George in his hypochondriac State-A Family | And while the days were fine, and walks were Mansion now a Farm-house-The Company clean, 'There were the curate's gentle maids, and there Their Conversation - Subjects A fresh assemblage day by day were seen. afforded by the Pictures-Doubts if Spirits can appear-Arguments-Facts-The Relation of an old Lady-Her Walks in a Cathedral-Appearance there. some From all the neighbouring villages would come; There, as stole the yew-tree shades among, I saw the parties walking, old and young, Where I was nothing-if perceived, they said, IN their discourse again the Brothers dwelt On early subjects-what they once had felt, Once thought of things mysterious ;-themes" The man is harmless, be not you afraid; that all With some degree of reverence recall. When by the power of fancy he was sway'd, 'Then, my dear Richard,' said the 'Squire, 'my case Was call'd consumptive-I must seek a place And soil salubrious, thither must repair, And live on asses' milk and milder air. 'My uncle bought a farm, and on the land The fine old mansion yet was left to stand, Not in this state, but old and much decay'd; Of this a part was habitable made; The rest-who doubts?-was by the spirits seized, Ghosts of all kinds, who used it as they pleased. The worthy farmer tenant yet remain'd, Of good report-he had a fortune gain'd; And his three daughters at their school acquired The air and manner that their swains admired; The mother-gossip and these daughters three Talk'd of genteel and social company, A poor young creature, who, they say, is cross'd In love, and has in part his senses lost; Not that for air or change there 's much to say, 'So spake a gay young damsel; but she And ivy'd walls around, for many an hour perplex By meeting terrors, and the old appear'd, Their fears upbraiding, like the young who fear'd; Among them all some sad discourse at night 'These tales of terror views terrific bred, And sent the hearers trembling to their bed.' 'In an autumnal evening, cool and still, The sun just dropp'd beneath a distant hill, The children gazing on the quiet scene, Then rose in glory Night's majestic queen; And pleasant was the chequer'd light and shade Her golden beams and maple shadows made; An ancient tree that in the garden grew, And that fair picture on the gravel threw. 'Then all was silent, save the sounds that make Silence more awful, while they faintly break; The frighten'd bat's low shriek, the beetle's hum, A fire of brushwood on the irons laid In this old Hall, in this departing day, Assembled friends and neighbours, grave and gay, When one good lady at a picture threw On no occasion he received a wound; ""Behold those infants in the frame beneath! ""But see a beauty in King William's days, With that long waist, and those enormous stays; She had three lovers, and no creature knew The one preferr'd, or the discarded two; None could the secret of her bosom see; Loving, poor maid, th' attention of the three, She kept such equal weight in either scale, With nameless sounds we know not whence 'Twas hard to say who would at last prevail; they come. 'Such was the evening; and that ancient seat The scene where then some neighbours chanced to meet; Up to the door led broken steps of stone, Whose dewy surface in the moonlight shone; On vegetation, that with progress slow Where man forbears to fix his foot, will grow ; The window's depth and dust repell'd the ray Of the moon's light and of the setting day; Pictures there were, and each display'd a face And form that gave their sadness to the place; The frame and canvas show'd that worms unseen, Save in their works, for years had working been; CR. Thus you may think in either heart arose This caused their fate-It was on Thursday night The deed was done, and bloody was the fight; Just as she went, poor thoughtless girl! to prayers, Ran wild the maid with horror up the stairs; cried, 'Ran through the body, and that instant died! R Nor when you die, as long as time endures; You have my torment been, and I'll be yours!' That is the lady, and the man confess'd Her vengeful spirit would not let him rest." "But are there ghosts?" exclaim'd a timid maid; "My father tells me not to be afraid; He cries When buried we are safe enough,' And calls such stories execrable stuff." ""Your father, child," the former lady cried, "Has learning much, but he has too much pride; It is impossible for him to tell What things in nature are impossible, A kind of dark and clouded evidence; No strong or certain vouchers of the thing, "But you will grant," said one who sate beside, "That all appear so when with judgment tried?" "For that concession, madam, you may call, When we have sate in judgment upon all." 'An ancient lady, who with pensive smile Had heard the stories, and been mute the while, Now said, "Our prudence had been better shown By leaving uncontested things unknown; When all our loss a generous youth supplied; It mock'd the power of medicine; day by day And with such speed, that brought the mighty shower. ""Him nursed I dying, and we freely spoke Of what might follow the expected stroke; We talk'd of spirits, of their unknown powers, And dared to dwell on what the fate of ours; But the dread promise, to appear again, Could it be done, I sought not to obtain; But yet we were presuming-' Could it be,' He said, 'O Emma! I would come to thee!' "At his last hour his reason, late astray, Again return'd t' illuminate his way. 6 "In the last night my mother long had kept Unwearied watch, and now reclined and slept; 666 "The Dean, my uncle, with congenial gloom, Said, Will you share a melancholy home?' For he bewail'd a wife, as I deplored My fate, and bliss that could not be restored. "In his cathedral's gloom I pass'd my time, Much in devotion, much in thought sublime; There oft I paced the aisles, and watch'd the glow Of the sun setting on the stones below, "I took the key, and oft-times chose to Till all was vanish'd of the tedious day, "Then had I grief's proud thoughts, and Of exultation,' World, I am alone! I care not for thee, thou art vile and base, And I shall leave thee for a nobler place.' "So I the world abused,-in fact, to me Urbane and civil as a world could be: Nor should romantic grievers thus complain, Although but little in the world they gain, But let them think if they have nothing done To make this odious world so sad a one, Or what their worth and virtue that should make This graceless world so pleasant for their sake. ""But to my tale :-Behold me as I tread The silent mansions of the favour'd dead, Who sleep in vaulted chambers, till their clay In quiet dissolution melts away In this their bodies' home-The spirits, where are they? And where his spirit ?-Doors and walls impede The embodied spirit, not the spirit freed :' Even at this instant is he at my side;' Yes, now, dear spirit! art thou by to prove That mine is lasting, mine the loyal love! "Thus have I thought, returning to the Dean, As one who had some glorious vision seen: He ask'd no question, but would sit and weep, And cry, in doleful tone, 'I cannot sleep!' ""In dreams the chosen of my heart I view'd, And thus th' impression day by day renew'd ; I saw him always, always loved to see, For when alone he was my company : In company with him alone I seem'd, And, if not dreaming, was as one who dream'd. 'Thus, robb'd of sleep, I found, when evening came, 6.66 A pleasing torpor steal upon my frame; "One night, when urged with more than And feeling all that such enthusiasts feel, I wish'd, I long'd to have that form appear; 6.66 At length the anxious thoughts my And sleep o'erpower'd me in my solitude; Him there I sought whom I had loved so well- The just, the pure, do I on thee intrude? More gross the form that his loved mind shall That wisdom would have fled, and courage The gracious power around me could translate And make me pass to that immortal state: Thus shall I pay the debt that must be paid, And dying live, nor be by death delay'd; And when so changed, I should with joy sustain The heavenly converse, and with him remain. So on I drew, concluding in my mind, 'Twas told they buried with the corpse enough "The light increased, and plainly now A knavish fool whom I had often fear'd, But hid the dread; and I resolved at least Not to expose it to the powerful beast. """Come, John,' I said, suppressing fear and doubt, 'Walk on before, and let a lady out!' And ere my love can speak, he should be first Lady!' the wretch replied, with savage |