| 36 | THE WORTHIES OF THE GEORGIAN AGE. |
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THESE with a kindred host of great and illustrious spirits
Stood apart, while a train whom nearer duty attracted
Thro’ the Gate of Bliss came forth to welcome their Sovereign.
Many were they and glorious all. Conspicuous among them
Leaving a lasting name, to humanity dear as to science:
And the mighty musician of Germany, ours by
adoption,
Who beheld in the King his munificent pupil and patron.
Reynolds, with whom began that school of art which
hath equall’d
Richest Italy’s works, and the masterly labours of Belgium,
Came in that famous array: and Hogarth, who
follow’d no master,
Nor by pupil shall e’er be approach’d, alone in his greatness.
Reverend in comely mien, of aspect mild and benignant,
There, too, Wesley I saw and knew, whose zeal
apostolic,
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| THE WORTHIES OF THE GEORGIAN AGE. | 37 |
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Tho’ with error alloy’d, hath on earth its merited honour,
As in Heaven its reward. And Mansfield the just and
intrepid;
Wise Judge, by the craft of the Law ne’er seduced from its purpose;
And when the misled multitude raged like the winds in their madness,
Not to be moved from his rightful resolves. And Burke I beheld there,
Eloquent statesman and sage, who, tho’ late, broke loose from his trammels,
Giving then to mankind what party too long had diverted.
Here, where wrongs are forgiven, was the injured Hastings beside him:
Strong in his high deserts, and in innocence happy, though injured,
He, in his good old age, outlived persecution and malice.
Even where he had stood a mark for the arrows of slander,
He had his triumph at last, when moved with one feeling, the Senate
Rose in respect at his sight, and atoned for the sin of their fathers.
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Cowper, thy lovely spirit was there, by death
disenchanted
From that heavy spell which had bound it in sorrow and darkness,
Thou wert there, in the kingdom of peace and of light everlasting.
Nelson also was there in the kingdom of peace, though
his calling
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| 38 | THE WORTHIES OF THE GEORGIAN AGE. |
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While upon earth he dwelt, was to war and the work of destruction.
Not in him had that aweful ministry deaden’d, or weaken’d
Quick compassion, and feelings that raise while they soften our nature.
Wise in counsel, and steady in purpose, and rapid in action,
Never thought of self from the course of his duty seduced him,
Never doubt of the issue unworthily warpt his intention.
Long shall his memory live, and while his example is cherish’d,
From the Queen of the Seas, the sceptre shall never be wrested.
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