XLI.

Meteor of Conquest! terribly endowed With every faculty to bless or mar, With voice to speak to Man like trumpet loud, And eagle-eye with ken for peace or war Omnipotent, save when Heaven dealt the scar! Thy course for bale that might have been for bliss, Thy darling Victory streamed a crimson star. Around thy laurelled forehead serpents hiss; And closed thy glory’s dawn, Destroyer, choice like this!