"Vain man, is grandeur given to gay attire? "Then let the butterfly thy pride upbraid: "To friends, attendants, armies, bought with hire? "It is thy weakness that requires their aid: "To palaces, with gold and gems inlay'd? "They fear the thief, and tremble in the storm :"To hosts thro' carnage who to conquest wade? "Behold, the victor vanquish'd by the worm! "Behold what deeds of woe the locust can perform! "True dignity is his, whose tranquil mind "Virtue has rais'd above the things below, "Who, every hope and fear to Heaven resign'd, "Shrinks not, tho' fortune aim her deadliest blow." -This strain from midst the rocks was heard to flow In solemn sounds. Now beam'd the evening star; And from embattled clouds emerging slow, Cynthia came riding on her silver car; And hoary mountain-cliffs shone faintly from afar. Soon did the solemn voice its theme renew; (While Edwin wrapt in wonder listening stood) "Ye tools and toys of tyranny, adieu, Scorn'd by the wise, and hated by the good! "Ye only can engage the servile brood "Of Levity and Lust, who, all their days, "Asham'd of truth and liberty, have woo'd, "And hugg'd the chain, that glittering on their gaze "Seems to outshine the pomp of heaven's empyreal blaze. "Like them, abandon'd to Ambition's sway, "I sought for glory in the paths of guile; "And fawn'd and smil'd, to plunder and betray, "Myself betray'd and plunder'd all the while; 86 So gnaw'd the viper the corroding file. "But now with pangs of keen remorse I rue, "Those years of trouble and debasement vile."Yet why should I this cruel theme pursue? "Fly, fly, detested thoughts, for ever from my view. "The gusts of appetite, the clouds of care, "And storms of disappointment all o'erpast, "Henceforth no earthly hope with Heaven shall share "This heart, where peace serenely shines at last. "And if for me no treasure be amass'd, "And if no future age shall hear my name, "I lurk the more secure from fortune's blast, "And with more leisure feed this pious flame, "Whose rapture far transcends the fairest hopes of fame. " The end and the reward of toil is rest. "Be all my prayer for virtue and for peace. "Of wealth and fame, of pomp and power possess'd, "Who ever felt his weight of woe decrease! "Ah! what avails the lore of Rome and Greece, "The lay heaven-prompted, and harmonious string, "The dust of Ophir, or the Tyrian fleece, "All that art, fortune, enterprise, can bring, "If envy, scorn, remorse, or pride the bosom wring! "Let Vanity adorn the marble tomb "With trophies, rhymes, and scutcheons of renown, "In the deep dungeon of some Gothic dome, "Where night and desolation ever frown. "Mine be the breezy hill that skirts the down; "Where a green grassy turf is all I crave, "With here and there a violet bestrown, "Fast by a brook, or fountain's murmuring wave; "And many an evening sun shine sweetly on my grave. "And thither let the village swain repair; "And, light of heart, the village maiden gay, "To deck with flowers her half-dishevell'd hair, "And celebrate the merry morn of May. "There let the shepherd's pipe the live-long day, "Fill all the grove with love's bewitching woe; "And when mild Evening comes with mantle grey, "Let not the blooming band make haste to go, "No ghost nor spell my long and last abode shall know. B & "For tho' I fly to 'scape from fortune's rage, "And bear the scars of envy, spite, and scorn, "Yet with mankind no horrid war I wage, "Yet with no impious spleen my breast is torn: "For virtue lost, and ruin'd man, I mourn. "O Man, creation's pride, heaven's darling child, "Whom Nature's best, divinest gifts adorn, "Why from thy home are truth and joy exil'd, "And all thy favorite haunts with blood and tears defil'd! Along yon glittering sky what glory streams! "What majesty attends night's lovely queen! "Fair laugh our vallies in the vernal beams; "And mountains rise, and oceans roll between, "And all conspire to beautify the scene. But, in the mental world, what chaos drear! "What forms of mournful, loathsome, furious mien! "O when shall that Eternal Morn appear, "These dreadful forms to chase,this chaos dark to clear! O Thou, at whose creative smile, yon heaven, "In all the pomp of beauty, life, and light, "Rose from the abyss; when dark Confusion, driven "Down, down the bottomless profound of night, "Fled, where he ever flies thy piercing sight! "O glance on these sad shades one pitying ray, "To blast the fury of oppressive might, "Melt the hard heart to love and mercy's sway, "And cheer the wandering soul, and light him on the way." Silence ensued: and Edwin rais'd his eyes In tears, for grief lay heavy at his heart. "And is it thus in courtly life," he cries, "That man to man acts a betrayer's part! "And dares he thus the gifts of Heaven pervert, "Each social instinct, and sublime desire !"Hail Poverty! if honor, wealth, and art, "If what the great pursue, and learn'd admire, "Thus dissipate and quench the soul's etherial fire!" He said, and turn'd away; nor did the Sage The Youth, his rising sorrow to assuage, But he from day to day more anxious grew, The voice still seem'd to vibrate on his ear, Nor durst he hope the Hermit's tale untrue; For Man he seem'd to love, and Heaven to fear; And none speaks false, where there is none to hear. "Yet can man's gentle heart become so fell! "No more in vain conjecture let me wear 66 My hours away, but seek the Hermit's cell; ""Tis he my doubt can clear, perhaps my care dispel." At early dawn the youth his journey took, And many a mountain pass'd, and valley wide, Then reach'd the wild; where in a flowery nook, And seated on a mossy stone, he spied An ancient man: his harp lay him beside. A stag sprang from the pasture at his call, And, kneeling, lick'd the wither'd hand that tied A wreath of woodbine round his antlers tall And hung his lofty neck with many a floweret small. And now the hoary Sage arose, and saw The wanderer approaching, innocence Smil'd on his glowing cheek, but modest awe Depress'd his eye, that fear'd to give offence. Who art thou,courteous stranger? and from whence? "Why roam thy steps to this abandon'd dale ?" "A shepherd-boy," the Youth replied, "far hence "My habitation: hear my artless tale; "Nor levity nor falsehood shall thine ear assail. "Late as I roam'd, intent on Nature's charms, "I reach'd at eve this wilderness profound; And, leaning where yon oak expands her arms, "Heard these rude cliffs thine awful voice rebound, (For in thy speech I recognise the sound.) "You mourn'd for ruin'd man, and virtue lost, "And seem'd to feel of keen remorse the wound, Pondering on former days, by guilt engross'd, "Or in the giddy storm of dissipation toss'd. "But say, in courtly life can craft be learn'd, "Where knowledge opens, and exalts the soul? "Where Fortune lavishes her gifts unearn'd, "Can selfishness the liberal heart control? "Is glory there achiev'd by arts, as foul "As those which felons, fiends, and furies plan? "Spiders ensnare, snakes poison, tygers prowl; "Love is the godlike attribute of man. "O teach a simple Youth this mystery to scan. "Or else the lamentable strain disclaim, "And give me back the calm, contented mind; "Which, late exulting view'd in Nature's frame, "Goodness untainted, wisdom unconfin'd, "Grace, grandeur, and utility combin'd. "Restore those tranquil days, that saw me still "Well pleas'd with all, but most with human-kind ; "When Fancy roam'd thro' Nature's works at will, "Uncheck'd by cold distrust, and uninform'd of ill." "Wouldst thou," the Sage replied," in peace return, "To the gay dreams of fond romantic youth, "Leave me to hide, in this remote sojourn, "From every gentle ear the dreadful truth: "For if my desultory strain with ruth "And indignation make thine eyes o'erflow, "Alas! what comfort could thy anguish sooth, "Shouldst thou the extent of human folly know? "Be ignorance thy choice, where knowledge leads to woe. |