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Article HERCULANEUM. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Herculaneum.
HERCULANEUM .
AVHERE had thy lingering steps delayed ? AVhy distant was thy guardian aid , Monarch ! whom votaries deemed divine , At Herculaneum ' s holy shrine ? AVh y to the bursting storm ' s career 5 Didst thou , dread genius , close thine ear , And from destruction ' s yawning grave
Thy menaced city fail to save ? AVhere slept thy giant might , when first O ' er thy lov'd walls the tempest burst , 10 AVhen first A ^ esuvius far and wide Poured tbe red lava ' s burning tide , And earth with fearful shock was rent Beneath the o ' erwhelming element ?
Ages have sped their silent flight , 1 . 5 Since the proud city sank in night , Since Herculaneum ' s towers were doomed To lie in ruin ' s gulf entombed ; But now a fairer day hath beamed ; Now , from oblivion ' s womb redeemed , 20 Behold recalled to light and fame The glories of her ancient name !
Burst thy dark barriers , earth ! expose Thy buried wealth , thy depths unclose ! Too long within thy lap concealed , 25 Be now thy sacred stores revealed ! 'Tis done : —shall Tartarus alarm , Unravelled by Thessalian charm ? Shall spectres pale , in wild affright ,
Start at the day ' s unwonted light ? 30 No : —from encircling ashes cleared , E ' en by volcanic rage revered . Again before admiring eyes Behold a mighty City rise ! Decked in their ancient pride , behold 35 Man ' s desert halls their gates unfold ; See , long by mortal step untrod , The temples of each heathen god !
A ' et who shall tell , what awe profound , AVhat chilling horror reigns around , 40 As heavily each portal guard Moves on its creaking hinge unbarred , And human accents wake again The slumbering echo ' s mournful strain ? Still o ' er destructive age can smile , 4 . 5 Unharmed , the drama ' s honoured pile ; Triumphant still o ' er time , on high Its marble columns pierce the sky :
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Herculaneum.
HERCULANEUM .
AVHERE had thy lingering steps delayed ? AVhy distant was thy guardian aid , Monarch ! whom votaries deemed divine , At Herculaneum ' s holy shrine ? AVh y to the bursting storm ' s career 5 Didst thou , dread genius , close thine ear , And from destruction ' s yawning grave
Thy menaced city fail to save ? AVhere slept thy giant might , when first O ' er thy lov'd walls the tempest burst , 10 AVhen first A ^ esuvius far and wide Poured tbe red lava ' s burning tide , And earth with fearful shock was rent Beneath the o ' erwhelming element ?
Ages have sped their silent flight , 1 . 5 Since the proud city sank in night , Since Herculaneum ' s towers were doomed To lie in ruin ' s gulf entombed ; But now a fairer day hath beamed ; Now , from oblivion ' s womb redeemed , 20 Behold recalled to light and fame The glories of her ancient name !
Burst thy dark barriers , earth ! expose Thy buried wealth , thy depths unclose ! Too long within thy lap concealed , 25 Be now thy sacred stores revealed ! 'Tis done : —shall Tartarus alarm , Unravelled by Thessalian charm ? Shall spectres pale , in wild affright ,
Start at the day ' s unwonted light ? 30 No : —from encircling ashes cleared , E ' en by volcanic rage revered . Again before admiring eyes Behold a mighty City rise ! Decked in their ancient pride , behold 35 Man ' s desert halls their gates unfold ; See , long by mortal step untrod , The temples of each heathen god !
A ' et who shall tell , what awe profound , AVhat chilling horror reigns around , 40 As heavily each portal guard Moves on its creaking hinge unbarred , And human accents wake again The slumbering echo ' s mournful strain ? Still o ' er destructive age can smile , 4 . 5 Unharmed , the drama ' s honoured pile ; Triumphant still o ' er time , on high Its marble columns pierce the sky :