The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge Including several pieces never before published: with an account of his life and character, by his son, George Owen Cambridge |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | BOOK IV. |
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 | The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge |  |
163
BOOK IV.
164
ARGUMENT.
The Queen appearing to Scriblerus, as he lies in a swoon, informs him that all his misfortunes are owing to the murder of the Acrostick, for whose death he must make atonement, and celebrate games to his memory. The hero returns to the violated island, and submissively sues for peace. Then follow the games. Scriblerus establishes a lasting friendship with the islanders, and retires loaded with presents. He pursues his course up the Red Sea, and travels over the desart to Cairo. He briefly touches his journey from thence in quest of the petrified city, and concludes with his affliction for the loss of his treasures. The pilgrims condoling with him thereon, are interrupted by an omen which they interpret in his favour; then praying for his success, and presenting him with the most valuable of their treasures, they depart.
165
My shudd'ring frame, unnerv'd with horror, sunk
Extended on the deck a lifeless trunk.
My soul uncumber'd with corporeal ties,
At large thro' fancy's boundless empire flies,
Full in my sight the Queen's lov'd form appears,
Awakes reflexion, and renews my tears.
But soon her voice my rising griefs forbad,
And thus began the visionary shade.
Extended on the deck a lifeless trunk.
My soul uncumber'd with corporeal ties,
At large thro' fancy's boundless empire flies,
Full in my sight the Queen's lov'd form appears,
Awakes reflexion, and renews my tears.
But soon her voice my rising griefs forbad,
And thus began the visionary shade.
I come not fondly to upbraid, but show
The fatal origin of all thy woe,
And to direct its cure. From one rash deed,
Th' Acrostick's murder, all thy woes proceed.
Then seek with speed the violated coast;
With sacrifice appease his injur'd ghost.
Games and lustrations must avert thy doom,
And rites exequial grace his honour'd tomb.
Yet, ere from hence the parting sail you spread
Be one sad office to my mem'ry paid.
The fatal origin of all thy woe,
And to direct its cure. From one rash deed,
Th' Acrostick's murder, all thy woes proceed.
Then seek with speed the violated coast;
With sacrifice appease his injur'd ghost.
Games and lustrations must avert thy doom,
And rites exequial grace his honour'd tomb.
166
Be one sad office to my mem'ry paid.
In yon lone grove's remotest corner stands
A structure, rais'd by these ill fated hands.
Huge intermingling fibrous roots, dispos'd
With curious art, a pyramid composed.
Bones lin'd the walls, in rustick order placed:
The gloomy roof the smoak of tapers graced:
Skulls grinn'd around, and ashes lay beneath:
The bow'r of contemplation and of death.
Here as I sat and moan'd my widow'd love
With tears, my hapless hands Asbestus wove,
And form'd a shroud. To this my corse intrust,
And save my ashes from the vulgar dust:
While quick-consuming flames at once devour
My poor remains, and death-devoted bower.
With marble then the pyramid replace;
And let my bones inurn'd the summit grace.
A structure, rais'd by these ill fated hands.
Huge intermingling fibrous roots, dispos'd
With curious art, a pyramid composed.
Bones lin'd the walls, in rustick order placed:
The gloomy roof the smoak of tapers graced:
Skulls grinn'd around, and ashes lay beneath:
The bow'r of contemplation and of death.
Here as I sat and moan'd my widow'd love
With tears, my hapless hands Asbestus wove,
And form'd a shroud. To this my corse intrust,
And save my ashes from the vulgar dust:
167
My poor remains, and death-devoted bower.
With marble then the pyramid replace;
And let my bones inurn'd the summit grace.
With sighs she ended. Thrice in vain I strove
To clasp the fleeting object of my love.
She flies my grasp unfelt, as shadows pass,
Or hands protruded from the concave glass.
To clasp the fleeting object of my love.
She flies my grasp unfelt, as shadows pass,
Or hands protruded from the concave glass.
Obedient to the visionary fair,
Her obsequies employ our pious care.
The pile consum'd, with marble we replace,
And with her bones inurn'd the summit grace.
Then naked run, in frantick courses, round
Th' anointed tomb with flow'rs and chaplets crown'd.
Such mystick rites to great Pelides' shade,
On Xanthus' banks, Æmathia's hero paid.
Her obsequies employ our pious care.
The pile consum'd, with marble we replace,
And with her bones inurn'd the summit grace.
Then naked run, in frantick courses, round
Th' anointed tomb with flow'rs and chaplets crown'd.
168
On Xanthus' banks, Æmathia's hero paid.
With prosp'rous winds we sail. The joyful crew
Transported hail the wish'd-for shores in view.
Strait we select a venerable band;
The peaceful olive waves in every hand.
Onward they march, and to the chiefs explain
Our deep contrition for th' Acrostick slain:
And sue for peace. The bards accept our love
With mutual zeal, and to the temple move
To ratify their vows. An awful shrine!
Sacred to Phœbus; where at once combine
Whate'er of splendor, beauty, grace, or art,
The most exalted fancy can impart.
Nor yields this pile to that celestial fane,
The work of Vulcan, in th' ætherial plain.
Transported hail the wish'd-for shores in view.
Strait we select a venerable band;
The peaceful olive waves in every hand.
Onward they march, and to the chiefs explain
Our deep contrition for th' Acrostick slain:
And sue for peace. The bards accept our love
With mutual zeal, and to the temple move
To ratify their vows. An awful shrine!
Sacred to Phœbus; where at once combine
Whate'er of splendor, beauty, grace, or art,
The most exalted fancy can impart.
Nor yields this pile to that celestial fane,
The work of Vulcan, in th' ætherial plain.
Within the dome, in lofty niches stood
Six statues carv'd of cedar's od'rous wood.
The sacred band great Triphiodorus leads;
High o'er the baffled alphabet he treads.
Next him th' intrepid Chœrilus appears;
His boastful hand the royal bounty bears.
Elate with ancient praise, old Bavius sits
There Leoninus, first of modern wits.
On the proud elephant, in triumph, thron'd,
Querno, with Rome's imperial laurel crown'd,
Shakes his anointed head, in act to speak,
While tears of joy run trickling down his cheek.
The next, a lofty poetess was seen;
Beauteous her face, majestic was her mien.
Severe reward of pride! that lovely form
No more thy transmigrated soul shall warm;
Chang'd to a bird, for ever doom'd to fly
With party-colour'd plumes, a chatt'ring pye.
Six statues carv'd of cedar's od'rous wood.
169
High o'er the baffled alphabet he treads.
Next him th' intrepid Chœrilus appears;
His boastful hand the royal bounty bears.
Elate with ancient praise, old Bavius sits
There Leoninus, first of modern wits.
On the proud elephant, in triumph, thron'd,
Querno, with Rome's imperial laurel crown'd,
Shakes his anointed head, in act to speak,
While tears of joy run trickling down his cheek.
The next, a lofty poetess was seen;
Beauteous her face, majestic was her mien.
170
No more thy transmigrated soul shall warm;
Chang'd to a bird, for ever doom'd to fly
With party-colour'd plumes, a chatt'ring pye.
Soon as I tread the temple's sacred floor,
The laurel shakes, the hollow caverns roar:
Bedew'd with sweat, each awful image stood,
And big round drops fell from the hallow'd wood.
The vulgar tremble, and would quit the fane,
But the skill'd seer pronounc'd their terrors vain.
No threaten'd ills these boding signs portend:
The great Scriblerus comes your dearest friend.
A copious subject for your labour'd song,
To tire each hand, and weary ev'ry tongue:
Th' extensive theme his glorious deeds afford,
Shall sweat six well-breath'd poets to record.
He said: and bade them ply the genial feast.
Thence, sated, all retire to needful rest.
The laurel shakes, the hollow caverns roar:
Bedew'd with sweat, each awful image stood,
And big round drops fell from the hallow'd wood.
The vulgar tremble, and would quit the fane,
But the skill'd seer pronounc'd their terrors vain.
No threaten'd ills these boding signs portend:
The great Scriblerus comes your dearest friend.
A copious subject for your labour'd song,
To tire each hand, and weary ev'ry tongue:
Th' extensive theme his glorious deeds afford,
Shall sweat six well-breath'd poets to record.
He said: and bade them ply the genial feast.
Thence, sated, all retire to needful rest.
Soon as Aurora's beams disperse the gloom,
The pious croud surround th' Acrostick's tomb:
With solemn pomp begin the rites divine,
Pouring the tepid milk and sparkling wine,
And consecrated flour—when, round the grave,
Strange to relate, the ground was seen to heave.
A batten'd mole arises midst the heaps
Of crumbled earth, and to the viands creeps:
Around he strays, the rich libation sips,
And tastes the sacred flour with harmless lips.
Thus fed with holy food, the wond'rous guest
Within the hollow tomb retires to rest.
The pious croud surround th' Acrostick's tomb:
171
Pouring the tepid milk and sparkling wine,
And consecrated flour—when, round the grave,
Strange to relate, the ground was seen to heave.
A batten'd mole arises midst the heaps
Of crumbled earth, and to the viands creeps:
Around he strays, the rich libation sips,
And tastes the sacred flour with harmless lips.
Thus fed with holy food, the wond'rous guest
Within the hollow tomb retires to rest.
Then I: Suspect no more, thrice-honor'd train,
Our vows rejected, or lustration vain.
See the familiar of th' industrious dead,
Propitious omen, on our off'rings fed!
Or shall we deem him genius of the place,
By Phœbus sent our festal pomp to grace?
Our vows rejected, or lustration vain.
See the familiar of th' industrious dead,
Propitious omen, on our off'rings fed!
Or shall we deem him genius of the place,
By Phœbus sent our festal pomp to grace?
Yon sloping hill's umbrageous side commands
The spacious ocean and the level sands:
The living marble there shall yield a seat,
While solemn games the hallow'd rites compleat.
Thither the prizes bring ordain'd to grace
The rapid victor in th' ærial race.
The spacious ocean and the level sands:
172
While solemn games the hallow'd rites compleat.
Thither the prizes bring ordain'd to grace
The rapid victor in th' ærial race.
Before the rest an ox majestic stalks:
Six monstrous legs support him as he walks.
On his bold front he rolls three glaring eyes,
And twice ten vulgar oxen was his price.
Deidemon next conducted to the shore
A female captive valued but at four.
To her, Machaon, all thy arts were known,
To strain the bandage, or replace the bone.
Six monstrous legs support him as he walks.
On his bold front he rolls three glaring eyes,
And twice ten vulgar oxen was his price.
Deidemon next conducted to the shore
A female captive valued but at four.
To her, Machaon, all thy arts were known,
To strain the bandage, or replace the bone.
My swelling heart unable to restrain,
I rose, and thus addrest the list'ning train.
Behold yon matchless beast ordain'd to grace,
The rapid victor in th' ærial race.
None from ourself that prize should bear away;
But not for triumph is this mournful day.
Far other thoughts my sorrowing hours employ,
And sad contrition holds the place of joy.
Let brisker youths their active nerves prepare,
Fit their light silken wings, and skim the buxom air.
Mov'd by my words, two youths of equal fire
Spring from the croud, and to the prize aspire.
The one a German of distinguish'd fame:
His rival from projecting Britain came.
They spread their wings, and with a rising bound,
Swift at the word together quit the ground.
The Briton's rapid flight outstrips the wind:
The lab'ring German urges close behind.
As some light bark, pursu'd by ships of force,
Stretches each sail to swell her swifter course,
The nimble Briton from his rival flies,
And soars on bolder pinions to the skies.
Sudden the string, which bound his plumage, broke;
His naked arms in yielding air he shook:
His naked arms no more support his weight,
But fail him sinking from his airy height.
Yet as he falls, so chance or fate decreed,
His rival near him urg'd his winged speed,
Not unobserv'd. (despair suggests a thought)
Fast by the foot the heedless youth he caught,
And drew th' insulting victor to the ground:
While rocks and woods with loud applause resound.
I rose, and thus addrest the list'ning train.
173
The rapid victor in th' ærial race.
None from ourself that prize should bear away;
But not for triumph is this mournful day.
Far other thoughts my sorrowing hours employ,
And sad contrition holds the place of joy.
Let brisker youths their active nerves prepare,
Fit their light silken wings, and skim the buxom air.
Mov'd by my words, two youths of equal fire
Spring from the croud, and to the prize aspire.
The one a German of distinguish'd fame:
His rival from projecting Britain came.
They spread their wings, and with a rising bound,
Swift at the word together quit the ground.
The Briton's rapid flight outstrips the wind:
The lab'ring German urges close behind.
As some light bark, pursu'd by ships of force,
Stretches each sail to swell her swifter course,
The nimble Briton from his rival flies,
And soars on bolder pinions to the skies.
174
His naked arms in yielding air he shook:
His naked arms no more support his weight,
But fail him sinking from his airy height.
Yet as he falls, so chance or fate decreed,
His rival near him urg'd his winged speed,
Not unobserv'd. (despair suggests a thought)
Fast by the foot the heedless youth he caught,
And drew th' insulting victor to the ground:
While rocks and woods with loud applause resound.
Then I: Behold yon matchless youth compell'd
By fortune, not superior skill to yield
His juster glories in the well-flown field.
But not unhonor'd shall he halt away,
Or giftless mourn this unauspicious day.
Yon damsel, for the present, suits not ill:
For much, alas! he wants her ablest skill;
And to his tent, ere morning, shall be brought,
A statue of resplendent metals wrought;
Where Icarus his silver wings expands,
And boasts the labour of his father's hands.
Now for those chiefs who cut their calmer way
Beneath the boist'rous surface of the sea,
From the tall bark the rich rewards are born:
And first was seen great Ammon's twisted horn,
By nature's hand exprest in massive stone:
Twice six stout porters with the burthen groan.
Rich Surinam produc'd the second prize;
A toad prolific, of enormous size.
High on her pregnant back her young are born,
(Her pregnant back with frequent labour torn)
Thro' her burst skin they force their painful way,
And issue a portentous birth, to-day.
To grace the third, a flowing robe was brought:
Of spider's web the curious texture wrought.
By fortune, not superior skill to yield
His juster glories in the well-flown field.
But not unhonor'd shall he halt away,
Or giftless mourn this unauspicious day.
Yon damsel, for the present, suits not ill:
For much, alas! he wants her ablest skill;
And to his tent, ere morning, shall be brought,
A statue of resplendent metals wrought;
Where Icarus his silver wings expands,
And boasts the labour of his father's hands.
175
Beneath the boist'rous surface of the sea,
From the tall bark the rich rewards are born:
And first was seen great Ammon's twisted horn,
By nature's hand exprest in massive stone:
Twice six stout porters with the burthen groan.
Rich Surinam produc'd the second prize;
A toad prolific, of enormous size.
High on her pregnant back her young are born,
(Her pregnant back with frequent labour torn)
Thro' her burst skin they force their painful way,
And issue a portentous birth, to-day.
176
Of spider's web the curious texture wrought.
First, great Agrippa to the prize pretends:
From learn'd Cornelius' lineage he descends.
His skilful hand the speedy mermaid guides
Safe from tempestuous winds and thwarting tides.
Next, long-inur'd beneath the waves to dwell,
The two descendants of the great Drebell.
One guides the Crocodile's stupendous size;
Six banks of oars, in six degrees, arise:
The other in the lighter Hydra flies,
From learn'd Cornelius' lineage he descends.
His skilful hand the speedy mermaid guides
Safe from tempestuous winds and thwarting tides.
Next, long-inur'd beneath the waves to dwell,
The two descendants of the great Drebell.
177
Six banks of oars, in six degrees, arise:
The other in the lighter Hydra flies,
Far in the sea a grove of coral stood,
The waves o'ershadowing with a branching wood.
To this, their destin'd goal, they urge their flight,
And, at the stated signal, sink from sight;
Their oars now move with wide-expanded sweep,
And now return contracted thro' the deep.
The Hydra leads: Drebell, elate of soul,
His rivals eyes, regardless of the goal:
With fond assurance deems the prize his own;
And oft in thought he weighs the pond'rous stone.
The waves o'ershadowing with a branching wood.
To this, their destin'd goal, they urge their flight,
And, at the stated signal, sink from sight;
Their oars now move with wide-expanded sweep,
And now return contracted thro' the deep.
The Hydra leads: Drebell, elate of soul,
His rivals eyes, regardless of the goal:
With fond assurance deems the prize his own;
And oft in thought he weighs the pond'rous stone.
178
O justest picture of the human mind,
Rash tho' unknowing, confident tho' blind.
Plung'd in the depths of error, we decree:
Boldly we judge of what we dimly see;
And, too impatient for Truth's sober pace,
We follow light-wing'd hope's delusive chace.
Some air-drawn phantom leads our eyes astray,
Blind to the nearer rocks which choak our dang'rous way.
Rash tho' unknowing, confident tho' blind.
Plung'd in the depths of error, we decree:
Boldly we judge of what we dimly see;
And, too impatient for Truth's sober pace,
We follow light-wing'd hope's delusive chace.
Some air-drawn phantom leads our eyes astray,
Blind to the nearer rocks which choak our dang'rous way.
Thus wrapt in thought, the Chief incautious drove
His vessel's side against th' entangling grove.
The branching coral snapt th' extended oars,
And the rash youth his vanish'd hopes deplores.
And now the wretch beholds, with jealous eyes,
The Mermaid next advancing for the prize.
Fraternal love a treach'rous thought inspires,
He loads his engines with the Grecian fires:
And, as the rival barge triumphant past,
Against her sides the fierce bitumen cast.
Wide rage the fires. The crew with hasty care,
The raw bull-hides and vinegar prepare
To damp the flames, and quit the needful oar:
Swift flies the well-row'd Crocodile before,
Sweeps circling round the grove and makes the shore.
Now, her defrauded honors to regain,
The Mermaid plies her oars, but plies in vain.
Too well the fraudful brother's arts prevail;
Applauding shouts her conqu'ring rival hail.
At length the young Drebellides returns,
Tho' half her oars the crippled Hydra mourns.
As when the hungry Crab in India's main,
Whose body two unequal legs sustain,
Intent some oyster's op'ning shell to spoil,
Moves to the gaping prey with aukward toil;
His larger claw, with treach'rous pebbles load,
Drives him obliquely sideling from the road;
The Hydra thus, impell'd by partial force,
Steer'd thro' the waves her lame and tardy course.
His vessel's side against th' entangling grove.
The branching coral snapt th' extended oars,
And the rash youth his vanish'd hopes deplores.
And now the wretch beholds, with jealous eyes,
The Mermaid next advancing for the prize.
Fraternal love a treach'rous thought inspires,
He loads his engines with the Grecian fires:
179
Against her sides the fierce bitumen cast.
Wide rage the fires. The crew with hasty care,
The raw bull-hides and vinegar prepare
To damp the flames, and quit the needful oar:
Swift flies the well-row'd Crocodile before,
Sweeps circling round the grove and makes the shore.
Now, her defrauded honors to regain,
The Mermaid plies her oars, but plies in vain.
Too well the fraudful brother's arts prevail;
Applauding shouts her conqu'ring rival hail.
At length the young Drebellides returns,
Tho' half her oars the crippled Hydra mourns.
As when the hungry Crab in India's main,
Whose body two unequal legs sustain,
180
Moves to the gaping prey with aukward toil;
His larger claw, with treach'rous pebbles load,
Drives him obliquely sideling from the road;
The Hydra thus, impell'd by partial force,
Steer'd thro' the waves her lame and tardy course.
Once more, I thus bespoke th' attentive train;
Advance the skilful marksmen on the plain,
Who, with the air's comprest elastic force,
From wind-guns speed the bullet's rapid course.
High on the summit of yon lofty hill,
The milk-white courser by the sculptor's skill,
Vast as the Trojan horse, conspicuous stands,
And speaks the labor of no vulgar hands.
Who smite the steed shall share one gen'ral prize,
This radiant store of matchless butterflies.
But he whose happier ball with nicer aim
Shall strike the flank, the victor's glory claim;
For, on the flank, Laocoon's furious dart
Pierc'd the vast structure of Epeus' art.
Be his reward this valued volume, fraught
With all the stores of Wor'ster's pregnant thought.
Advance the skilful marksmen on the plain,
Who, with the air's comprest elastic force,
From wind-guns speed the bullet's rapid course.
181
The milk-white courser by the sculptor's skill,
Vast as the Trojan horse, conspicuous stands,
And speaks the labor of no vulgar hands.
Who smite the steed shall share one gen'ral prize,
This radiant store of matchless butterflies.
But he whose happier ball with nicer aim
Shall strike the flank, the victor's glory claim;
182
Pierc'd the vast structure of Epeus' art.
Be his reward this valued volume, fraught
With all the stores of Wor'ster's pregnant thought.
I said: and in the hallow'd helmet threw
The lots inscrib'd; the first Deidemon drew.
His well-aimed engine he directs with care,
And instant frees the close-imprison'd air.
Th' unerring ball pursu'd its rapid course,
And smote, with furious stroke, the sacred horse.
By strong repulsion, thence return'd, again
Roll'd back and lay, conspicuous, on the plain.
The rest, by turns, succeed their art to try,
And wing the pond'rous metal thro' the sky:
With like amaze the prodigy repeat,
And find the fatal bullet at their feet.
The lots inscrib'd; the first Deidemon drew.
His well-aimed engine he directs with care,
And instant frees the close-imprison'd air.
Th' unerring ball pursu'd its rapid course,
And smote, with furious stroke, the sacred horse.
By strong repulsion, thence return'd, again
Roll'd back and lay, conspicuous, on the plain.
The rest, by turns, succeed their art to try,
And wing the pond'rous metal thro' the sky:
183
And find the fatal bullet at their feet.
Mov'd by the impulse of some power divine,
I now resolve the solemn games to join.
When lo! a stranger omen greets our eyes,
And fills the gazer's soul with new surprize;
As thro' the air I drove the whizzing lead,
An ambient flame around the metal spread:
Such and so bright yon argent circles glow,
Which ceaseless round the orb of Saturn flow;
High o'er the rock, metereous, it flies,
Borne unextinguish'd to the lofty skies.
I now resolve the solemn games to join.
When lo! a stranger omen greets our eyes,
And fills the gazer's soul with new surprize;
As thro' the air I drove the whizzing lead,
An ambient flame around the metal spread:
Such and so bright yon argent circles glow,
Which ceaseless round the orb of Saturn flow;
High o'er the rock, metereous, it flies,
Borne unextinguish'd to the lofty skies.
Then thus the bards explain the great portent:
To thee, Scriblerus, is this omen sent;
By this unerring sign the Gods decree
Peaceful return to all thy friends: to Thee,
Successive scenes of wonder to explore
In realms far distant from thy native shore.
To thee, Scriblerus, is this omen sent;
By this unerring sign the Gods decree
Peaceful return to all thy friends: to Thee,
Successive scenes of wonder to explore
In realms far distant from thy native shore.
184
Fix'd and suspended for a while I stand:
At length approaching the prophetic band;
Perplex'd, I spake: within my dubious soul,
Hope and distrust, by turns, tumultuous roll.
At length approaching the prophetic band;
Perplex'd, I spake: within my dubious soul,
Hope and distrust, by turns, tumultuous roll.
Blest be the seer whose hallow'd tongue imparts
These sounds of comfort to our dubious hearts;
Yet tho' each omen point a prosp'rous end,
Still o'er our heads th' Acrostick's threats impend:
O! teach us by what sacrifice or pray'r
T' avert the curse, or bravely how to bear:
And, if so far thy science reach, relate
What distant realms my future toil await.
The seer replies: suffice it that you know
(For Saturn's wrath forbids the rest to show)
A prosp'rous end to all your woes decreed;
Then, spight of boding prophecies, proceed.
Such threats, nor fear to meet, nor wish to shun,
Perhaps the menace of an empty pun.
Well has thy care appeas'd th' Acrostick's soul
No doubt remains thy purpose to controul;
With speed to Egypt's sacred coast repair;
There shall a surer oracle declare
Thy future course; yet ere thou hence depart,
Receive these tokens of a friendly heart.
He said, and twelve resplendent Axes brought;
Twelve choice Ænigmas on the steel were wrought.
A shepherd's Pipe, whose each decreasing line
Resounds the honours of the tuneful Nine.
Then march six Bards, who, studious to rehearse
Our deathless labours in Pindaric verse,
Bear them, inscrib'd on six expanded wings,
And each, in turn, th' unequal measure sings.
These sounds of comfort to our dubious hearts;
Yet tho' each omen point a prosp'rous end,
Still o'er our heads th' Acrostick's threats impend:
O! teach us by what sacrifice or pray'r
T' avert the curse, or bravely how to bear:
And, if so far thy science reach, relate
What distant realms my future toil await.
The seer replies: suffice it that you know
(For Saturn's wrath forbids the rest to show)
A prosp'rous end to all your woes decreed;
Then, spight of boding prophecies, proceed.
Such threats, nor fear to meet, nor wish to shun,
Perhaps the menace of an empty pun.
Well has thy care appeas'd th' Acrostick's soul
No doubt remains thy purpose to controul;
With speed to Egypt's sacred coast repair;
There shall a surer oracle declare
185
Receive these tokens of a friendly heart.
He said, and twelve resplendent Axes brought;
Twelve choice Ænigmas on the steel were wrought.
A shepherd's Pipe, whose each decreasing line
Resounds the honours of the tuneful Nine.
Then march six Bards, who, studious to rehearse
Our deathless labours in Pindaric verse,
Bear them, inscrib'd on six expanded wings,
And each, in turn, th' unequal measure sings.
Then joining hands, ere yet I thence withdrew,
In words like these I paid my last adieu;
May Phœbus ever bless this peaceful land;
To endless time your letter'd altars stand;
Still may your groves their radiant fruits unfold;
Still bloom with sparkling gems and burnish'd gold:
May music flow from ev'ry Naiad's urn,
And echoing rocks the melting sounds return.
Nor Critic pow'rs invade this blest retreat,
To bruise your flow'rets with their hostile feet.
In words like these I paid my last adieu;
May Phœbus ever bless this peaceful land;
To endless time your letter'd altars stand;
Still may your groves their radiant fruits unfold;
Still bloom with sparkling gems and burnish'd gold:
May music flow from ev'ry Naiad's urn,
And echoing rocks the melting sounds return.
Nor Critic pow'rs invade this blest retreat,
To bruise your flow'rets with their hostile feet.
And now confirm'd our vows of mutual love;
From the gay coast, with mournful steps, we move.
From the gay coast, with mournful steps, we move.
186
Six tedious weeks we spread the swelling sails,
And drive at large before the southern gales.
When, from Arabia's spicy borders, spring
The Eastern breezes, and with od'rous wing,
Fanning the wanton air, around dispense
A grateful fragrance to the ravish'd sense.
The Erythræan sea before us lay
Our destin'd course: a far-extended bay.
In twice ten days, the inmost coast we reach,
And land our treasures on the spacious beach.
To camels now consign the precious load,
And toil, intrepid, thro' the pathless road:
The fifteenth sultry morn's auspicious light
Reveal'd great Cairo's minarets to sight.
From thence we journey'd o'er the desart plain:
There all my treasures, solace of my pain,
Sav'd through a thousand toils, but sav'd in vain,
Perish'd at once. This stroke no boding sign
Foretold: nor did the dire Acrostic join
Amidst his ruthless curses: this surpast
All other woes: the greatest and the last.
And drive at large before the southern gales.
When, from Arabia's spicy borders, spring
The Eastern breezes, and with od'rous wing,
Fanning the wanton air, around dispense
A grateful fragrance to the ravish'd sense.
The Erythræan sea before us lay
Our destin'd course: a far-extended bay.
In twice ten days, the inmost coast we reach,
And land our treasures on the spacious beach.
To camels now consign the precious load,
And toil, intrepid, thro' the pathless road:
The fifteenth sultry morn's auspicious light
Reveal'd great Cairo's minarets to sight.
From thence we journey'd o'er the desart plain:
There all my treasures, solace of my pain,
Sav'd through a thousand toils, but sav'd in vain,
Perish'd at once. This stroke no boding sign
Foretold: nor did the dire Acrostic join
187
All other woes: the greatest and the last.
Abrupt the Hero ends the wond'rous tale;
While tears in torrents o'er his words prevail.
When, rushing from the sky, the bird of Jove
A team of twenty ducks before him drove:
With trembling wing, beneath the flood they shoot,
The whelming waves elude his vain pursuit.
Ruffled with rage, th' indignant tyrant glows:
'Till from the stream a pamper'd goose arose.
Eager to her he wings his deathful way,
And his strong talons seize the goodly prey.
While tears in torrents o'er his words prevail.
When, rushing from the sky, the bird of Jove
A team of twenty ducks before him drove:
With trembling wing, beneath the flood they shoot,
The whelming waves elude his vain pursuit.
Ruffled with rage, th' indignant tyrant glows:
'Till from the stream a pamper'd goose arose.
Eager to her he wings his deathful way,
And his strong talons seize the goodly prey.
With friendly joys thus spake the pious train:
Not hard this mystic omen to explain
As yon proud bird indignant grief exprest,
With wild disorder'd flight and ruffled crest,
Or wheeling thro' the wide ætherial way,
Or vainly hov'ring o'er his vanish'd prey;
Now rais'd on sounding pinions seeks the skies,
At length successful in a nobler prize:
So shall thou meet thy rich reward at last,
And lose in present joys thy suff'rings past.
But O! for us what promised boon remains,
What gleam of hope for all our endless pains?
With these bare feet, in vain, yon hallow'd ground
Whole years we trod: no precious relic found:
No blest remains of better days could trace
'Midst impious Ottoman's usurping race;
Where barb'rous rage the sainted forms devours,
Foe to the chizzel's consecrating pow'rs.
While listless drones the Pontiff's chair degrade,
And zeal no more awakens the Crusade.
Not hard this mystic omen to explain
As yon proud bird indignant grief exprest,
With wild disorder'd flight and ruffled crest,
188
Or vainly hov'ring o'er his vanish'd prey;
Now rais'd on sounding pinions seeks the skies,
At length successful in a nobler prize:
So shall thou meet thy rich reward at last,
And lose in present joys thy suff'rings past.
But O! for us what promised boon remains,
What gleam of hope for all our endless pains?
With these bare feet, in vain, yon hallow'd ground
Whole years we trod: no precious relic found:
No blest remains of better days could trace
'Midst impious Ottoman's usurping race;
Where barb'rous rage the sainted forms devours,
Foe to the chizzel's consecrating pow'rs.
While listless drones the Pontiff's chair degrade,
And zeal no more awakens the Crusade.
They said, and from the bark a plenteous store
Of strong Asphaltos to the Hero bore.
And twelve fair apples beauteous to behold,
Whose rind refulgent vies with burnish'd gold.
But, for the fruit, a nauseous pulp is found,
Or ashes fill the vain delusive round.
Of strong Asphaltos to the Hero bore.
And twelve fair apples beauteous to behold,
Whose rind refulgent vies with burnish'd gold.
189
Or ashes fill the vain delusive round.
These gifts the Chief receives with grateful hand,
And to proud Cairo leads the wearied band.
He venerates the Soldan's ruin'd state,
And burns to find the Prophet of his fate.
And to proud Cairo leads the wearied band.
He venerates the Soldan's ruin'd state,
And burns to find the Prophet of his fate.
THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.
| The Works of Richard Owen Cambridge | |