THE DUTY OF SOVEREIGNS. w 



His father's sacred bones obstruct the ploug'i, 



Or knows the blood outpour'd of his brave sons 



Has sunk in silence to enrich the soil ; — 



No — not far off I see the levyinjj hosts, — 



Their bristling spears bright glist'ning to the sun — 



Their flashing swords OjUick leaping from the sheath, — 



Their fierce artillery with hurrying speed 



Drawn to the field, — charg'd for the ready matc'i — 



And there I see thy downfall — thy defeat — 



Thy vain opposing weakness, Tyranny, 



'Gainst the resistless power of Freedom's sons !" 



" O England ! purify thy hands from sin. 



From the foul spot and stain of tyranny. 



Look to thy sister isle, and there behold 



A portion of thy empire, how depress'd. 



Degraded, and despis'd — wrong'd, basely wrong'd ! 



Faction predominant, that borrows terms 

 _ Of Christian faith to work oppression by. 



Upheld at home her curs'd ascendancy — 



Justice delav'd, because her groaning sens 



Have long become impatient of delay — 



Redress withheld, because they dare to tell ye. 



That they have wrongs that ouglit to be redress'd. 



Faith foiced upon them, on religion's plea, 



Because ve say (truly) " cur faith is best," 



The Vv-hich to prove j'ou claim tbeir money for it. 



O profitable faith ! and worth adoption. 



Since it serves two at once, both God and Mammon. 



Oh I tamper not with Justice, till at last. 



In deep disgust and horror at your sins, 



Siis fling her scales aside, and wield the sword. 



The two-edg'd sword, with no respective mercy. 



When her most sacred dictates are despis'd. 



Wliat ! know ye not, or have ye never heard. 



Perchance, of the wild justice called Revenge ? 



Oh ! sv/erve not from tlie path direct from right. 



Still to uphold a bloated hierarchy 



Useless or worse ; since to their sacred charge 



Incompetent, or else unserviceable. 



If rather they have not betiay'd their charge. 



You have tried force with Ireland : it avails not ; 



You have tempted them with scenes of luxury. 



Which, traitors to the faith they have been taught 



To hold as true, might have been sliar'd with them. 



You liave tried all things with them — and in vain : 



All things, save Ju.-iticc, which you ne'er have tried ; 



Give them but justice — make them one with us. 



And leave their altars free, and they are one !" 



,t 

 One word more, and we have done. Is Lord Pulmerston in good 



