Waldenses

These who gave earliest notice, as the Lark
Springs from the ground the morn to gratulate;
Who rather rose the day to antedate,
By striking out a solitary spark,
When all the world with midnight gloom was dark—
These Harbingers of good, whom bitter hate
In vain endeavoured to exterminate,
Fell Obloquy pursues with hideous bark?
Meanwhile the unextinguishable fire,
Rekindled thus, from dens and savage woods
Moves, handed on with never-ceasing care,
Through Courts, through Camps, o’er limitary Floods;
Nor lacks this sea-girt Isle a timely share
Of the new Flame, not suffered to expire.