And where the torrent's rainbow spray was cast
And where dark lakes were heaving to the blast,
And midst th' eternal cliffs, whose strength defied
The crested Roman, in his hour of pride;
And where the Carnedd*[1], on its lonely hill,
Bore silent record of the mighty still;
And where the Druid's ancient Cromlech†[2] frown'd,
And the oaks breathed mysterious murmurs round.
There throng'd th' inspired of yore!—on plain or height,
In the sun’s face, beneath the eye of light,
And, baring unto heaven each noble head,
Stood in the circle, where none else might tread.
Well might their lays be lofty!—soaring thought
From Nature's presence tenfold grandeur caught:
Well might bold Freedom's soul pervade the strains,
Which startled eagles from their lone domains,
And, like a breeze, in chainless triumph, went
Up through the blue resounding firmament!
Whence came the echoes to those numbers high?
—'Twas from the battle fields of days gone by!
