Chapter XXV: Book XXII: The Visit Concluded (14)

But, as upon his Throne he shook,
With present Love and Glory crown’d,
The one stern word the Prophet spoke
At once into his Bosom broke
To fright, alarm him, and confound.

Thus injur’d, I my Peace retain
And feel from Guilt and Terror free;
But, should I injure Man again,
I should in fear and Dread remain,
Tho’ cheer’d with wealth and blest by thee. 20

ENIGMA.

(_Sovereign._)

I was known in old Time; and yet, strange to [relate],
’Tis a very few years from my very first [state].
When I travel—’tis seldom—my Way you may trace;
Yet I’m constantly secretly changing my Place;
I’m weak, and I’m wise; I have Praise and have Blame;
Yet at all times my Value and Worth is the same.
I Nobles create; and yet any of these
May consume and abuse me as much as they please.
Though I Millions command, yet the Poorest may gain
And possess me awhile, though they seldom retain. 10
Tho’ I’ve Equals ten thousand, all over the Land,
Yet One Crown I possess and have four at Command.
One part of my Character All Men may read, }
And that only from such Contradictions is freed: }
Who counterfeits me, stakes his Life on the Deed. }

CHARADE.

(_Modesty._)

My first, a fashion; next, a place
That fashion never came to grace;
But few who dwell in Houses fair
Thrive like the well-fed Beings there.
My whole, a Virtue and a Grace
Adorns the Mind, [adorns] the face.

[MATILDA.]

I tell you chearful Tales, with all my Heart—
Tales meet for Feasts, with idle Mirth and Glee;
But Woes come in, and they will claim a part—
A woeful part—with my sad muse and me.

Matilda was sitting at Brandon-Hall,
And gazed on a River that rolled in its pride,
Like an Arm of the Sea—if aloud you would call,
You could not be heard to the farthermost side.
She there saw the Ships in their Majesty glide,
And Boats born along by the Sail and the Oar; 10
And her Colin was there, and the boy she denied;
But he said, “Let him come—on my Life, I restore.

“Do give me the Boy, and no longer reprove;
And, if I return him not safe to your Arms,
The Blame shall be mine; and the penalty, love,
For giving that Bosom such painful Alarms,
Shall be to be banished and torn from your Charms;
Nor think of [the] Danger, or aught that affright;
But, assured that my Love shall protect him from Harms,
Give place for the Day—we’ll be happy at Night.” 20

She again took her Glass; and the Boat she could trace,
For the Gunwale was painted in white and in blue;
She distinguished the pair whom she longed to embrace,
And the Features of Colin were full in her View.
Then awhile from the Pleasure she sadly withdrew,
And forc’d her Attention on trifles that past;
“Oh, harder it blows!” she exclaim’d—it was true,
And Clouds roll’d on Clouds by the Strength of the Blast.

She gazes intensely; “[’Tis] danger,” she cried;
And a Youth who had been a whole Summer at sea 30
Repeats the word “Danger!” in wonderful Pride,
And asks her what manner of “Danger” could be.
She knew not, but doubted; the Shore on the Lea
Was lost in her troubles—she wished them on shore:
There in Cold they would rest, but in safety would be,
And the Tide would her Treasures in safety restore.

I dwell on the Confines of Anguish, but still
Must plunge in the Midst; for the wife has again
The Tube in her Hand! ’Tis her Dread, but her Will,
To fix on the Object that gives her such pain. 40
She finds to relinquish the Sight is in vain,
And this moment she gazes; but, what to behold,
It pierces her Soul, it unsettles her Brain—
The Boat is o’erset!—and her Story is told.

She saw both the Husband and Child in the boat;
She saw the effect of the Blast as it blew;
And she sees in her Sorrow their Bodies [afloat],
And she draws in her Madness the Boat and its Crew.
’Tis a Grief to behold her so calmly pursue
Her Tale that she tells, and is eager to tell; 50
And she says, when she tells it—“Indeed, it is true—
And I wonder I bear it so calmly and well!”

THE PRODIGAL GOING.

What! live for ever buried thus,
Thus all the Hope of Youth destroy—
Here the poor Business to discuss
Of a poor Farm! a Slave’s Employ!
For ever to be held a Boy
And leave to live of Man implore—
No! let me Life’s delights enjoy,
And be a Man, or be no more
A Wretch to wail in Woe!
My Spirit prompts, my Heart desires, 10
My Will consents, my Youth requires
And I will go—

Will go where happy beings dwell,
Unchain’d, unawed, and uncontrolled;
Where no harsh, rigid Minds repell,
With Tempers stern and Bosoms cold,
The Light, the Gay, the Warm, the Bold,
But Love meets Love, Desire Success;
Where none are frigid Maxims told;
Th’ aspiring Spirit to depress 20
By Prudence, Pleasure’s Foe;
And Mary too, capricious Maid,
With Smiles alone invites my stay;
But Timid, cautious, cold, afraid,
For more than Smiles I vainly pray.
Fond, Teizing, trilling Love, away!
No longer will I sigh and whine;
No longer doat from day to day;
Henceforth the genuine Love be mine,
That spurns and dreads Delay! 30
’Tis Nature’s strong, prevailing Call
That pleads within, that pleads with all,
That I obey!

So thought the Youth who from his home retired, }
Because it gave not all his Soul required; }
For strong his Passions were, and quickly were they fired. }
Affection reasoned; but the Youth replied
To reasoning Love, “I will not be denied!”

ON A DRAWING OF CADLANDS.

Oft as the Eye on this fair View
Shall gaze, on every part intent,
Shall Memory, to Affection true,
Her Object to the Mind present.

These Lights and Shades, with Skill combin’d,
Aid us to see the real Place;
And, pleased with her Employ, the Mind
That Scene of Joy delights to trace.

Daughter of Rutland, ’twas thy Hand
Gave us this lovely Place to see; 10
But who shall Grace and Skill command
To give as just a View of thee?

To paint thee fair is not enough,
With every pleasing Grace endued;
But he must give of Genius proof,
And shew thee gracious, kind and good.

I saw thee in thy Infant Days,
When every Charm a promise made,
That thou wouldst merit lasting Praise—
And lo! the Promise more than paid. 20

I saw thee in thy youthful Bloom
With much delight, but no Surprise;
It was another Rutland come
To cheer our hearts and charm our Eyes.

Fairest among the Fair was she;
And ardent is my Hope that thou
In thy maternal years [may’st] be
What she, her Sex’s Pride, is now.

[ON] A DRAWING, BY THE HON. MRS SMITH (ELIZA FORRESTER).

When we behold a Landscape well designed,
Our praise at once we on the Work bestow;
We see the image of so just a Mind,
And ’tis the Merit, not the Man, we know.

But when we learn from where our Pleasure springs,
And whose the Skill that here the Proof has placed:
This to our Mind a double Pleasure brings,
For ’tis Affection looks as well as Taste.

They who have Wealth may hire an Artist’s Hand.
And may the Gallery and the Hall supply; 10
But Love alone can Views like this command:
Affection gives what Wealth can never buy.

Pictures and Prints the Wealthy may obtain
And, as their Pleasure dictates, may remove;
But these fair Views for ever shall remain,
The rich Memorials of Taste and Love.

These flowing lines confess Eliza’s Hand;
She formed the Wood, the Water, and the Sky;
For she can all the pleasing arts command
That soothe the Fancy and that charm the Eye. 20

All the fair Arts that give a Grace to Life
Are hers: she sings, she speaks, she moves with Grace;
Nor charms she less, the Mother and the Wife,
And still maintains the Virtues of her Race.

Happy the fair Possessor of that Skill—
When Life’s Endowment, but not Life’s Employ;
When used for Pleasure and resigned at Will,
The aid of Home-felt and domestic Joy!

FOR THE DRAWING OF THE LADY IN THE GREEN MANTLE.

(_See_ Sir Walter Scott’s _Redgauntlet_.)

A lady who concealed her Name,
Nor let her Face be fully seen,
To her admiring [Counsel] came,
Veil’d in an Hood and Mantle green.

All that he saw, the Youth approved;
But much there was he could not trace:
He wished the Envious Veil removed
That hid the Beauties of that Face.

All that Sir Walter’s page has told—
The Air, the lovely Form—are here;
But still we covet to behold
Those Features that do not appear.

To that fair form belongs a face,
Could we behold it, just as fair;
But how shall we those Features trace,
Conceal’d from View with so much Care?

How shall we match that Air and Grace,
And just the lovely features find:
That all shall say, that beauteous Face
To just that Form should be assigned?

Yes! I can certain Means devise,
To make the face and form agree;
A Mirror place before thine Eyes,
And draw the face that looks on thee.

Be there those Locks of waving Gold;
Be there those Eyes so clear and bright;
That Smile which all with joy behold,
Those Cheerful Looks that all delight—

Then, though the Form and Air were such
As would our highest Praise exceed,
We should admire the Face as much,
[And] say how well the whole agreed.

JOSEPH’S DREAM.

When Joseph, by his Brethren sold,
Was with his Masters on their Way,
Prest by sad thoughts and dreading to behold
The rising Light of each succeeding Day:
A Night there came when, burdened with his Woes,
His Fears and Wrongs, he felt inclined to rest;
When Sleeping Visions on his Fancy rose,
And Wonders on his troubled Spirit prest.

At first his Thoughts were all confused:
A fair young Slave was in his dream, 10
Who like himself did seem,
But whom he saw, now trusted, then accused—
One often tried and ever faithful found;
But still in Prison bound.
Anon, a City to his View arose;
Then a fair Dame, and then a Clank of Chains;
Alternate Smiles and Frowns of Friends and Foes;
Temptations, Trials, Favours, Perils, Pains;
But in each shifting Scene
Was he, that self-same Youth, still virtuous, still serene. 20

All else past off like Summer Clouds;
And that fair Youth, a Slave no more,
Was now attended by applauding Crowds,
And Robes of royal State he wore;
And ever, as this Youth the Dreamer viewed,
He seemed his very Self to [see];
Save that this other Self was new indued
With Power that his must never be;
For how could one be great, who felt he was not free!

He saw that other self beside a Throne, 30
Ennobled and admired of noble Men;
He saw him too, retired, alone,
Virtuous, and still more happy, then.
He seemed as fitted for his State,
And not by Love of Greatness led;
But as a Man advanced by Fate
To be a mighty People’s Head;
For, though so high, so near a Throne,
He served his God aright and worshipped Him alone.

Then he again beheld that Youth 40
With Wonder and increased delight!
For the young Dreamer saw the inward Truth,
And saw that all he did was just and right,
Acting as ever in his Mother’s sight;
And much he loved, but knew not why,
As Hearts are drawn by secret Chain;
When soon he heard a Voice that said, “Draw nigh,
And see what Truth and Piety obtain!”

While yet the Voice was heard, behold, there came
A Princess fair, or one in princely Guise; 50
The sleeping Shepherd feels a sudden flame,
And in his Slumber sighs.
Yet, when he saw that noble Youth address
The royal Maiden in a lover’s Style,
He felt no jealous Pangs his Heart oppress,
But joyful saw the soft, assenting Smile.

Scenes change.—The Pair are wedded and are blest;
He ruled the Land, but sterile was the Earth—
Dry as the parchèd Rock, yet not distress’d—
An unseen Plenty came upon the Dearth, 60
Like a full Stream; and lo! as Merchants came
A mingled race, to buy their Households food,
All praise his foresight; all revere his Name—
The Great, the Wise, the Bountiful and Good!
Then by that noble Youth, behold, there stood—
Strange Fate!—his Brothers, trembling at their Lot.
The Lordly Man them question’d; they replied:
“Our Father lives; One Brother, and beside
That one”—they looked abashed—“one more, my Lord, is not.”

He then beheld his Father and his Race, 70
Who found Protection from that bounteous hand.
Jacob had Honour, and his Brethren Grace,
And Joseph saw them in that Presence stand.
Strange joy he felt; for in his Dream
He as that princely Youth did seem;
And felt that Glory new of all the Scene.
But, as the Tidings of that Glory rose,
The gorgeous Scene appeared about to close;
For all the People shout, and all the Host
Of Egypt join’d, along the Red-Sea Coast, 80
In one loud peal of Praise; and was it joy?
Oh, no! it was the call his Masters gave,
That from his Vision drew the Hebrew Boy
To know himself a Slave!
While on his Ear that Shout of Triumph broke,
Joseph unwilling to the Call awoke;
He saw far off the Egyptian Turrets gleam,
And wept his cruel Fate, and longed again to dream.

[REST IN THE LORD!]

Ye blessed of your gracious Lord,
Felt you not, in that glorious Day,
By Force of that all-powerful Word
Your Nature’s Evil die away?
Ye must your Saviour’s Mercy feel,
Who came the World’s Disease to heal.

Felt ye not, at the powerful word,
The Innocence of Man restored;
Was it not to your Souls revealed,
The fountain of your Sin was healed? 10

Did ye not feel the Saviour’s Love,
With such peculiar Favour graced;
Lifted the World of Sin above;
In Mercy’s Ark securely placed;
From all that vexes, wounds and harms,
Protected in your Saviour’s Arms?

Felt you, as Life advanced, the Sin
That to our better Nature cleaves;
Or was there not the Guard within,
His Strength who in his Lord believes; 20
Did not that healing Touch controul
The Evil that assaults the Soul?

Knew ye not, as your Race ye ran,
And felt the Passions’ strong alarms,
That He who came and died for Man
Had blest and held you in His Arms?

Ye were a favour’d few; but all
By Frailty griev’d, by Sin opprest,
Who hear and who obey the Call—
“Come unto me”—shall find their Rest. 30

But Sinners who that Mercy seek
As little Children must appear;
Their Misery must their Wishes speak—
Repentant, humble, meek, sincere.
Let such appear with faithful Hearts
And feel the Hope that Faith imparts,
And they shall find that holy Rest
In their Redeemer’s mercy blest.

AND HE SAID UNTO HER “THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN.”

_St Luke_, vii. [48.]

Man may the Body’s Pains remove;
May soothe the Mind’s inferior Pain;
May the sad Spirit’s sighs reprove,
And bid the wretched smile again:
But, who the Soul of Sin would free,
Must be commissioned, Lord, from Thee!

Kings of the Earth have touched the Frame
Of Men diseased, and they have thought
By calling on Thy gracious Name
That they the Body’s Cure have wrought: 10
But ’tis Thy Word alone that brings
Health to the Soul, O King of Kings!

“Let there be Light!” th’ Almighty said,
And o’er the World came flashing Light.
“Let there be Light!” the Saviour [said],
And straight the Blind received his Sight.
At Jesus’ Word the Darkness fled

* * * * *

ERRATA.

VOL. III.

[_The lines cited are those of the several poems, not of the pages,
except where a page contains more than one poem._]

PAGE 18 l. 622 for _Chronicles_ read _Chronicle_.

p. 31 l. 150 for _know_ read _knew_.

p. 75 l. 21 for _if_ read _‘If_.

_ib._ and 76 ll. 22–4 in double inverted commas only.

p. 86 l. 428 for _your_ read _‘Your_.

_ib._ l. 429 _They will your absence_ not in inverted commas.

p. 87 ll. 465–7 not in inverted commas.

p. 88 l. 504 for _believe_ read _‘Believe._

_ib._ l. 505 not in inverted commas.

_ib._ l. 506 for _it_ read _‘It_.

_ib._ l. 507 not in treble inverted commas.

p. 95 l. 794 for _admit_ read _admits_.

p. 96 l. 828 for _the_ read _will_.

p. 98 l. 910 no inverted commas.

_ib._ l. 922 for _follow_ read _follow’d_.

p. 118 ll. 84–7 no single inverted comma before and after _fair
fragile thing_; before _wilt thou expand_; before _or wilt_; before
and after _for will it not_; before and after _melt away_.

p. 121 l. 217 no single inverted comma before and after _I love_ and
_Adieu!_

p. 126 l. 4 for _Visit William_ read _Visit to William_.

p. 129 l. 68 for _Dodderidge_ read _Doddridge_.

_ib._ l. 76 for _friends_ read _friends’_.

p. 134 l. 280 no inverted commas before and after _and shall we her
neglect?_

p. 142 l. 579 no inverted commas before and after _How_ and before
_such wo_.

_ib._ ll. 580–8 no inverted commas before lines and at end of l.
588.

p. 145 l. 702 no inverted commas after _Frances_.

p. 155 l. 281 an inverted comma after _side_.

_ib._ ll. 282–3 no third inverted comma at beginning and end of this
couplet.

p. 166 l. 187 for _reduced_ read _seduced_.

p. 167 l. 225 no inverted commas before and after _He knew full
well_; before _to what_.

_ib._ l. 226 no inverted commas at beginning and end of line.

p. 170 l. 373 no third inverted comma before _James_.

_ib._ l. 374 no inverted commas at beginning or end of line.

_ib._ ll. 376–7 inverted commas after _the heart_ and before _I
tarry_.

p. 171 l. 383 for _O_ read _Oh_.

_ib._ l. 412 no inverted commas before and after _Can I depend on
James_.

p. 172 ll. 433–4 no inverted commas before each of these lines and
at the end of l. 434.

_ib._ l. 447 for _slaves_ read _slave’s_.

p. 173 l. 478 inverted commas at end of line.

_ib._ l. 479 no inverted commas before and after _In such a night_.

p. 174 ll. 500–2 no inverted commas before each of these lines and
at the end of l. 502.

p. 179 l. 7 for _he_ read _be_.

p. 182 l. 132 no inverted commas before and after _And where is
Bloomer_.

p. 190 ll. 430–44 no third inverted commas at the beginning of each
of these lines and at the end of l. 444.

p. 198 l. 169 for _obscure sublime_ read _obscure-sublime_.

p. 201 ll. 289–91 no inverted commas at the beginnings of these
lines and at the end of l. 291.

p. 215 l. 83 no inverted commas at the end of this line.

p. 216 l. 146 for _we are_ read _we’re_.

p. 221 l. 347 for _seed_ read _seeds_.

p. 232 l. 759 no inverted commas at end of line.

p. 249 l. 314 a foot wanting here.

p. 273 l. 157 for _girls_ read _girl_.

p. 336 l. 24 for _hoy’s_ read _hoys’_.

p. 342 l. 270 for _ousy_ read _oozy_.

p. 353 l. 74 for _How_ read _How’s_.

p. 356 l. 192 for _He_ read _he_.

p. 372 l. 167 for _Made_ read _Make_.

p. 382 l. 157 for _becomes_ read _become_.

p. 408 l. 138 for _not ye_ read _ye not_.

p. 429 l. 66 for _dare_ read _dared_.

VARIANTS.

TALES OF THE HALL. Variants in edition of 1819 (first edition).

‘Original MS.’ readings given as footnotes in Life and Poems (1834). These are distinguished as ‘O.M.’