 | Miscellaneous poems and translations |  |
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THE MAGIC LANTERN,
Translated from the Latin of Mr. Titley.
I sing the Forms which magic Pow'rs impart,
The thin Creation of delusive Art,
And thro' the ambient Gloom bright Shapes display
Hid from the Sun, nor conscious of the Day.
The thin Creation of delusive Art,
And thro' the ambient Gloom bright Shapes display
Hid from the Sun, nor conscious of the Day.
Expand the sportive Scene, the Lantern show,
No gleam of Day must thro' the Darkness glow;
The fleeting Forms abhor the envious Light,
Love the brown Shade, and only live by Night.
Darkling and silent in her lonely Cell,
The Sorceress thus exerts her mystic Spell,
Calls forth the Spectres, and unpeoples Hell;
But when the Morn unfolds her purple Ray,
Start the pale Ghosts, and fly approaching Day.
No gleam of Day must thro' the Darkness glow;
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Love the brown Shade, and only live by Night.
Darkling and silent in her lonely Cell,
The Sorceress thus exerts her mystic Spell,
Calls forth the Spectres, and unpeoples Hell;
But when the Morn unfolds her purple Ray,
Start the pale Ghosts, and fly approaching Day.
See thro' the Gloom the fiery Splendor fall;
Glares the red Lens around the dusky Wall;
'Tis thus the sanguine Ray of Cynthia streams,
When magic Spells obstruct her lab'ring Beams,
And shiv'ring Ghosts from Earth's reluctant Womb
Forc'd by Thessalian Charms glide round the gaping Tomb.
Glares the red Lens around the dusky Wall;
'Tis thus the sanguine Ray of Cynthia streams,
When magic Spells obstruct her lab'ring Beams,
And shiv'ring Ghosts from Earth's reluctant Womb
Forc'd by Thessalian Charms glide round the gaping Tomb.
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Of various Forms an incoherent Train
Fills the bright Orb, and crowds the pictur'd Plain;
Here with rude Pomp the Satire Shapes advance,
Frisk with their Tails, and lead the sylvan Dance;
A dread Grimace does ev'ry Look defile,
And each grins horribly a ghastly Smile;
No more my Eyes the uncouth Scene pursue,
A lovelier Prospect rises to my View;
Here sceptred Monarchs glare in bright Array,
There blooming Maids in beauteous Lustre play.
Fills the bright Orb, and crowds the pictur'd Plain;
Here with rude Pomp the Satire Shapes advance,
Frisk with their Tails, and lead the sylvan Dance;
A dread Grimace does ev'ry Look defile,
And each grins horribly a ghastly Smile;
No more my Eyes the uncouth Scene pursue,
A lovelier Prospect rises to my View;
Here sceptred Monarchs glare in bright Array,
There blooming Maids in beauteous Lustre play.
Next these the Knight who lends vindictive Aid;
What Shape more worthy to succeed the Maid?
In hostile Mood the warrior Wights appear,
Fierce at the Dragon flies the conqu'ring Spear;
In vain he stands uprear'd in waving Spires,
In vain his Tongue emits envenom'd Fires,
See where his flaming Crest is doom'd to feel
An Arm victorious and resistless Steel.
Blest Champion! but how soon the Conquest flies,
How soon the transient Pomp eludes our Eyes!
To the thin Air the fading Warriors yield,
And glide reluctant from the painted Field.
What Shape more worthy to succeed the Maid?
In hostile Mood the warrior Wights appear,
Fierce at the Dragon flies the conqu'ring Spear;
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In vain his Tongue emits envenom'd Fires,
See where his flaming Crest is doom'd to feel
An Arm victorious and resistless Steel.
Blest Champion! but how soon the Conquest flies,
How soon the transient Pomp eludes our Eyes!
To the thin Air the fading Warriors yield,
And glide reluctant from the painted Field.
Far hence ye Forms of War—see Bacchus shine,
His rosy Cheeks proclaim the God of Wine,
And round his Head the purple Clusters twine.
How soon the airy Shade our Hopes destroys!
So fleets the golden Dream of human Joys.
His rosy Cheeks proclaim the God of Wine,
And round his Head the purple Clusters twine.
How soon the airy Shade our Hopes destroys!
So fleets the golden Dream of human Joys.
Next Grins a Form of pallid Horror-full,
Emblem of dreary Death a lifeless Scull,
The naked Cheeks no graceful Beauties wear,
The barren Scalp's despoil'd of waving Hair;
A tott'ring Tooth the fractur'd Jaws between
Hangs dismally alone; no Eyes are seen,
But all's a dark Vacuity within.
Emblem of dreary Death a lifeless Scull,
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The barren Scalp's despoil'd of waving Hair;
A tott'ring Tooth the fractur'd Jaws between
Hangs dismally alone; no Eyes are seen,
But all's a dark Vacuity within.
Soon from our Sight Death's frightful image Flies,
Whose place a Shape more terrible Supplies;
Slow thro' the Darkness stalks a baleful Spright,
No drearier Phantom of illfated Night
Haunts the sad Slumbers of some lonely Dame,
That nods delirious o'er th'expiring Flame;
When dimly blew the conscious Lamps appear,
And clank of Chains proclaims the Spectre near
Down from its Head the mournful Shroud depends,
Beneath its Feet the plaited Garment ends,
The ghastly Face a dismal Paleness wears,
The trembling Hand a livid Taper bears.
Far off advis'd ye tim'rous Virgins fly,
Far from the dreadful Scene avert your Eye,
In soft Repose the horrid Ghost will seem
To haunt your Slumbers, and revive in Dream;
Suffus'd with trickling Sweat you'll strive in vain
With circling Arms some friendly Youth to gain,
Bewail your lonely Bed with wild Affright,
And dread the lengthen'd Horrors of the Night.
Whose place a Shape more terrible Supplies;
Slow thro' the Darkness stalks a baleful Spright,
No drearier Phantom of illfated Night
Haunts the sad Slumbers of some lonely Dame,
That nods delirious o'er th'expiring Flame;
When dimly blew the conscious Lamps appear,
And clank of Chains proclaims the Spectre near
Down from its Head the mournful Shroud depends,
Beneath its Feet the plaited Garment ends,
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The trembling Hand a livid Taper bears.
Far off advis'd ye tim'rous Virgins fly,
Far from the dreadful Scene avert your Eye,
In soft Repose the horrid Ghost will seem
To haunt your Slumbers, and revive in Dream;
Suffus'd with trickling Sweat you'll strive in vain
With circling Arms some friendly Youth to gain,
Bewail your lonely Bed with wild Affright,
And dread the lengthen'd Horrors of the Night.
Such are the Forms the crowded Prospect shows,
But if too far the long Reflection glows,
Round the bright Orb a dim Confusion plays,
And a wild Mass of undistinguish'd Rays.
So tinctur'd Canvas rude in ev'ry Part,
Shows the first Traces of the Pencil's Art;
Scarce can our Eyes discern the dubious Plan,
And gain some faint Resemblance of a Man.
But if too far the long Reflection glows,
Round the bright Orb a dim Confusion plays,
And a wild Mass of undistinguish'd Rays.
So tinctur'd Canvas rude in ev'ry Part,
Shows the first Traces of the Pencil's Art;
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And gain some faint Resemblance of a Man.
Now let the Splendor of returning Light
Strike thro' the artificial Shades of Night;
Lo the strong Flame the airy Phantoms shun,
Fade in the Blaze, and die before the Sun.
Thus when the Limbs recline in soft Repose,
With various Forms the wakeful Fancy glows,
Men, Beasts and Birds, an unconnected Train
Compose the motly Vision of the Brain;
Here in long order Fun'ral Torches gleam,
There royal Triumphs gild the pompous Dream.
When lo the purple Blush of Morning Light
From th'op'ning Eye dispels the Shades of Night,
The brighten'd Scenes their usual Aspect wear,
And the false Dream dissolves in shapeless Air.
Strike thro' the artificial Shades of Night;
Lo the strong Flame the airy Phantoms shun,
Fade in the Blaze, and die before the Sun.
Thus when the Limbs recline in soft Repose,
With various Forms the wakeful Fancy glows,
Men, Beasts and Birds, an unconnected Train
Compose the motly Vision of the Brain;
Here in long order Fun'ral Torches gleam,
There royal Triumphs gild the pompous Dream.
When lo the purple Blush of Morning Light
From th'op'ning Eye dispels the Shades of Night,
The brighten'd Scenes their usual Aspect wear,
And the false Dream dissolves in shapeless Air.
| Miscellaneous poems and translations | |