 | The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth |  |
NATURE AND THE PASSIONS.
The stranger awoke, and with wonder surveyed
The unexplored regions on which she was thrown:
Rude Chaos the scene—and the infantile maid
Was Nature, just risen from sources unknown.
The unexplored regions on which she was thrown:
Rude Chaos the scene—and the infantile maid
Was Nature, just risen from sources unknown.
Her form, the fair abstract of Infinite thought,
The unblemished model of harmony moved;
Her accents the spirit of melody taught,
Her smile was celestial—and Heaven approved.
The unblemished model of harmony moved;
Her accents the spirit of melody taught,
Her smile was celestial—and Heaven approved.
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But scarce could the infant existence admire,
When hosts of rude demons encountered the child,
Revenge and rough Anger, with optics of fire,
And frenzy-struck Terror, shrieked horribly wild.
When hosts of rude demons encountered the child,
Revenge and rough Anger, with optics of fire,
And frenzy-struck Terror, shrieked horribly wild.
Attended by Rapine, fell Murder appeared,
Led onward by Avarice, Malice, and Hate;
Their snaky crests Envy and Jealousy reared,
As blood-stained Ambition tore laurels from fate.
Led onward by Avarice, Malice, and Hate;
Their snaky crests Envy and Jealousy reared,
As blood-stained Ambition tore laurels from fate.
This phalanx of fiends, with Despair in their train,
With scourges of scorpions the infant assailed,
And pitiless heard the sweet stranger complain,
Deep deluged in sorrow which nothing availed.
With scourges of scorpions the infant assailed,
And pitiless heard the sweet stranger complain,
Deep deluged in sorrow which nothing availed.
Compassion beheld—and to regions above,
In the incense of sighs, her petition conveyed;
Infinity heard, and the answer was—LOVE,
Who came in the garb of an angel arrayed.
In the incense of sighs, her petition conveyed;
Infinity heard, and the answer was—LOVE,
Who came in the garb of an angel arrayed.
Her presence made cruel Ambition depart,
Hate, Murder, and Rapine, the goddess confessed;
Her touch palsied Malice, and blunted his dart,
And even lank Avarice opened his breast.
Hate, Murder, and Rapine, the goddess confessed;
Her touch palsied Malice, and blunted his dart,
And even lank Avarice opened his breast.
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She spoke—and Revenge was subdued by the charm;
She smiled—and the scene was deserted by Fear;
She sighed—and pale Jealousy fled with alarm;
She wept—and rough Anger dissolved in the tear.
She smiled—and the scene was deserted by Fear;
She sighed—and pale Jealousy fled with alarm;
She wept—and rough Anger dissolved in the tear.
Her magic the vulture transformed to a dove,
And Nature again was delighted and blest—
Thus each ruder passion is subject to Love,
The genius that tempers and governs the rest.
And Nature again was delighted and blest—
Thus each ruder passion is subject to Love,
The genius that tempers and governs the rest.
| The poetical works of Samuel Woodworth | |