Felicia Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Volume 31 1832/Let us Depart!

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For other versions of this work, see Let us Depart!.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 31, Pages 218-219


LET US DEPART!

BY MRS HEMANS.

Louder and louder, gathering round, there wander'd
Over the oracular woods and divine sea,
Prophesyings which grew articulate.—Shelley.


Night hung on Salem's towers,
    And a brooding hush profound
Lay where the Roman Eagle shone,
    High o'er the tents around—

The tents that rose by thousands,
    In the moonlight glimmering pale;
Like white waves of a frozen sea,
    Filling an Alpine vale.

And the temple's massy shadow
    Fell broad, and dark, and still;
In peace, as if the Holy One
   Yet watch'd his chosen hill.

But a fearful sound was heard
    In that old fane's deepest heart,
As if mighty wings rush'd by,
    And a dread voice raised the cry,
        "Let us depart!"

Within the fated city
    Ev’n then fierce discord raved,
Though through night's heaven the comet-sword
    Its vengeful token waved.

There were shouts of kindred warfare
    Through the dark streets ringing high,
Though every sign was full which told
    Of the bloody vintage nigh:

Though the wild red spear and arrows
    Of many a meteor host,
Went flashing o'er the holy stars,
    In the sky now seen, now lost.

And that fearful sound was heard
    In the temple's deepest heart,
As if mighty wings rush'd by,
    And a voice cried mournfully,
        "Let us depart!"

But within the fated city
    There was revelry that night;
The wine-cup and the timbrel note,
    And the blaze of banquet light.

The footsteps of the dancer
    Went bounding through the hall,

And the music of the dulcimer
    Summon'd to festival.

While the clash of brother-weapons
    Made lightning in the air,
And the dying at the palace-gates
    Lay down in their despair.

And that fearful sound was heard
    At the temple's thrilling heart;
As if mighty wings rush'd by,
    And a dread voice raised the cry—
        "Let us depart!"