The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Passions once, in frolick pastime gay,
Stole Fancy's Magic-Lantern for a day;
And each, in order, it's effect essay'd,
On some new Phantom, which herself portray'd.

Fierce Anger first her hasty hand apply'd,
And sketch'd an earth-born Giant's towering pride:
Vast was his strength, and terrible his nod;
He spoke in thunder, and on storms he rode;
He mow'd down armies, and he kick'd down thrones;
And infants call him still, Raw-head-and-Bloody-Bones.

Valour, of glorious hazard only proud,
Drew Dragons hissing from the bursting cloud;

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Sorcerers, whose spells could wrathful warriors tame;
And wedge in rifted rocks the captive dame;
Till happier Hardihead th' inchantment broke;
And magic adamant dissolv'd in smoke.

Fear's trembling pencil group'd a Goblin crew,
Ghosts clattering chains, around the church-yard yew;
Forms, without heads, that crost the midnight ways;
Heads, without limbs, where saucer eye-balls blaze,
And Shapes grotesque, down eve's grey shade that slide,
And buzzing, grinning, chattering, screaming, glide.

To her succeeded Hope; intent to trace
A friendly Wizard's comfortable face;
The reverend Merlin of a former age;
Unconquerably just, benignly sage.
Low o'er his breast a milk-white beard was spread:—
Aw'd by his wand the Powers of Mischief fled;
Till (every peril past) sure triumph grac'd
The brave; and happy wedlock crown'd the chaste.

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A scene far different wild Despair employ'd;
Furies, whose whips clash thro' the darksome void;
Demons with forks of fire, and breaths of flame,
That howl revenge, and chuckle at our shame;
Mock guilty misery's most alarming hour;
And to the rage of malice, add the power.

Mirth then display'd a jocund troop to view;
Trim Fairies, frisking on the twilight dew;
Fantastic Will-a-wisps thro' bush and brier,
That lur'd the staring clown, and sous'd him in the mire;
And fire-proof Elves, that round the caldron squat,
And burn the housewife's dumplin to the pot.

Then Superstition came, her Sprites to shew,
That make the mastiff's yell, the note of woe;
At melancholy's window flap their wings;
In concert with the dirge the raven sings;

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O'er Nature's face a veil of omens spread;
Perplex the living, and belie the dead.

Envy's shrunk finger next th' occasion caught;
And scratch'd the hideous image of her thought;
A scraggy Witch, on broom-stick hors'd for flight;
Equipp'd with all th' artillery of spite;
Mildews and blights, to blast the forward grain;
Philtres t' intoxicate the mad'ning brain;
Prayers mumbled backwards, discord to promote;
And crooked pins, to rend the sufferer's throat.

Love still remain'd—but lo! while she prepares
Her little family of Joys and Cares,
Fancy herself surpris'd the wanton train,
Reclaim'd her Lantern,—and resum'd her reign;
Seiz'd on the spot, the visionary scroll,
And then to Genius gave the motley whole.

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Genius, sublime with taste, correct with ease,
Alternate soften'd those; and heighten'd these;
From features rude, and parts of monstrous size,
Bade mystic sense, and moral beauty rise;
Engag'd Tradition on the side of Truth;
And made the Tale of Age, the Oracle of Youth.