book iii

. chap, iv.).--ED.

[41] 1827.

... or pass away like steam; 1822.

[42] _e.g._ in the Lake District, the Greta, Derwent, etc.--ED.

[43] _e.g._ in the Lake District, Stone Arthur, Blencathara, and Catbells.--ED.

XIII

CASUAL INCITEMENT

A bright-haired company of youthful slaves, Beautiful strangers, stand within the pale Of a sad market, ranged for public sale, Where Tiber's stream the immortal[44] City laves: ANGLI by name; and not an ANGEL waves 5 His wing who could seem lovelier to man's eye[45] Than they appear to holy Gregory; Who, having learnt that name, salvation craves For Them, and for their Land. The earnest Sire, His questions urging, feels, in slender ties 10 Of chiming sound, commanding sympathies; DE-IRIANS--he would save them from God's IRE; Subjects of Saxon ÆLLA--they shall sing Glad HALLE-lujahs to the eternal King![46]

FOOTNOTES:

[44] 1827.

... glorious ... 1822.

[45] 1837.

His wing who seemeth lovelier in Heaven's eye 1822.

[46] The story is told of Gregory who was afterwards Pope, and is known as Gregory the Great, that "he was one day led into the market-place at Rome to look at a large importation from, abroad. Among other things there were some boys exposed for sale like cattle. He was struck by the appearance of the boys, their fine clear skins, their flaxen or golden hair, and their ingenuous countenances; so that he asked from what country they came; and when he was told from the island of Britain, ... and were Angles, he played upon the word and said, 'Well may they be so called, for they are like Angels.' ... Then demanding from what province they were brought, the answer was 'from Deira'; and in the same humour he observed that rightly might this also be said, for _de Dei ira_, from the wrath of God were they to be delivered. And when he was told that their King was Ælla, he replied that Hallelujahs ought to be sung in his dominions. This trifling sprung from serious thought. From that day the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons became a favourite object with Gregory." (Southey's _Book of the Church_, vol. i. pp. 22, 23.)--ED.

XIV

GLAD TIDINGS

For ever hallowed be this morning fair, Blest be the unconscious shore on which ye tread, And blest the silver Cross, which ye, instead Of martial banner, in procession bear; The Cross preceding Him who floats in air, 5 The pictured Saviour!--By Augustin led, They come--and onward travel without dread, Chanting in barbarous ears a tuneful prayer-- Sung for themselves, and those whom they would free! Rich conquest waits them:--the tempestuous sea 10 Of Ignorance, that ran so rough and high And heeded not the voice of clashing swords, These good men humble by a few bare words, And calm with fear of God's divinity.[47]

FOOTNOTES:

[47] Augustin was prior of St. Gregory's Monastery, dedicated to St. Andrew in Rome, and was sent by Gregory in the year 597 with several other monks into Britain. Ethelbert was then king of Kent, and, as they landed on the Isle of Thanet, he ordered them to stay there. According to Bede, "Some days after, the king came into the island and ordered Augustin and his companions to be brought into his presence.... They came ... bearing a silver cross for their banner, and an image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a board; and singing the litany they offered up their prayers to the Lord for the eternal salvation both of themselves and of those to whom they were come." (_Ecclesiastica Historia gentis Anglorum_,