Page:Marmion - Walter Scott (ed. Bayne, 1889).pdf/39

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INTRODUCTION TO CANTO FIRST.
9
Nor be thy requiescat dumb,Lest it be said o'er Fox's tomb.For talents mourn, untimely lost, 130When best employ'd, and wanted most;Mourn genius high, and lore profound,And wit that loved to play, not wound;And all the reasoning powers divine,To penetrate, resolve, combine; 135And feelings keen, and fancy's glow,—They sleep with him who sleeps below:And, if thou mourn'st they could not saveFrom error him who owns this grave,Be every harsher thought suppress'd, 140And sacred be the last long rest.Here, where the end of earthly thingsLays heroes, patriots, bards, and kings;Where stiff the hand, and still the tongue,Of those who fought, and spoke, and sung; 145Here, where the fretted aisles prolongThe distant notes of holy song,As if some angel spoke agen,'All peace on earth, good-will to men;'If ever from an English heart, 150O, here let prejudice depart,And, partial feeling cast aside,Record, that Fox a Briton died!When Europe crouch'd to France's yoke,And Austria bent, and Prussia broke,155And the firm Russian's purpose brave,Was barter'd by a timorous slave,Even then dishonour's peace he spurn'd,The sullied olive-branch return'd,Stood for his country's glory fast, 160And nail'd her colours to the mast!Heaven, to reward his firmness, gaveA portion in this honour'd grave,And ne'er held marble in its trustOf two such wondrous men the dust. 165
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