University of Virginia Library

Ye sacred powers of secrecy, and truth!
Rever'd by genuine love, and beauteous youth!
Viewless ye hover'd o'er the happy pair,
Whose union now became your fav'rite care;
Nor aught seem'd wanting in the nuptial bower,
By you prepar'd, at evening's settled hour,
To crown the hallow'd hymeneal rite
With modest graces, and serene delight.
Lucilio, rich in treasures of the heart,
Had tender friends, who in his joy took part;
Two now beneath his hospitable roof,
Friends of tried faith! 'gainst every peril proof!
The priest of Milan, Theodore the kind,
And a fair sister of a softer mind;
By sorrow soften'd, yet of courage strong,
And grac'd with suavity of soul, and song!
A widow'd sister! happy in a child,
In whom the promise of perfection smil'd.
Both fondly guarded by Lucilio's care,
Oft' for his bliss had join'd their cordial prayer:
The mild Marcella, and her young compeer
In all the charms, that make affection dear,
Her little Marcellina, who had shed
Tears of fond pity o'er his drooping head,
Now gaily tender for Lucilio strove
To deck of privacy the dear alcove,
Where graceful friendship waits, with zealous pride,
To sing sweet welcome to the secret bride.
Evening's bright star had shed propitious light
On fond devotion's hymeneal rite;
Proud of indissoluble ties, the pair
Seem'd with celestial joy to float in air,
Devoutly conscious, Heaven had rul'd the hour,
Each owned sweet impulse from supernal power.
Friendship, with mingled extacy, and awe,
Not prodigal of words, this union saw:
From truth's pure altar passing now serene,
All blest the sweets of love's domestic scene.
Kind gratulation form'd, for gay surprize,
A secret carol on their sacred ties;
Round them, like magic, tender music floats;
And three kind voices pour according notes.

SONG.

Kind Theodore, whose voice, divinely strong,
Gave force, and fervour to the friendly song,
Early, to guard their morrow from alarms,
Consign'd the lovers to each other's arms.
Brief was their blissful night: their hallow'd friend
Eager to bless, and cautious to defend,
Calls at the dawn his heaven-appointed charge:
Disguis'd they enter his departing barge,
And clad as pilgrims, with the priest their guide,
Grateful they launch upon a tranquil tide,
Ere Venice glitters in the morning blaze,
Her dusky towers the tender bride surveys;
With silent benediction hails the dome,
Whence Heaven directs her flight, her dangerous home!
And prays the letter, by her love addrest
To all the feelings of a father's breast,
May, when just reason calms a casual strife,
Preserve her still the darling of his life.
And if pure filial tenderness, and truth,
The genuine eloquence of artless youth,
If all, that nature, all that love can plead
To turn a parent from a barbarous deed;
If these strong charms were potent to assuage
The cruel passions of ambitious age,
Venusia's pen would, like celestial fire,
Have chac'd all evil from her alter'd sire.
But from his youth to wordly grandeur train'd,
Reckless of Heaven, whose guidance he disdain'd,
The fierce Donado, exercis'd in ill,
Measur'd all rights by his imperious will.
Warm with gay projects of illusive pride,
To make his daughter the rich dotard's bride,
In haste the keen Donado had return'd:
Venusia fled!—with instant rage he burn'd;
His rising fury scorn'd all mild controul,
And vengeance grew the passion of his soul;
Cunning and pride had many years possest
A joint dominion in Donado's breast;
Revenge now rose above them, like a flood;
The father thirsted for the lover's blood:
His daughter's letter, in her lord's behalf,
The savage, with a sanguinary laugh,
To atoms tore; and scattering in the air,
So wish'd the body of his foe to tear:
Yet subtle in his wrath, he would import
His vengeful wishes to Zanetti's heart.
The cold Zanetti catches not the fire,
That mounts so high in the vindictive sire.
Such want of sympathy inflam'd the more
The fierce Donado in his thirst of gore.
His frenzy spurns, whom once his flattery won,
Spurns, and abjures his ill-elected son.
Who, timely prudent, had resolv'd to spare
His age the pain to chace a flying fair;
And, with a cool good-nature, said, “his voice
Should give its sanction to Venusia's choice.”
This rash attempt to soothe his recent ire
Added new fury to the furious sire;
With rage, unmollified by thought, or time,
He plans a deep, premeditated crime:
His own hot hand a selfish dread restrains;
Him, who can burst from pity, fear enchains.
But panting still for blood, he borrows aid
From wretches, who in murder madly trade;
Two prov'd assassins now engage for hire
To sate the vengeance of the ruthless sire;
Two men they were by storms of misery driven
To lose the soul's sheet anchor, trust in Heaven!
Lucio and Basil the dire pair were call'd;
Deaf to remorse! in perils unappall'd!
Together tost on life's tempestuous flood,
Darkly they plied their partnership of blood.
These men, from justice by Donado sav'd,
Pamp'ring the passion, that his heart enslav'd;
Engag'd, by bribes of lavish fury fed,
To shew him the abhorr'd Lucilio dead.
While these, in Venice, with close guilt conspire
To sate Donado's murderous desire,
Little aware with whom they were to cope,
Leading a blissful life of love, and hope,
The happy pair, in Milan, with delight
Hid their endearments from the public sight.
The trusty Theodore had plac'd his friends,
Where o'er them secrecy's broad shield extends.
In Milan skirts a little convent stood,
Rich in sweet gardens, and a circling wood:
The hallow'd chief of this sequester'd scene,
Allied to Theodore, here hop'd to screen
From every hostile eye the happy pair,
Dear to his heart, as grateful for his care.
A rural cot, remote from every road,
In these pure precincts was their blest abode;
And, only at the hour of early day,
They ventur'd in this little quire to pray.
Here stood an organ, not of loudest power,
Yet such, as sweeten'd calm devotion's hour;
On this devout Lucilio lov'd to raise
The notes of duty of his Maker's praise;
Improv'd in privacy his favourite art,
And thus pour'd forth the fervour of his heart.

HYMN.

These pious orgies oft, at early dawn,
Had sooth'd Venusia, from the world withdrawn,
And lull'd to sacred, spiritual repose
Her terror, that from anxious love arose,
Lest the dark fury of her father's pride
Should aim to tear Lucilio from her side.
Little she dreamt, the fiends of murder knew,
And kept their destin'd victim full in view:
Fondly she hop'd, that faith, and friendship spread
Security's sure veil around his head:
But love in vain her secret would withold
From the strong search of all-corrupting gold.
The subtle ruffians, in Donado's pay,
Knew every art to baffle, and betray:
Mischief's dark war, in every mask, they wage,
Of plaintive penury, and nerveless age;
By specious guile they certain knowledge gain'd,
How hopes of safety in their victims reign'd;
How the blest husband, and the secret wife,
Employ'd each moment of sequester'd life.
They deeply ponder'd on the safest time,
When to atchieve this meditated crime;
They knew, that, when the morning service past,
Venusia and her lord retir'd the last:
Of this neat quire entrusted with the key,
Lucilio there, from every terror free,
Oft linger'd, and to please his tender fair,
To her alone prolong'd the pious air,
When to enrich some heaven-devoted rhyme.
He grac'd the verse with melody sublime;
And from Venusia won enraptur'd praise
By recent music, join'd to recent lays.
Still with a cautious, tho' a proud regard,
She watch'd o'er her musician, and her bard;
With tender care she lock'd the lonely quire,
When, ling'ring there, he sung with solemn fire:
First round the door her anxious eyes she cast,
When issuing thence, to take their morn's repast,
They walk'd together, by a shady scene,
Thro' a dim cloister, to their cot serene.
It chanc'd one morn, a morn of awful note!
To sacred music they their souls devote
With long delight, and zeal 'till then unknown,
Lucilio sung, in faith's sublimest tone,
The Hymn, that spoke his confidence in God.—
And now the pavement, near the door, they trod;
But ere the quick Venusia reach'd the key,
She hears a step; she starts; she turns—and see!
In the lock'd chapel a strange figure stands!
She darts upon it with extended hands:
“'Tis an assassin!” (she exclaims, aghast)
“Fly! Fly! Lucilio, while I bind him fast!
Fly, ere his dark accomplices appear!”
With love superior to all selfish fear,
That made her tender arms an iron clasp,
She held the speechless Lucio in her grasp:
Suddenly prostrate at Lucilio's foot
The trembling Basil, for a moment mute,
Knelt, in the tears of penitence, and said,
Shaking with strong compunction, not with dread:
“We were assassins; but abjure the guilt:
Let tears atone for blood in purpose spilt!
Most true, our night in that dire purpose past;
We fixt this fatal morn Lucilio's last!
But mark! how Heaven defeats the subtlest plan
By the blest talent of this godlike man!
His harmony, inspir'd by angels, wrought
Conversion in our souls surpassing thought,
Hearing his hymn, in mutual tears we burst
Each in his brother new repentance nurst.
Our whispers, for we fear'd to speak aloud,
Have preservation to Lucilio vow'd.
Fear not, fair lady! so divinely brave!
What e'er our destiny, your lord you save.
The man, you hold as hostile to his life,
Has sworn to shield him from all future strife.”
With manly penetration, void of fear,
Lucilio saw their penitence sincere;
And fondly smiling on his lovely guard,
Whose wond'rous force still prest her prisoner hard;
“Doubt not,” he said, “my tutelary love!
Release your captive!—trust the powers above!
We are blest mortals, who, with mercy's rod,
May lead these lost, and recreant souls to God.
I read their true repentance in their eyes;
Let them attend us! fear no base surprize!
Be it our joy to give repented sin
A larger recompence, than guilt could win!”
Thus as Lucilio spoke, angelic grace
Shed a new lustre o'er his manly face:
With looks, that shew'd the fondness of her soul,
Venusia yielded to her lord's controul;
And pressing his dear hand, with speechless pride,
Homeward she walk'd exulting by his side;
Yet hardly free from terrors anxious sway:
While, at his bidding, in their dusky way
Advancing, first along the sacred dome,
Their converts lead, and reach her rural home.

The brave Lucilio, anxious now alone
To guide his penitents to mercy's throne,
Treats them as humble friends; with kind concern
Deigns all the story of their lives to learn;
And, with just foresight of their future days,
Appoints their path of peace, and prayer, and praise.
From youth Lucilio cherish'd in his mind,
A bright ambition to befriend mankind;
His heart's prime joy to shield the virtuous poor!
Their wants to succour, and their faith secure!
Oft his alert benevolence supplied
Aid, that his fortune seem'd to have denied.
Heaven, who had tried with sorrow's sharp controul
The various virtues of his manly soul,
Now gave him, with new funds of love, and health,
Proportion'd to his bounteous temper, wealth.
A legacy unhop'd, a tide of gold
Had, since his nuptials, to his coffers roll'd;
And grateful, he the timely gift employs
To prove of affluence the noblest joys.
It chanc'd, when young, in Florence he had known
The friends of Lucio, who would now atone
For unaccomplish'd crimes; this hapless man,
Thro' whose cleans'd heart unfeign'd repentance ran,
Describ'd his parents by his wrongs undone,
And wasting life in weeping for their son.
“I know them—yes! they were a happy pair,
Ere vice had caught their offspring in her snare.
Dark snares of ill round many a man extend;
Burst by a few, who find in God a friend!
And be it ours,” (the just Lucilio cried)
“To praise the rescue, that Heaven deigns to guide!
Go, Lucio! bid thy parents grieve no more!
Their drooping age God sends thee to restore:
They will, in thy regenerated mind,
Hail his best gift, and every comfort find;
For while in thee a filial guard they bless,
My constant care shall shield them from distress.”
While grateful Lucio he to Florence sends,
Basil, not less reform'd, his host attends,
Till pleas'd Venusia, every fear above,
And hoping all things from Lucilio's love,
Prepares a packet, to her sire addrest,
In which their blended eloquence exprest
Every kind wish, that filial hearts can feel,
To soothe a father's pride with tender zeal:
To these the daughter adds, with duty warm,
Gifts of affection, in a graceful form,
A radiant purse, that may respect command;
Ingenious labour of her skilful hand!
A symbol, fondly fashion'd to impart
Her lover's temper to her father's heart!
Him she informs, her busy hours produce
A fellow-purse for her Lucilio's use,
Who, now enrich'd by fortune, would be proud,
If to his zeal such honours are allow'd,
To make his wealth an agent to fulfil
Each gracious purpose of Donado's will.

Charm'd with her husband's unresenting mind,
To her fell sire magnanimously kind!
Fondly she thinks, no anger can resist
Friendship so noble; and, all fear dismist,
She pants to see her messenger return,
While hope's gay meteors in her bosom burn.
Not so the cautious Theodore! aware
How foil'd revenge relays the deadly snare,
Conscious how potent, and how fierce their foe,
His anxious kindness would prevent the blow,
And place his friends, so cruelly pursued,
In scenes, where danger can no more intrude:
Now such a scene he seeks, while, blest in love,
And peaceful confidence in powers above,
The firm Lucilio cherishes, with joy,
The hopes, that gay Venusia's mind employ;
And for defence, so marvellously given,
Thus pours his warm melodious thanks to Heaven.

HYMN.

While pleas'd the studies of her lord to share,
Venusia joins him in the tuneful prayer,
Or, by the fervour of her fond applause,
New bursts of genius from his fancy draws;
Her terrors in devout affection drown'd,
Her soul appears imparadis'd in sound.
But soon, too soon! new tidings of affright
Turn to keen anguish all her keen delight.
The good Marcella, vigilantly just,
To whom alone Venusia would entrust
Her touching letters, and her gifts, design'd
To soothe her sire's exasperated mind,
Had tried in vain, what friendship could inspire,
To melt in tenderness his stubborn ire.
She mourns the fruitless end of all her care;
And bids the deeply-threaten'd friends beware,
Frankly imparting, (what, she thought, might tend
To warn her fearless brother, and defend,)
The savage words, that horribly severe,
Ruthless Donado thunder'd in her ear:
“I have no daughter! and the thief, who stole,
Who stealing marr'd the jewel of my soul,
I deem a wretch too base for earth to bear!”
When these dire words first struck the filial fair,
Their baleful spirit, like a subtle pest,
Shot death-like chillness thro' Venusia's breast;
She sicken'd with a fear, that seized her brain;
A terror, such as life could scarce sustain!
Reason, that spurn'd it, still it rose above;
It was the fear to lose Lucilio's love;
His life she deem'd secure; for Heaven had shewn
Its care to shield a servant of its own:
But, tender as he was, Lucilio's frame
Inclos'd a heart, that outrage must enflame!
Against his will, that heart must soon acquire
Hate for the offspring of a barb'rous sire.
This dark delirium chain'd her to her bed;
There love the tears of tend'rest pity shed.
Two nights, two days, incessant guard he kept;
His trembling maniac watch'd, and never slept;
Lucilio's hand alone her strength renew'd
With frequent medicine, or less frequent food;
On the third morn, as, seated by her side,
He watch'd her waking, with mixt grief, and pride,
Heavens! how his heart exulted to descry
Health's milder radiance dawning from her eye!
Around his neck one sportive arm she flung;
And, as inspir'd, the sweet enthusiast sung.

SONG.

In silent extacy love heard the lay,
That show'd his won'drous intellectual sway.
Lucilio's looks, with piercing search explore
The mental life, he labour'd to restore.
He saw the lustre of her rescued mind;
And, blest the light, so gracefully enshrin'd!
Thro' her fond heart his eye shot vital fire,
And thus he gloried in his soul's desire:
“On my affection rest thy health, thy peace?
Then are they safe from danger or decrease.
I bless our God, who made thee passing fair;
I bless him, that he gave thee to my care;
Trebly I bless him, that I justly prize
The purest blessing of the bounteous skies.
O that thy sire as truly understood
Thy matchless value, and his genuine good!
Hopes to win this from Heaven I still declare
By patient duty, and unwearied prayer.”