POEMS OLD AND NEW

And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail.
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal ;
And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord !.

LORD BYRON

THE ARMADA
ATTEND, all ye who list to hear our noble England's
praise ; 5
I tell of the thrice-famous deeds she wrought in
ancient days,
When that great fleet invincible against her bore in
vain
The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of
Spain.
It was about the lovely close of a warm summer day,
There came a gallant merchant-ship full sail to
Plymouth Bay ; 10
Her crew had seen Castile's black fleet, beyond
Aurigny's Isle,
At earliest twilight, on the waves lie heaving many
a mile.
At sunrise she escaped their van, by God's especial
grace ;
And the tall Pinta, till the noon, had held her close
in chase.
Forthwith a guard at every gun was placed along
the wall ; 15
The beacon blazed upon the roof of Edgecumbe's
lofty hall ;
Vlany a light fishing bark put out to pry along the
coast,
Vnd with loose rein and bloody spur rode inland
many a post.
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