The Fate of Lewellyn or, the Druid's Sacrifice. A Legendary Tale. In Two Parts. To which is added Carnbre', a Poem [by Richard Polwhele] |
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| THE GENIUS OF CARNBRE'.
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 | The Fate of Lewellyn |  |
THE GENIUS OF CARNBRE'.
A POEM.
The Muse so oft her silver Lyre has strung,
That not a Mountain rears his head unsung.
Addison.
That not a Mountain rears his head unsung.
Addison.
47
The moon-beams, trembling o'er the sky,
Checquer'd the shadowy robes of Night;
Sleep hush'd the world: To Fancy's eye
Carnbre', rais'd in awful height,
(Where gold-ting'd clouds slow rolling spread)
Shook his monumental head;
Shudder'd deep my startled soul:
Through all my freezing veins the chill of Horror stole.
Checquer'd the shadowy robes of Night;
Sleep hush'd the world: To Fancy's eye
Carnbre', rais'd in awful height,
(Where gold-ting'd clouds slow rolling spread)
Shook his monumental head;
Shudder'd deep my startled soul:
Through all my freezing veins the chill of Horror stole.
48
Sudden appear'd in azure vest
The guardian Genius of the Rock;
While sighful heav'd his throbbing breast,
'Spite of rising Grief he spoke:
The pearly drops began to break,
And glitter down his dark-red cheek;
For Cynthia, sporting with his woe,
Bade the soft tears in sparkling lustre flow.
The guardian Genius of the Rock;
While sighful heav'd his throbbing breast,
'Spite of rising Grief he spoke:
The pearly drops began to break,
And glitter down his dark-red cheek;
For Cynthia, sporting with his woe,
Bade the soft tears in sparkling lustre flow.
“Son of Man, (the Genius said,)
“Listen with religious fear:
“Holy Druids here are laid:
“Bards of old lie buried here.
“Listen with religious fear:
“Holy Druids here are laid:
“Bards of old lie buried here.
49
“Once, alass! the warbling shade
“Round the raptur'd mountain grew;
“Once the Hand of Nature spread
“Woods magnificent to view:
“Round the raptur'd mountain grew;
“Once the Hand of Nature spread
“Woods magnificent to view:
“Deep embosom'd in the gloom,
“Contemplation walk'd serene;
“Silence sat upon the tomb,
“Musing on the solemn scene:
“Contemplation walk'd serene;
“Silence sat upon the tomb,
“Musing on the solemn scene:
“Solitude, the Child of Ease,
“Smiling, charm'd the dear abode;
“Gratitude, sweet Sire of Praise,
“Pour'd the wild note to his God:
“Smiling, charm'd the dear abode;
“Gratitude, sweet Sire of Praise,
“Pour'd the wild note to his God:
50
“Concord wav'd his myrtle wand,
“Mountain Freedom woo'd the breeze;
“Health and Peace (celestial band)
“Smil'd amidst th'embowering trees:
“Mountain Freedom woo'd the breeze;
“Health and Peace (celestial band)
“Smil'd amidst th'embowering trees:
“Oft, alass! when meekest Eve
“Fresh'ning dews benignly shed;
“When the soft elves joy to leave,
“Sportive, their luxuriant bed:
“Fresh'ning dews benignly shed;
“When the soft elves joy to leave,
“Sportive, their luxuriant bed:
“When faint Summer fev'rish pow'r
“Blissful hails her modest reign;
“While to taste the fragrant bow'r,
“Toil forsakes the sultry plain:
“Blissful hails her modest reign;
“While to taste the fragrant bow'r,
“Toil forsakes the sultry plain:
51
“When the sweetly purling Springs
“Soothe the stillness of the vale;
“When the breeze, on fluttering wings,
“Whisp'ring fans the flowery dale:
“Soothe the stillness of the vale;
“When the breeze, on fluttering wings,
“Whisp'ring fans the flowery dale:
“Oft the sacred harps around,
“Awful notes high-ecchoing flung;
“Pleas'd Religion heard the sound,
“While th'exulting mountain rung.
“Awful notes high-ecchoing flung;
“Pleas'd Religion heard the sound,
“While th'exulting mountain rung.
“Fill'd with rapture, every Swain
“Strait the solemn call obey'd;
“Free from Sin's malignant stain,
“Virtue then the passions sway'd.
“Strait the solemn call obey'd;
“Free from Sin's malignant stain,
“Virtue then the passions sway'd.
52
“Desolation now appears!
“Ruin holds these drear abodes:
“Now beneath the weight of years,
“Lo! the tottering Mountain nods.
“Ruin holds these drear abodes:
“Now beneath the weight of years,
“Lo! the tottering Mountain nods.
“Once where Joy was wont to glow,
“Once where Musick breath'd delight;
“Sullen blasts of Horror blow!
“Croaks the baleful Bird of Night.
“Once where Musick breath'd delight;
“Sullen blasts of Horror blow!
“Croaks the baleful Bird of Night.
“Once where green Groves shadowy rose;
“Once where roll'd the silver wave;
“There the deadly Nightshade grows!—
“Hemlock hides the Druid grave!
“Once where roll'd the silver wave;
“There the deadly Nightshade grows!—
“Hemlock hides the Druid grave!
53
“Once where Wisdom rear'd a seat,
“Hissing glides the speckled snake!
“Now in Friendship's lone retreat,
“Venom swells amidst the brake!
“Hissing glides the speckled snake!
“Now in Friendship's lone retreat,
“Venom swells amidst the brake!
“Still Remembrance haunts the place,
“Ever shall she wander here:
“Oft adown her paly face,
“Gently flows the tender tear.
“Ever shall she wander here:
“Oft adown her paly face,
“Gently flows the tender tear.
“Still she sees the Druid Train
“(Reverend Chorus) sweep the Lyre!
“Still she hears the thrilling strain;—
“Glows her heart with holy fire.
“(Reverend Chorus) sweep the Lyre!
“Still she hears the thrilling strain;—
“Glows her heart with holy fire.
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“Richly rob'd, the hoary Sage
“Still the mystick rites performs;
“Silver'd o'er his brow with age!
“Still his frame Devotion warms:
“Still the mystick rites performs;
“Silver'd o'er his brow with age!
“Still his frame Devotion warms:
“Still, amid the gloomy glades,
“Inspiration fires his breast;
“Fancy marks the fleeting shades,
“Where the God his soul possest.
“Inspiration fires his breast;
“Fancy marks the fleeting shades,
“Where the God his soul possest.
“Melancholy, pondering Maid,
“O'er the wild waste loves to rove;
“Conscious where the Muses stray'd,
“Sadly waves th'ideal grove.—
“O'er the wild waste loves to rove;
“Conscious where the Muses stray'd,
“Sadly waves th'ideal grove.—
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“Yet my darken'd soul to chear,
“Comfort sheds a glimmering ray;
“Still to one the Muse is dear!
“Still belov'd the soothing lay.
“Comfort sheds a glimmering ray;
“Still to one the Muse is dear!
“Still belov'd the soothing lay.
“Deeply sounds the solemn strain;
“Echoes loud the voice of Fame;
“Cornwall views a bard again;
“Truro boasts a Wolcot's Name!
“Echoes loud the voice of Fame;
“Cornwall views a bard again;
“Truro boasts a Wolcot's Name!
FINIS.
| The Fate of Lewellyn | |