Page:Poems - Southey (1799) volume 1.djvu/36

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

20

Clasp'd in the savage soldier's reeking arms,Shrieks to tame Heaven the violated Maid.By the rude hand of Ruin scatter'd roundTheir moss-grown towers shall spread the desart ground.Low shall the mouldering palace lie,Amid the princely halls the grass wave high,And thro' the shatter'd roof descend the inclement sky.
Gay o'er the embattled plainMoves yonder warrior train,Their banners wanton on the morning gale!Full on their bucklers beams the rising ray,Their glittering helmets flash a brighter day,The shout of war rings echoing o'er the vale:Far reaches as the aching eye can strainThe splendid horror of their wide array.Ah! not in vain expectant, o'erTheir glorious pomp the Vultures soar!Amid the Conqueror's palace highShall sound the song of victory:Long after journeying o'er the plain
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.