 | DEATH'S CHOICE. Water-drops |  |
7. DEATH'S CHOICE.
The shadowy monarch, on his throne of skulls,
Sate, wearied and displeased.
“My cheerless task
Since he of Eden felt a brother's hate,”
Down to the brow that blanches as I speak,
Hath known no respite. Would that there were one
With whom to trust my cares awhile, and snatch
One moment of repose. Ho! ye who wait!
Give notice that with him most worthy found
By previous deeds, to waste the race of man,
The King of Terrors will delight to share
The glory of his kingdom.”
Mighty winds,
Swollen high to earthquake violence, and tones
Of many waters, like wild, warring seas,
Proclaimed the edict, while the lightning's spear
Wrote it in flame on every winged cloud:
Yea, with such zeal the elements conspired
To publish the decree, methought there lurked
In each, some latent, lingering hope, to win
The promised regency.
Sate, wearied and displeased.
“My cheerless task
Since he of Eden felt a brother's hate,”
Down to the brow that blanches as I speak,
Hath known no respite. Would that there were one
With whom to trust my cares awhile, and snatch
One moment of repose. Ho! ye who wait!
Give notice that with him most worthy found
By previous deeds, to waste the race of man,
The King of Terrors will delight to share
The glory of his kingdom.”
Mighty winds,
Swollen high to earthquake violence, and tones
Of many waters, like wild, warring seas,
Proclaimed the edict, while the lightning's spear
Wrote it in flame on every winged cloud:
Yea, with such zeal the elements conspired
To publish the decree, methought there lurked
In each, some latent, lingering hope, to win
The promised regency.
40
The Passions came,
Throned on their storm-clouds, and with varied voice
Thundering, or eloquent, as best beseemed
Their several natures, boasted how to quell
Life's feeble springs.
But to their claims, stern Death
Gave credence cold.
Next, fleshless Famine stalked,
Followed by fierce, unpitying Pestilence,
Still ever in their ear a mournful sound,—
The weeping of the nations.
Loudly shriek'd
A martial trump, and on his bannered car,
War, like a sovereign, came. Unnumbered spoils
Were strewed around him, and the blood of men
Flowed, as a river, 'neath his chariot wheels.
His eagle eye the promised honor scanned,
As an undoubted right. But still pale Death
Pondered and spake not, till, with haughty pride
The candidate withdrew, and trembling Earth
Shrank at his kindled wrath.
There was a pause,
As if none dare in that foiled champion's steps
Essay to tread.
At length, a bloated form
Moved slowly on, with mixed and maddening bowl.
But ere the footstool of the throne he pressed,
Death, with a father's fondness hasting down,
Throned on their storm-clouds, and with varied voice
Thundering, or eloquent, as best beseemed
Their several natures, boasted how to quell
Life's feeble springs.
But to their claims, stern Death
Gave credence cold.
Next, fleshless Famine stalked,
Followed by fierce, unpitying Pestilence,
Still ever in their ear a mournful sound,—
The weeping of the nations.
Loudly shriek'd
A martial trump, and on his bannered car,
War, like a sovereign, came. Unnumbered spoils
Were strewed around him, and the blood of men
Flowed, as a river, 'neath his chariot wheels.
His eagle eye the promised honor scanned,
As an undoubted right. But still pale Death
Pondered and spake not, till, with haughty pride
The candidate withdrew, and trembling Earth
Shrank at his kindled wrath.
There was a pause,
As if none dare in that foiled champion's steps
Essay to tread.
At length, a bloated form
Moved slowly on, with mixed and maddening bowl.
But ere the footstool of the throne he pressed,
Death, with a father's fondness hasting down,
41
Embraced, and in the seat of empire placed.
Great was the wonder, but none dare gainsay:—
For with a fearful shout, all Nature's foes,
Diseases, passions, wars and sins, confessed
Intemperance their king, and at his feet
Their boasted, time-cemented trophies, cast.
Great was the wonder, but none dare gainsay:—
For with a fearful shout, all Nature's foes,
Diseases, passions, wars and sins, confessed
Intemperance their king, and at his feet
Their boasted, time-cemented trophies, cast.
| DEATH'S CHOICE. Water-drops | |