 | Poems by William Kendall |  |
3
ELEGIAC STANZAS.
--- Non son ---
Questi sospiri ardenti
Refrigerio del cuore;
Ma son piuttosto impetuosi venti
Che spiran nel incendio, e'l fan maggiore
Con turbini d'amore.
Questi sospiri ardenti
Refrigerio del cuore;
Ma son piuttosto impetuosi venti
Che spiran nel incendio, e'l fan maggiore
Con turbini d'amore.
5
I. SONG.
How soon o'er the morn of my youth
Her shadows pale sorrow has thrown,
How soon from the glances of truth
Life's pleasing delusions are flown!
Her shadows pale sorrow has thrown,
How soon from the glances of truth
Life's pleasing delusions are flown!
No more thro' the vale as I rove
Bright visions illumine the air:
The mountains are clouded—the grove
Resounds with the voice of despair.
Bright visions illumine the air:
The mountains are clouded—the grove
Resounds with the voice of despair.
Return, ye gay dreams of delight,
And gently deceive my fond mind;
For truth, while she hastens your flight,
Leaves torment unceasing behind!
And gently deceive my fond mind;
For truth, while she hastens your flight,
Leaves torment unceasing behind!
6
II. SONG.
E'er Laura met my ravish'd view,
My cheek confess'd health's roseate bloom;
My soul, nor love nor sorrow knew—
How beauty's power hath changed my doom!
My cheek confess'd health's roseate bloom;
My soul, nor love nor sorrow knew—
How beauty's power hath changed my doom!
'Mid lonely glades, with tear-fraught eyes,
Wandering I mourn my secret pain:
The passing breeze, with lengthen'd sighs,
In pity murmurs to my strain.
Wandering I mourn my secret pain:
The passing breeze, with lengthen'd sighs,
In pity murmurs to my strain.
Now, lull'd by hope's elysian smile,
My fears in silent slumber rest;
Now dreams that every thought beguile,
Serenely soothing, chear my breast.
My fears in silent slumber rest;
Now dreams that every thought beguile,
Serenely soothing, chear my breast.
But ah! too soon my grief returns—
Again tumultuous passions rise;
Again my tortured bosom burns,
And all the dear illusion flies!
Again tumultuous passions rise;
Again my tortured bosom burns,
And all the dear illusion flies!
7
III. To MUSIC.
Shall grief the spring of youth deform?
Goddess, awake! dispel the storm.
Goddess, awake! dispel the storm.
When all our early hopes decay,
What varied charms attend thy lay;
What calm delight thy notes serene
Diffuse, to chear life's lonely scene;
Let bards in lofty measures tell,
More skill'd to sound the muse's shell:
Let these, replete with lyric flame,
In rapturous verse exalt thy name,
Inspired with melting sweetness sing,
Or boldly sweep the fervid string.
Be mine an humbler wreath to gain—
To paint a fond enamour'd swain,
By passion's flattering dream betray'd,
Who flew to meet a yielding maid;
But, hapless, for his promis'd fair
Clasp'd the fell demon of despair!
Assist me in that mournful hour,
Bright goddess, to record thy power.
What varied charms attend thy lay;
What calm delight thy notes serene
Diffuse, to chear life's lonely scene;
Let bards in lofty measures tell,
More skill'd to sound the muse's shell:
Let these, replete with lyric flame,
In rapturous verse exalt thy name,
Inspired with melting sweetness sing,
Or boldly sweep the fervid string.
Be mine an humbler wreath to gain—
To paint a fond enamour'd swain,
By passion's flattering dream betray'd,
Who flew to meet a yielding maid;
But, hapless, for his promis'd fair
Clasp'd the fell demon of despair!
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Bright goddess, to record thy power.
Where the wan moon in scatter'd streams
Profusely pours her pensive beams
Along the valleys lonely way,
I see the love-lorn mourner stray.
Oft to the skies he turns his sight,
Invokes the living lamps of light,
Or throws convulsive glances round,
Or wildly gazes on the ground.
But ah! no tears bedew those eyes,
From that pale lip no murmur flies:
He faints—he falls! his languid breath
Hangs fluttering o'er the verge of death.
Profusely pours her pensive beams
Along the valleys lonely way,
I see the love-lorn mourner stray.
Oft to the skies he turns his sight,
Invokes the living lamps of light,
Or throws convulsive glances round,
Or wildly gazes on the ground.
But ah! no tears bedew those eyes,
From that pale lip no murmur flies:
He faints—he falls! his languid breath
Hangs fluttering o'er the verge of death.
Harmonious nymph—resume thy reed,
Till sorrow's wound no longer bleed!
Till sorrow's wound no longer bleed!
Hark! breathing rapture o'er the skies,
Ætherial sounds sublimely rise.
The goddess hears,—she wakes the reed:
The wounds of sorrow cease to bleed;
And, sweetest of the warbling throng,
Nights minstrel emulates the song.
Again her swelling voice prepares
Diviner measures, softer airs.
Swift from their haunts, on slender wing,
The Fairy bands delighted spring!
In crowds they fly—no lingering sprite
Of all the shadowy tribes of night,
In dripping cave, or mossy cell,
Remains to weave the wonted spell.
Retired within a veiling cloud
The listening Fays their numbers shroud;
And as the soaring song aspires
Return the strain with echoing lyres.
Ætherial sounds sublimely rise.
The goddess hears,—she wakes the reed:
The wounds of sorrow cease to bleed;
9
Nights minstrel emulates the song.
Again her swelling voice prepares
Diviner measures, softer airs.
Swift from their haunts, on slender wing,
The Fairy bands delighted spring!
In crowds they fly—no lingering sprite
Of all the shadowy tribes of night,
In dripping cave, or mossy cell,
Remains to weave the wonted spell.
Retired within a veiling cloud
The listening Fays their numbers shroud;
And as the soaring song aspires
Return the strain with echoing lyres.
Behold, unrivall'd power, behold
The wondrous scene thy lays unfold.
Enchantress! o'er that faded cheek
Serenely stealing tears bespeak
What lenient aid thy notes impart,
What balm to heal a wounded heart.
Grief's raging pang for thee subsides,
And passion checks his whelming tides.
The swain revives! he feels thy breath
Dispel the louring gloom of death:
He drinks thy spirit chearing note
And all his fears in Lethe float.
The wondrous scene thy lays unfold.
Enchantress! o'er that faded cheek
Serenely stealing tears bespeak
What lenient aid thy notes impart,
What balm to heal a wounded heart.
Grief's raging pang for thee subsides,
And passion checks his whelming tides.
10
Dispel the louring gloom of death:
He drinks thy spirit chearing note
And all his fears in Lethe float.
Now, goddess, now, thy labours cease!
The lover's sorrow sinks to peace.
Assembled Elves! in close array
Your squadrons join, and haste away!
In dewy grot, or leafy bower,
With mystic dance consume the hour,
Till orient rays of ruddy light
Announce the falling reign of night.
The lover's sorrow sinks to peace.
Assembled Elves! in close array
Your squadrons join, and haste away!
In dewy grot, or leafy bower,
With mystic dance consume the hour,
Till orient rays of ruddy light
Announce the falling reign of night.
Bright guardian of melodious lay,
Awhile farewell! I own thy sway:
My bosom feels thy sacred fire,
I bend obedient to thy lyre.
Lives there a wretch of rugged soul
Unaw'd by Music's soft controul?
Let love the senseless savage wound—
Ev'n he shall own the force of sound.
Awhile farewell! I own thy sway:
My bosom feels thy sacred fire,
I bend obedient to thy lyre.
Lives there a wretch of rugged soul
Unaw'd by Music's soft controul?
Let love the senseless savage wound—
Ev'n he shall own the force of sound.
11
IV. SONG.
Sleepless eye-lids dim with tears,
Languid accents, breathing woe,
Sighs of sorrow, throbbing fears—
Lovers, only lovers, know!
Languid accents, breathing woe,
Sighs of sorrow, throbbing fears—
Lovers, only lovers, know!
What tho' all in life's short day
Feel awhile the storm of grief;
Hope affords a transient ray,
Fleeting pleasures yield relief.
Feel awhile the storm of grief;
Hope affords a transient ray,
Fleeting pleasures yield relief.
Fame at length rewards the brave;
Time can envy's self destroy:
But o'er love's neglected slave
Ages pass, nor waft a joy.
Time can envy's self destroy:
But o'er love's neglected slave
Ages pass, nor waft a joy.
12
V. SONG.
Fond youth, the plaintive lyre resign,
Thy songs sincere unheeded pine,
Thy lays too deeply sigh:
Not all the mournful muse's art
Could ever win a woman's heart,
Or melt a scornful eye.
Thy songs sincere unheeded pine,
Thy lays too deeply sigh:
Not all the mournful muse's art
Could ever win a woman's heart,
Or melt a scornful eye.
Let flattery's liquid graces stream,
From every line let praises beam,
Divinely paint her charms:
Imperious beauty then may deign
With yielding smiles to meet her swain,
And bless his longing arms!
From every line let praises beam,
Divinely paint her charms:
Imperious beauty then may deign
With yielding smiles to meet her swain,
And bless his longing arms!
13
VI. SONG.
Ye dreary wilds, ye pathless glades,
Whose gloom no sounds of joy infest;
Amid your sadly-silent shades
I seek the tranquil seat of rest.
Whose gloom no sounds of joy infest;
Amid your sadly-silent shades
I seek the tranquil seat of rest.
Here let me lie in peace reclined,
Here let my loud lamenting close:
May no rude voice, no rustling wind
Disturb a mourners sweet repose!
Here let my loud lamenting close:
May no rude voice, no rustling wind
Disturb a mourners sweet repose!
If roused by love's impassion'd strain,
These eyelids ope again to weep;
May death, dissolving sorrow's chain,
Reward my cares with endless sleep!
These eyelids ope again to weep;
May death, dissolving sorrow's chain,
Reward my cares with endless sleep!
14
VII. To INSENSIBILITY.
Parent of ease, by fate assign'd
To calm the restless powers of mind,
O thou, whose solitary sway
The passions' fury train obey;
Whose might, affliction's smiles confess,
Can blunt the dagger of distress:
Too long each agonizing smart
That wakes to woe the feeling heart,
Desponding thoughts and anxious fears
Have bathed these sleepless eyes in tears!
At length from fortune's rage I fly,
And breathe to thee my votive sigh:
Love's faithless shrine I seek no more,
Thee, thee alone my lays adore.
To calm the restless powers of mind,
O thou, whose solitary sway
The passions' fury train obey;
Whose might, affliction's smiles confess,
Can blunt the dagger of distress:
Too long each agonizing smart
That wakes to woe the feeling heart,
Desponding thoughts and anxious fears
Have bathed these sleepless eyes in tears!
At length from fortune's rage I fly,
And breathe to thee my votive sigh:
Love's faithless shrine I seek no more,
Thee, thee alone my lays adore.
Tho' tempests rise, and chilling strife
Destroy the tender bloom of life;
Unalter'd nymph! no veiling tears,
No blush on thy smooth cheek appears.
Dim as cool twilight's dawning ray,
E'er yet the vivid tints of day
With orient lustre gild the plains,
Thy never changing eye remains.
Eternal source of soft repose!
From thee nor joy nor sorrow flows:
'Tis thine, with opiate smiles, to tame
Despair's wild wave and envy's flame.
At thy approach, a mournful train,
Love's pining slaves forget their pain,
Or strive with tranquil soul to bear
The sting of heart-corroding care,
Till thou with lenient hand diffuse
On every wound thy balmy dews:
Then, feeling's tyrant reign is o'er
And hope and fear distract no more.
Destroy the tender bloom of life;
15
No blush on thy smooth cheek appears.
Dim as cool twilight's dawning ray,
E'er yet the vivid tints of day
With orient lustre gild the plains,
Thy never changing eye remains.
Eternal source of soft repose!
From thee nor joy nor sorrow flows:
'Tis thine, with opiate smiles, to tame
Despair's wild wave and envy's flame.
At thy approach, a mournful train,
Love's pining slaves forget their pain,
Or strive with tranquil soul to bear
The sting of heart-corroding care,
Till thou with lenient hand diffuse
On every wound thy balmy dews:
Then, feeling's tyrant reign is o'er
And hope and fear distract no more.
Hail goddess, at whose shrine I bow!
I woo thee with no fruitless vow.
I feel at length unwonted rest
Breathe slowly o'er my labouring breast.
When fate's tormenting fiends assail,
Thus ever let my verse prevail;
Propitious thus my prayer attend
Till life, and pain, and terror end!
Should passion's storm again invade
The slumber of my peaceful shade,
Oh, shield me in thy sheltering arms,
Chase from my soul love's rude alarms;
Wave, gently wave thy magic wand—
In cold oblivion quench his brand!
I woo thee with no fruitless vow.
I feel at length unwonted rest
Breathe slowly o'er my labouring breast.
16
Thus ever let my verse prevail;
Propitious thus my prayer attend
Till life, and pain, and terror end!
Should passion's storm again invade
The slumber of my peaceful shade,
Oh, shield me in thy sheltering arms,
Chase from my soul love's rude alarms;
Wave, gently wave thy magic wand—
In cold oblivion quench his brand!
So shall the Muse unceasing pay
At thy lov'd fane a languid lay;
Where (charm'd by softly soothing sound,
While listening swains her lyre surround;)
This placid strain shall ever flow:
“If aught can calm a lover's woe,
If aught the captive mind can free—
'Tis blest Insensibility!”
At thy lov'd fane a languid lay;
Where (charm'd by softly soothing sound,
While listening swains her lyre surround;)
This placid strain shall ever flow:
“If aught can calm a lover's woe,
If aught the captive mind can free—
'Tis blest Insensibility!”
17
V. To LAURA.
Borne on the humid wing of night,
When clouds and gather'd tempests rise;
And pale-eyed spectres urge their flight
In sullen pomp along the skies:
When clouds and gather'd tempests rise;
And pale-eyed spectres urge their flight
In sullen pomp along the skies:
18
When the swift flash of horror gleams
O'er the wide heath—my passing form
A mournful fleeting phantom seems,
A kindred spirit of the storm.
O'er the wide heath—my passing form
A mournful fleeting phantom seems,
A kindred spirit of the storm.
19
So fierce the withering fiend despair
Frowns in the furrows of my cheek;
So sadly thro' the lurid air
My cries of piercing anguish break!
Frowns in the furrows of my cheek;
So sadly thro' the lurid air
My cries of piercing anguish break!
Loud-bursting down the craggy steep
The mountain torrents hoarsely roar:
Unmoved amidst the winds I weep,
Amidst th' affrighted groves deplore.
The mountain torrents hoarsely roar:
Unmoved amidst the winds I weep,
Amidst th' affrighted groves deplore.
Around tho' sever'd branches fall,
And flocks and fearful shepherds start;
Yet no tumultuous scenes appal
A lost rejected lover's heart.
And flocks and fearful shepherds start;
Yet no tumultuous scenes appal
A lost rejected lover's heart.
20
Can raging winds, can troubled skies,
Can rushing torrents raise alarms;
With cruel speed while Laura flies
To bless a favour'd Rival's arms!
Can rushing torrents raise alarms;
With cruel speed while Laura flies
To bless a favour'd Rival's arms!
At the moment this sheet was printing off, the Poems of Mrs. Robinson were sent to the author by a friend. In page 123 of that elegant collection, is contained an answer to the above Elegy, entitled “Echo to him who complains.” The Elegy is stated by Mrs. R. to have appeared in the Oracle of the 25th of June, 1790, addressed to Laura, and signed ‘Ignotus.’ In a note on this signature, the writer is supposed to be Della Crusca. Sufficiently gratified by the flattering mistake and by the exquisite poem to which it has given rise, Mr. K. would not have mentioned this circumstance, had he not been anxious to prevent every suspicion of interfering with the literary property of Mr. Merry.
In the years 1789 and 1790, Mr. K. resided in London, where he wrote this Elegy. Having a particular reason to wish its insertion under the signature Ignotus, he left a copy himself at the Office of The World, where he was unknown. Not observing its appearance, he called a few days after, requesting the composition might be returned, but was informed it had been mislaid. How it came into The Oracle, he cannot explain.
The superior elegance of Mrs. Robinson's Echo, induces the author to present it to the reader, who will perceive a difference in the last stanza of the original Elegy, which in its primitive form, ended thus:
“What power like Laura's scornful eye
“Awakes the ruthless rage of pain?
“What terror bursting from the sky,
“Like Love distracts the tortur'd brain?”
“Awakes the ruthless rage of pain?
“What terror bursting from the sky,
“Like Love distracts the tortur'd brain?”
A slight variation he imagines occurred also in other verses, but the rhimes were similar.
ECHO TO HIM WHO COMPLAINS.
O fly thee from the shades of night,
Where the loud tempests yelling rise;
Where horror wings her sullen flight
Beneath the bleak and lurid skies.
Where the loud tempests yelling rise;
Where horror wings her sullen flight
Beneath the bleak and lurid skies.
As the pale light'ning swiftly gleams
O'er the scorch'd wood, thy well-known form
More radiant than an angel seems,
Contending with the ruthless storm.
O'er the scorch'd wood, thy well-known form
More radiant than an angel seems,
Contending with the ruthless storm.
I see the scowling witch, Despair
Drink the big tear that scalds thy cheek;
While thro' the dark and turbid air,
The screams of haggard Envy break.
Drink the big tear that scalds thy cheek;
While thro' the dark and turbid air,
The screams of haggard Envy break.
From the cold mountain's flinty steep,
I hear the dashing waters roar;
Ah! turn thee, turn thee, cease to weep,
Thou hast no reason to deplore.
I hear the dashing waters roar;
Ah! turn thee, turn thee, cease to weep,
Thou hast no reason to deplore.
See fell Despair expiring fall,
See Envy from thy glances start;
No more shall howling blasts appall,
Or with'ring grief corrode thy heart.
See Envy from thy glances start;
No more shall howling blasts appall,
Or with'ring grief corrode thy heart.
See Friendship from her azure eye
Drops the fond balm for ev'ry pain
She comes, the offspring of the sky,
“To raze the troubles of the brain.”
Drops the fond balm for ev'ry pain
She comes, the offspring of the sky,
“To raze the troubles of the brain.”
21
IX. To FORTUNE.
Resistless anguish fires my thought
With energy to madness wrought—
Burst wildly forth, ye songs of woe,
Ye lyric streams, tumultuous flow!
With energy to madness wrought—
Burst wildly forth, ye songs of woe,
Ye lyric streams, tumultuous flow!
Spirit! to whom the frantic cries
Of fate's desponding victims rise,
Where discord wakes her thrilling strain,
Where shrieks of war affright the plain;
Where clashing arms terrific shine—
To drench the field in blood be thine!
From scenes like these, avenger, say
What lures thy wandering steps away?
Dispel not thus the sacred charm
That soothed my slumbering soul's alarm,
Nor chase the vision of relief,
Nor whelm a wretch in tenfold grief!
Of fate's desponding victims rise,
Where discord wakes her thrilling strain,
Where shrieks of war affright the plain;
Where clashing arms terrific shine—
To drench the field in blood be thine!
From scenes like these, avenger, say
What lures thy wandering steps away?
Dispel not thus the sacred charm
That soothed my slumbering soul's alarm,
Nor chase the vision of relief,
Nor whelm a wretch in tenfold grief!
22
Thro' life's relentless tempest tost,
Methought each sense of pain was lost:
Oblivious peace my sighs suppress'd,
And bade my fluttering pulses rest.
But rudely torn from languor's shrine,
O'erwhelm'd with grief, again I pine.
Peace wings afar her trackless flight—
New terrors rise: new fears affright!
Methought each sense of pain was lost:
Oblivious peace my sighs suppress'd,
And bade my fluttering pulses rest.
But rudely torn from languor's shrine,
O'erwhelm'd with grief, again I pine.
Peace wings afar her trackless flight—
New terrors rise: new fears affright!
“Sunk in eternal slumber, lies
The maid that erst awoke thy sighs:
Nor weeping love's unspotted truth,
Nor all the fervid prayers of youth,
Nor virtue's warmest wish could save
The bloom of beauty from the grave.”
The maid that erst awoke thy sighs:
Nor weeping love's unspotted truth,
Nor all the fervid prayers of youth,
Nor virtue's warmest wish could save
The bloom of beauty from the grave.”
My big heart beats: my glowing veins
Vibrate with more than mortal pains:
My shivering limbs, my visage pale,
Too well affirm the mournful tale.
Vibrate with more than mortal pains:
My shivering limbs, my visage pale,
Too well affirm the mournful tale.
Tormenter! cease that sickly smile!
Can airy phantoms now beguile?
To crown ambition's brow, display
The victor's palm, the poet's bay—
No blooming wreath my songs require,
No ray demand of heavenly fire.
For tearless eyes thy charms unfold,
Thy glittering piles of guilty gold;
Me wealth nor fame nor power can please—
All, all I ask is languid ease,
Lethargic hours from passion free,
Not joy but listless apathy!
Can airy phantoms now beguile?
23
The victor's palm, the poet's bay—
No blooming wreath my songs require,
No ray demand of heavenly fire.
For tearless eyes thy charms unfold,
Thy glittering piles of guilty gold;
Me wealth nor fame nor power can please—
All, all I ask is languid ease,
Lethargic hours from passion free,
Not joy but listless apathy!
E'er fate this humble boon denies,
To thee I raise my streaming eyes!
Shall life consum'd by slow decay
In lingering torment waste away?
Rouse all thy fury! swiftly shed
Heaven's fiercest horrors o'er my head!
Rend the frail texture of my frame,
With withering heat my blood inflame!
Let death approach with hurried pace
And clasp me in his cold embrace!
To thee I raise my streaming eyes!
Shall life consum'd by slow decay
In lingering torment waste away?
Rouse all thy fury! swiftly shed
Heaven's fiercest horrors o'er my head!
Rend the frail texture of my frame,
With withering heat my blood inflame!
Let death approach with hurried pace
And clasp me in his cold embrace!
| Poems by William Kendall | |