But few my steps-a faint, and cheerlefs few!
Refreshment from my flagging spirits flew.
When, low, retir'd beneath a cypress shade,
My limbs upon a flowery bank I laid,
Soon by foft-creeping, murmuring winds compos'd,
A flumber prefs'd my languid eyes-They clos'd:
But clos'd not long-Methought Olympia fpoke;
Thrice loud fhe call'd, and thrice the flumber broke.
Iwak'd. Forth-gliding from a neighbouring wood, 685
Full in my view the fhadowy charmer stood.
Rapturous I started up to clasp the shade;
But ftagger'd, fell, and found my
A mantling chillness o'er my bosom spread,
As if that inftant number'd with the dead.
Her voice now fent a far, imperfect found,
When in a swimming trance my rangs were drown'd.
Still farther off fhe call'd-With foft furprize,
I turn'd-but void of ftrength, and aid to rife;
Short, fhorter, fhorter yet, my breath I drew :
Then up my struggling foul unburthen'd flew.
Thus from a state, where fin and grief abide,
Heaven fummon'd me to mercy—thus I died.
He faid. Th' aftonishment with which I start, Like bolted ice runs fhivering through my heart. 700 Art thou not mortal then? I cried. But lo! His raiment lightens, and his features glow! In fhady ringlets falls a length of hair; Embloom'd his afpect fhines, enlarg'd his air. Mild from his eyes enlivening glories beam; Mild on his brow fits majesty supreme.
Bright plumes of every dye, that round him flow,
Veft, robe, and wings, in varied luftre fhow.
He looks, and forward fteps with mien divine;
A grace celestial gives him all to shine.
He fpeaks-Nature is ravifh'd at the found,
The forests move, and ftreams ftand liftening round!
Thus he. As incorruption I affum'd,
As inftant in immortal youth I bloom'd!
Renew'd, and chang'd, I felt my vital springs, 715
With different lights difcern'd the form of things;
To earth my paflions fell like mists away,
And reason open'd in eternal day.
Swifter than thought from world to world I flew,
Celestial knowledge fhone in every view.
My food was truth-what tranfport could I mifs?
My profpect, all infinitude of blifs.
Olympia met me firft, and, fmiling gay,
Onward to mercy led the fhining way;
As far tranfcendant to her wonted air,
As her dear wonted felf to many a fair!
In voice, and form, beauty more beauteous fhows,
And harmony ftill more harmonious grows.
She points out fouls, who taught me friendship's charms,
They gaze, they glow, they spring into my arms! 730
Well pleas'd, high ancestors my view command;
Patrons and patriots all; a glorious band!
Horatio too, by well-born fate refin'd,
Shone out white-rob'd with faints, a spotless mind!
What once, below, ambition made him mifs,
Humility here gain'd, a life of bliss!
Though late, let finners then from fin depart!
Heaven never yet defpis'd the contrite heart.
Laft fhone, with fweet, exalted luftre grac'd,
The SERAPH-BARD, in highest order plac'd!
Seers, lovers, legiflators, prelates, kings,
All raptur'd liften, as he raptur'd fings.
Sweetness and strength his look and lays employ,
Greet fmiles with fmiles, and every joy with joy:
Charmful he rofe; his ever-charmful tongue
Joy to our fecond hymeneals sung;
Still as we pafs'd, the bright, celestial throng
Hail'd us in focial love, and heavenly fong.
Of that no more! my deathless friendship see!
I come an Angel to the Muse and Thee.
Thefe lights, that vibrate, and promiscuous fhine,
Are emanations all of forms divine.
And here the Muse, though melted from thy gaze,
Stands among fpirits, mingling rays with rays.
If thou would'st peace attain, my words attend,
The laft, fond words of thy departed friend!
True joy's a feraph, that to heaven afpires,
Unhurt it triumphs mid' celeftial choirs.
But fhould no cares a mortal state moleft,
Life were a state of ignorance at best,
Know then, if ills oblige thee to retire,
Thofe ills folemnity of thought infpire.
Did not the foul abroad for objects roam,
Whence could fhe learn to call ideas home?
Juftly to know thyself, peruse mankind;
To know thy God, paint nature on thy mind:
Without fuch science of the worldly scene,
What is retirement?-Empty pride or spleen :
-But with it wisdom. There fhall cares refine,
Render'd by contemplation half-divine.
Truft not the frantic, or myfterious guide,
Nor ftoop a captive to the schoolman's pride.
On nature's wonders fix alone thy zeal!
They dim not reason, when they truth reveal;
So fhall religion in thy heart endure,
From all traditionary falsehood pure;
So life make death familiar to thy eye,
So halt thou live, as thou may't learn to die;
And, though thou view'ft thy worst oppreffor thrive,
From tranfient woe, immortal blifs derive.
Farewell Nay, ftop the parting tear!-I go!
But leave the Mufe thy comforter below.
He faid. Inftant his pinions upward foar,
He leffening as they rife, till feen no more.
While Contemplation weigh'd the myftic view, 785
The lights all vanish'd, and the vision flew.
HE reader will easily perceive thefe verfes were begun, when my heart was gayer than it has been of late; and finished in hours of the deepest melancholy.
I hope the world will do me the juftice to believe, that no part of this flows from any real anger against the Lady, to whom it is infcribed. Whatever undeferved feverities I may have received at her hands, would she deal so candidly as acknowledge truth, she very well knows, by an experience of many years, that I have ever behaved myfelf towards her, like one who thought it his duty to fupport with patience all afflictions from that quarter. Indeed, if I had not been capable of forgiving a Mother, I must have blufhed to receive pardon myself at the hands of my Sovereign.
|