 | Rhapsodies |  |
61
THE BASTARD.
Alone thou stand'st, a wretched Bastard born;Go, let thine acts thy friendless name adorn:
Spurn the state title lawful children bring,
Thou dost from love-engender'd union spring;
A child of chance—a being uncontroll'd,
A glowing creature form'd in passion's mould;
Whose soul unshackled soars above mankind,
And leaves the world and all its cares behind:
Thou mind of fire upon creation hurl'd!
Thou sun amid the children of the world!
Thou noon-tide blaze, whose all-absorbing light
Astounds of lineal men the drowsy sight!
Thou mortal with immortal thoughts inspir'd,
With energy akin to madness fir'd!
Thou bold imagination doubly hot,
Because in passion's two-fold blaze begot!
Alike excess of pleasure form'd to feel,
And pity from the breast of Mercy steal:
Go, seek thy fate, thou glowing child of chance!
Form'd to disdain the prudish matron's glance;
62
Than heir begot of lineal progeny,
O! may thy tale, conceiv'd in freedom's mind,
Protection in each free-born bosom find!
May Bastards, tho' bereft of friend and name,
Feel in their breasts eternal thirst of fame!
May they with glorious emulation burn!
And may the wreath in death adorn their urn!
May they thro' life astound weak mortals gaze!
May they fill after-ages with amaze!
And may their memories wear the lasting bays!
| Rhapsodies | |