152 ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO iv. 



While rival realms with blood unsated wage 



Wide-wasting war with fell demoniac rage ; 280 



In every clime while army army meets, 



And oceans groan beneath contending fleets; 



Oh save, oh save, in this eventful hour 



The tree of knowledge from the axe of power ; 



With fostering peace the suffering nations bless, 



And guard the freedom of the immortal Press ! 



So shall your deathless fame from age to age 



Survive recorded in the historic page; 



And future bards with voice inspired prolong 



Your sacred names immortalized in song. 2QO 



*' Thy power ASSOCIATION next affords 

 Ideal trains annex'd to volant words, 

 Conveys to listening ears the thought superb, 

 And gives to Language her expressive verb; 



Her expressive verb, I. 294. The verb, or the word, has been so 

 called from its being the most expressive term in all languages; as it 

 suggests the ideas of existence, action or suffering, and of time; see 

 the Note on Canto III. 1. 371, of this work. 







