Collected Poetical Works of Mary Robinson
Page 21
That truth may boast, or patriot virtue give;
From her, the Arts enlighten’d splendours own,
She guides the peasant — She adorns the throne;
To mild Philanthropy extends her hand,
Gives Truth pre-eminence, and Worth command;
Her eye directs the path that leads to Fame,
Lights Valour’s torch, and trims the glorious flame;
She scatters joy o’er Nature’s endless scope,
Gives strength to Reason — extacy to Hope;
Tempers each pang Humanity can feel,
And binds presumptuous Power with nerves of steel;
Strangles each tyrant Phantom in its birth,
And knows no title — but SUPERIOR WORTH.
Enlighten’d Gallia! what were all your toys,
Your dazzling splendours — your voluptuous joys?
What were your glitt’ring villas — lofty tow’rs,
Your perfum’d chambers, and your painted bow’rs?
Did not insidious Art those gifts bestow,
To cheat the prying eye — with tinsel show?
Yes; luxury diffus’d her spells to bind
The deep researches of the restless mind?
To lull the active soul with witching wiles,
To hide pale Slav’ry in a mask of smiles:
The tow’ring wings of reason to restrain,
And lead the victim in a flow’ry chain:
Cold Superstition favour’d the deceit,
And e’en Religion lent her aid to cheat, —
When warlike LOUIS, † arrogant and vain,
Whom worth could never hold, or fear restrain;
The soul’s last refuge, in repentance sought,
An artful MAINTENON absolv’d each fault;
She who had led his worldly steps astray,
Now, “smooth’d his passage to the realms of day!”
O, monstrous hypocrite! — who vainly strove
By pious fraud, to win a people’s love;
Whose coffers groan’d with reliques from the proud,
The pompous off’rings of the venal crowd,
The messy hecatombs of dire disgrace,
To purchase titles, or secure a place.
And yet — so sacred was the matron’s fame,
Nor truth, nor virtue, dar’d assail her name;
None could approach but with obsequious breath,
To smile was TREASON — and to speak was DEATH.
In meek and humble garb, she veil’d command,
While helpless millions shrunk beneath her hand.
And when Ambition’s idle dream was o’er,
And art could blind, and beauty charm no more;
She, whose luxurious bosom spurn’d restraint,
Who liv’d the slave of passion — died a saint! †
What were the feelings of the hapless throng,
By threats insulted, and oppress’d with wrong?
While grasping avarice, with skill profound,
Spread her fell snares, and dealt destruction round;
Each rising sun some new infringement saw,
While pride was consequence — and pow’r was law;
A people’s suff’rings hop’d redress in vain,
Subjection curb’d the tongue that dar’d complain.
Imputed guilt each virtuous victim led
Where all the fiends their direst mischiefs spread;
Where, thro’ long ages past, with watchful care,
THY TYRANTS, GALLIA, nurs’d the witch DESPAIR.
Where in her black BASTILE the harpy fed
On the warm crimson drops, her fangs had shed;
Where recreant malice mock’d the suff’rer’s sigh,
While regal lightnings darted from her eye.
Where deep mysterious whispers murmur’d round,
And death stalk’d sullen o’er the treach’rous ground.
O DAY — transcendent on the page of Fame!
When from her Heav’n, insulted Freedom came;
Glancing o’er earth’s wide space, her beaming eye
Mark’d the dread scene of impious slavery,
Warm’d by her breath, the vanquish’d, trembling race,
Wake from the torpid slumber of disgrace.;
Rous’d by oppression, Man his birth-right claims,
O’er the proud battlements red vengeance flames;
Exulting thunders rend the turbid skies; —
In sulph’rous clouds the gorgeous ruin lies! —
The angel, PITY, now each cave explores,
Braves the chill damps, and fells the pond’rous doors,
Plucks from the flinty walls the clanking chains,
Where many a dreadful tale of woe remains,
Where many a sad memorial marks the hour,
That gave the rights of man to rav’nous pow’r;
Now snatch’d from death, the wond’ring wretch shall prove
The rapt’rous energies of social love;
Whose limbs each faculty denied — whose sight
Had long resign’d all intercourse with light;
Whose wasted form the humid earth receiv’d,
Who numb’d with anguish — scarcely felt he liv’d;
Who when the midnight bell assail’d his ears,
From fev’rish slumbers woke — to drink his tears:
While slow-consuming grief each sense enthrall’d,
‘Till Hope expir’d, and Valour shrunk — appall’d:
Where veil’d suspicion lurk’d in shrewd disguise,
While eager vengeance op’d her thousand eyes;
While the hir’d slave, the fiend of wrath, design’d
To lash, with scorpion scourges, human-kind —
Dragg’d with ingenious pangs, the tardy hour,
To feed the rancour of insatiate Pow’r.
Blest be the favor’d delegates of Heav’n,
To whose illustrious souls the task was giv’n
To wrench the bolts of tyranny — and dare
The petrifying confines of despair;
With Heav’n’s own breeze to cheer the gasping breath,
And spread broad sun-shine in the caves of death.
What is the charm that bids mankind disdain
The Tyrant’s mandate, and th’ Oppressor’s chain;
What bids exulting Liberty impart
Extatic raptures to the Human Heart;
Calls forth each hidden spark of glorious fire,
Bids untaught minds to valiant feats aspire;
What gives to Freedom its supreme delight?
’Tis Emulation, Instinct, Nature, Right.
When this revolving Orb’s first course began,
Heav’n stamp’d divine pre-eminence on man;
To him it gave the intellectual mind,
Persuasive Eloquence and Truth refin’d;
Humanity to harmonize his sway,
And calm Religion to direct his way;
Courage to tempt Ambition’s lofty flight,
And Conscience to illume his erring sight.
Who shall the nat’ral Rights of Man deride,
When Freedom spreads her fost’ring banners wide?
Who shall contemn the heav’n-taught zeal that throws
The balm of comfort on a Nation’s woes?
That tears the veil from superstition’s eye,
Bids despots tremble, scourg’d oppression die?
Wrests hidden treasure from the sordid hand,
And flings profusion o’er a famish’d land? —
Nor yet, to GALLIA are her smiles confin’d,
She opes her radiant gates to all mankind;
Sure on the peopled earth there cannot be
A foe to Liberty — that dares be free.
Who that has tasted bliss will e’er deny
The magic power of thrilling extacy?
Who that has breath’d Health’s vivifying breeze,
Would tempt t
he dire contagion of Disease?
Or prodigal of joy, his birth-right give
In shackled slavery — a wretch to live?
Yet let Ambition hold a temp’rate sway,
When Virtue rules — ’tis Rapture to obey;
Man can but reign his transitory hour,
And love may bind — when fear has lost its pow’r.
Proud may he be who nobly acts his part,
Who boasts the empire of each subject’s heart,
Whose worth, exulting millions shall approve,
Whose richest treasure — IS A NATION’S LOVE.
Freedom — blithe Goddess of the rainbow vest,
In dimpled smiles and radiant beauties drest,
I court thee from thy azure-spangled bed
Where Ether floats about thy winged head;
Where tip-toe pleasure swells the choral song,
While gales of odour waft the Cherub throng;
On every side the laughing loves prepare
Enamel’d wreaths to bind thy flowing hair:
For thee the light-heel’d graces fondly twine,
To clasp thy yielding waist, a zone divine!
Venus for thee her crystal altar rears,
Deck’d with fresh myrtle — gemm’d with lovers tears;
Apollo strikes his lyre’s rebounding strings,
Responsive notes divine Cecilia sings,
The tuneful sisters prompt the heavenly choir,
Thy temple glitters with Promethean fire.
The sacred Priestess in the centre stands,
She strews the sapphire floor with flow’ry bands.
See! from her shrine electric incense rise;
Hark! “Freedom” echoes thro’ the vaulted skies.
The Goddess speaks! O mark the blest decree, —
TYRANTS SHALL FALL — TRIUMPHANT MAN BE FREE!
† See the Elegy written on the plains of Fontenoy, by Mr. Merry.
† Louis XIV.
† Madame de Maintenon died a perfect devotee at the Convent of St. Cyr.
The following little Poems are written after the Model of the Old English Ballads, and are inscribed to those who admire the simplicity of that kind of versification.
SIR RAYMOND OF THE CASTLE.
A TALE.
Taken from the French.
NEAR GLARIS, on a mountain’s side,
Beneath a shad’wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass’d round,
An ancient Castle stood.
By all rever’d, by all ador’d,
There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless’d her age,
A maid of spotless fame!
While one fair son, a gallant boy,
Whose VIRTUE was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
Amidst the crimson’d field:
For o’er the land dissension reign’d
Full many a direful year,
And many a heart’s best blood had stain’d
The proud oppressor’s spear.
Young ELLA’S charms had spread her fame
O’er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave,
Had sought her for their bride!
Amongst the rest SIR RAYMOND came,
Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art,
And blest with ev’ry grace!
In tournaments renown’d afar,
For manly feats admir’d;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits,
The damsel’s bosom fir’d.
Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye
Her secret flame confess’d;
The gallant RAYMOND’S circling arm,
The beauteous ELLA press’d.
From her fond mother’s doating eyes
The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains
Beheld her charms no more.
Where the swift billows of the RHINE
Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown’d
His splendid Palace rose.
The festive scene had scarce began,
When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
On RAYMOND’S name did call;
“Come forth thou valiant Knight,” he said,
“Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
To meet the dauntless foe:
“The blood of many a noble Swiss
Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
Lies vanquish’d on the ground.
“The daring Chief, whose shining spear
With purple gore is dy’d;
Oh! direful news, prepare to meet
THE BROTHER OF THY BRIDE.”
Enrag’d, the haughty RAYMOND cried,
“Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
Within a dungeon’s gloom.”
Speechless the mournful ELLA stood,
Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow’r she heard,
Th’ larum-bell’s dreadful sound!
Her cold wan cheek, her quiv’ring lip,
Bespoke her soul’s deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop
In silent grief did flow,
“For shame, shake off those woman’s tears,”
The frowning bridegroom cried,
“And know, SIR RAYMOND’S warlike breast
Disdains a timid bride.
“In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns
TO CONQUER or to BLEED.”
Forth went the Knight; — the frantic bride
To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb’d the wall,
Th’ embattled plain to view.
On either side, by turns she thought
Proud vict’ry grac’d the field;
‘Till vanquish’d by her BROTHER’S sword,
She saw her HUSBAND yield.
For refuge to his Castle gate,
The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high,
His daring gauntlet threw!
Three days from dawn to setting sun,
The hardy soldiers stood,
‘Till faint with toil, by famine press’d,
They saw their chief subdu’d.
“Oh! haste my page,” SIR RAYMOND said,
“The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu’rer’s feet
This message bear from me.
“Treasures immense of massy gold,
Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
If he our lives will spare;
“If he consents, let garlands green
His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
Thrice sound his bugle horn.”
Gaily he pass’d the outward gate;
But sadly he return’d;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
— No wreath his brows adorn’d.
“Thy gold” he cried “ the conqu’ror scorns,
He claims thy forfeit LIFE,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
He gives thy beauteous wife.”
“Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
And for young ELLA’S sake
To prove his truth, the gen’rous chief
This solemn vow did make:”
“That whatsoe’er she holds most dear,
At morrow’s dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
May safely bear away;”
At dawn of light fair ELLA came,
Fresh as the ro
se of May;
SIR RAYMOND in a chest of gold,
Her pages bore away!
She pass’d the gate with throbbing heart,
She pass’d the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
Fell fast from ev’ry tongue!
“Halt, halt,” they cried, “right noble dame,
’Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
But gems and messy gold;”
“O stay me not ye gallant youths,
For soon it shall appear;
This burnish’d coffer doth contain
ALL THAT I HOLD MOST DEAR!”
“Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed,
Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman’s blood degrade
The glories of thy sword!”
The Hero smil’d — fair ELLA’S cheek
Glow’d with vermilion dye;
Fear chill’d her heart, the starting tear
Stood trembling in her eye.
Subdu’d, abash’d, her brother flew
And clasp’d her to his breast,
Then with an angel’s pitying voice,
The vanquish’d chief address’d:
“Come forth SIR RAYMOND, valiant knight,
Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from HER hand
Accept thy forfeit life.
“Here shall the bloody contest end,
Let peace o’erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror’s sword
CAN BEAUTY’S TEARS COMMAND!”
LEWIN AND GYNNETH.
A TALE.
“WHEN will my troubled soul have rest?”
The beauteous LEWIN cried;
As thro’ the murky shade of night
With frantic step she hied.
“When shall those eyes my GYNNETH’S face,
My GYNNETH’S form survey?
When shall those longing eyes again
Behold the dawn of day?”
Cold are the dews that wet my cheek,
The night-mist damps the ground;
Appalling echoes strike mine ear,
And spectres gleam around.
The vivid lightning’s transient rays
Around my temples play;
’Tis all the light my fate affords,
To mark my thorny way.
From the black mountain’s awful height,
Where LATHRYTH’S turrets rise;
The dark owl screams a direful song,
And warns me as she flies!
The chilling blast, the whistling winds,
The mould’ring ramparts shake;
The hungry tenants of the wood,
Their cavern’d haunts forsake.
Those tender limbs unus’d to stray
Beyond a father’s door;
Full many a mile have journey’d forth,
Each footstep mark’d with gore.