But there a blaze of torches bright Pours its red radiance on the night, O’er fane, and dome, and column playing, With every fitful night-wind swaying: Now floating o’er each tall arcade, Around the pillar’d scene display’d, In light relieved by depth of shade: And now, with ruddy meteor glare, Full streaming on the silvery hair And the bright cross of him who stands Rearing that sign with suppliant hands, Girt with his consecrated train, The hallow’d servants of the fane. Of life’s past woes the fading trace Hath given that aged patriarch’s face Expression holy, deep, resign’d, The calm sublimity of mind. Years o’er his snowy head have pass’d, And left him of his race the last, Alone on earth--yet still his mien Is bright with majesty serene; And those high hopes, whose guiding star Shines from th’ eternal worlds afar, Have with that light illumed his eye Whose fount is immortality, And o’er his features pour’d a ray Of glory, not to pass away. He seems a being who hath known Communion with his God alone, On earth by nought but pity’s tie Detain’d a moment from on high! One to sublimer worlds allied, One from all passion purified, E’en now half mingled with the sky, And all prepared--oh! not to die-- But, like the prophet, to aspire, In heaven’s triumphal car of fire. He speaks--and from the throngs around Is heard not e’en a whisper’d sound; Awe-struck each heart, and fix’d each glance, They stand as in a spell-bound trance: He speaks--oh! who can hear nor own The might of each prevailing tone? “Chieftains and warriors! ye, so long Aroused to strife by mutual wrong, Whose fierce and far-transmitted hate Hath made your country desolate; Now by the love ye bear her name, By that pure spark of holy flame On freedom’s altar brightly burning, But, once extinguished, ne’er returning; By all your hopes of bliss to come When burst the bondage of the tomb; By Him, the God who bade us live To aid each other, and forgive-- I call upon ye to resign Your discords at your country’s shrine, Each ancient feud in peace atone, Wield your keen swords for her alone, And swear upon the cross, to cast Oblivion’s mantle o’er the past!”