Outshone the wealth of Ormus, or of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East, with richest hand,
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted sat, by merit raised
To that bad eminence.”
This is great language, is marvellous, high-sounding, impressive, but is it sincere? Would an angel sent from heaven to report on the proceedings in hell, have brought back such a description as this of what he had beheld?
It is grand, as is Homer’s exaltation of his heroes; but does it touch the innermost heart?
This is said not to find fault; not to withdraw admiration from one of the few who have made their country famous before all other lands, for there is time for all things; for
“The pomp and circumstance of glorious war,”
and for sadness at the sufferings of humanity.