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Show 56 VINCENT 0GE. In Ita!ia's vales-on the shores of the Rhine- Where the plains of fair France give birth to the vine-Where the Tagus, the Ebro, go dancing along, Made glad in their course by the Muleteer's songAll these were poured down in the pride of their might, · On the land of Oge, in that terrible fight. Ah I dire was the conflict, and many the slain, Who slept the last sleep on that red battle-pll\in 1 The flash of the cannon o'er valley and height Danced like the swift fires of a northern ni~ht Or the quivering glare which leaps forth ;: a ~oken That the King of the Storm from his cloud-throne has spoken. And oh I to those heroes how welcome the fate Of Sparta's brave sons in Thermopylro's st:rait; With what ardor of soul they then would have given Their last look at earth for a long glance at heaven 1 Their lives to their country-their backs to the sodTheir heart's blood to the sword, and their souls to their God! But alas I although many lie silent and slain More blest are they far than those cla~ing chain, the VINCENT 0GE. 57 In the hold of the tyrant, debarred from the day ;And among these sad captives is Vincent Og6 t * * ·• ·• * * ·• Another day's bright sun bas risen, And shines upon the insurgent's prison; Another night has slowly passed, And Og6 smiles, for 'tis tbe last He'll droop beneath the tyrant's power~ The galling chains ! Another hour, And answering to the jailor's call, ·• IIe stands within the Judgment Ilall. They've gathered there; -they who have pressed Their fangs into the soul distressed, To pain its passage to the tomb With mock'ry of a legal doom . . They've gathered there ;-they who have stood Firmly and fast in honr of blood,- Who've seen the lights of hope all die, As stars fade from a morning slcy,- .They'vc gathered there, in that dark hourThe latest ofthe tyrant's power,- An hour that speaketh of the day Which never more shall pass away,- 3* |
