The Land of the Muses a poem, In the Manner of Spenser. With Poems on several Occasions. By Hugh Downman |
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A Picture of HUMAN LIFE. |
 | The Land of the Muses |  |
A Picture of HUMAN LIFE.
Elate with Hope, and her enlivening fires,
I rush'd impetuous o'er the fields of youth,
I gave up all my soul to gay desires,
And Fancy's dazzling form mistook for Truth.
I rush'd impetuous o'er the fields of youth,
I gave up all my soul to gay desires,
And Fancy's dazzling form mistook for Truth.
She held her magick glass, and strait I saw
A youth with rare accomplishments endued;
Perfect he seem'd; nor quickly did I know
That struck with wonder of myself I stood.
A youth with rare accomplishments endued;
Perfect he seem'd; nor quickly did I know
That struck with wonder of myself I stood.
When known, a transient blush o'erspread my face:
Self-love soon took the sanguine stain away,
Increas'd each mental visionary grace,
And deck'd each feature with a brighter ray.
Self-love soon took the sanguine stain away,
Increas'd each mental visionary grace,
And deck'd each feature with a brighter ray.
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Well-pleas'd the treacherous Nymph, O youth, she cried,
Point thy ideas to the highest aim:
Why are superiour virtues still untried?
Why does not Worth its lawful honours claim?
Point thy ideas to the highest aim:
Why are superiour virtues still untried?
Why does not Worth its lawful honours claim?
Inactive rise! lift thy aspiring brow;
Thine be the joys of wealth, of power, of fame;
Let thy young breast with emulation glow;
Behold the noblest, and be thou the same.
Thine be the joys of wealth, of power, of fame;
Let thy young breast with emulation glow;
Behold the noblest, and be thou the same.
Fool that I was, with giddy transport blind,
I swallow'd the sweet sound with eager ear;
My eyes the latent poison could not find,
Nor heart think evil of a shape so fair.
I swallow'd the sweet sound with eager ear;
My eyes the latent poison could not find,
Nor heart think evil of a shape so fair.
Drunk as with wine, methought I could attain
To be of each admiring tongue the theme,
Whether I will'd th'heroick palm to gain,
Or haunt the laurell'd shade of Academe.
To be of each admiring tongue the theme,
Whether I will'd th'heroick palm to gain,
Or haunt the laurell'd shade of Academe.
Whether with Love to waste the smiling hours,
To melt the captiv'd virgin's icy breast,
Or wander in the Muses roseate bowers,
Weave the proud wreathe, and dignify my crest.
To melt the captiv'd virgin's icy breast,
Or wander in the Muses roseate bowers,
Weave the proud wreathe, and dignify my crest.
Methought my penetrating eye could dart
Through the black plots and mysteries of state,
Pierce the thick foldings of the human heart,
And rule with Judgement's voice the deep debate.
Through the black plots and mysteries of state,
Pierce the thick foldings of the human heart,
And rule with Judgement's voice the deep debate.
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Wildly fantastick; the fierce northern blast,
I might as soon with guiding rein have taught,
Or dry-shod o'er the billowy sea have past,
As into form have chang'd unbodied thought.
I might as soon with guiding rein have taught,
Or dry-shod o'er the billowy sea have past,
As into form have chang'd unbodied thought.
Ye gay delusions, whither are ye fled,
Begot by Health on Fiction's lovely form?
Will ye ne'er gently hover o'er my head?
With rapture ne'er again my bosom warm?
Begot by Health on Fiction's lovely form?
Will ye ne'er gently hover o'er my head?
With rapture ne'er again my bosom warm?
Say, canst thou bid old Time with stealthy pace,
Retread the paths his feet have trod before?
The sun mete backward his celestial race?
And we'll again our pleasing dreams restore.
Retread the paths his feet have trod before?
The sun mete backward his celestial race?
And we'll again our pleasing dreams restore.
Again, from the full fount of life thy blood,
Swift bursting forth, shall swell each turgid vein;
Th'enthusiastic spirits in a flood,
From each strong nerve shall fire thy kindling brain.
Swift bursting forth, shall swell each turgid vein;
Th'enthusiastic spirits in a flood,
From each strong nerve shall fire thy kindling brain.
This Fate withstands;—and Reason, sternest guide,
Contracts in narrower bounds th'excursive view;
She plainly shews, throughout the fleeting tide
Of Life, what airy bubbles we pursue.
Contracts in narrower bounds th'excursive view;
She plainly shews, throughout the fleeting tide
Of Life, what airy bubbles we pursue.
By her does conscious Diffidence and Fear
Ambition's rage, and Fancy's whims controul,
The flighty purposes to youth so dear,
And that wild elasticity of soul.
Ambition's rage, and Fancy's whims controul,
The flighty purposes to youth so dear,
And that wild elasticity of soul.
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Hence then, ye vain, ye unsubstantial joys,
Able the self-deluded soul to bless.—
Yet when, alas, among life's real toys,
Shall I such soothing happiness possess!
Able the self-deluded soul to bless.—
Yet when, alas, among life's real toys,
Shall I such soothing happiness possess!
| The Land of the Muses | |