From that o’erfretted roof suspended hung,
Fair lustres bright, with crystal branches spread,
A thousand lights from each their radiance flung,
That fairy-like a dazzling whiteness shed
On what seemed temples reared with spiral head,
Towers and glorious fanes, with nodding groves,
Landscapes far seen, with waters’ glassy bed,
In every form of beauty, fancy roves,
Where Nature secret works, moulds, fashions as she loves.
Fair lustres bright, with crystal branches spread,
A thousand lights from each their radiance flung,
That fairy-like a dazzling whiteness shed
On what seemed temples reared with spiral head,
Towers and glorious fanes, with nodding groves,
Landscapes far seen, with waters’ glassy bed,
In every form of beauty, fancy roves,
Where Nature secret works, moulds, fashions as she loves.
XLVI.
Colossal-like, the sparry columns rose,
Tow’ring above in awful grandeur seen,
Magnificent as Staffa in repose,
When gliding moonbeams gild its glorious scene,
Resting in shadow of a deep serene;
Whose span of arch, more beautiful to gaze,
Did seem against the blue vault sky to lean,
That bade th’ abstracted spirit upward raise
One full entranced look of wonder and amaze.
Tow’ring above in awful grandeur seen,
Magnificent as Staffa in repose,
When gliding moonbeams gild its glorious scene,
Resting in shadow of a deep serene;
Whose span of arch, more beautiful to gaze,
Did seem against the blue vault sky to lean,
That bade th’ abstracted spirit upward raise
One full entranced look of wonder and amaze.
XLVII.
From their revering gaze called off straightway,
By hast’ning footsteps of delighted bard,
Who bade the troop behold without delay,
These hidden marvels of the earth’s deep hoard,
Which time ere long would them no sight afford,
As other scenes the surface globe would claim,
Himself their Cicerone, his proud reward,
Thro’ fancy’s medium point man’s highest aim;
To one supreme great Cause, ah! this the poet’s fame.
By hast’ning footsteps of delighted bard,
Who bade the troop behold without delay,
These hidden marvels of the earth’s deep hoard,
Which time ere long would them no sight afford,
As other scenes the surface globe would claim,
Himself their Cicerone, his proud reward,
Thro’ fancy’s medium point man’s highest aim;
To one supreme great Cause, ah! this the poet’s fame.
XLVIII.
The threshold passed of that awe-stricken cave,
They wend their way that to a grotto led,
Inlaid with that light roamer of the wave,
The pearl-white nautilus, where conches spread
In wild profusion glitt’ring overhead
That formed a concave roof of sea-shells rare,
Like fair Calypso’s grot with moss-green bed,
And overhanging woodbine did appear,
A cool inviting spot, screened from the noon-tide glare.
They wend their way that to a grotto led,
Inlaid with that light roamer of the wave,
The pearl-white nautilus, where conches spread
In wild profusion glitt’ring overhead
That formed a concave roof of sea-shells rare,
Like fair Calypso’s grot with moss-green bed,
And overhanging woodbine did appear,
A cool inviting spot, screened from the noon-tide glare.
XLIX.
There sat them down their weary limbs to rest,
While on their ear a sound of waters played,
Melodious rippling that becalmed the breast,
As the fresh fountain from its channel laved,
Each several spring there stood a nymph-clad naiad
Of brook and stream, Aonian sisters fair,
Who here, the cool translucent wave conveyed
From its pure source, their pastime-tending care,
O’er which they did preside, with glossy, dripping hair.
While on their ear a sound of waters played,
Melodious rippling that becalmed the breast,
As the fresh fountain from its channel laved,
Each several spring there stood a nymph-clad naiad
Of brook and stream, Aonian sisters fair,
Who here, the cool translucent wave conveyed
From its pure source, their pastime-tending care,
O’er which they did preside, with glossy, dripping hair.
L.
Fair deities of limpid pool and spring,
The watercourse that through the valleys run;
Cold, dropping wells, that give their offering,
With rivulets that sparkle in the sun,
Wind among hills the sunny glare to shun,
From these fresh virgin founts, rivers arise,
The rolling Danube’s swelling course began,
Wide spreading Ganges, found ’neath eastern skies,
While dark Missouri flowed, proud as the swarth Ind’s eyes.
The watercourse that through the valleys run;
Cold, dropping wells, that give their offering,
With rivulets that sparkle in the sun,
Wind among hills the sunny glare to shun,
From these fresh virgin founts, rivers arise,
The rolling Danube’s swelling course began,
Wide spreading Ganges, found ’neath eastern skies,
While dark Missouri flowed, proud as the swarth Ind’s eyes.
LI.
“Thus have I shown ye,” spake at last their guide,
“The hidden wonders of the earth’s deep veins,
To where my Lord Dan Fantasy doth glide,
When the calm spirit of reflection reigns;
And lonely solitude, here sought, obtains;
Marvels of Nature’s secret working seen,
Which I have e’en disclosed with muckle pains,
Knowledge with pleasure as ye scann’d each scene,
This was the object dear unto my heart I ween.”
“The hidden wonders of the earth’s deep veins,
To where my Lord Dan Fantasy doth glide,
When the calm spirit of reflection reigns;
And lonely solitude, here sought, obtains;
Marvels of Nature’s secret working seen,
Which I have e’en disclosed with muckle pains,
Knowledge with pleasure as ye scann’d each scene,
This was the object dear unto my heart I ween.”
LII.
With that the attentive group he onward led,
By other path, a steep ascending way,
Travelling thro’ gloom, a dusky twilight spread;
Nor dark, nor light, an intermittent ray,
That show’d far off a speck like glimpse of day;
To which wished point their eager footsteps bend,
Like those who thro’ a lengthened cavern stray,
Right pleased when they can just descry the end,
Then urge their laggard speed, with freshened spirits wend.
By other path, a steep ascending way,
Travelling thro’ gloom, a dusky twilight spread;
Nor dark, nor light, an intermittent ray,
That show’d far off a speck like glimpse of day;
To which wished point their eager footsteps bend,
Like those who thro’ a lengthened cavern stray,
Right pleased when they can just descry the end,
Then urge their laggard speed, with freshened spirits wend.
LIII.
Th’ outlet found of this their arduous toil,
Far distant seen, though now at last attained,
With expectation raised ’neath sweat and moil,
As those who through a wood intricate, gained
Some lofty eminence; where, unrestrained,
The widening prospect opened to their view;
Such champaign fair the eager troop far-kenned,
Luxuriant spread, hill, mountain, valley drew
The eyes’ fond gaze; that swept the deep unclouded blue.
Far distant seen, though now at last attained,
With expectation raised ’neath sweat and moil,
As those who through a wood intricate, gained
Some lofty eminence; where, unrestrained,
The widening prospect opened to their view;
Such champaign fair the eager troop far-kenned,
Luxuriant spread, hill, mountain, valley drew
The eyes’ fond gaze; that swept the deep unclouded blue.
LIV.
Cities and towns with lofty turrets rose,
The busy haunts of man with commerce spread,
Seen on the horizon’s verge in soft repose,
With forest huge that lifts its waving head,
And sinuous course of mighty streams thus led,
That fertile flowed to irrigate the land,
Majestic bounding swell’d the ocean bed;
To these the kindling poet waved the hand,
Their panoramic beauties drew with accents bland.
The busy haunts of man with commerce spread,
Seen on the horizon’s verge in soft repose,
With forest huge that lifts its waving head,
And sinuous course of mighty streams thus led,
That fertile flowed to irrigate the land,
Majestic bounding swell’d the ocean bed;
To these the kindling poet waved the hand,
Their panoramic beauties drew with accents bland.
LV.
“To these I will your mute attention claim,”
(At which his listening audit’ry gave ear),
“While thus I draw by pleasant paths my aim,
And make instruction more invite appear;
I do propose to bring your vision near,
That we descend this green mount’s sloping side,
Myself each object may define more clear,
For ’tis my art, in which I do confide,
To give the ideal life a local name beside.
(At which his listening audit’ry gave ear),
“While thus I draw by pleasant paths my aim,
And make instruction more invite appear;
I do propose to bring your vision near,
That we descend this green mount’s sloping side,
Myself each object may define more clear,
For ’tis my art, in which I do confide,
To give the ideal life a local name beside.
LVI.
“But fain, I must, before ye make descent,
Direct your vision’s utmost farthest gaze,
To Andes’ lofty chain in wonderment;
Let fancy’s pinion have her flights amaze,
And here her eager sight enchanted raise,
Lost in the greatness of its vast extent,
Of Chimborazo’s height commanding praise,
Loftiest ’mong lesser hills of beauty blent;
Yet now I would call off on further progress bent.
Direct your vision’s utmost farthest gaze,
To Andes’ lofty chain in wonderment;
Let fancy’s pinion have her flights amaze,
And here her eager sight enchanted raise,
Lost in the greatness of its vast extent,
Of Chimborazo’s height commanding praise,
Loftiest ’mong lesser hills of beauty blent;
Yet now I would call off on further progress bent.
LVII.
With that he led them down the vale beneath,
Sweet spot like Enna’s soft enchanting scene,
Where flushed Adonis flow’r with perfumed breath,
And roses wild sprang up ’mong hillocks green;
In loveliness of beauty, gathering seen
To pluck half hid Sicilia’s flowery mead,
Persephone herself, the fairest queen,
Who drew the gloomy eye of Pluto dread,
Thus snatched from violet banks to dwell among the dead.
Sweet spot like Enna’s soft enchanting scene,
Where flushed Adonis flow’r with perfumed breath,
And roses wild sprang up ’mong hillocks green;
In loveliness of beauty, gathering seen
To pluck half hid Sicilia’s flowery mead,
Persephone herself, the fairest queen,
Who drew the gloomy eye of Pluto dread,
Thus snatched from violet banks to dwell among the dead.
CANTO II.
ARGUMENT.
Four ways leading to Nature, Literature, Art, and Science—The Entrance Porch of Nature Portrayed—Alpine Scenery—Polar Regions—The Torrent—The Atlantic Ocean—A Ship tossed by the Waves, and a Calm—The Gorge, Jungfrau—Floating Islands and Hot Wells—Staffa—Fingal’s Cave—Lake of Killarney—The Isle of Skye—Jura and the Lake of Geneva—Digression—Object and Aim proposed—Progress continued—The Forest—Wild Beasts’ Lair—The Constrictor—The Contrast in reference to Eden—Millennium—The Discourse—The Grove and Lovely Valley—Variety of Nature unexplored—The Poet’s Instruction.
CANTO II.
LVIII.
Four ways branched forth from out yon sylvan vale,
Each entrance varied, formed t’ arrest the eye
Of those, the explorers of that thymy dale,
Who thirsted for, and did for knowledge sigh;
No wassailler nor grovelling soul passed by,
Or strove to seek its more than pleasant spot;
Their mind a blank who have no sympathy
With nature; science, art, attract them not;
And literature may woo and charm in vain, I wot.
Each entrance varied, formed t’ arrest the eye
Of those, the explorers of that thymy dale,
Who thirsted for, and did for knowledge sigh;
No wassailler nor grovelling soul passed by,
Or strove to seek its more than pleasant spot;
Their mind a blank who have no sympathy
With nature; science, art, attract them not;
And literature may woo and charm in vain, I wot.
LIX.
Right ’fore them stood Nature’s wide opening, made
Precipitous, o’ergrown with shaggy wood,
’Neath two high banks that cast an awful shade,
As if for solemn rites some priestess stood
To minister beneath its entrance rude;
At once their guide, with gaze of awe led on
In quest of mysteries dread, did silent brood
How to unveil, not mere sublime alone,
But attributes of power Omnipotence make known.
Precipitous, o’ergrown with shaggy wood,
’Neath two high banks that cast an awful shade,
As if for solemn rites some priestess stood
To minister beneath its entrance rude;
At once their guide, with gaze of awe led on
In quest of mysteries dread, did silent brood
How to unveil, not mere sublime alone,
But attributes of power Omnipotence make known.
LX.
They scarce yon greenwood arch had passed by,
Uncouth, that higher rose than art e’er made—
The vestibule of Nature’s masonry;
No chisell’d gateway showed so fair array’d,
That skill of man was cast in humble shade;
When on their straining sight in grandeur reared
A mountain-chain, with snow-white wreaths o’erlaid;
Fair scen’ry, Alpine, op’ning wide appeared,
O’er which “Mont Blanc” arose as they their pathway steered.
Uncouth, that higher rose than art e’er made—
The vestibule of Nature’s masonry;
No chisell’d gateway showed so fair array’d,
That skill of man was cast in humble shade;
When on their straining sight in grandeur reared
A mountain-chain, with snow-white wreaths o’erlaid;
Fair scen’ry, Alpine, op’ning wide appeared,
O’er which “Mont Blanc” arose as they their pathway steered.
LXI.
An unknown wildness ’gan to creep o’er all
Who gazed on that cold landscape, still as death,
Where the hoar mountain’s peak, sublimely tall,
Looked darkly frowning on the vale beneath;
Dizzy ’bove clouds that stole away the breath
Of those who did essay to climb so high,
Save he, the chamois hunter, seen by stealth
To dare the slipp’ry verge ’twixt earth and sky,
While flew the cormorant disturbed loud screaming by.
Who gazed on that cold landscape, still as death,
Where the hoar mountain’s peak, sublimely tall,
Looked darkly frowning on the vale beneath;
Dizzy ’bove clouds that stole away the breath
Of those who did essay to climb so high,
Save he, the chamois hunter, seen by stealth
To dare the slipp’ry verge ’twixt earth and sky,
While flew the cormorant disturbed loud screaming by.
LXII.
Before them stretched immense the Arctic sea,
That in review did glide by poet’s art,
Whose waving wand produced the mystery,
To fix the eye, and bid the gazer start,
And through the senses deftly reach the heart;
His business now stern nature’s workings shown,
As seen in polar regions, to impart
Marvels wrought out ’mong fields of ice made known,
Huge floating heard to meet and crash with horrid groan.
That in review did glide by poet’s art,
Whose waving wand produced the mystery,
To fix the eye, and bid the gazer start,
And through the senses deftly reach the heart;
His business now stern nature’s workings shown,
As seen in polar regions, to impart
Marvels wrought out ’mong fields of ice made known,
Huge floating heard to meet and crash with horrid groan.
LXIII.
Pile upon pile of thick-ribbed ice upreared,
Icebergs, here found in many a floating heap,
Rudely magnificent in form appeared,
Drifting in sparry columns huge and steep,
Like moving mountains of the slumb’rous deep;
Or semblance shaped to temple, tower, or fane,
By hardy Briton on the horizon’s sweep,
Seen stately sailing like St. Paul’s full plain;
So named by seamen bold, who did first sight obtain.
Icebergs, here found in many a floating heap,
Rudely magnificent in form appeared,
Drifting in sparry columns huge and steep,
Like moving mountains of the slumb’rous deep;
Or semblance shaped to temple, tower, or fane,
By hardy Briton on the horizon’s sweep,
Seen stately sailing like St. Paul’s full plain;
So named by seamen bold, who did first sight obtain.
LXIV.
Precipitous the mighty torrent rushed—
The object changed by magic of the bard,—
Through rugged cavern’s mouth, loud foaming gushed
O’er shelving bank, that nothing could retard,
Or stay the progress of its leap onward,
To rocky bed engulfed with deaf’ning roar,
That scarce the sea-mew’s screaming note was heard,
With darting wing o’ersplashed th’ abyss to soar,—
Such scene tumultuous found by dark Missouri’s shore.
The object changed by magic of the bard,—
Through rugged cavern’s mouth, loud foaming gushed
O’er shelving bank, that nothing could retard,
Or stay the progress of its leap onward,
To rocky bed engulfed with deaf’ning roar,
That scarce the sea-mew’s screaming note was heard,
With darting wing o’ersplashed th’ abyss to soar,—
Such scene tumultuous found by dark Missouri’s shore.
LXV.
In wonder fixed each mute beholder stood,
Awe-struck at sight of water’s ’whelming flow,
Till waked from gaze abstract of yonder flood,
Was heard the voice of their good guide below,
Who, unobserved, had glided on to show
What object else was worthy their regard;
The secret works of Nature taught to know,
For they are infinite;—his high reward
To lead to one Supreme; so thought the tuneful bard.
Awe-struck at sight of water’s ’whelming flow,
Till waked from gaze abstract of yonder flood,
Was heard the voice of their good guide below,
Who, unobserved, had glided on to show
What object else was worthy their regard;
The secret works of Nature taught to know,
For they are infinite;—his high reward
To lead to one Supreme; so thought the tuneful bard.
LXVI.
“Hither, ye wandering mortals, hither led”
(So spake the minstrel and devoted seer),
“From this high spot, and glacier’s dizzy head”
Behold the mountain wave in tumult near,
Wild in pursuit, like hunted, foaming deer,
Before your sight th’ Atlantic billows roll;
Doth it not blanch the cheek with awe and fear,
To think how great the power that can control
And curb yon tempest’s flood, o’erwhelming to the soul?
(So spake the minstrel and devoted seer),
“From this high spot, and glacier’s dizzy head”
Behold the mountain wave in tumult near,
Wild in pursuit, like hunted, foaming deer,
Before your sight th’ Atlantic billows roll;
Doth it not blanch the cheek with awe and fear,
To think how great the power that can control
And curb yon tempest’s flood, o’erwhelming to the soul?
LXVII.
“See yonder fragile bark, like cockle-shell,
So small it seems, belab’ring o’er the deep,
Down to the depths engulfed ’mid ocean’s swell,
Then on the wave it rises high and steep;
Poised, flutt’ring, hurled again with dang’rous leap,
While through the shrouds the piping winds are borne,
In hollow fitful blasts heard loud to sweep;
The ship’s wet canvass loosed, all rent and torn,
That cause the seamen gaze with upward look forlorn.
So small it seems, belab’ring o’er the deep,
Down to the depths engulfed ’mid ocean’s swell,
Then on the wave it rises high and steep;
Poised, flutt’ring, hurled again with dang’rous leap,
While through the shrouds the piping winds are borne,
In hollow fitful blasts heard loud to sweep;
The ship’s wet canvass loosed, all rent and torn,
That cause the seamen gaze with upward look forlorn.
LXVIII.
“Lo! the wind lulls, the storm has passed away,
The sun breaks out, the ruffled waves subside;
The vessel rights that late on beam-ends lay,
Her sails unfurled, in gallant trim doth ride,
With freshened breeze she treads the waters wide,
The boatswain’s whistle heard, and crew’s voice shrill,
Jocund and blithe, as they propitious glide,
Their spirits light from threatened dangers ill,
So late escaped; whose thought makes messmate’s bosom thrill.
The sun breaks out, the ruffled waves subside;
The vessel rights that late on beam-ends lay,
Her sails unfurled, in gallant trim doth ride,
With freshened breeze she treads the waters wide,
The boatswain’s whistle heard, and crew’s voice shrill,
Jocund and blithe, as they propitious glide,
Their spirits light from threatened dangers ill,
So late escaped; whose thought makes messmate’s bosom thrill.
LXIX.
“Ere we descend this Alpine dizzy height,
I fain one other scene would first unfold,
But skirt we must this base to gain the sight
Of yon dread gorge, magnificent and bold.”
So spake their ardent guide, and bade behold
The vapo’ry mist that veil’d the depth below,
And up the ravine’s sides all hideous roll’d,
That through the tossing mist did faintly show
A goodly prospect fair, that to the eye did glow.
I fain one other scene would first unfold,
But skirt we must this base to gain the sight
Of yon dread gorge, magnificent and bold.”
So spake their ardent guide, and bade behold
The vapo’ry mist that veil’d the depth below,
And up the ravine’s sides all hideous roll’d,
That through the tossing mist did faintly show
A goodly prospect fair, that to the eye did glow.
LXX.
Showing far hamlet spread embower’d in wood,
Where hence did curling smoke seen upward shoot;
And sweet was heard the music brawling flood,
That tumbling headlong over craggy foot
Of rock precipitous, with oak-fixed root
O’ergrown, sinuous around the mountain’s base
To wend its way, or cadence speak its route;
While blue-capp’d mountain ridge far off could trace—
Wood, water, hill, and dale, the view it doth embrace.
Where hence did curling smoke seen upward shoot;
And sweet was heard the music brawling flood,
That tumbling headlong over craggy foot
Of rock precipitous, with oak-fixed root
O’ergrown, sinuous around the mountain’s base
To wend its way, or cadence speak its route;
While blue-capp’d mountain ridge far off could trace—
Wood, water, hill, and dale, the view it doth embrace.
LXXI.
Which turning from, they climbed down the steep
To follow him who joy’d to lead the way,
Who down the slipp’ry marge did bound and leap,
As he were wont the Apennine to stray;
Right firm of step, withouten fear, dismay,
He did descend from Jungfrau’s dizzy height,
And urged their speed, and that without delay,
To leave the spot that ravished the sight;
Their senses all enwrapped, in visions steeped quite.
To follow him who joy’d to lead the way,
Who down the slipp’ry marge did bound and leap,
As he were wont the Apennine to stray;
Right firm of step, withouten fear, dismay,
He did descend from Jungfrau’s dizzy height,
And urged their speed, and that without delay,
To leave the spot that ravished the sight;
Their senses all enwrapped, in visions steeped quite.
LXXII.
From whence they did, at foot of yon high hill,
As on a lake a floating isle they saw:
Now lost, now found, upon the surface still,
Rising as if to make for yonder shore;
And now hot spouting wells in columns pour,
Scald’d springs that rise from bowell’d-heated earth,
That boil and bubbling flow with steamy store
From out the surfaced ground, since Time’s rude birth,
Oft found by sickly crowds t’ impart its healing worth.
As on a lake a floating isle they saw:
Now lost, now found, upon the surface still,
Rising as if to make for yonder shore;
And now hot spouting wells in columns pour,
Scald’d springs that rise from bowell’d-heated earth,
That boil and bubbling flow with steamy store
From out the surfaced ground, since Time’s rude birth,
Oft found by sickly crowds t’ impart its healing worth.
LXXIII.
In quest of Nature in her pristine prime,
Her freaks of masonry majestic wrought;
Such “Fingal’s cave” by Staffa’s isle sublime,
Whose entrance-arch the eye magnific caught;
And columns reared high roofed, and deftly fraught,
With yon fair other, named the “Cormorant’s cave,”
Whom that lone bird its dreary cavern sought,
When ocean dread with cadence loud doth lave,
Far heard on sounding shore, its sadly moaning wave.
Her freaks of masonry majestic wrought;
Such “Fingal’s cave” by Staffa’s isle sublime,
Whose entrance-arch the eye magnific caught;
And columns reared high roofed, and deftly fraught,
With yon fair other, named the “Cormorant’s cave,”
Whom that lone bird its dreary cavern sought,
When ocean dread with cadence loud doth lave,
Far heard on sounding shore, its sadly moaning wave.
LXXIV.
Or where Killarney lifts its monstrous head,
From whence cascades rush headlong tumbling down,
Where, too, the royal bird doth rear its bed,
Th’ eagle’s nest! so called and proudly known;
Where echo dwells and calls the spot her own,
Whom hid unseen, her voice through cave far deep,
Re-echoes from her haunts seclusion lone,
’Mid wood and rocks where sparkling waters leap,
And answer vocal gives, from every mountain steep.
From whence cascades rush headlong tumbling down,
Where, too, the royal bird doth rear its bed,
Th’ eagle’s nest! so called and proudly known;
Where echo dwells and calls the spot her own,
Whom hid unseen, her voice through cave far deep,
Re-echoes from her haunts seclusion lone,
’Mid wood and rocks where sparkling waters leap,
And answer vocal gives, from every mountain steep.
LXXV.
Their vision bland beheld the Isle of Skye,
Whose famed basaltic columns reared their head,
Where falcon’s sweep, and num’rous wild birds fly,
Here hither woo’d by crag and fastness led;
And there by Swinna rushed two whirlpools dread,
In huge circumference, cone-like, dang’rous played,
As heedless vessels neared sucked down its bed,
In ’whelming vortex depthless all conveyed;
A sorry fate for souls, who there unweeting strayed.
Whose famed basaltic columns reared their head,
Where falcon’s sweep, and num’rous wild birds fly,
Here hither woo’d by crag and fastness led;
And there by Swinna rushed two whirlpools dread,
In huge circumference, cone-like, dang’rous played,
As heedless vessels neared sucked down its bed,
In ’whelming vortex depthless all conveyed;
A sorry fate for souls, who there unweeting strayed.
LXXVI.
He thence did guide them to more placid scene,
Where frowning Jura overlooked fair lake,
That ran ’tween banks of ever verdant green,
Whose waters sparkling led did rippling break,
In murm’ring sweetness, heard for murmurs’ sake,
And there the sun, ymolten, all beside
Himself did cast bright beams his thirst to slake,
In that so smooth and sweet transparent tide,
Where gondolas, dressed gay, did on its surface glide.
Where frowning Jura overlooked fair lake,
That ran ’tween banks of ever verdant green,
Whose waters sparkling led did rippling break,
In murm’ring sweetness, heard for murmurs’ sake,
And there the sun, ymolten, all beside
Himself did cast bright beams his thirst to slake,
In that so smooth and sweet transparent tide,
Where gondolas, dressed gay, did on its surface glide.
LXXVII.
The thronging crowd that press’d each marvel see,
That he the mentor Bard did deftly show,
Were now called off by word of energy,
That from his honeyed gentle lips did flow;
Delectable in speech he was, I trow,
With learned lore, and mild instruction fraught,
And knowledge such as blessed only know,
Based on eternal truth, ’twas thus he taught,
Nor cared he more to teach, none other had he sought.
That he the mentor Bard did deftly show,
Were now called off by word of energy,
That from his honeyed gentle lips did flow;
Delectable in speech he was, I trow,
With learned lore, and mild instruction fraught,
And knowledge such as blessed only know,
Based on eternal truth, ’twas thus he taught,
Nor cared he more to teach, none other had he sought.
LXXVIII.
“Ye gentle flock, for ye so called I must,
Whose track hath followed at my high behest,
For your instruction hither brought I trust,
Delight, and soul’s advantage found the best,
As leading to that one eternal rest,
Of which this life is but the entrance scene,
Probation’s school and trial of the blest;
Which I would fain impress, whose course thus shene,
Is my dear object’s scope that leads to life serene.
Whose track hath followed at my high behest,
For your instruction hither brought I trust,
Delight, and soul’s advantage found the best,
As leading to that one eternal rest,
Of which this life is but the entrance scene,
Probation’s school and trial of the blest;
Which I would fain impress, whose course thus shene,
Is my dear object’s scope that leads to life serene.
LXXIX.
“Nature inanimate have we discoursed,
Ocean, and flood, and hoary mountain bold;
Wonders of earth, which my rude speech enforced,
As their great Maker’s handiwork of old;
The half of which has not been hither told,
For Nature animate all teems with life,
Which erst we will explore and eke unfold,
Human, divine, forsooth; make known in priefe,
And roam creation wide, with living creatures rife.”
Ocean, and flood, and hoary mountain bold;
Wonders of earth, which my rude speech enforced,
As their great Maker’s handiwork of old;
The half of which has not been hither told,
For Nature animate all teems with life,
Which erst we will explore and eke unfold,
Human, divine, forsooth; make known in priefe,
And roam creation wide, with living creatures rife.”
LXXX.
Thus having spake he did diverge their course,
To where a blackened forest distant lay;
Discoursing meantime with a winning force,
Did entertain them in a pleasant way;
Of wilds he told, that devious led astray,
Of hairbreadth ’scapes, of gins, and traps also,
That did the guideless traveller betray,
Of yon huge forest he would have them know,
There dwelt the rav’nous beast, whose haunt he soon would show.
To where a blackened forest distant lay;
Discoursing meantime with a winning force,
Did entertain them in a pleasant way;
Of wilds he told, that devious led astray,
Of hairbreadth ’scapes, of gins, and traps also,
That did the guideless traveller betray,
Of yon huge forest he would have them know,
There dwelt the rav’nous beast, whose haunt he soon would show.
LXXXI.
Meanwhile they reached the shade of awful wood,
Whose gloom-wrapped branches waved with sighing sound;
A deep, dark dell, on one side where they stood,
With furze o’ergrown, and brushwood did abound;
A solemn stillness wont the air surround,
Save when at midnight fell, the lordly beast
For prey roared dreadful, shaking all yground,
And lashed his tail, fierce prowling kenn’d no rest,
Until his ravening maw with blood-stained food was blest.
Whose gloom-wrapped branches waved with sighing sound;
A deep, dark dell, on one side where they stood,
With furze o’ergrown, and brushwood did abound;
A solemn stillness wont the air surround,
Save when at midnight fell, the lordly beast
For prey roared dreadful, shaking all yground,
And lashed his tail, fierce prowling kenn’d no rest,
Until his ravening maw with blood-stained food was blest.
LXXXII.
Wending their path through furze and matted grass,
That did their feet entangle all the way,
They reached at last a narrow dreary pass,
That led to cave or den, where couching lay
The kingly lion watching for his prey,
With glaring eye, and aspect fierce and dread;
While rushed the tiger from his lair to stray,
With cruel fangs by gnawing hunger led,
Panthers, hyena fell, there prowl’d ymong the dead.
That did their feet entangle all the way,
They reached at last a narrow dreary pass,
That led to cave or den, where couching lay
The kingly lion watching for his prey,
With glaring eye, and aspect fierce and dread;
While rushed the tiger from his lair to stray,
With cruel fangs by gnawing hunger led,
Panthers, hyena fell, there prowl’d ymong the dead.
LXXXIII.
And there the hideous snake all folded lay,
With forked tongue of deadly venom fraught;
Basked, hid in loathsome den from glare of day,
Constrictor, bloated with foul victim caught,
Half torpid stretched till hunger him ywrought
To rear his crest, and drag his fearful trail,
With vigour bold, as though his maw had nought,
Or ample fare had gorged, whose eye glared bale,
In ready act to seize, ’neath folds that death entail.
With forked tongue of deadly venom fraught;
Basked, hid in loathsome den from glare of day,
Constrictor, bloated with foul victim caught,
Half torpid stretched till hunger him ywrought
To rear his crest, and drag his fearful trail,
With vigour bold, as though his maw had nought,
Or ample fare had gorged, whose eye glared bale,
In ready act to seize, ’neath folds that death entail.
LXXXIV.
Creatures so formed by Nature cruel shown,
Nature corrupted from its pristine state,
That bounded once in innocence long flown,
Ferocious seen in couching posture wait,
Malignant, that no kindness can abate,
By man’s transgression branded by the fall,
Once playful, docile, gentle in their gait,
’Mid happy Eden herded one and all,
Scenes of soft love, and peace, what bliss do they recall.
Nature corrupted from its pristine state,
That bounded once in innocence long flown,
Ferocious seen in couching posture wait,
Malignant, that no kindness can abate,
By man’s transgression branded by the fall,
Once playful, docile, gentle in their gait,
’Mid happy Eden herded one and all,
Scenes of soft love, and peace, what bliss do they recall.
LXXXV.
“And yet I see, by ancient seer foretold”
(So spake the poet, kindling at the thought),
“I see that glorious prophecy, of old,
The dawn of that millennium peaceful taught,
When earth shall smile with loveliness o’erfraught;
Lion and tiger roam in concord meet;
The wolf and lamb then harmlessly consort;
While with the crested snake, in dalliance sweet,
The little child shall play, nor fear the pard’s retreat.
(So spake the poet, kindling at the thought),
“I see that glorious prophecy, of old,
The dawn of that millennium peaceful taught,
When earth shall smile with loveliness o’erfraught;
Lion and tiger roam in concord meet;
The wolf and lamb then harmlessly consort;
While with the crested snake, in dalliance sweet,
The little child shall play, nor fear the pard’s retreat.
LXXXVI.
“And man his fellow-man shall hurt no more,
By war and rapine to destroy his kind;
But gentle peace shall charity restore,
And all the virtues in one union bind
In chords of love, where hatred filled the mind;
The glittering spear a ploughshare shall become,
And the sharp sword a pruning-hook consigned;
Bellona dread no longer heard to roam,
But quietude doth reign in man’s disturbless home.”
By war and rapine to destroy his kind;
But gentle peace shall charity restore,
And all the virtues in one union bind
In chords of love, where hatred filled the mind;
The glittering spear a ploughshare shall become,
And the sharp sword a pruning-hook consigned;
Bellona dread no longer heard to roam,
But quietude doth reign in man’s disturbless home.”
LXXXVII.
“’Tis time we now depart this shaggy wild,
To lead your steps to more inviting scene—
To yonder grove, where all the air is mild,
And trees o’erhung with ever-during green—
Through opening where the blue sky shines between.”
To which fair spot they speedy bend their way,
Each marvelling what sight might there be seen;
Yet nothing loath such windings loved to stray,
And listen to their guide, and all he had to say.
To lead your steps to more inviting scene—
To yonder grove, where all the air is mild,
And trees o’erhung with ever-during green—
Through opening where the blue sky shines between.”
To which fair spot they speedy bend their way,
Each marvelling what sight might there be seen;
Yet nothing loath such windings loved to stray,
And listen to their guide, and all he had to say.
LXXXVIII.
For he discoursed as eke a poet might,
To while away the time in pleasant talk;
And not a brook that bubbled in their sight,
Or stream that cross’d their wild entangled walk,
Or hedge flower seen to stray, or lowly stalk,
But yielded subject for the thoughtful mind,
Which worldly scenes may try in vain to balk,
For these are Nature’s teachings—books to find
Sibylline leaves, that leave no rankling thorn behind.
To while away the time in pleasant talk;
And not a brook that bubbled in their sight,
Or stream that cross’d their wild entangled walk,
Or hedge flower seen to stray, or lowly stalk,
But yielded subject for the thoughtful mind,
Which worldly scenes may try in vain to balk,
For these are Nature’s teachings—books to find
Sibylline leaves, that leave no rankling thorn behind.
LXXXIX.
They now had entered that delicious grove,
Which they whilome in distance loved to view,
Through shady brake, with careless boughs enwove,
Inviting entrance where the hawthorn grew;
That now enticed their footsteps hither drew,
When on a sudden opened wide a scene
That Oberon might envy, with his crew,
To gambol there upon the smooth-shorn green,
And round about it dance with his swift-footed queen.
Which they whilome in distance loved to view,
Through shady brake, with careless boughs enwove,
Inviting entrance where the hawthorn grew;
That now enticed their footsteps hither drew,
When on a sudden opened wide a scene
That Oberon might envy, with his crew,
To gambol there upon the smooth-shorn green,
And round about it dance with his swift-footed queen.
XC.
Fair nodding trees in varied foliage drest,
Encircled yon smooth plat of fairy green,
Where birds of Paradise, with golden crest,
Sat on the boughs, in glossy plumage seen;
The warbling choir poured forth from thicket’s screen
Mellifluous song, that fill’d the charmed ear;
Sweet odour-dropping flower did twine, and lean
Its lovely head in wild profusion near,
And drank in nectared dew that hung in pearl-drops clear.
Encircled yon smooth plat of fairy green,
Where birds of Paradise, with golden crest,
Sat on the boughs, in glossy plumage seen;
The warbling choir poured forth from thicket’s screen
Mellifluous song, that fill’d the charmed ear;
Sweet odour-dropping flower did twine, and lean
Its lovely head in wild profusion near,
And drank in nectared dew that hung in pearl-drops clear.
XCI.
Here Nature’s fruitful store was lavish spread:
The citron, pomegranate, luxurious hung,
While burnish’d fly, by fragrant petals led,
With velvet wing pursued its flight among
Flowers, and dainties that Pomona flung;
’Twas such like scene his[A] wand’ring footsteps drew
To wilds of Surinam, ’mid branches slung,
The wood-bird’s song to learn, their habits view—
From morn to dewy eve his loved task did pursue.
The citron, pomegranate, luxurious hung,
While burnish’d fly, by fragrant petals led,
With velvet wing pursued its flight among
Flowers, and dainties that Pomona flung;
’Twas such like scene his[A] wand’ring footsteps drew
To wilds of Surinam, ’mid branches slung,
The wood-bird’s song to learn, their habits view—
From morn to dewy eve his loved task did pursue.
XCII.
That sweet enclosure’s soft enchanting mead
Did so delight the crowd to linger there,
That they at once like children take the lead,
Joyous to roam withouten fear or care,
Pursuit of pastime eagerly to share,
Or breathe the vernal gale. There branches hung
With fruit in clust’ring ripeness did appear;
While notes that through the woods melodious rung,
Like aerial music heard through fairy island sung.
Did so delight the crowd to linger there,
That they at once like children take the lead,
Joyous to roam withouten fear or care,
Pursuit of pastime eagerly to share,
Or breathe the vernal gale. There branches hung
With fruit in clust’ring ripeness did appear;
While notes that through the woods melodious rung,
Like aerial music heard through fairy island sung.
XCIII.
They still had lingered ’neath harmonious sound,
Nor cared they from that valley sweet to part,
Where lovely verdure overspread the ground;
Though called to leave, they left with heavy heart,
As their right trusty guide began to start,
For other knowledge he must needs explore—
Pursuits of man make known, and works of art;
Yet Nature, boundless, has a teeming store,
Which time would not permit that he should tell them more.
Nor cared they from that valley sweet to part,
Where lovely verdure overspread the ground;
Though called to leave, they left with heavy heart,
As their right trusty guide began to start,
For other knowledge he must needs explore—
Pursuits of man make known, and works of art;
Yet Nature, boundless, has a teeming store,
Which time would not permit that he should tell them more.
XCIV.
“With microscopic eye we might explore
The insect world, o’erlaid with scales of gold;
Th’ aqueous deep, with all its finny store,
The secret channel of its depths unfold:
Monsters ten thousand fathoms sunk behold,
Which eye hath never seen, that swim the flood;
Such hidden wonders must remain untold.
Nature, all wondrous, whom we scanned but rude,
We fain must now break off, and quit its solitude.”
The insect world, o’erlaid with scales of gold;
Th’ aqueous deep, with all its finny store,
The secret channel of its depths unfold:
Monsters ten thousand fathoms sunk behold,
Which eye hath never seen, that swim the flood;
Such hidden wonders must remain untold.
Nature, all wondrous, whom we scanned but rude,
We fain must now break off, and quit its solitude.”
XCV.
“For know, Dan Fantasy, ye list’ning crowd,
When in saloon of tap’stry late ye gazed,
In audience seated, girt in tunic proud,
Elf-like, that drew your wond’ring look amazed,
Whose flowing robe of sapphire ye bepraised,
Did strict enjoin, I nothing should withhold
That can instruct the mind excursive raised,
And by my art delight; while I unfold
Knowledge, all hidden searched, more dear than precious gold.”
When in saloon of tap’stry late ye gazed,
In audience seated, girt in tunic proud,
Elf-like, that drew your wond’ring look amazed,
Whose flowing robe of sapphire ye bepraised,
Did strict enjoin, I nothing should withhold
That can instruct the mind excursive raised,
And by my art delight; while I unfold
Knowledge, all hidden searched, more dear than precious gold.”
CANTO III.
ARGUMENT.
The Porch of Art—Entrance thereto—A Sight of the Pyramids—Statues at Memphis—Pompey’s Pillar—The Hanging Gardens of Babylon—Pompeii—Palmyra—The Temple of the Sun—Wall of China—The Eddystone—A more minute Survey of Art—The Gallery of Painting—Statuary—Distant Music—The great Masters of Science and Art pass in review, Raphael, &c., Milton, Newton—The Garden of Delight—Shakspeare—Leaving the Vale of Tempé, they are led to the Repository of Art, Armoury, &c.—Painted Glass—Models, &c.—Mechanical Objects—Steam Power—The Printing Press—The Times Journal—Modern Improvements—Inventions—Progress of Art.
CANTO III.
XCVI.
To this great end he did them straightway lead
To yon fair other entrance, “Art” beknown,
Adjoining that of Nature; found indeed
A wild-formed way that we have rudely shown,
A frowning mass ’neath shadowy trees o’ergrown,
That formed a wild’rness and secluded spot;
But here proud masonry did th’ archway crown
With bust and bold device, time ne’er can blot,
That uncorroded stands in pillared strength, I wot.
To yon fair other entrance, “Art” beknown,
Adjoining that of Nature; found indeed
A wild-formed way that we have rudely shown,
A frowning mass ’neath shadowy trees o’ergrown,
That formed a wild’rness and secluded spot;
But here proud masonry did th’ archway crown
With bust and bold device, time ne’er can blot,
That uncorroded stands in pillared strength, I wot.
XCVII.
“Behold the porch,” the lofty bard exclaimed,
“That leads to native art and works of man;
His ingenuity thus matured and warmed
’Neath genius, working out each mighty plan
That can engross, or fix the thought to scan
Th’ undying lay, or music’s thrilling chord;
Or painter’s skilful hand, that first began
From nature draw; or sculptor’s bust record
In Parian marble, starting into life restored.”
“That leads to native art and works of man;
His ingenuity thus matured and warmed
’Neath genius, working out each mighty plan
That can engross, or fix the thought to scan
Th’ undying lay, or music’s thrilling chord;
Or painter’s skilful hand, that first began
From nature draw; or sculptor’s bust record
In Parian marble, starting into life restored.”