The Fourth Book of Virgil's Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire's Henriad Part 4

115 On Venice, long were bent his partial eyes, Thro' the blue main where gilded domes arise: Old Neptune saw them pierce the curling wave, Own'd the audacious conquest,--and forgave.

To fam'd Sicilia next his flight he bends, 120 Stoops on the purple pinion, and descends Where he himself inspir'd the Mantuan swain, And taught Theocritus his tender strain; There, Fame reports, by ways unknown, he led The am'rous stream to Arethusa's bed.

125 Then on the downy sail he sought Vaucluse, Retreat of Petrarch's love and Petrarch's muse; Fond Echo yet remember's Laura's name; And what she gave in love repays in fame.

Eure's winding sh.o.r.es his fond attention draw, 130 Where Love's own work, Anet's proud dome he saw; The fretted ceiling, Henry's cypher grac'd, By Love himself with fair Diana's plac'd.

The graces dropt a crystal tear, and threw Around her urn fresh roses as they flew.

135 His wing at length on Ivry's plain he clos'd, Where Bourbon's thunder for a lime repos'd; But while the native of the wood he chas'd, The manly sport war's dreadful image trac'd.

Love spread his chains, and sharp'ning ev'ry dart, 140 Inhuman pleasure bounded in his heart.

Arise ye winds, he cried, the storm prepare, Collect the pregnant clouds, and dim the air; The hanging torrent from their bosom pour, Bid forked lightening fly, and thunders roar.

145 Too soon the bl.u.s.t'ring slaves his will obey'd Their dusky pinions spread a moving shade; } O'er the bright scene, dark low'ring mist they drove, } The languid beam with night usurping strove, } Pale Nature wept the change and knew the work of Love.

150 Benighted and alone, the king pursu'd A light that glimmer'd thro' the distant wood: Love whirl'd his torch, and cast the treach'rous ray, Like earth-born vapours glitt'ring to betray: Which lead the trav'ller to the fatal brink, 155 Then leave him to his wretched doom and link.

Fate so decreed it--in this lonely spot, Retreat and calm, a n.o.ble fair one sought; Far from the tumult of contending arms, A solitary castle hid her charms, 160 Her tender form from all mankind conceal'd, While war detain'd her father in the field.

But while his sov'reign's toil the vet'ren shar'd, His lovely child the fost'ring graces rear'd.

D'Etree (that name the favour'd mortal bore), 165 Of ev'ry, charm exhausted Nature's store.

Not on Eurota's bank, so beauteous shone The faithless partner of the Spartan throne; Not she who conquer'd, whom the world obey'd, On Cydnus when in pomp of charms array'd, 170 Mortals deceiv'd, in awful rapture gaz'd, And incense to the present G.o.ddess blaz'd.

Scarce had she gain'd the charming dang'rous years, A pow'r too sure, when rising pa.s.sion bears.

Pure as heav'ns image in the crystal deep, 175 Ere clouds arise, when wanton zephyrs sleep, Her breast for love and gen'rous feeling form'd, No sigh had heav'd, no tender pa.s.sion warm'd.

In vain the treasures of the budding rose, From am'rous gales their modest folds enclose; 180 As vernal suns each timid charm display, They yield, and blushing, own the genial ray.

Love, treacherous G.o.d, still fertile in deceit, Long sought the maid, yet seem'd by chance to meet.

A shepherd's boy he came, in outward shew, 185 His back no quiver bore, his hand no bow: Careless he cried,--but so that she might hear, See Ivry's hero thro' our grove appear!

See Henry comes! The voice of Love conveys A secret wish to see him, and to please: 190 A conscious blush diffus'd a livelier hue, Love felt the charm, and glory'd in the view.

Sure of his triumph with such beauty's aid, Full in the monarch's sight he plac'd the maid.

Around her dress he threw that careless air, 195 It seem'd what Nature's self would choose to wear; Her auburn locks in easy tresses play'd, Now hid her snowy neck, and now betray'd; No muse can paint what playful zephyr show'd, Nor tell the charm that modesty bestow'd: 200 Not the stiff airs that prudish virtue arm, The foes of love, the bane of ev'ry charm: Sweet, bashful grace, that bends the timid eye, Spreads o'er the glowing cheek a heav'nly dye, With soft respect extatic rapture blends, 205 And heavn's pure bliss to Love triumphant lends.

But Love does more: for Love what pow'r can bound?

A charm invincible he calls around, Their tender boughs enchanted myrtles spread, Rise thro' the earth and wave their taper head: 210 Deluded mortals seek the tempting shades, The secret charm their languid sense invades, Around, a stream in lulling manner flows, Of deep forgetfulness, of soft repose; Bound in the chain no more they seek to move; 215 Fame, honor, duty, what are you to Love?

Here all alike the sweet delusion share, And breathe delicious poison with the air.

All whispers love, the birds on ev'ry spray Prolong the kiss, and swell the am'rous lay; 220 The hardy swain, who with the peep of dawn, Jocund and careless sought the russet lawn, Heaves as he goes involuntary sighs; Unusual troubles in his breast arise, Beat in his pulse, his loit'ring feet retain; 225 Neglected lye the treasures of the plain: The same soft charm the trembling maid deceives, The herd forgot, the sheaf unbound she leaves.

How could d'Etree with such a pow'r contest!

A G.o.d invincible her soul possest.

230 In vain, alas! that fatal day she strove, With youth, with glory, with her heart and love.

In rain a rising voice in Henry's breast, Back to his ranks the love-lost hero prest; A pow'r unseen repell'd the gen'rous thought, 235 His virtue vainly in himself he sought; His soul empa.s.sion'd, deaf to honor's call, Could hear but love, d'Etree possess'd it all.

Meanwhile his chiefs, impatient on the plain, His absence mourn'd, and sought their king in vain; 240 A thousand dangers for his life appear'd, For Henry's fame what danger could be fear'd?

No hope of victory the troops inspir'd, Lost was their ardor when their chief retir'd.

Still the good genius of the realm was near, 245 To cheer their courage, to dispel their fear.

Summon'd by Lewis, from the realm of light Downward the spirit shap'd his rapid flight, Around this earthly planet cast his eyes, To find below a mortal truly wise.

250 Not in the noisy school, or silent cell Where pray'r, and meagre fast, and study dwell; Amid the tumult of the martial train, With rest and conquest flush'd, on Ivry's plain, Where Calvin's banners to the sky were rear'd, 255 The man he sought, the real sage appear'd: Mornay was he.--Heav'n form'd the man, to show That Reason's light may guide us here below; Plato her voice, and good Aurelius heard, She led the Pagan right, when Christian's err'd.

260 Such modest candour temper'd manly sense, When Mornay censur'd, none could take offense; For truth by him, in winning form convey'd, Was but the virtue which his life display'd.

Still lean'd his heart the faults of men to bear, 265 While reason told him, all men had their share; But mid surrounding vices ever pure, Nor ease nor pleasure could his soul allure.

As thro' the bosom of the briny tide, Thy limpid waters Arethusa glide, 270 And yet unsully'd by the neighb'ring deep, Unmix'd and pure their spotless tenor keep.

By friendship guided, gen'rous Mornay came Where loiter'd Henry, mindless of his fame; 275 The artful G.o.d prolong'd the am'rous trance, And in her hero rul'd the fate of France.

No sameness there the varied bliss destroy'd, No languor chill'd, no forward pleasure cloy'd; Each wish attain'd, another wish inspires; 280 Each new enjoyment led to new desires: Such vary'd ways to please, love taught d'Etree, Nor time nor habit stole one charm away.

The G.o.d with anger blushing as he view'd Mornay and wisdom on his reign intrude: Turn'd with revengeful instinct to his dart, 285 And aim'd the deadly shaft at Mornay's heart.

His anger and his arms the sage defy'd, His breast the bounding arrow turn'd aside: Impatient for the monarch's lonely hour, He rov'd indignant thro' th' enchanted bow'r.

290 Where silver streams a myrtle grove inclose, The veil that timid love and mystry chose, With all her charms d'Etree her lover blest: Now flames consume, now languor fills his breast; Soft drops of pleasure glisten'd in their eyes, 295 Voluptuous tear that love knows how to prize; No coy reserve the burning bliss restrain'd, Fond pa.s.sion, prodigal of pleasure, reign'd; While Love's mute eloquence their lips employ, Short sighs and gentle murmurs speak their joy: 300 Their panting hearts with glowing transport swell, Which love alone inspires, alone can tell.

Young pleasures sporting in luxurious ease, And infant Cupid's on his amour seize; Some dragg'd the b.l.o.o.d.y cuira.s.s o'er the ground, 305 Or from his thigh, the pond'rous blade unbound; Some from the casque the crystal torrent pour'd, To wash the crimson spot that stain'd the sword, And laugh as in their feeble hand they wield The crown's support, the terror of the field.

310 Discord, who view'd him with insulting spite, In savage accents utter'd fierce delight; Rous'd up the league, the happy moment prest, Reviv'd her serpents drooping in her breast; And while the monarch languished in repose, 315 Blew the shrill blast, that gathered all his foes.

A conscious blush on Henry's forehead glow'd As Mornay met him in the soft abode: Silent at first, the mutual look they fear'd, But in that silence all the mind appear'd: 320 And Mornay's eye to Henry's soul convey'd, How wide from virtue and from fame he stray'd.

The gentlest touch of blame we scarce endure, How oft we loose the friend we mean to cure; But Henry thus:--My friend, be ever dear, 325 Who speaks of virtue most be welcome here; Come to my heart, which yet for glory burns; My fame, my spirit, with my friend returns; Away the sweets of vile ign.o.ble rest!

The soft delusion which my soul possest!

330 Far be the slave enamour'd of his chains; The last great conquest o'er myself remains: Glory beams forth--and love no more shall sway.

The blood of Spain shall wash the stain away.

There, Mornay cried, the monarch's voice I own; 335 There spoke the guardian of the Gallic throne: Love thus subdu'd, adds l.u.s.tre to your state; Blest who ne'er feels it,--but who conquers, great.

As Henry's lip p.r.o.nounc'd the last forewel, What advers pa.s.sions in his soul rebel?

340 Full of the beauty he adores and flies, He blames the tear, yet tears still fill his eyes: Now Mornay calls, now tender love retains; He goes, returns, and going still remains: But when she languish'd in his last embrace, 345 Colour and life forsook her lovely face, A sudden night obsur'd her radiant eyes: The G.o.d beheld--air echo'd with his cries; He trembled that the envious shades of night Should rob his empire of a nymph so bright, 350 And quench for ever 'mid th' unfeeling dead, The flame those heav'nly eyes were form'd to spread; He prest the drooping beauty in his arms; With gentle sound recall'd her faded charms; Her eyes half open'd, sought her love in vain, 355 His name she sigh'd, and dropp'd their lids again.

To life, to love, the G.o.d recall'd the fair, And bid young Hope repeat the tender pray'r.

But Mornay's soul, nor grief, nor beauty move, Virtue and glory triumph over love: 360 The vanquish'd G.o.d, with sullen shame withdrew, And far from Anet's domes indignant flew.

FINIS.