Epitaph on an Infant. 119 



Constantinople too still checks the flood, '9 

 Quenching her vengeful fires in Arab blood. 

 Vain too the fury of thy fierce advance,^'' 

 Bold Abderahman, through the plains of France, 

 Europe her homes and altars saved from thrall. 

 May thee, brave Charles, her great deliverer call. 

 Hammer of war thou won'st thy title well 

 On Tours broad fields when Arab myriads fell. 



'9 Constantinople eflfectually checked the progress of Arabian victory ; it stood two 

 sieges, 675 and 718. The Arabs suffered their greatest loss from the eflfects of the 

 Greek fire employed by the Constantinopolitans. 



20 Ten }'ears after their invasion of Spain, the Arabs, in 721, advanced into the 

 south of France, establishing themselves in Languedoc ; and the fate of entire Europe 

 appeared to tremble in the balance, when after another ten years they again marched 

 forward in 731. Europe was, however, effectually saved by their complete defeat 

 and destruction by Charles Martel, really the sovereign of France, though nominally 

 only maire du palais under the last of the rois faineants of the Merovingian race. 



EPITAPH ON AN INFANT. 



We saw thy gentle face and tender form. 



In sorrow heard thee weep thy helpless cry, 

 Thy bright eye meekly look'd upon the storm 



It could not brave : — thou did'st but live, and die. 



No words, — but winning smiles and melting tears. 

 Our deep love kindled, and strong pity drew ; 



In quick succession came our joy and fears. 

 Till our sad loss, and thy great gain we knew. 



As the bright star rising at early dawn. 



Beams on this dark cold world, then swift retires, 



Ascends, unseen, but sheds its rays withdrawn, 

 Through heaven's vault with unextinguish'd fires ; 



So earth's fair child, just born to sin and woe. 



Shines on departing night, is hid in day, 

 Guiltless, as saved by grace, leaves all below -. 



The Lord of glory bade it come away. 

 Clifton, 1835. P. F. A. 



