II.
Now the hostile fires decline,
Now through the smoke's deep volumes shine;
Now above the bastions gray 380
The clouds of battle roll away;
Where, with calm, yet glowing mien,
Britain's victorious youth is seen!
He lifts his eye,
His country's ensigns wave through smoke on high,
Whilst the long-mingled shout is heard—They fly, they fly!
III.
Hoary Carmel, witness thou,
And lift in conscious pride thy brow;
As when upon thy cloudy plain
Baal's prophets cried in vain! 390
They gashed their flesh, and leaped, and cried,
From morn till lingering even-tide.
Then stern Elijah on his foes
Strong in the might of Heaven arose!—
On Carmel's top he stood,
And while the blackening clouds and rain
Came sounding from the Western main,
Raised his right hand that dropped with impious blood.
Ancient Kishon prouder swell,
On whose banks they bowed, they fell, 400
The mighty ones of yore, when, pale with dread,
Inglorious Sisera fled!
So let them perish, Holy Lord,
Who for oppression lift the sword;
But let all those who, armed for freedom, fight,
"Be as the sun who goes forth in his might."
[160] Alluding to the harps found in the caverns of Thebes.
[161] Migdol was a fortress which guarded the pass of Egypt; Baal-zephon, a sea idol, generally considered the guardian of the coast.
[162] The Cushites inhabited the granite rocks stretching along the Red Sea.
[163] When the Egyptians found the ark, their expression was, "Let us rejoice, we have found the lost Osiris," or Noah.
[164] The deluge or devastating storm.
[165] The desert of Ariana, where the army of Cyrus perished.