ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS

IN SERIES, 1821-22.

XIII. CASUAL INCITEMENT

          A BRIGHT-HAIRED company of youthful slaves,
          Beautiful strangers, stand within the pale
          Of a sad market, ranged for public sale,
          Where Tiber's stream the immortal City laves:
          ANGLI by name; and not an ANGEL waves
          His wing who could seem lovelier to man's eye
          Than they appear to holy Gregory;
          Who, having learnt that name, salvation craves
          For Them, and for their Land. The earnest Sire,
          His questions urging, feels, in slender ties                10
          Of chiming sound, commanding sympathies;
          DE-IRIANS--he would save them from God's IRE;
          Subjects of Saxon AELLA--they shall sing
          Glad HALLE-lujahs to the eternal King!