The Descent into Hell Second Edition, Revised and Re-arranged, with an Analysis and Notes: To which are added, Uriel, a Fragment and Three Odes. By John A. Heraud |
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| I. | I. PROLOGUE. |
| I. |
| II. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| V. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| VI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| VII. |
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| I. |
| II. |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
51
I. PROLOGUE.
The River murmured by me:..rapt in mind,
Alone within a Bower, while the fresh airs
Played o'er my unconscious temples, I reclined.
Alone within a Bower, while the fresh airs
Played o'er my unconscious temples, I reclined.
I mused upon my boyhood, ere by cares
Of sterner age perplexed; on Faith sublime
That still inspires the soul which nobly dares;
Of sterner age perplexed; on Faith sublime
That still inspires the soul which nobly dares;
On Emulation mastering Death and Time;
On Hope, like Love, that acts an alien part,
As if Above, or Under, she would climb,
On Hope, like Love, that acts an alien part,
As if Above, or Under, she would climb,
Having no region on the world's wide chart,
In spirit though present alway. Therefore I,
In spirit, sought her in the great Earth's Heart.
In spirit though present alway. Therefore I,
In spirit, sought her in the great Earth's Heart.
Earth's Heart, where Time is not,—capacity
Æonian, whose clear light no shadow flings
On gnomoned dial, from apparent sky:
Æonian, whose clear light no shadow flings
On gnomoned dial, from apparent sky:
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But Song is of the Sense, and Words have wings;
Their work by motion relative they raise,
Order of sequence, and the sum of things.
Their work by motion relative they raise,
Order of sequence, and the sum of things.
—Our days are as a sleep, and, like dreams, chase
Each other, till the morning shall accede;
And, like the moon, our life has many a phase.
Each other, till the morning shall accede;
And, like the moon, our life has many a phase.
To-morrow's for Eternity decreed,
Our yesterdays are in Eternity,
And to-day is Eternity indeed.
Our yesterdays are in Eternity,
And to-day is Eternity indeed.
Eternity itself, oh, Man! with thee
Inheres; and thou mayst feel, but listen well,
In thine own soul, spiritual harmony,
Inheres; and thou mayst feel, but listen well,
In thine own soul, spiritual harmony,
Deeper by far than the mysterious swell
Of Ocean's diapason, tender made,
Like memory, in his imitative shell—
Of Ocean's diapason, tender made,
Like memory, in his imitative shell—
And finer than sphere-musick, and displayed
Even more divinely in the calm recess
Of simple hearts, hid in the quiet shade,
Even more divinely in the calm recess
Of simple hearts, hid in the quiet shade,
Who make their own world, and though dead to this,
Live in that Other, and sweet visions see,
Pensive as Thought and grave as earnest Bliss—
Live in that Other, and sweet visions see,
Pensive as Thought and grave as earnest Bliss—
Visions of Life and true Felicity,
Of real Light and undeparting Love..
To such will all be present as to me;
Of real Light and undeparting Love..
To such will all be present as to me;
Awake to Beauty, Man amid the grove,
As ere deep sleep on Adam fell of old,
Walking as angels walk in heaven above;
As ere deep sleep on Adam fell of old,
Walking as angels walk in heaven above;
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Not idle, but still active to unfold
All goodness, ranging over boundless tracts
Of Duty, and fulfilling all untold.
All goodness, ranging over boundless tracts
Of Duty, and fulfilling all untold.
—No Dream-land this, here even all thoughts are acts,
Ideas are realities. For why?
Will here is mind, and its desires are facts.
Ideas are realities. For why?
Will here is mind, and its desires are facts.
For Truth and Being are at unity,
And Reason and Religion are the same,
And Faith and Sense are one,..all ear, all eye.
And Reason and Religion are the same,
And Faith and Sense are one,..all ear, all eye.
How exquisitely on the naked frame
Of Consciousness breathe odorous ministries!
How fine the taste and touch! how nice their aim!
Of Consciousness breathe odorous ministries!
How fine the taste and touch! how nice their aim!
Intensely alive, quick, motive; hence with ease,
All objects they pervade. Sensation ranges,
Like Light, and turns transparent what it sees;
All objects they pervade. Sensation ranges,
Like Light, and turns transparent what it sees;
Making all new, yet finding nought that strange is,
Remaining in itself, it takes its pleasure,
An unchanged spirit through unnumbered changes;
Remaining in itself, it takes its pleasure,
An unchanged spirit through unnumbered changes;
An ever-flowing yet exhaustless treasure
Of fragrant and delicious essences,—
Of melodies in every varied measure,—
Of fragrant and delicious essences,—
Of melodies in every varied measure,—
Of sweeter, more ethereal relishes,
Than the bee sips from dewy bud at morn,—
And beauty lavish of its loveliness,
Than the bee sips from dewy bud at morn,—
And beauty lavish of its loveliness,
Inherent, yet intelligibly worn
Even as a garment on each form, but free
From accident, as what it doth adorn;
Even as a garment on each form, but free
From accident, as what it doth adorn;
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As pure, as permanent, in its degree
As perfect, with capacity for more,
And still enlarging its felicity.
As perfect, with capacity for more,
And still enlarging its felicity.
—Of earthly things these are the Living Core,
The Light that shews those symbols to the day,
Radiant with Life, else darkling as before.
The Light that shews those symbols to the day,
Radiant with Life, else darkling as before.
“Heart of the Earth”—hence doth her life blood ray,
Hither return, by every door of Death,
His private channel and his public way.
Hither return, by every door of Death,
His private channel and his public way.
Though many be the modes by which the breath
Of Life departs, yet is it still the same—
Or Force, or Nature, or Translation—Death.
Of Life departs, yet is it still the same—
Or Force, or Nature, or Translation—Death.
Nay, while we live, we die—'tis but a name—
Our Death and Life—they change like day and night—
Alike their origin—alike their aim.
Our Death and Life—they change like day and night—
Alike their origin—alike their aim.
Come from one East the Day spring and the Blight—
Who longest lives 'scapes most contingencies—
Each Hour—each Minute—ready stands to smite.
Who longest lives 'scapes most contingencies—
Each Hour—each Minute—ready stands to smite.
So many minutes as man lives he dies;
Death has occasions many as our Life,
And a deep interest in longevities.
Death has occasions many as our Life,
And a deep interest in longevities.
Life is not lengthened though prolonged—the strife
Only continues—nor can sages tell,
Who lives or dies, nor what is Death or Life.
Only continues—nor can sages tell,
Who lives or dies, nor what is Death or Life.
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—But here is Life and Light unquenchable;
And here to me was given an angel's wing,
While by a Voice commanded thus—of Hell—
And here to me was given an angel's wing,
While by a Voice commanded thus—of Hell—
Hell and Messiah, Heaven's anointed King,
Who left his Glory, and was desolate
On Earth, but triumphed in the Grave—to sing.
Who left his Glory, and was desolate
On Earth, but triumphed in the Grave—to sing.
—Lift up, O Hell! thy diuturnal gate,
But not eternal? finite,—it began.
On the huge hinge harsh thunders hoarsely grate;
But not eternal? finite,—it began.
On the huge hinge harsh thunders hoarsely grate;
—Chaos afar shook where their echoes ran.
Thy wearied shriek, “a change!”—of lot no change,
If change of suffering, for fiend or man:
Thy wearied shriek, “a change!”—of lot no change,
If change of suffering, for fiend or man:
Still it may soothe. Some horrour new and strange
May please sad pain monotonous, and make
Variety to charm in this dull grange:
May please sad pain monotonous, and make
Variety to charm in this dull grange:
Since Hope, upon the fierce and fiery lake,
Is none of better state,—(and less Desire,)—
Or aught the penal thirst that can aslake,
Is none of better state,—(and less Desire,)—
Or aught the penal thirst that can aslake,
—Why howl as Sin were ready to expire,
In the strong throes of whelp birth?—“Who art thou,
Demandest entrance? Who hath heard thy lyre?”
In the strong throes of whelp birth?—“Who art thou,
Demandest entrance? Who hath heard thy lyre?”
—Not thou;—but thou shalt hear, O Hell! and bow
To its rude hest. Not I the Florentine
Who trod thy burning marle,..as I would now,..
To its rude hest. Not I the Florentine
Who trod thy burning marle,..as I would now,..
Led through the regions dolorous. Nor mine
His name who first saw thy portcullis raised
To let the Arch-Rebel out. Yet shall thy Scrine
His name who first saw thy portcullis raised
To let the Arch-Rebel out. Yet shall thy Scrine
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Unfold unto mine eyes, though they be dazed
To blindness with its Tables' graphick flame;
Yea, be in visual death suddenly glazed;—
To blindness with its Tables' graphick flame;
Yea, be in visual death suddenly glazed;—
And, as in a mirror, men see in the same;
And like thy molten sea that mirror seem,
Thy molten sea, wherein the monstrous Dame,
And like thy molten sea that mirror seem,
Thy molten sea, wherein the monstrous Dame,
Foul Sin, abhorred of gods and the Supreme,
Worships her visage hideous. I defy
Thy power, O Hell! however thou blaspheme,
Worships her visage hideous. I defy
Thy power, O Hell! however thou blaspheme,
Lay bare thy depths, and spread thee to the sky.
Ere long, with other verse and earlier theme,
To visit thee again, or soar on high,
Ere long, with other verse and earlier theme,
To visit thee again, or soar on high,
And o'er the Old World send a trumpet-gleam,
Unsepulchring from that obscurest deep
The spectres of a superhuman dream,
Unsepulchring from that obscurest deep
The spectres of a superhuman dream,
Won from the waters, whose far roarings sleep
Upon oblivion's shores; where the fat weeds
Acquire wild overgrowth, and man may steep
Upon oblivion's shores; where the fat weeds
Acquire wild overgrowth, and man may steep
High Fancies in hoar Mysteries; whence proceeds
Truth, old as earth's foundations. There it lay
With giants, and the records of their deeds,
Truth, old as earth's foundations. There it lay
With giants, and the records of their deeds,
—(Hid from these latter ages, when a day
Is all thy life, degenerated Man!
And thee a narrow grave admeasure may,)—
Is all thy life, degenerated Man!
And thee a narrow grave admeasure may,)—
With behemoth and great leviathan.
—But not alone for Pain thee God decrees:
Thou wert with Chaos, ere young Earth began—
—But not alone for Pain thee God decrees:
Thou wert with Chaos, ere young Earth began—
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“The Heart of Earth,” wherein man only sees
Things as they are, whereof the things are made
That but appear, unreal images;—
Things as they are, whereof the things are made
That but appear, unreal images;—
But Nature's soul is present to pervade,
Albeit unseen save in this pure abode,
With substance permanent each transient shade.
Albeit unseen save in this pure abode,
With substance permanent each transient shade.
Through the Earth's arteries it ever flowed,
The Life of Earth is but its diastole,
Then by her veins returns, and back through the same road.
The Life of Earth is but its diastole,
Then by her veins returns, and back through the same road.
The Seed it is that generates the whole,
Informs and actuates in each living thing,
The Sap that animates root, branch and bole:
Informs and actuates in each living thing,
The Sap that animates root, branch and bole:
And from its action strength and vigour spring,
Leviathan in ocean—Man on earth—
In air the Eagle quick of eye and wing;
Leviathan in ocean—Man on earth—
In air the Eagle quick of eye and wing;
And their capacities are each the birth,
In elemental visibility,
Of elements unseen,..the growth,..the girth.
In elemental visibility,
Of elements unseen,..the growth,..the girth.
—We analyze a Flower,..and what find we?
A fairy workshop and its implements..
But where the Worker? what, and who is he?
A fairy workshop and its implements..
But where the Worker? what, and who is he?
—Here are the Souls of plants, and seeds and scents,
The Form of forms, and whatsoever is;
Earth, Air, Fire, Water;—they, and their contents.
The Form of forms, and whatsoever is;
Earth, Air, Fire, Water;—they, and their contents.
Here is the Centre of all gravities;
Hence sleepless Ocean hath his ebb and flow,
And Air and Fire elastick pliancies;
Hence sleepless Ocean hath his ebb and flow,
And Air and Fire elastick pliancies;
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And Earth, from the beginning, hath alsō
In all her changes, and with all her nations,
(Circling the sun, rejoicing or in woe,
In all her changes, and with all her nations,
(Circling the sun, rejoicing or in woe,
A loving Sister with the constellations,)
Clasped with her arms the heavens, in mystick dance,
For days and years and times and generations.
Clasped with her arms the heavens, in mystick dance,
For days and years and times and generations.
—But though all Motions from this source advance,
Itself at rest immoveable remains,
Exempt from change, necessity, and chance.
Itself at rest immoveable remains,
Exempt from change, necessity, and chance.
Here in pure unity true Sabbath reigns,
Original—eternal—final proof,
Prime archetype of all our orb contains—
Original—eternal—final proof,
Prime archetype of all our orb contains—
An intellectual Paradigme, whereof
The World of Sense is but a Parable;
A Fable wrought in intricatest woof;
The World of Sense is but a Parable;
A Fable wrought in intricatest woof;
A Mystery—not without an Oracle,
But misinterpreted—neglected—scorned—
“Shadowy of truth,” and symbolizing well;
But misinterpreted—neglected—scorned—
“Shadowy of truth,” and symbolizing well;
A Theatre,..how gorgeously adorned!
A Stage, of scenes illusive, and of men
Drest in disguises phantast and suborned—
A Stage, of scenes illusive, and of men
Drest in disguises phantast and suborned—
Awhile the Actors play their part—agen
The sovran and the slave are equal both,
Yet nothing changed but the appearance then.
The sovran and the slave are equal both,
Yet nothing changed but the appearance then.
—And Life hath many circles, each the growth
From this mid point, and perfect more or less,
As near or farther from its fount it floweth;
From this mid point, and perfect more or less,
As near or farther from its fount it floweth;
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And all Reality diminishes,
By distance from the centre whence it rays,
And Motion varies even to nothingness.
By distance from the centre whence it rays,
And Motion varies even to nothingness.
—Ye who by secret and untrodden ways,
Though none of death, led by the Spirit of Light,
Have followed to the land where light displays
Though none of death, led by the Spirit of Light,
Have followed to the land where light displays
Itself..Light sovran and intensely bright,
Authentical and holy, yet wherein
Our Spirits look with unconsumed sight,
Authentical and holy, yet wherein
Our Spirits look with unconsumed sight,
Though in death living, yet absolved from sin
For His dear sake who died upon the Cross;..
Though venturous the voyage we begin,
For His dear sake who died upon the Cross;..
Though venturous the voyage we begin,
Say soothly so, our toil is gain not loss,
Not void but fulness; that your kind may learn,
Whate'er is not ideal is but dross.
Not void but fulness; that your kind may learn,
Whate'er is not ideal is but dross.
—This is the City John did once discern,
Descend from heaven apocalyptical,
Whereof “his thoughts do breathe, his words do burn.”
Descend from heaven apocalyptical,
Whereof “his thoughts do breathe, his words do burn.”
Beautiful City! Mother of us all!
Vision of Peace! white Bride of the Most High,
Whose Glory clothes thine apostolick wall!
Vision of Peace! white Bride of the Most High,
Whose Glory clothes thine apostolick wall!
Angels thy gates encompass lovingly,
Equal in all dimensions as beseems,
And like an Angel's thy capacity.
Equal in all dimensions as beseems,
And like an Angel's thy capacity.
Death is not in thee, nay—no fierce extremes—
No Temple hast thou, neither Sun nor Moon—
God is thy Temple—and thy Light he beams.
No Temple hast thou, neither Sun nor Moon—
God is thy Temple—and thy Light he beams.
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Lo—every Nation brings to thee a boon..
Thy gates shall not be shut at all by day,
Nor night be thine, Land of perpetual Noon..
Thy gates shall not be shut at all by day,
Nor night be thine, Land of perpetual Noon..
To thee the Kings of Earth their homage pay..
But no defiled thing shall enter thee,
Loving a lie, or tempting to betray.
But no defiled thing shall enter thee,
Loving a lie, or tempting to betray.
—Holy who of thy Charter is born free,
Freely his thirst is at thy Fount allayed,
Water of Life, a River pure as he.
Freely his thirst is at thy Fount allayed,
Water of Life, a River pure as he.
Amidst thy Street, on either bank displayed,
The Tree of Life, whose very leaves are healing,
Shall yield its monthly fruit and never fade..
Happy all they who wait for thy revealing!The Tree of Life, whose very leaves are healing,
Shall yield its monthly fruit and never fade..
In these echo rhimes is attempted a sentimental imitation of Milton—
“I fled and cried out Death—
Hell trembled at the hideous Name, and sighed
From all her caves, and back resounded Death.”
Hell trembled at the hideous Name, and sighed
From all her caves, and back resounded Death.”
| The Descent into Hell | |