Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. IV. The Nineteenth Century: Wordsworth to Rossetti

Walter Savage Landor (1775–1864)

Extracts from Gebir: Prayers

[From Book V.]

YE men of Gades, armed with brazen shields,

And ye of near Tartessus, where the shore

Stoops to receive the tribute which all owe

To Baetis and his banks for their attire,

Ye too whom Durius bore on level meads,

Inherent in your hearts is bravery:

For Earth contains no nation where abounds

The generous horse and not the warlike man.

But neither soldier now nor steed avails:

Nor steed nor soldier can oppose the Gods:

Nor is there aught above like Jove himself,

Nor weighs against his purpose, when once fixt,

Aught but, with supplicating knee, the Prayers.

Swifter than light are they, and every face,

Tho’ different, glows with beauty; at the throne

Of mercy, when clouds shut it from mankind,

They fall bare-bosom’d, and indignant Jove

Drops at the soothing sweetness of their voice

The thunder from his hand: let us arise

On these high places daily, beat our breast,

Prostrate ourselves and deprecate his wrath.