| 22 | THE ABSOLVERS. |
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HO! he exclaim’d, King George of England standeth
in judgement!
Hell hath been dumb in his presence. Ye who on earth arraign’d him,
Come ye before him now, and here accuse or absolve him!
For injustice hath here no place.
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From the Souls of the Blessed
Some were there then who advanced; and more from the skirts of the meeting,
Spirits who had not yet accomplish’d their purification,
Yet being cleansed from pride, from faction and error deliver’d,
Purged of the film wherewith the eye of the mind is clouded,
They, in their better state, saw all things clear; and discerning
Now in the light of truth what tortuous views had deceived them,
They acknowledged their fault, and own’d the wrong they had offer’d;
Not without ingenuous shame, and a sense of compunction,
More or less, as each had more or less to atone for.
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| THE ABSOLVERS. | 23 |
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One alone remain’d, when the rest had retired
to their station:
Silently he had stood, and still unmoved and in silence,
With a steady mien, regarded the face of the Monarch.
Thoughtful awhile he gazed; severe, but serene, was his aspect;
Calm, but stern; like one whom no compassion could weaken,
Neither could doubt deter, nor violent impulses alter;
Lord of his own resolves, .. of his own heart absolute master.
Aweful Spirit! his place was with ancient sages and heroes:
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Here then at the Gate of Heaven we are met! said the Spirit;
King of England! albeit in life opposed to each other,
Here we meet at last. Not unprepared for the meeting
Ween I; for we had both outlived all enmity, rendering
Each to each that justice which each from each had withholden.
In the course of events, to thee I seem’d as a Rebel,
Thou a Tyrant to me; ... so strongly doth circumstance rule men
During evil days, when right and wrong are confounded.
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| 24 | THE ABSOLVERS. |
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Left to our hearts we were just. For me, my actions have spoken,
That not for lawless desires, nor goaded by desperate fortunes,
Nor for ambition, I chose my part; but observant of duty,
Self-approved. And here, this witness I willingly bear thee, ..
Here, before Angels and Men, in the aweful hour of judgement, ..
Thou too didst act with upright heart, as befitted a Sovereign
True to his sacred trust, to his crown, his kingdom, and people.
Heaven in these things fulfill’d its wise, tho’ inscrutable purpose,
While we work’d its will, doing each in his place as became him.
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Washington! said the Monarch, well hast thou spoken
and truly,
Just to thyself and to me. On them is the guilt of the contest,
Who, for wicked ends, with foul arts of faction and falsehood,
Kindled and fed the flame: but verily they have their guerdon.
Thou and I are free from offence. And would that the nations,
Learning of us, would lay aside all wrongful resentment,
All injurious thought, and honouring each in the other
Kindred courage and virtue, and cognate knowledge and freedom,
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| THE ABSOLVERS. | 25 |
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Live in brotherhood wisely conjoin’d. We set the example.
They who stir up strife, and would break that natural concord,
Evil they sow, and sorrow will they reap for their harvest.
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