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THE COVENANTER'S LAMENT FOR BOTH

WELL BRIGG.

By W. MACKWORTH PRAED.

THE men of sin prevail !

Once more the prince of this world lifts his

horn;

Judah is scattered, as the chaff is borne

Before the stormy gale.

Where are our brethren? where

The good and true, the terrible and fleet?

They whom we loved, with whom we sat

at meat,

With whom we kneeled in prayer?

Mangled and marred they lie

Upon the bloody pillow of their rest; Stern Dalzell smiles, and Clavers with a jest

Spurs his fierce charger by.

So let our foes rejoice;

We to the Lord, who hears their impious boasts,

Will call for comfort; to the God of hosts

We will lift up our voice.

Give ear unto our song;

For we are wandering o'er our native land As sheep that have no shepherd; and the hand

Of wicked men is strong.

Only to thee we bow:

Our lips have drained the fury of thy

cup;

And the deep murmurs of our hearts go up To Heaven for vengeance now.

Avenge, oh! not our years

Of pain and wrong, the blood of martyrs shed,

The rashes heaped upon the hoary head,
The maiden's silent tears.

The babe's bread torn away,

The harvest blasted by the war steed's hoof,

The red flame wreathing o'er the cottage

roof,

Judge not for these to-day!

Is not their own dread rod

Mocked by the proud, thy holy book disdained,

Thy name blasphemed, thy temple courts profaned?

Avenge thyself, O God!

Break Pharaoh's iron crown;

Bind with new chains their nobles and their

kings;

Wash from thine house the blood of unclean

things,

And hurl their Dagon down!

Come in thine own good time!

We will abide; we have not turned from thee,

Though in a world of grief our portion be, Of bitter grief, and shame.

VOL. II.

G

Be thou our guard and guide!

Forth from the spoiler's synagogue we go,

That we may worship where the torrents flow,

And where the whirlwinds ride.

From lonely rocks and caves

We will

pour forth our sacrifice of

prayer.

On! brethren, to the mountains! Seek we

there

Safe temples, quiet graves.

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