THE RAINBOW IN GREECE.
By Mr. John Bull.
Arch of peace! the firmament
Hath not a form more fair
Than thine, thus beautifully bent
Upon the lighten’d air.
Well might the wondrous bards of yore
Of thee so sweetly sing;
Thy fair foot on their lovely shore
Returning with the spring!
An angel’s form to thee they gave,
Celestial feign’d thy birth,
Saw thee now span the light green wave,
And now the greener earth.
Yet then, where’er thy smile was seen
On land, or billowy main,
Thou seem’d to watch, with look serene,
O’er Freedom’s glorious reign.
Thy brilliant arch, around the sky,
The nurse of hope appear’d,
Sweet as the light of liberty,
Wherewith their souls were cheer’d!
But ah! if thou, when Greece was young,
Didst visit realms above;
Go and return, as minstrels sung
A messenger of love:
What tale, in heaven, hast thou to tell,
Of tyrants and their slaves—
Despots, and soul-bound men that dwell
Without their fathers’ graves!
Oh! when they see thy beauteous bow,
Surround their ancient skies,
Do not the Grecian warriors know,
’Tis then their hour to rise?
Let them unsheath the daring sword,
And, pointing up to thee,
Speak to their men one fiery word,
And march to set them free