To the Honourable Mr. Erskine by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Lyrics

When British Freedom for an happier land
       &nbspSpread her broad wings, that flutter'd with affright,
       &nbspErskine! thy voice she heard, and paus'd her flight
Sublime of hope, for dreadless thou didst stand
       &nbsp(Thy censer glowing with the hallow'd flame)
       &nbspA hireless Priest before the insulted shrine,
       &nbspAnd at her altar pour the stream divine
Of unmatch'd eloquence. Therefore thy name


Her sons shall venerate, and cheer thy breast
       &nbspWith blessings heaven-ward breath'd. And when the doom
       &nbspOf Nature bids thee die, beyond the tomb
Thy light shall shine: as sunk beneath the West


Though the great Summer Sun eludes our gaze,
Still burns wide Heaven with his distended blaze.