Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Here Learning, blinded firft, and then beguil'd,
Looks dark as Ignorance, as Frenzy wild!
Here first Credulity on Reason won!

170

180

And here falfe Zeal myfterious rants begun!
Here Love impearls each moment with a tear,
And Superstition owes to Spleen her fear!
Fantastic lightnings, through the dreary way, 175
In fwift fhort fignals flash the bursting day!
Above, beneath, across, around, they fly!
A dire deception ftrikes the mental eye!
By the blue fires, pale phantoms grin fevere!
Shrill, fancy'd echoes wound th' affrighted ear!
Air-banifh'd fpirits flag in fogs profound,
And, all-obscene, shed baneful damps around!
Now whifpers, trembling in fome feeble wind,
Sigh out prophetic fears, and freeze the mind!
Loud laughs the hag!-She mocks complaint away,
Unroofs the den, and lets-in more than day.
Swarms of wild fancies, wing'd in various flight,
Seek emblematic fhades, and myftic light!
Some drive with rapid fteeds the shining car!

Thefe nod from thrones! Thofe thunder in the war! 190

Till, tir'd, they turn from the delusive show,

Start from wild joy, and fix in ftupid woe.

Here the lone hour a blank of life difplays,

Till now bad thoughts a fiend more active raise ;
A fiend in evil moments ever nigh!

Death in her hand, and frenzy in her eye!

Her eye all red, and funk !-A robe fhe wore,
With life's calamities embroider'd o'er.

195

A mirror in one hand collective shows,
Vary'd and multiply'd, that group of woes.
This endless foe to generous toil and pain
Lolls on a couch for ease; but lolls in vain;
She mufes o'er her woe-embroider'd veft,
And felf-abhorrence heightens in her breast.
To fhun her care, the force of fleep she tries,

200

205

Still wakes her mind, though slumbers doze her eyes:

She dreams, starts, rises, stalks from place to place,
With reftlefs, thoughtful, interrupted pace;
Now eyes the fun, and curses every ray,

Now the green ground, where colour fades away. 210
Dim spectres dance! Again her eye fhe rears;
Then from the blood-fhot ball wipes purpled tears;
Then preffes hard her brow, with mischief fraught,
Her brow half burts with agony of thought!
From me (the cries) pale wretch, thy comfort claim, 215
Born of Despair, and Suicide my name!

Why should thy life a moment's pain endure !
Here every object proffers grief a cure.

She points where leaves of hemlock blackening shoot!
Fear not! pluck! eat (said fhe) the fovereign root! 220
Then Death, revers'd, shall bear his ebon lance!
Soft o'er thy fight shall swim the shadowy trance!
Or leap yon rock, poffefs a watery grave,

225

And leave wild forrow to the wind and wave!
Or mark this poniard thus from misery frees!
She wounds her breaft!-the guilty fteel I feize!
Straight, where the struck, a smoaking spring of gore
Wells from the wound, and floats the crimfon'd floor,

She

She faints! the fades!-Calm thoughts the deed revolve,
And now, unftartling, fix the dire resolve;

Death drops his terrors, and, with charming wiles,
Winning, and kind, like my Olympia smiles!
He points the paffage to the seats divine,
Where poets, heroes, fainted lovers shine!

230

240

I come, Olympia !-my rear'd arm extends ; 235
Half to my breaft the threatening point defcends;
Straight thunder rocks the land! new lightnings play!
When, lo a voice refounds-Arife! away!
Away! nor murmur at th' afflictive rod !
Nor tempt the vengeance of an angry God!
Fly'st thou from Providence for vain relief?
Such ill-fought eafe fhall draw avenging grief.
Honour, the more obstructed, stronger fhines,
And zeal by perfecution's rage refines.
By woe, the foul to daring action swells;
By woe, in paintlefs patience it excels;

245

From patient, prudent dear experience springs,
And traces knowledge through the course of things!
Thence hope is form'd, thence fortitude, fuccefs,
Renown-whate'er men covet and carefs.

250

The vanish'd fiend thus fent a hollow voice. Would't thou be happy? ftraight be death thy choice. How mean are thofe, who paffively complain ; While active fouls, more free, their fetters ftrain ! Though knowledge thine, hope, fortitude, fuccefs, 25.5 Renown-whate'er men covet and carefs ;

On earth fuccefs muft in its turn give way,

And ev'n perfection introduce decay.

Never the world of fpirits thus-their reft
Untouch'd! entire !—once happy, ever bleft!
Earnest the heavenly voice responsive cries,
Oh, liften not to fubtilty unwife!

260

Thy guardian faint, who mourns thy hapless fate,
Heaven grants to prop thy virtue, ere too late.
Know, if thou wilt thy dear-lov'd wife deplore, 265
Olympia waits thee on a foreign fhore;

There in a cell thy laft remains be spent ;
Away! deceive Despair, and find Content!

I heard, obey'd; nor more of Fate complain'd; Long feas I meafur'd, and this mountain gain'd. 270 Soon to a yawning rift, chance turn'd my way;

A den it prov'd, where a huge ferpent lay!
Flame-ey'd he lay !-he rages now for food,
Meets my first glance, and meditates my blood!
His bulk, in many a gather'd orb uproll'd,
Rears fpire on fpire! His fcales, be-dropt with gold,
Shine burnifh'd in the fun! fuch height they gain,
They dart green luftre on the distant main!

Now writh'd in dreadful flope, he ftoops his creft,
Furious to fix on my unfhielded breast!

275

280

Juft as he fprings, my fabre finites the foe!
Headlefs he falls beneath th' unerring blow!
Wrath yet remains, though ftrength his fabric leaves,
And the meant hifs the gasping mouth deceives;
The lengthening trunk flow-loofens every fold,
Lingers in life: then ftretches stiff, and cold.
Just as th' inveterate fon of mifchief ends,
Comes a white dove, and near the spot defcends:

285

I hail this omen! all bad paffions cease,
Lik the flain fnake, and all within is peace.

290

Next, to religion this plain roof I raise! In duteous rites my hallow'd tapers blaze; I bid due incenfe on my altars smoke! Then, at this tomb, my promis'd love invoke ! She hears! fhe comes!-My heart what raptures warm? All my Olympia fparkles in the form!

300

No pale, wan, livid mark of death fhe bears!
Each rofeate look a quickening transport wears!
A robe of light, high wrought, her fhape invests;
Unzon'd the fwelling beauty of her breasts!
Her auburn hair each flowing ring refumes,
In her fair hand, Love's branch of myrtle blooms!
Silent, awhile, each well-known charm I trace;
Then, thus, (while nearer the avoids th' embrace)
Thou dear deceit !-muft I a fhade pursue ?
305
Dazzled I gaze !-thou fwimm'ft before my view!
Dipt in etherial dews, her bough divine
Sprinkles my eyes, which, strengthen'd, bear the fhine:
Still thus I urge (for ftill the fhadowy blifs

Shuns the warm grafp, nor yields the tender kifs) 310
Oh, fly not!-fade not! liften to love's call!

She lives! no more I'm man !—I'm spirit all!
Then let me fnatch thee !-prefs thee !-take me whole!
Oh, clofe!-yet clofer !-clofer to my foul !
Twice, round her waift, my eager arms entwin'd, 315
And, twice deceiv'd, my frenzy clafp'd the wind!
Then thus I rav'd-Behold thy husband kneel,
And judge! O judge what agonies I feel!

Oh!

« ПредишнаНапред »