Else, I allow, most thankless.-But, at once, From some dark seat of fatal power was urged A claim that shattered all.-Our blooming girl, Caught in the gripe of death, with such brief time To struggle in as scarcely would allow
Her cheek to change its colour, was conveyed From us to inaccessible worlds, to regions Where height, or depth, admits not the approach Of living man, though longing to pursue. -With even as brief a warning-and how soon, With what short interval of time between, I tremble yet to think of—our last prop, Our happy life's only remaining stay— The brother followed; and was seen no more!
Calm as a frozen lake when ruthless winds Blow fiercely, agitating earth and sky, The Mother now remained; as if in her, Who, to the lowest region of the soul, Had been erewhile unsettled and disturbed, This second visitation had no power To shake; but only to bind up and seal; And to establish thankfulness of heart In Heaven's determinations, ever just. The eminence whereon her spirit stood, Mine was unable to attain. Immense The space that severed us! But, as the sight
Communicates with heaven's ethereal orbs
Incalculably distant; so, I felt
That consolation may descend from far (And that is intercourse, and union, too,) While, overcome with speechless gratitude, And, with a holier love inspired, I looked On her at once superior to my woes And partner of my loss.-O heavy change! Dimness o'er this clear luminary crept Insensibly; the immortal and divine Yielded to mortal reflux; her pure glory, As from the pinnacle of worldly state Wretched ambition drops astounded, fell Into a gulf obscure of silent grief,
And keen heart-anguish-of itself ashamed, Yet obstinately cherishing itself:
And, so consumed, she melted from my arms; And left me, on this earth, disconsolate!
What followed cannot be reviewed in thought; Much less, retraced in words. If she, of life Blameless, so intimate with love and joy And all the tender motions of the soul, Had been supplanted, could I hope to stand— Infirm, dependent, and now destitute?
I called on dreams and visions, to disclose
That which is veiled from waking thought; conjured
Eternity, as men constrain a ghost
Το appear and answer; to the grave I spake Imploringly ;-looked up, and asked the Heavens If Angels traversed their cerulean floors,
If fixed or wandering star could tidings yield Of the departed spirit-what abode
It occupies what consciousness retains
Of former loves and interests. Then my soul Turned inward,—to examine of what stuff Time's fetters are composed; and life was put To inquisition, long and profitless!
By pain of heart-now checked-and now impelled- The intellectual power, through words and things, Went sounding on, a dim and perilous way! And from those transports, and these toils abstruse, Some trace am I enabled to retain
Of time, else lost; -existing unto me Only by records in myself not found.
From that abstraction I was roused, --and how? Even as a thoughtful shepherd by a flash
Of lightning startled in a gloomy cave
Of these wild hills. For, lo! the dread Bastile, With all the chambers in its horrid towers, Fell to the ground:-by violence overthrown Of indignation; and with shouts that drowned The crash it made in falling! From the wreck A golden palace rose, or seemed to rise, The appointed seat of equitable law And mild paternal sway. The potent shock I felt the transformation I perceived, As marvellously seized as in that moment When, from the blind mist issuing, I beheld
Glory-beyond all glory ever seen, Confusion infinite of heaven and earth,
Dazzling the soul. Meanwhile, prophetic harps In every grove were ringing, ' War shall cease; 'Did ye not hear that conquest is abjured? 'Bring garlands, bring forth choicest flowers, to deck 'The tree of Liberty.'-My heart rebounded ; My melancholy voice the chorus joined ; -Be joyful all ye nations; in all lands, 'Ye that are capable of joy be glad! 'Henceforth, whate'er is wanting to yourselves 'In others ye shall promptly find ;—and all, 'Enriched by mutual and reflected wealth,
Shall with one heart honour their common kind.'
Thus was I reconverted to the world; Society became my glittering bride,
And airy hopes my children.-From the depths Of natural passion, seemingly escaped, My soul diffused herself in wide embrace Of institutions, and the forms of things; As they exist, in mutable array,
Upon life's surface. What, though in my veins. There flowed no Gallic blood, nor had I breathed The air of France, not less than Gallic zeal Kindled and burnt among the sapless twigs my exhausted heart. If busy men In sober conclave met, to weave a web
Of amity, whose living threads should stretch
Beyond the seas, and to the farthest pole, There did I sit, assisting. If, with noise And acclamation, crowds in open air Expressed the tumult of their minds, my voice There mingled, heard or not. The powers of song I left not uninvoked; and, in still groves, Where mild enthusiasts tuned a pensive lay Of thanks and expectation, in accord With their belief, I sang Saturnian rule
Returned, a progeny of golden years
Permitted to descend, and bless mankind.
-With promises the Hebrew Scriptures teem: I felt their invitation; and resumed A long-suspended office in the House
Of public worship, where, the glowing phrase Of ancient inspiration serving me,
I promised also,-with undaunted trust Foretold, and added prayer to prophecy ; The admiration winning of the crowd; The help desiring of the pure devout.
Scorn and contempt forbid me to proceed! But History, time's slavish scribe, will tell How rapidly the zealots of the cause Disbanded-or in hostile ranks appeared; Some, tired of honest service; these, outdone, Disgusted therefore, or appalled, by aims Of fiercer zealots so confusion reigned,
And the more faithful were compelled to exclaim,
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