Ritmennt - 01.01.2000, Page 149

RITMENNT
THE DREAM
And made her peasants in abundance smile,
When shaking angel of the war unfurl'd,
His impious wings about the sighing world
And blush'd not to shut up Fred'rik's56 hand
Which ere, and since with favours blest my land.—
—Not impious yet—but sent from Heav'n to lead
The world again to God, the source of aid! 150
Thank Banks—for else you would have left the light,
And starv'd like new-born bloom in stormy night!
And now to th'harbour turn thy sleeping eye,
Where English colours in the zephyrs fly;
There sleeps a man, whom all this army guides,
To Iceland from that place, where he resides:
The living love him, and the dead esteem,
Poverty blesses him in every clime;
To aid the poor, 'tis business of his mind
That always is to God and virtue join'd,— 160
Thus has the nature (to uncertain aim,)
But good and noble grac'd with Wilson's name.
I may not launch—true virtue will be hid—
To Aolus, king of winds, I may now speed,
And bid him give to Iceland's noble friend,
When he departs, a favorable wind.—"
He spolce; he flew to Esja's cloud-capt liead,
The English host towards the harbour stray'd
Fierce rising gusts, with sudden fury, shook
My members, and my bed, and I—awoke! 170
To Mr S. Sivertsen. As the first promoter of my little progress in
the English language
with grateful mind
from
the author.
56 Friðrik VI., konungur Danmerkur (ríkti 1808-39).
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