 | The Demon of Destiny |  |
BOOK I.
Who shall unfold the mysteries of Fate,
And tell how craftily the Demons tend
Their several wards, to wile them into woe?
And tell how craftily the Demons tend
Their several wards, to wile them into woe?
Once on a time, as baleful Satan prowl'd,
With dire designs, this blemish'd world ofman,
A populous city tempted him to stay,
To council for awhile his vassals there.
With dire designs, this blemish'd world ofman,
A populous city tempted him to stay,
To council for awhile his vassals there.
They told him tales of one whose heart withstood
Their machinations, and confess'd their arts
Still ineffectual on that gifted one.
But so works Providence, whose graciousness,
Like universal light, shines over all,
Developing, from seeming accident,
Help and protection, when Hell grasps for prey.
Their machinations, and confess'd their arts
Still ineffectual on that gifted one.
But so works Providence, whose graciousness,
Like universal light, shines over all,
Developing, from seeming accident,
Help and protection, when Hell grasps for prey.
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These Demons minister to Destiny;
Subtile, distrustful, different shapes they take,
Waking by mystic concords in them all,
The master springs that sway mortality:
But whatsoever semblance they assume,
They are constrained to put the natures on
Of those they seem to be. Curb on their powers!
Nor manifested, can they more effect
Than those in whose similitudes they loom;
Yet no seduction of their art's like truth,
Trusting the influence of our earthy nature
Will transmutate, in time, good into ill.
Nor have they foresight; they can but discern,
By some keen scrutiny of things that are,
The probables of what may come to pass;—
High Heaven alone foresees approaching Fate.
Subtile, distrustful, different shapes they take,
Waking by mystic concords in them all,
The master springs that sway mortality:
But whatsoever semblance they assume,
They are constrained to put the natures on
Of those they seem to be. Curb on their powers!
Nor manifested, can they more effect
Than those in whose similitudes they loom;
Yet no seduction of their art's like truth,
Trusting the influence of our earthy nature
Will transmutate, in time, good into ill.
Nor have they foresight; they can but discern,
By some keen scrutiny of things that are,
The probables of what may come to pass;—
High Heaven alone foresees approaching Fate.
Salome, the mortal who perplext the fiends,
Was open-hearted, as the sky which holds
All things in its embrace; the impartial sun
Sheds not more generously its noontide bliss,
Nor is the shower that cherishes the spring
More kindly mild to all that need its aid.
And in the chambers of his bosom lay
Good will to all; and brav'ry to attempt
Whatever youth with hope, in vaunt may dare;
But he had none of that aroma, which
Men genius call, creative energy;
Albeit asleep those frail infirmities,
Which, when they wake, to perils lead the man:
But there Revenge was not, nor Jealousy,
Which are as lees and deadly sediment
To glorious ambition, and molest
The sleepless musings of devoted Love.
Was open-hearted, as the sky which holds
All things in its embrace; the impartial sun
Sheds not more generously its noontide bliss,
Nor is the shower that cherishes the spring
More kindly mild to all that need its aid.
And in the chambers of his bosom lay
Good will to all; and brav'ry to attempt
Whatever youth with hope, in vaunt may dare;
But he had none of that aroma, which
Men genius call, creative energy;
Albeit asleep those frail infirmities,
Which, when they wake, to perils lead the man:
But there Revenge was not, nor Jealousy,
Which are as lees and deadly sediment
To glorious ambition, and molest
The sleepless musings of devoted Love.
A while the Sultan of perdition heard
How shadowless slept there Ambition—for
Revenge is as its shadow—and how Love
Lay in his bosom safe from Jealousy.
In all things else the leagur'd, as the swarms
That murmuring stir in sordid capitals,
Was but a man—a subject of temptation.
“Win him to Love!” exclaim'd the Monarch Fiend,
As if awakening from a reverie;
And some dire flushing of prophetic joy
Glanc'd in the sullen of his dismal breast.
“For if from Jealousy he live secure,
Hate or Contempt, or chang'd mysterious Love,
Betray'd or scorn'd, spurn'd or exil'd,
May prove auxiliars to his overthrow.”
How shadowless slept there Ambition—for
Revenge is as its shadow—and how Love
Lay in his bosom safe from Jealousy.
In all things else the leagur'd, as the swarms
That murmuring stir in sordid capitals,
Was but a man—a subject of temptation.
“Win him to Love!” exclaim'd the Monarch Fiend,
As if awakening from a reverie;
And some dire flushing of prophetic joy
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“For if from Jealousy he live secure,
Hate or Contempt, or chang'd mysterious Love,
Betray'd or scorn'd, spurn'd or exil'd,
May prove auxiliars to his overthrow.”
Then all the lurid there shouted amain;
And Satan, pleas'd by such assent, resum'd
His grim perambulation of the earth.
And Satan, pleas'd by such assent, resum'd
His grim perambulation of the earth.
The Demon then of young Salome repair'd,
Swift as the poet's thought wings the abyss,
To him, and found him in the bower of June,
Where, 'midst the fond-embracing boughs, the breeze
Caress'd the blushing rose with whispers sweet.
Swift as the poet's thought wings the abyss,
To him, and found him in the bower of June,
Where, 'midst the fond-embracing boughs, the breeze
Caress'd the blushing rose with whispers sweet.
It was indeed a sylvan leafy place,
Daisies around, the starry of the earth,
Shone as the eyes of some calm holy night;
And from afar a vocal waterfall,
Mellow'd by distance, swell'd that olden hymn,
Which still the choristers of nature sing,
While with their fragrance all the flowers ador'd:
At him the fawns so playful, innocent,
Gaz'd as they pastur'd with their gentle dams.
Daisies around, the starry of the earth,
Shone as the eyes of some calm holy night;
And from afar a vocal waterfall,
Mellow'd by distance, swell'd that olden hymn,
Which still the choristers of nature sing,
While with their fragrance all the flowers ador'd:
At him the fawns so playful, innocent,
Gaz'd as they pastur'd with their gentle dams.
Aw'd by the mein of such serenity,
The Demon paus'd, lest Heavenly warders near
Would bar intrusion; but anon he took
A stripling's form, and with a bow unstrung,
Rejoic'd along; his whip-like smacking made
The startl'd echoes of his coming tell.
The Demon paus'd, lest Heavenly warders near
Would bar intrusion; but anon he took
A stripling's form, and with a bow unstrung,
Rejoic'd along; his whip-like smacking made
The startl'd echoes of his coming tell.
Salome beheld the stranger, and rebuk'd
His trance-disturbing discord. “Cease,” he cried,
“To mar the harmony which reigns around!”
The stripling smil'd, and with his bow again
Tingling the echoes, answer'd with a jeer:
“Ho! who art thou that scowls't in these fair scenes
Does some fair maiden, with averted eye,
Reject the homage of a breaking heart?”
“Away! away! thou pert familiar boy;
Nor with such taunts of losel ribaldry
Molest the soaring of my soul to Heaven.”
Said then Salome, but, with his slacken'd string,
The demon bit his breast, and laughing cried,—
“Redoubted Sir, so valorously grave,
A day will come, when Cupid's fetter'd thrall
Must sigh as hopeless as the sighing wind.”
His trance-disturbing discord. “Cease,” he cried,
“To mar the harmony which reigns around!”
The stripling smil'd, and with his bow again
Tingling the echoes, answer'd with a jeer:
“Ho! who art thou that scowls't in these fair scenes
Does some fair maiden, with averted eye,
Reject the homage of a breaking heart?”
“Away! away! thou pert familiar boy;
Nor with such taunts of losel ribaldry
Molest the soaring of my soul to Heaven.”
Said then Salome, but, with his slacken'd string,
The demon bit his breast, and laughing cried,—
“Redoubted Sir, so valorously grave,
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Must sigh as hopeless as the sighing wind.”
This mystic prophecy work'd to effect,
As oft predictions cause what they foretell;
For when the seeming boy had pass'd, Salome
Sought, in the haunts of feast and revelry,
An unknown something which might there be found;
Nor sought he long, for soon a highborn fair
Beam'd in his presence, but the wedding chain
Fenc'd her around: of his devoted heart
Her shining image took infeoftment, and
She was as radiance in his solitude.
Thus things in life oft deem'd of no account,
Strangely evolve the purposes of Fate.
As oft predictions cause what they foretell;
For when the seeming boy had pass'd, Salome
Sought, in the haunts of feast and revelry,
An unknown something which might there be found;
Nor sought he long, for soon a highborn fair
Beam'd in his presence, but the wedding chain
Fenc'd her around: of his devoted heart
Her shining image took infeoftment, and
She was as radiance in his solitude.
Thus things in life oft deem'd of no account,
Strangely evolve the purposes of Fate.
She was so fair he could but only love,—
So good—admire—but it is ever so;
For Love is of that heavenly quality,
That those exalted by its blessedness,
Ever delight in immolating self,
Striving to earn that recompense divine,
Which but by servitude can be obtained.
So good—admire—but it is ever so;
For Love is of that heavenly quality,
That those exalted by its blessedness,
Ever delight in immolating self,
Striving to earn that recompense divine,
Which but by servitude can be obtained.
Salome discern'd that though she had been free,
The high condition of her trophied name
To him was death to hope, and, manly firm,
Subdued the energy of rising passion;
While, in the form and semblance of his sire,
His Demon task'd him in the murmuring mart,
Where anxious Trade piles pyramids of gold.
The high condition of her trophied name
To him was death to hope, and, manly firm,
Subdued the energy of rising passion;
While, in the form and semblance of his sire,
His Demon task'd him in the murmuring mart,
Where anxious Trade piles pyramids of gold.
There fickle Fortune, ever changing fair,
Pli'd all her harlotry to quench the star—
That eye, which on his thrilling heart had shed
Being, not light, or aught material, which
The lover's fancy grosser deems than soul.
But still at times, amidst her revelries,
The beauteous glory inaccessible
Would in the trances of his spirit shine;
And oft, when musing at the twilight hour,
He thought that Fortune, deck'd with all her gems,
Was as a fire-fly to some heavenly orb
That shepherds, watching on the hills, behold
The moon, which hath no splendour in herself,
Hide as the occultation of an eyelid.
Pli'd all her harlotry to quench the star—
That eye, which on his thrilling heart had shed
Being, not light, or aught material, which
The lover's fancy grosser deems than soul.
But still at times, amidst her revelries,
The beauteous glory inaccessible
Would in the trances of his spirit shine;
And oft, when musing at the twilight hour,
He thought that Fortune, deck'd with all her gems,
Was as a fire-fly to some heavenly orb
That shepherds, watching on the hills, behold
The moon, which hath no splendour in herself,
Hide as the occultation of an eyelid.
At length, the Demon of his Destiny
Bade Fortune frown, as with a sudden blight,
Upon the hopes of young Salome; who then,
Indignant, cast her promise to the wind,
And in the form of a courageous youth,
Led him, with proud resounding tread, to dare
A soldier's advents in the tented field.
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Upon the hopes of young Salome; who then,
Indignant, cast her promise to the wind,
And in the form of a courageous youth,
Led him, with proud resounding tread, to dare
A soldier's advents in the tented field.
Through marshy vales and briary woods they hied,
O'er cliffy mountains and far-spreading wilds
Of heath and sand, all desert as the sea.
At length they reach'd a lonely rugged pass,
Which shadows darken'd at the noon of day,
But far beyond, a vista bright appear'd
Of riant villagery, such as seems
When Hope expatiates in the captive's sleep.
O'er cliffy mountains and far-spreading wilds
Of heath and sand, all desert as the sea.
At length they reach'd a lonely rugged pass,
Which shadows darken'd at the noon of day,
But far beyond, a vista bright appear'd
Of riant villagery, such as seems
When Hope expatiates in the captive's sleep.
Onward they journey'd through that rifted hill,
Which, like the pass of fam'd Thermopylæ,
From rocky nooks and arms of savage trees,
Foreboded danger to the traveller.
Which, like the pass of fam'd Thermopylæ,
From rocky nooks and arms of savage trees,
Foreboded danger to the traveller.
Discoursing highly of heroic worth,
They wended on towards the glittering land;
Nor saw between them and its sunny scenes
A spacious river, mirroring the sky,
Till calm before, the wide and glassy flow
Lay as a lake serene. They paus'd a while,
To see what possible of chance might come
To help them o'er; but no chance ever came;
And to the cliffy pass they back return'd,
To seek a refuge from impending night.
When as they turn'd, bright on his mountain throne,
The setting sun array'd in glory, blaz'd;
Nor till that evening apparition faded,
Did rapt Salome from his devotion move,
Amaz'd to think that if to mortal vision
Such manifest divinity was shown,
What must the seraphim behold on high?
They wended on towards the glittering land;
Nor saw between them and its sunny scenes
A spacious river, mirroring the sky,
Till calm before, the wide and glassy flow
Lay as a lake serene. They paus'd a while,
To see what possible of chance might come
To help them o'er; but no chance ever came;
And to the cliffy pass they back return'd,
To seek a refuge from impending night.
When as they turn'd, bright on his mountain throne,
The setting sun array'd in glory, blaz'd;
Nor till that evening apparition faded,
Did rapt Salome from his devotion move,
Amaz'd to think that if to mortal vision
Such manifest divinity was shown,
What must the seraphim behold on high?
Late in the twilight they regain'd the pass,
Where chance propitious led them to a cave,
Which, from its hospitable gloom within,
Survey'd the landscape then in prospect dim.
But bright to hope, as promises to youth,
Salome rejoicing, blithely sat him down;
And nothing by his devious travel worn,
Besought his comrade for a storied song,
Which often he, with voice triumphant bold,
Of battle-fields and leaguer'd cities sung.
Where chance propitious led them to a cave,
Which, from its hospitable gloom within,
Survey'd the landscape then in prospect dim.
But bright to hope, as promises to youth,
Salome rejoicing, blithely sat him down;
And nothing by his devious travel worn,
Besought his comrade for a storied song,
6
Of battle-fields and leaguer'd cities sung.
But while the song resounded cheerily,
And as the moon her solemn beauty shed,
From the dark ramparts of the orient hills,
A sulph'rous warmth oppress'd the living air;
And in the zenith where, in phalanx bright,
The starry host move brightest, dismal spread
An omen black, the herald of a storm;
And suddenly, as if Jehovah drew
His sword of vengeance, lightning flash'd amain;
Then as an earthquake, hungry as the grave,
Gorging the pomp of some great capital,
Roll'd the vast thunder, cataracts of dread;
While fiercely hissings rose, as if the trees
Were all exasperated, as of old
Was the pest Hydra in its Lernian bed,
When wounded by the iron of Hercules.
And as the moon her solemn beauty shed,
From the dark ramparts of the orient hills,
A sulph'rous warmth oppress'd the living air;
And in the zenith where, in phalanx bright,
The starry host move brightest, dismal spread
An omen black, the herald of a storm;
And suddenly, as if Jehovah drew
His sword of vengeance, lightning flash'd amain;
Then as an earthquake, hungry as the grave,
Gorging the pomp of some great capital,
Roll'd the vast thunder, cataracts of dread;
While fiercely hissings rose, as if the trees
Were all exasperated, as of old
Was the pest Hydra in its Lernian bed,
When wounded by the iron of Hercules.
The waters rush'd with headlong passion wild
From steep and cliff, and bosky precipice,
And Deluge, with her hundred voices hoarse,
Gave hideous warning that rebellowing Wrath
Might yet again in Ocean trample Earth.
From steep and cliff, and bosky precipice,
And Deluge, with her hundred voices hoarse,
Gave hideous warning that rebellowing Wrath
Might yet again in Ocean trample Earth.
The Demon rose, and in his warrior guise,
As if alarum'd by shrill shrieks afar,
Ran out to aid. Aghast, Salome within
Heard in the turbulence, startling the ear,
As horror glancing from the wrathful skies
Shivers the sight, the cry of one that crav'd,
And answer'd, as a faros beacon's beam
Invites the seaman to a harbour near.
As if alarum'd by shrill shrieks afar,
Ran out to aid. Aghast, Salome within
Heard in the turbulence, startling the ear,
As horror glancing from the wrathful skies
Shivers the sight, the cry of one that crav'd,
And answer'd, as a faros beacon's beam
Invites the seaman to a harbour near.
A stranger came, and from a cloud, the moon,
Bespeaking charity for his estate,
Look'd on the earth, benign. A man he seem'd,
Who more of Heaven in contemplation saw,
Than he had tasted of the joys of life.
But his bright eyes shone youthily, endow'd
With such intelligence as beams from those
Who bless or bale bring to the bowers of men.
Bespeaking charity for his estate,
Look'd on the earth, benign. A man he seem'd,
Who more of Heaven in contemplation saw,
Than he had tasted of the joys of life.
But his bright eyes shone youthily, endow'd
With such intelligence as beams from those
Who bless or bale bring to the bowers of men.
His garb was threadbare, a caloyer's garb,
And though but from the storm, he was undrench'd;
For demons, oft like traitors among men,
When masquing, unawares betray themselves.
And though but from the storm, he was undrench'd;
For demons, oft like traitors among men,
When masquing, unawares betray themselves.
7
It was again the warder of Salome,
Transform'd to renovate his faded wishes;
For he had notic'd, since the evening show
Inspir'd such admiration, that his thoughts
Were all confus'd. Loose thrums and threads of gold,
A ravell'd skein, still in his bosom lay;
But they were only as the weft and warp
With which th' ambitious, when possess'd of skill,
Rich gorgeous damask and bright tissues weave,
To form the gaudy draperies of Fame.
Transform'd to renovate his faded wishes;
For he had notic'd, since the evening show
Inspir'd such admiration, that his thoughts
Were all confus'd. Loose thrums and threads of gold,
A ravell'd skein, still in his bosom lay;
But they were only as the weft and warp
With which th' ambitious, when possess'd of skill,
Rich gorgeous damask and bright tissues weave,
To form the gaudy draperies of Fame.
When he had well the natural bias scann'd,
Which still predominated in his ward,
He baited his malignity with tales,
Knowing the rebel arrogant which rules
In Adam's fated race, and that whate'er
Is most denied to them, they most desire.
Which still predominated in his ward,
He baited his malignity with tales,
Knowing the rebel arrogant which rules
In Adam's fated race, and that whate'er
Is most denied to them, they most desire.
He told Salome—as mourning mortals tell,
Suspicionless, to old confiding friends,
Disastrous tidings—how in that gay land,
Which sunny glitter'd o'er the frontier stream,
Misrule career'd, while Anarchy in arms
Defied to enterprize the good and brave,
And how refulgently a glorious crown
Was there predestin'd for some hero's brow.
Suspicionless, to old confiding friends,
Disastrous tidings—how in that gay land,
Which sunny glitter'd o'er the frontier stream,
Misrule career'd, while Anarchy in arms
Defied to enterprize the good and brave,
And how refulgently a glorious crown
Was there predestin'd for some hero's brow.
Meanwhile without the storm had ceas'd; the air
Was all as moonlight, pure, yet visible;
And, in the dome and concave of the welkin,
The vapours vanishing, melted away.
Then rose the song of one who joyful sped
Towards his home, the rain and thunder gone.
Exultingly sweet from their choirs around,
The holy nightingales an anthem hymn'd,
And all was calm, as if Tranquility
Came from the starry azure of the sky,
To sooth blest Nature to her wont again.
Was all as moonlight, pure, yet visible;
And, in the dome and concave of the welkin,
The vapours vanishing, melted away.
Then rose the song of one who joyful sped
Towards his home, the rain and thunder gone.
Exultingly sweet from their choirs around,
The holy nightingales an anthem hymn'd,
And all was calm, as if Tranquility
Came from the starry azure of the sky,
To sooth blest Nature to her wont again.
But soon, anon, in distant woods afar
Was heard a crash of furious waters sound:
The sound was terrible as ocean's rage
In the auricular sublime of storms;
And for a while, in might and majesty,
The proud ovation down the river roll'd.
But when it pass'd, and the triumphant floods
Had borne the trophies of their victories
Into their Rome and citadel, the sea—
The Demon, as if conscious of his craft,
Wrapt himself up in his caloyer's gown,
And thus the sorc'ries of a legend told.
Was heard a crash of furious waters sound:
The sound was terrible as ocean's rage
In the auricular sublime of storms;
And for a while, in might and majesty,
The proud ovation down the river roll'd.
But when it pass'd, and the triumphant floods
Had borne the trophies of their victories
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The Demon, as if conscious of his craft,
Wrapt himself up in his caloyer's gown,
And thus the sorc'ries of a legend told.
| The Demon of Destiny | |