The Song of the Exile-A Canadian Epic Part 8

XXVII.

_They_ merit praise and honour, but the cause For which they laboured merits none of these; A cruel creed, with harsh and b.l.o.o.d.y laws, The very name of Christ it travesties.

An evil Order, working in the name Of Christianity dark deeds of shame.

XXVIII.

He whom they call their Master suffered not His followers to mingle in the strife Of politics--not such their chosen lot; Theirs to prepare men for a higher life.

And yet He bade them to their king be true, And offer unto Caesar all his due.

XXIX.

But this do not the Jesuits; they fain Would undermine the power of the land In which they dwell, and every effort strain To take the civil sceptre in their hand.

They creep, as serpents, smoothly on their prey, But subtly spread their poison in the way.

x.x.x.

And these, Canadians, have found a home Within your sh.o.r.es. Ye know not what ye do In harb'ring them. Be sure the day will come When ye will bitterly and sadly rue Your action. Other lands will not permit The entrance of the hated Jesuit.

x.x.xI.

But why should I presume to thus dictate To ye? And what know I of all the things Which influence your Ministers of State, That I should utter forth these murmurings?

By greed and selfish motives unpossessed, They, in their wisdom, must do what is best!

x.x.xII.

I stand upon the hill at Ottawa, And stretching wide before me lies a scene Of pretty lowland country. Near and far, The river Ottawa winds on between The wooded slopes and meadow-lands, where lie The lazy cattle chewing silently.

x.x.xIII.

The scene is unimposing; there is nought Of grandeur or magnificence displayed; But by its quiet prettiness is brought A sense of calm enjoyment--hill and glade And peaceful meadow, all alike suggest Sweet thoughts of still serenity and rest.

x.x.xIV.

The face of Nature, for the student's mind, Provides a subject inexhaustible.

And, in its study, weary men may find A solace for the troubles caused by all The sorrows and afflictions which must be The lot of all, of high or low degree.

x.x.xV.

The mountain, by its grandeur, testifies To His omnipotence who placed it there; The rus.h.i.+ng, mighty torrent verifies His ceaseless working; and His constant care And kindliness is proven by the still And growing meadow, and the purling rill.

x.x.xVI.

Thus, whatsoever his environment, The sorrow-stricken one can find a balm, Which should a.s.suage his moody discontent, Replacing it by trustfulness and calm.

For G.o.d reveals Himself in every place, And writes His presence on Creation's face.

x.x.xVII.

And here I feel a quiet peace unfelt In all my solitary wanderings Before. My heavy troubles seem to melt Away, and Faith a calm contentment brings, And all my misery aside is thrown; He cares for me who cares for all His own.

x.x.xVIII.

A pile majestic and magnificent, Of lofty buildings, stands upon this hill; Unequalled elsewhere on the continent, It well bespeaks the architective skill Displayed in this our nineteenth century; And clothes the city with its dignity.

x.x.xIX.

Within these walls are gathered in debate The statesmen and the legislators, who Are learned in the matters of the State.

Alike to G.o.d and to their country true These men should be, and high above the rest Exalted, seeking not self-interest.

XL.

These hold the country's welfare in their hand.

A mighty trust to them has been consigned.

They know their duty, and should understand What acts will echo best the people's mind; And they should act, in matters small or great, As wisdom and their consciences dictate.

XLI.

Thus should they act, but thus do not they all, But mildly bow to their Dictator's bid; They fear to disobey him, lest they fall Quick victims to his anger, or be chid Severely by the leader, in whose power It lies to give his slaves official dower.

XLII.

Thus is a heavy premium placed upon A blind obedience and servility; And high position hardly can be won Except by meekness and docility: By meekness where a.s.sertion would be right; By weak docility where should be might.

XLIII.

And they, the Ministers of State, who hold The gift of the office and the nation's trust, From long retained authority grow bold, And, almost flagrantly, they dare adjust The national affairs in such a way As best will serve them, and protract their sway.

XLIV.

But not too far do they attempt to go In serving self. There stands an arbiter To whom they must appeal; were this not so, Their conscientiousness might not deter The country's servants from committing deeds To hinder which their shame now intercedes.

XLV.