The Complete Poetical Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge Volume I Part 152

The Day-Star of our glory sets!

Our King has breathed his latest breath! 10 Each heart its wonted pulse forgets, As if it own'd the pow'r of death.

Our Crown, our heart's Desire is fled!

Britannia's glory moults its wing!

Let us with ashes on our head, 15 Raise up a mourning for our King.

Lo! of his beams the Day-Star shorn,[436:2]

Sad gleams the Moon through cloudy veil!

The Stars are dim! Our n.o.bles mourn; The Matrons weep, their Children wail. 20

No age records a King so just, His virtues numerous as his days; The Lord Jehovah was his trust, And truth with mercy ruled his ways.

His Love was bounded by no Clime; 25 Each diverse Race, each distant Clan He govern'd by this truth sublime, 'G.o.d only knows the heart--not man.'

His word appall'd the sons of pride, Iniquity far wing'd her way; 30 Deceit and fraud were scatter'd wide, And truth resum'd her sacred sway.

He sooth'd the wretched, and the prey From impious tyranny he tore; He stay'd th' Usurper's iron sway, 35 And bade the Spoiler waste no more.

Thou too, Jeshurun's Daughter! thou, Th' oppress'd of nations and the scorn!

Didst hail on his benignant brow A safety dawning like the morn. 40

The scoff of each unfeeling mind, Thy doom was hard, and keen thy grief; Beneath his throne, peace thou didst find, And blest the hand that gave relief.

E'en when a fatal cloud o'erspread 45 The moonlight splendour of his sway, Yet still the light remain'd, and shed Mild radiance on the traveller's way.

But he is gone--the Just! the Good!

Nor could a Nation's pray'r delay 50 The heavenly meed, that long had stood His portion in the realms of day.

Beyond the mighty Isle's extent The mightier Nation mourns her Chief: Him Judah's Daughter shall lament, 55 In tears of fervour, love and grief.

Britannia mourns in silent grief; Her heart a prey to inward woe.

In vain she strives to find relief, Her pang so great, so great the blow. 60

Britannia! Sister! woe is me!

Full fain would I console thy woe.

But, ah! how shall I comfort thee, Who need the balm I would bestow?

United then let us repair, 65 As round our common Parent's grave; And pouring out our heart in prayer, Our heav'nly Father's mercy crave.

Until Jehovah from his throne Shall heed his suffering people's fears; 70 Shall turn to song the Mourner's groan, To smiles of joy the Nation's tears.

Praise to the Lord! Loud praises sing!

And bless Jehovah's righteous hand!

Again he bids a George, our King, 75 Dispense his blessings to the Land.

_Hymn_

O thron'd in Heav'n! Sole King of kings, Jehovah! hear thy Children's prayers and sighs!

Thou Binder of the broken heart! with wings Of healing on thy people rise! 80 Thy mercies, Lord, are sweet; And Peace and Mercy meet, Before thy Judgment seat: Lord, hear us! we entreat!

When angry clouds thy throne surround, 85 E'en from the cloud thou bid'st thy mercy shine: And ere thy righteous vengeance strikes the wound, Thy grace prepares the balm divine!

Thy mercies, Lord, are sweet; etc.

The Parent tree thy hand did spare-- 90 It fell not till the ripen'd fruit was won: Beneath its shade the Scion flourish'd fair, And for the Sire thou gav'st the Son.

etc.

This thy own Vine, which thou didst rear, And train up for us from the royal root, 95 Protect, O Lord! and to the Nations near Long let it shelter yield, and fruit, etc.

Lord, comfort thou the royal line: Let Peace and Joy watch round us hand and hand.

Our n.o.bles visit with thy grace divine, 100 And banish sorrow from the land!

Thy mercies, Lord, are sweet; And Peace and Mercy meet Before thy Judgment seat; Lord, hear us! we entreat! 105

1820.

FOOTNOTES:

[436:1] First published with the Hebrew in pamphlet form in 1820. First collected in 1893.

[436:2] The author, in the spirit of Hebrew Poetry, here represents the Crown, the Peerage, and the Commonalty, by the figurative expression of the Sun, Moon, and Stars.

YOUTH AND AGE[439:1]

Verse, a breeze mid blossoms straying, Where Hope clung feeding, like a bee-- Both were mine! Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young! 5

When I was young?--Ah, woful When!

Ah! for the change 'twixt Now and Then!

This breathing house not built with hands, This body that does me grievous wrong, O'er aery cliffs and glittering sands, 10 How lightly then it flashed along:-- Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore, On winding lakes and rivers wide, That ask no aid of sail or oar, That fear no spite of wind or tide! 15 Nought cared this body for wind or weather When Youth and I lived in't together.

Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; Friendship is a sheltering tree; O! the joys, that came down shower-like. 20 Of Friendship, Love, and Liberty, Ere I was old!

Ere I was old? Ah woful Ere, Which tells me, Youth's no longer here!

O Youth! for years so many and sweet, 25 'Tis known, that Thou and I were one, I'll think it but a fond conceit-- It cannot be that Thou art gone!

Thy vesper-bell hath not yet toll'd:-- And thou wert aye a masker bold! 30 What strange disguise hast now put on, To make believe, that thou art gone?

I see these locks in silvery slips, This drooping gait, this altered size: But Spring-tide blossoms on thy lips. 35 And tears take sunshine from thine eyes!

Life is but thought: so think I will That Youth and I are house-mates still.

Dew-drops are the gems of morning, But the tears of mournful eve! 40 Where no hope is, life's a warning That only serves to make us grieve, When we are old:

That only serves to make us grieve With oft and tedious taking-leave, 45 Like some poor nigh-related guest, That may not rudely be dismist; Yet hath outstay'd his welcome while, And tells the jest without the smile.

1823-1832.