not the Supreme Being itself. The belief which some superstitious persons whom I have brought upon the stage entertain of the Deity, as injurious to the character of his benevolence, is widely different from my own. In recommending also a great and important change in the spirit which animates the social institutions of mankind, I have avoided all flattery to those violent and malignant passions of our nature, which are ever on the watch to mingle with and to alloy the most beneficial innovations. There is no quarter given to Revenge, or Envy, or Prejudice. Love is celebrated every where as the sole law which should govern the moral world. Thoughts of great deeds were mine, dear Friend, when first The clouds which wrap this world from youth did pass. And then I clasp'd my hands and look'd around- I then controll'd My tears, my heart grew calm, and I was meek and bold. 5. And from that hour did I with earnest thought more Within me, till there came upon my mind A sense of loneliness, a thirst with which I pined. 6. Alas, that love should be a blight and snare Hard hearts, and cold, like weights of icy stone Which crushed and withered mine, that could not be Aught but a lifeless clog, until revived by thee. 7. Thou Friend, whose presence on my wintry heart Fell, like bright Spring upon some herbless plain; How beautiful and calm and free thou wert In thy young wisdom, when the mortal chain Of Custom thou didst burst and rend in twain, And walked as free as light the clouds among, Which many an envious slave then breathed in vain From his dim dungeon, and my spirit sprung To meet thee from the woes which had begirt it long. 8. No more alone through the world's wilderness, I journey'd now: no more companionless, And cherish'd friends turn with the multitude 9. Now has descended a serener hour, And with inconstant fortune, friends return; Though suffering leaves the knowledge and the power Which says:-Let scorn be not repaid with scorn. And from thy side two gentle babes are born To fill our home with smiles, and thus are we Most fortunate beneath life's beaming morn; And these delights, and thou have been to me The parents of the Song I consecrate to thee. 10. Is it, that now my inexperienced fingers And Death and Love are yet contending for their prey. II. And what art thou? I know, but dare not speak: 12. They say that thou wert lovely from thy birth, Shines on thee, through the tempests dark and wild Which shake these latter days; and thou canst claim The shelter, from thy Sire, of an immortal name. 13. One voice came forth from many a mighty spirit, And Faith, and Custom, and low-thoughted cares, Left the torn human heart, their food and dwelling-place. 14. Truth's deathless voice pauses among mankind! II. So, as I stood, one blast of muttering thunder Burst in far peals along the waveless deep, When, gathering fast, around, above and under, Long trains of tremulous mist began to creep, Until their complicating lines did steep The orient sun in shadow :-not a sound Was heard; one horrible repose did keep The forests and the floods, and all around Darkness more dread than night was poured upon the ground. III. Hark! 't is the rushing of a wind that sweeps One mighty stream, whirlwind and waves upthrown, IV. For, where the irresistible storm had cloven That fearful darkness, the blue sky was seen Fretted with many a fair cloud interwoven Most delicately, and the ocean green, Beneath that opening spot of blue serene, Quiver'd like burning emerald: calm was spread On all below; but far on high, between Earth and the upper air, the vast clouds fled, Countless and swift as leaves on autumn's tempest shed. V. For ever, as the war became more fierce Past on, in slow and moving majesty; Its upper horn array'd in mists, which soon That burn from year to year with unextinguish'd light. But slowly fled, like dew beneath the beams of noon. XXXII. Then Greece arose, and to its bards and sages, Which thy breath kindled, Power of holiest name! Like Paradise spread forth beyond the shadowy grave. XXXIII. Such is this conflict-when mankind doth strive Or when free thoughts, like lightnings are alive; Justice and truth, with custom's hydra brood, tremble! XXXIV. Thou hast beheld that fight-when to thy home Thou didst return, steep not its hearth in tears; Though thou mayst hear that earth is now become The tyrant's garbage, which to his compeers, The vile reward of their dishonour'd years, He will dividing give.-The victor Fiend Omnipotent of yore, now quails, and fears His triumph dearly won, which soon will lend An impulse swift and sure to his approaching end. XXXV. List, stranger list! mine is a human form, Like that thou wearest-touch me-shriek not now! In dream, unnatural watch beside an infant's sleep. XXXVI. Woe could not be mine own, since far from men I dwelt, a free and happy orphan child, By the sea-shore, in a deep mountain glen; And near the waves, and through the forests wild, I roam'd, to storm and darkness reconciled: For I was calm while tempest shook the sky: But when the breathless heavens in beauty smiled, I wept, sweet tears, yet too tumultuously For peace, and clasp'd my hands aloft in ecstacy. XXXVII. These were forebodings of my fate-before A woman's heart beat in my virgin breast, It had been nurtured in divinest lore: A dying poet gave me books, and blest With wild but holy talk the sweet unrest In which I watch'd him as he died awayA youth with hoary hair-a fleeting guest Of our lone mountains-and this lore did sway My spirit like a storm, contending there alway. And seized, as if to break, the ponderous chains Deep slumber fell on me:-my dreams were fire, My tranquil soul, its depths with light did cover, casement were. XLI. 'T was like an eye which seem'd to smile on me. I watch'd, till by the sun made pale, it sank Under the billows of the heaving sea; But from its beams deep love my spirit drank, And to my brain the boundless world now shrank Into one thought-one image-yes, for ever! Even like the day-spring, pour'd on vapours dank, The beams of that one Star did shoot and quiver Through my benighted mind—and were extinguish'd never. XLII. The day past thus: at night, methought in dream A shape of speechless beauty did appear: It stood like light on a careering stream Of golden clouds which shook the atmosphere; A winged youth, his radiant brow did wear The Morning Star: a wild dissolving bliss Over my frame he breathed, approaching near, And bent his eyes of kindling tenderness Near mine, and on my lips impress'd a lingering kiss. XLIII. And said: a Spirit loves thee, mortal maiden, A joy less soft, but more profound and strong |