 | Poetical Sketches |  |
2. PART THE SECOND.
REMOV'D from man, and summer's tuneful groves,
Alone harmonious THELMON strays to muse;
O'er rugged hills, through long rough paths he roves,
To where, impell'd by winds, the ocean roars,
Heaves its vast surges on the echoing shores,
Foams 'mid the rocks, and dashes the thick ooze.
Alone harmonious THELMON strays to muse;
O'er rugged hills, through long rough paths he roves,
To where, impell'd by winds, the ocean roars,
Heaves its vast surges on the echoing shores,
Foams 'mid the rocks, and dashes the thick ooze.
Now on the sounding beech, sublime in thought,
He view'd the wonders of the horrid deep,
Which from the heavens the ponderous torrents caught,
While briny mountains brave the darken'd sky,
Where lowering clouds replete with waters fly,
And stormy winds the heavens and ocean sweep.
He view'd the wonders of the horrid deep,
Which from the heavens the ponderous torrents caught,
While briny mountains brave the darken'd sky,
Where lowering clouds replete with waters fly,
And stormy winds the heavens and ocean sweep.
Nor jarring elements untun'd his soul,
Each natural cause still tracing to its source,
While driven on winds the waves tremendous roll;
Curious to meditate on Nature's law,
The vast Creator in his works he saw,
And contemplation guides his wandering course.
Each natural cause still tracing to its source,
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While driven on winds the waves tremendous roll;
Curious to meditate on Nature's law,
The vast Creator in his works he saw,
And contemplation guides his wandering course.
Humbled by youthful crimes and curb'd desires,
Abstracted through life's mazy paths he trod,
The love of science damp'd his former fires;
And with a heart form'd to converse with man,
A genius rais'd on Nature's noblest plan,
He inward drew his powers, and sought his GOD.
Abstracted through life's mazy paths he trod,
The love of science damp'd his former fires;
And with a heart form'd to converse with man,
A genius rais'd on Nature's noblest plan,
He inward drew his powers, and sought his GOD.
Pond'ring on man's vain passions as he stood,
He heard the transports of the empty wind,
The vain contentions of the mighty flood,
Till the tir'd storm scowl'd cross the heaving main;
The spray no more flies o'er the distant plain,
And the faint sun through filmy vapours shin'd.
He heard the transports of the empty wind,
The vain contentions of the mighty flood,
Till the tir'd storm scowl'd cross the heaving main;
The spray no more flies o'er the distant plain,
And the faint sun through filmy vapours shin'd.
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Calm 'midst advancing shades dissolv'd the day,
The silenc'd winds scarce shook the showery leaves,
And through the heavens the watery vapours stray;
Then o'er the sea (tumultuous now no more)
Which beat the rocks, and gently dash'd the shore,
A solemn melody his spirit breathes.
THELMON, whom passions now no more controul,
To science and to music gave his soul;
Fair CARMEL'S charms alone his love had fir'd,
Unmark'd the mind which every grace inspir'd,
With violence it flam'd, but soon expir'd.
His heedless wanderings fate or chance decide,
But now again near CARMEL'S dwelling guide;
Of which unmindful, still he rov'd the plains,
And to the setting sun pour'd forth sublime his strains.
To science and to music gave his soul;
Fair CARMEL'S charms alone his love had fir'd,
Unmark'd the mind which every grace inspir'd,
With violence it flam'd, but soon expir'd.
His heedless wanderings fate or chance decide,
But now again near CARMEL'S dwelling guide;
Of which unmindful, still he rov'd the plains,
And to the setting sun pour'd forth sublime his strains.
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