The Poetical Works of Beattie, Blair, and Falconer Part 15

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Warm in the raptures of divine desire, Burst the soft chain that curbs the aspiring mind; And fly where Victory, borne on wings of fire, Waves her red banner to the rattling wind.

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Ascend the car: indulge the pride of arms, Where clarions roll their kindling strains on high, Where the eye maddens to the dread alarms, And the long shout tumultuous rends the sky.

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Plunged in the uproar of the thundering field, I see thy lofty arm the tempest guide: Fate scatters lightning from thy meteor-shield, And Ruin spreads around the sanguine tide.

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Go, urge the terrors of thy headlong car On prostrate Pride, and Grandeur's spoils o'erthrown, While all amazed even heroes shrink afar, And hosts embattled vanish at thy frown.

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When glory crowns thy G.o.dlike toils, and all The triumph's lengthening pomp exalts thy soul, When lowly at thy feet the mighty fall, And tyrants tremble at thy stern control:

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When conquering millions hail thy sovereign might, And tribes unknown dread acclamation join; How wilt thou spurn the forms of low delight!

For all the ecstasies of heaven are thine:

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For thine the joys, that fear no length of days, Whose wide effulgence scorns all mortal bound: Fame's trump in thunder shall announce thy praise, Nor bursting worlds her clarion's blast confound."

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The G.o.ddess ceased, not dubious of the prize: Elate she mark'd his wild and rolling eye, Mark'd his lip quiver, and his bosom rise, And his warm cheek suffused with crimson dye.

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But Pallas now drew near. Sublime, serene, In conscious dignity she view'd the swain: Then, love and pity softening all her mien, Thus breathed with accents mild the solemn strain:

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"Let those whose arts to fatal paths betray, The soul with pa.s.sion's gloom tempestuous blind, And s.n.a.t.c.h from Reason's ken the auspicious ray Truth darts from heaven to guide the exploring mind.

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"But Wisdom loves the calm and serious hour, When heaven's pure emanation beams confess'd: Rage, ecstasy, alike disclaim her power, She woo's each gentler impulse of the breast.

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Sincere the unalter'd bliss her charms impart, Sedate the enlivening ardours they inspire: She bids no transient rapture thrill the heart, She wakes no feverish gust of fierce desire.

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Unwise, who, tossing on the watery way, All to the storm the unfetter'd sail devolve: Man more unwise resigns the mental sway, Borne headlong on by pa.s.sion's keen resolve.

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While storms remote but murmur on thine ear, Nor waves in ruinous uproar round thee roll, Yet, yet a moment check thy p.r.o.ne career, And curb the keen resolve that prompts thy soul.

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Explore thy heart, that, roused by Glory's name, Pants all enraptured with the mighty charm-- And does Ambition quench each milder flame?

And is it conquest that alone can warm?

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To indulge fell Rapine's desolating l.u.s.t, To drench the balmy lawn in streaming gore, To spurn the hero's cold and silent dust-- Are these thy joys? Nor throbs thy heart for more?

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Pleased canst thou listen to the patriot's groan, And the wild wail of Innocence forlorn?

And hear the abandon'd maid's last frantic moan, Her love for ever from her bosom torn?

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Nor wilt thou shrink, when Virtue's fainting breath Pours the dread curse of vengeance on thy head?

Nor when the pale ghost bursts the cave of death, To glare distraction on thy midnight bed?

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Was it for this, though born to regal power, Kind Heaven to thee did n.o.bler gifts consign, Bade Fancy's influence gild thy natal hour, And bade Philanthropy's applause be thine?

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