Page:Thalaba the Destroyer 1809 Vol 1 - Southey.djvu/34

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I. 16

“Or point their spiring heads to heaven,
“Or spreading wide their shadowy arms,
“Invite the traveller to repose at noon,..
“Hither, uprooted with their native soil,
“The labour and the pain of multitudes,
“Mature in beauty, bore them.
“Here, frequent in the walks
“The marble statue stood
“Of heroes and of chiefs.
“The trees and flowers remain,
“By Nature’s care perpetuate and self-sown.
“The marble statues long have lost all trace
“Of heroes and of chiefs;
“Huge shapeless stones they lie,
“O’er-grown with many a flower.

“The work of pride went on..
“Often the Prophet’s voice
“Denounced impending woe..
“We mock’d at the words of the Seer.
“We mock’d at the wrath of the Lord.
“A long continued drought first troubled us;
“Three years no cloud had form’d,