oxford a poem

Book cover
Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: OXFORD. PART I. ETERNAL glory of triumphant mind ! To thee belongs the homage of mankind : For what though empires spread their vast control Far as the winds exult, or waters roll; Though Tyrian merchandise their ports bedeck, And navies thunder at their awful beck!— The pride of commerce and the awe of power Melt into dreams, at desolation's hour: Then, what remains of kingdoms that have been ? Lo! deserts wave, where capitals were seen! The wild-grass quivers o'er each mangl'd pile And winter moans along the archless aisle; Where once they flourished ruins grimly tell, And shade the air with melancholy spell, While from their wreck a tide of feeling rolls In awful wisdom through reflective souls ! What then alone omnipotently reigns, When Empires grovel on deserted plains, In morning lustre, to outdare the night That time engenders o'er their vanish'd might ? 'Tismind! an immortality below, That gilds the past, and bids the future glow ; 'Tis mind! heroic, pure, devoted mind, To God appealing for corrupt mankind, Reflecting back the image that He gave Ere sin began, or earth became a slave! Exalting thought! when ages are no more, Like sunken billows on a far-off shore, A second life, in lofty prose or song, Their glories bear, to light the world along!— And ever thus may spirit be refin'd; For what is Godhead, but consummate mind ? Or Heaven, but one surpassing realm of thought, With each perfection of His wisdom fraught ? Not what we have, but what our natures feel, By truth unfolded for sublimest zeal, Developes all which makes our being great, And links a human to immortal state. Than this, could fancy weave a darker curse ?— That man is meaner than the universe! Creation is Eternal Will, expre...
add to favoritesadd

Users who have this book

Users who want this book

What readers are saying

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book!

write a comment

What do you think? Write your own comment on this book

Info about the book

Series:

Unknown

Rating:

5/5 (7)

Your rating:

0/5

Languge:

English

Do you want to exchange books? It’s EASY!

Get registered and find other users who want to give their favourite books to good hands!