Poems on Various Subjects By John Thelwall. In Two Volumes |
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Canto the Second.
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 | Poems on Various Subjects |  |
120
Canto the Second.
Oh conscience! conscience! bitter is his lot
Who spurns for purpos'd bliss thy guiding lore:
Wretched are they who, heav'n's high will forgot,
In chace of joy the realms of vice explore;
For thou, oh conscience! with thy smarting goad,
Wilt meet and check them on the flow'ry road.
Who spurns for purpos'd bliss thy guiding lore:
Wretched are they who, heav'n's high will forgot,
In chace of joy the realms of vice explore;
For thou, oh conscience! with thy smarting goad,
Wilt meet and check them on the flow'ry road.
And see where Damon, whose enraptur'd heart
Could once receive from nature's smiling face
Sincerest joy, and, with enthusiast art,
In all its hues the various landscape trace,
Insensate now he lays absorpt in woe,
Nor sees bright Phœbus in the orient glow.
Could once receive from nature's smiling face
Sincerest joy, and, with enthusiast art,
In all its hues the various landscape trace,
Insensate now he lays absorpt in woe,
Nor sees bright Phœbus in the orient glow.
121
The breezy fragrance of the new-born day,
The honied gale fresh scented in the bow'r,
The bird soft warbling on the bloomy spray,
The air made vocal by the sky-lark's pow'r,
The rustic labours of the distant hind,
Tending his flock, or o'er the plough reclin'd;
The honied gale fresh scented in the bow'r,
The bird soft warbling on the bloomy spray,
The air made vocal by the sky-lark's pow'r,
The rustic labours of the distant hind,
Tending his flock, or o'er the plough reclin'd;
Th'embroider'd valley spangled o'er with dew,
The humid pearls soft dripping from the thorn,
Heav'n's cloudless vault, which glow'd in brightest blue,
Gay by the forest's edge the bounding fawn,
Who in the stream appeas'd his heated blood;
The stream whose murmuring tide meandering flow'd;
The humid pearls soft dripping from the thorn,
Heav'n's cloudless vault, which glow'd in brightest blue,
Gay by the forest's edge the bounding fawn,
Who in the stream appeas'd his heated blood;
The stream whose murmuring tide meandering flow'd;
The pale Narcissus bending o'er its side,
The various flow'rets, and the mossy bank;
The snow-plum'd cignets, with majestic pride,
New-wak'd, forth issuing from the oziers dank;
The brambled walk that parts the woodland shade,
The humble cottage in the smiling glade;
The various flow'rets, and the mossy bank;
The snow-plum'd cignets, with majestic pride,
New-wak'd, forth issuing from the oziers dank;
The brambled walk that parts the woodland shade,
The humble cottage in the smiling glade;
122
The lofty mountain crown'd with stately oak,
The rocky summit, from whose rugged brow
Jumps the surge rough, with course delay'd, and broke,
Hoarse roars, and foams in eddies rude below:
All, all these beauties Damon once could prize,
Now unregarded court his streaming eyes.
The rocky summit, from whose rugged brow
Jumps the surge rough, with course delay'd, and broke,
Hoarse roars, and foams in eddies rude below:
All, all these beauties Damon once could prize,
Now unregarded court his streaming eyes.
The fragrant bow'r, beneath whose shade he lay,
Where roses wild, and smiling jessamine,
In blooms luxuriant, twist the wanton spray,
And o'er the hazle climbs the eglantine;
Where cowslips, violets, harebells, breathe around,
And blue-flow'r'd alehoof mantles o'er the ground.
Where roses wild, and smiling jessamine,
In blooms luxuriant, twist the wanton spray,
And o'er the hazle climbs the eglantine;
Where cowslips, violets, harebells, breathe around,
And blue-flow'r'd alehoof mantles o'er the ground.
No charm had these to stop the painful sigh,
Or in his breast appease the rankling wound:—
Ah what avails it to the jaundic'd eye,
Tho' thousand rainbows circle it around?
When thro' each vein fierce hydrophobia strays,
What boots the purling stream that round us plays?
Or in his breast appease the rankling wound:—
Ah what avails it to the jaundic'd eye,
Tho' thousand rainbows circle it around?
When thro' each vein fierce hydrophobia strays,
What boots the purling stream that round us plays?
123
Mean while within Pastorus' blameless breast
Contending passions waged a painful war;
Keen sensibility his voice supprest;
Nor knew he most to comfort or abhor:
Now pity sighs, now indignation frowns,
Horror now wakes, and all his bosom owns.
Contending passions waged a painful war;
Keen sensibility his voice supprest;
Nor knew he most to comfort or abhor:
Now pity sighs, now indignation frowns,
Horror now wakes, and all his bosom owns.
At length, upstarting, frantic, from the ground,
The sad repentant, with a trembling hand,
Embrac'd his friend's; his eyes roll'd ghastly round,
Which wont to languish with affection bland,
And “Oh, my friend! thy honest heart,” he cries,
“Must hate my crimes, and triumph in my sighs.”
The sad repentant, with a trembling hand,
Embrac'd his friend's; his eyes roll'd ghastly round,
Which wont to languish with affection bland,
And “Oh, my friend! thy honest heart,” he cries,
“Must hate my crimes, and triumph in my sighs.”
But when his deep despair Pastorus view'd,
His face deform'd, his eyes with tears enflam'd,
The drops of sympathy his cheek bedew'd,
And tender pity all his bosom claim'd:
Each thought indignant from his heart retires,
And sorrow's show'r extinguish'd anger's fires.
His face deform'd, his eyes with tears enflam'd,
The drops of sympathy his cheek bedew'd,
And tender pity all his bosom claim'd:
Each thought indignant from his heart retires,
And sorrow's show'r extinguish'd anger's fires.
124
Then Damon thus, deep sighing from his heart:
“And canst thou pity such a wretch as me?
“Alas! my guilt is but reveal'd in part!—
“Didst thou know all, where, where would pity be?
“My treach'rous arts would to thy breast recal
“Abhorrence just.—Yet will I tell thee all.
“And canst thou pity such a wretch as me?
“Alas! my guilt is but reveal'd in part!—
“Didst thou know all, where, where would pity be?
“My treach'rous arts would to thy breast recal
“Abhorrence just.—Yet will I tell thee all.
“The guileless fair one, thoughtless of deceit,
(“Faultering her tongue, her bosom heav'd with sighs)
“Reveal'd her heart with looks confus'dly sweet,—
“Love's humid gems bright sparkling in her eyes.
“With rapture, I the fond confession blest,
“And clasp'd the bright confusion to my breast.
(“Faultering her tongue, her bosom heav'd with sighs)
“Reveal'd her heart with looks confus'dly sweet,—
“Love's humid gems bright sparkling in her eyes.
“With rapture, I the fond confession blest,
“And clasp'd the bright confusion to my breast.
“Yet still whene'er in grot or shady grove,
“By bubbling fount recluse, or private bow'r,
“With dalliance light, and toying sports, I strove
“To waken passion, blind reflection's pow'r,
“And so the purpose of my arts obtain,
“The bashful fair would each approach restrain.
“By bubbling fount recluse, or private bow'r,
“With dalliance light, and toying sports, I strove
“To waken passion, blind reflection's pow'r,
“And so the purpose of my arts obtain,
“The bashful fair would each approach restrain.
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“If e'er my lips her lips too warmly prest,
“If I too close her slender form embrac'd,
“Or, artful, o'er her snowy heaving breast,
“By seeming chance, my trembling hand I plac'd,
“The bashful frown, the blush of virgin pride,
“And coy-grown look my conduct seem'd to chide.
“If I too close her slender form embrac'd,
“Or, artful, o'er her snowy heaving breast,
“By seeming chance, my trembling hand I plac'd,
“The bashful frown, the blush of virgin pride,
“And coy-grown look my conduct seem'd to chide.
“Not that she did suspect my lewd design,
“Or dream I wish'd her innocence despoil'd;
“But that she held, ‘Meek modesty should shine
‘Spotless in seeming, as in deed unsoil'd.’
“To rigid virtue bred with maxims nice,
“She shunn'd the semblance as the act of vice.
“Or dream I wish'd her innocence despoil'd;
“But that she held, ‘Meek modesty should shine
‘Spotless in seeming, as in deed unsoil'd.’
“To rigid virtue bred with maxims nice,
“She shunn'd the semblance as the act of vice.
“The commmon modes by which o'er other hearts
“I us'd to triumph, balk'd and frustrate all,
“My curs'd invention gender'd other arts,
“More deep-laid schemes to work Amanda's fall.
“Her virgin purity, which should inspire
“More chaste esteem, but fann'd my loose desire.
“I us'd to triumph, balk'd and frustrate all,
“My curs'd invention gender'd other arts,
“More deep-laid schemes to work Amanda's fall.
“Her virgin purity, which should inspire
“More chaste esteem, but fann'd my loose desire.
126
“One fatal hour—O! be that hour of guilt
“Which gave to branded scorn Amanda's name,
“For ever curs'd! and curs'd this heart that built
“Upon a short-liv'd joy her endless shame!
“Tho' free from dread, I wrapt in close disguise;
“As tho' I trembled at surrounding spies.
“Which gave to branded scorn Amanda's name,
“For ever curs'd! and curs'd this heart that built
“Upon a short-liv'd joy her endless shame!
“Tho' free from dread, I wrapt in close disguise;
“As tho' I trembled at surrounding spies.
“Night's silent foot now rested on the ground,
“And rayless darkness thro' the void prevail'd,
“Each guiltless brow sleep's poppied garland bound;
“Save only those whom jealous love assail'd,
“Or fortune's spite, or caitiff fear annoy'd,
“Or pale despondency, or pain destroy'd.
“And rayless darkness thro' the void prevail'd,
“Each guiltless brow sleep's poppied garland bound;
“Save only those whom jealous love assail'd,
“Or fortune's spite, or caitiff fear annoy'd,
“Or pale despondency, or pain destroy'd.
“My treacherous steps disturb'd the gloomy shade,
“No doubt perplexing of the wish'd success,
“(Her menial had her trust for gold betray'd.)
“With hasty strides towards the house I press;
“For since our eyes last met in fond survey
“Thrice glow'd the orient, thrice the western ray.
“No doubt perplexing of the wish'd success,
“(Her menial had her trust for gold betray'd.)
“With hasty strides towards the house I press;
“For since our eyes last met in fond survey
“Thrice glow'd the orient, thrice the western ray.
127
“Me to her chamber the false minion brought,
“Where all in tears Amanda I beheld;
“Her eyes deep riveted in tender thought,
“As in her hand my pictur'd form she held;
“Unlac'd, unrobed, loose flow'd her auburn hair,
“Her sigh-swoln bosom all expos'd and bare:
“Where all in tears Amanda I beheld;
“Her eyes deep riveted in tender thought,
“As in her hand my pictur'd form she held;
“Unlac'd, unrobed, loose flow'd her auburn hair,
“Her sigh-swoln bosom all expos'd and bare:
“Upon the couch she sat; her zone unbound,—
“The night-gown's folds in loose luxuriance flow'd.
“Me when she saw, she shriek'd, and gath'ring round
“Her scatter'd robe, with wild confusion glow'd;
“While I, with acted modesty, withdrew,
“And o'er my eyes the doubled kerchief threw.
“The night-gown's folds in loose luxuriance flow'd.
“Me when she saw, she shriek'd, and gath'ring round
“Her scatter'd robe, with wild confusion glow'd;
“While I, with acted modesty, withdrew,
“And o'er my eyes the doubled kerchief threw.
“Her fears my well-tim'd diffidence allay'd.
“But when my garb and acted grief she view'd,
‘Whence this late visit? Whence this dress? she said,
‘And why that face with anguish thus bedew'd?
‘Meet we (by stealth, alas!) one day in three?
‘And meet we then with tears and misery?’
“But when my garb and acted grief she view'd,
‘Whence this late visit? Whence this dress? she said,
‘And why that face with anguish thus bedew'd?
‘Meet we (by stealth, alas!) one day in three?
‘And meet we then with tears and misery?’
128
“Deep sobbing I:—Ah, cruel fortune's spite!
“Then, as with anguish dumb, I paus'd awhile,
“Farewel to love, to peace, to soft delight!—
“Fly must thy Damon; leave his native isle,
“Friends, kindred, fortune, and paternal home,
“A wretched, joyless exile wide to roam.
“Then, as with anguish dumb, I paus'd awhile,
“Farewel to love, to peace, to soft delight!—
“Fly must thy Damon; leave his native isle,
“Friends, kindred, fortune, and paternal home,
“A wretched, joyless exile wide to roam.
“Oh! were this all, believe me when I swear,
“No single sigh should heave this manly breast,
“These eyes should scorn to shed the coward tear.
“But, oh, Amanda dear! to think the rest
“Grief and distraction seize my tortur'd mind!
“Thee must I leave, Amanda, thee, behind!
“No single sigh should heave this manly breast,
“These eyes should scorn to shed the coward tear.
“But, oh, Amanda dear! to think the rest
“Grief and distraction seize my tortur'd mind!
“Thee must I leave, Amanda, thee, behind!
“She heard. Cold chilly dews her form o'erspread;
“Supine, and breathless in my arms she fell;
“Clos'd were her eyes, her cheeks the roses fled,
“Her frozen bosom ceas'd awhile to swell,
“Till careful I recall'd the ling'ring life,
“Then heav'd convulsive, toss'd in passion's strife.
“Supine, and breathless in my arms she fell;
“Clos'd were her eyes, her cheeks the roses fled,
“Her frozen bosom ceas'd awhile to swell,
“Till careful I recall'd the ling'ring life,
“Then heav'd convulsive, toss'd in passion's strife.
129
“Meanwhile my tale abus'd her cred'lous ear,
“How a lewd ribald had her name defil'd,
“Whereat, enrag'd the sland'rous lie to hear,
“I drew my rapier, and with fury wild,
“Assail'd, and slew him.—At each word I spake,
“Her sighs renew'd, as tho' her heart would break.
“How a lewd ribald had her name defil'd,
“Whereat, enrag'd the sland'rous lie to hear,
“I drew my rapier, and with fury wild,
“Assail'd, and slew him.—At each word I spake,
“Her sighs renew'd, as tho' her heart would break.
“She seiz'd my hand, and languish'd on my face
“With such a doating look of mournful love,
“While sweet confusion soften'd ev'ry grace;—
“Pity did almost in my bosom move.—
‘And shall we part?’ she cried, ‘my Damon, no;
‘Where'er you wander shall Amanda go.’
“With such a doating look of mournful love,
“While sweet confusion soften'd ev'ry grace;—
“Pity did almost in my bosom move.—
‘And shall we part?’ she cried, ‘my Damon, no;
‘Where'er you wander shall Amanda go.’
“In vain, I said, would fond affection lead
“Her generous soul to share my present flight;
“In vain my heart must for her converse bleed;—
“Nor time, nor yet conveyance meet invite.
“Yet, if so dear an exil'd wretch could be,
“Some future bark might bear my love to me.
“Her generous soul to share my present flight;
“In vain my heart must for her converse bleed;—
“Nor time, nor yet conveyance meet invite.
“Yet, if so dear an exil'd wretch could be,
“Some future bark might bear my love to me.
130
“Her love, I swore, could fortune's anger cross;
“But ah! I fear'd, when rumour should proclaim
“To her more prudent sire, my fortune's loss,
“My exil'd person, and my blighted fame,
“Against her will, Amanda might be led
“A victim to some happier rival's bed.
“But ah! I fear'd, when rumour should proclaim
“To her more prudent sire, my fortune's loss,
“My exil'd person, and my blighted fame,
“Against her will, Amanda might be led
“A victim to some happier rival's bed.
“And now she chid me for my groundless fears;
“And now in vows pour'd forth her tender heart,
“My bosom bathing with her flowing tears,
“While nature banish'd all restraints of art;
“Around my neck her twining arms she threw,
“Hung on my lip, and to my bosom grew.
“And now in vows pour'd forth her tender heart,
“My bosom bathing with her flowing tears,
“While nature banish'd all restraints of art;
“Around my neck her twining arms she threw,
“Hung on my lip, and to my bosom grew.
“While thus dissolv'd in tenderness of thought,
“She fondly languish'd on my fluttering breast;
“Each mournful look, with yielding softness fraught;
“Her swimming eyes her melting soul exprest:
“Thro' all her frame the fond emotions rove;
“Each vein was passion, every pulse was love;
“She fondly languish'd on my fluttering breast;
“Each mournful look, with yielding softness fraught;
“Her swimming eyes her melting soul exprest:
“Thro' all her frame the fond emotions rove;
“Each vein was passion, every pulse was love;
131
“The guardless hour, assiduous, I improv'd
“With ev'ry blandishment of strong desire;
“O'er all her charms, with fond endearments rov'd,
“And fann'd with ev'ry art the spreading fire:
“Then, half dissolv'd, half fainted in my arms,
“I press'd my suit, and triumph'd in her charms.
“With ev'ry blandishment of strong desire;
“O'er all her charms, with fond endearments rov'd,
“And fann'd with ev'ry art the spreading fire:
“Then, half dissolv'd, half fainted in my arms,
“I press'd my suit, and triumph'd in her charms.
“Oh villain! monster of the blackest stain!
“Oh triumph that has stamp'd me for a fiend!
“Proclaim'd me worse than brute! Yet oh refrain
“Each judgment hard; nor in thy heart be skreen'd
“A thought can do the lost Amanda wrong.
“Could human virtue bear assault so strong?
“Oh triumph that has stamp'd me for a fiend!
“Proclaim'd me worse than brute! Yet oh refrain
“Each judgment hard; nor in thy heart be skreen'd
“A thought can do the lost Amanda wrong.
“Could human virtue bear assault so strong?
“Reflection's voice, attentive to exclude,
“Each fond advance to amorous dalliance I
“With jealous doubts and anxious cares pursued,
“And arm'd with rivall'd fears each artful sigh.
“Thus gratitude and pity thought restain,
“And her own virtues were Amanda's bane.
“Each fond advance to amorous dalliance I
“With jealous doubts and anxious cares pursued,
“And arm'd with rivall'd fears each artful sigh.
“Thus gratitude and pity thought restain,
“And her own virtues were Amanda's bane.
132
“Thus tranc'd in bliss, on more than eagle wings
“Scud the fleet shades impatient from the sky;
“Then o'er the humid hill Aurora springs,
“And the blithe lark proclaims Hyperion nigh.
“I left the blissful couch and nymph forlorn,—
“Nor ever view'd her from that cruel morn:—
“Scud the fleet shades impatient from the sky;
“Then o'er the humid hill Aurora springs,
“And the blithe lark proclaims Hyperion nigh.
“I left the blissful couch and nymph forlorn,—
“Nor ever view'd her from that cruel morn:—
“Dissembling grief, I left the weeping fair,
“And far away my habitation mov'd,
“From Surrey's shades to Devon's sea-cool'd air;
“Where still in lawless pleasure I have rov'd,
“Nor ever once enquir'd Amanda's fate,
“Nor cast one thought upon her dubious state.
“And far away my habitation mov'd,
“From Surrey's shades to Devon's sea-cool'd air;
“Where still in lawless pleasure I have rov'd,
“Nor ever once enquir'd Amanda's fate,
“Nor cast one thought upon her dubious state.
“Lewd dissipation, and the noisy roar
“Of pleasure all reflection's pow'rs confin'd.
“—And oh Pastorus! would thy moral lore,
“Thy virtuous converse, sentimental mind,
“Had early been familiar to my heart!
“Then had not conscience felt this scorpion dart.
“Of pleasure all reflection's pow'rs confin'd.
“—And oh Pastorus! would thy moral lore,
“Thy virtuous converse, sentimental mind,
“Had early been familiar to my heart!
“Then had not conscience felt this scorpion dart.
133
“But while debauchery and riot reigns,
“And dissipation ev'ry hour employs;
“While ribald-jest each sentiment restrains,
And sensibility and sense destroys;
“And decency and cool reflection's flown,
“What wonder vice should seize lost reason's vacant throne?
“And dissipation ev'ry hour employs;
“While ribald-jest each sentiment restrains,
And sensibility and sense destroys;
“And decency and cool reflection's flown,
“What wonder vice should seize lost reason's vacant throne?
‘But ah, my friend! if yet the injur'd fair
“(Oh how the doubt distracts my aching heart!)
“Breathes in this vale of tears the vital air,
“If my repentance can a joy impart,
“(For ah! till then I never can have peace)
“In these repentant arms Amanda's woes shall cease.”
“(Oh how the doubt distracts my aching heart!)
“Breathes in this vale of tears the vital air,
“If my repentance can a joy impart,
“(For ah! till then I never can have peace)
“In these repentant arms Amanda's woes shall cease.”
No more he said, but flew towards the steed.
As when some stag, by Arethusa's side,
Slacks his fierce thirst, or grazes void of heed,
If chance by Dian and her nymphs espied,
By clamorous horns alarm'd, he, starting, flies,
Speed in his pace, and anguish in his eyes;
As when some stag, by Arethusa's side,
Slacks his fierce thirst, or grazes void of heed,
If chance by Dian and her nymphs espied,
By clamorous horns alarm'd, he, starting, flies,
Speed in his pace, and anguish in his eyes;
134
O'er myrtle hedge, briars, brakes, unprinted meads,
Vaulting, he flies, each vig'rous nerve he strains;
At ev'ry bound the less'ning stream recedes,
At ev'ry bound back fly the less'ning plains
So Damon look'd, and such his trackless speed
As swift he darted tow'rds his generous steed.
Vaulting, he flies, each vig'rous nerve he strains;
At ev'ry bound the less'ning stream recedes,
At ev'ry bound back fly the less'ning plains
So Damon look'd, and such his trackless speed
As swift he darted tow'rds his generous steed.
| Poems on Various Subjects | |