Lines
On Harvey’s Picture of the Covenanters Worshipping,
Among the Hills of Scotland.
It came from out the silent glen1
The mingled prayer of armed men ;2
Their swords in sheath for one calm day,3
“ And let us worship God,” they say.4
They met---in fear, but not of man ;5
In hope---but not of human aid ;6
In faith---that dreads no mortal ban ;7
In trust---mid perils undismayed.8
As wearied travellers seek the brook,9
They ask refreshment from “ the Book !’10
The fountain gives them strength for strife,11
And Freedom will be bought with life.12
No Temple made by human hands13
Is that in which the Pastor stands ;14
Around him mighty mountains rise,15
Pillars to yon vast roof, the skies ;16
But Freedom consecrates the glen ;17
And girlhood, boyhood, age, and youth,18
Utter or breathe a stern “ Amen”19
To words that Reason stamps with Truth ;20
For God and Nature bade them be21
All---like their free forefathers---free ;22
Such message yon good Pastor brings---23
A message from the King of kings !24
Say, grandsire---thou should’st know it best---25
Say, matron, with the babe at breast ;26
Say, girl---thy lover still is near---27
Can Patriot-passion banish fear ?28
Old man, what councils thy grey hairs ?29
Mother, what dost thou tell thy son ?30
Boy, knowest thou what thy father dares ?31
Girl, say how must thy heart be won ?32
All answer, with a shout and sigh,33
“ Go strike for freedom---do or die !34
Nor let your children’s children name35
Old Scotland’s mountain-men with shame !”36
Thanks, Painter, for a lesson taught !37
Thanks for a pictur’d store of thought !38
Thus Art works out her great design,39
Shapes the rough ore of Nature’s mine ;40
Gives Beauty a perpetual youth ;41
Bids Virtue teach and never tire ;42
Shows that a halo shines round Truth ;43
Tells what to shun and what desire ;44
And makes Example bear to ages---45
More forceful than a thousand pages---46
Of good or ill, a painted story47
To warn from shame or win for glory.48