He lay, and still to fancy groan'd; He lay like Alfred when he died-- Alfred, a king by Heaven enthroned, His age's wonder, England's pride! Monarch of forests, great as good, Wise as the sage,--thou heart of steel! Thy name shall rouse the patriot's blood As long as England's sons can feel. From every lawn, and copse, and glade, The timid deer in squadrons came, And circled round their fallen shade With all of language but its name. Astonishment and dread withheld The fawn and doe of tender years, But soon a triple circle swell'd, With rattling horns and twinkling ears. Some in his root's deep cavern housed, And seem'd to learn, and muse, and teach, Or on his topmost foliage browsed, That had for centuries mock'd their reach. Winds in their wrath these limbs could crash, This strength, this symmetry could mar; A people's wrath can monarchs dash From bigot throne or purple car. When Fate's dread bolt in Clermont's bowers Provoked its million tears and sighs, A nation wept its fallen flowers, Its blighted hopes, its darling prize.-- So mourn'd my antler'd friends awhile, So dark, so dread, the fateful day; So mourn'd the herd that knew no guile, Then turn'd disconsolate away! Who then of language will be proud? Who arrogate that gift of heaven? To wild herds when they bellow loud, To all the forest-tribes 'tis given. I've heard a note from dale or hill That lifted every head and eye; I've heard a scream aloft, so shrill That terror seized on all that fly. Empires may fall, and nations groan, Pride be thrown down, and power decay; Dark bigotry may rear her throne, But science is the light of day. Yet, while so low my lot is cast, Through wilds and forests let me range; My joys shall pomp and power outlast-- The voice of nature cannot change. * * * * * A soberer feeling through the crowd he flung, Clermont was uppermost on every tongue; But who can live on unavailing sighs? The inconsolable are not the wise. Spirit, and youth, and worth, demand a tear-- That day was past, and sorrow was not here; Sorrow the contest dared not but refuse 'Gainst Oakly's open cellar and the muse.