765 Some such had been, if here a life was reft, 770 VII. Days roll along, and Otho's wounds are heald, For it was not the blind capricious rage 790 A word can kindle and a word assuage; But the deep working of a soul unmix'd With aught of pity where its wrath had fix'd; Such as long power and overgorged success Concentrates into all that's merciless : 795 These, link'd with that desire which ever sways Mankind, the rather to condemn than praise, 'Gainst Lara gathering raised at length a storm, Such as himself might fear, and foes would form, And he must answer for the absent head 800 Of one that haunts him still, alive or dead. VIII. Within that land was many a malcontent, Who cursed the tyranny to which he bent; That soil full many a wringing despot saw, Who worked his wantonness in form of law: 805 Long war without and frequent broil within Had made a path for blood and giant sin, That waited but a signal to begin New havock, such as civil discord blends, Which knows no neuter, owns but foes or friends: 810 Fix'd in his feudal fortress each was lord, In word and deed obeyed, in soul abhorr’d. Thus Lara had inherited his lands, And with them pining hearts and sluggish hands; But that long absence from his native clime 815 Had left him stainless of oppression's crime, And now diverted by his milder sway, 830 835 He play'd the courteous lord and bounteous host: Perchance his strife with Otho made him dread Some snare prepared for his obnoxious head; Whate'er his view, his favour more obtains With these, the people, than his fellow thanes. 840 If this were policy, so far 'twas sound, The million judged but of him as they found ; From him by sterner chiefs to exile driven They but required a shelter, and 'twas given, By him no peasant mourn'd his rifled cot, 845 850 860 Fresh from their feudal fetters newly riven, Defying earth, and confident of heaven. That morning he had freed the soil-bound slaves Who dig no land for tyrants but their graves ! Such is their cry-some watchword for the fight 865 Must vindicate the wrong, and warp the right: Religion-freedom---vengeance--what you will, A word's enough to raise mankind to kill; Some factious phrase by cunning caught and spread, That guilt may reign,and wolves and worms be fed! 870 Now was the hour for faction's rebel growth, 875 885 E'en if he fail'd, he still delay'd his fall. The sullen calm that long his bosom kept, The storm that once had spent itself and slept, Roused by events that seem'd foredoom'd to urge His gloomy fortunes to their utmost verge, 890 Burst forth, and made him all he once had been, And is again; he only changed the scene. Light care had he for life, and less for fame, But not less fitted for the desperate game: He deem'd himself mark'd out for other's hate, 895 And mock'd at ruin so they shared his fate. What cared he for the freedom of the crowd ? He raised the humble but to bend the proud. He had hoped quiet in his sullen lair, But man and destiny beset him there: 900 |