The Poetical Works of William Julius Mickle including several original pieces, with a new life of the author. By the Rev. John Sim |
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 | The Poetical Works of William Julius Mickle |  |
ODES.
KNOWLEDGE:
AN ODE.
Ducit in errorem variorum ambage viarum.
—OVID.
High on a hill's green bosom laid,
At ease, my careless fancy stray'd,
And o'er the landscape ran:
Reviv'd, what scenes the seasons shew;
And weigh'd, what share of joy or woe
Is doom'd to toiling man.
At ease, my careless fancy stray'd,
And o'er the landscape ran:
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And weigh'd, what share of joy or woe
Is doom'd to toiling man.
The nibbling flocks around me bleat;
The oxen low beneath my feet,
Along the clover'd dale;
The golden sheaves the reapers bind,
The ploughman whistles near behind,
And breaks the new mown vale.
The oxen low beneath my feet,
Along the clover'd dale;
The golden sheaves the reapers bind,
The ploughman whistles near behind,
And breaks the new mown vale.
“Hail, Knowledge, gift of heaven!” I cried,
“Ev'n all the gifts of heaven beside,
“Compared to thee, how low!
“The blessings of the earth, and air
“The beasts of fold and forest share,
“But godlike beings know.
“Ev'n all the gifts of heaven beside,
“Compared to thee, how low!
“The blessings of the earth, and air
“The beasts of fold and forest share,
“But godlike beings know.
“How mean the short-liv'd joys of sense;
“But how sublime the excellence
“Of wisdom's sacred lore!
“In death's deep shades what nations lie,
“Yet still can wisdom's piercing eye
“Their mighty deeds explore.
“But how sublime the excellence
“Of wisdom's sacred lore!
“In death's deep shades what nations lie,
“Yet still can wisdom's piercing eye
“Their mighty deeds explore.
“She sees the little Spartan band,
“With great Leonidas, withstand
“The Asian world in arms;
“She hears the heav'nly sounds that hung
“On Homer's and on Plato's tongue,
“And glows at Tully's charms.
“With great Leonidas, withstand
“The Asian world in arms;
“She hears the heav'nly sounds that hung
“On Homer's and on Plato's tongue,
“And glows at Tully's charms.
“The wonders of the spacious sky,
“She penetrates with Newton's eye,
“And marks the planets roll:
“The human mind with Locke she scans;
“With Cambray, virtue's fame she fans,
“And lifts to heaven the soul.
“She penetrates with Newton's eye,
“And marks the planets roll:
“The human mind with Locke she scans;
“With Cambray, virtue's fame she fans,
“And lifts to heaven the soul.
“How matter takes ten thousand forms
“Of metals, plants, of men and worms,
“She joys to trace with Boyle,
“This life she deems an infant state,
“A gleam, that bodes a life complete,
“Beyond this mortal toil.
“Of metals, plants, of men and worms,
“She joys to trace with Boyle,
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“A gleam, that bodes a life complete,
“Beyond this mortal toil.
“What numerous ills in life befal!
“Yet wisdom learns to scorn them all,
“And arms the breast with steel:
“Ev'n death's pale face no horror wears;
“But ah! what horrid pangs and fears
“Unknowing wretches feel!
“Yet wisdom learns to scorn them all,
“And arms the breast with steel:
“Ev'n death's pale face no horror wears;
“But ah! what horrid pangs and fears
“Unknowing wretches feel!
“That breast excels proud Ophir's mines,
“And fairer than the morning shines,
“Where wisdom's treasures glow:
“But ah! how void yon peasant's mind,
“His thoughts how darken'd and confin'd,
“Nor cares he more to know.
“And fairer than the morning shines,
“Where wisdom's treasures glow:
“But ah! how void yon peasant's mind,
“His thoughts how darken'd and confin'd,
“Nor cares he more to know.
“The last two tenants of the ground,
“Of ancient times his history bound;
“Alas! it scarce goes higher:
“In vain to him is Maro's strain,
“And Shakespeare's magic powers in vain;
“In vain is Milton's fire.
“Of ancient times his history bound;
“Alas! it scarce goes higher:
“In vain to him is Maro's strain,
“And Shakespeare's magic powers in vain;
“In vain is Milton's fire.
“Nor sun by day, nor stars by night,
“Can give his soul the grand delight
“To trace Almighty power:
“His team thinks just as much as he
“Of nature's vast variety,
“In animal and flower.”
“Can give his soul the grand delight
“To trace Almighty power:
“His team thinks just as much as he
“Of nature's vast variety,
“In animal and flower.”
As thus I sung, a solemn sound
Accosts mine ear; I look'd around,
And lo! an ancient sage,
Hard by an ivy'd oak stood near,
That fenc'd the cave, where many a year
Had been his hermitage.
Accosts mine ear; I look'd around,
And lo! an ancient sage,
Hard by an ivy'd oak stood near,
That fenc'd the cave, where many a year
Had been his hermitage.
His mantle grey flow'd loose behind,
His snowy beard wav'd to the wind,
And added solemn grace;
His broad bald front gave dignity,
Attention mark'd his lively eye,
And peace smil'd in his face.
His snowy beard wav'd to the wind,
And added solemn grace;
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Attention mark'd his lively eye,
And peace smil'd in his face.
He beckon'd with his wrinkl'd hand;
My ear was all at his command,
And thus the sage began:
“Godlike it is to know, I own;
“But oh! how little can be known,
“By poor short-sighted man.
My ear was all at his command,
And thus the sage began:
“Godlike it is to know, I own;
“But oh! how little can be known,
“By poor short-sighted man.
“Go, mark the schools where letter'd pride,
“And star-crown'd science boastful guide,
“Display their fairest light;
“There, led by some pale meteor's ray,
“That leaves them oft, the sages stray,
“And grope in endless night.
“And star-crown'd science boastful guide,
“Display their fairest light;
“There, led by some pale meteor's ray,
“That leaves them oft, the sages stray,
“And grope in endless night.
“Of wisdom proud, yon sage exclaims,
“Virtue and vice are merely names,
“And changing every hour;
“Ashley! how loud in virtue's praise!
“Yet Ashley with a kiss betrays,
“And strips her of her dower.
“Virtue and vice are merely names,
“And changing every hour;
“Ashley! how loud in virtue's praise!
“Yet Ashley with a kiss betrays,
“And strips her of her dower.
“Hark, Bolingbroke his God arraigns;
“Hobbes smiles on vice; Descartes maintains
“A godless passive cause:
“See Bayle, oft slily shifting round,
“Would fondly fix on sceptic ground,
“And change, O Truth, thy laws.
“Hobbes smiles on vice; Descartes maintains
“A godless passive cause:
“See Bayle, oft slily shifting round,
“Would fondly fix on sceptic ground,
“And change, O Truth, thy laws.
“And, What the joy this lore bestows?
“Alas, no joy, no hope it knows
“Above what bestials claim:
“To quench our noblest native fire,
“That bids to nobler worlds aspire,
“Is all its hope, its aim.
“Alas, no joy, no hope it knows
“Above what bestials claim:
“To quench our noblest native fire,
“That bids to nobler worlds aspire,
“Is all its hope, its aim.
“Not Afric's wilds, nor Babel's waste,
“Where ignorance her tents hath plac'd,
“More dismal scenes display:
“A scene where virtue sickening dies,
“Where vice to dark extinction flies,
“And spurns the future day.
“Where ignorance her tents hath plac'd,
“More dismal scenes display:
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“Where vice to dark extinction flies,
“And spurns the future day.
“Wisdom, you boast, to you is given;
“At night then mark the fires of heaven,
“And let thy mind explore;
“Swift as the lightning let it fly
“From star to star, from sky to sky,
“Still, still are millions more.
“At night then mark the fires of heaven,
“And let thy mind explore;
“Swift as the lightning let it fly
“From star to star, from sky to sky,
“Still, still are millions more.
“Th'immense ideas strike the soul
“With pleasing horror, and control
“Thy wisdom's empty boast:
“What are they!—Thou canst never say:
“Then silent adoration pay,
“And be in wonder lost.
“With pleasing horror, and control
“Thy wisdom's empty boast:
“What are they!—Thou canst never say:
“Then silent adoration pay,
“And be in wonder lost.
“Say, How the self-same roots produce
“The wholesome food and poisonous juice;
“And adders, balsams yield?
“How fierce the lurking tyger glares,
“How mild the heifer with thee shares
“The labours of the field?
“The wholesome food and poisonous juice;
“And adders, balsams yield?
“How fierce the lurking tyger glares,
“How mild the heifer with thee shares
“The labours of the field?
“Why, growling to his den, retires
“The sullen pard, while joy inspires
“Yon happy sportive lambs?
“Now scatter'd o'er the hill they stray;
“Now weary of their gambling play,
“All single out their dams.
“The sullen pard, while joy inspires
“Yon happy sportive lambs?
“Now scatter'd o'er the hill they stray;
“Now weary of their gambling play,
“All single out their dams.
“Instinct directs—But what is that?
“Fond man, thou never canst say what:
“Oh, short thy searches fall!
“By stumbling chance, and slow degrees,
“The useful arts of men increase,
“But this at once is all.
“Fond man, thou never canst say what:
“Oh, short thy searches fall!
“By stumbling chance, and slow degrees,
“The useful arts of men increase,
“But this at once is all.
“A trunk first floats along the deep,
“Long ages still improve the ship,
“Till she commands the shore;
“But never bird improv'd her nest,
“Each all at once of powers possest,
“Which ne'er can rise to more.
“Long ages still improve the ship,
“Till she commands the shore;
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“Each all at once of powers possest,
“Which ne'er can rise to more.
“That down the steep the waters flow,
“That weight descends, we see, we know,
“But why, can ne'er explain:
“Then humbly weighing nature's laws,
“To God's high will ascribe the cause,
“And own thy wisdom vain.
“That weight descends, we see, we know,
“But why, can ne'er explain:
“Then humbly weighing nature's laws,
“To God's high will ascribe the cause,
“And own thy wisdom vain.
“For still the more thou knowest, the more
“Shalt thou the vanity deplore
“Of all thy soul can find.
“This life a sickly woeful dream,
“A burial of the soul will seem,
“A palsy of the mind.
“Shalt thou the vanity deplore
“Of all thy soul can find.
“This life a sickly woeful dream,
“A burial of the soul will seem,
“A palsy of the mind.
“Tho' knowledge scorns the peasant's fear,
“Alas, it points the secret spear
“Of many a nameless woe.
“Thy delicacy dips the dart
“In rankling gall, and gives a smart
“Beyond what he can know.
“Alas, it points the secret spear
“Of many a nameless woe.
“Thy delicacy dips the dart
“In rankling gall, and gives a smart
“Beyond what he can know.
“How happy then the simple mind
“Of yon unknown, and labouring hind,
“Where all is smiling peace!
“No thoughts of more exalted joy
“His present bliss one hour destroy,
“Nor rob one moment's ease.
“Of yon unknown, and labouring hind,
“Where all is smiling peace!
“No thoughts of more exalted joy
“His present bliss one hour destroy,
“Nor rob one moment's ease.
“The stings neglected merit feels,
“The pangs the virtuous man conceals,
“When crush'd by wayward fate;
“These are not found beneath his roof,
“Against them all securely proof,
“Heaven guards his humble state.
“The pangs the virtuous man conceals,
“When crush'd by wayward fate;
“These are not found beneath his roof,
“Against them all securely proof,
“Heaven guards his humble state.
“Knowledge or wealth to few are given,
“But mark, how just, the ways of heaven;
“True joy to all is free;
“Nor wealth, nor knowledge grant the boon;
“'Tis thine, O conscience, thine alone,
“It all belongs to thee.
“But mark, how just, the ways of heaven;
“True joy to all is free;
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“'Tis thine, O conscience, thine alone,
“It all belongs to thee.
“Blest in thy smiles the shepherd lives;
“Gay is his morn; his evening gives
“Content and sweet repose:
“Without them—ever, ever cloy'd,
“To sage or chief, one weary void
“Is all that life bestows.
“Gay is his morn; his evening gives
“Content and sweet repose:
“Without them—ever, ever cloy'd,
“To sage or chief, one weary void
“Is all that life bestows.
“Then would'st thou, mortal, rise divine,
“Let innocence of soul be thine,
“With active goodness join'd:
“My heart shall then confess thee blest,
“And, ever lively, joyful taste
“The pleasures of the mind.”
“Let innocence of soul be thine,
“With active goodness join'd:
“My heart shall then confess thee blest,
“And, ever lively, joyful taste
“The pleasures of the mind.”
So spake the sage—My heart reply'd,
“How poor, how blind, is human pride;
“All joy how false and vain;
“But that from conscious worth which flows,
“Which gives the death-bed sweet repose,
“And hopes an after reign!”
“How poor, how blind, is human pride;
“All joy how false and vain;
“But that from conscious worth which flows,
“Which gives the death-bed sweet repose,
“And hopes an after reign!”
MAY-DAY;
OR, THE DRUIDICAL FESTIVAL: AN ODE.
“Awake, my sons, the milky dawn
“Steals softly gleaming o'er the eastern lawn:
“Already from their oaken bowers,
“Scattering magic herbs and flowers,
“That scent the morning gale,
“With white and purple blossoms crown'd,
“From every hill and dell around,
“The Druids hasten to the sacred vale.”
“Steals softly gleaming o'er the eastern lawn:
“Already from their oaken bowers,
“Scattering magic herbs and flowers,
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“With white and purple blossoms crown'd,
“From every hill and dell around,
“The Druids hasten to the sacred vale.”
'Twas thus the hoary Cadwell rais'd the strain;
Cadwell, the master of the lyric band,
The sacred Bards, who join'd the Druid's train,
When solemn feasts their hallow'd rites demand.
Cadwell, the master of the lyric band,
The sacred Bards, who join'd the Druid's train,
When solemn feasts their hallow'd rites demand.
“Awake, my sons,” he cried, and struck his lyre:
When swelling down old Snowdon's side,
A thousand harps the note reply'd:
And soon a thousand white-robed bards
March'd round their hoary sire.
The birds of song in every grove
Awoke, and rais'd the strain of love;
The lark sprung joyous from his grassy nest,
And fluttering round, their powers confest,
And join'd the tuneful choir.
When swelling down old Snowdon's side,
A thousand harps the note reply'd:
And soon a thousand white-robed bards
March'd round their hoary sire.
The birds of song in every grove
Awoke, and rais'd the strain of love;
The lark sprung joyous from his grassy nest,
And fluttering round, their powers confest,
And join'd the tuneful choir.
And now the mutter'd spell
Groan'd solemn to the sky:
And soon the dark dispersing shades
And night's foul demons with the twilight fly:
And soon the bleating race the fold forsook,
And o'er the thyme-clad mountain hoar with dew,
And o'er the willow-shaded brook
The floating mists withdrew.
Groan'd solemn to the sky:
And soon the dark dispersing shades
And night's foul demons with the twilight fly:
And soon the bleating race the fold forsook,
And o'er the thyme-clad mountain hoar with dew,
And o'er the willow-shaded brook
The floating mists withdrew.
When hastening to the sacred grove,
With white and purple blossoms crown'd,
Their mystic staves with wreaths of oak enwove,
The choral bands their sovereign chief surround.
With white and purple blossoms crown'd,
Their mystic staves with wreaths of oak enwove,
The choral bands their sovereign chief surround.
'Twas thus while yet Monaeses liv'd,
While hoary Cadwell yet surviv'd,
Their solemn feasts the blameless Druids held:
Ere human blood their shrines distain'd,
Ere hell-taught rites their lore profan'd,
'Twas thus o'er Snowdon's brow their sacred anthems swell'd.
While hoary Cadwell yet surviv'd,
Their solemn feasts the blameless Druids held:
Ere human blood their shrines distain'd,
Ere hell-taught rites their lore profan'd,
'Twas thus o'er Snowdon's brow their sacred anthems swell'd.
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Their chief, Monaeses, march'd before;
Monaeses, sprung from Heber's line,
Who leaving Midian's fertile shore,
When scepter'd Belus challeng'd rites divine;
When tyranny his native fields defa'cd,
Far to the peaceful west
His kindred led—Phœnicia spread the sail,
'Till where the groves of Albion rise,
Where Snowdon's front ascends the skies,
He bade his mates their happy mansions hail.
Monaeses, sprung from Heber's line,
Who leaving Midian's fertile shore,
When scepter'd Belus challeng'd rites divine;
When tyranny his native fields defa'cd,
Far to the peaceful west
His kindred led—Phœnicia spread the sail,
'Till where the groves of Albion rise,
Where Snowdon's front ascends the skies,
He bade his mates their happy mansions hail.
And now the sacred Morn appears,
That through the depth of rolling years
To celebrate creation claims the lay;
The Morn that gave the heavens their birth,
That saw the green, the beauteous earth
All blooming rise beneath the smiles of May.
That through the depth of rolling years
To celebrate creation claims the lay;
The Morn that gave the heavens their birth,
That saw the green, the beauteous earth
All blooming rise beneath the smiles of May.
“Then loud the hallow'd anthem raise,
“And bid the mountain-summits blaze”—
The hallow'd song the Bards and Druids rais'd,
Glad echo caught the sound,
And on the mountain-tops far round,
The sacred altars blaz'd .
“And bid the mountain-summits blaze”—
The hallow'd song the Bards and Druids rais'd,
Glad echo caught the sound,
And on the mountain-tops far round,
The sacred altars blaz'd .
“And, hail, auspicious Morn!
“Still may the lively pulse of joy
“Confess thy glad return;
“Still may the harp and song employ
“The sacred hour when first thy trembling beams
“The nodding groves and purling streams,
“And shady grots adorn.”
“Still may the lively pulse of joy
“Confess thy glad return;
“Still may the harp and song employ
“The sacred hour when first thy trembling beams
“The nodding groves and purling streams,
“And shady grots adorn.”
'Twas thus the hoary Druids rais'd the song,
While by the sacred hill and grove,
Where misletoe the oaks enwove,
All clad in snowy white, august, they march'd along.
While by the sacred hill and grove,
Where misletoe the oaks enwove,
All clad in snowy white, august, they march'd along.
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The fawns came trooping o'er the furrow'd land,
On Snowdon's cliffs the kids attentive stand,
While to Creation's Morn, the opening May,
The Master Druid thus resum'd the lay:
“Awake, ye gales, your fragrance shed;
“Ye mountain cedars, bend the head;
“Ye clouds of incense, from Arabia rise;
“Balmy, as after vernal rains,
“Display, fair East, thy beauteous plains,
“As one great altar fuming to the skies!
“'Tis nature's birth demands the lay,
“Ye western isles, the grateful tribute pay;
“Ye flocks, that clothe with fleecy white
“The steep ascending mountain's height,
“Or round the hamlet bleat along the lea,
“Your voices raise;—ye heifers, low,
“And from the furzy dells below,
“Ye falling riv'lets, swell the harmony!
On Snowdon's cliffs the kids attentive stand,
While to Creation's Morn, the opening May,
The Master Druid thus resum'd the lay:
“Awake, ye gales, your fragrance shed;
“Ye mountain cedars, bend the head;
“Ye clouds of incense, from Arabia rise;
“Balmy, as after vernal rains,
“Display, fair East, thy beauteous plains,
“As one great altar fuming to the skies!
“'Tis nature's birth demands the lay,
“Ye western isles, the grateful tribute pay;
“Ye flocks, that clothe with fleecy white
“The steep ascending mountain's height,
“Or round the hamlet bleat along the lea,
“Your voices raise;—ye heifers, low,
“And from the furzy dells below,
“Ye falling riv'lets, swell the harmony!
“Retain, ye hills, the solemn sound,
“Till Echo thro' her fairy round
“Repeat it to the silent list'ning vale;
“Raise, raise, ye Bards, the melody,
“Wide spread the hands, low bend the knee,
“And on Creation's Morn the great Creator hail!”
“Till Echo thro' her fairy round
“Repeat it to the silent list'ning vale;
“Raise, raise, ye Bards, the melody,
“Wide spread the hands, low bend the knee,
“And on Creation's Morn the great Creator hail!”
“Attend,” they sung, “ye aërial bands—
“O from the blood polluted East,
“Hither, ye guardian spirits, haste!
“Here each flower of fragrant smell,
“Each plant that aids the Druid's spell
“Your fostering care demands.
“O from the blood polluted East,
“Hither, ye guardian spirits, haste!
“Here each flower of fragrant smell,
“Each plant that aids the Druid's spell
“Your fostering care demands.
“For you the blossom'd boughs embower
“The craggy glittering steep,
“Along whose rifts the cowslips creep,
“And dashing fountains pour:
“For you the sweet-briar clothes the bank,
“For you, along the bordering mead,
“The white and yellow flowers that love the dank,
“Their watery carpets spread.
“The craggy glittering steep,
“Along whose rifts the cowslips creep,
“And dashing fountains pour:
“For you the sweet-briar clothes the bank,
“For you, along the bordering mead,
“The white and yellow flowers that love the dank,
“Their watery carpets spread.
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“O come, propitious, and our rites befriend,
“Till o'er the nodding towers the silent night descend!
“O join the song, and far shall fly
“Each demon, who beneath the midnight sky,
“Rides on the screech-owl's wing, and far around
“Scatters disease, and strife, and friendship's rankling wound.
“Till o'er the nodding towers the silent night descend!
“O join the song, and far shall fly
“Each demon, who beneath the midnight sky,
“Rides on the screech-owl's wing, and far around
“Scatters disease, and strife, and friendship's rankling wound.
“Then happy o'er our blissful bowers,
“Here shall the peaceful day decline,
“While fled from scenes of blood and woe,
Th'aërial friendly powers
“In every stream's melodious flow,
“In ev'ry concert of the grove shall join,
“Shall lightly touch the shadowy lyre,
“While with the dawn our joyous choir
“Renew the holy rites from heaven receiv'd,
“When with the sons of God our godlike fathers liv'd.
“Here shall the peaceful day decline,
“While fled from scenes of blood and woe,
Th'aërial friendly powers
“In every stream's melodious flow,
“In ev'ry concert of the grove shall join,
“Shall lightly touch the shadowy lyre,
“While with the dawn our joyous choir
“Renew the holy rites from heaven receiv'd,
“When with the sons of God our godlike fathers liv'd.
“Wave, my sons, the misletoe;
“Wave the sacred branch on high:
“Round our steps the spring-flowers strew,
“Flowers of bright and cheerful dye,
“Symbols of untainted youth,
“Of glowing love and holy truth.
“Wave the sacred branch on high:
“Round our steps the spring-flowers strew,
“Flowers of bright and cheerful dye,
“Symbols of untainted youth,
“Of glowing love and holy truth.
“Strew, my sons, the mystic grove.”
He spake—and instant round they spread
Chaplets, where the yellow hue
Was mix'd with flowers of lively blue,
Where snow-white lilies with the blossoms red,
The apple boughs enwove.
He spake—and instant round they spread
Chaplets, where the yellow hue
Was mix'd with flowers of lively blue,
Where snow-white lilies with the blossoms red,
The apple boughs enwove.
“All hail, ye venerable shades!”
Thus rose the hallow'd strain,
“Ye cloudy steeps, and winding glades,
“All hail! and by your silver rills,
“Your rosy dells, and thymy hills
“Shall lasting freedom reign.”
Thus rose the hallow'd strain,
“Ye cloudy steeps, and winding glades,
“All hail! and by your silver rills,
“Your rosy dells, and thymy hills
“Shall lasting freedom reign.”
May-day by the Druids, according to Dr. Stukeley, was observed as the day of the creation; and on that morn they kindled what they called holy fires on the tops of the mountains.
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VICISSITUDE:
AN ODE.
—Rapt in thought, that bids thee rise
In all thy forms before mine eyes,
I glow with joy to see thee come
In rosy health and youthful bloom:
And now, cold horror trembles o'er my soul,
When thou in blank uncertainty array'd,
With iron-hearted deaf control
Throw'st all around thy awful, dubious shade.
In all thy forms before mine eyes,
I glow with joy to see thee come
In rosy health and youthful bloom:
And now, cold horror trembles o'er my soul,
When thou in blank uncertainty array'd,
With iron-hearted deaf control
Throw'st all around thy awful, dubious shade.
Oh, give my song, mysterious power,
The joys and terrors of thy sway to tell,
Thy sway o'er universal nature spread,
The sweetest hope of man, and darkest dread!
Behold, where shivering in the rattling hail,
While drizzling black clouds o'er him lower,
Bent o'er his staff, with livid visage fell,
Dull Winter stays his creeping step to pause,
And wishful turns his icy eyes
On April's meads. Beck'ning on flowery May,
With gentle shadowy hand thou mov'st away
The lingering churl. Swift o'er the primrose dale
The new-wak'd bee his humming labour plies;
And sudden from each budding grove,
Incense to heaven, the songs of love
Attest rejoicing nature's glad applause.
The joys and terrors of thy sway to tell,
Thy sway o'er universal nature spread,
The sweetest hope of man, and darkest dread!
Behold, where shivering in the rattling hail,
While drizzling black clouds o'er him lower,
Bent o'er his staff, with livid visage fell,
Dull Winter stays his creeping step to pause,
And wishful turns his icy eyes
On April's meads. Beck'ning on flowery May,
With gentle shadowy hand thou mov'st away
The lingering churl. Swift o'er the primrose dale
The new-wak'd bee his humming labour plies;
And sudden from each budding grove,
Incense to heaven, the songs of love
Attest rejoicing nature's glad applause.
Glist'ning with dew the green-hair'd Spring
Walks through the woods, and smiling in her train,
Youth flutters gay on cherub wing,
And life exulting lifts the eye to heaven.
And crown'd with bearded grain,
And hay-grass breathing odours bland,
Bold Summer comes in manhood's lusty prime.
Anon his place is given
To veteran Autumn: yellow glows
His waving robe: with conscious mien sublime
He proudly lifts his sun-brown'd brows
High o'er the loaded clime.
For him the full-orb'd moon with orange rays
Gilds mild the night; for him her course delays;
And jolly wealth lies wide beneath his hand.
But soon decrepit age he shews,
And all his golden honours past,
Naked before October's blast,
He flies the plunder'd land.
Walks through the woods, and smiling in her train,
Youth flutters gay on cherub wing,
And life exulting lifts the eye to heaven.
And crown'd with bearded grain,
And hay-grass breathing odours bland,
Bold Summer comes in manhood's lusty prime.
Anon his place is given
To veteran Autumn: yellow glows
His waving robe: with conscious mien sublime
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High o'er the loaded clime.
For him the full-orb'd moon with orange rays
Gilds mild the night; for him her course delays;
And jolly wealth lies wide beneath his hand.
But soon decrepit age he shews,
And all his golden honours past,
Naked before October's blast,
He flies the plunder'd land.
With hoary-bearded cheek and front severe,
Of angry fretful scowl, from forest wild,
Now rheum-eyed Winter hastens to the plain;
The hollow blast low groaning in his ear:
Round his bald head the brown leaves drift amain;
And soon his snowy mantle wide he throws
O'er vale and hill, and isicles he weeps.
The sun withdraws his golden rays,
And short his cold diurnal visit pays
With faint and silvery beam,
As listless to disturb the deep repose,
While languid nature sleeps.
Anon to social mirth beguil'd,
Safe from the tempest breme
That howls without, and beating rain,
The tyrant bids the friendly hearth to blaze;
And with the feats of former days,
Of battles dread, and heroes slain,
And valiant deeds of many a knight,
And loves of ladies passing bright,
The long-contented evening sweet he cheers;
While from his day-sport on the ice-bound stream,
Weary return'd, with wonder and delight,
Unrazor'd youth the various legend hears.
Of angry fretful scowl, from forest wild,
Now rheum-eyed Winter hastens to the plain;
The hollow blast low groaning in his ear:
Round his bald head the brown leaves drift amain;
And soon his snowy mantle wide he throws
O'er vale and hill, and isicles he weeps.
The sun withdraws his golden rays,
And short his cold diurnal visit pays
With faint and silvery beam,
As listless to disturb the deep repose,
While languid nature sleeps.
Anon to social mirth beguil'd,
Safe from the tempest breme
That howls without, and beating rain,
The tyrant bids the friendly hearth to blaze;
And with the feats of former days,
Of battles dread, and heroes slain,
And valiant deeds of many a knight,
And loves of ladies passing bright,
The long-contented evening sweet he cheers;
While from his day-sport on the ice-bound stream,
Weary return'd, with wonder and delight,
Unrazor'd youth the various legend hears.
These are thy grateful changes, mighty power,
Vicissitude! But far more grateful still
When now from nature's frozen sleep profound,
Invigor'd vegetation wakes,
And Spring with primrose garland crown'd,
The seeds of plenty o'er the fuming ground,
From her green mantle shakes.
Vicissitude! But far more grateful still
When now from nature's frozen sleep profound,
Invigor'd vegetation wakes,
And Spring with primrose garland crown'd,
The seeds of plenty o'er the fuming ground,
From her green mantle shakes.
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HENGIST AND MEY:
A BALLAD.
Hæc novimus esse nihil.
In ancient days when Arthur reign'd,
Sir Elmer had no peer;
And no young knight in all the land,
The ladies lov'd so dear.
Sir Elmer had no peer;
And no young knight in all the land,
The ladies lov'd so dear.
His sister Mey, the fairest maid
Of all the virgin train,
Won every heart at Arthur's court;
But all their love was vain.
Of all the virgin train,
Won every heart at Arthur's court;
But all their love was vain.
In vain they lov'd, in vain they vow'd,
Her heart they could not move;
Yet at the ev'ning hour of prayer,
Her mind was lost in love.
Her heart they could not move;
Yet at the ev'ning hour of prayer,
Her mind was lost in love.
The Abbess saw—the Abbess knew,
And urged her to explain;
“O name the gentle youth to me,
“And his consent I'll gain.”
And urged her to explain;
“O name the gentle youth to me,
“And his consent I'll gain.”
Long urg'd, long tir'd, fair Mey reply'd,
“His name—how can I say?
“An angel from the fields above
“Has rapt my heart away.
“His name—how can I say?
“An angel from the fields above
“Has rapt my heart away.
“But once, alas! and never more,
“His lovely form I spied;
“One evening by the sounding shore,
“All by the green wood side.
“His lovely form I spied;
“One evening by the sounding shore,
“All by the green wood side.
“His eyes to mine the love confest,
“That glow'd with mildest grace;
“His courtly mien and purple vest,
“Bespoke his princely race.
“That glow'd with mildest grace;
“His courtly mien and purple vest,
“Bespoke his princely race.
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“But when he heard my brother's horn,
“Fast to his ships he fled;
“Yet while I sleep, his graceful form,
“Still hovers round my bed.
“Fast to his ships he fled;
“Yet while I sleep, his graceful form,
“Still hovers round my bed.
“Sometimes, all clad in armour bright,
“He shakes a warlike lance;
“And now, in courtly garments dight,
“He leads the sprightly dance.
“He shakes a warlike lance;
“And now, in courtly garments dight,
“He leads the sprightly dance.
“His hair, as black as raven's wing;
“His skin—as Christmas snow;
“His cheeks outvie the blush of morn,
“His lips like rose-buds glow.
“His skin—as Christmas snow;
“His cheeks outvie the blush of morn,
“His lips like rose-buds glow.
“His limbs, his arms, his stature, shap'd
“By nature's finest hand;
“His sparkling eyes declare him born
“To love, and to command.”
“By nature's finest hand;
“His sparkling eyes declare him born
“To love, and to command.”
The live-long year fair Mey bemoan'd
Her hopeless pining love:
But when the balmy spring return'd,
And summer cloth'd the grove;
Her hopeless pining love:
But when the balmy spring return'd,
And summer cloth'd the grove;
All round by pleasant Humber's side,
The Saxon banners flew,
And to Sir Elmer's castle gates,
The spear-men came in view.
The Saxon banners flew,
And to Sir Elmer's castle gates,
The spear-men came in view.
Fair blush'd the morn, when Mey look'd o'er
The castle walls so sheen;
And lo! the warlike Saxon youth
Were sporting on the green.
The castle walls so sheen;
And lo! the warlike Saxon youth
Were sporting on the green.
There Hengist, Offa's eldest son,
Lean'd on his burnish'd lance,
And all the armed youth around,
Obey'd his manly glance.
Lean'd on his burnish'd lance,
And all the armed youth around,
Obey'd his manly glance.
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His locks, as black as raven's wing,
Adown his shoulders flow'd;
His cheeks outvy'd the blush of morn,
His lips like rose-buds glow'd.
Adown his shoulders flow'd;
His cheeks outvy'd the blush of morn,
His lips like rose-buds glow'd.
And soon the lovely form of Mey
Has caught his piercing eyes;
He gives the sign, the bands retire,
While big with love he sighs;
Has caught his piercing eyes;
He gives the sign, the bands retire,
While big with love he sighs;
“Oh! thou for whom I dar'd the seas,
“And came with peace or war;
“Oh, by that cross that veils thy breast,
“Relieve thy lover's care!
“And came with peace or war;
“Oh, by that cross that veils thy breast,
“Relieve thy lover's care!
“For thee I'll quit my father's throne;
“With thee the wild's explore;
“Or with thee share the British crown?
“With thee the cross adore.”
“With thee the wild's explore;
“Or with thee share the British crown?
“With thee the cross adore.”
Beneath the timorous virgin blush,
With love's soft warmth she glows;
So blushing through the dews of morn,
Appears the opening rose.
With love's soft warmth she glows;
So blushing through the dews of morn,
Appears the opening rose.
'Twas now the hour of morning pray'r,
When men their sins bewail,
And Elmer heard King Arthur's horn,
Shrill sounding thro' the dale.
When men their sins bewail,
And Elmer heard King Arthur's horn,
Shrill sounding thro' the dale.
The pearly tears, from Mey's bright eyes,
Like April dew-drops fell,
When with a parting dear embrace
Her brother bade farewel.
Like April dew-drops fell,
When with a parting dear embrace
Her brother bade farewel.
The cross with sparkling diamonds bright,
That veil'd her snowy breast,
With prayers to heaven, her lily hands
Have fixt on Elmer's vest.
That veil'd her snowy breast,
With prayers to heaven, her lily hands
Have fixt on Elmer's vest.
Now, with five hundred bowmen true,
He's marched across the plain;
'Till with his gallant yeomandrie
He join'd King Arthur's train.
He's marched across the plain;
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He join'd King Arthur's train.
Full forty thousand Saxon spears
Came glittering down the hill,
And with their shouts, and clang of arms,
The distant valleys fill.
Came glittering down the hill,
And with their shouts, and clang of arms,
The distant valleys fill.
Old Offa, drest in Odin's garb,
Assum'd the hoary God;
And Hengist, like the warlike Thor,
Before the horsemen rode.
Assum'd the hoary God;
And Hengist, like the warlike Thor,
Before the horsemen rode.
With dreadful rage the combat burns,
The captains shout amain;
And Elmer's tall victorious spear
Far glances o'er the plain.
The captains shout amain;
And Elmer's tall victorious spear
Far glances o'er the plain.
To stop its course young Hengist flew
Like light'ning o'er the field;
And soon his eyes the well-known cross
On Elmer's vest beheld.
Like light'ning o'er the field;
And soon his eyes the well-known cross
On Elmer's vest beheld.
The slighted lover swell'd his breast,
His eyes shot living fire;
And all his martial heat before,
To this, was mild desire.
His eyes shot living fire;
And all his martial heat before,
To this, was mild desire.
On his imagin'd rival's front,
With whirlwind speed he prest,
And glancing to the sun, his sword
Resounds on Elmer's crest.
With whirlwind speed he prest,
And glancing to the sun, his sword
Resounds on Elmer's crest.
The foe gave way, the princely youth
With heedless rage pursued,
'Till trembling in his cloven helm,
Sir Elmer's javelin stood.
With heedless rage pursued,
'Till trembling in his cloven helm,
Sir Elmer's javelin stood.
He bow'd his head—slow dropt his spear;
The reins slipt through his hand,
And stain'd with blood—his stately corse
Lay breathless on the strand.
The reins slipt through his hand,
And stain'd with blood—his stately corse
Lay breathless on the strand.
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“O bear me off,” Sir Elmer cried;
“Before my painful sight
“The combat swims—yet Hengist's vest
“I claim as victor's right.”
“Before my painful sight
“The combat swims—yet Hengist's vest
“I claim as victor's right.”
Brave Hengist's fall the Saxons saw,
And all in terror fled;
The bowmen to his castle gates
The brave Sir Elmer led.
And all in terror fled;
The bowmen to his castle gates
The brave Sir Elmer led.
“O wash my wounds, my sister dear;
“O pull this Saxon dart,
“That whizzing from young Hengist's arm
“Has almost pierc'd my heart.
“O pull this Saxon dart,
“That whizzing from young Hengist's arm
“Has almost pierc'd my heart.
“Yet in my hall his vest shall hang,
“And Britons yet unborn,
“Shall with the trophies of to-day
“Their solemn feasts adorn.”
“And Britons yet unborn,
“Shall with the trophies of to-day
“Their solemn feasts adorn.”
All trembling, Mey beheld the vest,
“Oh, Merlin!” loud she cried,
“Thy words are true—my slaughter'd love
“Shall have a breathless bride!
“Oh, Merlin!” loud she cried,
“Thy words are true—my slaughter'd love
“Shall have a breathless bride!
“Oh Elmer, Elmer, boast no more
“That low my Hengist lies!
“O Hengist, cruel was thine arm!
“My brother bleeds and dies!”
“That low my Hengist lies!
“O Hengist, cruel was thine arm!
“My brother bleeds and dies!”
She spake—the roses left her cheeks,
And life's warm spirits fled:
So nipt by winter's withering blasts,
The snow-drop bows the head.
And life's warm spirits fled:
So nipt by winter's withering blasts,
The snow-drop bows the head.
Yet parting life one struggle gave,
She lifts her languid eyes;
“Return my Hengist, oh, return,
“My slaughter'd love,” she cries.
She lifts her languid eyes;
“Return my Hengist, oh, return,
“My slaughter'd love,” she cries.
“Oh—still he lives—he smiles again,
“With all his grace he moves;
“I come—I come where bow nor spear
“Shall more disturb our loves.”
“With all his grace he moves;
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“Shall more disturb our loves.”
She spake—she died. The Saxon dart
Was drawn from Elmer's side,
And thrice he called his sister Mey,
And thrice he groan'd, and died.
Was drawn from Elmer's side,
And thrice he called his sister Mey,
And thrice he groan'd, and died.
Where in the dale, a moss-grown cross
O'ershades an aged thorn,
Sir Elmer's, and young Hengist's corse
Were by the spear-men borne.
O'ershades an aged thorn,
Sir Elmer's, and young Hengist's corse
Were by the spear-men borne.
And there, all clad in robes of white,
With many a sigh and tear,
The village maids to Hengist's grave
Did Mey's fair body bear.
With many a sigh and tear,
The village maids to Hengist's grave
Did Mey's fair body bear.
And there, at dawn and fall of day,
All from the neighbouring groves,
The turtles wail, in widow'd notes,
And sing their hapless loves.
All from the neighbouring groves,
The turtles wail, in widow'd notes,
And sing their hapless loves.
THE PROPHECY OF QUEEN EMMA:
A BALLAD.
O'er the hills of Cheviot beaming
Rose the silver dawn of May;
Hostile spears and helmets gleaming
Swell'd along the mountains gray.
Rose the silver dawn of May;
Hostile spears and helmets gleaming
Swell'd along the mountains gray.
Edwin's warlike horn resounded
Through the winding dales below,
And the echoing hills rebounded
The defiance of the foe.
Through the winding dales below,
And the echoing hills rebounded
The defiance of the foe.
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O'er the downs like torrents pouring
Edwin's horsemen rush'd along,
From the hills like tempests lowering
Slowly march'd stern Edgar's throng.
Edwin's horsemen rush'd along,
From the hills like tempests lowering
Slowly march'd stern Edgar's throng.
Spear to spear was now portended,
And the yew bows half were drawn,
When the female scream ascended,
Shrilling o'er the crowded lawn.
And the yew bows half were drawn,
When the female scream ascended,
Shrilling o'er the crowded lawn.
While her virgins round her weeping
Wav'd aloft their snowy hands,
From the wood Queen Emma shrieking
Ran between the dreadful bands.
Wav'd aloft their snowy hands,
From the wood Queen Emma shrieking
Ran between the dreadful bands.
Oh, my sons, what rage infernal
Bids you grasp th'unhallow'd spear!
Heaven detests the war fraternal;
Oh, the impious strife forbear!
Bids you grasp th'unhallow'd spear!
Heaven detests the war fraternal;
Oh, the impious strife forbear!
Ah, how mild and sweetly tender
Flow'd your peaceful early days!
Each was then of each defender,
Each of each the pride and praise.
Flow'd your peaceful early days!
Each was then of each defender,
Each of each the pride and praise.
O my first-born Edwin, soften,
Nor invade thy brother's right;
O my Edgar, think how often
Edwin dar'd for thee the fight.
Nor invade thy brother's right;
O my Edgar, think how often
Edwin dar'd for thee the fight.
Edgar, shall thy impious fury,
Dare thy guardian to the field!
Oh, my sons, let peace allure ye;
Thy stern claims, O Edwin, yield.
Dare thy guardian to the field!
Oh, my sons, let peace allure ye;
Thy stern claims, O Edwin, yield.
Ha, what sight of horror waving,
Sullen Edgar, clouds thy rear!
Bring'st thou Denmark's banners braving
Thy insulted brother's spear!
Sullen Edgar, clouds thy rear!
Bring'st thou Denmark's banners braving
Thy insulted brother's spear!
Ah, bethink how through thy regions
Midnight horror fearful howl'd,
When, like wolves, the Danish legions
Thro' thy trembling forests prowl'd;
Midnight horror fearful howl'd,
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Thro' thy trembling forests prowl'd;
When, unable of resistance,
Denmark's lance thy bosom gor'd—
And shall Edwin's brave assistance
Be repaid with Denmark's sword!
Denmark's lance thy bosom gor'd—
And shall Edwin's brave assistance
Be repaid with Denmark's sword!
With that sword shalt thou assail him
From whose point he set thee free,
While his warlike sinews fail him,
Weak with loss of blood for thee!
From whose point he set thee free,
While his warlike sinews fail him,
Weak with loss of blood for thee!
Oh, my Edwin, timely hearken,
And thy stern resolves forbear!
Shall revenge thy councils darken,
Oh, my Edgar, drop the spear!
And thy stern resolves forbear!
Shall revenge thy councils darken,
Oh, my Edgar, drop the spear!
Wisdom tells and Justice offers
How each wound may yet be balm'd:
O revere these holy proffers;
Let the storms of hell be calm'd.
How each wound may yet be balm'd:
O revere these holy proffers;
Let the storms of hell be calm'd.
Oh, my sons—But all her sorrows
Fir'd their impious rage the more:
From the bow-strings sprung the arrows;
Soon the vallies reekt with gore.
Fir'd their impious rage the more:
From the bow-strings sprung the arrows;
Soon the vallies reekt with gore.
Shrieking wild, with horror shivering,
Fled the Queen all stain'd with blood,
In her purple bosom quivering,
Deep a feather'd arrow stood.
Fled the Queen all stain'd with blood,
In her purple bosom quivering,
Deep a feather'd arrow stood.
Up the mountain she ascended
Fierce as mounts the flame in air;
And her hands, to heaven extended,
Scatter'd her uprooted hair:
Fierce as mounts the flame in air;
And her hands, to heaven extended,
Scatter'd her uprooted hair:
Ah, my sons, how impious cover'd
With each other's blood, she cried:
While the eagles round her hover'd,
And wild scream for scream replied—
With each other's blood, she cried:
While the eagles round her hover'd,
And wild scream for scream replied—
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From that blood around you steaming,
Turn, my sons, your vengeful eyes;
See what horrors o'er you streaming,
Muster round th'offended skies.
Turn, my sons, your vengeful eyes;
See what horrors o'er you streaming,
Muster round th'offended skies.
See what burning spears portended,
Couch'd by fire-eyed spectres glare,
Circling round you both, suspended
On the trembling threads of air!
Couch'd by fire-eyed spectres glare,
Circling round you both, suspended
On the trembling threads of air!
O'er you both heaven's lightning vollies
Wither'd is your strength ev'n now;
Idly weeping o'er your follies,
Soon your heads shall lowly bow.
Wither'd is your strength ev'n now;
Idly weeping o'er your follies,
Soon your heads shall lowly bow.
Soon the Dane, the Scot, and Norman,
O'er your dales shall havoc pour,
Every hold and city storming,
Every herd and field devour.
O'er your dales shall havoc pour,
Every hold and city storming,
Every herd and field devour.
Ha, what signal new arising
Thro' the dreadful group prevails!
'Tis the hand of Justice poising
High aloft th'eternal scales.
Thro' the dreadful group prevails!
'Tis the hand of Justice poising
High aloft th'eternal scales.
Loaded with thy base alliance,
Rage and rancour all extreme,
Faith and honour's foul defiance,
Thine, O Edgar, kicks the beam!
Rage and rancour all extreme,
Faith and honour's foul defiance,
Thine, O Edgar, kicks the beam!
Opening mild and blue, reversing
O'er thy brother's wasted hills,
See the murky clouds dispersing,
And the fertile shower distils.
O'er thy brother's wasted hills,
See the murky clouds dispersing,
And the fertile shower distils.
But o'er thy devoted valleys
Blacker spreads the angry sky;
Thro' the gloom pale lightning sallies,
Distant thunders groan and die.
Blacker spreads the angry sky;
Thro' the gloom pale lightning sallies,
Distant thunders groan and die.
O'er thy proudest castles waving,
Fed by hell and magic power,
Denmark towers on high her raven,
Hatch'd in freedom's mortal hour.
Fed by hell and magic power,
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Hatch'd in freedom's mortal hour.
“Cursed be the day detested,
“Cursed be the fraud profound,
“When on Denmark's spear we rested,”
Thro' thy streets shall loud resound.
“Cursed be the fraud profound,
“When on Denmark's spear we rested,”
Thro' thy streets shall loud resound.
To thy brother sad imploring,
Now I see thee turn thine eyes—
Ha, in settled darkness lowering,
Now no more the visions rise!
Now I see thee turn thine eyes—
Ha, in settled darkness lowering,
Now no more the visions rise!
But thy ranc'rous soul descending
To thy sons from age to age,
Province then from province rending,
War on war shall bleed and rage.
To thy sons from age to age,
Province then from province rending,
War on war shall bleed and rage.
This thy freedom proudly boasted,
Hapless Edgar, loud she cried—
With her wounds and woes exhausted,
Down on earth she sunk and died.
Hapless Edgar, loud she cried—
With her wounds and woes exhausted,
Down on earth she sunk and died.
THE SORCERESS; OR, WOLFWOLD AND ULLA.
A BALLAD.
Prisca fides.
—VIRG.
“Oh, low he lies; his cold pale cheek
“Lies lifeless on the clay;
“Yet struggling hope—O day spring, break,
“And lead me on my way.
“Lies lifeless on the clay;
“Yet struggling hope—O day spring, break,
“And lead me on my way.
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“On Denmark's cruel bands, O heaven!
“Thy red-wing'd vengeance pour;
“Before my Wolfwold's spear be driven—
“O rise, bright morning hour!”
“Thy red-wing'd vengeance pour;
“Before my Wolfwold's spear be driven—
“O rise, bright morning hour!”
Thus Ulla wail'd, the fairest maid
Of all the Saxon race;
Thus Ulla wail'd, in nightly shade,
While tears bedew'd her face.
Of all the Saxon race;
Thus Ulla wail'd, in nightly shade,
While tears bedew'd her face.
When sudden, o'er the fir-crown'd hill,
The full orb'd moon arose;
And o'er the winding dale so still,
Her silver radiance flows.
The full orb'd moon arose;
And o'er the winding dale so still,
Her silver radiance flows.
No more could Ulla's fearful breast
Her anxious care delay;
But deep with hope and fear imprest,
She holds the moonshine way.
Her anxious care delay;
But deep with hope and fear imprest,
She holds the moonshine way.
She left the bower, and all alone,
She traced the dale so still;
And sought the cave with rue o'ergrown,
Beneath the fir-crown'd hill.
She traced the dale so still;
And sought the cave with rue o'ergrown,
Beneath the fir-crown'd hill.
Black knares of blasted oak, embound
With hemlock, fenc'd the cell:
The dreary mouth, half under ground,
Yawn'd like the gate of hell.
With hemlock, fenc'd the cell:
The dreary mouth, half under ground,
Yawn'd like the gate of hell.
Soon as the gloomy den she spy'd,
Cold horror shook her knee;
“And hear, O Prophetess,” she cry'd,
“A Princess sue to thee.”
Cold horror shook her knee;
“And hear, O Prophetess,” she cry'd,
“A Princess sue to thee.”
Aghast she stood! athwart the air
The dismal screech-owl flew;
The fillet round her auburn hair
Asunder burst in two.
The dismal screech-owl flew;
The fillet round her auburn hair
Asunder burst in two.
Her robe of softest yellow, glow'd
Beneath the moon's pale beam;
And o'er the ground, with yew-boughs strew'd,
Effus'd a golden gleam.
Beneath the moon's pale beam;
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Effus'd a golden gleam.
The golden gleam the Sorceress spy'd,
As in her deepest cell,
At midnight's magic hour she try'd
A tomb-o'erpowering spell.
As in her deepest cell,
At midnight's magic hour she try'd
A tomb-o'erpowering spell.
When, from the cavern's dreary womb,
Her groaning voice arose,
“O come, my daughter, fearless, come,
“And fearless, tell thy woes.”
Her groaning voice arose,
“O come, my daughter, fearless, come,
“And fearless, tell thy woes.”
As shakes the bough of trembling leaf,
When whirlwinds sudden rise;
As stands aghast the warrior chief,
When his base army flies;
When whirlwinds sudden rise;
As stands aghast the warrior chief,
When his base army flies;
So shook, so stood, the beauteous maid,
When from the dreary den,
A wrinkled hag came forth, array'd
In matted rags obscene.
When from the dreary den,
A wrinkled hag came forth, array'd
In matted rags obscene.
Around her brows, with hemlock bound,
Loose hung her ash-grey hair;
As from two dreary caves profound
Her blue-flamed eye-balls glare.
Loose hung her ash-grey hair;
As from two dreary caves profound
Her blue-flamed eye-balls glare.
Her skin, of earthy red, appear'd
Clung round her shoulder bones;
Like wither'd bark, by lightning sear'd,
When loud the tempest groans.
Clung round her shoulder bones;
Like wither'd bark, by lightning sear'd,
When loud the tempest groans.
A robe of squalid green and blue
Her ghostly length array'd,
A gaping rent, full to the view,
Her furrow'd ribs betray'd.
Her ghostly length array'd,
A gaping rent, full to the view,
Her furrow'd ribs betray'd.
“And tell, my daughter, fearless, tell,
“What sorrow brought thee here?
“So may my power thy cares expel,
“And give thee sweetest cheer.”
“What sorrow brought thee here?
“So may my power thy cares expel,
“And give thee sweetest cheer.”
116
“O mistress of the powerful spell,
“King Edric's daughter see,
“Northumbria to my father fell,
“But sorrow fell to me.
“King Edric's daughter see,
“Northumbria to my father fell,
“But sorrow fell to me.
“My virgin heart Lord Wolfwold won;
“My father on him smil'd:
“Soon as he gain'd Northumbria's throne,
“His pride the youth exil'd.
“My father on him smil'd:
“Soon as he gain'd Northumbria's throne,
“His pride the youth exil'd.
“Stern Denmark's ravens o'er the seas
“Their gloomy black wings spread,
“And o'er Northumbria's hills and leas
“Their dreadful squadrons sped.
“Their gloomy black wings spread,
“And o'er Northumbria's hills and leas
“Their dreadful squadrons sped.
“Return, brave Wolfwold,” Edric cried,
“O generous warrior, hear,
“My daughter's hand, thy willing bride,
“Awaits thy conquering spear.
“O generous warrior, hear,
“My daughter's hand, thy willing bride,
“Awaits thy conquering spear.
“The banish'd youth, in Scotland's court,
“Had past the weary year;
“And soon he heard the glad report,
“And soon he grasp'd his spear.
“Had past the weary year;
“And soon he heard the glad report,
“And soon he grasp'd his spear.
“He left the Scottish dames to weep;
“And wing'd with true love speed,
“Nor day, nor night, he stopt to sleep,
“And soon he cross'd the Tweed.
“And wing'd with true love speed,
“Nor day, nor night, he stopt to sleep,
“And soon he cross'd the Tweed.
“With joyful voice, and raptur'd eyes,
“He press'd my willing hand;
“I go, my fair, my love, he cries,
“To guard thy father's land.
“He press'd my willing hand;
“I go, my fair, my love, he cries,
“To guard thy father's land.
“By Edon's shore, in deathful fray,
“The daring foe we meet,
“Ere three short days I trust to lay
“My trophies at thy feet.
“The daring foe we meet,
“Ere three short days I trust to lay
“My trophies at thy feet.
“Alas, alas, that time is o'er,
“And three long days beside,
“Yet not a word from Edon's shore
“Has cheer'd his fearful bride.
“And three long days beside,
117
“Has cheer'd his fearful bride.
“O mistress of the powerful spell,
“His doubtful fate decide;”—
“And cease, my child, for all is well,”
The grizzly witch replied.
“His doubtful fate decide;”—
“And cease, my child, for all is well,”
The grizzly witch replied.
“Approach my cave, and where I place
“The magic circle, stand;
“And fear not ought of ghastly face,
“That glides beneath my wand.”
“The magic circle, stand;
“And fear not ought of ghastly face,
“That glides beneath my wand.”
The grizzly witch's powerful charms
Then reach'd the labouring moon,
And cloudless at the dire alarms,
She shed her brightest noon.
Then reach'd the labouring moon,
And cloudless at the dire alarms,
She shed her brightest noon.
The pale beam struggled thro' the shade,
That black'd the cavern's womb,
And in the deepest nook betray'd
An altar and a tomb.
That black'd the cavern's womb,
And in the deepest nook betray'd
An altar and a tomb.
Around the tomb, in mystic lore,
Were forms of various mien,
And efts, and foul-wing'd serpents, bore
The altar's base obscene.
Were forms of various mien,
And efts, and foul-wing'd serpents, bore
The altar's base obscene.
Eyeless, a huge and starv'd toad sat
In corner murk aloof,
And many a snake and famish'd bat
Clung to the crevic'd roof.
In corner murk aloof,
And many a snake and famish'd bat
Clung to the crevic'd roof.
A fox and vulture's skeletons
A yawning rift betray'd;
And grappling still each others bones,
The strife of death display'd.
A yawning rift betray'd;
And grappling still each others bones,
The strife of death display'd.
“And now, my child,” the Sorceress said,
“Lord Wolfwold's father's grave,
“To me shall render up the dead,
“And send him to my cave.
“Lord Wolfwold's father's grave,
118
“And send him to my cave.
“His skeleton shall hear my spell,
“And to the figur'd walls
“His hand of bone shall point and tell
“What fate his son befalls.”
“And to the figur'd walls
“His hand of bone shall point and tell
“What fate his son befalls.”
O cold, down Ulla's snow-like face,
The trembling sweat-drops fell,
And borne by sprights of gliding pace,
The corpse approach'd the cell.
The trembling sweat-drops fell,
And borne by sprights of gliding pace,
The corpse approach'd the cell.
And thrice the witch her magic wand
Wav'd o'er the skeleton;
And slowly, at the dread command,
Up rose the arm of bone.
Wav'd o'er the skeleton;
And slowly, at the dread command,
Up rose the arm of bone.
A cloven shield, and broken spear,
The finger wander'd o'er,
Then rested on a sable bier,
Distain'd with drops of gore.
The finger wander'd o'er,
Then rested on a sable bier,
Distain'd with drops of gore.
In ghastly writhes, her mouth so wide,
And black the Sorceress throws,
“And be those signs, my child,” she cried,
“Fulfill'd on Wolfwold's foes.
And black the Sorceress throws,
“And be those signs, my child,” she cried,
“Fulfill'd on Wolfwold's foes.
“A happier spell I now shall try;
“Attend, my child, attend,
“And mark what flames from altar high,
“And lowly floor ascend.
“Attend, my child, attend,
“And mark what flames from altar high,
“And lowly floor ascend.
“If of the roses softest red,
“The blaze shines forth to view,
“Then Wolfwold lives—but hell forbid
“The glimmering flame of blue!”
“The blaze shines forth to view,
“Then Wolfwold lives—but hell forbid
“The glimmering flame of blue!”
The witch then rais'd her haggard arm,
And wav'd her wand on high;
And, while she spoke the mutter'd charm,
Dark lightning fill'd her eye.
And wav'd her wand on high;
And, while she spoke the mutter'd charm,
Dark lightning fill'd her eye.
119
Fair Ulla's knee swift smote the ground;
Her hands aloft were spread,
And every joint, as marble bound,
Felt horror's darkest dread.
Her hands aloft were spread,
And every joint, as marble bound,
Felt horror's darkest dread.
Her lips, ere while so like the rose,
Were now as vi'let pale,
And, trembling in convulsive throes,
Exprest o'erwhelming ail.
Were now as vi'let pale,
And, trembling in convulsive throes,
Exprest o'erwhelming ail.
Her eyes, ere while so starry bright,
Where living lustre shone,
Were now transform'd to sightless white,
Like eyes of lifeless stone.
Where living lustre shone,
Were now transform'd to sightless white,
Like eyes of lifeless stone.
And soon the dreadful spell was o'er,
And glimmering to the view,
The quivering flame rose thro' the floor,
A flame of ghastly blue.
And glimmering to the view,
The quivering flame rose thro' the floor,
A flame of ghastly blue.
Behind the altar's livid fire,
Low from the inmost cave,
Young Wolfwold rose in pale attire,
The vestments of the grave.
Low from the inmost cave,
Young Wolfwold rose in pale attire,
The vestments of the grave.
His eye to Ulla's eye he rear'd,
His cheek was wan as clay,
And half cut thro', his hand appear'd,
That beckon'd her away.
His cheek was wan as clay,
And half cut thro', his hand appear'd,
That beckon'd her away.
Fair Ulla saw the woeful shade;
Her heart struck at her side,
And burst—low bow'd her listless head,
And down she sunk and died.
Her heart struck at her side,
And burst—low bow'd her listless head,
And down she sunk and died.
| The Poetical Works of William Julius Mickle | |