Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG FOR THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF PITT CLUB OF SCOTLAND, by WALTER SCOTT


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SONG FOR THE ANNIVERSARY MEETING OF PITT CLUB OF SCOTLAND, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: O, dread was the time, and more dreadful the omen
Last Line: And hallow the goblet that flows to their fame.
Subject(s): Pitt, William, The Younger (1759-1806)


O, DREAD was the time, and more dreadful the omen,
When the brave on Marengo lay slaughter'd in vain,
And beholding broad Europe bow'd down by her foemen,
Pitt closed in his anguish the map of the reign!
Not the fate of broad Europe could bend his brave spirit
To take for his country the safety of shame;
O, then in her triumph remember his merit,
And hallow the goblet that flows to his name.

Round the husbandman's head, while he traces the furrow,
The mists of the winter may mingle with rain,
He may plough it with labour, and sow it in sorrow,
And sigh while he fears he has sow'd it in vain;
He may die ere his children shall reap in their gladness,
But the blithe harvest-home shall remember his claim;
And their jubilee-shout shall be soften'd with sadness,
While they hallow the goblet that flows to his name.

Though anxious and timeless his life was expended,
In toils for our country preserved by his care,
Though he died ere one ray o'er the nations ascended,
To light the long darkness of doubt and despair;
The storms he endured in our Britain's December,
The perils his wisdom foresaw and o'ercame,
In her glory's rich harvest shall Britain remember,
And hallow the goblet that flows to his name.

Nor forget HIS grey head, who, all dark in affliction,
Is deaf to the tale of our victories won,
And to sounds the most dear to paternal affection,
The shout of his people applauding his SON;
By his firmness unmoved in success and disaster,
By his long reign of virtue, remember his claim!
With our tribute to Pitt join the praise of his Master,
Though a tear stain the goblet that flows to his name.

Yet again fill the wine-cup, and change the sad measure,
The rites of our grief and our gratitude paid,
To our Prince, to our Heroes, devote the bright treasure,
The wisdom that plann'd, and the zeal that obey'd.
Fill Wellington's cup till it beam like his glory,
Forget not our own brave Dalhousie and Graeme;
A thousand years hence hearts shall bound at their story,
And hallow the goblet that flows to their fame.





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