The imperial Stature, the colossal stride, Are yet before me; yet do I behold The broad full visage, chest of amplest mould, The vestments 'broidered with barbaric pride: And lo! a poniard, at the Monarch's side, 5 Hangs ready to be grasped in sympathy With the keen threatenings of that fulgent eye, Below the white-rimmed bonnet, far-descried. Who trembles now at thy capricious mood? 'Mid those surrounding Worthies, haughty King, 10 We rather think, with grateful mind sedate, How Providence educeth, from the spring Of lawless will, unlooked-for streams of good, Which neither force shall check nor time abate! FOOTNOTES: [472] Trinity College, Cambridge, was founded by King Henry VIII. in 1546, on the site of King's Hall, founded by Edward III. in 1337. Two of the gateways of the latter remain, as parts of the great court of Trinity. Over one of these--the King's or entrance gate way--the statue of Henry VIII. is erected. The portrait, described in the sonnet, is in the Hall of the College.--ED. "WHEN PHILOCTETES IN THE LEMNIAN ISLE" Composed 1827.--Published 1827 One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED. When Philoctetes in the Lemnian isle[473] Like a Form sculptured on a monument Lay couched; on him or his dread bow unbent[474] Some wild Bird oft might settle and beguile The rigid features of a transient smile, 5 Disperse the tear, or to the sigh give vent, Slackening the pains of ruthless banishment From his lov'd home, and from heroic toil. And trust[475] that spiritual Creatures round us move, Griefs to allay which[476] Reason cannot heal; 10 Yea, veriest[477] reptiles have sufficed to prove To fettered wretchedness, that no Bastile[478] Is deep enough to exclude the light of love, Though man for brother man has ceased to feel. FOOTNOTES: [473] The original title of this sonnet in MS. was _Suggested by the same Incident_ (referring to the previous sonnet); and its original form, with one line awanting, was as follows:-- When Philoctetes, in the Lemnian Isle Reclined with shaggy forehead earthward bent, Lay silent like a weed-grown Monument, Such Friend, for such brief moment as a smile Asks to be born and die in, might beguile The wounded Chief of pining discontent From home affections, and heroic toil. Seen, or unseen, beneath us, or above, Are Powers that soften anguish, if not heal; And toads and spiders have sufficed to prove To fettered wretchedness that no Bastile Is deep enough to exclude the light of Love, Though man for Brother man have ceased to feel.