Poems (Volume 2) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE GOLDEN LEGEND. PROLOGUE. THE SPIRE OF STRASBURG CATHEDRAL. and storm. Lucifer, with the Powert of the Air, trging to tear down the Oron. Hasten ! hasten ! O ye spirits! From its station drag the ponderous Cross of iron, that to mock us Is uplifted high in air ! Voices. O, we cannot! For around it All the Saints and Guardian Angels Throng in legions to protect it; They defeat us everywhere ! THE BELLS. Laudo Deuru verum! Plebem voco! Congrego clerum ! Lower! lower! Hover downward! Seize the loud, vociferous bells, and Clashing, clanging, to the pavement Hurl them from their windy tower! VOL. II. 6 fgl) All thy thunders Here are harmless! For these bells have been anointed, And baptized with holy water ! They defy our utmost power. THB l!E).l.8. Defunctos ploro I Pestem fugo! Festa decoro ! Shake the casements ! Break the painted Panes, that flame with gold and crimson 5 Scatter them like leaves of Autumn, Swept away before the blast! O, we cannot! The Archangel Michael flames from every window, With the sword of fire that drove us Headlong, out of heaven, aghast! THE BELLS. Funera plango! Fulgura frango! Sabbata pango! Aim your lightnings At the oaken, Massive, iron-studded portals! Sack the house of God, and scatter Wide the ashus of the dead ! O, we cannot! The Apostles And the Martyrs, wrapped in mantles, Stand as warders at the entrance, Stand as sentinels o'erhead ! THE BEI.LB. Excito lentos! Dissipo ventos! Paco cruentos! Baffled ! baffled! Inefficient, Craven spirits ! leave this labor Unto Time, the great Destroyer ! Come away, ere night is gone ! Onward ! onward! With the night-wind, . Over f...