The Descent into Hell Second Edition, Revised and Re-arranged, with an Analysis and Notes: To which are added, Uriel, a Fragment and Three Odes. By John A. Heraud |
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| IV. | IV. ISAIAH. |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
83
IV. ISAIAH.
So sang the Choir—but now the Darkness glooms
Of Hades throughout all the worlds, and o'er
The Hill descends, and as in wrath consumes.
Of Hades throughout all the worlds, and o'er
The Hill descends, and as in wrath consumes.
Dreadful it comes, and prostrate all adore—
In silence—save that on that horrour soars
Isaiah's voice, majestick as of yore.
In silence—save that on that horrour soars
Isaiah's voice, majestick as of yore.
—“Jehovah! Lord of Hosts! the man implores
Whose lips were touched divinely, to respond,
Lo, here am I, send me! and yet adores
Whose lips were touched divinely, to respond,
Lo, here am I, send me! and yet adores
Thy love, though now earth's round lies in the bond
Of Darkness. God! thy voice is raised. Thy hand
Is shaken. Lo, the Mighty, from beyond
Of Darkness. God! thy voice is raised. Thy hand
Is shaken. Lo, the Mighty, from beyond
The ends of heaven, do haste at thy command,
By thee on-guided o'er their desolate path,
To make destruction in thy chosen land.
By thee on-guided o'er their desolate path,
To make destruction in thy chosen land.
84
We are afraid; and pangs and sorrows scathe
The spirits of the Saints—they are in pain,
As when a woman travaileth, for thy wrath.
The spirits of the Saints—they are in pain,
As when a woman travaileth, for thy wrath.
The stars of heaven are rayless in their reign—
The sun is darkened as he climbs on high—
The moon is desolate in her domain—
The sun is darkened as he climbs on high—
The moon is desolate in her domain—
For thou the world for its iniquity
Wilt punish, and wilt make the Man, whom thou
Hast chosen, precious unto every eye;
Wilt punish, and wilt make the Man, whom thou
Hast chosen, precious unto every eye;
Whose shadow is as night in noon-day now,
The great One and the Saviour! Lo, the Day
Over the Vale of Vision darkles slow—
The great One and the Saviour! Lo, the Day
Over the Vale of Vision darkles slow—
The day of trouble, and the fierce array
Of chariots and of horsemen! Earth doth mourn,
Yea, the world languishes and fades away!
Of chariots and of horsemen! Earth doth mourn,
Yea, the world languishes and fades away!
Thine indignation smites from bourn to bourn,
Thy fury on all armies rages on,
Who to destroy them utterly hast sworn.
Thy fury on all armies rages on,
Who to destroy them utterly hast sworn.
The hosts of heaven shall be dissolved anon,
The heavens are rolled together as a scroll,
Their hosts drop down as vine leaves. It is done!
The heavens are rolled together as a scroll,
Their hosts drop down as vine leaves. It is done!
In heaven is bathed thy Sword, that from the soul
The spirit doth divide—it shall descend
Upon the people of thy curse—controul
The spirit doth divide—it shall descend
Upon the people of thy curse—controul
The Sacrifice, and on the slaughter tend.
With strong desire, I pant, I thirst to see,
Whom for thy Glory—Glory without end—
With strong desire, I pant, I thirst to see,
Whom for thy Glory—Glory without end—
85
Thou hast created, Holy One of thee—
Redeemer from the Grave—That earth might cleave
To the centre, God! and set thy prophets free;..
Redeemer from the Grave—That earth might cleave
To the centre, God! and set thy prophets free;..
So might they witness all that they believe!”
—Thus fervent prayed Isaiah. Deeper still
The horrour of great darkness doth upheave,
—Thus fervent prayed Isaiah. Deeper still
The horrour of great darkness doth upheave,
And Hades utterly absorbs the Hill—
Even such as followed Death, when fearful Power
O'er fourth of earth was given to him to kill
Even such as followed Death, when fearful Power
O'er fourth of earth was given to him to kill
With sword, hunger and plague, and to devour
With furious beasts. Then following, comes before
Him now Hell populous, in this dread hour—
With furious beasts. Then following, comes before
Him now Hell populous, in this dread hour—
—Hell slowly unfolds her adamantine door;
Hell hath her gates unfolded. Lo! as it were
A Mausoleum wide as Chaos, or
Hell hath her gates unfolded. Lo! as it were
A Mausoleum wide as Chaos, or
The Ninth of Space, an infinite Sepulchre,
Yet walled about; the Ward of Death and Sin;
Not silent;—Sleep, with Hope, is alien here.
Yet walled about; the Ward of Death and Sin;
Not silent;—Sleep, with Hope, is alien here.
Lo, shadowy Thrones, and Phantoms there-within
Inaugurate, crowned strangely; Spectres vast
As of blue ice compact, and making din
Inaugurate, crowned strangely; Spectres vast
As of blue ice compact, and making din
As shadowy, phantom sounds; their voice a blast
Heard o'er the polar wild's vacuity,
That goes unquestioned on, lost and aghast,
Heard o'er the polar wild's vacuity,
That goes unquestioned on, lost and aghast,
Seeking for aught to guide its voyage by,
One barren stump, a solitary stone,
Half shriek—half whistle,—and finds no reply.
One barren stump, a solitary stone,
Half shriek—half whistle,—and finds no reply.
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Half-raised, expectant, on his icy throne,
Each in his cell; his eyes' impatient glow,
Now glancing on the desert, and now gone,
Each in his cell; his eyes' impatient glow,
Now glancing on the desert, and now gone,
Like Boreas' light on Hecla's haunted brow,
Glazing his aspect with a ghostly gleam;
Here twinkling now. now there...evanished now
Glazing his aspect with a ghostly gleam;
Here twinkling now. now there...evanished now
From the void forehead, like a transient dream;
The void cold forehead, and the fitful light
Of massy and monarchal diadem,
The void cold forehead, and the fitful light
Of massy and monarchal diadem,
Now beamless; and, all dusk as the sad night,
The regal pall hangs the broad shoulder o'er,
Frozen in gorgeous folds, and moveless quite.
The regal pall hangs the broad shoulder o'er,
Frozen in gorgeous folds, and moveless quite.
—Burns now that starless air intenselier frore...
Heard ye not hoofs on that ice-pavement clang,
In rampant fury or triumph? Hark! once more,
Heard ye not hoofs on that ice-pavement clang,
In rampant fury or triumph? Hark! once more,
The Voice of Storms through all that region rang;
Near and more near,..the voice of many storms,..
Whom heralding? Gaunt Death! the Heralds sang.
Near and more near,..the voice of many storms,..
Whom heralding? Gaunt Death! the Heralds sang.
—With Pestilence and Plague, with phantom-forms,
He comes,...pale Rider of the pallid Steed,...
Trampling alike o'er warriors, worlds and worms;
He comes,...pale Rider of the pallid Steed,...
Trampling alike o'er warriors, worlds and worms;
Himself chief Victor. From his mouth proceed
Vaunt and defiance, while his blasting breath
Parcheth with cold the flakier air. “The Deed!”
Thus he exclaims—“'tis done—the deed of Death!”Vaunt and defiance, while his blasting breath
Parcheth with cold the flakier air. “The Deed!”
| The Descent into Hell | |