 | The Legend of St. Loy |  |
VI.
I've ever felt this passion in my breast,
Fluttering for thought; — nor can my memory find,
Since it could harbour such exalted guest,
When it hath been without this thoughtful mind:
While others, fellows of mine infant-age,
Looked to nought higher than their elfin play,
Nor were expected, — I explored the page, —
And then Religion burst with heavenly day!
And though she was too glorious and too bright
For the weak, eaglet gaze of my young sight; —
And though I could not pierce the mysteries,
Which are the darkness of excessive light,
And mantled her, scarce pierced e'en by the wise; —
Yet were her charms congenial to my mind: —
My thrilling heart their awful beauty won
To cogitation pleasing; then I framed
Glorious conceptions — and I hold them still —
How to exist on earth as if in heaven —
But thou, Trade! wouldst forbid me to fulfill
These purposes, her dictates, too refined
For thee — I am not meet to be thy son!
I could not stoop to thy low means of gain;
Means opposite to all commandments given
By God to man, yet practised oft unshamed —
And I should tremble at the oath of form,
Which many of thy sons, without alarm,
Without consideration, often swear,
Albeit they the Witness-God profane! —
I could not qualify it, as they do,
Guiltless pronounce myself, and free from care,
Think Heaven's own justice will be partial too! —
Fluttering for thought; — nor can my memory find,
Since it could harbour such exalted guest,
When it hath been without this thoughtful mind:
While others, fellows of mine infant-age,
Looked to nought higher than their elfin play,
Nor were expected, — I explored the page, —
And then Religion burst with heavenly day!
199
For the weak, eaglet gaze of my young sight; —
And though I could not pierce the mysteries,
Which are the darkness of excessive light,
And mantled her, scarce pierced e'en by the wise; —
Yet were her charms congenial to my mind: —
My thrilling heart their awful beauty won
To cogitation pleasing; then I framed
Glorious conceptions — and I hold them still —
How to exist on earth as if in heaven —
But thou, Trade! wouldst forbid me to fulfill
These purposes, her dictates, too refined
For thee — I am not meet to be thy son!
I could not stoop to thy low means of gain;
Means opposite to all commandments given
By God to man, yet practised oft unshamed —
And I should tremble at the oath of form,
Which many of thy sons, without alarm,
Without consideration, often swear,
Albeit they the Witness-God profane! —
I could not qualify it, as they do,
Guiltless pronounce myself, and free from care,
Think Heaven's own justice will be partial too! —
200
Yes! all can witness, in my nestling days,
Instead of toys, books were my chief delight,
Till I felt emulous of their high praise,
Who poured their spirit, in a flood of light,
O'er every lofty theme; then glowed my heart
Within me: Thought became my better part,
— As, sooth, it should be with immortal souls —
Though, struggling oft, still lay its fire concealed,
Ambition undefined — 'till Milton's song
To apprehension gradually unveiled,
Dissolves the darkness that prevailed there long —
Then from its gathered cloud the lightning rolls!
The lightning of my Spirit burst its cloud,
And straight the wild and magic numbers came;
My Harp no more was silent, breathed aloud
Its sounds of power, and its thoughts of flame!
Instead of toys, books were my chief delight,
Till I felt emulous of their high praise,
Who poured their spirit, in a flood of light,
O'er every lofty theme; then glowed my heart
Within me: Thought became my better part,
— As, sooth, it should be with immortal souls —
Though, struggling oft, still lay its fire concealed,
Ambition undefined — 'till Milton's song
To apprehension gradually unveiled,
Dissolves the darkness that prevailed there long —
Then from its gathered cloud the lightning rolls!
The lightning of my Spirit burst its cloud,
And straight the wild and magic numbers came;
My Harp no more was silent, breathed aloud
Its sounds of power, and its thoughts of flame!
| The Legend of St. Loy | |