Poems (Hornblower)/Destiny

For works with similar titles, see Destiny.
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DESTINY.
'Mid anxious bodings of futurity, Sleep fell upon me, and methought I stood, Trembling and pale, amid the battle flood,Compassed with terror and calamity.It was a bitter conflict, and mine eye Shrank from the fearful wildness of the sight:When lo! a deep voice—"This is destiny— Gird on thy heavenly armour for the fight.Face the world's trials."—Wondering I turned, And viewed a form of gentleness and grace, High thoughts and youth sat glowing on his face,And in his eye a holy ardor burned:—"O who art thou?" I cried:—he smiling spread A shield before me, and the darts aroundPlayed harmless on it:—my weak steps he led, And if I slightly sighed, he caught the sound:—Art thou my guardian angel?" "Sent by Heaven "I come," said he, "to share thy mortal doom—One common pilgrimage to both is given, One heart, one home, one summons, and one tomb!"
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