Thomson and Pollok: containing The seasons, by James Thomson, and The course of time, by Robert Pollok, A. M.

BOOK VII.

341

Treading all fear of opposition down,
All fear of danger, of reproach all fear,
And evil tongues; went forth, from Britain went,
A noiseless band of heavenly soldiery,
From out the armory of God equipped
Invincible, to conquer sin, to blow
The trump of freedom in the despot's ear,
To tell the bruted slave his manhood high,
His birthright liberty, and in his hand
To put the writ of manumission, signed
By God's own signature; to drive away
From earth the dark, infernal legionry
Of superstition, ignorance, and hell;
High on the pagan hills, where Satan sat,
Encamped, and o'er the subject kingdoms threw
Perpetual night, to plant Immanuel's cross,
The ensign of the Gospel blazing round
Immortal truth; and, in the wilderness
Of human waste, to sow eternal life;
And from the rock, were Sin, with horrid yell,
Devoured its victims unredeemed, to raise
The melody of grateful hearts to Heaven:
To falsehood, truth; to pride, humility;
To insult, meekness; pardon to revenge;
To stubborn prejudice, unwearied zeal;
To censure, unaccusing minds; to stripes,
Long suffering; to want of all things, hope;
To death, assured faith of life to come;Opposing. These great worthies, rising, shone
Through all tie tribes and nations of mankind,
Like Hesper, glorious once among the stars
Of twilight, and around them, flocking, stood,
Arrayed in white, the people they had saved.
Great Ocean! too, that morning, thou the call
Of restitution heardst, and reverently
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