Poems and Plays :: :: University of Virginia Library

With each perfection dawning on her mind,
All Beauty's treasure op'ning on her cheek:
Each flatt'ring hope subdu'd, each wish resign'd,
Does gay Ophelia this lone mansion seek?

Say, gentle maid, what prompts thee to forsake
The paths thy birth and fortune strew with flow'rs?
Thro' Nature's kind endearing ties to break,
And waste in cloister'd walls thy pensive hours?

Let sober thought restrain thine erring zeal,
That guides thy footsteps to the vestal gate;
Lest thy soft heart (this friendship bids reveal)
Like mine unblest, should mourn like mine too late.

Does some angelic lonely-whisp'ring voice,
Some sacred impulse, or some dream divine,
Applaud the dictates of thy early choice?—
Approach with confidence the awful shrine.

There kneeling at yon altar's marble base,
(While tears of rapture from thine eye-lid steal,
And smiling Heav'n illumes thy soul with grace)
Pronounce the vow thou never can'st repeal.

But if misled by false-entitled friends,
Who say—‘that Peace with all her comely train,
‘From starry regions to this clime descends,
‘Smooths ev'ry frown, and softens ev'ry pain:

‘That vestals tread Contentment's flow'ry lawn,
‘Approv'd of Innocence, by Health carest:
‘That rob'd in colours of the vernal dawn,
‘Celestial Hope sits smiling at their breast.’

Suspect their syren song and artful style,
Their pleasing sounds some treach'rous thought conceal;
Full oft does pride with sainted voice beguile,
And sordid int'rest wear the mask of zeal.

A tyrant abbess here perchance may reign,
Who, fond of pow'r, affects th' imperial nod;
Looks down disdainful on her female train,
And rules the cloister with an iron rod.

Reflection sickens at the life-long tie,
Back-glancing Mem'ry acts her busy part;
Its charm the world unfolds to Fancy's eye,
And sheds allurement on the youthful heart.

Lo! Discord enters at the sacred porch,
Rage in her frown, and terror on her crest:
E'en at the hallow'd lamps she lights her torch,
And holds it flaming to each virgin breast.

But since the legends of monastic bliss,
By fraud are fabled, and by youth believ'd;
Unbought experience learn from my distress,
Oh! mark my lot, and be no more deceiv'd.

Three lustres scarce with hasty wing were fled,
When I was torn from ev'ry weeping friend;
A trembling victim to the temple led,
And (blush ye parents!) by a father's hand.

Yet then what solemn scenes deceiv'd my choice!
The pealing organ's animating sound
The choral virgins' captivating voice,
The blazing altar, and the priests around:

The train of youth array'd in purest white,
Who scatter'd myrtles as I pass'd along:
The thousand lamps that pour'd a flood of light,
The kiss of Peace from all the vestal throng;

The golden censers toss'd with graceful hand,
Whose fragrant breath Arabian odor shed;
Of meek-ey'd novices the circling band,
With blooming chaplets wreath'd around their head.

My willing soul was caught in rapture's flame,
While sacred ardor glow'd in ev'ry vein;
Methought applauding angels sung my name,
And Heav'n's unsullied glories gilt the fane.

Methought in sun-beams rob'd the heav'nly spouse
Indulg'd the longings of my holy love:
Not undelighted heard my virgin vows—
While o'er the altar wav'd the mystic dove.

This temporary transport soon expir'd,
My drooping heart confess'd a dreadful void:
Now helpless, heav'n-abandon'd, uninspir'd,
I tread this dome, to Misery allied.

No wak'ning joy informs my sullen breast,
Thro' op'ning skies no radiant seraph smiles;
No saint descends to soothe my soul to rest;
No dream of bliss the dreary night beguiles.

Here haggard Discontent still haunts my view,
The umber'd genius reigns in ev'ry place;
Arrays each virtue in the darkest hue,
Chills ev'ry pray'r and cancels ev'ry grace.

I meet her ever in the chearless cell,
The gloomy grotto and the awful wood;
I hear her ever in the midnight bell,
The chiding gale, and hoarse-resounding flood.

This caus'd a mother's tender tears to flow,
(The sad remembrance time shall ne'er erase)
When having seal'd th' irrevocable vow,
I hasten'd to receive her last embrace.

Yet ne'er did her maternal voice unfold
This cloister'd scene in all its horror drest;
Nor did she then my trembling steps with-hold,
When here I enter'd a reluctant guest.

Ah! could she view her only child betray'd
And let submission o'er her love prevail?
Th' unfeeling priest why did she not upbraid,
Forbid the vow, and rend the hov'ring veil?

Alas! she might not—her relentless lord
Had seal'd her lips, and chid the rising tear;
So Anguish in her breast conceal'd its hoard,
And all the Mother sunk in dumb despair.

But thou who own'st a Father's sacred name,
What act impell'd thee to this ruthless deed?
What crime had forfeited my filial claim?
And giv'n (Oh! blasting thought) thy heart to bleed?

If then thine injur'd child deserve thy care,
Oh! haste and bear her from this lonesome gloom:
In vain—no words can soothe his rigid ear;
And iron laws have riveted my doom.

Yet let me to my fate submissive bow;
From fatal symptoms, if I right conceive,
This stream, Ophelia, has not long to flow,
This voice to murmur, and this breast to heave.

Ah! when extended on th' untimely bier,
To yonder vault this form shall be convey'd;
Thou'lt not refuse to shed one grateful tear,
And breathe the requiem to my fleeting shade.

With pious footsteps join the sable train,
As thro' the lengthening isle they take their way:
A glimmering taper let thy hand sustain,
Thy soothing voice attune the funeral lay.

Behold the minister who lately gave
The sacred veil, in garb of mournful hue,
(More friendly office), bending o'er my grave,
And sprinkling my remains with hallow'd dew:

As o'er the corse he strews the humbling dust,
The sternest heart will raise Compassion's sigh;
E'en then, no longer to his child unjust,
The tears may trickle from a Father's eye.