1831.] Merlin's Prophecy for I he Year 1831 ! 



Ireland's bonds shall soon be broken, 

 Spite of Byng, Fitzroy, and Hill ; 



Patriot lips the words have spoken 

 Blood and spoil shall have their fill. 



Sounds are on the tempest winging. 



What lias spoke them ? Wrath and shame. 

 Memories start, like serpents, stinging ; 



Searching, wild, and bright, like flame. 

 Europe, from thy deepest prison 



Rings a voice that earth must hear, 

 When the Spirit once has risen ; 



Man ! thy day of grandeur's near ! 



Italy ! thy pangs are numbered ; 



Light shall through thy dungeons shine ; 



Many an age thy strength had slumbered 

 Freedom's blaze forsook thy shrine. 



But the reign of blood and plunder 

 Tremble, Austria ! shall be o'er ; 



Heaven not yet has lost the thunder- 

 Gore shall yet be paid by gore. 



Poland ! long baptized in slaughter, 



To high heaven thy cry is borne, 

 Though thy blood was poured like water, 



Though thy heart by wolves was torn ! 

 E'en on thee a light is beaming, 



Light that summons from the grave 

 Light from lance and sabre streaming, 



Poland ! thou'rt no more a slave ! 



Germany ! thou too art waking, 



Like the giant from his sleep, 

 Heavily thy fetters shaking, 



Like the heavings of the deep 

 Ere the storm begins to blow ; 



Like the torrent on the steep, 

 Gathering ere it bursts below ! 



Who shall stand that torrent's sweep ? 



Hour of mighty retribution ! 



Who shall stand when thou art come ? 

 Hour of fiery dissolution ! 



Strength a cypher, council dumb ! 

 But the tempest shall be chidden, 



Earth shall shine without a stain ; 

 Guilt beneath its mountains hidden, 



Man shall be himself again ! 



B2 



