Page:Poems - Southey (1799) volume 1.djvu/37

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21

The Traveller shall with startled eye
See their white bones then blanched by many a winter sky.

Lord of the Earth! we will not raise
The temple to thy bounded praise.
For thee no victim need expire;
For thee no altar blaze with hallowed fire!
The burning city flames for thee—
Thine altar is the field of victory!
Thy sacred Majesty to bless
Man a self-offer'd victim freely flies;
To thee he sacrifices Happiness,
And Peace, and Love's endearing ties;
To thee a Slave he lives to thee a Slave he dies,

Husht was the lute, the Hebrew ceas'd to sing;
The shout rush'd forth—for ever live the King!
Loud was the uproar, as when Rome's decree
Pronounc'd Achaia once again was free;
Assembled Greece enrapt with fond belief
Heard the false boon, and bless'd the villain Chief;