TO THE DARKLINGS. [From the Times.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 104, 29 July 1846, Page 3

TO THE DARKLINGS. [From the Times.]

[Translated from a German poem in a little anonymous collection entitled Ronge-liedcr, that is to say, songs composed with reference to the Ronge movement. They are much in the style of Herwegh's productions, displaying fire and energy rather than, poetical beauty, and it is perhaps from Herwegh they emanate. The German title to the following poem is " Die Finsterlinge."'] On the throne of sacred justice brutal might again to rear, And to force the whole creation a vile slavish form to -wear; And the sky with clouds to coyer, when i he sun is glad&bright, And to bury ev'ry nation in its old and deadly night ; — And the youthful Easter morning, in its majesty sublime, With the impious bla'le to scratch out from the almanack of In the rery bud to stifle revelations as they rise, [time; Truth to overload with, curies— honour to bestow on lies; — And to shriek throughout creation, yelling ' Backwards !'— word profane,* - [gain; And by form and rule to slaughter what the mind s exertions i And the hand on culture's dial to turn back, & check the tone Of the silver bell of freedom, when it scarcehas sounded One;— And a code of laws to fashion, treatingman but as a thing, Which.as despots.theyencompasswith oppression's iron ring, Yes, a code that makes the freeman a machine, and nothing more, And deprives the salt of savour, and forbids the mind to «oar ; 'TisforthistheJesuitslabor— yes! 'tis this the D»rklings plan, Who an impious game are playing with the holy mind of man. But,ye brave and skilful minei s,in your gloomy vaultsbe ware, Lest your own dread mines, exploding, hurl you thund'ring through the air.

* Und das ungeheure ' RuckwarW hineukrachzen durch die Welt.