The Christian Scholar :: :: University of Virginia Library

“The things they tell of Acheron profound—
“These are but states we see in life around.
“No wretched Tantalus fears o'er his head
“The o'erhanging stone, trembling with empty dread ;
“But fears of wrath Divine hold man in thrall,
“Lest some impending ill should on him fall.

“There are no birds that feed in Acheron
“On Tityus' breast, nor could they find whereon
“For everlasting ages there to prey,
“Though not on acres nine his huge trunk lay
“But on the whole vast world; nor could he so
“Afford them food for his own endless woe.
“But Tityus is seen among mankind,
“When anxious cares, like vultures of the mind,
“Eat out the vitals, and the heart consume,
“That prostrate lies in love or passion's gloom.

“Sisyphus lives reveal'd before our eyes,
“When the ambitious man for Honour plies
“His heavy wearying task, in deep turmoil,
“Seeking State-power with long-enduring toil,

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“Then frustrated falls back, and cannot rest.
“This it is up the mountain's adverse breast
“To heave the stone, which from the height again
“Rolls down all hurriedly, and seeks the plain.

“Again;—man's thankless soul to feed and fill
“With good, yet ne'er to satisfy; while still
“The beauteous Seasons, in their annual round,
“Return, with varied fruits and graces crown'd;
“While we throughout unsatisfied remain.
“'Tis this, methinks, the legend will explain
“Of youthful-blooming Maidens, which in vain
“Into the leaky urn the waters pour,
“Yet can in no way fill it evermore.

“Cerberus, Furies, and Tartarean night
“Vomiting horrid steams and void of light,—
“Such things as these there are not, nor can be;—
“But fear in life of some dread penalty
“Atoning dreadful crimes;—the Dungeon-hold,
“Tarpeian rock, Stocks, Tortures manifold,
“Stripes, Executioners, Pitch, Torch, and Lead;
“And e'en if these were wanting, yet the dread
“Of Conscience, with remorseful bodings stern,
“Applies the secret goad and stripes that burn.
“For she in apprehension sees no end
“Of punishments like these, but doth portend
“That they in death grow deeper, and thereon
“Builds the fond tales of fabled Acheron.”

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The Voice of God spake in the multitude,
The poet heard it not, nor understood;
For man's divining soul foreboded well
Of an Hereafter and of Heaven and Hell:
Though unreveal'd without, yet from within,
In after-fruits of unatoned sin,
Links and beginnings of a chain they saw,
Iron developments and things of awe,
And thence inferred the adamantine law;—
That guilty sufferings, (should no Power forefend,)
Which here begin, pass on, and without end
Or intermission after death attend.
This they perceived, perceiving represent
In subterranean forms of punishment.
The mighty Truth which lay itself behind
Threw forth those legends for the vulgar mind,
Like giant shapes the Magic Lamp pourtrays
On the white wall, where wondering children gaze;
Those lineaments without but manifest
Reasonings that lay within, though unexpress'd;—
Truths which in secret self the spirit learns,
Where Instinct in the soul celestial burns

“Cassa formidine”. .“metus inanis.” “There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was.” Ps. xiv. 9; liii. 6.

“For even thereafter as a man feareth, so is Thy displeasure.”Ps. xc. 11.