The Poetical Works of Beattie, Blair, and Falconer Part 13

Who from the black and b.l.o.o.d.y cavern led The savage stern, and soothed his boisterous breast; Who spoke, and Science rear'd her radiant head, And brighten'd o'er the long benighted waste:

10

Or, greatly daring in his country's cause, Whose heaven-taught soul the awful plan design'd, Whence Power stood trembling at the voice of laws; Whence soar'd on Freedom's wing the ethereal mind.

11

But not the pomp that royalty displays, Nor all the imperial pride of lofty Troy, Nor Virtue's triumph of immortal praise Could rouse the langour of the lingering boy.

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Abandon'd all to soft Enone's charms, He to oblivion doom'd the listless day; Inglorious lull'd in Love's dissolving arms, While flutes lascivious breathed the enfeebling lay.

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To trim the ringlets of his scented hair: To aim, insidious, Love's bewitching glance; Or cull fresh garlands for the gaudy fair, Or wanton loose in the voluptuous dance:

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These were his arts; these won Enone's love, Nor sought his fetter'd soul a n.o.bler aim.

Ah, why should beauty's smile those arts approve Which taint with infamy the lover's flame?

15

Now laid at large beside a murmuring spring, Melting he listen'd to the vernal song, And Echo, listening, waved her airy wing, While the deep winding dales the lays prolong;

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When, slowly floating down the azure skies, A crimson cloud flash'd on his startled sight, Whose skirts gay-sparkling with unnumber'd dyes Launch'd the long billowy trails of flickery light.

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That instant, hush'd was all the vocal grove, Hush'd was the gale, and every ruder sound; And strains aerial, warbling far above, Rung in the ear a magic peal profound.

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Near and more near the swimming radiance roll'd; Along the mountains stream the lingering fires; Sublime the groves of Ida blaze with gold, And all the Heaven resounds with louder lyres.

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The trumpet breathed a note: and all in air, The glories vanish'd from the dazzled eye; And three ethereal forms, divinely fair, Down the steep glade were seen advancing nigh.

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The flowering glade fell level where they moved; O'erarching high the cl.u.s.tering roses hung; And gales from heaven on balmy pinion roved, And hill and dale with gratulation rung.

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The FIRST with slow and stately step drew near, Fix'd was her lofty eye, erect her mien: Sublime in grace, in majesty severe, She look'd and moved a G.o.ddess and a queen.

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Her robe along the gale profusely stream'd, Light lean'd the sceptre on her bending arm; And round her brow a starry circlet gleam'd, Heightening the pride of each commanding charm.

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Milder the NEXT came on with artless grace, And on a javelin's quivering length reclined: To exalt her mien she bade no splendour blaze, Nor pomp of vesture fluctuate on the wind.

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Serene, though awful, on her brow the light Of heavenly wisdom shone; nor roved her eyes.

Save to the shadowy cliffs majestic height, Or the blue concave of the involving skies.

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Keen were her eyes to search the inmost soul: Yet virtue triumph'd in their beams benign, And impious Pride oft felt their dread control, When in fierce lightning flash'd the wrath divine. [1]

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With awe and wonder gazed the adoring swain; His kindling cheeks great Virtue's power confess'd; But soon 'twas o'er; for Virtue prompts in vain, When Pleasure's influence numbs the nerveless breast.

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And now advanced the QUEEN of melting JOY, Smiling supreme in unresisted charms: Ah, then, what transports fired the trembling boy!

How throbb'd his sickening frame with fierce alarms!

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Her eyes in liquid light luxurious swim, And languish with unutterable love.

Heaven's warm bloom glows along each brightening limb, Where fluttering bland the veil's thin mantlings rove.