THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES &9. "7 kuC^ Xr^^/O^^'^- POEM S. JOHN SYER BRISTOWE, Jun, LONDON: GEORGE BELL, 186 FLEET STREET. MDCCCL. PRINTED BY tEVEV, KOBSON, AND FRANKLY? Great New Street, Fetter Lane. The story of the '* Fair Julie" was taken from a prose tale contained in an old Annual, the date of which has been forgotten. The names of the characters and of the localities are retained, and the incidents are but little altered. The other two pieces are original. January, 1850. 85S767 CHLORA. [1843.] CHLORA. CANTO I. Far distant from all other isle, Beneath the sun's eternal smile, Surrounded by a placid sea As green as emerald, and free From raging storm and blust'ring gale (That rend to shreds the spreading sail). Which never yet the stranger's prow Had cleft from Nature's dawn till now, The lovely island Chlora stood. On her fair shore unhallowed feud Had ne'er unsheathed contention's sword, Nor stained with blood the tender sward; Nor ever war's destructive rage. In any time or any age. CHLOKA. Had left upon lier blooming face The marks of ruin and disgrace ; Nor, kindling with resentful ire, Had raised the torch of anger's fire, To sweep away from each fair plain Those verdant forests that remain, The glory of ten thousand years ; Nor torn the flood of sorrow's tears From the pale mother's bursting eye, TMien her children murdered round her lie When her husband, welt 'ring in his gore, Stains with his blood the reeking shore ; Nor ever had her lofty hills, All sparkling with a thousand rills, Echoed to other sounds than those Which softly rise at evenings close — The voice of revel from the vale, Borne gently on the whispering gale. Arrayed before the palace-gate, The nobles on their steeds await ; CHLORA. And one was there of blackest jet, That one alone unmounted yet. The gates unfold — the king descends, And joyous mingles with his friends. He comes with youth's elastic steps, And on his neighing charger leajDS ; He scans their ranks, each head is bared. No eye to meet his glances dared ; Each lance is pointed to the ground, Each steed in silence reined around, ^Yhile thus he speaks : " My nobles, now To me uncover not the brow. But point your lances, and prepare To rouse the lion from his lair. In sceptered state I come not here Now as your master, but your peer; Ready alike the toil to bear, The danger of the chase to share." The island king had scarcely yet Attained the years of man's estate ; B 2 CHLORA. But learning stored his eager mind, And wisdom all its tliouglits refined. And yet liis lieart for love was formed, His breast with friendship's ardour warmed, His spirit softened at the spell Of loveliness ; the deep-drawn sigh Of injured innocence would fill His tender heart with sympathy. But deeds of infamy or shame His soul to vengeance would inflame ; And deeply would his spirit bleed, Till punishment atoned the deed. ^ His form was noble as his mind, — As lofty and as unconfined. Youth's health and fervent blood were there. And manhood's strength without its care. The lightness of the bounding deer, The lion's proud contempt of fear ; His godlike mien and lofty brow, His glancing eyes that shone below, Proclaimed the soul that burnt within — A soul that scorned the ways of sin. CHLORA. The bugle echoes loud and shrill ; The coursers dash aloug the hill. Fleet as the wind the summit gain. They pass ; and now along the plain, With flpng feet and floAving mane, They spring ; and in their viewless speed, Wliile the meadow trembles 'neath their tread. O'er many a hill and vale they sweej). As tempest o'er the rolhng deep. " Arise ye, and follow The joys of the chase, Ere beaming Apollo Hath dimmed his bright face ; While the zephyrs are pure And the sky is serene, And nought of obscure Or darkness is seen. For who knows the morrow. What pangs it may bear ] CHLORA. What grief or what sorrow Our bosoms may tear? Arise, then, while pleasure Sits bright on each face ; For where is the treasure That rivals the chase?" Again the bugle echoes shrill, Its notes resound from hill to hill. Roused at its voice, the lion starts Upon his feet, and round him darts His angry eye ; when, from a hand Unseen among the assembled l)and, An arrow pierced his tawny mane. To fury maddened by the pain. His foaming jaws give forth a sound That makes the forest tremble round. An instant looks he on his foes, An instant views their well-armed rows. Then glancing round him in disdain, Bounds swiftly o'er the wooded plain. CHLORA. He fli^;s, and after liiin with speed Each huutsinaii spurs his neighing steed. Hard on his steps the hunters fly For many a league with hue and cry ; But one proud steed of jet — the king's — With ardour burning, urged by skill, Outstripping all, as swift as springs The hghtning's flash from hill to hill. Pursues the flying victim. Lo ! The king leans forward, bends his bow ; The arrow, aimed A\dth skilfid eye, Cleaves the bright air, nor glances by, But sinks deep in his reeking hide, And quivers in his panting side. He stops, and as the crimson gore Flows from the wound, he wakes a roar Loud as the thunder-clap that peals On Pindus' summit. Eound he wheels — His eyeballs glare upon the king — He crouches down to make his spring, — 10 CHLORA. He springs, but swifter than the eye Can follow in its course doth fly The unerring dart. Its glancing steel His headlong progress must arrest ; And, armed with death, his fate must seal. It sinks deep in his ample chest; — Backward he tumbles on the ground, His life's blood pouring from the wound. Again he rises, and again In madness shakes his clotted mane; His eyes in savage wildness glare. His tail in frenzy beats the air. Again, again, to spring he tries ; But his members fail him, and he lies Convulsed and weltering in his gore — One fearful cry — life, all is o'er. Scarce had the echoes died away That answered to the monster's roar ; Scarce the responses ceased to j^lay Between the mountains and the shore ; CHLORA. 1 1 Scarce had lie reined liis panting steed, Or ton died the verdure of the mead, When gazing- round him with surprise, He sees nor steed nor huntsman by; Nor in the vale, nor on the rise, A trace or sign to shew them nigh, For, in the excitement of the chase, With ardour glowing in his face, Companions all were left behind, As far in distance as in mind. As Phoebus yet had scarcely driven His golden car o'er half the heaven, And weariness began to steal Over his frame, upon a bed Of fragrant flowers his limbs he spread, And sleep did soon his eyelids seal He slept j and ere he woke again, The sun was drooping towards the main ; And as he lay, a balmy breath. In sweetness stealing through the vale. Poured on his ear a voice of wail, — A trembling note of grief or death. 12 CHLORA. He listens as the breezes waft That murmured voice so sweet and soft Then starting from the mossy ground, Directed by the gentle sound, He strikes into the thickest wood, Where trees imj^enetrable stood. The wood soon opens in a plain, Extending to the wide, wide main ; But near him, what the clustering trees Had hitherto concealed, he sees A strong and gloomy fortress rear Its time-worn turrets, which appear The remnant of some vanished year. The king regards with silent awe ; Ne'er such stupendous pile he saw. Nor ever was aware before Such structure stood on Chlora's shore. To its dark towers he draws more near, And with amazement views and fear ; For he could not deem that such a tower Was built but by immortal power. CHLOEA. 13 Its height, its strength, each massy stone Denied the hand of man alone. Hark 1 still that murmur swells the gale ; What, Heaven ! what is that voice of wail, That, trembling from the castle walls, So sadly on his senses falls? " They say, alas, the soul is free ; That though the frame delay, Compelled by bonds of slavery, The spirit soars away. Say, is there freedom to the dove That sported on the gale, Whose joyous limbs forget to move, Whose glittering pinions fail ? Then, is there freedom to the soul That can no longer soar On wings of hope ; for which no goal, No prize is beaming more? c 14 True^ chains of iron can never bind, Though framed with direst skill, The subtle essence of the mind, Or bend the sovereign will : But when upon the billows tossed Of terrible despair, When joys are flown and hope is lost, And all is blackness there ; When all around is endless night Upon that dreary waste. When not a beacon sheds its light To guide us to our rest ; When helpless, hopeless, and alone We struggle in its wave, With not a star to cheer us on. No hope beyond the grave, — Then in what anguish of distress The shrinking soul must bleed; CHLORA. Oh, say not tliou 'tis fetterless, — 'Tis then a slave indeed." The voice is hushed, upon his ear No more its accents tremble clear. He waits, that he may hear again Its mournful tones ; but waits in vain. No answer lingers ; all is still, Save whispering gale and murmuring rill. But patience soon his mind forsakes : Since that sweet voice is heard no more, His own the chilling silence breaks, And thus his thoughts their current pour, " By yonder heaven, by yonder sky, By yonder orb that glows on high, By this broad earth on which I stand, I now entreat thee — nay, command. Whate'er thou art, or fiend or fay, Or mortal or immortal, say Why thou hast visited this shore, Where never stranger stood before. W 16 CHLORA, Jf born of Heaven, T own thy power ; If sprung of Satan, I defy thee ; If mortal, and misfortunes lower, I'll bear thee hence, or perish by thee." His tongue was mute ; but soon again He hears that melancholy strain. " Almighty Father ! do I hear Sweet music stealing on mine ear From human lips^ — is man so near? It seems, methinks, a mortal voice ; Its tones recall departed joys, Sweet happiness for ever gone ; Alas, I am indeed alone ! Yet, 'tis not so ; it may not be ; No mortal here can wander free. Where crime and malice spread their blight, Oh, what can bloom to glad the sight? How oft have I dreamed An accent was heard, And hope hath oft gleamed At the sound of a word ; CHLORA. 1 7 When the sullen moan Of the dying gale Trembles cold and lone On the clanking mail, That rusts in darkness on each long wall; That moulders, that totters, but cannot fall. Oh, would that corruption's fingers of rust Could lay these dark towers low in the dust : That the lightnings of heaven, the volcanoes that burst In earth's bosom might shatter these turrets accursed. In the midst of the ruins my latest breath Would ])less the dark hour that brought me death."' " Oh, answer, whosoe'er thou art ; Thy griefs, if such thou hast, impart ; For know a heart is beating here Can feel for sorrow's scalding tear; And more, if dangers round thee press, — If thou art bound and in distress, A hand is here can lend its aid, Can point the spear and wield the blade, And will to serve a weeping maid. c2 18 CHLORA. My word hatli power to raise a band Faithful in heart and strong in hand. If such be needed to oppose, They shall, though spirits be our foes." " Again I hear that voice, again It strikes mine ear distinct and plain. Oh, can my senses still deceive, And can that voice be fancy still? Can it but seem? and must I grieve. And bear in silence every ill? Too clear it sounded for a dream, * Too oft repeated thus to seem. Speak, then, oh, sj^eak ; a human tongue Brings sweetest music to mine ear. Sweeter than that which once among Lamented friends I loved to hear." " Yes, lady, 'tis the voice of man That breaks the gloom that reigns around thee The voice of one whose prowess can Destroy the fetters that have bound thee. CHLORA. 19 Aweary from the ardent chase, By fate impelled, I reached this place ; And I, the monarch of this isle, Viewed what I ne'er had seen, this pile, — This giant pile of gloomy stones. And heard the soft and trembling tones Of thy silvery voice, that sadly fell From the cold black wall of thy silent cell." " Then 'tis no fancy ; 'tis no gleam Of foolish hope's too transient dream. From human lips a human tone I hear responsive to mine own. Within this dungeon cold and drear, How could I hojDe again to hear The notes that in my happier days Ne'er sounded but to speak my praise ? How could I hope, alone and sad. In fetters bound, in sackcloth clad, — How could I, shut from smiling day. From nature's sweets, from Phcebus' ray,- 20 CHLOKA. In sickness, misery, and jDain, How could I hope for joy again? Yet like a shore that from the sea Doth greet the hope-sick mariner, Or like a momentary ray That gilds the waste of waters drear, Amidst my misery I bless This fleetest ray of happiness." " Say, lady, say what cruel lot Hath placed thee on this dreary spot. What fiend hath raised his lawless hand To chain thee on a foreign strand? What wretch can own a heart so sere To all that makes existence dear, As thus to spurn a maiden's tear"^" " Why should I, prince, impart my grief To one who never suffered woe ; For who shall minister relief To maladies they cannot know? CHLORA. 21 Brought up in courts, and born to power, The monarch of a happy isle, Thou hast not drunk affliction sour, Thou art not skilled in paltry guile ; And mayst thou ne'er, by tasting, know The misery of hopeless woe. I once was happy, once was gay. But like a dream, 'tis passed away ; For towers of strength, and walls of might. Enclose me here in endless night, And oceans deep unceasing roar Between me and my natal shore. Yes ; I was joyous once, and gay, Nor long ago — to me an age; Nor deemed I then my joys for aye Should fade like autumn tints away, To feed revenge and foster rage ! The daughter of a king, like thee I lived in bright prosperity : Untaught in crime, the sense of shame To me was but a hated name : 22 CHLOEA. And vice, like tales of reptile bands, Whose venom poisons distant lands, Would strike a shudder through my frame, Yet seemed so far from my pure lot. That with the shudder 'twas forgot, — A transient cloud that crossed the mind, But left all sunny still behind. My father dear, with anxious eyes, Watched my gay years from childhood rise ; In me he centered all his care, For me he breathed each murmured prayer ; I was his joy, his hope, his pride, No child had he to love beside. But childhood vanished, and in frame And feelings woman I became; I sported still, and still I bloomed. But, oh, my happiness was doomed ! Among the lords and princes who About me smiled my heart to woo, A wizard strong and dead to shame Upon me urged his odious flame. CHLORA. I loathed his sight and spurned his vows — Oh, never could I be his spouse ! In vain I strove his search to elude, Where'er I wandered, he pursued ; And still the fiend his passion pressed, Though still I shunned him like the pest;^ — Enough — the unequal contest ceased. And now, my error to atone, — That error, that I loved him not, — His cruel power hath hid me moan My life away in this dread spot ! His tyrant hand hath chained me here Within this dungeon cold and drear, For ever shut from genial day, To weep eternity away, Unless my broken heart relent, And I to be his bride consent. Now day by day, strong armed for ill. He haunts my dismal cell, And strives to bend me to his wijl By torments terrible ! 23 24 CHLORA. But never — Oh, he comes again, To rack me with unearthly pain." "Who comes? who haunts thee thus, sweet maid? Whoe'er it be, my hand and blade Are here to succour — " " Vain thine aid !" Exclaims the lady in despair, With groans of pain that rend the air ; " In vain, in vain — no mortal power Can bear me from this gloomy toAver !" " Maiden," he cries, with flashing eye, " 111 strive to save thee, though I die !" He stops, for he hears her weep again As though in agony and pain ; He hears her cry in such thrilhng strains, That the l^fe-blood curdles in his veins. Her shrieks his soul with fury fire. He draws his sword from its sheath in ire ; CHLORA. He flies to aid her, but in vain, For how shall he her dungeon gain? How through the walls of massive stone Shall hew his way unhelped, alone 1 Alas, he feels he cannot save The captive from her living grave ! Again, but helplessly, he cries, While the tear-drop trembles in his eyes, " Oh, maiden, say ! by heaven, oh, tell Who, who can save thee from magic spell 1" Her cries of terror and despair Still fall upon his aching ear ; But now her wailings all decrease. And for a time her torments cease. Yet soon again he hears her strain : " Fly, stranger, from this gloomy spot, Waste not thy pitying breath ; For ne'er canst thou avert my lot. Nor turn the shaft of death ! D 25 26 CHLORA. Nor thinkest thou what hand of might Thou darest thus oppose, — What pestilence and withering blight Thou'rt raising for thy foes !" " Oh, answer, lady fair ! if not, I'll rest in this unhallowed spot Until I perish, or I be Bound down in cruel chains with thee !" "No hand can save me from the grave, No human power, alas ! But all alone in grief I moan, In tears my moments pass; Except — but that may never be — The fairy queen could know; But, oh, how little dreameth she What torments round me now ! She dwells across the briny wave, Ten thousand leagues away; CHLORA. 27 Yet, though all-powerful to save, My grief cannot allay ; For none who know my woes dare go Across the heaving deep. Or dare oppose the blasts that blow, And o'er its bosom sweep. And did one dare, 'twould all be vain — In vain it were to try ; For he must perish in the main. Or of wasting famine die !" Murmuring melts away the sound. And cheerless silence reigns around ; No more, no more the lady speaks. No more the chord of sorrow wakes. The king aloud impatient cries, But not a word her voice replies ; He cries, entreats, and cries again. Nought answers but the mountains high. At length, as all his fond hopes die. New thoughts inspire his burning brain : 28 CHLOEA. "Can she be dead'?" for then in vain The attempt to free her from her chain. — But no ; he thinks^ and rightly thinks, By dread fatigue o'ercome, she sinks ; That for a space her senses leave, To wake once more to pine and grieve. And feeling well that man's frail hand Immortal might can ill withstand. Now that to calmness he returns, And his breast no more with frenzy burns, He leaps upon his neighing steed, And urges to its utmost sjjeed. Regardless of the gory plain Where lay the prize his hand had slain. The bleeding trophy of his skill. He bounds o'er vale and stream and hill, Determining, in vessel frail, O'er ocean's wide expanse to sail, And either to the fairy queen Disclose the crimes his eyes had seen, And thus on chance and her rely. Or nobly in the attempt to die. CHLORA. 20 Such thouofhts revolvino: in his soul, Where hopes and fears dispute control, He reached his marble palace, beut, When night its gloomy veil had rent, In spite of tears and sighs and sorrow, On hastening forward on the morrow, — On leaving all the sweets of home, A houseless wanderer to roam. d2 CANTO 11. The morning breaks on Chlora's hills, The mists of darkness fade, In music dance her hundred rills. That wander in the shade; The gilded tenants of the skies Now raise their joyous song, To hail the morning as it flies In loveliness along. The flowers that drooped the blushing head Beneath the veil of night, In sweetness now their odours shed. To hail the dawning light. A voice of wailing rends that shore. Where never wail was heard before : CHLORA. The prince — a prince whose gentle mind A nation's heart to his could bind With love — is gone; his light canoe Is fast departing from their view. He, forward leaning on his hand, Looks sadly towards his native land ; He looks with sorrow and regret. And trembles at impending fate. Swiftly he passes by each spot, The lofty hill, the shady grot. That gave but now to sense and sight Unbounded pleasure and delight; And as each haunt that home endears From his sad vision disappears. His cheeks roll down a flood of tears ! Still steers he on — still to his eyes The rocks, the cliffs, decrease in size; And now the land, so bright and gay. Long distance veils in mournful grey. He gazes on the misty shore Till his eye can bear to gaze no more ; 31 32 CHLORA. Then sinks his head upon his breast, His arms are on his bosom prest, Silent he sits, nor moves nor speaks. And scarce a sigh the silence breaks. Thus long he rests, consumed with grief, Ere his sad mind obtains relief: He groans ; then starting from his seat, He gazes back, — no shore to greet His eye appears, for all around, As far as mortal eye can bound. Extends the wide and pathless main. One mighty, liquid, heaving plain. ^ And here he rides upon the billow. Far, far away from home's sweet pillow, - Far, far from home's endearing ties. And far from mortals' anxious eyes ! Farewell, my lovely isle. Farewell, ye haunts of pleasure ! Though fairer shores may smile To yield their richer treasure, CHLORA. 33 Though deeper skies may meet A brighter ocean's swell, They caunot prove so s\Yeet As thine, — yet, Fare-thee-well ! Though warmer suns may shine, Though purer breezes blow, Though fairer flowers than thine In richer tints may glow. Their bounteous gifts shall ne'er Thy softer charms dispel — Oh ! none can be so fair As thine — yet, Fare-thee-well ! I love thee. Isle of Glory, I love thy smiling streams, I love thy mountains hoary That drink the noonday beams ; I love each shady gTove, Each sweetly silent dell — Oh 1 none I e'er can love As thine — yet, Fare-thee-well ! 34: CHLORA. Farewell, my island home ! Though o'er the bounding sea Fate bids my vessel roam, I shall remember thee. My tears for them I love In vain I strive to quell — Oh ! who can ever prove So dear — yet, Fare-thee-well ! Farewell to all who love me, Adieu to friend and foe ; The sky is bright above me, The ocean rolls below; My vessel, free and light, Bounds o'er the billows' swell. The storm may rise ere night — Still, still, oh ! Fare-thee-well ! I love thee. Isle of Beauty, Thou daughter of the morn ; I grieve to part, though duty Forbids me to return; CHLORA. 35 The ocean vnde ^y\\\ sever, And tempests round me yell, Yet, if I part for ever, For ever Fare-tliee-well ! " Still, still his bark glides swiftly on, And soon his bitterness is gone ; And as he sails, his joy returns, Again his breast with courage burns ; He thinks not of the shore that's left, Nor of the comforts he's bereft, But looks vnth hope to gain the aid Of the fairy queen for that sweet maid, A\lio, bound by magic's powerful spell. Lies pining in her dungeon-cell. For many a day and many a night. By scorching sun and pale moonlight. He'd sailed along the dark-blue sea. But still no bound there seemed to be. The hopes that had his strength sustained, His glowing visions, hourly waned ; 36 CHLORA. And though the sea was bright aud cahii. And gentle breezes fell like balm Upon his spirit, yet the bloom Of youth was overcast with gloom : He felt, he knew the sparkling wave Must prove ere long his lonely grave. At times he thought to turn him back. Retrace his long and doubtful track ; At times, to end his woes and pain By plunging in the restless main. The first, alas ! he saw would be In vain. To cross once more the sea — The path he had so long pursued To wander back, with scarcely food For one poor meal, were madness nigh, And he of lingering want must die ! And should he perish, she must fall ; While, stretched along the clammy stones. Her lips in vain for mercy call. Her spirit breathes unceasing groans ; Whereas, if Fortune should permit. Some friendly shore might greet him yet. CHLORA. And he might gain the fairy's aid, And for his tortures be repaid, And clasp the maiden to his heart, Oh, never, never more to part ! On, on he went; but as he flew The mass of heavino^ waters throuo^h, The deep grew still, the breezes fell, Xor longer did his bark propel; The sun no more -ss-ith smiling face. As was his wont, the sky did grace, But rose each morn and set each night One small round globe of smothered Ught ; And as the crimson ball each day Scowled fiercely o'er the stagnant sea, All nature shrunk beneath the gaze, And ocean withered in the blaze. The prince — alas! his food is gone, Of water he hath tasted none ; His lips, his throat, are parched with thirst. His eyeballs from their sockets burst ; 38 He tries to hide him from the sun, But still its fury bursts upon His frenzied brow; where'er he turns, Destruction frowns and nature burns. He leans his forehead o'er the side, And laves it in the rolling tide ; But, oh ! it brings him no relief, Nor cools his temj^les or his grief. For it is hot and clammy too ; But, heavens ! discloses to his view A shoal of sharks that round him swim, And gaze in hungry rage on him. He sinks upon the seat' with fright. His heart's blood curdles at the sight ; He tries to weep, no tear will come ; He tries to speak, his voice is dumb; His blood- shot eyes roll in despair, He gasps for breath the scorching air. He stretches forth his hand to take The empty vase his thirst to slake. And hfts it to his shrivelled Hp, And long he sips, or tries to sip. • CHLORA. 39 But all in vain — no moisture's there! He easts it from liim in desi:>air; And as it cleaves the poisoned air, And sinks into the blackened deep, At once the sharks in hundreds leap, And as they turn to snatch, disclose Their ravening jaws all armed with rows Of pointed teeth; and as away They slink from their expected prey, They fix their greedy eyes on him. Sick at the sight, his orbs wax dim, Each gathered limb to move refuses, His mind its wonted ^^gour loses, And sinking down — O blest reprieve! — His eyelids close, his senses leave. How long bereft of sense he lay, Nor he, nor any one can say; But when he woke he found him stiff And helpless stretched along the skiff, And all his torture fierce returned, — His tong-ue for drink still vainly burned, 40 CHLORA. His shrivelled limbs were scorched and frail, Uncooled by shower or soothing gale. But, oh ! his torture ends not here — He hears with horror and with fear A troop of vultures round him fly, With flapping wings and greedy cry, And pictures to his tortured mind His bones all bleaching to the wind, While they who feasted on his corse And drank his blood ere yet the source Of life was dry, unwilling yet The smallest morsel to forget. Each bone turn over one by one. And leave to whiten in the sun — 'Twas too much for his mind to bear. The force of terror and despair Gave strength to every blighted limb. And new light to his vision dim; He started up, and saw with dread The vidtures wheeling round his head; But as he screamed they flew away, And, disappointed, left their prey. CHLORA. 41 Yet still he gazed ; and, lo ! aiion Two lovely birds, whose plumage shone With gold and silver hues, sail by. Dispersing fragrance as they fly. He watches long this happy pair. Their gentle gambols in the air — Oh, it is sweet to see again, When we have crossed the swollen main, And gasped in agony for breath. And felt the chilhng hand of death. To see the things on land we've seen, However poor, however mean ! — As thus he watched their cheerful play, And heard them carol sweet and gay, A murmur trembled on his tongue. His thoughts ran thus, and thus he sung : — " Oh, would I were a smiling bird. With many a shining feather, To perch upon the lofty tree. Or skip along the heather ; E 2 42 CHLORA. To roam about where'er I choose, And flutter in the breeze — To wander o'er the snow-capped mount, Or o'er the cahn blue seas. And should the howling wind arouse The anger of the deep. How soon could I regain my nest, And there in safety sleep ! Oh, would I were a smiling bird, All free from pain and sorrow, To spend my hours in joy and love, And careless for the morrow." Here ended he his murmured lay : But scarce the echo died away, When, bursting from the clouds above, A hawk descended on the dove. And bore it in its beak away. Its mate, all fearless of the fray, Darts fiercely on the bird of prey ; CHLORA. 43 But how, alas! should that avail — For what can valiant weakness do 1 Poor bird ! why thus the foe assail, And, vainly warring, perish too? "Ah! 'tis an emblem of the fate," Exclaims the prince, " that doth await Me. I, who thus so vainly rove To save the hfe of one I love, Shall end my life as this fair dove ; And she "svill perish as a slave. While I am lingering on the wave. But now, I en\'ious wished to be Yon lovely bird, so fair and free, And longed to flutter in the air As joyous and as free from care. Alas ! why should I wish to flee The lot that hath devolved on me? Why, why for changes should I sigh, Since all must end — all, all must die? And yet these pangs may soon be o'er, For not the ocean, but the shore 44 CHLORA. These birds inhabit." So spake he, Exhausted, falling on his knee ; His transient burst of feeling had Left him more feeble and more sad ; His nerveless arms, all parched and dried. Hung helpless by his withered side. Yet while he gazed, by sorrows weighed, A mist that hung 'twixt earth and skies Dispersed by sudden breeze, displayed An island to liis wondering eyes. As his bark still glides along the sea. He hears the birds sing merrily. For scarce a single mile away The glowing landscape peaceful lay; The lofty mountains' rugged brows All covered with eternal snows; The sloping valley's soft green trees All quivering in the odorous breeze, And echoing to the birds' sweet glees ; The streamlet dancing through the plain, Whose amber waves reflect ag:ain CHLORA. 45 The sun's bright image, and the stream That proudly gives him beam for beam — All smile upon him as he kneels, And every inward sorrow heals; Yet though his mind is well at ease, His feebleness hath no decrease. As nearer to the isle he goes, Fresh beauties to his eye disclose, And every wide and shady tree That dips its branches in the sea With fruit is laden, sweet to view. Of every form and every hue ; And every tender plant that twines Around its branches, or reclines Upon the mossy bank, — and each Bright herb that rises on the beach Is decked with flowers all rich and rare. Of odour sweet and colour fair. His boat still nearer drew ; but while He almost touched the verdant isle, — And while each sweet and sunny flower. And luscious fruit, seemed in his power, 46 CHLORA. A tide^ as unforeseen as strong, Another way his bark along Impetuously bore ; and ere His soul could tremble or despair, He saw him hurried from the shore, Never again to see it more. The sun was sinking in the west, And hasting to its nightly rest; And as it neared its watery bed, And gently drooped its radiant head. Imparting to the azure sky The brightness of its beaming eye, The spirits of the heaving sea Were sporting on its bosom free. And lightly whiling time away Beneath Apollo's parting ray. These in the distance now he spies With vacant stare and glassy eyes; He sees them dancing in a ring, And hears their melting voices sing : CHLORA. 47 FIRST VOICE. ■ Sister spirits, come with me, And upon the silvery sea, In the sun's departing rays, Far from mortals' impious gaze, Let us o'er the bright wave bound To the lyre's delightful sound. Now the breeze is softly blowing O'er the billow gently flowing. Wafting from the fairies' isles (Where eternal summer smiles). Bearing on its gentle wings Odours from the crystal springs. Now the silver moon is seen Rising from the waters green — And the gloomy shades of night. Stealing on the fading light Like a mist or mountain gray, Stretch along the eastern sea, — Softly touch the melting lyre, Kindle in each breast desire, 48 CHLORA. And with willing steps and free Trip it o'er tlie heaving sea." ALL. " Sister spirits, let us sing ! Let us touch the tuneful string, And upon the boundless deep Let us dance with joyful step, Ere the night Shall put to flight The lingering light, And lull the world to sleep." FIRST VOICE. " Ye spirits, now trip O'er the billows of green. And sing as ye skip The praise of the queen, Who reigns 'neath the waters. For ever in motion, CHLOEA. And rules o'er the daughters Of Tethys and Ocean ; Who dwells in the bowers Beneath the bright tide, Where sea's mossy flowers In green clusters ride; Where coral is growing, And pearls dazzle white ; Where amber is glowing With soft yellow light." SECOND VOICE. "While o'er ocean we wing At the closing of day, Oh, come, let us sing. With loud voices and gay, Her who holds 'neath her reign The winds of the north, F 49 50 CHLORA. And calms the wide maiiij Or kindles its wratli." THIRD VOICE. "How sweetly now, O'er ocean's brow The zephyrs pour From western shore Their cooling breath ; How unlike the rude blast that bleak Boreas brings, Bearing ruin and death On its dark sable wings ! Or the hot and burning wind That frowns upon the sands of Ind, And upon its dusky nation Scatters death and desolation. See, as we sweep Along the deep, How, in each breeze That fans the seas, Our tresses, bright As heaven's light, CHLORA. Ol Wave unrestrained By artful hand ; Then, ere tlie sun His course hath run — Before the night Hath quenched the hght, And spread her gloomy shroud, All black with storm, and rain, and cloud — We'll quickly bound In a fairy round, And sing — But fly, A mortal's nigh ! " Soon as the fairy figures fled, Bright Phoebus hid his glowdng head. And from the caverns of the north A mighty hurricane bursts forth ; Black torrents pour from every cloud, The mountain billows roar aloud, The thunder bellows through the air. And the swift lightning's savage glare 52 CHLORA. Shews, through the tempest and the gloom, The monarch hurried to his doom. How fearful must that moment be, When, standing on the misty brink Of dark and dim futurity, The mind, the soul can dare to think ! How fearful, when one short advance, One failing foot, one step amiss. May end in death life's gorgeous trance, And dash to earth the cup of bliss ! How fearful then to think, to deem That life is but an empty dream, Whose golden scenes and pictured charms, Whose rainbow tints, must fade in gloom. When wakes that morning of alarms. That day of doubt, of death, and doom ! His life must end, he felt, he knew, And with it all his sorrows too ; But though his moments must be few — CHLORA. And with tlie thought he was elate — Still 'twas decreed by envious fate His torments should not yet abate ; And as the howling tempests urge His bark along the boiling surge, Far louder than the thunder s growl, The ocean's roar, the tempest's hoAvl, The stormy demons' maddening yell, As though escaped from lowest hell, Rings in his ear ; and as he cries, From wind, from ocean, and the skies, A thousand jeering voices rise I And as he prays, or tries to pray, Their laughter drives his thoughts away ; With many an oath and many a taunt. And yell of scorn. " A vaunt ! avaunt I " He cries, " ye demons of the deep ! In peace one moment let me weep, And pour before the throne of Heaven ]My suppliant prayer to be forgiven — f2 53 54 CHLORA. The pangs of conscience in me quell — " "Ha! ha!" in mockery they yell. His words were stopped; but soon again He murmurs forth his pleading strain : "Oh, Prince of Heaven! attend my prayer; Bestow on me thy fostering care; And now that I so soon must die, Look on me with a smiling eye ; Sustain me in this awful hour, And guard me from temptation's power." A vivid flash of lightning shewed His vessel tossed upon the flood; But swifter than its sudden gleam, Pursued by many a fiendish scream, Borne by the storm, with sudden shock His bark was hurled upon a rock. And, springing with convulsive leap. He sunk beneath the foaming deep. CANTO III. Upon the fairies' golden shore, Beside the sparkling crj^stal springs, AVhose smallest drop from Nature's store The brightest gifts of beauty brings ; Whose lightest touch to palsied age Gives youthftil strength, and fire, and rage And to the victims of disease. Whose forms are wasting \viih decay, Restores untainted health and ease, And sorrow banishes for aye — The monarch lay all cold and wet, Nor had returned his senses yet ; 56 CHLORA. His clieeks were sunk, his eyelids closed, As tliougli ill death's chill arms reposed. And as he thus in coldness lay, Beneath the sun's all-gilding ray. While flowers of every hue around In blooming clusters veiled the ground, Three lovely spirits, pure and fair, Hovering in the fragrant air, While o'er the prostrate prince they hung In sweet and heavenly voices sung : ALL. Lo ! on our lovely isle a stranger Is sleeping, and in woe — Escaped from death and won from danger. Oh, must he perish now? Wake, dreamer, wake ! wh}- wilt thou weep. When hajopiness is here? CHLORA. 01 Why wilt tliou tremble in thy sleep, With those who love thee near'?" FIRST. " I veiled him from the burning sun, That in its angry glow Destroyed all else it looked upon — And shall he perish now?" SECOND. " When \'ultures in their foul array Wheeled round his helpless brow, I drove the hungry troop away — And shall he perish now ? " THIRD. " When ocean heaved the mighty wave That 'whelmed his fragile prow, I bore him from the foaming grave — And shall he perish now?" 58 CHLORA. ALL. " Lo ! on our lovely isle a stranger Is sleeping, and in woe — Escaj^ed from death and won from danger, He shall not perish now ! Wake, dreamer, wake ! the fair one moans Within her dungeon drear; Oh, soothe her grief, and turn her groans To smiles — for aid is near!" No sooner had they ceased to sing. Than, gently lighting from the wing. And settling by the prince's side, They raise him, and in silence glide. And dip him in the crystal tide — As when before the sun's bright rays In blackness floats the sullen cloud. And for a time conceals its blaze. And hides it 'neath its misty shroud; CHLORA. 59 But soon the zephp* lightly springs, With health and fragrance on its wings, And sweeps the gathering gloom away ; Nor sooner is the blackness fled, Than bright Apollo's glorious head Doth richer beauties round him shed, And for the gloom doth more than pay — Thus from the water's magic touch Arose the youthful monarch ; such As when, on Chlora's verdant shore, He strode in majesty along, Wliile subjects, all-adoring, pour In joyful words the tide of song. Thus rose the prince; and fear, surprise In silent wonder chained his eyes. At leno-th — "Where am I? on what shore? o What land is this around me? Or" — As recollection made him scan The perils he so lately ran — " Oh, is it not some cursed dream For torture sent — a hateful beam 60 CHLORA. Of hope delusive? Oh, forbid Sweet shmiber to each aching hd ! Oh, let me not in fancy seem The sharer of immortal bliss ! Oh, let me not in visions deem My lot is other than it is ! — To wake and find myself alone, By sickness sapped, by tempest blown — A fate to hope and pleasure dead, And, by comparison, more dread ; But if I am awake — in truth Restored to vigour and to youth — What power, what miracle this form, All withered by disease and storm. Hath thus renewed? On what blest land, What glorious country, do I stand? My Chlora is both bright and green. But not so fair as this I ween ; Her skies are of the deepest blue. Her flow'rets of the brightest hue, Her dancing streams are sweet and pure, Her hills and vales the step allure ; CHLORA. 61 Yet though my isle is bright and fair, No spot so exquisite is there. Ye phantoms! sprites! whatever ye be — ^Vlio seem, at least, to smile on me — I pray ye teU me where am T 1 "What shore is this — what azure sky?" The spirits, then —whose eyes were bright As diamonds, their robes as white — Who stood beside him silent, mild, With look benignant on him smiled, And in a soft and melting strain Of heavenly harmony rephed, Gently swelling as the main, That undulates with every tide : " Seest thou yon sun, in brightness how Its rays around thee beam? And canst thou for a moment think That this is but a dream? Seest thou yon sky, yon mountain peaks, Those groves, these crystal springs? G 62 CHLORA. " These, monarch, wilt thou not confess More fair than vision briugrs? No, prince, thy senses fail thee not ; In beauty dost thou stand — Where long thy hopes of joy were placed - Upon the fairies' land. By that meandering flowery path That winds through yonder grove, Haste to the attainment of thy hopes, Upon the wings of love. Haste ! fly ! the least delay may bring Destruction to the fair; — Hark ! even now I hear her shrieks Of anguish and despair ! " As thus their silvery accents fell. His hopes to raise, his doubts to quell, The spirits melted into air, But left a balmy fragrance there. CHLORA. 63 Strong as the tliunder-peals that roll Along the snow-clad Alpine peaks. His mission bursts upon his soul, And every other feeling breaks; He hastes him onward to his goal. The beauties scarce that round him rise, The charms that o'er him wave and coil, Allure his senses or his eyes ; He strides in swiftness o'er the soil Of beaming gems ; and now he hath Reached the meandering flowery path; He hastes along its mndiug way — And oh ! he cannot help but stay At times to gaze upon the scene, ]More bright than mortal eye hath seen ; For o'er his head the giant trees. Decked all in autumn's mellow hue, And opening to the fragrant breeze. Disclosed their golden crops to view ; And round their trunks and branches twined The fairest flowers of rarest kind, 64 CHLORA. In blusliing clusters sweetly lying, In all their matchless splendour vying; And o'er the ground as he was hying, At every print his footsteps made Beneath the branches' grateful shade. The soil discovered to his gaze Many a precious gem or stone. That more than pearl or diamond shone. And far surpassed the ruby's blaze ; And every moment, through the maze Of trees and flowers, did landscape dressed In fairy charms his eye arrest; And by his side, through beds of roses, Where many a joyous fay reposes. Some softly murmuring cascade. In SAveetness gliding through the glade. In gladness o'er its rich bed dancing. And in the sun's bright lustre glancing. Poured on his eye its charms entrancing. Still went he on ; and as he passed The peaceful grove in raptures through. CHLORA. 65 Each step more lovely tbau the last Uj^on his wondermg vision grew. And o'er his head and 'neath his feet The sweetest charms of nature meet ; And far as vision can extend The richest hues and colours blend. As farther onward he did rove, x\nd neared the confines of the grove, The path became more wdde and clear, The views more lovely did appear; The fruits were tinged with deeper red ; The sun more bright his glory shed ; Fragrance more sweet the flowers dispersed; More gaily through their channels burst The dimpled streams; and from the sky, The distant hills, the woodlands by, One voice of heavenly melody In sweetness swelled upon his ears, Soft as the music of the spheres, And seemed to urge him to proceed To joys that are the angels' meed. g2 Q6 CHLORA. As when from Chaos' shapeless waste Of nothingness and gloom, By power divine creation, traced, Sprung forth in youth and bloom ; When first the charms of Paradise In splendour burst on mortal eyes. And chained the senses in surprise — So did the palace, bright with gold, Reared from the earth in heavenly mould, Whose domes and minarets on high In glory beamed along the sky — Whose sculptured columns' gilded height Sustained the weight of living light — Burst on the king's bewildered sight. His senses quailed beneath the blaze ; He stood and bent on earth his gaze. Nor dared his eye again to raise, Till by his side a heavenly sprite, Clad in a robe of spotless white. With smiling face, and words that fell Soft as the dew on Tempe's dell, CHLORA. 67 Still urged him onward to proceed, And follow as her footsteps lead ; And, from that sacred store, which never From fairy mortal hand can sever. Distilled into his aching orbs A balm whose power divine absorbs All weakness, and for ever grants Immortal power to mortal wants. His eyes, thus strengthened, for awhile Intently gazed upon the pile. Then followed he his lovely g-uide (Whose heavenly smile fond hopes supplied,) Through pathways girt with trees and flowers. And softly luring grots and bowers. And dancing fount and dimpled stream, Whose depths with golden mjTiads teem ; And soon, despite the varied charms That lured him with enticing arms, He reached the first high arch that stood The entrance to that blest abode. Through many a hall and room he passed, Each one more gorgeous than the last, 68 CHLORA. Adorned with glittering chandelier, And purer gold and richer gem Than shines in monarch's diadem; And often near him would appear Some glancing form, whose bright eyes shone A moment on him, and was gone — Swift as the star that through the skies Gleams for a moment's space and dies. But now this wandering through the maze Of varied charms and brilliant blaze Must end ; and following the sprite That led him through this world of light. He stepped into a high saloon, Of sheen less fiery, but more pure ; Soft as the halo of the moon. But dazzling as the sun at noon. When nought of gloom doth its rays obscure ; And on a throne of pearl reclining, In beauty's native richness shining, With gold nor ruby on her dress, 'Nor twined with every roving tress, To add false charms to loveliness, CHLORA. 69 He saw, surrounded by a baud Of blooming maids, wbo silent stand With lyres and lutes of gold in hand, Waking a stream of harmony That raised the spirit to the sky, The fairy queen. Before her throne He bent his forehead to the ground, By love, by admiration bound. Of charms his eye had never known ; Nor e'en to speak did he presume, Or raise his orbs around the room. Till, in a voice of melody That filled his soul with ecstacy. Sweet as the honey that distils On famed Hymettus' marble hills, She spake; and at the heavenly sound Immortal silence reigned around. Her form majestic nobler seemed. Her sparkhng eye more brightly beamed : " king, and wherefore art thou come. Through scenes of danger and of gloom. 70 CHLORA. Across the bosom of the deep, Where storms and winds and tempests sweep What cause, so powerful to urge A monarch through the boiling surge, Hath driven thee from thy native isle, From people's love, from kindred's smile, From power, from happiness, and ease (The fruits of virtue and of peace), To seek across the pathless main Uncertain pleasures, certain pain? — To wander o'er the boisterous wave, With none to help and none to save? — To brave the tempest's poisoned breath — To tempt the unpitying shafts of death? What tale of horror and distress Hath urged thee thus to risk the charms Of hfe, of health, and happiness, To rove 'mid dangers and alarms? Unbend thy knees — arise — declare What hath depressed thy mind with care ; For know thou that this hand hath power To calm thee in affliction's hour. When troubles press, Avhen dangers lower -r- CHLORA. 71 Oppression's iron bands to break — To help the innocent and weak. Then, noble prince, arise ! nor fear To tiiist thy griefs to fairy ear ; However deep the cause be laid. Rely on, trust in, our sure aid." Soothed and exalted by the swell Of music on his ears that fell, As well as by her words' import, His soul the genial impulse caught, And rising, shaking from his brow The clustered curls that round it hung. And burning with a heavenly glow. His accents thus in raj^ture spnmg. In sweetness flowing from his tongue : " glorious queen ! whose power divine Is known as far as ocean roars. From isles where ceaseless summers shine To death's domains and sunless shores ; Whose mighty aid, benignant hand, Is felt, is owned by every land; CHLORA. Whose wondrous love for ever sheds On mortals' undeserving heads Those sweets of happiness and heaven That crime and sin from them had driven - Oh, grant to one whose flesh inherits His parents' frailties, sins; nor merits The generous aid that he implores — A portion of that love benign, To heal distress and grief of mine — To stay the tyranny that pours Unceasing floods of grief intense To o'erwhelm a heart of innocence." " Stay, prince, nor tell the tale of woe ; Its sad details too well I know : I've seen the captive maid confined Within her cell by tyrant power, In pain of body, grief of mind, To fade and wither every hour ; Nor think the tears of agony, The scalding drop, the heart-drawn sigh, The moisture of that gentle eye. CHLORA. 73 Could plead in vain. I've seen tliem all ; And dearly shall my vengeance fall Upon his head. Yet not my hand, But thine shall wield th' avenging brand. Long would I have ere now depressed And laid in dust his haughty crest, Hadst thou not risen to her cry. And sworn to save her, or to die. Nor shall thine oath, prince, be in vain, — Thine arm shall burst her iron chain ; And thine the glory, thine the pleasure. To gain, enjoy the priceless treasure. Know, monarch, too, that thou hast dared And done what few have ere been spared To boast; but let not this incline Thy mind to think the merit thine ; But know, when tempests round thee poured — When lightnings glared and thunders roared — When worlds of waters rolled to drown thee. And death appeared on every wave. My shield divine was spread around thee, My arm was present there to save. H 74 CHLORA. The praise of valour still is thine, The power that then sustained it mine ; So think not that, without mine arm, Thou canst escape unscathed from harm; Nor think thy valour or thy skill The maid can save — the tyrant kill. But to whatever I command, Lend willing heart and ready hand ; Nor let thy youthful ardour tempt Thy fiery spirit to aspire To acts that I shall not require ; Or, oh, thy cause shall not exempt Thee — even when victory seems to grace Thy brow, and honours on thee fall — From death, defeat, maybe disgrace. Worse by ten thousand times than all. Fly to the hall, thou maiden fair. And from the treasures that are there . Bring forth the shield whose glare alone Turns all it looks on into stone; And sword, whose blade of brightness ly-ields Such wondrous power to him Avho wields, CHLORA. 75 That nought shall conquer him in fight, Or mortal or immortal might. Prince, place the shield upon thine arm, — Thee 'twill defend, the fiend disarm ; And in thy hand this sword enclose, Nor till thou hast destroyed thy foes, And driven them to the latest gasp Of life, let it escape thy grasp ; For while its broad blade thou shalt wield, And hold on high thy circling shield, All, all before its stroke must yield. The towers' grey turrets, that on high In gloomy grandeur reach the sky, Shall fall, and from their ruins rise A form whose charms shall fill thine eyes — That form — the maid, for whom thou hast Through all these perils safely passed : But if from hand or arm shall fall This sword or shield before that all Hath been effected — if before His t;yTant blood hath stained the shore, 76 CHLORA. Though joyS; success appear to smile — Thy corse shall shame, defeat revile. Soon shalt thou stand upon thine isle ; Nor let my warning be forgot : Be not too hasty, waver not. Oh, e'en my lightest counsel heed, Nor let conceit its force repel; Thou hast succeeded, still succeed : Go, prince, and prosper. Fare-thee-well ! " She spake ; and joyful did retire The monarch from her presence fair. And soon, in chariot of fire. He cleft the wide and yielding air. On Chlora's isle the king doth stand, His shield on arm, his sword in hand ; With burning breast and flashing eyes He sees the towers before him rise ; A moment looks he on the wall. Fear, hope succeed ; he waves his blade : CHLORA. 77 Swift as its flash tlie turrets fall, And sink in eartli, in vapour fade, And from the crumbling ruins springs A host of fiends, who, with a scowl Of hatred and demoniac howl. For flight unfurl their sable wings. On high he shakes his shield of gold — They quail, they fall, their limbs grow cold ; Not yet, not yet his arm must rest. Vengeance still rankles in his breast — On high his sword of flame he bended ; It shook; but ere its stroke descended, A form of light burst on his sight. Which yet the fury of the fight. The rage of vengeance, had concealed. The brightness of that form revealed, At once its fierce descent suspended, Calmed his revenge, his fury ended ; He rushed, he folded in his arms In ecstacy her blushing charms, And clasped her bosom to his owm. Their eyes with mutual passion shone, H 2 78 CHLOKA. He felt the beating of her heart, He heard the soft and murmured sigh — Alas ! why, why must mortals part ? But why, of all, must lovers die ? How heavenly is that hour, how sweet, When long-divided lovers meet ! — When first, after the lapse of years, Affection dries her flowing tears — When, lighted from the torch above. Long years of ecstacy and love Tumultuous rush upon the soul, And in a torrent madly roll ! So felt they, though before they ne'er Had seen or known the other fair; Yet each had pictured to the mind Some form superior to its kind ; And this short interview had given To each their hopes, their love, their heaven ; And, oh, that one, that short embrace, Whole worlds of sorrow did efface ! CHLORA. The one briglit drop tliat dimmed the eye, The changing cheek, the silent sigh, The throbbing of the heaving breast, The trembUng of the form caressed, ^or every pang, for every pain Kepaid, and amply paid again ; But in that moment's joy and bliss, As grief was banished, so was all, And, folding her sweet form to his. His sword, his flaming sword did fall ! On Chlora is the roar of strife. The ringing shield, the clanging knife. The groans of death, the shrieks of life. Soon as the magic weapon fell. The charm was over, — broke the spell, And from the chill and death-like sleep That bound their limbs in icy chains, The demon bands to vigour leap. And fill with din the joyful plains. Too late, oh, prince — alas, too late Thou wouldst avoid the stroke of fate — 79 80 CHLORA. Thy sword liatli fallen ; in its fall Know thou hast lost thy love, thine all ! Nobly he reared against his foes His haughty crest, and dealt his blows j With arm of strength and breast of fire, That yield not to dismay, nor tire ; But yet that form so sweet and fair, That sinks in terror and despair, And, trembling, nestles in his breast, Unconscious, careless of the rest. Above the fierce tumultuous strife Claims his protection more than life : " Fly, fly from danger, lady, fly ! Leave me to fate." " With thee I'll die," She said. Upon her faltering tongue The sound yet lingered, when a dart Upon the shield's broad surface rung, And pierced it, pierced her to the heart ; The life-blood from her snowy breast, A stream of crimson, stained her vest ; CHLORA. 81 It flowed, and earth's last sigh was given, That sigh conveyed her soul to heaven. Oh, life is but a dreary waste! — The tear of anguish on his cheek Declares the grief his soul must taste. And tells of pangs that none can speak ; An instant looks he on her face. An instant folds her in embrace. An instant from the cheek so chill Kisses the tear that Hngers still. And thus his words in sorrow roll, — The anguish of a breaking soul : " Oh, would that in the ocean tide This heart, this bursting heart had died ! Oh, why, when tempests round me hurled Their rage, and shook the trembhng world. Did fate withhold me from the grave, And lend a cruel hand to save*? Oh, had my spirit then been quenched, This dreadful moment had been spared ; My bosom had not thus been wrenched. My inmost feehngs thus been bared ! CHLORA. Yet think not^ love, my hated breath Shall long survive thy pang of death ; The horrid gulph, though wide, may sever, But cannot part our souls for ever." Defiance his proud eye expressed, He waved in scorn the glittering blade. And folding closer to his breast The lifeless body of the maid. Towards the steep chfF he proudly sped, With settled eye and dauntless tread; He gazed a moment on the flood That flowed in sullenness below; He gazed a moment on the brood, The scowling legions of the foe ; He gazed a moment towards the west. Where lay the islands of the blest ; The sun was trembling on the wave, — He leaped into the waters chill, A splash was heard, and all was still — The ocean wide became their grave ! The sun was hid beneath the water. And darkness rose to hide the slaughter. CHLORA. 83 On Clilora's shore the sun shines bright That ends that sad, that gloomy night. On Chlora's mute and mournful strand The fairy and her \argin band In silence move, in sorrow stand. In beauty's charms above the rest, With moistened eye and heaving breast, The queen her sorrow thus expressed : " monarch ! could not, then, thy hand Thy jDower for one short hour command'? Oh, could one moment's fault destroy For ever — oh, for ever! — The visions bright of love and joy, That smiled, that darkened never? Yet thou didst err- — ah, thou didst err— That sinless fault hath riven The hopes of happiness and her On earth, to meet in heaven. 84 CHLORA, Yet why sliould I in grief survey Thine end of pain and sorrow? The bitter pang of yesterday Hath spared a pang to-morrow. Though happiness may smile below, It smiles but to decay — The charms of heaven for ever glow, Nor ever pass away ; And though on earth hath envious fate Denied the joys of love, " Oh, may their souls in happier state For ever meet above ! And yet I mourn, my spirit grieves That thus thou shouldst have perished My eyes are filled, my bosom heaves For thee, for one so cherished ; Nor can I think that lofty form, That mind, that soul so high, CHLORA. 85 Were made to bow before the storm, Or in their prime to die, But for some noble end designed, The boast, the glory of mankind. 'Tis this, 'tis this I mourn : Before that frame to strength was formed, Before that soul to glory warmed, From earth, from all 'twas torn ! Lovely maidens, who around Stand ujDon this saddening ground, Whose charms and innocence may vie With the spotless beings of the sky. Know, in this circumstance I see The ruin of our djTiasty. An ancient oracle foretold, When from the sea a mortal bold Should rise, should gain our aid, and l)y His means of happiness should die. Our dear, our powerful band should sever. And quit the haunts of men for ever. I 86 CHLORA. Our aid was sought, the mortal killed; — The oracle must be fulfilled. The force of fate, more strong than ours, In threatening gloom and darkness lowers, Our hearts to crush, our hopes to shatter, Our virgin band, sweet maids, to scatter." She ceased — a death-like silence reigned, And grief each beam of joy restrained; At length a soft and murmured wail Rose on the pinions of the gale : FIRST FAIRY. " I '11 fly to the depths of the stormy sea. Where the breakers are rough and the hurricanes free, Where the face of the sun is cold and chill, And the breath of each blast the forerunner of ill ; I'll fly to caverns where oceans break, And the boiling billows in anger shake, — Where they wreak their wrath on the gloomy rocks, And the wide world trembles beneath their shocks. CHLORA. 87 Oh, there, 'mid the strife of the winds and the main, I'll pass my existence in silence and pain." SECOND FAIRY. ' On the soft cloud That floats in the air, When eve spreads her shroud O'er the regions of care ; When tinged with the gold Of Phcfibus at rest, Its charms shall unfold In the crimsoning West ; Pillowed in pleasure My hmbs shall repose ; My bosom shall treasure The beauty that glows In the blaze of the sun, In the tints of the sky, 88 CHLORA. In the breezes that moan For an instant, and die." THIRD FAIRY. " Among the white and trackless snows That crown the dreary pole, Where nought of living breathes or grows, I '11 rest my Aveary soul. The cheerless sun's pale withering light Its rays shall round me shed ; The lofty iceberg's frosty height Shall be my gloomy bed." FOURTH FAIRY. " On high, on high, I'll dwell in the sky. And through the wide regions of space will I fly ; CHLORA, I'll ride on the gale That wafts on its wing The sweets from the vale Of Persia that spring ; I'll sport in the blaze That gilds in the noon, — I'll rechne on the rays Of the silvery moon ; In the arch will I dwell That encircles the sky, — That spans the wide swell Of the ocean's dark eye." 89 FIFTH FAIEY. I'll fly to the dark and lowering cloud, Where lightnings flash and thunders are loud, i2 90 CHLORA. Where the anger of tempests is ever contending, And ruin and darkness and terror are blending." As each fair virgin's accents ended, With air her glowing figure blended ; They all are vanished now, and gone, The queen in grief remains alone : "And ye are gone, my daughters dear, Companions of my happiness. Who ne'er before had shed a tear. Or smiled in sweetness save to bless ! Nor long will I on earth delay 'Midst things of death and forms of clay ; My haunts shall not be those of men, Or sunny hill or shady glen. But far from scenes of crime and death, From thunder's roar and tempest's breath, I'll dwell in peace: the flaming ball. That gilds the sky and brightens all. Shall be my palace. There I'll live In joys that earth can never give; CHLORA. 91 There, 'mid the charms that fill the heaveu, All pain shall from my breast be driven. Yet, Chlora, ere to heaven I fly, Thy plains of loveliness must die ; Thy plains must perish ere the morrow Divulo-e the tale of woe and sorrow ! " Towards heaven's high arch the fairy spread Her wings, and from earth's regions fled; And ere her form was lost in space The waters closed o'er Chlora's face; She found a sad and silent grave Far, far beneath the azure wave ; And nothing raised her funeral dirge. Save howling winds and boiling surge, — No mark, no sign remains to tell Where Chlora stood, where Chlora fell. How many a ship and many a bark Sail o'er the waters drear and dark, But deem not that a sunny shore Once stood where now the breakers roar, 92 CHLORA. Nor think beneatli the rolhng tide, Whose sullen billows darkly glide, A thousand bones of such as were The brightest of the brave and fair Rot in forgetfulness and gloom, Unknown to man, unmarked by tomb ! THE FAIR JULIE [1844.J THE FAIR JULIE. The night is fair, and Cynthia's crest Shines sweetly from afar; And deep and dark the shades that rest Along the calm Grand'mare. Oh, who at midnight's lonely hour Can wander from her bed, And, far from hall and far from bower, 'Mid hovering phantoms tread ? Oh, who at such an hour as this Can wander fearlessly? But love is powerfid — it is The beautiful Julie ! 96 THE FAIR JULIE. And liglitly through the shade she hies, And o'er the lake's soft sand, And brightly beam her soft blue eyes For love of her Roland ; For, oh, this is the happy night. When from a foreign land Her love returns to claim his right To Julie's heart and hand ; When, with bright laurels round his brow. From distant Palestine He comes to lay his palm-tree bough At Ouen's sacred shrine. With gladsome heart and joyous tread Hastes on the lovely maid Beneath the trees, that round her spread A melancholy shade; THE FAIR JULIE. She now perceives between their leaves St. Ouen's chaj^el rise, And with a lighter step along The gloomy pathway flies. Full swiftly she arrives, and opes The old and massive door ; And with a bosom rich in hopes Glides o'er the marble floor. Before the venerable shrine She bends her forehead fair. And for her love from Palestine She breathes a silent prayer; Then, rising, steps along the aisle And by each gloomy wall. And lights with many a sunny smile The shades that round her fall ; 98 THE FAIR JULIE. And pictures many a glowing dream Of love and happiness — How cruel must that fortune seem That could such love distress ! An hour thus passes swiftly by. Yet comes not her Roland ; And anxious grows her azure eye, And cold her trembling hand. Against the altar for support She rests her shaking arm, And soon her mind becomes the sport Of terror and alarm : " Oh, hath Roland so soon forgot My love, his sacred vows? St. Ouen, why returns he not — Why comes not back my spouse?" THE FAIR JULIE. 99 Tlirougli painted glass the pale moon shone The vaulted cloisters down, And St. Ouen seemed to look upon Fair Julie with a frown. Throughout her soul cold terror stole ; Such fear she ne'er had felt, As each dim form so ghastly shone Upon her as she knelt. The time-worn images that were Along the gloomy aisle, With stony eyeballs seemed to glare On her, and taunting smile. Cold sweat bedewed her temples o'er. She sunk upon the ground. When, lo ! St. Ouen's massy door Opened with not a sound. 100 THE FAIR JULIE. And, lo ! a knight in armour cased, That in the moon did shine, With slow and solemn footsteps paced Towards the holy shrine. A smile of hope lit up her eyes. But soon, ah, soon it fled ; For sound there rose not to apprise Her ear of mortal tread. On, on he came, that spectre knight. With slow and solemn step, Nor clanked his arms or armour bright, Nor moved his bloodless lip ! His right hand held a banner red, His left a palm-tree bough; His sable plume a darkness shed Around his noble brow. THE FAIR JULIE. 101 He reached the shrine ; and as he kneeled, And raised to heaven his hand, The moon that coldly shone revealed Her lover, her Roland ! With voice that trembled as the gale A down the cloisters drear, She breathed his name, but her accents frail Froze on her lips with fear. When he had made an end of prayer, His knees again unbent; And as he came in mystery there. In mystery he went. Fair Julie from that dreadful hour In wasting sickness lay; Nor was she seen in hall or bower For many a long, long day. k2 102 THE FAIR JULIE. But at leugtli lier youth the shock o'ercame Her gentle mind received; And to her friends she seemed the same, Though silently she grieved. Again she walked where beauty smiled, And smiles her cheek illumed ; But none could know, that lovely child How inward grief consumed. And none reverted to that day, Or what that day had seen ; But silently it passed away As something that had been. And though to memory it was green, And awed both old and young, It perished as a thing unseen From every idle tongue. THE FAIR JULIE. 103 Nor did slie know, though others knew, That when the morrow shone, A palm-tree branch, and banner too, Lay Ouen's shrine upon. Nor how the monks had laid them by, As relics that might tell To future a^es of a hio-h o o And wondrous miracle. Day passed on day, and moon on moon, And other suitors came; But soft affection beamed for none — For none the tender flame. Though many a gallant knight, and brave. Had sought her heart and hand, To none who wooed her love she gave — Her heart was with Koland. 104 THE FAIR JULIE. One only of tlie noble train At all her thoughts could move ; He loved her — but could only gain Her friendship for his love. He was the brother of Roland, And worthy such a one ; As such, her friendship did expand, As such, she loved alone. But Claude had loved the fair Julie While yet Roland was there. Yet far too honourable he His passion to declare. But now that month on month had fled, And sorrow's self was mute, Hope raised at length its drooping head. And now he pressed his suit. THE FAIR JULIE. 105 Her })arents urged lier to unite Her hand with such a lover ; And she consented to requite Their love, as did behove her. Dark was the morn that ushered in The day that should unite Their destinies, and loud the din Of storm and tempest's might ; The rain burst from the gathering clouds. And threatened to o'erwhelm. And matted fell the plumes like shrouds Adown each shining helm. It seemed not like a marriage- train. It was so sad and still, But, like a funeral, wound in pain Its leno-th along the hill. 106 THE FAIR JULIE. So Julie thought as she reclined In Claude's too fond embrace, And anxious grew her gentle mind, And clouded her sweet face. Oh, Claude, could not this be delayed Till day auspicious for US'? See, storms against us are arrayed, And Heaven frowns darkly o'er us ! " ^ He answered not, but to his breast He clasped the fair Julie ; Yet soon again was her soul oppressed With cheerless reverie. The cavalcade now reach the lake. And lurid is the glare Of links and torches as they streak With red the wide Grand'mare. THE FAIR JULIE. 10( " Claude, seest thou not upon the flood Yon skiff so still and drear?" " I've marked it, sweetest, and I would We had a painter here." " Claude, it reminds me of the boat In which thou oft hast said The souls of mortals once did float To Pluto's regions dread.' My Julie, let not thoughts like these Thy gentle mind possess, — Think of the joys that Heaven decrees Of future happiness. Let not reflections boding ill Disturb thee past all measure ; Nor let sad thoughts thy bosom fill, My love, my only treasure ! " 108 THE FAIR JULIE. Still terrors lier sad bosom pained, And gloom lier brow o'ercast, And while she mourned still, they gained St. Ouen's chapel vast. The train all entered in a crowd, Cold, wet; and dim did shine One lamp upon them as they bowed Before St. Ouen's shrine. The ceremony had begun. And many a bosom felt Strange bodings while they looked upon The lovers as they knelt. As Julie breathed a silent vow. And gazed upon the shrine, Her blue eyes met a palm-tree bough Beneath the cross's sign; THE FAIR JULIE. 109 She thought that from among the assembled She heard some whisper brand A name — oh, heavens ! her members trembled — The name was of Eoland ! She turned her round with burning brow, And eyes that flashed as flame — " Think, sweetest, on thine holy vow, Nor wander thus — for shame!" She heeded not, nor moved nor spoke, But cold and rigid grew ; Her eyes were fixed — no colour broke Her face's bloodless hue. Again he spoke : " My love, forbear — All other thoughts dispel Than those of happiness" — " There, there !' She shrieked, and fainting fell. 110 THE FAIR JULIE. He caught her in his arms — ''Julie!' But not a sound replied; And to the care of bridesmaids he Resigned his gentle bride ; And darting to the spot where she Had fixed her flashing eyes, Against a pillar leaning, he A holy monk espies. His noble form was half revealed As moodily he stood, But bent his head, and all concealed Beneath his falling hood. " And who art thou," Sir Clavide exclaimed, " That thou hast dared to move My lady thus'? Hast, sirrah, gamed The feelings of my love? THE FAIR JULIE. 1 1 1 Thy saintly garb, monk, shall not save Thy back from chastisement; Nor flatter thee mine anger, knave, Or wrath ^^dll soon be spent. Think'st thou an insult I'd receive Though 'neath a saintly cowl? Or think'st thou dress can ere retrieve A base and coward soul ? Forsooth, no !" and he raised his arm But ere his hand could smite, The peasants hurried in alarm Between the monk and knight. He sought in rage to clasp his sword, But sword was far away — " Sir knight, sir knight, beware, nor smite The monk of the Marais !" 112 THE FAIR JULIE. " Stand back, or by the cross I kiss I'll make ye dearly pay!" " Thou shalt not harm him, knight — it is The monk of the Marais!" When thus he found against the crowd Both force and menace failed, His anger by degrees was bowed. And better sense prevailed. He turned him from them, and disdained The peasants' noisy roar; But motionless the monk remained. As he had stood before. Fair Julie still between the arms Of her maids lay motionless, And many a heart with pity warms For hers and Claude's distress; THE FAIR JULIE. 113 In vain they sprinkle holy water Upon her hueless cheeks, In vain her parents cry, "My daughter!" — No accent life bespeaks. At length her heav;y^ eyelids move, Her eyes stare fearfully; But only to their words of love She breathes — " Oh, it was he !" Claude calls upon her by her name, And weeps her thus to see ; She heeds not, but does still exclaim In broken sighs — "'Twas he!" Dear Juhe, answer, answer me — Is Claude so soon forgot?" She looks not up — "'Twas he, 'twas he!" She sighs, and answers not. l2 114 THE FAIR JULIE. That night lay Julie on her bed As she before had lain, While many a thought of hope and dread Flashed throuoh her burnino; brain. The events of all that gloomy day Passed dim before her eye, AVith many a shudder of dismay, And many a deep-drawn sigh. Unto that morn of storm and gloom Succeeds a lovely night. And through the lattice of her room The moon is shining bright. She rises from her bed — for rest Had long been stranger there — And round her person folds her vest To guard her from the air ; THE FAIR JULIE. 115 Then opens wide the casement, and Forth from her chamber hies, And mth a trembling step and hand Along the garden flies — Oh, porter, ope the portals ; for I made a vow this night ; If I fulfil it not before The morninsT sun is brifrht. Another sun vnll never rise To bring my spirit gladness ! " He oped the portals, but his eyes Looked on the maid in sadness ; He saw the wildness of her eye, The flush upon her cheek, Yet still he dared not to deny The lovely maiden's freak. 116 THE FAIR JULIE. The moon was staDding o'er her head, And beaming many a star, As she with soft and noiseless tread Aj^proached the deep Grand'mare. A boat, concealed beneath the shade, Was resting by the side, And in it sprung the gentle maid, And loosed it to the tide; With force that fever only gave She plied the silent oar — Her skiff danced o'er the sullen wave. And left the sombre shore. A secret awe subdued her soul While riding on the lake; And while the wind in coldness stole Upon her burning cheek. THE FAIR JULIE. 117 Beneath tlie shadow of a clifF, That beetled o'er the water With threatening frown, her silent skiff In silent swiftness brought her ; And through the shade, ahead, appeared The rocky crags among A point, that o'er the waters reared Its form, and threatening hung. It seemed as from its parent rock Suspended by a thread, And hung as though the lightest shock ^Nlust hurl it from its bed. 'Twas on this dread and fearful spot The monk of the Marais Had built his lone and humble grot, To meditate and pray; 118 THE FAIR JULIE. And tliougli around it many a peak, More firmly fixed and sure, From the liigli cliff would tlmndering break, This seemed to rest secure. It seemed as though his piety Had shed a halo round. And Time could not approach him nigh This spot of holy ground. She stepped upon the barren stone, And by a narrow way She sought, in silence and alone, The monk of the Marais. She knocked the time-worn door with fingers That ti'embled like a plume ; But save her own, no murmur lingers Within that dismal room. THE FAIR JULIE. 119 Again she knocks, and trembling stands With palpitating breast ; At leng-th a gloomy voice demands, "Who breaks my hour of rest^" Who breaks his hour of rest indeed ! Ah ! little doth he know ; Or could he wait, or could he need Another call 1 ah, no ! He closed the good and holy book, His solace day and night. And trimmed within its aged nook The dimly-burning light. And wondering who without could stand, He stepped across the floor, And with a slow and trembling hand He opened wide the door. 120 THE FAIR JULIE. He gazed, — but ere his heart confessed 'Twas JuHe, and alone, The lovely maiden's burning breast Was beatinfj on his own. He could not chide her murmured sighs, His voice could not reprove; — He stood transfixed with cold surprise, And she with joy and love. She hung upon his neck and sighed, She felt — did he embrace? Forgive me — oh, forgive!" she cried, And hid her burning face. Forgive! — and what should I forgive^ Is not thy love thine own? Suffice it that I still can live Without that love alone. THE FAIR JULIE. 121 Another claims thee for his own, — Thy vows to him fulfil : I loved thee once, — that love has flown, — But he may love thee still." Oh, heaven!" she cried, "mine own Roland, Oh, speak, speak not like this ! Thine only is my heart and hand — Mv love it is not his ! The only love that ever burned Within this breaking heart Was thine — oh, say that love's returned, And never will we part!" The smile within his eye grew sweet. His accent more benign — Oh, wherefore, then, didst thou not meet Me at St. Ouen's shrine?" M 122 THE FAIR JULIE. "Oh, heaven!" she cried — and from his side She sprung with sudden start — " I saw thee there ; I saw thee come ; I saw thee, too, depart. I saw thee, yet I knew thee not — I dreamt not it was thou — I saw thee on that sacred spot Depose thy palm-tree bough. I saw thee come, without a sound, Along the dusky aisle ; Thine eye was fixed — it looked not round- Thy face it did not smile. I saw thee kneel before the saint — Thy lips no murmur crossed; I saw thee go — my heart grew faint - I thought it was thy ghost ! THE FAIR JULIE. 123 I know no more — I swooned away, (How long I cannot vouch,) But when I woke again, I lay In sickness on my couch- Time ebbed away. I thought thee slain ; And still that fearful night Simoom-like burned within my brain, And seared my heart mth blight. 'Twas then that Claude desired my hand He wooed — I did not love — Mine own desire, my sire's command, Within my bosom strove. My sire prevailed ; and I had been A joyless bride at best, Had not, Roland, had not I seen That monk — thou know'st the rest! 124 THE FAIR JULIE. He knew the rest! His heart was full — He could not speak awhile — His eye with love unquenchable Upon the maid did smile; The joy that swelled his bosom then He never thought to know, So long had it become the den Of agony and woe. He drew her gently to his breast, He clasped her hand so fair; He gazed, he sighed, and murmuring blest The heart that trembled there. Dear girl," he said, with accents sweet, " Mine, mine the fault hath been — At Ouen's door I bared my feet Before I entered in. THE FAIR JULIE, I strode with noiseless steps along, And all within was still ; The moon shone bright the columns 'mong, The air was damp and chill ; jSTo hand was there to greet, no smile A welcome to express ; I wondered where thou wast the while - Thy love, methought, was less. I parted, as I went, in grief; But, as I passed by thee, I heard a sound — my gaze was brief, For nothing could I see. I thought thee false— O cruel thought! — I spurned that heart of thine ; But pardon, love! — for grief hath taught The falsity was mine. m2 125 126 THE FAIR JULIE. I left my ofFeriugs at the shrine, And wandered far away; And nought I heard of thee or thine For many a weary day. At length I learnt — and deemed it was A proof thou wast untrue — That Claude had sought thy love — alas! And thou didst love him too ! I hastened back, and in this cell I fixed my poor abode; And as a monk, I sought to quell My grief in seeking God. Thy marriage-day drew round apace— ' I thought all hopes were fled; But joys now beam around the face Where joys I thought were dead ! " THE FAIR JULIE. 127 He drew her closer to his heart, As though he trembled yet For fear she might again depart, And other woes beget. They passed from out the ruined cell That gazed upon the wave, And heard the waters' gloomy swell The rock beneath them lave; They spoke of days long passed away, Joys they could ne'er forget, And dreamed that many a happier day Might smile upon them yet. They stood and spake, entranced with love- With love that all enjoys — But, hark ! there is a noise above — They started at the noise. 128 THE FAIR JULIE. They turned, and high above their heads They saw a harnessed knight ; The moonbeam o'er his armour sheds A soft and silver Hght. Twas Claude. " Juhel is't thou I see? Ah, wherefore art thou eome? Hath yon false monk allured thee thus To leave thy peaceful home?" The brave Koland signed with his hand, Step venture not another; And Julie cried with trembling voice, "Oh, Claude, it is thy brother!" But vain ! — too soon, in light of moon, His sheathless weapon flashed ; And ere the warning accents came, From the high rock he dashed. THE FAIK JULIE. ^^9 His iron-girt frame with fearfiil force Between the lovers fell ; His armour rattled loud and hoarse, And clanged their funeral-knell ; For, oh, the force with which he sprung Their feeble footing brake— A moment tottering it hung, Then rolled into the lake ! A moment more, and in the wave Their figures might be seen ; A moment more, it was their grave- They, things that once had been ! Thus fleeted to eternity — So ancient legends say — The noble Claude, the fair Julie, The monk of the :Marais ! 130 THE FAIE JULIE. And still, they say, when midnight's hour Frowns o'er the smiling scene. When darkness and its gloomy power Obscure the water's sheen, Three forms upon the wave appear - A knight, a monk, a maid — They struggle, shriek, and into air Their phantom-figures fade ! BREAM OF THE FUTURE, IN THREE ACTS. [1847.] Weak must that mind and cold that bosom be, That, gazing on the blue and vaulted sky, Sees the red sun sink slowly in the sea, Its last fond tints along the mountains die — Beholds the veil of darkness steal apace O'er smiling earth's, o'er dimpled ocean's face, And marks the chill, the solitude that then Succeeds the heat of day, the hum of men, — Nor feels in every charm that dies away A brighter power more wonderful than they; Nor feels in gloom, nor o^ms in sohtude. That same high hand, that power still bright and good Oh, fearful ! if, as some bold sceptics say. No guardian hand directs, no power above Guides tlu-ough the firmament this ball for aye, Nor watches lest to other suns it rove ! N 134 How dreadful^ then, to contemplate the day When death shall mould us to our pristine clay! — How dreadful, then, to think, that when the dust Receives our bodies — as receive it must — The soaring spirit and the lofty mind Must die, must perish as the idle wind ! — How awful, then, when fades the shado^vj- eve, To feel that we earth's smiling plains must leave — Leave her bright valleys and her fairy bowers, The friends we love, the hearts entwined with ours- Leave all we prize, leave all we hold most dear, Without a thought to bless, a hope to cheer ! Yon sun departs; that sun shall rise again, And other beauties swell its golden train; The grateful smile of summer may not stay, And winter's frost shall melt in spring away; But other summers yet shall paint with bloom. And other winters steep the world in gloom ; E'en yon sere leaf, that by the zej^hyrs torn. Far from its parent stem alone is borne — E'en that poor fluttering leaf shall rise again To deck in other form the flowery plain; — 135 Wbat^ then, sliall man, shall man alone decay, Denied the prospect of a sunnier day? — What, then, shall man, the noblest of them all, Alone hopeless, alone unheeded fall? Well might the epicure his hours consume In pleasures till he sink into the tomb ; Well might the drunkard quaff the sparkling wine To banish cares that round his heart entwine; But, oh, far wiser would that spirit be. That, gazing onward through futurity. Feels not a hope, could cut the thread of life — That thread of woe and bitterness and strife ! God ! that man can stand so coldly by, And call these hideous dreams Philosophy ! Strange, when he looks upon the dusky wood, The purple mountain, and the rolling flood, — Strange, when he scans creation's vast abyss. Sees other worlds more wonderful than this, — Sees other suns more glorious than our own. For ever roaming onward and alone ; 136 And sees tliose fierce and meteor stars tliat trace An endless pathway through the realms of space — Nor feels, nor owns, nor traces in their course The hand of God, their guardian and their source ! 2iramatfjg iPfir^onae. The Wandering Jew. The King of the Earth. Haran . . N i the King''s Sons. Anak (a Hunchback) j Tamar (and Babe), Haraii's Wife. Revellers. Worshippers. Spirits. n2 DEE AM OF THE FUTURE. ACT I. Scene First. Tlie top of a Mountain. The Wanderer alone. WANDERER. God ! it is a fearful thing to live, And roam the world an alien and a stranger ; To wander on for ever and for ever, From chme to clime, without a roof to shelter, A home to gladden or a voice to welcome ! O God ! it is a fearful thing to dwell, Unknowing and unknown, with beings fashioned 140 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Like to oneself — alike in all things save Satiety and immortality! To be immortal, nor to know its joys ; To be a man, yet not to share his pleasures. When first I heard my heavy doom, my heart Leapt high with pleasure at the joyful dream Of endless life, and undecaying strength To share the happiness my hopes foretold. I sought excesses, and I plunged in vice, Whose very names I once had feared to whisper : For death no longer was before my eyes, — What feared I else 1 I gloried in my shame : Of base the basest — vilest of the vile. But time and surfeit brought satiety, — - Satiety, disgust. I turned my thoughts To other joys, and in a gentle spouse I found those sweets that vice and dissipation Had failed to bear. I left the poisoned berries To taste the sweeter unobtrusive fruit ; But scarce had I begun to know her worth, To feel her value and her want, when death Plucked the fair flower away. I was immortal ! Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 141 So did I ever find it, when my heart Had warmed to aught more fair or beautiful Than meets each day the eye — be't flower or bird, Or beast or man, alas, it perished first ! It seemed as though mine eye, and most when beaming Affection and sohcitude, had power To wither up their springs of life, and doom Their beauty to destruction ; — like the morn, Tliat smiles and hangs its roses in the east To hide the tempest. But at length my heart Grew cold and callous to the world; its snares. Its beauties were no longer so to me. I roamed it o'er, but not to see its mountains, Its plains, its valleys, or its crowded cities : I wandered, wrapped in bitter thoughts and dreams Of endless misery. No ray of hope Allured me onward through my thorny path; No smiling angel beckoned from afar To cheer my labours, or to soothe my pangs ; But, like the blazing star that sweeps the skies, A terror and a mystery to man. That once appears, then through the depths of space 142 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Pursues its long and solitary way, For ages, without bound or end, I roamed. I hojDed not — but I hope. The smiling angel Shines like a star upon the far horizon, Beckoning me onwards to the rest I seek ! Trembling and madness, terror and despair, Have seized upon the puny sons of men : The few who have survived the dread attacks Of tempest, earthquake, thunderbolt, and fire, To die of pestilence or famine ! Earth Is changed — and oh, how terrible the change! The raging flames that on her entrails fed IJave forced their way, and, with the fires of heaven, Swept o'er her smiling surface, and destroyed The flowers and trees that were so beautiful. The fruits that nourished, — and their charred remains Blacken her vales. The fountains of the deep, And all its wandering streams, are dry. Yet now. When all beside despair, I hope — I hope! Our end is come — that end so long foredoomed, So long foretold, and yet man heeded not. The thousand stars that gleam from heaven's concave Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 143 Shine not less brightly than in ages past, And yet "we die ! Jehovah, must we die ! And must our sun, with its dependent workls, Pass like a shadow from the chart of time, And in obh^'ion sink, nor leave behind A relic to declare to distant worlds A world's demise ? Who of those thoughtless souls That whiled their hours in pleasure's giddy whirl — Who of those tpants whose uplifted arm Made nations C|uake, whose frown their death decreed, Deemed that this world and they should melt away, Nor leave a void in nature's vast designs'? \_A mist passes heticeen him and the sun. What change is this? The sun, the pallid sun. Looks red and angry in its feebleness. As some bold warrior, conquered in the fight, Still breathes defiance ^vith his parting breath. It seems as though its few and sickly rays Were dimly struggling through some gathering mist. But whence that mist, and what its import 1 See ! It moves, and gathers substance as it moves. And yet no gale to guide it in its course. 144 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. It comes: how is it that my members quake'? Why sinks my heart, and why do terrors seize me 1 I feel its icy breath — cold, deadly cold; Its horrors thrill through all my frame — I sink! [The mist envelo2oes J dm, and he sinks with his face to the earth. A VOICE. Mortal ! WANDERER. I tremble at thy voice, yet speak ; Whate'er thou art, speak on, thy servant heareth. VOICE. Mortal ! why hidest thou thine eyes ? and why Art thou recumbent on the earth? Look up! WANDERER. Why should I look, when all is darkness round? VOICE. Why should'st thou not, when darkness folds a veil Round glory that thine eye could not else suffer? Sc. I.] A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. 145 WAXDERER. Tliere was a time, when, standing at my door, The Son of God passed hj, bearing His cross. His look, though meek, bespoke His suffering; His frame was tottering 'neath the cursed load. I read the look that asked a moment's rest, I heard His heavenly voice the boon entreat ; But I, unfeeUng wretch, His misery mocked, And joined the crowd that hooted at His heels - Denying Him that interval of peace His wounded soul and bleeding limbs required. My curse flew harmless from His guiltless head, But fell vnth frightful force upon my own. My punishment I tell not, for thou know'st it. I saw the Lord, yet were my eyes not dazzled ; I heard my sentence, yet I did not quail ! So, in more distant ages — in the time Of Moses and the Prophets, and before — The angels of the Lord did oft appear To holy men with messages divine; And yet their glorj-, though supremely bright, o 146 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Was not so bright as to forbid their gaze. And who art thou? VOICE. Vain mortal, dost thou think The form of man so beautiful and fair, That angels in their blest abodes should wear it ? True, that of things of earth and forms of clay The frame of man is first in grace and beauty, A worthy tenement for that it holds — A worthy temple for the Lord who made it; But it shall die, while nought of heaven decays. Think 'st thou that angels wear a thing like that? That form of which thou boastest is the chain, — And though with flowerets decked, a chain no less, — Which binds thy spirit to the earth. When God Made man in His own image, was it this, Or was it not that nobler part, the soul, That bore the impress of His majesty? And hast thou seen the soul ? No. There are things For ever hidden from the sight of men ; And this is one. Thou knowest it by its works; Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 147 But 'tis a mystery tliat thou canst not solve. When thou hast seen the soul, then shalt thou say Thou knowest an angel by his form. — Art thou So filled with pride as to believe that He "Who made thee what thou art — who formed the globe, And built the spangled heaven, with all its worlds — Exhausted on thy frame His wondrous powers. And la\ished there for thee His utmost skill ? Nay; for I tell thee that His lightest breath Could bring to life a thousand shapes, as far Superior to yourselves in grace and l^eauty As ye are to the worms that crawl the dust. But let that pass. — Thou knowest that when Pharaoh Forbade the sons of Israel to go forth, The Lord sent plagues to terrify his heart And tame it to submission ; last of all, He sent His angel to destroy the first-born Of all the hosts of Egj-pt; — I am he ! Again : when David, in his pride of heart. Numbered the tribes, Jehovah, for that sin. Sent forth His angel, armed with pestilence, 148 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. To mow them down like stubble; — it was I! Know thou that I am the destroying angel ! WANDERER. Spirit, I yield to thine authority — I wait thy stroke ! VOICE. Hast thou forgotten, then, So soon the doom that was imposed upon thee? — Thou art the last of mortals I shall smite ! WANDERER. Qh, disappointment! — I had thought to die, And still I linger. VOICE. But thy time is short ; — Waste not the fleeting hours that yet are thine In angry murmurs and unjust complainings : I come to thee with messages from heaven. " Go," saith the Lord, " unto the king, to Haran, And say to him. Thus saith the Lord thy God : Haste thou to build an altar on this hill; Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 149 With stones slialt tliou erect it — stones nnhewn — And gatlier there the remnant of my people, That ye may offer sacrifice and prayer ; For never after may the sons of men In concert pray, in concert praise their Lord!" — This do. [^Tlie mist rolls cavay, leaving the Wanderer still kneeling. WAXDERER. O Lord, I thank Thee that I am Thy chosen messenger of peace and love ! I know myself unworthy for the task ; I know that I am sinful in thy sight ; Yet pour on me the wisdom that I need. So, in performing this thy gracious charge, My powers may not prove weaker than my will, Nor either feebler than thy glor)^ needs ! 150 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Scene II. The foot of the Mountain. The King, Haran, Tamar, and Babe. KING. I feel that I am dying, Haran! — for The fever that has been on me of late Preys on my vitals ; as the burning tide "Whirls through my temples, every throb it makes Rings in my maddened ear the knell of death. The plague is on me ! HARAN. God forbid it, father ! TAMAR. Sire, say not so. I totter even now Beneath my Aveight of misery ; and wilt thou So add unto it that it crush me quite? Thy cares of late, dear father, have been great ; Thy people's sufferings thou hast made thine own ; And, in thy love for them, hast not sufficiently Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 151 Regarded thine own health. Go, rest awhile, And drown thy cares in sleep; if not for thine, At least for our sake do so, I entreat thee ; For though thine heart would bid thee labour on. Thine age and thine infirmities forbid it. — Refresh thyself with sleep, for that thou needest. HARAN. I join my own entreaties to my Tamar'sj Let us not, my father, plead in vain ! KIXG, I know, my children, in your warm affection. That ye would fain persuade yourselves and me That I shall live; but no — my end approaches. Think ye the raging furnace in my breast. My burning temples, thirst unquenchable, The horrors, lassitude, and agony, That make my spirit and my frame their prey. Are but fatigue? Alas, that it is not so! Look in my face, and mark its livid hue; Nay, bring yon torch more near — by the sun's pale lidit 152 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Thou canst not look on me as I would have thee. 'Tis well — nay, start not — say, is this fatigue? HARAN. Alas ! KING. My daughter, thou art pale — or is it My sight that fails me? — See, she fainteth, Haran! TAMAR. 'Tis past — 'tis nought. — Hush, pretty babe ! oh, hush ! 'Tis well thou canst not share our wretchedness. Thou know'st not that thy brother's soul is flown, Nor that a father's life is doom'd ; and then — The thought is madness — Sleep, sweet innocent. — Now am I nerved to all that may befal me ! KING. My earthly days are drawing to a close, But ere death calls me, I would speak with you. My life has been a long and prosperous life, My reign a happy one ; and I have swayed The sceptre to the best of my abilities. The world might say, that few were my transgressions; And so I thought. But now the approach of death Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 153 Brings to my mind a multitude of sins That I had overlook'd and heeded not : May God forgive me ! 'Tis not for myself I grieve j for I have lived the allotted time Of man, and threescore years and ten have blunted My appetite for carnal lusts and pleasures. I grieve, my son^ that thou shalt not succeed me : Had it been so ordained, my duty now Would be to leave thee my experience ; To teach thee how prosperity is won, To warn thee of those snares and of those errors In which I've fallen. But that pleasing task Is not for me. — Come hither, O my son, And thou, my daughter. Kneel ye at my feet, That I may breathe on you a father's blessing — For I have nought else left that I can give you. BOTH. What can we value, father, as thy blessing? KING {placing his hands on their heads). My son in name, thou hast been a son in deed. In all the filial offices of love 154: A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. And duty thou hast been pre-eminent; — The joy of my prime^ the prop of my old age, And now the guardian angel of my deathbed. Such as it is, my son, receive my blessing! — To thee, my daughter dear, what shall I add? For all the praises due unto thine husband Are due to thee. How well hast thou deserved them ! What shall I add? — That thou hast earned the titles, The purest, proudest titles, wife and mother. With all the love, the virtue, and respect, With which the heart of man, in all its fondness, Delights to paint them. Oh, my child, I bless thee ! —Two have I blessed, yet there is a gap. HARAN. Father, it is my brother. KING. Where is he. That I may likewise bless him? HARAN. Lo, I seek him. [JSxit. Sc. III.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 155 Scene III. A Cave lit ivith Torches. AxAK and his Compaxioxs. AXAK. What think ye of our palace and our cheer ? Methinks this rug-ffed cavern better suits Our boisterous tempers than a princely home. I would not change the glare of these our torches For all the chandeliers of fretted gold That shone resplendent in my father's palace : Nor while the depths of yon capacious jars Yield us the ruby nectar of the vine. Will I forsake it. No : let others tremble, And offer prayers and make themselves unhappy Because their hours are few. But we will drink : Come, fill the goblet ! FIRST. Hear him — we will fill. AXAK. Our gloomy brethren who have chosen woe. 156 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Think in their miser}' that they serve their God. Our god is wine, and we will worship him : This is the god of pleasure, that of woe. Drain we the goblet, then, and drink to Bacchus ! SECOND, We do respond. THIRD. Come, fill again the cup; Drink we once more the author of our pleasures ! ANAK. Spare not the purple stream, — fill to the brim : Yet jDause awhile, and hear me once again. Those friends I spoke of, whom we so respect, Have doubtless, of the abundance of their heart, Poured forth a prayer for our misguided souls While praying for their own more righteous ones. Then let us quaff* our nectar to — SECOND. Their health, We drink their health ! Sc. III.] A DREAir OF THE FUTURE. 157 ANAK. God save thee, man — their health? I say, God save thee, and it is a curse ! Nay, listen, for I have a ^Yord to say t' ye; The fumes of wine that revel in my brain Have not yet droAvned the feelings of my heart. My father is a dotard, whose endeavours Have been at best to curb me in my will. And check my pleasures: shall I drink his health? My brother is my elder, and in that Hath stood between me and my father's throne ; Again, we sought the self-same woman's hand, — More comely than myself, he gained her love : Think ye that I would drink unto his health? His wife too spurned me, as the world hath spurned, Because I bore a hunch upon my shoulders : And ye for that would have me drink their health? Yes, I will drink to them — and so shall ye. Fill high the bowl, and drain it to the dregs ; I drain the sparkling cup to their — Damnation! FIRST. We drink to their — 158 A DEEAM OF THE FUTUEE. [Act I. ANAK. Damnation ! I repeat. FIEST. So be it. THIED. God ! it is an awful toast, — I dare not. ANAK. Dare not! does thy courage fail thee? Drink deeper still, and arm thyself with wine ; Or if thou hast a lingering thought of heaven, "We drink to thine. Thou canst not thither fly, With all thy crimes like millstones round thy neck; No, thou art doomed with all of us to hell, Nor will this toast convey thee there the sooner : Drink it, then, fool, as we have done. THIED. I drink it. A^^AK. Lo ! I have yet a toast, and only one ; Sc. III.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 159 But I will not propose it to you uow, For I perceive that some are cowards still. FIRST. No, by my soul, I swear that we are not. And what thou wiliest us to drink we'll drink, Were it a hundred times our own damnation, And were this crimson ^^dne the flames of hell. Surely none here of these our boon companions, By shirking it, will prove my words a lie ! No, no : swear mth me, then, to drink the toast. ANAK. Ay, let them swear; and he who breaks the oath Shall have no place in this our paradise, But, at my word, the rest with ropes shall bind him, And cast him from this cavern. Such the doom To which we will consign rebellious spirits. ALL. Amen, amen — we swear to drink the toast! AXAK. 'Tis well; but weVe not yet prepared to have it. 160 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Drink deep, and quaff the purple tide — drink deep, Till the few torches that are blazing round us Grow to a countless host before our eyes, And till our little band becomes a legion ! Then shall ye drink the toast that I shall give ; Thus, too, will we defy the lord our tyrant ; And while he sweeps the nations from the earth, The midwife wine shall make of us a nation. FIRST. Oh, but we are prepared. I raise my glass; Say you 'tis one — I tell you there are twenty; Would I had twenty mouths to drink withal ! ANAK. Then ye are ready, and will drink it — all? I give you, then, my toast, — I give the — Plague! ALL. The Plague ! [A j^ctuse. ANAK. What is it that hath made you all So dull and silent — is there none will speak? Sc. III.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. IGl FIRST. Ay, that Mall I : yon craven, see ye him ? He gazes in his glass, and hath not drunk. — Hell! man, what is't thou look'st at so intently? Is the wine poisoned that thou wilt not drink it ? AN'AK. While I reign here my laws shall be obeyed : Drink, or we cast thee from our presence, madman ! SECOND. Perchance he hath become enamoured of The bright reflection of his own sweet face. AXAK. Wilt thou not drink ? THIRD. Have mercy on me, Lord ! ANAK. The man is mad ! Why dost thou pray to Him, — To Him whom we have banished from among us I p2 1 62 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. THIRD. Christ ! to die, aud be for ever damned ! ANAK. We know thou shalt be damned, and so shall we. — Away with him ! THIRD. I have not long to speak ; Then hear me. As I raised my bowl to drink, 1 saw a face reflected from its depths, Not red with wine, but ghastly with disease : 'Twas mine, and on it were the marks of death. At the same instant, through my awe-struck frame, I felt as though hell-tire were blazing in me. 'Tis not the ferment of the wine within me. But 'tis the plague ! O God ! it is the plagiie ! Have mercy on my soul ! I die — I die. [Falls down, writhing ht, agony. ANAK. Still, fool-like, "^alt thou call upon that name ? Call thou on Satan, and I will forgive thee : Heaven thou hast lost, then smooth thy way to hell. Sc. Ill ] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 163 THIRD. O God, I sink to hell! Thou wilt not save me — Oh, for some water to appease my thirst ! AXAK. Nay, give him none ; 't were well he were inured To the sufFerino-s that await his soul below. THIRD. The flames of hell begin to compass me No hope is left me. — Satan, I am thine ANAK. Ay, that is well — I charge thee with a message: Bid him appoint a legion to escort us, And hold a feast in honour of our coming ; For we will follow thee ere long. [Third man dies : a long panse ensues. Again Ye hold your peace ; surely ye do not sufier Yon coward's death to weigh upon your spirits. Give me the goblet he refused to quaft', And fill vour own, for we ^^'ill drink to him, — 164 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Ay, drink him all the joys that hell affords, For he hath earned them. Enter Haran. Who is this intruder? HARAN. Thy brother. ANAK. Nay, I claim no kindred with thee ; These are my brethren whom thou seest around, Not thou. But if thou dost aspire to such An honour, drink, and fill thyself with wine ! HARAN. My brother, thou art not thyself; the fumes Of wine have made thee mad. Arouse thee, break The chain that binds thy spirit to destruction. Call to thy mind the doom that threatens us : That night hath come on which no light shall dawn ! ANAK. Oh, 'tis a jovial night that knows no morn ! Sc. III.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 165 Yes, brother — since that name delights thee most — The morn at best is ever an intruder, Bringing too soon our revels to a close. Oh, then, I bless the night that knows no morn ; Our revels shall continue to the end; Then, on a sea of ^vine we'll float away, Float on its purple tide — the Lord knows whither. HARAN. My brother, 'tis the wine that speaks, not thou : May God forgive thee ! ANAK. Wine's the god I serve. HARAX. Alas ! perchance my words will bring thee reason : The pestilence hath fallen on our father; His life is fast departing. Ere he die, He would impart a blessing to his children. Me he hath blessed; now would bless thee too. Oh, then, my brother, haste thee back with me ! AXAK. Are these the words, then, that thou hast to say? 166 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. Now listen to my words, and weigh them well : Seest thou yon hideous corse that lies before theel A minute past, and he was one of us ; But he is gone our messenger to hell, To bid its king prepare for our reception. Go, bid my father follow him, and bear The self-same message; tell him that, from me, I do not need his unavailing blessings, HARAN. brother, brother! is it come to this? ANAK. Art thou still discontented? Take thyself The extra blessing that he has for me. 1 say, I loathe it, as I loathe thy presence ; Then leave me — leave me! [Exit Haran. Ah, he goes at length ! Once more, my friends, we'll quaif the purple vintage ; Pour, pour the wine; fear not to let it spill, For the thirsty earth shall join us in our orgies ! Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 167 SCEXE IV. Tamae alo7ie. TAMAR. The time hath come, Lord my God ! wheu all The fondest ties that bound my heart to earth Are breaking, leaving desolation there ! My loneliness hath preyed upon my spirit, And wrought a change, a wondrous change therein. When first faint rumours of the plague were whispered, I heeded not; but when its dire attacks Swept hosts away, until the few survivors Availed not to inter the festering corses, A gloomy terror seized upon my heart. And sad forebodings filled it with alarm. 'Twas then my eldest born was taken sick — Yon ghastly form was once my darling boy ! [She points to the corjyse, ivhich lies on the ground near her. His pouting lips had just begun to lisp, His tiny limbs to bear their tender burden ; I watched the lovely floweret in its growth, 168 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. I saw its charms grow brighter with its age, And marked fresh graces every season added ; I buih bright hoj^es upon his early promise, Wliich fond imagination reaUsed. Then came the bhght — the blight of pestilence ; I saw him droop — he faded, and was gone! — He died ! My terrors then became despair ; And, oh, the agony my soul endured ! But then I had a father and a spouse ; And their despair was not less great than mine. In soothing theirs, I learnt to soothe my own ; In soothing them, I learnt to look on death, Not as the fell destroyer of our pleasures, But as the hand which leads us to a home Where all our pleasures here are perfected, Where all our sorrows terminate in bliss. And now my sire is dead ! I mourn his loss ; I grieve his death — these tears attest my grief — But 'tis not with the horrors of despair. Enter Haran. What ails thee, Haran ? Is our brother too Become a victim? Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 169 HARAX. Would to heaven it were so ! Where is my father? TAilAR. His body is before thee ; His soul in heaven. HARAX. Thank God ! and yet I would That I had closed his eyes. Thank God, he lives not ! TAMAR. What aileth thee, dear Haran? what, alas! Is our poor brother dead, that such dejection Appeareth in thy face, thy words, and utterance 1 HARAN. Dear Tamar, would that I had died, and thou, Ere witnessing what I have witnessed now ! TAMAR. What sight so dreadful is it thou hast seen? Doth he still live? T do not comprehend thee. Q 170 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act T. HARAN. Too soon thou wilt : he lives, but not to God. I found him, after long and weary search, In a deep cave, with others like himself. Drunken wdth wine and surfeited with liquor. With blasphemies and curses on his tongue. TAMAE. Alas! HARAN. I warned him of our father's death ; I bid him come with me, yet he refused, !A.nd sent him back by me so foul a message, I dare not give it utterance. God forgive him ! Oh, had my sire survived for my return. How deep the wound his spirit had received ! Ah, now thou art dead, my father, and at peace ! Thank heaven, thou hast not lived to know of this Too hideous mockery of thy sorrows ! TAMAR. What! Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 171 Did not our sire's too fast approaching end Move bim? It moved liim to blaspheme. He shed Xo tear, but spurned his proffered blessing. Listen ! The plague had stricken one of his companions E'en as he raised the goblet to his lips — Down in the midst the hideous carcass lay. They left it as it fell — a thing to jeer at; — It brought no warning to their drunken souls ; Or if it did, it made them drink the deeper. Think'st thou the story of a father's death Could move him, when so sad a scene availed not ? Ah, no ! TAMAR. And think'st thou not he could be saved ? May we not snatch him from the brink he stands on ? I once had influence o'er his wayward heart, — Perchance a little yet remains to me. I will unto him. 172 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE, [Act I. HARAN. Stay ; thou shalt not go. While the fumes of wine excite his sovil to madness, No human hand hath power to hold him back ; Besides, thou wouldst expose thyself to insult, And witness scenes from which thy purity Would shrink as from the leprosy. Go not ; But we will pray for him unto the Lord, Who only hath the power to save his soul. [Wanderer enters.'] King Haran ! HARAN. Hast thou come to mock me, that Thou call'st me king? Lo! here my father's corse! Within the last few moments he hath perished, And yet thou call'st me king! For shame, old man! To mock my wretchedness and fallen state : Wretched — for see a father and a son Lie lifeless at my feet; fallen — for, of all That flattered and obeyed my lightest word. Not one is left me to inter their corses ! Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 173 WANDEEEE. King Harau ! HARAX. Yet tliou call'st me king again ! Be thankful that I have nor will nor power To punish insolence. Rail on ; my spirit, Subdued and broken by calamity, Can bear the venomed taunts that malice dictates. WANDERER. Hearken, king ! for unto him who bears The title which thou seemest to resent, Alone I speak. The gift of prophecy Hath long departed from the world; that gift Hath, at its closing, been again vouchsafed us. Like the blest tidings of salvation, wliich Cheer once again the sinner on his deathbed, After long years of infamy and crime Have from his mem'iy almost wiped away The self-same words of truth that blessed his childhood, That mantle which descended on Elisha, That wondrous gift hath on thy servant fallen ! q-2 174 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. HARAN. Art thou a prophet of the Lord our God? I know thee not. What fearest thou, dear Tamar, That thou seek'st my bosom like a Kstartled fawn ? TAMAR. Alas ! I know him ; we have met ere this. HARAN. And why, alas? TAMAR. Twice have I seen the stranger — But twice. I saw him once ; and from that hour — That very hour — thy mother drooped away, And died. Again I saw him at the time That sickness mowed our smiling cherub down. — What more of ill art thou preparing for us. Mysterious stranger? WANDERER. Misery and death, Great God ! surround me wheresoe'er I roam, — Sc. IV.] A DREA^r OF THE FUTURE. 175 Surround me iu an atmospliere of ruin ! Like the fabled tree, that bloomed in loveliness, Yet breathed far round the seeds of pestilence. AlaS; fair queen, alas ! thy words are true ; Xor know I what calamity ^^'ill follow, Wliat dreadful change my advent shall attend. TAMAR. Speak as the Lord hath bidden. Whatsoe'er Befal, we bear it ; for our God hath willed it ! WANDERER. Ye do speak well, my children. "VVliatsoe'er Of woe betide you in this end of time. Endure it as the Lord would have you; for. By so enduring, at the consummation Of all our woe — the earth's and our demise — Your pains shall be a portion of your joys ; As evening vapours, gilded by the sun. Become a portion of its parting splendour. — But let that go. The Lord hath spoken to me By His dread angel. His minister of wrath : 176 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act I. " Go," saitli the Lord, " unto the king, to Haran, And say to liim, Thus saith the Lord thy God, Go, build an aUar on yon hill thou seest; With stones shalt thou erect it — stones unhewn — And gather there the remnant of my people. That ye may offer sacrifice and prayer; For never after may the sons of men In concert pray, in concert praise their God!" — This do ; and thou shalt meet me there again. Seek not a victim for the sacrifice — The Lord will find one, ^ HARAN. At what hour shall we Rei)air to yonder mountain — we, the few The reapers have neglected, and who have Escaped the watchful gleaners hitherto. WANDERER. When yonder sun, that flickers even now, Doth in the socket die, as soon it shall ; When, like a rocket, whose momentary burst Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 177 At once proclaims its being and its end, Yon sun's pale beams a moment's brightness yield — A token of lost glory and of death ; When all is dark, on yonder mountain's brow Thou shalt behold a pale, unearthly hght — Then shall ye hasten ; for the time is come ! [Exit. HARAX. The man of grief hath brought a joyful message. 'Tis sweet to have communion in prayer; 'Tis sweet in fellowship to praise the Lord. Our time is short; we must not waste the hours; But haste to do the biddino- of our Maker. 178 A DREA:\r OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. ACT 11. Scene First. The Cave. Haran and Tamar. HARAN {at the entrance). The sun hath perished from the vault of heaven, 4nd we are left on earth in cold and darkness; The very torch that we had lit to guide us Hath failed, as though unable to survive Its parent's death. How long a time have Ave Wandered in darkness, seeking for this cave ; And all this time that strange unearthly light Hath burned on yonder hill to bid us hasten ! And that we must. We may not stay, dear Tamar, Or the wrath of God may light upon our heads For disobedience of His word. Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTUEE. 179 TAMAR. Not yet, ^ly Haran, let us part from hence ; for though Darkness and silence have usurped the place Of revelry and sin, the revellers May still remain. Let us assure ourselves That they be gone, or that they still be here ; And if here, whether overcome by death, Or stupified viiih wine. HARAN. Nay; let us go. See how the glory rests on yonder hill ! Haste we to share it, or perchance we lose it For ever. TAMAR. Let us lose it, then, for ever, Eather than lose the brighter joys of heaven. How much more gratefully our prayers shall rise When joined with those of a repentant brother ! Oh, let us search for him a little space. For he may hsten now to what thou sayest. 180 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. HAEAN. Stay where thou art, and I will seek the table ; For when last here I saw thereon wherewith To strike a light. [He finds it, and lights his torch. Ho, I have found it ! See, It yields a spark — the spark becomes a flame ! It breaks upon me, as in some sweet dream, The long-lost voice of a departed friend. The torch is lighted once again, dear Tamar ; How gratefully its beams fall on my sight. And how its warmth invigorates my frame ! TAMAR. How its feeble light serves but to shew more plainly The horrors of this place ! O Lord ! no seat Can boast an occupant — I see not one Of all who revelled ! HARAN. Look not to the seat : If any in this dismal cave remain. Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 181 Upon the ground their bodies will be stretched ; And here is one — my God^ it is a corse! — The bloated features purpled still with wine ; The broken goblet that his hand still clutches Shew it was not the pestilence that slew him, But wine. Ah, here another ! and 'tis he Whom in his revelry the plague destroyed — He whom I spoke of. How his agony His features and his members hath distorted ! ' Tis not the agony of death alone. TAMAR. Lo, here our brother Haran! — I have found him. I know not if he lives — thy torch bring hither; Nay, hold it back : he breathes — he moves — he lives ! Hold back the light : I tremble to behold The traces of debauchery on him. ANAK [restless in his sleep). Fill me the bowl ! TAMAR. He speaks ! Dear brother, speak ! 182 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. ANAK. Fill it up high with floods of liquid flame ! TAMAR. Brother ! ANAK. 'Tis a sweet voice for such a place; I knew not Satan had so good a taste. Here, gentle Hebe, fill me up the goblet ! HARAN. He dreams — I will arouse him from his slumber. Brother, awake ! this is no time for sleep. ANAK {starts up, gazing wildly around Mm, though still dreaming^ I did not call on thee, thou foul tormentor ! Give me not up to torture ere my time. I called on her that spoke so softly. HARAN. Still He wanders. Anak ! Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 183 AXAK. Give me a little grace. Ah, do I dream? A moment past, and I Was hemmed by flames, that Avreathed around my head Like angry serpents, greedy to devour me; xind hideous monsters, making them their steeds, Glanced by me, howling hatred and derision ! Ah, what a change ! — portends it some new torture? Sink I still deeper in the bottomless pit? God ! — Nay, Satan, leave me yet awhile ! He leaves me not — [Points at Harax. Look, look ! he haunts me still ! 1 see him, though he shade his burning brand — Avaunt, dread fiend, avaunt ! touch, touch me not : Thy fingers scorch my flesh like burning iron. Away ! I can't support thy awful presence ! Oh, had I wine to blunt my conscience now, Or could I flee thee by a second death ! Annihilation were a blessing for me Greater than heaven for them who strive to gain it ! Avaunt, thou devil! — dost thou still approach? 184 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE, [Act II. I feel thy breath upon my tortured hmbs — Ay, fiercer than the hot simoom I feel it. Oh, God! oh, hell! oh, misery! I cannot, I cannot longer bear this ! Oh, my God ! \He falls on the ground. HARAN. Oh, brother ! not for torment am I come ; But we are here to comfort and to soothe thee. ANAK There is a mist before my eyes ; my mind Js in confusion. Where am \% HARAN. Anak I Thou still art where I left thee, in the cavern. I bring thee hope ; and thou hast felt despair. Heaven grant that thou art more prepared to listen I come to thee, sent hither by the Lord, To bring thee peace, and offer thee forgiveness : The price of these is penitence. Sc. I.] • A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 185 TAMAR. Attend, Dear brother, to the words of comfort — Usteu: Sleep hath restored thee to thy better mind ; Then do not spurn the blessings that we offer. Repent, and thou shalt live ! ANAK. Speak on. HARAN. The Lord Hath sent his servant, bidding me to gather The few survivors, that we may together Offer our prayers and bless His holy name. ANAK. What shall I pray for? Wherefore should I bless? TAJIAR. Pray for repentance; bless Him for His mercies. e2 186 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. ANAK. Pray for repentance which I do not feel? Bless Him for mercies which I never knew"? TAMAR. Repentance must precede forgiveness, even As showers precede the opening of the flower. ANAK. If He were merciful, He would forgive me, E'en though my stubborn heart refused to sue. Call you that mercy which would blot your crimes When tired with importunities and prayer. Would blot them out to still your pestering tongues'? Nay, mercy would forget our sins unasked. TAMAR. And hast thou nought for which to bless His name ? Hath He not given thee an immortal soul, And made thee what thou art? — ANAK. A hideous hunchback ! Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 187 Yes, He hath made me what I am — a hunchback ! Yes, He hath given me an immortal soul, With mind and sense to know I am a hunchback ! Cursed be He that made, and she that bare me ! Had He, when He bestowed on me this form, Denied intelligence, and left an idiot, I might have lived regardless of my body, And smiled when grinning fools derided me. But 'tis not so J for, oh, I have a soul Which whispers ever my deformities ! And, oh, I have a heart to feel the taunts That jeering lips and scornful looks convey — A heart, ay, like a grindstone, whence the knives At every touch become more sharp and deadly ! For all these mercies wouldst thou have me l^less Him ? I tell you I would rather take the chance Of hell and all the torments it contains Than be the willing slave of such a tjTant ! If hell is but the annihilation of The soul, as some pretend, I long for it ; And if, as others say, it is the stings Of conscience over\vrou2^ht, I dread it not — 188 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. My heart is callous to its venomed tootli ; If it be flames of fire, as cowards deeni; My breast is steeled, and I will bear it all ! Ay, I have laboured, and I labour still, For hell ; and all your words shall not avail To change my purpose. Go ; your sight offends me 1 HARAN. My brother, thou art not the hardened wretch Thou wouldst appear ; for when we entered here. Wast thou not dreaming? And thy dream was hell ! Nay, do not frown : that hell, though but a dream, Was far too terrible for thy endurance. It was thy conscience conjured up that vision ; And hell is far more terrible than that. ANAK. Depart, I tell ye ! I have weapons here ; And, by the Lord, 'twere better ye were gone. HARAN. We £"o in sorrow. Sc. I.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 189 ANAK. That ye ever came ! Go ! I will fill my goblet for the revels. [Exeunt Haran and Tamar. It will refresh me, for I'm parched and thirsty ; Besides, my soul is hardened by the wine, As lifeless flesh is by the purer spirit. Their presence hath oppressed me, I will drink; ' T^vill drown misgivings. Ah, that single draught Hath moved a mountain from my shoulders ! Wine Is like a lever, at which a single pull Will raise a burden else immovable. Ho, comrades! sleeping stills Wake! let's carouse. Ye who are dead, carouse in lowest hell; But ye who live shall crown the bowl with me ! 190 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. Scene II. The mountain top ; a pliospliorescent light beams from the altar. The Wanderer and the Worshippers. WANDERER. The time is come, and yet are all not here. The precious moments fleet like mists away, Xhe noiseless harbingers of doom and death; Like the last drops of water in the spring To some lone wanderer of the trackless desert Are our few hours, and yet we heed them not, But waste them waiting for our lingering brethren. O Lord, forgive us that we use them not ; And e'en as Thou didst bless the widow's cruse, So bless the hours, that they may serve us till Our prayers and praises have approached Thy throne, Borne on the wings of penitence and faith ! — Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 191 Brethren, we may not wait ; the hour is come For tliose devotions which have called us hither. Haran your king is absent, and his spouse; Their absence pains me. But we have tarried long; We must no longer wait — nay, not for them. The wondrous brightness which yon altar breathes Already waxes dim, as though in wrath At our indifference. ALL. They come. WANDERER. 'Tis well. Enter Haran and Tamar. My children, ye are late; yet, being here, I will not chide you for your tardiness. HARAN. We are indeed; yet 'tis not from neglect. WANDERER. Our time is short, and we must pray. 192 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. ALL. Amen ! WANDERER. O Triune God! — our King, our Lord, our Maker! — Almighty God ! who from Thy lofty throne, Thy heaven of heavens, regardest us below. Look down, and as Thou look'st, forgive, forgive ! O Lord, our sins against Thee have been great, And guilty conscience holds them in array; Yet, trusting in Thy promises, O Lord, We pray Thee blot them from Thine awful page. For Jesus' sake ; and, oh, forgive, forgive ! ALL. Oh, blot them, Father, from Thine awful page, For Jesus' sake ; and, oh, forgive, forgive ! WANDERER. For all the blessings which Thy bounteous hand Hath poured on us, like manna, from above — For all the mercies which Thy fostering care Sell.] A DKEAM OF THE FUTUEE. 193 Hath shed hke sunbeams round our hardened hearts — We magnify Thy name — we bless, we bless Thee! ALL. For all Thy blessings and for all Thy mercies "VVe praise Thee, Lord — we bless Thy holy name ! WANDERER. That Thou may'st change the hardness of our hearts. And so illume us with Thy Holy Spirit, That when our lives are brought unto a close. And the bright dawning of eternity Breaks on our spirits in a flood of light, We may be cleansed, and fitted to enjoy The bliss that waits the righteous soul in heaven — To join the joyful hosts that throng Thy courts; In endless strains at once to celebrate Thy goodness and our happiness, we pray! ALL. That thus Thy grace may rest upon our heads And in our hearts, we pray Thee, Jehovah ! s 194 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II, WANDERER. O God, our Father and our Lord ! Who broodedst'o'er the nio^ht, And made it pregnant, at Thy word, With hope and hfe and hght ; At whose command, from empty gloom The teeming myriads sprung, And infant worlds, in infant bloom, With acclamations rung; — Look down from heaven. Thy dwelling-place; According to Thy word. Have mercy on our fallen race — Have mercy on us. Lord ! And, O Jehovah ! at whose breath The wonders thou'st designed Are swept away in doubt and death, Nor leave a trace behind ; Whose voice hath formed man from the sod. Whose voice now bids him die, sc. II.] A drea:\i of the future. With this vdde earth on which he trod In proud security ; — Look down, Jehovah, from Thy throne. And from Thy precious hoard Let blessings on Thy sons be strewn— Have mercy on us. Lord ! ALL. Thou who hast made, and Thou who Yn\t destroy Have mercy on Thy sons— have mercy on usl HARAX. Great God ! Thou madest man to dwell In endless peace and pleasure ; Yet his vain spirit did rebel. And lost the priceless treasure. Thou sent'st Thy Son, the \^rgin-born, To die upon the tree — To suffer hatred, pain, and scorn. For man's iniquity ; 195 196 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. Yet still lie erred, and still we err. Ungrateful though we live, Oh, hearken, Lord ! oh, hear our prayer ! And while we sin, forgive ! Our hearts are hard, our tongues are slow To give Thee just acclaim; — Renew them, change them. Lord, that so We love and bless Thy name. Oh, breathe Thy Spirit on our heads, Like gentle dew from heaven; And let the peace its influence sheds Attest we are forgiven. And though we sin. Thy judgment spare, That so our souls may live : Oh, hearken. Lord ! oh, hear our prayer ! And while we sin, forgive. ALL. O God ! who hast forgiven, forgive us now. E'en though our sins be great and numberless. Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 197 TAMAR. Almighty and eternal King ! The languid stars, the blazing sun, Thy power display. Thy wonders sing — The wonders that Thy hand hath done. The tempest terrible and strong, The moaning wind, the fragrant gale. Bear on their breath the tide of song, And Thee, their Lord and Maker, hail 1 The ocean wide, in every wave That plays or breaks upon its face (Though powerful ever, still Thy slave), TeUs of Thy might and sings Th}' grace. So we, O Lord! with feeble tongue, Thy glorious attributes proclaim : Oh, let us sing as they have sung. And bless Thee, Lord, and bless Thy name! The giant mountains wrapped in snow, That rise majestically grand, s2 198 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. Are monuments thy might to shew, And temples formed by Nature's hand. The forest in its still retreats, The songster in its joyous lays, The floweret in its lavish sweets. Conspire to bless and sing Thy praise. And even now, when all are gone. And lost for ever to our gaze, Darkness hath caught the echoed tone. And softly whispers still Thy praise. Then we, O Lord ! will lift our voice In hymns Thy glory to proclaim : And while we in Thy love rejoice, "We bless Thee, Lord, we bless Thy name ! ALL. Great God, we bless, we bless Thy holy name; We praise, we hallow, magnify, and bless Thee ! Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 199 WAXDERER. We know that we are sinners, Lord, Iniquitous and vile ; Yet, oh ! to us Thy grace afford, And bless us with Thy smile. We know our crimes for vengeance call, Yet may they be forgiven ; That when, by death mown down, we fall, Our souls may rise to heaven. HARAN CVnd TAilAR. We know that all the prayers, O Lord ! AVhich our polluted lips have poured Before Thine awful throne. Without Thy grace could ne'er suffice To wash out our iniquities. Our errors to atone. Yet, oh, if ever brother's prayer Hath checked Thy wrath, and bid Thee spare A brother in his guile, 200 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. Then, Lord our God ! the boon repeat, And change his heart while we entreat, Although our own be vile ! TAMAR (aside). Dear Haran, let my absence grieve thee not. I jDray thee put no check upon my going. Nor ask me whither; I shall soon return — I hope ere others have my absence noted. HARAN (aside). My Tamar, I had rather thou should'st stay; For in this awful darkness which prevails 'Tis hard to choose the path where safety lies. So that thou stumble not against the rock. Nor tumble headlong down the precipice. TAMAR [aside). The heart that tmsteth on the Lord can fear No evil. He will lead my wandering steps. HARAN [aside). Amen ! If love can guide thee on thy way, Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 201 Thou shalt not errj but, oh, take heed — take heed! [Exit TAilAR. Lo ! man of God, the altar is erected ; According to thy word, so we have made it ; — But where the victim for the sacrifice? WANDERER. In God's good time the victim shall appear ; For He hath spoken, and His word is truth. E'en as He found the ram for Abraham, He will provide a sacrifice for us. [A star appears, vMch rapidly approaches. FIRST VOICE. Look, look ! SECOND. At what? FIRST. Seest thou not yonder star That seems so bright; for 'tis the only one. Look at it narrowly. Doth it not seem To grow upon the sight? 202 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. THIRD. Indeed it dotli; With every look its magnitude increases. WANDERER. Lo ! it approaches every instant nearer ! [A 2^(('Use; during which time it apiwoaches and settles on the cdtar, and, imfolding, discloses an angeL ALL. Our eyes are dazzled with excess of light ! \They fall on their faces. ANGEL. All hail, ye children of the Eternal King, Who here are met to honour and to worship ! — All hail ! who, trusting to His sov'reign grace. Await the victim that the Lord shall send you — Who wait to offer sacrifice to Him ! The blood of bulls, the flesh of rams and goats And fragrant incense, yield Him no delight — Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 203 A sad and contrite heart, a broken sj^irit, Are offerings far more grateful in His sight Than all the blood of spotless hecatombs ! The broken sigh, which in its bosom bears A sinner's penitence, a sinner's grief, Is perfume far more fragrant to His nostrils Than all the spice of odorous Araby, Or all the sweets of golden Ind can ^ield. These have ye offered, and your sacrifice Hath been acceptable unto the Lord. Though ye are few, and though your griefs are many, Your heavenly Father hath not passed you by ; And thouo-h His wrath be waxed so hot a2:ainst The sons of men for their iniquities, That He doth from creation blot the world, E'en as ye cast a leper from your sight. Or from a filthy spot your garment cleanse. He will not hide His face, or hold His mercy From them who trust upon His sa\ing strength, — Who look to Him for pardon and for succour. Yet a short space, oh ! put your faith in Him ; And though He heap fresh trials in your path. 204 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act II. And pour new sorrows in your wounded spirits, Yet trust ye to His love ; for wliom He loveth He cliastenetli. Thus as a furnace smothered By fuel doth in after-time become A brighter flame ; so shall it be with you. Continue, therefore, as ye have begun ; And as the traveller in aerial car, Soaring through clouds with rain and thunder black, Bursts into skies serene and joyous sunshine, Your souls shall rise triumphant from the grave. And burst in glory from the gloom of death Into the sunshine of eternity, '^To vie in brightness with the seraphim — Those blessed spirits, of whom I am the least. Hark, hark ! e'en now I hear their symphonies ; Their heavenly music swells uj^on mine ear. It summons me from hence — I must away! So shall your souls, when they have laid aside The chains and trammels of mortality, Wing their glad flight to that unclouded shore, Where all the host of heaven shall greet their coming — Sc. U.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 205 That glorious band, to whom is higher joy For one poor sinner that repenteth, than For ninety-and-nine just men that need it not. [The angel clisapjyears, and all is dark. HARAN. The ^dsion hath departed — all is dark! WANDERER. Without is darkness; but mthin, within The siDleudour of the \dsion still remains. The light hath shed its glory in our hearts : There let it rest, Lord ! HARAN. Amen ! ALL. Amen ! 206 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. ACT III. Scene First. Toi^ of the Mountain. Haran alone. HARAN. The dream hath ended, and I am alone. Here on the top of this high hill, whereon The Majesty of Heaven but now appeared, I stand alone — alone in awful shade. The man of God hath gone — I know not whither - And they, my felloAV-worshippers, are not; For when the vision had departed from us, And our prophet-priest had left us secretly, A damp, cold cloud descended on our heads. Sc. I.] A DREAil OF THE FUTURE. 207 Encircling us as 'twere in liquid ice, And carrying with it, even to our vitals. The chill, the horror, the despair of death. I sunk beneath its influence to the earth, Where, alike bereft of consciousness and power, I lay — how long, my memory serves me not; But now it hath been borne from us away, And I awake to find myself alone ; For all the souls of them who worshipped here. Whose voices joined with mine in prayer and song, Have in that mist of death been borne away To that bright shore for which my bosom longs. And I am left alone, alone, alone ! — By festering corse and hideous carcass hemmed — Alone in life, for all around is death ; Surviving still, though wedded to decay. O Tamar ! loved one, wherefore art thou gone I Why hast thou left me lonesomely to die 1 Oh, had I gone with thee — hadst thou remained — The only joy mortahty could give Had been for us, — the happiness to die Locked in the sweet embrace of mutual love — 208 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. To render up, with breath still faltering praise, Our souls to Him whose hand created them. In vain I long; for doubtless thou hast fallen. In the deep shade that smooths the path of danger, From some high crag. Would I had perished with thee ! God ! forgive me that my trust in Thee Hath scarcely power to hold me, in my madness. From leaping headlong down some precipice, And so to draw these sorrows to a close. But one dread thought restrains me from the deed — The dreadful certainty that with that end Must end my dreams of joy, my hope of heaven. Lo ! I will go. While life is in my veins. Ere plague hath laid its heavy hand upon me, 1 may discover yet that form to which Her soul gave life and innocence her heart. That so our corses may be joined in death, E'en though our spirits mingled not. Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 209 SCEXE II. Cavern. Tamar arod Anak. TAMAR. Anak! I have left the worshippers — Ay, in tlie midst of their devotions left them — To come to thee, with gentle words and kind, To lead thy wandering spirit back from error ; And yet thou wilt not listen. I have come Along the devious path of gloom and danger, Leaving beliind me all on whom I doat, Except this babe, which draws its life from me — Have challenged death, and braved my Haran's loss, To speak with thee — and yet thou wilt not listen! AXAK. Say, did I bid thee come ? I bade thee go ; T 2 210 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. And yet tliou wilt return, in spite of all, Unwelcome as the messenger of death. TAMAR. Anak, Anak ! 'tis not grief I bring — 1 bear glad tidings of exceeding joy; I come through perils, that thou lose them not; — For thy soul's sake, and thy salvation, come. ANAK. Indeed ! Feelst thou an interest in my welfare ? Hadst thou but shewn the same solicitude For my well-being in a bygone time, Nor, when I asked thy love, my love rejected. There had been no need for thee to come to me, And, perhaps, no need of my repentance ! TAMAR. Oh, My brother, I was young and giddy then. I dreamt not, thought not that the words I uttered - Words Fve forgotten now, nor heeded then — Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 211 Would be so treasured in that breast of thine, So graven on thy heart AXAK. I loved thee then ; But 'twas not love that stamped thy idle words Upon the marble of my heart. No, no ; The wounds of love are like the passing breath That dims the polished brightness of the mirror — 'Twas hatred ; ay, 'twas hatred of myself, Of thee, of him who gained what I had lost, — Of him who wooed and won the hand that spurned me — 'Twas hatred stamjied them thus upon my heart. The seeds of hate have germinated there ; The stony soil hath fed and fostered them. TAMAR. Anak ! dear Anak I AXAK. Dost thou call me dear? — 212 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE, [Act III. ThoU; who in scorn hast turned thy back upon me — Thou, who hast spurned me for the unsightly burden Which God hath heaped upon my helpless shoulders? Dear! — dear, forsooth! Keep such delightful titles For him whom thou hast chosen — not for me. TAMAR. Anak, my brother ! talk not thus, I pray ', If I have sinned against thee, pardon me : In that I bring thee peace, forgive me, Anak. Oh, by the love thou once didst bear for me, Forgive me, and forget ! ■u ANAK. Forget! thou sayest; 'Tis well for them who work an injmy To bid their victim hide it in oblivion : As well mig-htst thou demand the blasted tree To bring forth blossoms and to perfect fruit. As though, in the refinement of thy malice, Thy presence in itself could not suffice To call up wrongs that have been heaped upon me. Sc. II.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 213 Tlioii briugest iu thine arms you sleeping infant, The pledge of love to him whom I detest — Of love at my humiliation purchased. Good God ! to think that it should come to this, That I must be the sport of such as thou ! TA3IAR. Lo ! at thy knees I throw myself, dear x\nak. That thou mayst yet forgive me, and forget ! [Slie throws herself on lier knees, and he pushes her from him. AXAK. E'en like a pestilence I cast thee from me ! TAMAR. O brother ! AXAK. Call me brother if thou wilt, Thou'rt not the less ofifensive in my sight : The sleek-skinned cat is none the less a tyrant Because it plays and dallies with its victim ! 214 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Yes, I was once a suppliant at thy feet, And tliou, a woman, spurnedst me with words : But now 'tis changed, and thou the suppliant art. I am a man, and do not deal in words. Or I might spurn thee as thou si^urnedst me : No ; with the power that was bestowed on me. E'en strength of arm, I cast thee from my feet. [He jyushes her away with great violence. TAMAR. Oh, Anak! — Hush, poor babe, nor with thy cries Increase my misery; oh, slumber still! — Am I, then, Anak, wrong in that I thought Thy nature noble, though misled by error? I held thee so; and never did 1 deem That thou wouldst hft thy hand against a woman. Or that thy hate would fall upon an infant. Yet, Anak, I forgive thee from my heart ; I leave thee not in anger, but in sorrow. And pray to God repentance may be shewn, While yet 'tis time, by thine obdurate heart. Farewell ! \_Exit Tamar. Sell.] A drea:m of the futuee. 215 AXAK. And she is gone, the hated woman. To be relieved from her accursed speech Is well; and yet I do not like this place. Is it that I have now outlived its pleasures, And none is left to share them with me? or Is it that I'm encompassed by the dead ? I see them by the torch's sickly light ; I shudder at the horrid vacant stare They fix upon me with their glassy eyes. I know not why, and yet I dare not look — Their sight unmans me. God ! I cannot stay : I'll follow her — 'twere better there than here. Farewell, ye corses ; I'll no longer be The centre for your eyes to rest upon. [Exit. 216 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Scene III. Half way down the Mountain. Haran alone. HARAN. I have borne my weary members from the summit, And fain would drag them onward ; but they fail me. What is it makes my limbs so stiff and feeble % What is it makes me weak? O God! 'tis strange That I, so longing for the hand of death, Should dread to meet it when at length it comes — That I, who have prayed for shortness of my days, Should shudder to compose myself to rest. To calmly wait the advent of my doom. Yet so it is, — though longing for decease. My spirit strives against approaching fate. Perchance, if I had friends around my couch, Whose kindly lips would soothe me at my end, Sc. III.] A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. 217 I might with less rehictance meet it uow. I know not; but, ahis! I am alone — Maybe, of all created creatures, last ; — And though I long, and though I pray for death, 'Tis hard for things of perishable clay, Whose flesh is formed to feel acutest pain, To look it in the face without a shudder; To think, with nought attention to distract — Nay more, ^^ith all around to concentrate Our thoughts on gloom, on terrors, and on pains — To think of all the pangs by mortals suffered, And which, of all the direst, waiteth us ! I look for peace, and yet I fear to pass The Eubicon beyond whose stream it lies ; E'en as a vessel hovers round the shore. Yet fears to tempt the breakers that defend it. Thou who didst carry Enoch to thy bosom, And bear Elijah from this world of woe, Oh, save me from the misery of death I — The silence round me is so still and fearful. That any sound except mine own is strange; And yet I hear a footstep, or mine ear u 218 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Deceives me, — Who art tliou? [E7iter Wanderer. WANDERER. I am a man. HARAN. Does any live but me? WANDERER. I live, alas ! HARAN. Thou longest, then, for death ? WANDERER. I long to close A tedious life of misery and woe — A life whose highest pleasure was the want Of pain ; whose greatest pain, the want of death. My speech is strange — thou understandest not : I speak of times when I had strayed from God. — But let that pass. I long with thee for death. HARAN. prophet! — for I know thee who thou art — Sc. III.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 219 Tell me, if God hath given thee power to know — Tell me of my beloved one, my wife. Thou knowest, perchance, she left me on the mount, Intending to return. She came not back ; And I have wandered mth a lingering hoj^e That I might meet with her upon the way. But I have strayed, and know not where I am; And, lo ! I feel — why should I fear to name it ? — I feel the pestilence hath hold upon me ! WAm)ERER. My son, the Lord who with a cloud by day And fire by night did lead the Israelites, Will gxiide us unto her. HARAX. O man of God ! Have pity on thy miserable servant — Support my wandering steps to where she is ; For, oh, methinks, embosomed in her arms, Death would for me be shorn of half his terrors. Good father, I entreat thee grant this boon, And God will bless thy charity. 220 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. WANDERER. My son, I'll lead tliee^ and the Lord will guide us thither. Eest on me thus — fear not to trust thy weight; For in this arm, so aged seemingly, A strength remains surj^assing that of youth. HARAN. My limbs do tremble, and my head is dizzy. WANDERER. Lean on my arm, and trust thou to my guidance. \Exeunt. Scene IV. Anak alone, ANAK. What have I done ? God ! that Lethe's stream Were here, so I might plunge myself therein ; Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 221 Or that oblivion in its misty whirlpool Would swallow up the past, with all its crimes. Oh, what a long array of foul offences My frenzied spirit conjures up before me ! Oh, what a list of infamies and shame Rises in judgment ! Would I might forget ! Wliere'er I turn, where'er I strive to flee. They face me still, and still, and still pursue me. All, all is darkness — all is silence round; And yet I see gaunt spectres staring at me. And hear shrill voices loud in accusation. Christ, I would pray ! If prayers might yet avail, I'd pray for death — yet not that death which leads To life, but that which is annihilation. Oh, that I now might sink into the dust, And with it melt into forgetfulness ! [Dim S2)ectre forms pass before him. Away, ye spectres ! 'tis not yet the hour ; I am not hell's till death shall give me up, God ! their sight is madness to my soul ; 1 shut my eyes, and still they pass before me. Away, aAvay ! I tell you that I live. u2 222 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Why will ye thus torment me in my lifetime? O Satan ! have compassion on my soul ; Put chains awhile on these my dread tormentors ; — Give me some respite. Oh, they leave me not ! [Bis father's shade j^asses before him. Wliose is this grey-haired ghost that rises now? Oh, what a look its venerable features Fix upon me ! My father ! O my father ! Turn not thy back upon thine offspring thus. But leave one blessing — that which once I spurned. — Stay, stay, my father 1 Ah, it is too late ! [The shades of his fellow-revellers now And who are these, these hideous spectre forms, That from the womb of night spring into life % Why do you fix your horrid gaze on me, And stretch your hands as though to tear me piece- meal % Away, away! I know you who ye are — Away, and glut your ire on other victims ! [They disa/ppear. E'en thus at my command the sjiectres flee ; Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 223 But, as tliey fade, more terrible succeed. \^The shades of Tamar and her babe a2)pear. What are these forms that rise iu judgment now? They are but two, and blood is on their limbs — The one a babe ; the other, she that bare it. Oh, by that look of kindness in your eyes — Oh, by that pity which I cannot claim — Shew me the mercy which I shewed you not, And leave me. God ! the horrid deed itself, The blood of murder, lifts its voice against me ; The dread accuser shrieks into mine ear Damnation — the reward of my offences! Have pity — oh, have mercy, and depart; Let not your presence add unto my pangs. [They leave him. A VOICE. Anak! ANAK. Have not sufficient accusations Been brought against me to condemn me quite 224 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. To lowest hell, with all the scum and outcasts That earth hath harboured 1 Why, then, doth it loose Its hounds upon me 1 See, they're in full cry ! E'en at my heels they pant to run me down. What fresh accuser rises up against me, And what new crime hast thou to charge upon me? It cannot sink me deeper into hell ! VOICE. Anak ! ANAK. Speak on. VOICE. I come not to condemn thee : I bring no crime, I heap no charges on thee ; I rather come to soothe thy injured spirit. ANAK. Methinks there is a mist before mine eyes, Or I should see thy form, as I have seen The horrid phantoms that but now have left me. Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 225 VOICE. There is no mist before thee, save the darkness That reigns throughout the earth. AXAK. How, then, should I So plainly see those sights which terrified me ? VOICE. Frail mortal, 'twas but thine imagination, O'erheated and diseased, which conjured up Those dreams of horror : in thy mind alone, Unreal as the fears that prey upon thee. Those phantoms dwelt. AXAK. If they, then, were unreal. How can I know that 'tis not so with thee ? VOICE. I am no offspring of thy wanton fancy. If I had been, thou wouldst have given to me. 226 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. As unto tliem, consistency and form : I am a spirit. ANAK. Therefore thou canst mock The sufferings that attend mortality. VOICE. Not so : I tell thee I have come to soothe thee. Why art thou sad? ANAK. If thou art what thou sayest, Thou knowest. VOICE. Yea : it is that thou hast given A rich oblation unto him thou servest ; It is that thou hast slain a sacrifice More meet for him than rams — more sweet than goats. Why, then, art thou opprest with groundless fears'? Why art thou sad? Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 227 ANAK. The voice of conscieuce cries Aloud, and tells me of my foul offence. VOICE. Fool! dost thou think to dally with me thus? Till now thou hast served me well, in that thou hast Forsaken God to bow thyself to me, Because His chains were galling to thy nature. And dost thou dream, then, of returning now To Him? It is too late, too late, too late! Als'AK. I know it. VOICE. And know that, in submitting to His will, thou dost oppose thyself to mine. AXAK. Oh, the foretaste of hell that conscience paints Doth make a coward of me ! 228 A DKEAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. VOICE. Hell, forsooth! Hast thou believed, then, in that book of lies Which He hath given to terrify mankind? On earth the Lord hath i:)ower to work thee harm, But after death I claim thee for myself; And that foul book of blasphemies and lies. Which He hath heralded through all the earth. Is but to frighten man into submission. And to deter the weak from serving me. Nay, more : that conscience which torments thee now Is but a portion of the shameful scheme By which He strives to rob me of your service ; And 'tis the last outpourings of the sj^ite With which He visiteth the sons of clay. Believe me, too, I have an antidote Against that conscience and its foul effects. ANAK. Give me that antidote, VOICE. 'Tis but a word, Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 229 Which, whispered in thine ear, shall give thee strength To do my mil, and laugh His threats to scorn. ANAK. I ask it. VOICE. Dost thou swear to worship me? ANAK. Tdo. VOICE. Dost thou repent that thou hast murdered Thy brother's wife? ANAK. Repentance I have none ; But when alone, those dreadful thoughts oppress me, Which make me shrink within myself, and drive Me mad. Steel me against such dreams, and I Will do thy bidding; for thy will is mine. Give me the antidote. [A j^cmse. X 230 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. VOICE. I hear the approach Of footsteps. Slowly to this spot they tend, And one is he whom thou dost justly hate ; For he hath ever frustrated thy plans, And ever mocked, insulted, and despised thee : 'Twas he who robbed thee of that woman's love Whose corse is here. ANAK. My brother ! VOICE. Ay, thy brother. He comes to curse thee for the deed ; he comes With loud upbraidings framed upon his tongue. — Shall he re^^le thee? ANAK. Have I e'er submitted To l)ear rebuke? Not while I've strength of arm. Or while I have a weapon to my hand. Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 231 VOICE. The moment comes ^yhereiu thou canst avenge All the contumelies he hath heaped upon thee ; But if that moment slip, 'tis gone for ever. AXAK. Oh, for that potion which doth silence conscience ! VOICE. Prepare the knife, and when its work is done, Then will I still the monitor that haunts thee ; And till 'tis finished, I wdll hold a veil Betwixt thee and all human eyes ; for one Is near whose eye can pierce the gloom of night. [Anak becomes invisible. HARAN {mitJlOUt). Oh, let me rest, I pray thee ! for I feel A growing weakness stealing through my frame, — Oh, let me rest, for death is hard upon me. WANDERER (without). A moment more, and this thy toil shall cease; 232 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. For we are close upon the spot to wliicli The Spirit of the Lord directed me. Fear not to bear thy weight upon my arm. [They enter. Oh, what a spectacle doth burst upon me ! My God, I sicken at the awful sight. HARAN. Surely thou now hast brought me to the spot. — Where is my wife? WANDERER. Who hath accomplished this 1 'XVhose hand hath wrought this deed of infamy? HARAN- Why dost thou terrify me? Tell me, tell me, — Where is my spouse ? My Tamar, if thou hearest, Speak to me, answer me, I do beseech thee ! WANDERER. O Haran, Haran ! I have brought thee hither, With fruitless toil, upon a fruitless errand. Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 233 HARAN. Where is she gonel WANDERER Her body is before thee. HARAN. Deadi WANDERER. Dead— ay, murdered, and by human hands! HARAN. Christ ! WANDERER. But who hath raised his arm against her 1 know not. Lord, have mercy on her soul ! HARAN. I die, I die! — oh, lead me unto her! Spirit of her whom once I called my wife, Where'er thou art— whether upon the wings Of joy thou soarest to the courts of heaven, Or lingering still, ^^^th fond solicitude, 234 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Thou lioverest round me like a guardian angel — I pray thee stay, that, in their flight, our souls May be united, as in life our hearts ! [Anak stabs him, and immediately becomes visible. I die — I perish! I am murdered! Help! My God, I come! \He dies. wanderer. The murderer stands confessed ! The veil is moved which Satan held before him ; In all the foul deformity of guilt, In all the naked loathsomeness of vice. He stands an outcast and a murderer! Well may'st thou quail beneath my gaze, and shrink Within thyself at my accusing words : But not for peace; for from thy bosom speaks A voice more terrible than mine. Look, wretch. Look on thy handiwork; look on those forms — That beauty thy polluted hands have marred ! See how the blood is streaming from their wounds ! Ay, hide thy hands, for they are red with it. Sc. IV.] A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. 235 That blood doth rise in judgment^ fiend, against thee, And every gaping wound doth scream thy doom ! Hell yawns beneath thee, greedy to engulf thee, E'en as the earth sucks in thy victims' gore, And none shall save thee. The tottering arch which hung 'Twixt thee and heaven hath by thy brother's blood Been swept away, which now for ever rolls Like some black flood 'twixt thee and happiness. Like some hoarse torrent which thou shalt not pass. The agony of conscience thou endurest Shall never cease. Strike him, ye lightnings, strike ! [He is struck dead hy a flash of lightning. So, great Jehovah, let the godless perish ! — And noAv, O God ! the end hath come upon us. HoAv the heart sickens at the contemplation Of all the strife, impiety, and sin With which Thy creatures have Thy love repaid ! E'en at its birth did sin pollute the world. And at its ending sin pollutes it still. The same foul deed that stained its infancv 236 A DREAM OF THE FUTURE. [Act III. Doth stamp a plague-spot on it at its close : The first, last crime — a brother's blood ! And now, Angel of death, impatient for thy stroke, I wait thy presence ; for my hour is come ! Sated with life, I long for thy approach; Yearning for death, I cry to thee for help. [The mist ai^pears, and apj^roaches. Lo, lo ! it comes, the mist, the mist of death ! Welcome its horrors, for they bring me joy ! I feel its breath, I sink beneath its chill. The harmony of heaven doth greet my coming — I die, I die ! My King, my God, I come ! yi'he mist enveloj^es him, and he dies. THE END. PRINTED By I.HVEV, RDBSON, AND KKAKKMK, Great New Street, Ketler Lane. Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. REC'D LD-URL OCT 19 1984 Form L9-50m-7,'54(5990) Jttanrn^*"® LIBRARY laaVBRSITY OP CAUFORNU l«S ANGELES ^ Bristow( 3 - 161 Poems 778A17 a^o 3 1158 00956 0888 / PR lil6l B773A17 1850