darkness, bade the lights of
tempest wane,
Where the deathless dawn of England rose in sign that
right should reign.
