The hurricane a theosophical and western eclogue. To which is subjoined, a solitary effusion in a summer's evening. By William Gilbert |
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 | The hurricane |  |
At home arrived and entering at the East—
For now all entrance from the West was barred—
She looked and asked—
Elmira.
Where is my mother's room?
Or where is she? I want to sleep again:
For you removed me when but half awake.
What is this country?
I.
A country tis, where—
Daughters and mothers seldom live together.
Elmira.
Why not?
I.
They cannot. Young with young, and old
With old together dwell, where you are now.
Your mother fully welcomed just is gone
Where you can never follow. The distance
Is but small; yet bad the road, and water
Lies between you. She begs you here to rest,
Till, with a few days use, you like the place.
You will command whatever you may see,
And all this house is your's. All varied pleasure
Shall attend the varied day. The morning
Breeze luxuriant shall be your's in this saloon,
Or in the Orange and Acacia shade;
Where flower or fruit alike regale your taste.
For you shall noon pour tranquil splendour wide,
Not unaired, nor void of rich aroma;
For shrubs that love to drink his ray and live,
Will skreen it from Elmira. The purple
Sorrel-Nectar high, or milk of Cocoa Nut
You then shall drain; and in its sportive shade
Hearken the breeze race on it's rising stem.
Evening shall bear us to the Thicket Shade:
Or else, at large, we'll catch the rambling air;
And when we see the peaceful breast of ocean
Just rippled over with the wildring breeze,
We'll then descend the beach; and, pleased, inhale
The freshest breath of genial air that blows;
Or snuff the showers collecting in the East
To cool the atmosphere and green the earth.
Elmira.
But, will my mother never come? I long
To tell her of those pleasant things.
I.
Better
Enjoy them first and know them true yourself.
Then, sweet companions of your sex and age
Will join your walk and mix their joys with your's;
With equal transport catch the lively glow
From Nature's face, and beam it in their eyes;
While with extatic smiles you hail the scene,
And eager tell, what various pleasures swell.
Elmira.
Will none else be with us?
I.
I when you please,
Will join my sweet Elmira and her Friends.
Elmira.
I shall always please.
For now all entrance from the West was barred—
She looked and asked—
30
Where is my mother's room?
Or where is she? I want to sleep again:
For you removed me when but half awake.
What is this country?
I.
A country tis, where—
Daughters and mothers seldom live together.
Elmira.
Why not?
I.
They cannot. Young with young, and old
With old together dwell, where you are now.
31
Where you can never follow. The distance
Is but small; yet bad the road, and water
Lies between you. She begs you here to rest,
Till, with a few days use, you like the place.
You will command whatever you may see,
And all this house is your's. All varied pleasure
Shall attend the varied day. The morning
Breeze luxuriant shall be your's in this saloon,
Or in the Orange and Acacia shade;
Where flower or fruit alike regale your taste.
For you shall noon pour tranquil splendour wide,
Not unaired, nor void of rich aroma;
For shrubs that love to drink his ray and live,
Will skreen it from Elmira. The purple
Sorrel-Nectar high, or milk of Cocoa Nut
You then shall drain; and in its sportive shade
Hearken the breeze race on it's rising stem.
Evening shall bear us to the Thicket Shade:
32
And when we see the peaceful breast of ocean
Just rippled over with the wildring breeze,
We'll then descend the beach; and, pleased, inhale
The freshest breath of genial air that blows;
Or snuff the showers collecting in the East
To cool the atmosphere and green the earth.
Elmira.
But, will my mother never come? I long
To tell her of those pleasant things.
I.
Better
Enjoy them first and know them true yourself.
Then, sweet companions of your sex and age
Will join your walk and mix their joys with your's;
33
From Nature's face, and beam it in their eyes;
While with extatic smiles you hail the scene,
And eager tell, what various pleasures swell.
Elmira.
Will none else be with us?
I.
I when you please,
Will join my sweet Elmira and her Friends.
Elmira.
I shall always please.
| The hurricane | |