ODE TO PEACE. I. 1. PEACE, heaven-descended maid! whose powerful voice From ancient darkness call'd the morn, Far, far was hurl'd the void abyss along; To loftiest raptures tuned the heavenly lyre, And wide through night's dark desolate domain I. 2. Oh whither art thou fled, Saturnian reign? Roll round again, majestic years! To break fell Tyranny's corroding chain, From Woe's wan cheek to wipe the bitter tears, Ye years, again roll round! Hark from afar what loud tumultuous sound, Swells full along the plains, and loads the gales! Murder deep-roused, with the wild whirlwind's haste I. 3. Fierce up the yielding skies The shouts redoubling rise: Earth shudders at the dreadful sound, Are silent at the noise. The mighty ocean's more majestic voice The surge in silence sweeps along the foamy shore. II. 1. The bloody banner streaming in the air Bursts out by frequent fits th' expansive flame. The surging smoke o'er all the darken'd skies. II. 2. Involved in fire-streak'd gloom the car comes on; The mangled steeds grim Terror guides. His forehead writhed to a relentless frown, Aloft the angry power of battles rides : Grasp'd in his mighty hand A mace tremendous desolates the land; The mountain shrinks before its wasteful sweep; Smit by the blasting lightning of his eyes, II. 3. How startled Phrenzy stares, Bristling her ragged hairs! Revenge the gory fragment gnaws; See, with her griping vulture-claws Imprinted deep, she rends the opening wound! Her trump terrific blows. Disparting from behind, the clouds disclose Of kingly gesture a gigantic form, That with his scourge sublime directs the whirling storm. III. 1. Ambition, outside fair! within more foul In caverns hatch'd, where the fierce torrents roll Yon naked waste survey: Where late was heard the flute's mellifluous lay; In loose array danced lightly o'er the flowers; And dove-eyed Plenty smiled, and waved her liberal horn. III. 2. Yon ruins sable from the wasting flame The frequent corse obstructs the sullen stream, Save where outstretch'd beneath yon hanging wall And Torture yells, and grinds her bloody teeth-, III. 3. What scenes of glory rise Before my dazzled eyes ! Young Zephyrs wave their wanton wings, And melody celestial rings: Along the lilied lawn the nymphs advance, Flush'd with love's bloom, and range the sprightly dance: The gladsome shepherds on the mountain-side Exalt the festive note, Inviting Echo from her inmost grot But ah! the landscape glows with fainter light, Illusions vain! Can sacred Peace reside Where sordid gold the breast alarms, Where cruelty inflames the eye of Pride, And Grandeur wantons in soft Pleasure's arms? These from the soul erase the form divine; These quench the animating fire, That warms the bosom with sublime desire. Thence the relentless heart forgets to feel, Blaze the funereal flames, and sound the shrieks of IV. 2. From Albion fled, thy once-beloved retreat, What region brightens in thy smile, Creative Peace, and underneath thy feet Sees sudden flowers adorn the rugged soil? Waked by thy genial breath, the balmy rose ? Does life inform fell Lybia's burning sand? On Cuba's utmost steep* The goddess' pensive form was seen. * Alluding to the discovery of America by the Spaniards under Columbus. These ravagers are supposed to have made their first descent on the islands in the gulf of Florida, of which Cuba is one. Waved on the gale: grief dimm'd her radiant eyes, 'Midst the dread pomp of war Gleam'd the Iberian streamer from afar. morn. THE TRIUMPH OF MELANCHOLY. MEMORY, be still! why throng upon the thought These scenes deep-stain'd with Sorrow's sable dye ? Hast thou in store no joy-illumined draught, To cheer bewilder'd Fancy's tearful eye? Yes-from afar a landscape seems to rise, Deckt gorgeous by the lavish hand of Spring; Thin gilded clouds float light along the skies, And laughing Loves disport on fluttering wing. How blest the youth in yonder valley laid! Soft smiles in every conscious feature play, While to the gale low-murmuring through the glade He tempers sweet his sprightly-warbling lay. Hail Innocence! whose bosom all serene, Feels not fierce passion's raving tempest roll! Oh ne'er may Care distract that placid mien! Oh ne'er may Doubt's dark shades o'erwhelm thy soul! Vain wish! for lo, in gay attire conceal'd Yonder she comes! the heart-inflaming fiend! (Will no kind power the helpless stripling shield?) Swift to her destined prey see Passion bend! O smile accurst to hide the worst designs! Now with blithe eye she wooes him to be blest, While round her arm unseen a serpent twinesAnd lo, she hurls it hissing at his breast! |