The Descent into Hell Second Edition, Revised and Re-arranged, with an Analysis and Notes: To which are added, Uriel, a Fragment and Three Odes. By John A. Heraud |
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| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| V. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| VI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| VII. |
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| I. |
| II. |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
II.1.
Let Age have honour, and a quiet lot,
The hoary head is as a silver crown,
That he is cold of heart who worships not—
The hoary head is as a silver crown,
That he is cold of heart who worships not—
Antient of Days! Methuselah is known
To Thee with honour, whom for ten long ages
Wisdom had hallowed, knowledge and renown.
To Thee with honour, whom for ten long ages
Wisdom had hallowed, knowledge and renown.
Seers of God, ye half-immortal Sages.
Time, the Truth-utterer, to your patient view,
Of his huge tome expanded all the pages;
Time, the Truth-utterer, to your patient view,
Of his huge tome expanded all the pages;
Nature her every secret showed to you,
And Heaven had eke revealed its mysteries,
But that Man's heart made evil what it knew.
And Heaven had eke revealed its mysteries,
But that Man's heart made evil what it knew.
II.2.
Oh! his Imaginings have fraught the skies,
With lusts abominable; and the Earth
Groans with his guilt, and teems with agonies.
With lusts abominable; and the Earth
Groans with his guilt, and teems with agonies.
Long Centuries between his death and birth,
Teem with heroick purpose, and rejoice
In its completion with no transient mirth.
Teem with heroick purpose, and rejoice
In its completion with no transient mirth.
Ambition dreams of empire, and the Voice
Of millions, at the end of many times,
Doth hail the Tyrant of their fatal choice
Of millions, at the end of many times,
Doth hail the Tyrant of their fatal choice
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Pride, Power and Passion, each its zenith climbs,
And rages like the dog-star in the days
Of madness. Love itself, itself sublimes
And rages like the dog-star in the days
Of madness. Love itself, itself sublimes
In the undying heart on which it preys,
And Hate becomes immortal, and fell Ire
With ages grows, and Grief;—yet Death delays.
And Hate becomes immortal, and fell Ire
With ages grows, and Grief;—yet Death delays.
II.3.
But Age hath no authority. The Sire,
Made feebler with the weight of Centuries,
Shrinks from unfilial vigour. Thou wilt require,
Made feebler with the weight of Centuries,
Shrinks from unfilial vigour. Thou wilt require,
Great Father! the paternal blood that cries
Now from the ground. Yet mercy reigns supreme;
Lo, in yon Ark a ready refuge lies,
Now from the ground. Yet mercy reigns supreme;
Lo, in yon Ark a ready refuge lies,
For who will seek it. Let the Prophet dream;
They reck not of his warning that foretells
The penal Deluge, weary of the theme.
They reck not of his warning that foretells
The penal Deluge, weary of the theme.
Yet there the Preacher stands, where Man rebels,
His eloquent arms upraised unto his God,
Who hears in heaven and answers, and impels.
His eloquent arms upraised unto his God,
Who hears in heaven and answers, and impels.
| The Descent into Hell | |