^x V, .J-J A \J n X c POEMS: COMPRISING THE LAST MAN; ELEMENTS OF THE BhlAUTlFUL; DEATH BY ROBERT TYLER I'HXLAUELPHiA : HENRY PERK1N,S — CHESTNUT STREET 1839. 48 6555 JUL 2 1942 PREFACE, The author of the " Last Man" lays no claim to origin- ality in the conception of the subject of his poem. It is as old as the time of the crucifixion, and is to be found, he believes, recorded in scriptural history. It seemed, how- ever, to present to his mind a good material out of which to construct a poem of some interest. How he has succeeded in his undertaking the public will decide. At the same time he begs leave to say, that the age at which the poem was written (the author then being only nineteen), and the naked inexperience of a first effort, may excuse many of its imperfections. The " Elements of the Beautiful" was written the latter part of last year^ and it is in a state of mind vacillating between doubt and hope, that the author, at the solicitation of some of his friends, has determined to make it public. He flatters himself, however, that the poem may not prove entirely unworthy to be read by his countrymen. 1* ROBERT SAUNDERS, Esq. PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS, ETC. IN WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE, VIRGINIA, THIS POEM IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. THE LAST MAN. Now from the world had nature's freshness faded Amidst Time's hoariness ; for ever was her Gorgeous glory gone. All-hideous Death, Insatiate ravager, on his broad wings Of heavy darkness, lay motionless in air. Brooding o'er old aged Earth ; and all things, Animate and inanimate, under his Pestilential breath, the warm juices Of healthy life did lose, and shrink, and perish. Alternate sickly pale and darkly eclipsed, The huge round Sun looked faintly down through The thick atmosphere. Its watery rays, Robb'd of beneficent warmth, cold and slimy As the crawling grave worm, fell dismally On earth, all vegetation poisoning, 2 14 THE LAST MAN. And the buds and seeds of all kinds of fruits And flowers freezing and blasting with touch Destructive, icy and envenomed. Its heat All gone, shorn of its happy brightness, with aspect Unsteady, and in lurid gloom terrifically Gleaming, hideously sad, swung in heaven's Illimitable field the noontide orb, In olden time so glorious. With notes Discordant, as those horrid sounds in groaning Thunder grating loud and strong, made by hell's Clanging gates, when Death and Sin, darting. With restless hands, their scorpion spears, drive Through these red-hot iron portals, down to raging Torment's aspic arms, a troop of wretched Souls, to never-ending torture doom'd, The planetary spheres, no longer orbital In their paths of light, now quenched and blotted Out from heaven's great chart, heady and blind, Hither and thither err, wand'ring aimless THE LAST MAN. 15 And compassless through the withering skies. Pale Terror arm'd, flashing fierce lightnings from his Baleful eyes, stalks with colossal strides abroad, And Day, affrighted, sick in horrid agony, Expires, yielding his rayless throne to pitchy Nightj'whose stiller and sadder shadows In mournful obscurity thickly enshroud The senile universe. And then unbroken, Save by some meteor hissing on its streaming Track, or here and there a star which had not Lost aU form and colour in the general Darkness, in the unillumined void shining Portentous with tremulous and flaring Disk — primeval Chaos reign'd. Earth herself, Unbalanced, decaying, and desolate, The music of her circling motion lost. Feebly wheel'd on through the limitless space, Alone and inharmonious. Old age. Resistless age unchanging, corrupting. 16 THE LAST MAN. In all its subtlest essence Nature felt, And her strongest children, sea, tree, and mountain. Were around her dying fast away. Victorious had conquering Time become At last, with strength almighty gifted, And the scepter' d rule of his avenging Arm all things acknowledged. Old appear'd The Sun, through ages on ages shining Incomputable, myriads on myriads ; Wrapped in its hazy pall, the sky looked old^. And moaning convulsively at life's Universal wreck, prostrate had wither'd Nature sunk appall'd and trembling. Gnarl'd And barkless in that last day, amid the breathless Winds, tall and unbending, the stark forest Trees stood up all leafless and branchless, And solitary in those vast groves sat Tongueless Silence on her ebon throne, canopied By black and stirless clouds, while her hush'd reign THE LAST MAN. 17 The whole earth noiseless witness'd. Jesu ! how strange That not a sound was there, nor stealthy pace Of crouching cat, or swift tiger glaring wild With ball of fire savage as his untaught Heart, when, with growl and spring clutching Quick and fast his victim, he digs his reeking Muzzle into its streaming throat ; nor horn-bill'd Woodpecker's drowsy tap, nor ploughman's Plaintive whistle wandering from field To happy cottage home forest embosom'd. Even Echo, that fairy maid, too beauteous To be seen by mortal eye, lurking in shady Covert of aged wood, or in the crystal Grotto's sparry halls, or seeking the limpid Wave of mountain streamlet, in some cool Pebbly cove, shelter'd, by Nature's veil of time-worn Rocks and waving copse wood green, from common Sight, wherein to bathe most chastely her faultless Limbs, even Echo had pined and died, list'ning 2* 18 THE LAST MAN. In vain the love-toned voice of him, her faithless Lover, whose call oft flying, yet answering As oft, much she worshipp'd. No lay of sportive Bird, no insect's chirping note, was heard To the bright sunbeam singing. Th' oppressive Stillness agonised nature's ear of perfect Melody, and the softest sweep of insect's Filmy wing (if such there had been) flying On unmark'd way through air's deep solitudes, Would, with the trumpet note of a thousand Stunning thunders, have smote upon the senseless ear. Extinguish' d were earth's hidden fires : Stern earthquake's voice of ire was for ever Hush'd. Cold were the volcanoes' iron-melting Furnaces, to glow and hiss with heat once Madly forced by winged Tempests' imprisoned Breaths. Around them mingled lay masses Of blackening cinders, and sand, and stones. And the fused ores of metals corrupt, decaying. The furrowing marks and scars of age extreme THE LAST MAN. 19 All things did bear. No tott'ring arch, nor cornice Mouldering into dust, nor broken pillar Half buried, lay strewn on the barren ground, To tell their ancient tale of cities magnificent. Where once had congregated the busy- Millions of an ant-like race, amid gold And purple, and luxury's costly show. And rags, and wretchedness, and poverty's Squalid rule. The ruby's ruddy ray. The diamond's star-like light, the mine of untouch'd Gold, and bright and tempting things that sell men's Souls, and win their senses into hapless bondage. Had been exposed to man's keen eye, and trembling. Griping hand ; and to his crafty search old Ocean, from his palaces in the unfathom'd depths, Had yielded forth his treasur'd miracles. On these, the gorgeous monuments of his fame, And to his pleasures, gayest ministers, In finest ingenuity had man wrought Hard, and in genius' dazzling inspirations 20 THE LAST MAN. Had schemes devised of noblest immortality. But on him fell at last the terrible Curse destructive, and low^, annihilated Into ashes, together sank at once worshippers And worshipped, — idol, idolaters, temples, Priests, and all. Untrodden through all past time, The lofty mountains' unscal'd peaks, ever And anon fell tumbling, as with the crash Of swiftly wheeling worlds meeting in viewless Space. The foamy torrents, as adown the sides Of rocky hills, from crag to crag they leap'd, Had long ceased their brawling courses. In The sheltering clifts of walled precipice, The tender and fair leaved flower, like Innocence in a rough world, no longer Grew unseen, and bloom'd in aromatic Airs, and droop'd, and faded, and wither'd. The unfragrant lichen, to the unmoist rock. Grasping at vitality, was no longer known THE LAST MAN. 21 Desperately to cleave. Together fast Crumbling were rock and earth away ; And of the savage world its bristling monsters Were quick losing place, and form, and terror, And aspect harsh and wild. Crestless and surgeless The untravel'd seas, unruffl'd by tide Or lifting breeze (the moon now powerless) Slept dark and stagnant on their unwashed sands ; In their thick heaviness the inky waters Diminish'd not, but calmly they rested Inelastic though yet fathomless. Dried up Were the broad beds of the rivers' shallower Depths, while between their banks, now useless. Rapidly consuming, were bones of fishes Innumerable, thickly commingled with Skeleton remains of men and beasts, all Loathesome. Of all existence various And wondrous that was in the new world's 22 ■ THE LAST MAN. Morning, by great Wisdom's self bidden Into harmonious beauty, of life that could Die, not now remain'd the smallest, feeblest Spark. Untenanted was air's buoyant Domains : ocean's countless throngs were gone ; All kinds of beasts which knew the firmer Land, and the millions exhaustless of the insect Race, sporting in flood of happiest sunshine. Or searching 'mid sweet spring's fragrant flowers For enamell'd honied drops, or sip of dew Morn's earliest rose embalming, empearl'd In purest font, delicious draught ! down To the eternal grave, in his uncounted Generations, man had long since gone. His Governments vainly aspir'd to bear Immortal impress. Empires mighty, and great Kingdoms, wiser republics, in pride had All been born, in strength robust had grown, And then had sunk into Death's wide arms, To be forgotten, as Time his voiceful THE LAST MAN. 23 Record threw into eternity's profound Abysm. All wete dead that could die. And yet One heart did beat on earth. The wand'ring Jew, Deep-hated Ahasuerus, owned its feeble pulse. Unwilling witness of life's unhappy end, Stern matter's slow decay, and over Time Eternity's dread triumph, the last man Stood on earth alone. But mercy (so full Is God of mercy) was even to him extended ; And the moment now was near at hand, when An act of blackest sin, deep dyed in crime, Horrid and unspeakable, was from Heaven's Register, in godlike charity, to be Blotted out* On a time gray rock gigantic, Towering, stood the most terribly accurs'd, And with immortal sight his eye expanding, O'er tideless ocean wander'd, and old aged Land, now bald and tenantless, and through 24 THE LAST MAN. The deep space of the unnatural skies Cold, desolate, and dreary. On the to tt' ring Mount tremblingly he stood, and for the last Time, for the last time, long and earnestly Abroad he gazed in anguish. But, sudden. Tense and strong the muscles of his palsied Limbs became, and his low and muttering Voice, firm and sonorous as in manhood's Prime, and in his eyes was gather'd gradually A fire lustrous though steady, and confidingly He raised his suffering brow in willing trust. Insensibly from beneath his feet the soil No longer slid. The mould'ring rocks, nodding And ghastly, no longer shrank around him With lack of strength : and nature ceased her wail, When his clear voice, deep and thrilling. The unbending justice of eternal God Proclaiming, of light and love and truth The Almighty Father, loud from amidst The silence of earth's grave peal'd forth THE LAST MAN. 25 By the winds and stars to be attested, And the sun himself, and the farthermost Distant heavens. Dread God ! who sitteth In infinity amid the lights of suns. Revolving in their golden spheres in brightness Everlasting ; of the universal worlds Architect almighty, and in exhaustless Splendours high enthroned above the starry Hosts, in glory inexpressible and eternal ; Whose beginning unconceived eternity Will never know ; whose end futurity May never witness ; Lord of the boundless Skies, Ruler of light and darkness, whose Power of perfect love through all the wide Outspread dominions of the infinite Void extends empire without end, and whose Slightest will can into atoms strew The heavens sublime and all that in them is ; Hear me, Father Omnipotent, me the accursed, 3 26 THE LAST MAN. Who now in humblest penitence lowly Doth bend before thy throne, thy throne of glory. God of my fathers, I pray for mercy ; Thou knowest through thousands of torturing Ages I have suffered pain, pain constant, Unalleviated in its scorching fire. On my haggard brow is stamp'd care's furrow'd Impress ; over my wasting form, wave Following wave in wrath uncheck'd, time's Hissing surges merciless have dashed. All in vain my hands were clasp'd imploring. All in vain in the soul's big agony My rugged knees were bent to thee appealing, All in vain my voice was raised to thee In passion's fervid accent : Among my race A Parian outcast, denied of thee, O God Of Israel ! oft amid the lightning's scathing Bolts, when time was young, and earth Was green, have I protectless been driven Forth, while in lurid gloom the storm has THE LAST MAN. 27 Fiercely frown'd, and down to the pitiless Dust I have been stricken like a pithless Weed. Alone, oft lying on the jagged edge Of horrid precipice, in its rude might I have felt the rock-ribb'd mountain tremble At the earthquake-demon's pealing shout, His charging cry of battle — and as onw^ard Like chafed ocean's sweeping, roaring tide, The million-winged monarch of the tempest Came with front of hideous gloom, and eye Whose flash was lightning, before his course Direful, resistless, I have sunk powerless. Earth's dark bosom has received me, man's grave, But not my grave, and in this living tomb With loathsome bones, and crumbling stones heap'd up Together, over and around me, for years uncounted Have I laid alive praying to die, until The voice imperative of mighty fate. Thy sleepless agent, would be loudly heard, Calling me from out my charnel prison 28 THE LAST MAN. House, to pass through other scenes of unchanged Misery. On ocean's restless breast have I been toss'd, and with his slimy monsters, Into his fathomless depths, have gone darkly Down, and while kingdoms were building up And falling into ruins, have been whirl'd In his voiceless eddies. All things have I Outlived. Fear from danger shrinking I know not now, and pain assails with barbed Shaft my callous limbs no longer. Man Has been forgotten long, and all the happy ties Which bound me to my kind. The strength Of solid earth has pass'd away, and a pall Of gloom funereal the once bright heaven Involves. Memory on its bitter aliment Hath fed until its light is out, except i That which consumingly, like to a furnace Fire, it sheds upon one hurried act, one deed Of shame and sin. Hope only now remains, Hope in thy mercy infinitely great and good. THE LAST MAN. 29 The LAST MAN bows submissive to thy will, O Father, and sheds the tear of penitence. And calls aloud on thee for mercy. Glory To thee, most high God, and to thee, merciful Saviour and Redeemer, who with radiant Hosts of cherubim, and seraphim which sing Continual praises, doth sit on thrones Of purest light above — amen — amen. As thus the fated spoke, in fear, in faith, In heartfelt penitence he bow'd his head Submissive, and at his feet the tear upon The bare and thirsty ground did fall, And softer and clearer than can be conceived In human thought, a voice did flow like Muttering music in his ear, and the whole Universe heard the words and trembled : " Thou art pardon'd." Through the wide heavens the word of grace Went forth, and earth, her appointed hour Being come, dissolved away in darkness. 3* 30 ADDRESS ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFUL. Earth, sea, and sky : earth, warm and beautiful As the broad sun sets in massy splendour, Hill tops and forest lustrous with borrow'd gold, All heaven flooded with his glorious beams ; Sea, whose broad expanse, light heaving beneath The effulgent sunset, in its em'rald depths Might woo the spirit of the feathery cloud To view her smiling form, to whose wild music, Faint and low, and sweet as tone of lyre, struck out By beauty's hand. Zephyr doth gently sport. Whose softly swelling wave might rock a baby-child To sleep. — Sky, into whose azure void so deep, ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFUL. 31 The eye doth strain, searching for Heaven's palaces. Cloudless, save in those of shape fantastic, And of gorgeous dyes, which day's proud monarch, Royal to the last, hath call'd around him. His pompous exit from the world to witness — Earth, warm and gay, and beautifully bright In summer's richest garniture array'd. Broad beaming sun, fair flowers, soft green turf. And tall trees bending with their leafy burdens ; Sea, by thine own melodious murmurings, Soothed to rest ; — sky, lovely as eye of seraphim, The unfading elements ye are of bright And beautiful. From boyhood's playful hour My passionate worship ye have always been, For in your fine existences I have Ever felt that mystic spirit, which, with The rare essence of the soul commingling. Lights up a dazzling flame immortal, never To be quench'd till fame shall die, and glory Be no more. In your thousand forms enchanting, 32 ADDRESS TO THE Ye have I often seen, and wrapp'd in lofty Contemplation, with fer\dd thought my daring Soul has burn'd, and highest aspiration. Deep to drink of wisdom's living waters, That I might to the world some hidden secret Teach, magnificent and wondrous, or act Some mighty deed of good, a legacy To man, a record on glory's stateliest Arch, a monument to stand unmoulder'd By oblivion's rustying touch. Or else, Sinking with dreamy consciousness of bliss, Prone on the verdant turf, all sprinkled o'er With loveliest, rarest flowers, white, purely White as the smooth brow of shrinking innocence, Or purple as the rich dye that paints morn's Earliest cloud, or bright amber-tinted As the gleamy ray shot forth by evening's Golden sun on plat of greensward glowing ; And while thus reclining on my pillowing ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFUL. 33 Arm, I listen to the quivering leaves With joyous whispers, and in tuneful time Dancing above my head to fairy notes Of music-enamour' d south wind, inhaling Choicest fragratice, I have gently mused. On things past have I gently mused — on things To come, while the fair present, like an isle Enchanted, in magic colours brightly Seen, around me lay in slumbrous beauty. On mem'ry have I softly call'd, on mem'ry. With her starry train attendant, pleasures And joys subtle and of mystic birth like Dream heard melodies, innocent triumph, And delight high and exultant. Through The light shadows of the unforgotten Past, with these, her chosen handmaids, I have Bid her come, my untutor'd heart upfilling With a rare, sweet gladness. Bright images She has shown me, fair thoughts, though sometimes tinged 34 " ADDRESS TO THE With melancholy, I have from her won, By soothing arts, and her voice, O haply. Yet lingers on my ear, musical as The pebbly rill, that plaintive sings unto The sleeping flowers on summer's holy eve. Hope, too, ethereal hope, half earthly. Half divine ; fair herald of the future, Array'd in garments multicolour'd, yet All beautiful, unbidden, though thrice welcome Thou hast, in such blissful moments, to me Been as a fond mother. Oft the thick Obscuring curtain from the future world Thou hast unveil'd, and tempering to my Shrinking gaze, a mortal, the view resplendent, Things have I beheld of wondrous brightness, Strange, strange, and yet exceeding glorious ! On jasper columns, high tow'ring amid The peaceful skies, peaceful and clear, but still Of varied hues celestial, on which The eternal sun shone with intensest ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFUL. 35 Splendour, compelling old Time himself his Baleful eyes to veil, in deathless characters, Name on name appear'd of those Fame's mighty Sons, who in irradiate glory died, To be as gods in after life. Their blazing Summits countless glories crown'd, glories which Thus attend the sculptur'd records of the great Immortal. In grandeur proud beyond these Pillar'd monuments, whose roof might scarce be Spann'd by rainbow's loftiest arch, glittering In precious stones inestimable, stood That temple, consecrate by fame from nature's Noblest birth, to immortality, of frame Symmetrical, and of finest art. To equal which no mortal hand can without Death aspire, yet of bulk more huge than that Fam'd city of the sun in flinty Araby, Under whose heavy burden earth overstrain'd Did groan, or monstrous Tyre sea-belted. Or thick wall'd Babylon. On the broad 36 ADDRESS TO THE Enfolding doors I saw, in letters, whose Lines were silvery stars, home of the illustrious Written. High thrones of amethyst along The porphyre walls were ranged, and on these were Statues placed, in semblance exact of life Of those, the blessed, who for good and right Had warr'd, with open sword, or wisdom's speech Persuasive, or iron will, unbent to tyrant's Frown or wrench of galling chain. Each wore . A jewell'd crown, each splendid, but dissim'lar In shape and colour, which sat most loftily On their stately brows ; some of diamond. Diamond throughout, unflaw'd, unstain'd. And priceless, to which all heaps of earthly Gold would be as valueless as dust by Thriftless minds squander'd abroad ; others Of glowing carbuncle, or ruby stain'd. Out gleaming the warrior planet of the skies ; Others opal, or amber-ray'd, like cloudless Liquid, mellow'd light from autumn's westring ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFTJL. 37 Sun ; others of snowy pearl, and others Still of deep green emerald, fashioned In shape of oak, or laurel wreath. In their Ensculptured hands emblems of dignity They held; the impartial sword of justice, truth's Lustrous shield, on whose keen dazzling surface Falsehood look'd to die, the rod of lawless power Snatch'd from the despot's grasp and broken, broad Charter of man's rights, won from prerogative By purchase, harp in whose magic strings lurk'd Poesy and music, and rare book well fiU'd With the rich problems of a calm philosophy. Beneath their feet, scatter'd around, lay fragments Of stain'd and mould'ring fetters, and batter'd Crowns, and batons of hereditary Office, stripp'd of their gold and glitter, Lack-lustre gems, which once had graced the crowns Of haughty tyrants, edicts for blood or Treasure thirsting, now torn and miserably Soil'd, and all the profane mummeries which 4 38 ELEMENTS OF THE BEAUTIFUL. Kings and thrones put on. Entranced I lie And gaze, until, methinks, quick starting To my feet, with flushed cheek and deeply Swelling soul, a wild outburst of heaven-toned Minstrelsy, loud volumed as the thunder's Roar, yet, to my unstrained ear, soft as Tremulous sigh of love-lorn lute, gives hail To me, a lowly son of song, as one Whom fame in after times should welcome To these sunlit halls, as one to die In glory's arms, even as they had died. On the green and fragrant grass outstretched, Calm sky above, and nature dressed in smiles Around me — such visions have I seen. THE HON. WADDIE THOMPSON, OF SODTH CAROLINA, THE HON. JOHN P. KENNEDY, OF MARYLAND, THIS POEM IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. The following poem may be regarded as written partly in a style innovating on the established blank verse measure. For this, if for no other reason, it may be considered a fit subject for critical chastisement. With proper respect for the opinions of others, however, I think otherwise. It will be remembered that all styles of verse are founded on rules of poetic propriety, entirely conventional. These conven- tional laws are adopted because of a supposed suitability to the end proposed to be attained. This end, so far as the prosody of verse is concerned, directs itself strictly to the ear, to win this sense to pleasure or admiration by the wooing harmony of sounds. In this respect mark the regular progress and return of the lyrical measure, the Spenserian stanza, and the ten-syllabled lines of blank verse. But it cannot be maintained, with intellectual propriety, or even without absurdity, that there may not be 4* 42 PREFACE. improvement in the prosodiacal construction of verse as pro- perly as in prose writing, and those thousand other subjects of human invention, which are gradually undergoing the im- provement of an enlightened reformation, as the mental power of man acquires deeper energies and greater strength of capacity. I do not intend laying myself open to the charge of egotism in expressing this opinion. I merely intend uttering a sentiment of general import — maintaining, simply, that the question is yet open, and that the sole circumstance of this poem being composed in a style which may be regarded as an innovation on any pre-established measure, is not, because of that alone, subject to be placed under the ban of a contemptuous criticism. If it does not, in itself, offend against the ear or the mind, against the innate fastidious delicacy of tlie one, or the elaborated rules of the other, any other objection of necessity must be puerile. To come to my reasons for having chosen this particular character of versification. To remark nothing on the authority, to a certain extent, at least, given for it in the weighty example of several of the first poets who have graced the world of English literature, or who have existed during any age on earth, and independently of the corrobo- rative testimony of Mr. Shelly, particularly as to its perfect PREFACE. 43 consonance with good taste, it appears to me there arc reasons intrinsic to the case decisive of the issue. The great ex- cellences of a good poem, written in sequent uninterrupted blank verse, are the scope and majesty of idea admissible, the power of a proper and chaste inflexion, which is not only allowable but even desirable, and the strong harmonious and unintermittent flow of the musical current. But if this particular order of verse has these advantages, it likewise has its correspondent array of objections. The inelasticity of its construction, which inflexion itself does not properly remedy, the monotony of its sound, the turgid and tiresome appearance of page after page of this unaltering and un- breathing verse, fatiguing to the very eye itself, must be regarded as faults, from which it will be highly desirable, if possible, to relieve any poem. The style of the following composition is offered as an attempt to remedy some of these objections. Whether it answers its intention, whether it may not be subject to less excusable objections than ordi- nary blank verse, is yet for the public to decide. I will be excused for thinking favourably of this remedial attempt, and can but hope for favour from the world of letters. It will be observed that the poem, as regards substance or idea, is of the ideal, or of that school of poetry the least popular. There is no appeal, or but little, to passion, 44 PREFACE. which, at this day, makes poetry so fashionable and popular. It has been my desire to obtain images solely intellectual, divested, as much as possible, of every extraneous impres- sion ; and to present these images, for the most part, in a musical, breathing, and elastic verse, except in cases in which the idea of the verse requires otherwise ; for it is very evident it would be improper to use the same kind of lan- guage in the description of thunder as of a summer breeze or delicate spring flower. Much of the poem, indeed, is written in regular blank verse ; but I have endeavoured as much as possible, in the use of other poetic measures, to relieve it from monotony and the other above mentioned objections. It may be urged that I am only an imitator of Mr. Shelley. This charge, if made, I repel, since I disdain to be a mere imitator of any one ; but at the same time I eim proud to acknowledge that I have made Mr. Shelley's poetry a subject of severe study. In my estimation there is no English poet his superior, and but very few his equal. With these hasty explanations, I now present this poem (in part) to the public. Part the second will be forthcoming in due time. BEAT What art thou, and whence, O mighty Death ! whose Ghastly shadow palls the universe ? Unseen Thy form by man, yet in its infinite strength Immortal, darkly, terribly unchanging. Unfelt thy heavy hand, yet crushing in their Spheres of splendour roUing worlds. Unheard Thy voice, uncompass'd in its knelling tone, Yet ever speaking dread command resistless : Who, as a huge undying serpent, gnawest ■ At nature's strong-pulsed heart, until upon Her shrieks and pain thou glutt'st thy rancorous Fill; — whence comest thou, array'd in horrors Undefined, and sablest terrors, inhuman And all hideous one ? 46 DEATH. Thou, whose word, grating In harshest sound, bids harmony into Discord, and canst make the music of the stars As groaning thunder ; who canst smite the fires Of the sun, and turn this blazing fount of light To vasty fields of foul and stagnant darkness ; Avenging minister of God's great curse On man, shadow of universe, nature's Promethean vulture, life's veil'd antithesis — What art thou, dread and horrid one ? On ocean's Surging gulf I lay^-night sat above me On her leaden throne, her form dark veil'd In ebon clouds and gloom, and hidden from The paly-gleaming stars. On me these thoughts Then fell, and when I spake, a voice came down From out the blacken'd skies, and answer'd To my words. " Mortal of fearless soul, whose Eye undaunted seeks to roam beyond earth's DEATH. 47 Common barrier, aud to know the wondrous Mysteries of Death, shake off the chain that Binds thy spirit's wings ; up, fly, and come with me. And surely shalt thou see all that thy heart Beats fast and loud to know." With a quick Impulse my soul leapt from its bonds. Mortality's Cold grasp no longer felt, from the billowy Bosom of the rolling sea I sprang, an essence Strong and joyful in its disembodied bliss ; By that voice which spake to me, I stood, (A spirit in air ethereal, poised On starry wings,) all time, and space, and power, Of length, and depth, and breadth, all knowledge Of the present, past, and future, to my mind Reveal'd. In trembling ecstasy I look'd Throughout the universe deep, unmeasured. Limitless. My eager gaze shrank back Upon itself, when first its dazzling wonders 48 DEATH. Burst in terror, glory, grandeur, on my sight. Above, below, around, far, far away, Through space that knew nor breadth, nor end, space Infinite as heaven itself, were systems On systems celestial, ranged myriad Times on myriads, multiplied in light, And strength, and order, more various than In uncounted numbers are the untold Sands of ocean's heap'd up beds, and perfect In their kinds as various. Biformed stars There were, hugely magnificent, crescent, Triformed, and round, of lens-like shapes, convex Or concave, and solids half spherical, Glittering with bright-illumined glories — All forms and fashions that the wide expanded Eye might bear, shining in silvery light, Or gleaming v/ith narti-coloured beams, gold Or purple, amethyst, jasper, or pearl — Like those which one who travels far to seek DEATH. 49 From nature, in her desert ways, those lessons That the mighty mother there, in rugged form, May teach, oftentime, admiring much, In cloudless night has seen, the splendid terrors Of that scene sublime, denying sleep, while With unpillow'd head he lies beneath Arabian skies, or, yet more hapless far, Outstretch'd on broad Zahara's burning fields. Moons unnumber'd, robed in beauty maiden-like And soft, while gracefully, with timid wills Obedient, they sail attentive to the proud Majestic motions of the planetary spheres, Belted, or barr'd, or plane. Suns, or blood red. Or with black fire smouldering, these God's dread Volcanic arsenals ; or rainbow, hued, Soft temper'd to the enraptur'd sight, with many An iris ray and delicate shade ; Or else broad worlds of golden flame, full blazing In such quenchless splendours, that old Chaos 5 50 DEATH. And Satanic strife, in torturing pain's Fierce torments, down to their desolate seats Of treble gloom and ever-shrieking winds, With groans and yells terrific, flee, but to behold In momentary glimpse. And much more terrible, And still more bright than these, vast glowing comets On their loud hissing ways forth belching Sulphurous pestilence from Etnaean Depths, white with glaring heats, than hottest hell More hot, and speeding swifter than the lurid Lightning's fork through the wide azure fields Of space illimitable. Yet all these. Whether of sound proportion to the measuring eye, Or of a horrid make, whether of import Foul or fair they seem'd, were ministers Of God's strength and glory, perfect in their sort. And bent on ofiices of just and good. I turn'd my eye on earth. Beneath my feet. DEATH. 51 Slow wheeling, with the soft seraphic music Of the starry choir, it circled on its bright Harmonious way enfolded, in that rich And varied drapery which benignant God, With ever graceful and full bounteous hand, Around its lovely form has freely thrown. Long wavy chains of swelling hills uprising Gently from the sloping vales beneath, As if to woo the rustling noontide breezes. First I saw, and mountains, cold and granite-mass'd. So huge, and still, and stern. But even here Might oft be seen sweet Beauty's softening smile, Unfurrowing from their stormy brows The gather'd frowns of ages, when their grisly Heads the silken mists of sportive morn Enwreath'd, or when tiara'd with those clouds Of golden hue, which from her vermeil altars Of the west, serenest eve sends up In volumed incense to the smiling skies. Next wide expansive seas, across whose broad 52 DEATH. And ever-heaving tides the playful breezes Move on tireless wings, to distant lands less Bless'd virafting afar their fragrant loads, Pilfer'd in nectar'd kisses from the incautious Flowers, while dreaming, in star-lit sleep, Their rosy lives away, they lay in some Embower'd paradise of East. Then saw I, All at once, array'd beneath my wond'ring Gaze, in one far sweeping view, the moss turf 'd Covering of the quivering sod, trembling Into glowing life under the warm sun's Vivifying rays, while delighted nature Shows unto the vernal day the million birth Of young spring's meek-eyed brood ; the velvet Foliage of the waving woods ; the desert's Thirsty sands, gemm'd with their green and cool Oases, doubly beautiful ; rivers, whose Pearly streams stretch'd far away through fertile Plains to ocean's emerald brink ; and lakes, That seem'd in their transparent depths the crystal DEATH. 53 Eyes of earth. Mountains, hills, and winding dales, Rivers, and seas, and lakes, and purling streams, Gay blooming boughs, and flowery turf, conspired, In all their loveliest power, to make The fresh, the rich, and radiant beauty Of this orbed world. Like her the hapless Peri, who, through the adamantine gate Of Paradise half-oped to let some happy Spirit in, caught once a glimpse of Eden's Blooming bowers, and wept to enter there. My soul, enwrapt in the unveil'd brightness Of this beatific scene, forgetting all Save that I heard and saw, thrill' d with a sense Of loveliness and light, I leant upon The bosom of the air in blissful admiration. The spirit clasp' d my hand, and at that touch I felt celestial blisses quiver through my form. Swift gliding through the moonlit atmosphere 5* 54 DEATH. Full spiced with odorous perfumes. Which the fairy genii, who preside O'er evening's balmy hours, with lily Fingers pressing from the uncrush'd flowers. Had scattered far and wide, exhaustlessly, Now fill'd with airy shapes, attuning their Soft voices in liquid streams of joy, while Night, well pleased, Looks down with all her starry eyes, And lists in silence to that cadence wild ; And jocund with the merry laugh Of many a gamboling sprite, When presently the sighing sumnier breeze Comes puiRng on, and in its eddying path They vainly strive to fly, with golden ringlets Fluttering in the sweet ambrosial blast ; Through the soft star-silver'd airs, Thick populated with all lovely shapes, We passed on rapid wings, And lit at last upon the solid land. DEATH. 55 It was a lovely sight to see That spot on which we stood. Behold an oval fashion' d dale, Deep-bosom'd in the midst Of gently rising hills, Whose emerald waves, Through all the wide extended landscape rolling, With a rich woodland screen O'ertops the fair horizon. No mortal foot hath ever pass'd Its myrtle-guarded walls. No mortal eye hath e'er beheld The exhaustless treasures Of its many-tinted flowers. Such as the enthusiast's dream alone can see. When morning's light and formful sleep Holds up to varying fancy's Ever changing gaze That image-making mirror which reflects herself. 56 DEATH. Or such as may array itself Before a poet's eager vision, youth-inspired, When imagination's golden light streams O'er the hues of his prismatic mind, And wakes the tuneful echoes of his heart, While sitting on the pebbly beach I Of some sun glowing sea, Or gazing, on the white-wing' d clouds. The palaces of spirits in the sky, From some cool-shaded noiseless vale, He pictures to himself Enwrapt in magic-colour' d thought's fresh wove tissue, Some spring-clad island home, Far distant on that burnished tide, Or paints some happy dwelling place in heaven, Where peace, and love, and joy, for ever smile — Such to my full enchanted sight Was this embower' d haunt. The turf lay thick and green. Close-matted in its mossy woof DEATH. 57 Upon tlie genial soil, Save where sweet beds of flowers Gaze upward on the stars, Whose rich commingling odours. From where they lie, With gentle arms In love enwreath'd about each other's forms. Intoxicate the soul with a delight More blissful than they feel in their own fragrance. The red rose, blushing in its virgin pride, Hangs lightly on its briary stalk, And from its pale-cheek' d sister's brow Kisses, with trembling lip, The pearly tear away. Here violets, that spring by night, Of rarer shapes and scents by far Than those steep'd in their sweetest dew, Which some blithesome village maiden. Bright as the trilling lark, at early dawn, Gay^singing to her pleasant task, 58 DEATH. Plucks lightly, from amidst their flagged leaves, E'er yet the burning sun Hath touch'd, with fervid ray, Their cool retreat— And soft as the breath they breathe — Mingle their hues and balmiest odours With the nectar' d sighs Of wind-flowers, pansies, hyacinths, oxlips. And sun-striped tulips tall. Until the freighted airs themselves grow faint. And on their weary way sink down to sleep Amid the silent flowers watching there. Nodding o'er such as these, And thpusands yet more wonderful Of this fair sisterhood, With forms of wild untutor'd beauty. And with colours magically bright. Were uncounted oderiferous shrubs. The rich aroma of whose scented leaves, The purest otto from gay India's clime DEATH. 59 Distill'd from dew-fed roses, Might, in the strength of its keen sweetness, envy ; And fruit trees, burden' d with their luscious gold, That cluster' d thick upon each loaded branch, Bent low and temptingly, As though to beg some kindly hand To pluck their juicy mellowness. Over all these, In mazy intertwistings, ran All tendril'd vines of summer birth, Some showering down, for aye. Their million-coloured bloom Upon the verdant earth. Which melting there, beneath spring's gentle warmth, Flow'd purling through the grass In many-hued perfum'd streams, Low murmuring odorous melodies ; For aye supplied by countless swelling buds, Whose perfect beauties, bursting on the light. Expand in size and loveliness, 60 DEATH. Until at last, Ecstatic in full bosom'd joy, They leap away from off the parent stem, To be resolv'd into nectareous springs. Others, their flexile limbs all intertwin'd, Bore crystal gems, Embosom'd in a glossy garniture . Of trailing vine and leaf. Or large purpl'd transparencies Enshaded with the deep dyed Tyrian stain, Or jewels bright gleaming with rich rubied rays, That leave their liquid treasures on the taste, E'er yet the tongue hath press'd them. Through this enchanting paradise Our pausing steps. Along a labyrinthine walk, slow wandering, Led to the green unebbing brink Of an unruffi'd lake. On whose unrippling stainless tide The water lily lay, DEATH. 61 Sipping, in graceful ease, the limpid pearl, While gazing down, in maiden pride, Upon her snowy form, Light pictur'd in its waveless depths. In pure excess of happy innocence, Elve-like and soft she smiles. Here, when the sunbeam's virgin gold at morn, Comes broadly streaming, from th' empurpled east, In lustrous glow, Each sparkling drop Leaping beneath the roseate thrill. This dimpled sea seems as the flashing fount Of all earth's molten gems ; But now beneath the quiet-shining stars And fleecy-silver'd moon. And the unearthly measures of that fairy song, Whose soothing raptures, now, in gentlest current, , Steal from yonder jasmine trellised bower; It calmly lies, Bright as the seeming moveless stars 6 62 DEATH. That on its surface glitter. Oh ! list the soul-enthralling music Of that fairy strain. I. Come hither, fairies, to my jasmine bower, And wake in joy the charmed lay ; Haste hither, sisters, ere this moonUt hour Shall fly on silken wings away : Bring the myrtle and rose, And that flower which grows Lily white in the deep forest shade, And we '11 twine then a chain. That the spell may be vain Which would cruelly harm the fairy maid. II. Sweet sisters, come from your sports in the air, Where ye follow the fire-fly's sparkling shoots, Place the dew-pearl again in your glittering hair, And sing bright strains with your golden lutes. DEATH. 63 That their magic sound May steal sweetly around, As they spread their web of fairy light O'er the sleeping flowers, And the nectar'd showers That fall from the eyes of gentle night. III. From your palaces under the rosy wave, Where in dreams ye pass the sunny day, From your gem- wrought homes in the crystal cave, Or leafy couch, pearl'd by gay streamlet's spray, Or waking or sleeping, In earth or air keeping Your dreams or yo\ir vigils of love ; Bless'd spirits, one and all, list to the fairy's call : For the stars in the silent sky. And the low wind's whispered sigh. And the tear in each flow'ret's eye. Will now our sweet toned power approve. 64 DEATH. My panting soul In blissful madness heaved and fell, Beneath the melting charm Of that dissolving minstrelsy. The bulbul, nursed in Asia's orange gardens With tongue full steep' d in liquid odours, From where he sits, upon his rose leaf nest. Singing to night's fair silver crescent queen. Hath never yet pour'd forth such plaintive call ; Nor mock bird, when the soft summer lightnirig Of his thrilling note, Flashing across the vermeil-tinted wave, For the listless drowsy ear Of golden hued, dreaming eve Awakes sweet echoes o'er the honied waters Of some stilly sea ; Nor lute, nor harp, nor witch'd Thessalian lyre, Nor woman's charmed breath. Nor reed, touch'd by the balmy west-wind's lip, Nor deep unbroken strain DEATH. 65 Of slow harmonious melody Breath'd from the solemn organ's windy tubes, Floating with wave-like rise and fall Through some broad arch'd cathedral dome, Or, singly arous'd in song, Or all in fullest unison awoke, Until the fainting heart grows sick With unaccustom'd bliss, One half the rapture of that magic lay Hath ever known or felt. The song has ceased — the last vibrating sound, Caught by the murmuring airs, prolong' d, At last had sunk in silence, save what might Linger on pleas' d memory's ear, when thus again The Spirit spake. " This scene, so rarely Beautiful, has fiU'd thy fine existence With delight new-born, unspeakable ; While joy's immortal glow 6* 66 DEATH. Pervades thy keenly sensate being, A power, of perfect knowledge, Throughout thy mind extends ; And full incorporate with thy feeling self Uranian love holds sovereign sway. The dewy softness of this moonlit hour, The unclouded glory of yon wheeling orbs, Each blade of fragrant grass, leaf, vine, and tree, This limpid lake, that seems a fount of light. That fairy music strain, so wildly sweet. Seem all of heaven, fraternal soul, to thee. Behold that flower upspringing from thy Unfelt step : fresh seems it as a laughing child, Awoke from healthy slumber, smiling In its mother's arms. The half felt breeze Slight bends its pliant stalk, And as its tiny bud rocks to and fro In innocent glee, Sparkling with an inborn light of gladness, It looks a purple star of earA. DEATH. 67 Gaze deep, with unimpeded eye, Into its hidden source of life, Hidden by God's great will from mortal sight. And mark the powers that in its nature rule ; Seest thou, soul, ought there like death ?" Into its complex-textur'd form My wondering eye deep search'd ; FuU and perfect was God's power, Seen in that little painted flower. As in the hugest sun, That, veil'd in golden glory, Rolls its measureless sphere In nature's wide, unbounded, universal dome. Perpetual power of life was there : In it I saw the seed from whence it sprang ; The tender star-shaped leaf, The stalk of vivid green, The pearly roots, ent\yisted in the groujid. Was but new forna. 8 DEATH. The vein-like channels playing through its trunk. Under the quick invisible pulsings Of its unseen heart, Gave through its frame a perfect conduct To the elixir streams of life and odour ; And yet all these Were in that seed from which it had its birth : All these were there : Yet by immortal spirits only to be seen ; And in this unattractive form, Again to be condensed By nature's fadeless laws. So that God's rule may be obeyed That gives it being. Undying as that earth on which it falls. Spirit, I said, while o'er my radiant face I felt the many-changing shadows Of my thoughts quick pass, I seek in vain, Death is not here. DEATH. 69 Behold again, and thrice The Spirit Waved his hand. The scene was bitter changed — Seemed it that months had now roll'd by, And on their billowy tides. Into a wreck, most sadly desolate, Had swept away, forever, peace and smiling beauty From that sunny place, whilome so bright and glad. The whistling winds blew keen and cold Across chill fields of garish snow, Unprinted and unpress'd, while now and then, With fitful melancholy howl, They uttered torture's shrill complaints, As though their famished spirits needed yet More prey on which to feed — More havoc to be done. The ice encrusted branches Of the leafless trees Groaned piteously aloud, or shriek'd. 70 DEATH. When thus the curdling blast pass'd on, As if fierce animate with pain. Rank weeds, with dank and pithless forms, Drooping in cold uncover'd penury, Now threw their skeleton shadows O'er that comfortless plain, As though fiend-like to mock, with misery and wo, The ashes of dead flowers entomb'd beneath ; Not one small spot of velvet verdure Met the dazzled eye ; But here and there a frosted tuft of grass. With aspect stain'd and scorch'd, was seen, From which the sicken' d eye fled fast in fright, E'er scarce was recognised Its foul and wither' d presence. The vines their leaves had lost, and circling tendrils. Whose sly insinuating fingers once Had search'd, amid the whispering trees, For tasteful places. Where best rich fruit might cluster gracefully. DEATH. 71 Now stiff and straight, in rigid lines, Or ornamentless curves. Hung awkward on each creeking limb, Swinging monotonous with the piping storm ; Or on the hard and flinty ice-bound soil. All sapless lay. Dead to all grace, and lost to fragrance. On the brilliant lake the glittering ice. Thick frozen, shone, and through the torpid tide Beneath, the water lily's stem no longer Waving ran. Bright spirits all were gone From earth, air, sea, Of this once fragrant dale, — Ouphs, fairies, elves, and sylphs. To seek for happier homes In some far distant sun-warm land ; And herbless, leafless, shuddering aghast With cramp and cold, here might Despair well reign With demons leagued from winter's twilight caves. 72 DEATH. Lo ! this is Death, — And shivering, then, with dread and fear abhorrent, Shrinking and pale, I closed my eyes in pain ; Spirit, I sadly said, is this the end For which this elvish bower Dawn'd into beauty's light? Was this the all for which gay flowers bloom'd, And leafy vines ran wild In nature's untrain'd grace, For which trees blush' d with fragrant loads of fruit, And laughing streams ran through the swarded turf; For which this sparkling lake bright flash'd Its gem-like woof of colours in the sun, And ouphs and fairies sang Such wildly joyous strains, Their gleesome hearts impregnate then With music's glowing powers ? Alas ! this seems like mockery in heaven, That now an icy shadow DEATH. 73 On the souls of all pure things should lie, They dead with throbless hearts, And voices hush'd in unawakening sleep. The Spirit smiled — His face irradiate with heartfelt happiness, When thus God's sovereign acts He might in eloquent words defend — And at that smile I felt a pleasing glow of warmth and joy Illumine ray whole frame, With strength too keen and exquisite to speak In unembodying words. Aye, soul of fallen man. Whose quick perceptions, unforgetful yet Of earth's base taint, Compell'd thy sight for one unhappy moment, Through those film'd eyes Of thy near kindred mortal race. With ignorance and with passion's humours dimm'd ; 7 74 DEATH. "This is that which, warp'd by prejudice And evil thoughts, Thou and the seed of mam call Death ; But now with gladden' d eager-sensed ears Hear thou, the truth eternal, unimpeachable. God's will is law throughout wide heaven and earth, Which Time and Chance themselves And aU- their petty ministers obey, Abysmal Chaos and fair Light in awe obey. Thrones, powers, and dominions heaven-born, And Nature's wide extended, infinite rule. Perfect, and co-eternal with himself, Are these his changeless laws, a portion of his Being, immeasured even by the boundless Thoughts of hierarchal seraphim ; His seat is universe, his strength himself. Himself all power, all truth, and virtue. Uniform in order's solemn harmony. Beneath his feet fix'd stars, and suns, and planets Move; His hand traced out their orbit march, 75 And paved each golden path with solid light ; The attendant moons, watchful as loving brides Their warrior lords, When on their slow, majestic way, erect. And arm'd for mail-clad battle's deeds renown'd, They proudly go, He placed to shine by night. In chasten'd glory, Their brows else veil'd in mantled modesty. The rolling seasons him obey : All things of earth, — Thunder and red-fork'd lightning, and black storm, Uptearing, from their strong foundations, Stalwart o^ks, deep rooted in the ground, And angry tempest. Sweeping ocean's mad, tumultuous waves, In heaving fury to the skies : Fires, that burn unquenchably in central earth's Mysterious depths, his breath enkindled ; Huge rocks, vast caves, and precipices stern, Green hills and old aged mountains, bald and bleak. 76 DEATH. He in their several places order' d : And viiUeys, whose cold, forbidding wildnesses Have ne'er been trod by man's untiring step. Or teeming with the rich luxuriant harvests That the fatten' d loam To art's compelling culture yields, And lakes, and seas, and rivers, hoarse thund'ring On their riotous ways in fierce noise and foam, Through channels, o'er Vv'hose broken beds The granite-encovering banks Throws black and threat'ning shadows. Or else, slow-moving, broadly On proud embosom'd tracks, To morn's rejoicing beams, Lave their fresh shores with glitt'ring waves. And on their mighty tides Invite commerce to sit as some great swan. With wings outspread to catch the willing breeze. These, and all fair subjects of the day and night. Do him continual reverence : the leaf DEATH. 77 That rustling quivers in the wind, the flower That sleeps when twilight's poppied breath suspires Its drowsy influence on their thin dream-quivering Lids, or that at morn awakes in smiles To drink the roseate dew, and to inhale The fragrant freshness of the balmy airs That wait Aurora's graceful step ; the fruit That ripening mellows in the summer's sun, The gale that sweeps o'er autumn's golden fields, The insect, sporting in the noontide breeze, Or gather'd to his clustering tribe at even When the unthinking throng swarms in some Streamy shaft of light the sinking sun Shoots from his kingly eye, and spirits Unseen and shadowless as such formless airs That play among the sedgy reeds, beside Some glimmering stream, those pleasing strains The night-enshaded traveller hears entranced. When no rude voice the unearthly charm may stint, Or such as flitter o'er 7* 78 DEATH. That smooth unwrinkl'd wave, And ruffle not the moonbeam on its glassy throne ; The latest snow that lightly falls upon The lily cheek of April's first-born flower, Or that far spread o'er winter's chilly plain. On cold earth's iron lap unmelting lies ; , Yes, these and all things else. From some great world whose overgrown proportions Mortal mind may ne'er in their hugeness grasp, To each small shell or grain of unmark'd sand, That lies unnoticed on the curving beach Of an expansive sea, in him have strength And form existent, palpable. These are His glory, his resistless rule, all lesser Powers in these may work harmonious ; But in these are bound their adamantine bands, And to their rigid sway must yield, or in low Shame expire, if with ambitious hope they Cross His will before whose stern, whose just, Unwav'ring purpose the mightiest thing DEATH. "79 Of universe pithless must fall, opposing. Weak man may rule his own poor petty sphere, God's word hath said, this law, Which universal wisdom Hath writ down unchangeably ; But as the meteor beam Passeth his fading will away Immerged in God's effulgent light, Which swallows up Ten thousand earth-enkindled stars, And yet no greater radiance knows. These powerless in their transitory flash To add one single ray to his almighty sun. Spirits all soul. And things of air impalpable, Who have no earthly hearts To feel fierce passion's taint ; Whose minds are fiU'd with God's unbounded love, And lips his constant praises chant. And ouphs and fairies, gentlest of earth's race, 80 DEATH. Living unseen by man's dull eyes, unpurged Of ignorance and sin, all have their powers, Their many happy powers unknown, unwitness'd, But yet on him we lean, on him our God, Whose changeless, swerveless strength can never fail Nor ever be evaded. In some lone starlit vale We may make palaces unto ourselves Of sparkling gems and rich luxurious flowers. We may call upon the lute voiced birds to sing. And make the silver streamlet flow, and clothe The soil with living green, and hang ripe fruit Upon the glistening bough — but we, Idalian garden. And Hesperian fruit, must yield To God's eternal rule, or in that fainter Struggle far, than nerveless age, opposed To giant manhood's prime, may wage, sink into Voiceless death, and unrecorded nothingness. The flower, may blossom, but its leaves must fall. That the fine seeds which give it birth may form ; The stream may flow, and warble as it flows DEATH. 81 Under the melting rays of summer's soft'ning sun, But when cold winter waves his icy sceptre O'er the land, its tide must sleep beneath His freezing breath ; the mellow fruit, not pluck' d, Falls to the ground and there decays, resolved Into diffusive elements, feeding the soil To give new birth and power to coming spring ; Else the flower is frozen in its bud, And dies and blooms no more, the tiresome stream No change of beauty knows, denies itself To nature, nor e'er one hundreth part Its magic strength may feel, and earth full soon Becomes a kneaded lump of sterile clay When from her all is taken, nought return'd. Yes, the loveliest thing that ever yet Had graceful undivided being, That ever shone in light. Or wreath'd itself in smiles, Aimless as zephyr 82 DEATH. Playing o'er the dimpling waves of summer sea, Or firm as earth's unbending axis, Ne'er shaken from its nicely balanc'd poise, But in reliefless constancy beheld, Grows tame to eye and mind. The sense rejects the perfume of the rose. Smelling too oft its concentrated sweets ; The fever'd eye flies from the dahlia's Rainbow dyes too constant seen, to dull, Unmeaning black or to barbaric red. Seeking relief From ever-present beauty's agony, And music is all mute and passion soulless, But that God's providence. In wise ordainment, makes Kaleidoscopic change The ruling spirit of man's varying life. Nought yet of bright and beautiful. Nor breezy gush of gayest waterfall, Nor art-refined music's swelling strains, DEATH. 83 Nor sea shell's pearl, deep dyed with nature's blood, Nor naiad stooping o'er her golden well With feathery robe and motion all so airy, Nor morning's liquid star, When day's pale tinge enstreaks the lucid east, Nor summer's crescent half moon That trembling hangs in amethystine sky. Nor grayish autumn's sweetest twilight its Mantling folds o'er the calm world throwing When eve's pure spell sinks deeply in the heart. As though high God had breathed his holy spirit there. But that if seen or heard In form or voice unchanging, The avoiding soul seeks bitterly to shun. What, then, is death but change ? What then is life? And change, that in its many forms New beauty ever shows ? Now see, bless'd Soul, once more the curtain'd veil Yielding before the breath of magic power. 84 DEATH. Lifts broadly from the future, And now again the fairy bower, Like some fresh open'd delicate bud, Catching the vivid warmth of spring's gay smiles, Blushes in thousand fairest tints, Enravishes the kissing winds with incense rich, While showers of dews, Distill'd from out the azured skies, Down on the shrubs and trees, and stainless sward, And flowers and grass on which the moonbeams lie In lightest snowiest flakes, Softly fall like angel's tears in heaven : Such is thy will. Oh God ! both great and good, And to thy praise I sing. L Amidst the golden lights on high, . Dread God, thou art sitting, And with eff'ulgent searching eye Heaven's king befitting. DEATH. 85 Darts through wide space a universal ray- While men and angels own thy ever blissful sway. II. Whose hand hath made these arching skies, And clothed the sunset with its gorgeous dyes ? Who gave the moon to shine When twilight, pale, slow gathers o'er the world, While for short time day hath his radiant banner furl'd? Father sublime, 't was thine. III. Who fills night's ebon vault with silver fires, And showers the orient rains ? Who gave the whispering breezes mystic lyres To play those soft-toned strains That lull sweet eve to calm and holy sleep, While from spring's cradling buds the bright eyed dreamlets peep ? Father supreme, 'tis thee. 86 DEATH. IV. Who gives me joy exhaustless thus to sing, And words to weave my lay ? Who gives full strength to each created thing, His praise to chant, from whom all pleasures spring, Even as from the source of day Light springeth on its bright and gladd'ning way. O'er forest, hill, and vale, with splendour-streaming ray Again, great God, 't is thee. V. Then sun and stars, and deep and moveless sky, And modest, meek eyed moon. Wake, in resounding tone, the pealing melody; And ye, earth's fairest things, that bloom In joy's bright light. Whose heaviest, darkest, gloomiest doom Is soft as May's pure night, Ye shady bowers and rosy streams, DEATH. 87 And hills that catch the morning's beams, Ye fertile vales whose laden harvest fields To man their golden treasure yearly yields, And ye, bless'd Spirits, whose immortal souls Shall live when earth through space no longer rolls, (If such sad hour may ever be,) Join ye to swell the choral symphony ; Just God, we sing to thee. Long on the spirit's glowing face I gazed. Moveless I gazed with eye enwrapt, entranced. Watching the heaven-lit changes of his smiles. Listing the notes breath'd from his trembling lips, As, with a quick and sympathetic motion. The wavy outline of his airy form Thrill'd to the thoughts that stirr'd throughout his being ; Then from my joyful trance the spirit voice Awoke me with soft words which fiU'd my ear With wild iEolian music. 88 DEATH. Thus earth arose from out the womb of time- On that morn which first, in raptured gladness. Saw the glorious sun Flash through the enwreathing mists Of Chaos' expiring power, Light up the blushing clouds, Smile o'er the amaranthine main, And fill wide heaven with his royal glance, — Thus did this planet Earth, Revolving in its silver43eaming sphere, On happy course eternal move, singing Pure praises to the Almighty Father Who gave it life and loveliness. Soul of man, from whose admiring eyes The scales of ignorance have fallen, Thou seest God's hand in all, designing good, And working out his ends with fullest power. Spirit, I ask'd, shall these far blazing suns E'er pass away? DEATH. 98 Shall earth be blotted out from heaven ? Shall heaven itself be wither'd into nought? Nor spirit, nor angel, the voice replied, Whether from heaven or from the deep abyss, Save One, The dread, the unbegotten, unconceiv'd. Can e'er look back with uncreated mind, Unbounded, super-infinite as himself. Unto the astounding birth Of mightiest Universe, Or can conceive its end. But know thou, undying Soul, With intellect unbondaged, disenthrall' d From mortal claims and those cramping pains Of finite thought. Faint struggling in immortal gaspings With its clanking chains — Thou, with strength engifted well to see and feel The everlasting truth, 8* 90 DEATH. That if yon stars were quench' d in their bright paths, If yonder myriad suns — ^behold their thronging Glories intermingling round God's unseen Throne, in an unmeasur'd blaze of radiance, Throbbing with ecstatic bliss — If all these multitudinous splendours Were blotted out in solid darkness, If images of horror unexpress'd, Ten times more fierce and horrible Than deepest hell's unmention'd terrors, Hissing black venom from their blist'ring tongues, And ever with untiring throats shouting Discordant thunders, Were to fill all measureless space with their Terrific rage and poisonous stench, If universe herself convuls'd, Should, in her dying throe, tear the vast heavens Away, yet in God's great judgment would these acts Be done supreme in good. Each word the Spirit spake seem'd fiU'd with truth : DEATH. 91 In vain I look'd abroad for hidden death ; I search'd the living heavens, I ran my glance o'er earth : With sympathy celestial the wing'd voice Read in my beaming eyes my thoughts, And then again he spoke In sorrowing tone. Thou knowest man's eventful history. Whose every page is red with human carnage ; Sin, and fire-eyed Discord, eldest born of Sin, Have quaff'd, exulting in the feast. Their gory goblets to the very dregs. The piteous cry of Wo, weeping convulsed O'er dying Hope, borne on the wailing winds. Have knell'd uncounted nations to their graves. Despair and squalid Misery, bound by No laws of God or man, nor fearing ought. With torn and filthy raiment, saturate. By murder, with life's crimson spoil, that strange 92 DEATH. And sadly hideous in the sun appears, Reeling and blind with wretchedness and guilt, Hand in hand, o'er earth's broad fields, Have widely wander'd, Heralded by Desolation. Yet lower still, than when he fell from heaven, Man sank, seduced by mad ambition's Softly whisper'd tale, led on by Luxury And Vice. Thus was the avenging wrath Of God at last enkindled into deadly Flame, and Soul, e'er now, on man's devoted head. While yet the curse of blasphemy Was black'ning on his lips, While yet with solemn ceremonial pomp He bow'd his knees, in disobedience. To false gods, the vials of scorching death Had full been pour'd, if He — unto the Lord Be power and glory evermore — who leads The angelic bands, bless'd Son of God, The Christ of man, and Saviour of the world, DEATH. 93 Had not, in sufferings, wo, and mortal Agonies, redeem'd mankind from sin And writhing pains, eternal as the never-fading Soul. But man was only partly saved ; The curse of death no longer, as a pointed Sword, to cleave the brain in torture, o'er Him hung ; but sin was left unslain, to trail Through earth his serpent path, and yet to prey On man, who, in free agency, defenceless Stood, if found unarm'd, in virtue's mail of proof. And with this complex-figured fiend Came Ignorance, with her loathsome motley Brood ; vile Prejudice, with his crook'd limbs. And jaundiced eyes distorted from the truth ; Error, whose visual ray, deaden' d and owlisbr In its leaden stare, prefers night's darkness To the light of day ; Envy and Malice, Palsied Doubt, and Rule, and damned Untruth, With lip of honey and with heart of gall. These fix, in fiendish glee. 94 DEATH. The heavy chains that rusty on the mind. These curb the soul's free wings, These crush the germ of intellect In its quick'ning power, Or dwarf into the stunted bush That hides the knotted serpent in his nest The intellectual oak, whose roots would Strike to central earth's rich mineral beds„ Imbibing, from these precious treasures Of the hidden mine, Lustrous beauty's rarest colourings, Whose high tow'ring head would proudly seek. In the pure depths of air. The showery font of the empyreal dews. These shout and clap their hands with savage joy. When rampant war, leaping infuriate From the bonds that feebly bind His giant limbs. Draws forth the thirstying sword, Unfolds his blood-red banner DEATH. 95 To the flaring skies That gleams above his threat'ning West The beacon light of terror Winds forth the startling bugle blast, Loud echoing through the land, That pales life's current on the boldest brow, While with bright dagger, flashing in its ire, Full at the fluttering heart of gentle Peace He strikes, that shrieking at the unpiteous Blow, quick flies the bleeding vale, to crouch Amid the rugged mountain's unsealed rocks. These, with Hypocrisy's insidious smile. Unto the unsuspecting stranger's thirst Proffer, in treacherous act. The bowl, deep drugg'd with fiery poisons. These, in religious mask, seek. With the inquisitorial rack. And humid dungeon's solitary gloom. And speech, that tempts with golden lies. As from the great first serpent's tongue, to force 96 DEATH. Unbartering Conscience to forswear herself, To sell her freedom-birthright, and to live The slave of Prejudice and cramping Rule, To clog her form immortal With dull mortal dress ; To die a tortured death, a death that knows No glorious afterbirth of bliss, no end. These taint earth's airs with their infected breath, They fill the conquering hero's heart With dreams of selfish power. And turn the troubled channel of his thoughts Awry, until the hot, tumultuous waters Of the mind drown fainting Reason. Then are the latent fires within his breast, By passion's swift raging tempest, into Glowing phrenzy's comet-heat full stirr'd, And he, whose hand should hold the patriot Spear, whose brow should wear the laurel wreath Accredited by proud-eyed Fame, whose life Should be a treasure and a blessing to mankind, DEATH. 97 Whose consecrated body should go down Beneath the hallow'd sod, while nations chant The solemn dirge of him, the nobly just, Whose soul should seek the bosom of its God, Upborne by minist'ring angels, singing Sweet hymns of joy to their symphonic harps, Unstain'd by crime, untrembling but with bliss. Becomes a peevish despot on his tinsel throne. The curse of history and mock pageant Of a day. These p3rplex, with sophist craft. The counsel of the wise, distracts the statesman's Honest aim, direct disastrous cabal. And prompt in cunning guise to intrigue, Groveling in its shame, that ends in loss. In wo. They sit with Learning, 'midst her Treasur'd stores, whispering strange phantasies In her wond'ring ears ; or walk with Science In the academic porch, teaching to her Unquiet mind inexplicable subtleties. For those calm truths on which, before, she 9 98 DEATH. Firmly based her strength. They muse with grave Philosophy, where secluded deep within The hoary grave she silent sits, Poising, with Archimedean strength, The intellectual universe Of her own vast thought. They muse with grave Philosophy, whose mind They puzzle with obscuring mists, whose hand They weaken with their feverish draughts. Until at last, in feeblest impotence. The sage goes tott'ring down to his unhonour'd Grave, his soul unnerv'd, his mind a chaos, And his world a joyless wreck. In siren Voice they chant sweet lays to Fancy, while In gay sunshine, beside the murmuring Stream, he careless sits, weaving a blooming Chaplet for his laughing brow, and as The cunning song swells from the musical Note that breathes love's fragrant sigh, beneath whose Trembling melody so gently exquisite 99 The airs themselves are breathless o'er their tinkling Lyres, into ambition's deep stirring trumpet Sound, the soft boy-god of poesy leaps Startled from the turf, throws from his dimpled Hand the halfcrush'd wreath of roses. And with the all-quenchless flame undying At his heart, seizing with eager haste his Tuneful harp, that hangs upon the myrtle O'er his head, with one quick rapid glance Around him on that fairy home, of all his Former joys the happy scene, boldly with Flashing eye for lofty Parnassus' sun-crown'd Head he strikes, but presently quick panting Out of breath, full on some sharp and barren Rock he falls, and there unnourish'd, dies. In boastful strength they stand uncourting light. And if perchance they raise their blinking eyes To God's eternal sun, they see no inspiration In its noble beam, its blaze is hurtful To their feeble gaze, and while the putrid curse 100 DEATH. Lies rotting in their hearts, ashamed and guilty In their own black thoughts they crawl in slime away. With fell intent they ever shoot their aimless Shafts at Truth, as with bold flight she circles Through the skies, and if an arrow, shot by their Malignant hands, should hapless bring her stunn'd And bleeding to the ground, while helpless there She lies, in rage that speaks the low born Tyranny of mischanced rule, the petty passion Of an adder heart, they scatter dust upon Her plumage bright, and try with busy power To break her golden wings, until at last She gathers life and opes her eagle eye, When shivering then with dread at that majestic Glance, quickly they slink away to hide themselves In gloom. But their dangerous sway, to be in part Still felt until the roseate dawn Of the millennium day, Continues o'er the earth, and even The good and wise, seeing through those mistied 101 Mediums, which they in their vile orgies Make, unknowingly distort God's perfect will, And following far the quagmire exhalations Which are raised to cheat adventurous thought, For this false gaseous glitter of the night, Mistake the sacred influence of Truth's law Divine. But come thou now with me, my task Is yet to show thee, radiant Soul, how God To man is ever merciful, to thankless man, Who sometimes, in his self-made ignorance, Blindly deems beneficence an injury, And great God himself a fiend ! END OF PART FIRST. ERRATUM. Page 29, line 15, for muttering^ read meltini