Page images
PDF
EPUB

Group winding after group with dream-like

ease;

Triumphs in sunbright gratitude displayed,
Or softly stealing into modest shade.

-So, pleased with purple clusters to entwine
Some lofty elm-tree, mounts the daring vine; 20
The woodbine so, with spiral grace, and
breathes

Wide-spreading odours from her flowery wreaths.

Borne by the Muse from rills in shepherds'

ears

Murmuring but one smooth story for all years,
I gladly commune with the mind and heart 25
Of him who thus survives by classic art,
His actions witness, venerate his mien,
And study Trajan as by Pliny seen;

Behold how fought the Chief whose conquering sword

29

Stretched far as earth might own a single lord;
In the delight of moral prudence schooled,
How feelingly at home the Sovereign ruled;
Best of the good-in pagan faith allied
To more than Man, by virtue deified.

Memorial Pillar! 'mid the wrecks of Time 35 Preserve thy charge with confidence sublime— The exultations, pomps, and cares of Rome, Whence half the breathing world received its doom;

Things that recoil from language; that, if shown

By apter pencil, from the light had flown. 40
A Pontiff, Trajan here the Gods implores,
There greets an Embassy from Indian shores;
Lo! he harangues his cohorts-there the storm

Of battle meets him in authentic form!

44

Unharnessed, naked, troops of Moorish horse Sweep to the charge; more high, the Dacian force,

To hoof and finger mailed;-yet, high or low,
None bleed, and none lie prostrate but the foe ;
In every Roman, through all turns of fate,
Is Roman dignity inviolate;

Spirit in him pre-eminent, who guides,
Supports, adorns, and over all presides;
Distinguished only by inherent state

50

From honoured Instruments that round him wait;

Rise as he may, his grandeur scorns the test 55
Of outward symbol, nor will deign to rest
On aught by which another is deprest.
-Alas! that One thus disciplined could toil
To enslave whole nations on their native soil;
So emulous of Macedonian fame,
That, when his age was measured with his aim,
He drooped, 'mid else unclouded victories,
And turned his eagles back with deep-drawn
sighs.

60

O weakness of the Great! O folly of the Wise!

Where now the haughty Empire that was

spread 65 With such fond hope? her very speech is dead; Yet glorious Art the power of Time defies, And Trajan still, through various enterprise, Mounts, in this fine illusion, toward the skies: Still are we present with the imperial Chief, 70 Nor cease to gaze upon the bold Relief Till Rome, to silent marble unconfined, Becomes with all her years a vision of the Mind.

1825.

THE EGYPTIAN MAID

OR

THE ROMANCE OF THE WATER LILY.

For the names and persons in the following poem see the "History of the renowned Prince Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table;" for the rest the Author is answerable; only it may be proper to add that the Lotus, with the bust of the Goddess appearing to rise out of the full-blown flower, was suggested by the beautiful work of ancient art, once included among the Townley Marbles, and now in the British Museum.

WHILE Merlin paced the Cornish sands,
Forth-looking toward the rocks of Scilly,
The pleased Enchanter was aware

Of a bright Ship that seemed to hang in air,
Yet was she work of mortal hands,
And took from men her name-THE WATER

5

LILY.

Soft was the wind, that landward blew ;

And, as the Moon, o'er some dark hill ascendant,

Grows from a little edge of light

To a full orb, this Pinnace bright

[ocr errors]

Became, as nearer to the coast she drew, More glorious, with spread sail and streaming pendant.

Upon this wingèd Shape so fair
Sage Merlin gazed with admiration:
Her lineaments, thought he, surpass

35

Aught that was ever shown in magic glass; Was ever built with patient care;

Or, at a touch, produced by happiest transformation.

Now, though a Mechanist, whose skill Shames the degenerate grasp of modern science,

Grave Merlin (and belike the more

For practising occult and perilous lore)
Was subject to a freakish will

20

That sapped good thoughts, or scared them with defiance.

Provoked to envious spleen, he cast

25

An altered look upon the advancing Stranger
Whom he had hailed with joy, and cried,
"My Art shall help to tame her pride—"
Anon the breeze became a blast,

And the waves rose, and sky portended danger.

31

With thrilling word, and potent sign
Traced on the beach, his work the Sorcerer

urges;

The clouds in blacker clouds are lost,

Like spiteful Fiends that vanish, crossed
By Fiends of aspect more malign ;

35

And the winds roused the Deep with fiercer Scourges.

But worthy of the name she bore

Was this Šea-flower, this buoyant Galley;

Supreme in loveliness and grace

Of motion, whether in the embrace

Of trusty anchorage, or scudding o'er

40

The main flood roughened into hill and valley.

Behold, how wantonly she laves

Her sides, the Wizard's craft confounding;
Like something out of Ocean sprung
To be for ever fresh and young,

45

Breasts the sea-flashes, and huge waves Top-gallant high, rebounding and rebounding!

But Ocean under magic heaves,

And cannot spare the Thing he cherished: Ah! what avails that she was fair, Luminous, blithe, and debonair?

49

The storm has stripped her of her leaves; The Lily floats no longer!—She hath perished.

Grieve for her, she deserves no less;
So like, yet so unlike, a living Creature!
No heart had she, no busy brain;
Though loved, she could not love again;
Though pitied, feel her own distress;

55

59

Nor aught that troubles us, the fools of Nature.

Yet is there cause for gushing tears;
So richly was this Galley laden,
A fairer than herself she bore,
And, in her struggles, cast ashore;
A lovely One, who nothing hears

65

Of wind or wave—a meek and guileless Maiden.

Into a cave had Merlin fled

From mischief, caused by spells himself had muttered;

And while, repentant all too late,

« PreviousContinue »