Book_i. GopiglitN^.. coFnuciflr oEPosm / Reriewers Read the Last Page of Cover. N. B. — Stanza numbers run from beginning of canto, B stands for book, C for canto, S for stanza, P for page, and L for line of stanza. Punctuation not corrected. S. L. i6 3 36 36 12 49 51 57 78 3 7 8 54 4 13 38 55 25 82 94 115 II 57 3 5 29 2 25- I 25- I 30 4 32- I 33—- 2 43 2 44- 4 45- 4 46 2 54- I 55- 1 58- 2 59 I 59— — t?/" should read OJ. — it " " b>'ooks. —despoiled should read despised. — IViil into death I grope. -On schetiters shame, disgrace and flight. — On the upturned pale face. — // 7/// should read To. —disobed should be disobeyed, —understand should be understood . —be should read me. —Shieking should be Shrieking, —unto should be undo, —gtruck should be struck. —reprocJies should be reproaches, —o'er should read above, —their should be there. — everlastihg should be everlasting, —plans should hs plains. —you should be yet. spend should be spent, -darkness should read starkness. ■polluion should he pollution. -Md/ should be thai, ■yell should be hell, ■to should read its. -Sir, the devil is a woman .'" — -liiin should go out. ■suipher should be sulphur. ■The t should have an i before it. ■most should read not. ■outspoken should read outbroken. First the should read to. B. c. S. L P. 3 5 52 I 6d 3 5 7^ 3 61 3 6 17 2 62 4 13 I 66 4 20 3 66 4 28 I 67 4 45 I 67 4 56 I 63 4 I 64 2 63 4 I 131 2 71 4. 2 52 2 73 4 2 60 3 73 4 2 77 3 74 4 3 91 I 78- 4 3 „IIO 3 78 4 4 55 I 81 4 4 76 I 82- 4 4 93 I 82- 4 5 15 4 85 4 5 66 I ■87- 5 I 96 2 94 5 I III 2 95- 5 2 20 3 96 5 2 36 2 96 5 6 6 4 "5- 5 6 36 3 1:6 5 6 39 4 116- 5 6 51 3 117- 5 6 51 4 117- 5 6 90 3 118- 5 6 94 4 118- —kindness s'hould be kindnesses, -ive should be 7tias. —his should read their, —ivoiuan should be luomen. her mind ' s perplexed . —love should be lore. -The should read IVhat. — The women of caste where, Sir'c. -virtue should read honest. — That lulls me so soft' asleep, —quest should he'guest. -led should be lead. — The look that upon it Ilugon east. — You quoted against me -ivhat you 'd find, -in should be on. -these should read this, —assumed should read took, -delay should be detail. -A should be As. -Inferno had won ! " Huzza, huzza ! -sing should be sings. -Hiaxvath should be Hiawatha, -go should read7(i/tc on. -filled should be filed, -s/n-ink should be shirk. — When he in sorrow from them rowed, -into should be unto. -the Indians should read some strangers, -bring should read grow. -Britaniiian should be Britannia. THE IMfEEMlL COMElf, BY RICHARD GERNER. "b ADVANCE EDITION NEW YORK: 1881. r Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1881, by RICHARD GERNER, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at. Washington, D. C. ' f- I^^D PAOK PREFACE 5 BOOK I.-DARK DEATH. rANTO I.— THE PAST 11 II.— THE DYING DUELLIST 13 III.— FAITH 14 ^ IV.— THE FEAR OF DEATH 16 v.— REMORSE 17 VI.— AZRAEL 20 BOOK IL — THE INFERNAL REALMS. CANTO 1.— THE DREAM OF HELL 22 II.-THE REALITY FORESHADOWED 25 III.— THE UNSEEN UNIVERSE 28 IV.-THE EMPY'REAL SHELL 32 v.— INFERNAL POLITICS 36 VI.— THE TORTURES OF THE DAMNED 40 BOOK ILL— THE INFERNAL HISTORY. CANTO I.— THE CHARACTER OF THE BLESSED 46 II.-THE THIRD TP^STAMENT 49 III.— THE NEW GENESIS 52 IV.— AUTOCREATION 55 v.— THE TRUTH AT LAST 58 VI.— VIVE LE ROI! 62 BOOK IV.— THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. CANTO I.— THE CALL TO ARMS 6(5 II.-LIGHT 71 III.-THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN 74 IV.— A DIVINE FIEND 79 v.— THE INFERNAL VICTORY 84 VI.-HELL-FIRE 87 BOOK v.— THE DAWN OF REASON. CANTO I.— THE SECOND COMING 91 II.-THE HISTORY OF A FAITH 95 III.-THE SHATTERED CROSS 99 IV.-THE PORTENT OF DESTRUCTION 104 v.— THE DOCTRINE OF HELL HO VI.— THE RETURN TO NOTHING 115 DEDICATED TO COMMON SENS f S © ^ o^ In the name of all that is sensible and reasona- ble, the present poetical work was designed and stands now written. Its author, in making his bow to the public, unhesitatingly announces hnn- self as uncompromisingly antagonistic to all the principles espoused by and included in the relig- ous creeds of all nations. He is an atlieist from first to last, in all the articles of his pliilosophy. He discards blind faith as unworthy of the intel- ligent thinker, admits no premise advanced by the disciples of any form of religion, and accepts no circumstance of time and place not scientifi- cally demonstrated or, at least, supported by the dictates of reason and eomrnqn sense. His only religion is the religion of humanity and tlie pur- suit of real knowledge. He desires to wound no- body's feeling, but, in the exercise of his conscien- tiousness, cannot stop to consider wliere the chips fall when he hews to the line. He cannot l)e hampered with conventionalities and modern fashions. He must be true to his intelligence at all times. In this spirit he appears before tlie reader, neither for the purpose of amusing, offend- ing, instructing, dictating or preaching, but im- bued with the earnest desire to impress the sig- nificance of his studies and beliefs upon such as shall display the patience of giving him their at- tention. Belore entering upon the subject of the work at hand, the author, acting upon the belief that a reader is desirous of knowing something of the personality of a writer before beginning the perusal of bis writings, begs to be permitted to say something about himself by way of an intro- duction of his character to tlie reader, thinking that his motives may thereby be the better un- derstood, and many obscure points in the follow- ing poem placed in a clearer light. He trusts that he may be acquitted of unworthy motives in so doing, such as the parade of his vanity or the de- sire of notoriety at any price. * Of foreign birth, an American by education, he was at an early age given opportunities to exer- cise a deep-rooted desire to make his mark in the world with hispen, and now,at the age of twenty- four, after a not uneventful literary career, he comes forward with the first work of any magni- tude, trembling with mingled liopes and fears. The reading of liis boyhood was extensive and rambling, not always of the best, and often inim- ical to his natural tendencies. This last remark refers to the period spent, or rather misspent, in the pursuit of a technical education which left vestiges of acquirement on the day of liis gradua- tion, only to be effaced entirely by the first return to pure literature as a pastime and an ambition. Romantic and historical fiction has ever been his favorite and almost uninterrupted indulgence, filling his mind with vistas of the impossible and the unscientifically speculative. Tlie eflects of this, he is afraid, are only too apparent in the present work, but he consoles himself with the thought that they are not entirely foreign to that work's nature. He is but little acquainted with the literatures of nations, viewed from a scholar's standard of knowledge, but sufficiently so to have invested the work at hand with all required references to past writings on the subject under consideration, and insufficiently so as to have invested it with any voluntary or involuntary imitatory features. His knowledge of theology is not the result of midnight oil inquiry, but of an extended and intimate association with pro- fessing Christians, to whose teachings he lias been an attentive and wondering listener. Then, too, his own religious education in tender years has not been neglected, and he has only deserted the banner of faith after a long and earnest exami- nation of its tenets, and the realization of its utter philosophical worthlessness. All the prominent faiths have been in turn examined and, after more or less hesitation, discarded, the fundamen- tal Buddhist creed being the last on the list. He is now convinced that faith is not an inseparable attribute to humankind, but^ather a manner of intellectual vice, indulged in at the expense of the mental ennoblement of nations. He is pre- pared to say that education will, at a not very late day, obliterate the remaining existence of creeds which are gradually dwindling into insig- nificance and ultimate oblivion. It maybe neces- sary to add, in the summing up of his individual traits, that the English tongue was not that of his childhood, and that it was only acquired in boyhood after another language's fashions had left its unextinguishable marks upon his style. With tliis brief explanation of his natural pro- pensities, the critic will be prepared to deal with their emanations, and particularly with the work now before him. The autobiographer has made reference to a not uneventful literary career. This will seem, to say the least, surprising to the ninety-nine hun- dredths of the readers of this work, who have IREFACE. never before heard his name mentioned. In jus- tice to himself, he must therefore beg the reader to be made acquainted with a condensed review oftlieten years preceding the presentation liereof. At tlie age of fourteen, after a number of abortive attempts to sliine in the galaxy of the world's lit- erary liglits, which attempts are happily lost to postey ty together with the boyish, and therefore pardonable, ambition which incited thern, he be- came familiar with and an humble member of, an institution with which the public at large is but little acquainted: the fraternity of American amateur journalists consisting of an aggregation of boys and youths, and, it may be added, girls and young ladies, scattered throughout the States, who make it a pleasure to edit and publish a number of mostly diminutive and mostly month- ly journals, either printed by themselves or, for such as can afford it, by professional printers, and contributed to by a number of amateur authors. This fraternity is styled Amateurdom : "dora" for short. Into the ranks of tiiese ama- teur authors the writer succeeded in working himself, by dint of the concoction of a large num- ber of wonderful and fearful sensational creations of a youthful mind poisoned by tlie pernicious influence of contributors to the weekly juvenile press. Gradually, a reformation in the demand for topics brought the amateur autliors to their senses, and the writer fell from his estate and un- enviable notoriety in the " dom" until, by re- peated and persistent effort, he managed to regain his prestige by the production of a number of more serious works, including many essays and a few poems. A single success in the poetical line Anally determined him to try his fortune in that direction ; and, discarding prose for the time being, he set to work at a series of poems, some of which have been as successful as others have failed ignominiously. Later on, he dabbled in Eastern romances, publislied in the Danhury News, until, finall.v, he forsook all other literary work ia order to be able to devote himself exclusively to the composition of the appended work. His career as an amateur author came to an end, brought on by political causes in which he was unsuccessful; his connection with the " dom" thereby ceased, and all lie has to remember it by is the file of his contributions to its journals, and a handsome farewell testimonial. The signal poetical success incidentally above mentioned was "Terrible Snow,"' probably better known to the reading public tlian its author, since it has had the run of the press and been re- ceived into collections of standard verse. Modeled on the plan of " Beautiful Snow," but opposed to it in sentiment, it made a way of its own. Its first publication marks the turn to professional literature in the author's career, as well as his decided preference for poetical writing, and since then, numerous verses, of all quality and length, have been credited to his name by way of promi- nent journals, especially by the New York Com- mercial Advertiser. The reader is now in a measure prepared to hear what the author has to say, by way of intro- duction,, of the subject and subject-matter of tliese pages. Some explanation is indubitably neces- sary since immaturitj' of conceptive powers and nonfluency of diction have prevented tlie author from doing that justice to the topic involved which it unquestionably deserves. The present poem is not a comedy in the mod- ern acceptation of that word, at any rate not in its literary form. It is so designated because of the title of Dante's sublime creation. It is more a comedy than "Tlie Divine Comedy" is, since that work is, in a measure, an earnest and an honest one. The author of "The Divine Comedy" believed what he wrote, at least in his topic's fundamental aspects; the author of "The Infei- nal Comedy" believes nothing of the kind. In that respect, the latter work is a comedy in the broadest sense of tlie word. Its author believes in no lieaven and no hell; his pictures of them are not intended to impress their existence upon the reader, but to point to a moral. Hence, "The Infernal Comedy" is neither a companion piece nor a reputation nor an imitation of nor a bur-: lesque on, nor a comparison with, "The Divine Comedy." The plan on which the Comedy before the reader is based, was not hit upon like a happy thought, but is the result of long and earnest contemplation. Its origin does not lie in Dante's work, as may be supposed, for the title came long after the work was begun, and before the author ever knew what Dante's work was all about. It grew rather out of a sense of vindictiveness toward the Christian religion. Tlie original idea was to present a heaven and a hell as different from the Christian aspect of tliose localities as it was possible to conceive, and more in accordance with the well known Vjurlesques on the same by French and German humorists. Indeed, when the work was begun, the author had but a very hazy conception of what he was going to do at all, and actually, in the midst of a settled purpose, turns deliberately about, ridicules what he has written and goes off in an entirel.v new direction. The fourth canto of the second book marks this transition. There his ideas became set and from that point the poem flows premeditatedly on to the end. The flrst book Mas originally written as a separate work, and it was only near its finish that the author bethought himself to use it as the flrst part of his long contenplated infernal work. The metre, it will be seen, changes with every book, the last being like the flrst; the author's flrst consideration in his choice of metre having been simplicity, even to childishness, so as to permit him to devote all that time to his topic which so many other ambitious versifiers expend upon clumsy stanzas and fanciful rhythmic com- binations. Now that the work is finished, and the author, turns back to examine into the various emotions which animated him during its composition, and the manner in whicli those emotions have found vent, he finds it indispensable to prepare the PREFACE, deader for what is coming by a psychological outline of liis labors without beforeliand destroy- ing any interest in the work which it may own in a narrative sense. Although "Tlie Infernal (.'oniedy" is (he result of much speculation, it is not a speculative work. It does not seek to add to the literature of pliilo- sophical inquiry It claims for its alleged scien- tific speculations no value whatever; tliese spec- ulations are not intended to be farcical, but have earnest points in view. Thus. Queen Mepha's di.ssertation on the beginning of all things, whicli is the feature of the third book, is not a burlesque, but purposes to show that an intelligent thinker sliould rather build up for himself a partly or wholly fallacious conception of the mystery of creation and nature, to be partly or wholly cor- ' reeled or substituted by other conceptions, by futui'e studies, on a purely reasonable basis, than to dismiss the subject by accepting the idea of a Creator and conforming to a creed. "The Infernal Comedy" is, in general, a picture of the hereafter from the aspect of the nineteenth century but does not admit of any kind of an hereafter. It is evolutionary in sympathy and rejects everytliing that is not in conformity with that doctrine. The purpose of the drawing of such a picture was, at heart, to throw ridicule on the existing orthodox conception of that state; more than that, to show that unknown things are not as strange as the.v are pictured by the fancy, and thateverything is natural and familiar when but brought into contact with. And every- where tliroughout the poem, it will be noticed, the spirit is rampant to ai^use and confound orthodoxy. If that is a fault, and the work must be condemned on that account, tlie author refuses to save the work at the expense of lopping it of those traits. Indeed, he despairs of correcting its faults, since it bristles with such, look at it from whatever side you will. It is shambling, rambling, illogical, contradictory, rhetorically and grammatically incorrect, and offensive to the outward genius of a bigoted age. But the author claims for it that it is novel and unique. If his critics will echo him in that conceit, he is content; if not, it simply goes to show that he has overestimated its merits. The work is very much in need of a charitable perusal, both in mercy to the thought involved and the execution exhibited. It was written in a hurry, at ragged intervals, in expectation of momentary disturbance. Too much space lias been given to unimportant points and unneces- sary philosophizing, and too little to really essen- tial features. Thus, the conception of the location of hell presented in the fourth cantoof the second book is poorly, insufficiently and timidly pre- sented, and not emphasized until the fourth canto of the third book. The author therefore desires the readers to dwell on stanzas 34-38 of tlie fourth canto of the second book and fix the conception rigidly in his or her mind before going any further, until recurrence shall be had to itfurtlier on. (p. 56.) Much is didactic and monotonous which might have been enlivened with fanciful and rhetorical graces if more severe labor had been expended on it. The author can but assure the reader that the second half of the work is bet ter than the first, and beg him or her tocnduro tlie latter for the sake of tlie former. Much delight has been manifested in the com- position of the third and fourth hooks, since these gave the author full opportunity to find vent for long pent up cherisiied leelings and sentiments. He is frank enough to confess that he lias personal and private motives to be malicious toward the professors of Christianity, and, in the pasquinade upon the story of Adam and Eve as given in the fifth canto of the tliird book, and the conquest of heaven as set forth in the fourth i)Ook, he does not hesitate to say that he has been intentionally aggressive and unsparing. But for all that he asserts that he has not been more severe with Christianity than its scientific and historical merits deserve, and has conscientiously written only his sincerest beliefs. The author expects to be charged with immor- ality by fanatics and incensed religionists. In reply to this he has to say, beforehand, that ''The Infernal Comedy" was not intended for the de- lectation of prudes and children, nor for tVie gen- eral public, and its author does not propose to set up for a reformer of puldic morals. On the con- trary he has attempted to show that the paraded morality of the Anglo-Saxons is a mockery, and that they need to be shocked by a glaring effrontery in the teeth of their code of morals in order to be brought to their senses. The author fi>ndly hopes that "The Infernal (.'oniedy" will do that for tliem. On the whole, the author has no apologies to make for his opinions, sentiments and beliefs, invites no discussions and accepts no compro- mise. He presents no plea, advances no new theory or doctrine besrging for examination and acceptation, does not desire any sympathy, and is prepared to regard the differently opinionated with indilTerence, and to treat such of them as propose to wax violent toward him, witii scorn. As an aspirant for literary honors, he pleads for mercy and charity; as a thinker, he asks for nothing of the kind. Returning to the work itself, the author feels bound to say a few words about the four principal characters introduced into the narrative of the poem. The central figure and hero of the epic is the anti-Christ of " sacred" and "profane" hi.story, by an ancient Hebraic designation known as Armillus, for further reference to whom the reader is referred to the encyclopedias. He has been here endowed with many of the author's personal traits, and been made the exponent of his opin- ions and sentiments. He is pictured as impres- sionable, dauntless and altogether human. He speaks for himself; his career constitutes the thread of the story. ' Queen Mepha is the impersonation of wonian- liood as the author loves to picture a woman to PREFACE, himself, and she Is therefore the heroine. Her name is a brief effemination of Mephisto. She is the womanly counterpart of the hero, and is endowed with all the possible graces that can be consistently combined in a human being. The character is, of course, an idealization of an ex- isting prototype. Queen Diva is the personification of the Anglo- Saxon woman, beautiful as an angel, graceful as a sylph, but heartless, unnatural, fanatic, bigoted and narrow-minded, her intellect, heart and soul prostituted by the influence of a fiercely Chris- tian training. The shrewd reader will at once imagine that he sees in this character the key to the mystery of the author's hatred toward the church, and he is not altogether wrong; but the author must warn him or her that he is not a proselyte from malice, but from conviction, and that circumstances have merely aggravated his natural repugnance toward the faith into bitter resentment. The author has known, seen and studied Diva in a living woman, but has of course welded her here to suit the purposes of his work, and he does not hesitate to say that he has placed Armillusin Diva's estimation where he himself has stood in that of the original. He thinks that, in general, an Anglo-Saxon woman is either a thoughtless fool or a fanatic fiend, and he de- mands the indictment of the established churches as the immediate cause of such a deplorable con- dition of things. Carelta is a woman occupying the same position in the story of the poem that Haidee occupies in the elder Dumas' masterpiece, -'The Count of Monte Christo," introduced for the purpose of re- warding the hero, after the manner of stage comedies, for all the trials and tribulations he has passed through ; and as the present work has once come under the head of a comedy, its author deems it necessary to let the curtain, at the end of the story proper, fall on bliss. But for fear this may appear too conventional, he ends the poem itselt in what Q,ueen Mepha says every, thing has begun— in nothing. And as "The In- fernal Comedy" is a part of everything, it is per- force obligatory upon its creator that it should end in nothing. For the character of Carelta, and some of the incidents in the fifth book, the author is indebted to Wilkie Collins' charming but hastily dashed oflT novelette, " The Captain's Last Love," from which he lias not hesitated to borrow, feeling that an imputation of plagiarism were ridiculous : as much charge Shakespeare of plagiarizing from Boccaccio, or Dryden from Aesop. "The Infernal Comedy" contains much blas- phemy, viewed from the Christian standpoint, and will call down upon its author's head the execration of the probably vast majority of its readers who have been taught to regard with feelings of veneration what the author holds up to .scorn and derision. He has been told that in any other country but this, he would be im- prisoned and punished for the creation and pub- lication of sentiments held to be so atrocious, and he has been warned that even In the land of the free and the home of the brave, he will be fortunate to escape being prosecuted as a foul- mouthed blasphemer. The author is perfectly willing to take his chances, feeling that the nation which will tolerate Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, will also tolerate him. He fiatters himself that he knows the nation just well enough to believe that, if the present work will be a successful one at all, it will be so mainly on account of the heterodox opinions given such emphasized prominence therein. A matter that has given the author much greater concern than the possibility of his being legally prosecuted, is the dedication of the present volume, for he has been so tossed from pillar to post, aflfection being the pillar and discretion the post, that he came well nigh abandoning the solution of this knotty problem in despair. But at the suggestion of a kind critic, and upon mature consideration, he has concluded to dedi- cate the work to common sense, including humanity in general, since every living being is, indeed, individually interested in the question of the hereafter. He hopes that nobody will be dis- appointed, but there were too many personal claims to be considered, to arrive at any other conclusion. May each and all of the disappointed ones, if there are any, forgive the author, which they can do all the more easily, when they con- sider that the dedicatee of "The Infernal Com- edy" would at best be enjoying a very doubtful honor. The author has been careful to escape conven- tionalities in this preface, and will not now dis- figure it with such, or burden it with further ex- planations and apologies; he therefore refers the reader, for further information, to "The Infernal Comedy" itself. He is not a little interested to know what the verdict will be, although he does not particularly care whether It will be favorable or not; to him, with regard to the present work, vituperation will be sweet flattery. R. G New York, October i, iS8o. ' Lasciatc ogni spvranza vol che niltuitc ! " — Dante. THE INFERNAL COMEDY. ■■' Alensch, z/erspotie nicht d,'i! Teufel : Kurzja ist die Lebenslmkn ; Und die cwigc Verdaniniss Ist kein blosscr Poebehvahii ! ' ' — Heine. REETING: 1 sing not for the world to like my song ; To many ears, perchance, my strain is wrong : I sing to please myself, and others, too. Who'll change forthwith, to like my song, their view, And form themselves to find a new ideal, Q)uite other strains to hear, pulsations feel — And if my song cannot command its world, Then let it he into uhlivion hurled ! CANTO I. THE PAST. *' A LAS! I've Xi. A sinful, ve led a wicked life, nad career ; A revelrous and reckless strife It proved in all, I fear : A life with folly in my heart, With frolic in my brain ; So reckless did I play my pan That I was called insane. In dark exploits, in shameful vice, I threw my youth away, And tired nature paid the price Of manhood gone astray. I knelt at idle pleasure's throne. Enamored of her charm. Where clouded skies were never known. Nor sorrow nor alarm. In principles, in sophistries My fancy was indulged, And fed with startling ministries That cannot be divulged. I knew no right, and knew nu wrong : I did what pleased me best ; I drank my wine, and sang my song And minded no behest. 1 loved my mistress : loved her well — A wife? I had no wife. You see, though I was so for hell. For that I was not rife. I kissed the girl, and fondled her, And decked her out in gold : So did 1 love and pet my cur — As bought, so were they sold. My days were spent in mad excess. My morals were debased. My sympathies ran to distress, My honor stood defaced. But we must live, and not like beasts ; Our life is short — too short ! So let us live at endless feasts, And make the thing a sport. What are the morals of a man ? What is his honor, pray '! The former wears he when he can, When not, flings them away ; The latter is a tender flower ; Temptation chills its hue : 'Tis drenched in Mammon's goldenshower And nourished but by few. I sold them all for love and wine, And cried them down in song : So was I free, and joy was mine : So fine's the thing that's wrong. A noble thought was not for me, A sentiment I feared ; My heart was full of deviltry, My soul with sin was bleared. But then, what is a noble thought'? 'Tis praised in poet's verse : And poet's verses are but wrought Some publisher to curse. A sinful soul has no hard cares ; It lives at liberty Or dull restraint and weary prayers. And virtue's poverty. I loved naught but the naked vice That stared me in the face; My intellect knew no device That led not to disgrace: But naked vice is better far Than vice in virtue cloaked ; Disgrace can nothing touch nor mar ; Its bearer is not yoked. — 1 liked the Bacchanalian songs, I courted dnmken joy. And joined the most abandoned throngs While I was still a boy. And 1 did well ! I owed no man A duty ; I was free ; My credit to destruction ran : But credit is a flea That bites and bothers all the time, And gives no moment's peace. THE INFERNAL CO MED V. That will not with diversion chime, And want^ too hmg a lea>ic. M\- rnin ])n>ved the spotted curd. My sorrow proved the die : With woman I my manhcjod marred. My virtue to defy. But ruin means dependence ne'er. And sorrow oft is sweet : And woman is so fine, so fair : And vice is such a treat 1 My virtue? Ha, 1 knew it not. And di> not know it now : 1 drowned it in the awful blot ( )f sin, in many a row : A blot, aye, blot on worldly woe, A blot on worldly strife ; Without it would I pine; not know This miserable life. My fame was born in golden wine, In which I laved my all ; 1 would not, at the dearest shrine, .Acknowledge reason's thrall. I had no other shrine btu self. No other link that bound Me to the world, and all the pelf That ill it may be found. ^ My faith in God '! 1 owned no creed ; My nfe was too profane : Profane, but pleasant. Say, what need Had I to heaven attain V What would you have'.' .-V man musl live And living, must enjoy — How easy 'tis one's soul to give To Satan for a toy : He plays it well, so well 1 would Know of no future bliss, ■ No other world, no happier mood Than I have found in this. 1 never made a good resolve, I knew the thing would break; No prayer can now my soul absolve: I am a sorry rake I Ha, ha ! Hut future rakes will sing Of me, the king of rakes ; No better tribute could they bring : How happy me it makes ! What need to pray V I would not pray ; E'en heaven high would prove dull ; Besides, what can I do or say My record to annul ? Away with penitence, with prayer ; The coward only prays. When death into his face doth stare. And it no more delays. — From tears ] wrung the golden prize. From wrecks I gleaned my gain : I turned from pleading words and eyes , They wept and bleared in vain. If men instead of men will be Rank fools, is it my fault? They might have had the best of me, And cried my victory halt. I won the race, and stand defamed — Confound all earthly fame ! — 1 am the victor, nor ashamed Despoiled to leave ray name. — A woman proved no sacred thin.t; In my depraved esteem, And chastity could never bring A blush my cheek to teem. But la ! 1 had a merry time ; How gaily went the hours ! What if they drew through lillh and slime i\le on to sin's dark bowers '! Dark, did 1 say? Nay, light as day. Effulgent with delight, i Illuminated with display. Where'er I turned my sight, I never knew a single care, And ne'er knew struggle's woe ; The choicest pleasures were my fare : I won at evei-y throw ! 1 lived ! So live and follow me. And honor me my life, And carve my name on every tree A hero in the strife. I take a pleasiuc in the fame ( )f fellow such as I ; .My life was never dull nor tame : To prove it, needs but try. The gates of hell are gates of glee. And hell itself a foir Of rare delight and revelry And sport without compare. — How bright is death when life was dar-k. How dark, w hen life was bright ; And sin when stripped, how dread, how stark; How black the on-come night ! The contest bids me nigh despair; I should abandon hope ; But with most unaffrighted air Will I into death grope. What can I fear? I've still the wits That built up my career : ■ The shadow of destruction flits About me, while I cheer. Come on, grim Death. I fear thee not : Haste hither, haste, hot hell : DARK DEATH. J3 And while I lie in damp and rot, My soul, still staunch, shall swell. Its fiery legions to defy. As dares the hero death, When tattooed demons taunt and try. Amidst the flames' fell breath. So will I stand before the throne Of Satan in his realm. And stand beside the blister-lilou n Defiance's stern helm. Advance with torture, gloom and nigh Commence the frightful scene ; Charge on with overpowering might. Display the red and green : "J'is virtue but that fears the test Of judgment at the last. And trembles at divine behest To stand within the blast. — A drama this career '11 not end ; The curtain ne'er shall fall On raptiu-e, and the villain tend To drown and die in gall. The painted stage is but a lie : In life, the play ends weak. And in it wretches do not die. And gallant heroes wreak On villains punishment, affright, On couples love and bliss, On schemers ignominy, flight. Amidst the gallery's hiss. Ouite otherwise the grand finale Of this, my play, shall be ; Quite different shall the last signale Here soimd and swell, trust me. — So am I safe ; 1 will yet win Wherever I may go : The oats shall yet bring blush cm sin That I have yet to sow ! Life's dream is o'er; I loved it well : But I shall love death too. When I shall revel down in hell, Fledged in with pursuits new'.'" The moon-rays cast a fitful gleam Upon th' upturned pale face, A face that seemed as though a dream Held it in its embrace. The eye stared into unseen, far E,\panses, visionful, And shone as yonder twinkling star So bright' derisionfnl: It was the dying efibrt made To utilize its sight, And so it pierced, in its dei;ade. The wild and gloomy night, .\flash Vi'ith calm, assertive power, As to defy the world ; The shameful past to overpower E'er 'twas to ruin hurled. It was a face without reproach, A face that breathed soul. That knew no fear at the approach Of such a living's .goal. The energy, the swarthy hue. The massive brow's anneal, Where stood no death-nigh, clammy dew, Bespoke the man of steel. Each feature was a faultless curve, Fidl symmetry and grace. Each bore the signs of classic nerve : It was a handsome face. The Grecian nose, the dark, deep eye. The firm, compressed, full lips. His origin did not belie : Patrician toe to tip ! The firm-set chin, the raven hair That curled about the head. The rounded cheek, the dauntless air : The nobleman portrayed. The black moustache, so careful' waxed. With chin and cheek else smooth. No tithe his handsomeness relaxed, An outraged muse to soothe. His looks and features to conform With those black traits within. The traits that held the heart, yet warm. In their embrace of sin. — CANTO II. TlIK DYING DUELLIST. SO speaking, lay upon the grass, Beneath a starlit sky. Alone, in a sequestered pass, A manly form to die. His costume was a fitting one For such a man at death. Whose clay was to behold the sun At morn, bereft of breath : The neck was bare, as was an arm. To elbow stripped of sleeve — You will have guessed that some dread Left him but slight reprieve. — The form was clad in snow-white shirt And well cut pantaloon ; 14 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Some spots betrayed the shocking hurt That brought the end so soon. The spots were blood, and clotted gore. That flowed the breast adown Shot through beside the bosoni's core; A wound of much renown, That proved the death of many knights And many warriors bold. Sustained in many bloody fights, And laid them out so cold. The hand, yet nervcful, grimly clutched A pistol, whence the ball Was gone, but had no victim touched. Nor told of mortal fall ; For this was not a scene of crime. Of shameful suicide Another ball had fixed the time, And stayed the sinful tide That marked this person's horrid life ; A duel had been fought, And Nemesis the vengeance-rife Carouser's end had sought. Near by lay coat and hat and cloak Left there to lie unclaimed. That ne'er again would bear the yoke Of ownership defamed. He that had fired the fatal shot, Was now far, far away ; The scene of fight had been the spot Before the close of day : The victim had been left for dead, No seconds had been used ; The other duellist had fled And would not be accused. He'd been a brother, now was not; A sister once he'd had ; But misplaced love had been her lot ; Her ending had been sad ; And he who was to blame for this, Lay weltering in his blood ; And now, for the betrayer's kiss, He chewed death's bitter end. And yet he'd not the lesson learned This issue should have taught ; Away from him repentance turned And him damnation wrought. So heart and soul and intellect May hopelessly debase, So may on shame and sin be wrecked. And sink into disgrace, As may the finest pearl be lost In refuse and in dust — Ah, who can count the fearful cost Of o'erindulged-in lust? Thus will in endless strain reflect The moralist, and wail ; Still he, shot through, so weak, bare-necked, At him would laugh and rail : Perhaps with right, for happy d been The life he chose to lead ; It had been bright what he had seen, Before he had to bleed. The aches and ills that come along With revelry and glee, .-\re borne as necessary wrong. And suffered cheerfully. He had had sense, and made his choice. As he was free to tell : Was he not now to pay the price Of it, perhaps with hell ? He set his teeth ; but he, as said, Was ready, and would pay : E'en if it to perdition led. He had not flown away. Would you rebuke him for his choice. And rate the man a fool ? Raise protest in stentorian voice. And chide me for my school? Remember we're all more or less Sad fools, as oft we tend. So do not lay too great a stress On folly as here penned. As rampant in a fellow fool Who threw his life away. And disobed each golden rule That should have been his stay ; Who clouded mind and heart and soul ^ With fallacy and wrong : Pursue him onward in his role, And profit by my song. CANTO III. AND as he lay, and groaned in pain, And hell and heaven cursed, His wound afire, full hope for ram. To cool his burning thirst. There stole a sheen of gentle light Adown the raven sky, Athrough the chill and inky night, Amidst the night-wind's sigh ; DARK DEATH. 15 And into visicm broke h form So fair and fancy free, As lulls inniid the howling >iloriii Are welcomed on the sea Its brow was like the summer sun So brilliant and so bright. That hearts of stone were turned and won, Enamored of the sight : Its eye was like the full-moon's beam So gentle and so pure ; With softness did its glances teem, All nature to allure. It stepped unto the wounded man With lightest tread and saith. Into his ear these words it ran : " Hark thee, my name is Faith. Would 1 were thine to learn and love, To read the golden joy That waits thy spirit there above. Eternal, sans alloy, As it was written on my soul When given birth and life — Say, ere thy knell of doom shall toll. Wilt have me for thy wife? I'll love thee well, so very well That in this brief delay From life to death, to heaven or hell, I'll pave thee yet the way That leads to those enchanted realms Of everlasting love : A love that lives, and overwhelms Far others than the dove. — Am I not beautiful and fair'.' Can I thee not inspire ''. Wilt not with me those blessings share 1 bid thee now admire? Oh come, be mine, as I'll be thine : In vain be it not saith — Wilt thou my image not enshrine ? Oh, wilt thou not have Faith f I'll still the blood that runs adown Thy bosom on its way ; I'll steal thy brow that hateful frown, And make thee once more gay: I'll prove thee true forever more — Oh, barken to my word : In hell below its echoes roar ; In heaven, too, it was heard ; Ana demons' hate and angels' love Await thy nay or aye ; In vale below, in air above Impatient 'round they lie : Then speak : it is for times to come That human mind would fail In ages, less in years, to sum. So boundless is their tale. — .See, 1 have lips that kiss as sweet As Sin's, and eyes that flash. And arms to wind, and pretty feet ; Then be not thou too rash. Have Faith ! She'll,*erve thee ever well, And grant eternal bliss ; In hell, fell horrors do but swell And glaring monsters hiss At thee, and raging fires abound To torture thee fore'er. For dreadful fright and stunning sound EiU fill th' infernal lair." The duellist his vision turned Upon the lovely maid ; Her with his look he withering spurned, And this is what he said : " Thou pleadest well : so well that I, Were I a common knave, Would gladly lay me down to die. And follow thee, thy slave. But I, though I have lived in sin. Have lived not all in vain. And though I've wild and reckless been. Have reaped no little gain : The gain of intellect, I mean. That knows to sever dross From value : that perception keen That never is at loss To tell from seeming right the true, From glittering dross the gold ; That gift po.ssess so very few. They can be easily told. — Thy speech is bright, but idle glare : The masses 'neath it bask ; With opeii-mouthed wonder stare And never stop to ask. Thou art an unmaterial ray That wakes the sense of sight : At touch, thou fleeest far away Tn sorrowful affright. Faith? Empty name ! On earth they smile At mention of a trust; Though thou shouldst starve and rot therewhile They lend but when they must. To knowing minds thou art a belle That will not flirt, but blush When ogled by some handsome swell. But art not worth- a rush ; Thou art a pretty butterfly When taken in thyself, A creature for the dreamy eye, A dazzling, flitting elf ; i6 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. But thou hast relative;! 1 hate, Whom I must wed along — No, no, sweet child, I like thy prate. But will not go me wrong. There's sister Prayer : confound the air Of saintliness she wears ; I'd rather meet the wanton sture Of her that shocking swears. It soothes my heart, my wicked heart, But heart that loves the right — Thou seem'st incredulous ; there dart Black looks from out thy sight. Thou canst not understand that when Morality is linked With wrong by theologic ken. My sympathies arc kuiked ; That when are blotted right .-uid wrong Into one hideous mass. Then must the burden of my song Thy relatives by pass. I will not hurt the tender shoots Of love that 'round thee cling, Nor sour thee, child, with worldly hoots, Thy frail delight to wring. I cannot make me understand — I darken as I think. Thou art a thoughtless child, and good ; Our natures cannot link. Oood-night to thee, a long good-uighi I Good-night, perhaps, fore'er. Go, take in peace from hence thy llighl. And leave me to my care." He smiled, and closed his fulisnmi And left the region stark. While Faith ascended to the skies Above from out the dark. eyes. CANTO IV. THK PEAK OF DEATH HOW burned the .gaping bullet wound, How parched became the tongue ; How throbbed his brow till nigh he swooned. How was that bosom wnnig : " Oh hasten, Death, to my relief! This torment is too great. It drives me mad ! Oh, make it brief; Why linger, oh, why wait'/ No longer linger, longer wait? Ha ! what was that I said ? What did I, with my idle prate. Devolve upon my head ? My end? My end from present life, From being? By my soul, The thou.?ht is like a keen-edged knife. Is like a livid coal ; It cuts, it burns my intellect — God, it drives me mad ! Oh, had I not my virtue wrecked, ■■^nd hastened to the bad What say 1 ? Do 1 call on God? Haha ! 1 am insane ; My wound that opens o'er the sod My blood, 's gone to my brain ! 'Sdeath, how 1 shake! Away, thou fiend Of blackness, of despair ! Wherefrom's this sudden horror gleaned ? How every sense dfilh flare ! I dying? Dying! what is death? The future of ' to be'; The close of life, the last of breath, The dread eternity ! My palms ooze out their clanuuy fear, My brow stands full of drops That rim adown it, and besmear It with renewed out-crops." He starts, he grasps his streaming hair, He gives a hideous yell : He tears his bloody bosom bare ; " Help, heaven ! Oh help, hell 1 I will not die ! I want to live ; 1 am yet young, yet strong ; The proper remedies will give Me yet existence long. O God ! O angels fair and pure 1 Satan I Demons foul ! O, hear me now ye all assure Repentance ! ! Round be prowl Unfancied terrors, unseen sprites That glow with racking fire. Prodigious beasts and monstrous frights That me with hell inspire : They groan and hiss, they howl and shriek. They flash, and flap, and flare : They crawl and creep, with horror reek — 'Tis more than I can bear ! Avaunt, grim Death ! I am not thine : 1 am not born to die So soon, so fai from aid divine ; In all I've said, I lie ! Away ! Oh, help ! Away ! Away I Off! Touch me not ! Oh, fly I Sh ! No, not death ! Cursed be the day 1 met the girl that I DARK DEATH. 17 Have suffered for tliis fatal night With no, not su, with death : The rising sun's effulgent light Will find nie yet in br-ath. I will not die I Vou hear, not die I 1 will — I »tust — SHALL livcl Live ! l-'earful Death, thou shall nni ii y rile last grains now to sieve In with the rest that tell (he talc Of hours long in the past. And now with horror me regale — Hold on. they go too fast ! Hold on. 1 say! 1 will not die! Hold ! Hast thou me not heard ? O Death !" — A shriek. Thu»night-winds They had not heard a w..rd. The foam stands out upon his mouth. 'J'he eyes far out protrude : The cross stands out upon the south With pointedness imbued. He sees it not ; his mind is blank ; The terror was too much : Deep into every fibre sank Of icy death the touch. Hut yet it throbbed, that worried heart, Though throbbed now wild, now low ; It had received fore'er its dart ; Soon would it cease to go. — A nameless thing of hideous mien Now hovered o'er the man ; A shudder seized him, and a keen, Quick tremor through him ran. It settled on the quiet form. It grasped it by the throat; It reveled in the blood still warm, And o'er it seemed to gloat. Then swelled the sleeper's simken face, Then stole the glassy eyes Frimi oiU their sockets, and apace The horror seemed to rise. Like whip-cords stood his veins then out. The smothered bosom rose : The anguished lips repressed a shout, .'\nd higher grew his woes. The mind appeared to lose its hold On reason, and to swell With fear and frightful awe untold, Wrapj;ed in some horrid spell ; The perspiration stood like dew Upon the clammy brow. And every fibre throbbed anew Its terror to avow ; The working lips twitched nervously, Distorted grew his face ; He rolled in shocking agony That over him did chase. He started up. he oped his eyes. He saw the nameless Thing ; Upon his feet he tried to rise, .\nd from him far it fling. Then broke from out his livid lips A yell so fierce, so loud ; But tighter him the object grijjs , Abjectly down he cowed, Half strangled, nearly dead with fright, .\shake in every limb, Full loathing at the fearful sight Before him there so grim : His hair stands on its startled ends. His coimtenance now pales, Kach feature with despair distends And 'fore its torment quails. Such high-strting and atrocious pain As through this man did swell. Was never elsewhere known again. Not e'en in Dante's hell : He shrieked, he foamed, he tore his hail He beat his woimded breast. He shivered at the nameless glare Of those eyes' foulsome zest. And then he sank exhausted back. Devoid of every breath. There floated through the dismal black : " I am the Fear of Death !" The Thing was gone, the struggle o'er ; The sufferer grew more calm ; A brighter look the features wore, As if a soothing balm Were poured upon the troubled soul And on the beating heart ; The agony had reached its goal. The fright had done its part. To such fell horror was the prey The man who on the sod Here at the door of death now lay Unmindful of his God. So dies the man whose total life Was one profane, foul breath ; So ends the wicked, sinful strife In shocking fear of death I CANTO V. REMORSE. A ND as this man was lying there, A prey to torture fell, /S THE INFERNAL CO MED V. A peal of thunder through the air Resounded like a knell That calls a guilty soul away To expiate in woe Eternally the yesterday, — As which the past we know, — And followed by a lightning flash 'I'hat dazzled sense and eye — The distant waters roaring splash. The tempest rumbles by ; A thousand terrors seem afloat To goad the crazing brain, And rampant horrors seem to gloal. And taunt the suffering swain. The terrors grow, the horrors rise, The pandemonium swells, The air is filled with shocking cries, The heart with l)urning hells. Athrough the forest bursts a form. Half borne upon the wind, Outriding thiuider, flash and storm. And by the night bedinned. It starts at sight of blood and man. Stops short, and seems to quail : With anxious eyes be.gins to scan - The features stark and jiale It hears the labored breaths and groa It feels the throbbing pulse : It sees the quiver-covered bones In agony convulse : It throws itself upon bis breast In wild, disordered state. It cries in tones of anguished zest ; " O Gnd. is it too late?" It was a supple female form, It was a woman fair That cried the words above the -.t.irm That cried them out in air. As livid as the storm she looked. As black ner flowing hair .A.S was, in howling passes nooked. The night-enceinte, cold air. The breast, so snowy white, was bare Aside the thin shroud blown. But wanton eyes not lingered there Where bloody spots were shown : It seemed as though, in fits of rage. She had abraised the skin, And deeply led her nails to wage Into the flesh within : That tortured, bleeding breast arose And fell, as void of breath, .•\nd filled instead with bitter throes That spoke of nigliing death. She panted as she bent o'er him, The slowly dying swain, ' And bit her lip in effort grim From sobbing to abstain. And yet her eyes were streaming wet, Suffused with tear on tear ; (In features wan these, mingling met, A livid face to blear The noble brow was cracked with woe. The lips convulsed with pain, The chin atremble, cheeks aglow ; She mastered them in vain. She wrapped her arms about the youth. She kissed his pallid lip .\s iffto drink a soothing truth Where sin was wont to dip. She said in accents quivering, low, They rang so piteously : " Thou hast permitted Faith to go ; Wilt love her mother — me? I watched o'er thee when thou wert born, \nd followed thee through life. With tenderest affection torn. And wished to be thy wife. liut thou neglectedst my attempt To win the merest glance ; Well wast thou e'er from me exempt ; I finiled, thee to entrance. Thou fledst my long and vain pursuit To touch thy stony heart, .■\nd every step didst thou disimte I took to act my art. I had a rival everywhere That every month was new ; Thou laidst beside the world's most fair On roses in the dew, .And liadst no word, no eyes for me Who followed day by day, Kssaying, yet to wrest from thee Thy smile, thy love for aye. I knew that still the lime would conn- When I could claim the man For whom, through all his living's hum. So steadfastly I ran. That time has come, that time is here; Oh say now, am I thine? I see thy mind to core so clear As if it were the mine. The last love thou hast had im earth Thou bleed'st now to atone. And ne'er again will mortal mirth Thy pain and woe dethrone. Then say thon'lt wed me on the spot. That thou return'st my love; DARK DEATH. 19 Believe, it will erase thi; blot Against thy name, above." She spoke lo him, she clung to him. She grasped the clammy hand, And listened, as were wrung from him These words, to understand : ""['is true, I fled from thee where'er In life we chanced to meet ; Why should I've clogged with tearful care My pleasure-feathered feet '.' I liked no eyes that were inflamed. Nor ravished, bloody breasts, Nor hair disheveled, features maimed With woe and long unrests. If 1 did not admire the child, I like the mother less ; By Faith I might have been beguiled : Thy presence is distress !" He struggled hard to shake her off. And stretched each wincing wound ; • She choked adown his withering scoff And clasped him till he swooned. She grasped from out of air a sword. And screamed till she was hoarse : " Of all thy mistresses adored, The last one is Remorse !" He 'woke, and stared her in the face Like one who is at bay At end of some prolonged, hot chase : He cried aloud : "Away!" But she, in bloody contact, pressed, Aglow with ardent heat, Herself upon his heaving chest And plumed the latent heat. She held him as if thence fore'er Her victim to restrain. As if his soul's remotest lair T(j enter and to gain ; She held him till for breath he gasped. Until he was undone; She held him till the rattle rasped His throat, and he was won Beycmd defiance and defence. And ne'er to be reclaimed ; Now would the dreadful scene begin For which Remorse was famed. He was her own, to be beset By terrors that she willed ; And so, each eye a flaming threat. His blood with pain .she stilled. She tortured him she had adored. She struck him brutal blows. His wounds with fiendish fingers gored ; And yet the horror 'rose ; She caught him by the swelling throat Ane dashed him on the ground, His head with knotted cudgel smote That dull she heard resound ; She tore his skin in dripping strips From off the quivering flesh. She beat him raw with willow whips KnCi oped each wound afresh ; She pierced him with her reeking blade. And ripped him out his eyes ; She dragged him through the rocky glade With mad, e.xidtant cries ; She tnjd him under wantcn feet. And cursed him to the soul ; She trampled, thrust, and dragged , K'en t(j the bitter goal ; id beat She biu'ned him with a flaming torch Which sudden she produced. That every fibre felt the scorch The greedy fire adduced ; She tore the hair in handfuU nut And left him not a shred Of vestment, skin not put to rout She left him there for dead ! — KnA heV He could not even swoon. The pain was so intense : How death then would have been a boon. The torture so immense. He tried lo scream, but h.id no tongue Wherewith to aid the voice ; I lie fury had it quivering wnnig From him, and left no choice. I)efence iiup(issible. so weak, .So tortiued and so worn ; And nothing but a smothered shriek From bleeding throat was torn. She grasped him by the swollen arm And dragged him to the brink Of an abyss in dire alarm, Into its depths to sink. Through clouds and shrubs and raven mis Her victim, and to end The shocking scene with ruthless fisl. And death and night to blend. The duellist an effort made The fury to resist. But in that frame no power was laid That he could now enlist. She pushed him to the very verge With mien and gesture rough. And — in the bush there was a surge ; A voice cried out : " Enough !" And into murky vision stepped X bri.ulit, an.aelic form ; THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Remorse fell back : away she swept Oa pinions of the storm. CANTO VI. THE vision hovered o'er the swain. And healed him of his ills : Bent o'er, and cured him of his pain ; Removed his anguished chills. A thunderclap convulsed the air. And every echo woke ; And by the fitful lightnings' glare. The angel to him spoke : " If thou hast nothing else deserved, I know a maiden fair Who never from thy love has swerved. And holds thee in her care. The maid is Pity, pure and sweet ; She loves thee to the end : The feelings that from her thee greet, No passion can transcend. Thou hast rejected purity ; Thine was a life of sin ; The soothing balm of honesty Thou ne'er hast felt within ; Thou wast not shone on by the sun : Those hours thou slept'st away ; With eve thy day was but begun. And that was spent in play With wanton women, song and wine. With recklessness and vice; And therefore must thou now repine. And pay the final price. 'Tis but with those like thee Remorse Enacts the frightful scene Thou hast outlived this night, perforce, In yonder murky green. 'Tis but with those like thee that frights Like awful Fear of Death, Are acted on these dismal sites Of horror and choked breath. Ah mortal, many are the souls I meet upon my path, I lead to their respective goals. And save from furies' wrath. For know that I am Azrael, The angel of the Lord, And stationed in this fatal dell With keen and ready sword 'J'o sever flesh from mortal breath, And body from the soul, To give o'er life to silent death. And each decease tu toll. Von rocky path leads heavenward. To the eternal life. Where naught but joys the steps retard And ends the mortal strife. But downward there leads on the way E'en to the very gates Of realms beneath the fearful sway Of Satan : and the Fates Cannot recall the wanderer when That path has once been trod ; Beyond the reach of earthly ken The wretched slave must prod. I meet with all who come this way To pay their final due, Release them from their flesh, and say What pathway to pursue. Yon river, coursing through the meads By blooming flower beds, Past softly rustling, swaying reeds, Its sparkling water sheds Through miles of borderland of earth And tracts of blissful realms, Dividing from thy sod of birth The shore that overwhelms The weary traveler with delight. The tired feet with rest. The dimming eyes with angel-sight. And bids the soul be blessed. It is the Jordan flowing on. Dividing life from death ; Here shattered forms and faces wan Revive beneath its breath. And yonder sluggish stream below That glides so dark and fast. With treacherous whirl and undertow The rocky banks apast — Thou knowest as the fatal Styx, Placed there with rigid lines. The realms infernal e'er to fix Within their dark confines. That river, mortal, is for thee To cross upon this night ; Below, thou canst old Charon see To bear thee from my sight. If thou hast aught, before my sword Shall sever thee from life, To say, then speak at once the word, F'or now the time is rife," DARK DEATH. The angel paused. The youth replied : " Naught but to say good-bye." Then Azrael raised his sword, and sighed : " Prepare thee, then, to die !" The youth staid firm, the sword flashed through His frame, but made no woiuid ; The face relaxed its life-like hue As though he had but swooned. The soul, released, sped to the stream Below, and Charon bore Within his craft the doomed, in dream, Unto the other shore. And Azrael gazed with sorrowed eye As he was rowed from sight, Then once more heaved a heavy sigh And vanished in the night. The morrow's sun shone on a form Devoid of life and breath, Deceased in horror, night and storm. Forever hushed in death. :the end of dakk death. aS^BOOK CANTO I. THK DREAM OF HIU,!,. ONWARD into gloom unuttered Sped a shadowy, daring soul Toward the fearful, night-enfluttered Human folly's ultimate goal, — Far behind him Charon sadly Paddling to the mundane shore Through the torrents seething madly 'Neath the pressure of the oar, — Sped, with every fibre throbbing. Sped, with.every sense awake, Through the wind and weather sobbing On the wildland, in the brake ; Bursting with a new existence. With a bulging heart and soul ; Giving o'er without resistance To the fever of the whole. Sense and reason seemed expanded, Every doubtful issue clear, Ignorance and error stranded ; Not a faculty was blear. Not a vestige of the image He had born as mortal man Had been altered in the scrimmage With his death while 'neath its ban. But an undefined, grand feeling Held possession of his mind. Pictures unto him revealing Which in viewing struck him blind With their lustrous, weird proportion. Pompous and appalling sense. Not a feature an abortion. Not a mien a vain pretense. Then and there he paused to ponder On the paltry earthly state; Idle, futile all was yonder; Here so wondrously elate. There a fleeting pleasure thrilled him, Seemed the compass of his life ; Here a mammoth grandeur filled him Which bore no compare to strife As experienced 'in the portals E'en of most abandoned glee There among his fellow mortals In their daily vanity. Here his bosom 'rose, and stumbled ' 'Neath the weight of its design. And his dreams defiant crumbled Into passiveness condign. Here stood naked human folly 'Reft of all its spurious glare, And an earnest melancholy Laid its leprous bosom bare. Onward sped he, nor knew whither. Yet the soul desired no rest ; On the winds he winged on thither To the gates of woe, to test. In the combat with all evil, Who would in the arts excel. Who would prove the greater devil Who would reign down there in hell. All this darkness had no terrors For this staunch and dogged heart. This acumen saw no errors In the reckoning of his part ; Here he felt domesticated, In these grim and dear abodes. Here his fancy was elated. In these hellish antipodes; Here his sympathies were soothed With the dawn that was at hand, Here his fiercest passions smoothed Into contemplatiims bland : Every syllable he'd boasted He would here substantiate. Every hellish thought he'd toasted He would here with glee narrate. In the night-winds he heard flutter Winged shapes that fanned his brow ; Strange dictations heard them mutter, Their allegiance to avow : " Though the prophecy should kill us. Thou art he whom we await ; Hail, all hail too thee, Armillus ! We will share thy glorious fate 1" THE INFERNAL REALMS. And he sped on, most astounded At that strange and foreign name : Haw his heart with grandeur bounded As lie read in it his fame. HcArniiUus? Gnd in heaven 1 Was that his immortal state'; In his wildest fancies even, He had never felt so great. Did he hear aright the menticmV Was 't not uttered to delude? Was it history's intention That he should he thus imliued V Still they whispered : " Thou shall fill us With the glories of the past; Hail, all hail to thee, ArmiUus ! Thy design is nearing fast. Proudest natures wilt thou humble. Greatest powers wilt thou fell, Kmpires 'neath thy sword will crumble ; Hail thee, thou hast chosen well." — "Oh," he cried, with rapture boiling, " How I thank ye, shades of night : I have not in vain been toiling, I have set my plans aright. Though my life did seem all madness. Though I ended terribly, I awaken now to gladness On the brink of victory. Though the roadway led through passions. Led through vice and sin and shame, Led through most adulterous fashions. Led through many a desperate game. Mill the moral did not falter I'hrough the wrecks of seeming wrong ; Now, appearances will alter ; All will not seem error long. Through mad mazes of delusion Have I waded night and day. Through thick webs of wild confusion Have I cut my restless way Into these infernal regions,- To be hailed supremest king By IVIephisto's clouded legions Fluttering 'round on unseen wing. Even now methinks I issue Into the infernal scene; IJghtei grows the murky tissue ; , Brighter visions come between." Here he faltered, and descended To the ground, and sank adown ; Here the strain prophetic ended ; Misty was the outlook grown. Into slumber's sweet dominion Sank the high' e.xalted soul ; On a dream's light, airy pinion Floated he unto the goal, Reached he the terrific regions Which precede the gates of hell. Where dark powers" hideous legions Hurst into one fearful yell As he crossed the bridge connecting Shore with shore o'er the abyss Of foul terrors, soul affecting With the horror of their hiss. Till he reached the gates, where frightful Visions of unwombing sin Made the shocking view unsightful. And a sense-confounding din 'Woke the echoes of the mountains Bounding the abode of fire With its flames and scorching fountains Seething high and ever higher. At the gates infernal, etching Deep into the granite crown O'er it, stood a figure sketching Out a maxim of renown : ' ' Lasciate ogni speranza , Voi che entrate" Aaw' : And the dreamy soul the stanza Incomplete, repeated low'. " What a sentiment for ante- Chamber decoration," he Said reflective, "gave us Dante For this fiendish privacy. Ni'W that I look on the features Of this cruelly sentenced man, From the earth's impotent creatures I this face remember can. No, I cannot be mistaken ; This is not a hellish elf; 'Tis the exiled and forsaken , Poet Dante, aye, himself! What a wretched occupation For the grim eternity ; How unique an illustration Of the doom of poesy !" Then with true Miltonic thunder Crashed th' infernal gates ajar. And disclosed the hellish wonder, What the fiery regions are. O'er the threshold stepped our hero Into the Satanic realm Where the Evil One, a Nero, Sat in state, to overwhelm Comers with his fearful splendor There inmidst the frightful gloom, For their sins account to render, And to listen to their doom. H THE INFERNAL COMEDY. . Shieking on their hinge, behind him Closed the portals ponderously ; Helpless and alone we find him With the hideous majesty. For a moment but he trembled : Then he nerved himself to see, His misgivings well dissembled In a grave placidity. Satan smiled a welcome to him Which revulsed him to the core And served well nigh to unto him But he held himself and bore Without flinching what portended Lay in that sinister glance ; With his courage it was blended, As design is mixed with chance. .AH his expectations golden Were at sight at once dispelled ; Ne'er had he before beholden Such grim fact from fancy shelled : Where he'd thought a crimson curtain. Was a rugged, frowning rock ; Where of art he'd been so certain. He beheld a naked block ; Where a splendid hall he'd looked for. He but saw a gloomy cave ; And where life he here had booked fur, Lit he on a silent grave ; Where he'd dreamt of royal riches, Gazed he in the face of want ; And the figure-studded niches Each became a gloomy haunt ; Where he had seen but high revel. Lamentation gtruck his ear ; And where he'd ne'er augured evil, Saw he shrinking, ghastly fear. Roastiiig souls, in livid ember. Shrieked aloud in awful pain ; Wretches viewed he here dismember Till the sight drove him insane. Here and there were dread abysses Where no bottom he could see. Whence there issued groans and hisses. Cries of woe and misery. Fitful glealmed the flames uprising From each ever burning pyre. On the walls strange shades devising ; All was torture, lurid fire. Imps and demons noiseless flittered Through the terrible domain ; Horribly their glances glittered : Everywhere the same weird strain. In the distances were flaming Lakes of restless' tossing flare, On them hideous beasts exclaiming In the midst of all the glare. Presently the sovereign beckoned To Armillus to approach, And the new arrival reckoned On his end, but no reproach Issued from the lips infernal Of the fallen Lucifer ; Rather was his look paternal. And his smiles less dreadful were. ■' Welcome, stranger," he then uttered " In our stark and drear abode." And our hero's heart him fluttered .As he slowly thither strode. " We can but receive in sadness, For our smiles can cause but tears. And our home's the haunt of madness, Endless drudgery and fears. We would fain receive thee, sinner, As a brother here below. And proclaim thee as a winner In the strife. Alas, we show Thee a different' hued reception. Manifest in gloom and fire : Stranger, thou hast lived deceptiun. Thee awaits eternal ire. I am weary of the terror I must cause to such as thee, And too late I see my error ; Once I lived in sanctity. But I now endure repentance Such as mortal never knew. And I here eke out my sentence, I, and all my hellish crew. I can never hope for mercy ; Hope not thou, for 'tis in vain'; He who comes here must our curse he Suffer in a like sad strain. Hope stops short at Satan's portals; We have left it at all behind ; So will ye, unhappy mortals. Here it ever banished find. Sought ye pleasure in dominions Consecrated but to woe ? Then have I on your opinions Disappointment to bestow. Here prepare to writhe and tremble. Curse the hour that gave ye birth. And to wish ye could assemble Once more on your mother earth To live o'er again existence As ye would when then ye die. And had struggled with persistence 'Gainst all sin and vice and lie. THE INFERNAL REALMS. 25 Here in these aluulcs of peiuuice. With their horror, with their gloom, Are fore'er ye bound us tenants; ReaHze what is your doom. Thou art damned ! Dost know the meaning Of that most portentious word ? Find it in those victims screaming, Find it from their woes inferred. Tremble, mortal ! It approaches Now, the hour of racking pain ; Heep thyself with the reproches Thou wouldst cry in ceaseless strain Out of me, for here the harvest Wilt thou reap of self-sown sin ; Here for sympathy thou starvest. Maledictions drowned in din. Seize him, demons ! Let his sentenee Be upon his luckless head ! He has spurned away repentance : Let him now with hell be wed !" And a thousand hands outstretched To obey their king's command. And their latest victim wretched With his frightful doom to brand. They already had him lifted Through the nearest scorching flame. And the depths of pain he sifted As the sheets enwrapped his frame. Higher waxed the torturous feeling. Till he shrieked aloud, and swooned — He awoke ! Large drops were stealing Down his brows, from dread fear primed. It was over, and his senses One by one to him returned, Like the dawn at morn commences When the drowsy night is spurned. Was the dream a faithful vision? Was it but a hideous lie? Had he made a wrong decision? Thus the answer in a sigh Came to him then, unseen wafted On the wind : "Arise, avaunt ! What in dream thou hast seen drafted. Is not really Satan's haunt. I who speak thus, am thy reason ; What thou hearest, is not voice ; Thy resolves have been in season : Thou hast well revealed thy choice. Go in peace, and fear no danger ; Sooji will all appear thee light. For as yet thou art a stranger In this dark and unknown night." And Armillus, heart aflutter. Fearlessly his way pursued ; To his reason tlianks did mutter, With a sense of glee imbued. CANTO II. THE REALITY FORESHADOWED. THROUGH the night and desert sallied Bold the wanderer on his way. Wondering why the morning dallied To outbreak in jocimd day. All was darkness ; not a shimmer Fell froni the relentless sky ; Not a star there was to glimmer ; Idle winds but spent a sigh. Whether there were heavens o'er him. Or but some gaunt cavern's dome, Not a sign the realty bore him. Nothing traced an epitome Of the truth these naked regions Buried 'neath their sable veil. To reveal th' infernal legions He imagined in their pale. Hands outstretched to grasp at bushes, Only grasped at empty air; Onward our Armillus pushes, Only on, nor knowing where. Not a patch of verdure ; rubble Only met the fleeing foot. Not e'en stumbling over stubble Howsomever he it put: Only rock and stone and sandhills — Was their ever tract so drear? Not a sound, in frequent standstills. Was there to attract the ear, But that everlastihg sighing Of the lazily floating wind ; It was even still more trying Than the death he'd lett behind. Where the end to these mysterious Wastes to look for, he knew not ; His reflections grew more serious As they dwelt upon his lot ; Was all hell thus ink'y clouded. Veiled forever from all sight. Lost in gloom, eternal' shrouded From the far-off realms of light ? Was no incident or danger To relieve the monotone? And was he, unhappy stranger, To be left fore'er alone? 26 THE INFERNAL CO MED V. Where the prophesy he'd hearkened I'o, as he had entered here? He but saw the prospect darkened Still more deep, and much more drear. Where was hell ? Was Satan routed ? Or had the rebellious foe Of his God for mercy shouted, And attained the saintly glow Once again that had been lost him When he sinned so woefully, That had so much torture cost him ; And regained his sanctity? Was no imp or elf or demon There to be Armillus' guide : Him, they called to the regimen Of this tainted nether side ? Was't his doom to end in anguish In this barren, dark domain, In eternity to languish, Hope cast off, distract, insane? Was't his fate to roam here aimless. In all seasons, at all times. To but furnish weary, shameless Plaint and misery for these rhymes, Vain conjecture, idle queries. Endless woe and fresh wept tears. Where high horror struggling serries Into moments ages' fears ? " Be accursed, ye lying prophets ! I see neither throne nor hell ! Nor e'en that extent of Tophets Earthly priests did me fortell ; Moon-mad monks they were, excessive Both in lust anu ignorance : Where are your domains expressive Of the last, infernal dance Sinners take e'er they go under, Overcome with scorching fire ; Would, ye ministers of blunder. Ye were here to feel my ire ! Vet there must be some solution To this knotty mystery ; Let me have the execution Of my work of victory." Thus he cried. And e'er the bitter Speech had died upon the night. Thought he to discern the flitter. In the distance of a light, V'accilating and uncertain ; Yet it tore a welcomed rent Into the infernal curtain. Meeting his presentiment. What was he to see? The devil. Coming to receive a guest ? Did the vision augur evil? Was it some chimeric jest ? Not a phantom, for the vision Near and ever nearer came ; And he paused with indecision : Should he stand, or flee in shame? Flee? For what? For whom? Could terror Rise to more appalling heights Than he'd passed through? Nay, no error Could there be in future sights To face boldly. With defiance He would see what was at hand Now, and with astute reliance On his courage, keep his stand. Hell be praised ! At last the mystery Stood a chance of being solved. And this most infernal history In amazing plots involved. He was to behold a devil : What a thought to contemplate ! How much more, than all the revel Earthly, to anticipate ! On he came ; the gleam grew brighter Till 'twas lost within it.self ; The surroundings all grew lighter : Well, how looks the hellish elf? In amaze' Armillus started At the unexpected sight. At the figure which there darted Out of the infernal. night. Here at sea was all acumen, Here his reason stopped right short ; By the gods, the imp was human ! What meant this Satanic sport ? ' Twas a man, in plain attire. Such as there is worn on earth. Venerable, reverend sire. Quite some years removed from birth. In one hand he held the bridle Of a fine and prancing mare ; In the rear, a fellow idle Followed, with an ill-bred air : 'Twas a swain with lantern swinging To illuminate the road As they, hoof and footfall ringing. The o'er-rubbled groiuid bestrode. Suddenly the small procession Paused, as the old master's sight. Practiced in its dark profession. On Armillus did alight ; And the noble beast beside him Seemed to sight the stranger too : With a welcoming manner eyed him — (live the devil's mare her due ! THE INFERNAL REALMS. 21 And Annilhis ? Was astounded ! Nay, as if by thunder struck ; This result seemed most unfounded He had just now run amuck. Was he waking? Was lie dreaming? Was this earth, or was it hell? This small group he stood there seeming To have known before, and well. He had often seen in picture Such a group ; and too, in life. With no hell to place a stricture On his comprehensions rife. Like a flash he caught the meaning Of it all, and blurted out : " This comes of my constant weening Of mad fancy, reckless doubt. I went out to fight a duel. Fell asleep, and passed athrough Tortures the most gaunt and cruel. Horror passing in review. I awoke, and thought the living To have left me far behind. Straying 'round, and foolish' giving Rein unto my feverish mind. These I thought to be infernal Deserts, part of Satan's state. While still on the earth maternal 1 am roving at this rate. What a terrible delusion : By the stars, I thought this hell ! Region of profound confusion. Thou, Armiilus, art not well — Ha, Armillus ! I that figure? Heavens, what an insane thought ! What a chimera ! With what rigor Has it my delusion wrought. Hell and fire ! I am confounded ; This is bitter, this is sad : Down am I by destiny hounded ; Curse the issue ! I've gone mad ! Mad, d'ye hear me? Blind, stark crazy ! Oh, why met we not to fight, And why did not Death, grim, hazy. Take me off upon this night ? " And Armillus sobbed hysteric'. Covered with his hands his face, ' Fit for consolation cleric' As a man who'd run his race. What a maze is not our reason That we can go thus astray. Lose into such zone and season Hopelessly and far our way ! But the strangers curious' eyed him, Knew not what of him to think. Saw the bitter grief betide him, Saw the giant spirit sink. " Did you say you were Armillus?" (Jueried he of reverend mien ; " The intelligence doth fill us With delight. LTpon the scene We have long to find expected One who answers to that name. And now you we have detected, May we ask : are you the same?" " I am he you seek, if any Such a mighty name can own. Yet it is not known to many That I bear it, 1 alone. 'Tis an hour but that I've worn it. Given me, as strange' medreamt. And my memory has torn it From my fancy, when exempt From all reason, lay I slumbering Yonder on the sandy plain. Most fantastic visions numbering 'Moiigst my dreams there; and I wain. Even while I seemed me waking. Was I called thus through the night — Ah, my senses are forsaking Me— I beg you, give me light ! Where am I ? Is this my native Land, or some bleak foreign shore ? Why Icok on me contemplative' ? Give me answer, I implore." Then the aged, reverend stranger Fixed a pair of kindly eyes On the young, bewildered ranger. And him answered in this wise : " Sir, you wander; pray recover; List acute to what I'll tell. Listen as the sweetheart's lover Listens when she means him well. You have lost, sir, your direction. And seem utterly at sea ; Have you, then, no recollection? Is 't so much a mystery? You were not an idle dreamer, Anxious doubts but crowd your head. Thought you to meet your ' Redeemer ' ? Realize that you are dead ! Dead ! As dead as eyer mortal Was when he departed life On the earth, and now the portal Death swings shut to close the strife. You have lived and loved, and ended In excruciating pain. Into hell your way have wended To revive, and live again. 28 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. With your fancy well excited, For prophetic visions took You the instinct that incited You within your soul to look, And to recognize the honor. Greatness, and resplendent joy Of which Fate the generous donor Would be to her favorite boy. And the name much explanation Needs it not : ambition's swell. In your fancy's high elation. Pointed out to you this hell. Set your mighty spirit teeming With the most profound designs. Your imagination streaming. Traced therein most curious lines. As Armillus you delighted To appear beyond your life. And your bold assertion sighted Victory in the coming strife. You hate heaven, e'en without reason, But you hate it ! Hate it well ! And you come to us in season To command our citadel In full sympathy, to offer Strife unto the Christ^on high. Come, a good but ribald scoffer To avenge us, or to die. That lies in your bosom hidden; We applaud, and call it well'; Therefore are you welcome bidden ; Sir, you are indeed in hell ! Doubt it not because the region Looks like wildland in the night, And no mad, infernal legion Fills it with revolting fright. Hell, sir, is beyond conception Of the present age of man, Since great ages of deception Have confined it under ban In the minds of thoughtless people As the haunt of woe and fire, And the bells down from the steeple Clanged along to add their ire To the priests' vituperation On these unexplored domains. We shall wjn your approbation For what there to tell remains. And I promise you such wonder As you never thought to see. How you will accurse as blunder All your wild theology ! Know that we have been here seeking For you through this deserts' gloom. Now your willingness bespeaking To conduct you to your doom — Doom I say, because damnation Would imply a sentence dread, But it is a fine sensation ; Gracefully will you be led To it ; graceful your submission Will be, and you'll loudly praise Hourly, without intermission, The event that closed your days On the wicked world behind you While you bask in glory here, Not a fancy to remind you Of its false and hollow cheer. Lightly will the night luiravel Which yet lurks aroiuid your brain. And as we resume our travel. It will please me to explain What seems murky. But at present Be it quite enough to know That your future will be pleasant, And be great ; e'er greater grow. We are slaves in estimation. As compared with your degree ; I deliver my oratioii. Sir, in all humility. You are summoned to your glory ; We have brought for you this horse; Interesting will be the story Of your future in its course. Hail, Armillus, hail ! We greet you As our master. Follow on Where we lead you. Pray sir, seat you Now yourself this brute upon. Let me help you to the saddle — By the gods, your majesty Speaks in, how the horse bestraddle You, with such agility. Walk? With pleasure. I'll ne'er mind it As we have not far to go ; And the way, you'll cheerful find it With my speech. You've much to know. And Armillus, nobly mounted. Entered on his s'range career, In the sequel full recounted. If you'll lend me but your ear. CANTO III. THE UNSEEN UNIVERSE. HEY traversed the regions nether Nor a sign was manifest T THE INFERNAL REALMS. 2g In the night :uhI wukI and wcalhur. To allay the youth's unrest : Darkness, night ; and night and darkness; Inky, black, relentless night; Gloom inifathomed, drear and sparkless ; With defiance set to sight : Naught bnt the luicertain gleaming Of the lantern at their side Carried by the servant dreaming As their weary way they plied. " Is it far?" Armillus queried Of his guide, " to where we go 'i Are we e'er thus to be buried In this gloom? I sigh to know." — "Gloom? Forever! Here no cheering Sunray strays to bright our road ; To this night there is no clearing Dawn, another day to bode. But let not your heart go sinking At this sad intelligence ; You'll soon change your mode of thinking ; For the present, continence. But instead of silent' wandering. Let me teach you what I know ; And instead of aimless' squandering Sighs and fears, let me bestow On your doubting understanding What your dark surroundings mean." — " Do, nor wait for my commanding You to light me up the scene. I am weary of the mystery Which oppresses hard my brain ; Pray commence ; I burn the history To attend, and ease my pain." And his guide his eyebrows knitted To collect his scattered thought ; Heavy effort them o'erflitted ; Thus was its delivery wrought — But at this point do I tremble, And my lyre forsakes its task. My concern cannot dissemble. For forbearance must I ask. O my muse, be by, I earnest Plead ; here must I stand or fall ; If thou here my begging spurnest. Must I blush for shame for all. Help me now, and I will praise thee Though thou wast fore'er my curse; Into realms immortal raise thee Will I, if thou'lt bless my verse. But all genius finds its level Of itself, so I'll be brave, Sing it out, defy the devil. Listen will I in my grave To the verdict, — if there be one ! Stake my future on the die. Of the obstacles I see none. Headless plunge into 't will I. — Please forgive my brief digression ; I will ne'er be faint again ; Some vague terror found expression For a moment in my brain. — Thus the guide begins, then ; listen. Listen with all might and main ; — How Armillus' dark orbs glisten ! — It will ne'er be told again : " Here we have been onward stalking, Thus began the aged guide, " You on horseback, and we walking On oui journey side by side, And you are not e'en acquainted With your humble servant's name. Whether it be great, be tainted. Wear it I with pride or shame : It is Hugon, and. descended Am I from a noble house Here in these black regions blended With patrician might, nor chouse I in this bold protestation ; Further on you'll learn to know What the virtue of my station In this mystical below. But of this, sir, more hereafter; For the present, I'll explain, 'Midst your peals of caustic laughter. To your highness what I wain." — Reader, note you this my warning : Seek not too profound to be. Or you'll find yourself but fawning On the mask of mockery. — " Know then that the all, surrounding Sight from earth and other spheres. The imagination bounding, Into mighty region clears. Planets, stars and worlds revolving In the endless realms of space, Though your sclent problems solving. Not the end of things embrace. All 's a huge agglomeration Of what's seen, and what's unseen, A stupendous aggregation Of revealed and hidderf scene. Of what eye and sense and reason Can perceive, appreciate. What in nature and in season Into shape you concentrate ; But besides, unfathomable Realms there are, beyond all sense. so THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Regions light and regions sable, Far beyond man's vain pretence. Past the might of penetration. Past all frail philosophy, Out of reach of speculation, Natural gleams and history. What is seen, the planetary Systems to your sense convey, Their consistense, exemplary Nature, and their orbits' play : All the life in, on and 'round them, There phenomena and sweep : With your telescopes you sound them ; The results are small you reap. This responds to evolution Which for everything accounts, Which, with so much elocution, Your professor boasts and flounts, Which makes the divine existence Of a God without avail. And which, with but slight resistance, Other bases does assail. All phenomena, conditions. He explains and proves by this, And defends all coalitions With this bold hypothesis. What can be appreciated By the mortal sense and eye, In itself is demonstrated; That nobody can deny. — The invisible consists in What you cannot grasp or see ; Therefore, man, this age, persists in The beyond as heresy. Take the visible, subtract it From the vast e,\tent of space ; Take all substance, and extract it From what may your sense embrace- And you have the great remainder ; Nature, which you cannot see. Heretics have loud' arraigned her As a shallow perjury. Yet it is, exists ; and even Where you are, but proves the truth , So it may with ease believen Be, what I assert, m sooth. This remainder, its conditions Are to earth not supplement. But these things take their positions As creation's complement. For convenience, designated Be the limitless unseen Supernatural, and be rated The beyond ; as 'tis, I ween. It surpasses understanding; Let it be a metaphor, Till all life has seen the landing To this other, future shore. — Both the states are close' connected, The apparent and unseen ; Only by dark death bisected. Such as you have just through been : Not by any transmigration Of the errant human soul. As by mortal's transformation Into a demoniac whole. Or angelic, but assuming Once again its mortal clay. Into life anew here looming. Into some bright, other day ; Rising into novel vigor. Its existence well assured. Meeting with accustomed rigor Here, what it has there endured. It is life again, existence Under circumstances new, Held to with the same persistence You held on to life when you Through the life on earth there wandered, Giving way to every glee. Health and bounteous reason squandered At each terrible orgie. It is life! And cease your wonder. All will soon be light and clear, Nor mistake my speech for blunder Till to end the whole you hear. — What's unseen, of diametric Opposite precincts consists, Botl^ whereto we speed electric' When your sin in death persists. One, the visible, is lighter Than the light of sunlit day. Lit by an effulgence brighter Than you dreamt of yesterday. And the other : it is darker Than the shades of Erebus, With its realms more dread, and starker Than blear sin is infamous. And each status is the region Of the choice of will in man ; Each unfolds its morbid legion, Its precincts with life to span. One is heaven, the plans of Eden, An enrapturing paradise Where no clouds the sunrays deaden. Eves the shades of night entice. And the other : you are riding O'er its barren desert plains. THE INFERNAL REALMS. 31 Opportunity here biding To grasp great, ambitious gains. But not of extraneous causes Is hell dark, and fair heaven hght : There courageous fancy pauses. Speculation's lost to sight. Both are thus phenomenally To respective habitants : Both 'neath their conditions rally Into new significance. Nor is hell the shade of evil. Nor heaven the abode of good ; Both give o'er to joy and revel As, were they on earth, each would. But heaven was the first known portion. Habitable at the start. Till, by a politic' torsion. Hell, too, gained its peopled part. Heaven's called heaven by plain tradition. Just because 'tis known on earth. Thence imported by transition Into the new heavenly birth ; So is hell called hell, for reason Similar to the above : Not because of different season, Nor out of respect to Jove. Things inside th' infernal portal Called a»e as they're called oh earth ; Matters earthly, topics mortal Measured are to equal worth By cognomen, as infernal ; Though a spade 's not always spade. And a mere mask the external Oft appears to what's 'neath laid.— Know that heaven's not merely peopled By a minion angel band, With their God majestic' steepled O'er them in that blessed land. That idea is antiquated To the dwellers of the place ; Though you gasp to hear it stated : Jove is of a mortal race. There the virtuous and holy Sit not 'round on rosy clouds, Given up to singing solely. Decked in white and righteous shrouds. Clouds there are none : only fulgence ; Brilliant, light, eternal day ; Harps are not their sole indulgence. Glory not their. only lay. Nor is hell the home of devils Ruled o'er by a dastard fiend Given o'er to brimstone revels. From your theologians gleaned ; Nor are souls in torture roasted To a Satan's grim delight. Chaos and confusion toasted. Nor debauchery his rite. Nonsense ! Are we drunk or crazy To be bred on stuff like this? Ah, the intellect's too lazy Dogmas and the like to hiss. Then besides, 'tis worldly fashion To adore, be what it may ; Now an ox is all the passion. Now a god is brought in play. Let them have their stupid idols ; Death will teach them otherwise, And will place the proper bridles On them, clear their misty eyes. Follies all did we inherit From the earth in heaven and hell, , But both places have this merit : There's no sexton, church or bell. Touching is the country village On a jocund Sabbath morn When the children of the tillage With bright looks themselves adorn. And in peace and relish wander To the moss-grown, simple church To be blessed and filled with grander Thoughts than they would elsewhere search. Here the heart of bard and poet Musi into compliance melt ; Wretched he who ne'er, I trow it. At the sight emotion felt. But to men of sober reason. Weighing it 'gainst solid sense. Must such poesy seem treason. Spite of faith and providence. — As appreciable is hell to Those who dwell within its shades. And is heaven above, as well, too. Those who bask beneath its glades, As is earth unto the nations Dwelling on its mottled face ; Others blessed are with creations By great nature's ample grace. Here, as there, all the conditions Of society and life, Politics and erudition, Law and form, and peace and strife. All conceivable relations. Are all fully reproduced. Scenes and sights and occupations To their new surroundings truced. Heaven and hell and earth embrace one Field of natural history, J2. THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Heaven and hell and earth all face one Common giant mystery : The because, the why, the wherefore . Of this life, this death, this all : But we live, we die ; and therefore We submit to nature's thrall. Wonder why we have existence, What its object, end and aim ; In both spheres, with like persistence. Press themselves the problems same. Heaven and hell and earth enjoy the Similar natural kingdoms three ; Here the mineral worlds alloy the Same compounds ; the plants agree In their genus, class and nature . With the growth on mother earth. Have the self-same nomenclature. But exist in hell with dearth. Animals abound in plenty, • Not one whit more or less strange Than in groups mayhap of twenty Through your plains and meadows range. Are the similes of frozen Bergs and monuments of ice By an all-wise nature chosen As hell's dowry, and its price. But the progress of oin- science Has endowed us with the sense. With the learning and reliance To abate its consequence. And you'll find we live contented In our much abused abode ; 'Tis as much, and more, frequented Than bright heaven is e'er bestrode." Here the guide made pause. Armillus Answered, 'neath his bosom's swell : " May thy frigid precincts chill us ; By my soul, I like thee, hell !" CANTO IV. Man is not extraordinary In the scale of nether life, Not less stupid, nor more wary. Not less prone to peace or strife. There is only that distinction : Heaven is light, and htll is dark, Sufferable to extinction Each and both, in chaos stark. The phenomenon of fulgence. Nor its absence, them affects ; Each enjoys a like indulgence And its wants and ends respects. Hell itself 's not known to suffer By nonentity of light. And its species are not rougher For this darkness and its blight ; They endure modification, But no greater sense of change : You will note no alteration In the whole infernal range. But this one : heaven is the tropics, Hell the arctics of this sphere ; There, all summer are the topics Wintry the surroundings here. There, most prodigal is nature : Here, 'tis all economy ; By this facile nomenclature ' Things down here with ease agree. Hence is heaven as hot and sultry As equator-fostered zones. And with winter no adultery Practices. Infernal thrones THE EMPYREAL SHELL. INTO earnest contemplation Fell the rider on his seat ; Was bewildered with sensation ; Still it all appeared a cheat. And he fell his guide addressing : " Much remains as yet unclear ; It would be indeed a blessing If I had the truth more near. I have taken pains to hearken. But I do not understand Where the shades of Limbo darken. Where breaks light upon the land ; Where from earth is heaven located, North or south, or east or west. Towards the sun, or whither, rated : That I have as you not guessed. When I died, an angel vision Ushered me unto the Styx : Since then have with indecision I been roaming five or six Weary hours, I know not whither, Till I came to meet with you ; But how I have strayed me hither, I've not the remotest clue. Earth and hell seemed one dominion, Sected by a single stream. But I part with that opinion Since I cannot even dream To retrg.ce the steps I've taken And regain the mundane shore ; THE INFERNAL REALMS. J3 My pui>r senses :iie well shaken : Help me grasp them, I imphjre ." Hugon smiled : " The angel visicjii Y;',u imagine to have seen l)n the brink n ; They exist, and that's enough : Seek in vain for demonstration : We believe much idler stuff/ .\sk a faithful where material Heavens or hells can well abound, Stud' with rocks, and grown with cereal In the sky, or 'neath the groinid. When you die on earth, forever Leaves your eager soul that globe : .•Vll connections with it sever, New conditions here to probe. You arrive in dream well shrouded. Re-assume like blood and flesh ; .\n& from cares and foibles clouded. Into life you once more mesh." — " But are heaven and hell connected ? "— "Aye, for they communicate. But there is this wall erected 'Twixt them : old, undying hate ! Ne'er would heavener be a heller. Heller e'er a heavener be ; Each remains a faithful dweller Of his own, adored country. Of this you will in due season. At the proper time and place, Further onward, learn the reason," — '■ Vet both are of one same race? " — "Aye, as I will take a pleastu'e In explaining on our way, Which we may pursue at leisure. — As I was about to say, \ et there is communication Now between us constantly ; For, in spite of altercation, We must in some parts agree. Hellers have no agrictdture ; Plants want plenty light and heat. They would gladly play the vulture, f'all on us, and us defeat ; l!ut we furnish precious metals Which they cannot do without. So for us their verdure's petals Must be husbanded, and sprout. I'hen, their climate makes them lazy, And our pioducts oft they buy. So that these infernal, hazy Precincts do not idle lie." — ■■ 1 shall try to grasp the meanin'.^ Of the whole prodigious plan : For the present I am gleaning From your answers what I can. Tell mc then, why is't not frigid Here, when there is ice and snow'/ I am not yet frozen rigid, And the winds most balmy blow."^ — " We are near the heavenly frontier, Where the climates neutralize ' )ne another, and each blunt here Their extremes 'neath other skies."— ■■ Skies ! Have we a sky above us ? " — Sky, if endless space be sky. Hut you ask too much, Lord love us — " " Lord ! " — " A memory. Pass it by. Reader, if you've heard my wariiin.g ^ ou will now be full' prepared To appreciate the dawning Of the truth from figure bared. Seek to grasp it with all rigor. For on that all else depends : Catch the sense in all its vigor; Note how truth with grandeur blends. " Well, imagine that all matter In the universe contained. All the suns that space bespatter. All the worlds around these rained. Had an end in all direction, And that past this end was nau,ght ,... 34 THE INFERNAL CO MED Y. Concentrate, then, your reflection On the comprehensive thouahl That this border-hne is covered With a huge, material shell : There within find heaven hovered. And withont find desert hell. That within is lit by fiilgencc From a thousand flaming orbs. And enjoying the indulgence Of the heat which it absorbs While without, is heathen darkness. And its skies are inky night ; Precincts, wastes ; and deserts, darkness ; Void of heal, deprived of lit;ht. This idea is theoretic With our scientific chiefs, And now stands, the last emetic ( )f their studies and beliefs. And not wholly wrong they reason. For in heaven the skies are bright. O'er the bloom of tropic' season. With a myriad planets' light. What is more, the scope is boundless. So colossal is this shell ; Fears may be dismissed as groundless That we'll e'er o'erpeople hell. We have ascertained that vision Can be had through untold miles With most absolute precision. Not obscured by lowest piles; So that we must rate stupendous The circumference of this sphere, Wither but a thought must send us, Or we'd never have reached here. The connection with the inner Side is easily maintained. So that the external .sinner May not be too hard'y strained. Through immense and natural funnels Piercing through and through the shell. Forming long and rocky tunnels Which have served their purpose well. Since the method they us offer Of exchanging ware for grain, Ore for food ; they fill their coffer ; And we, too, count no small gain." — " Why then answer with sarcasms When I bid you locate hell. When th* infernal protoplasms Lie revealed so full and well ?"— " Why ? Because all contemplation Of the kind is perilous : We invoke much execration If what wrong we answer thus. So we throw it out with caution, As the evident result Of a mind which too much torsion Drew into the blank occult. (Juite as much of rhyme and reason It contains as other lore Which is not accounted treason To plain sense : therein adore Mortals a beyond uncertain. Regency on twinkling stars. Little do they mind the curtain Which their sight prophetic mars. — Hut enough of this ; 1 venture Too much on your kind attent', And must soon incur your censure ; Better may our time be spent. I ,et me set you forth how mortals. When they quit their pigmy earth , Fnter the infernal portals. And what means their se'ond !)irth ; What the morals that must fill us. What the lessons it must teach." Wrapped in interest, then Armillus Listened to old Hugon's speech : " Through a wide circumlocution, Metaphysical pell-mell, Arrant rant and sense-polluion, Have I now located hell. And you will not cease to wonder Why I should at first describe. Couched in vague, rhetoric thunder, A design of other tribe. Build you up a mad conception Of the universe unseen, .And gain credence by surreption For a thing that ne'er hath been; Finally, in postscript manner. The reality ordain, And unfurl the proper banner : That will briefly I explain. The sublime truth, sudden' blurted Out, not introduced, prefaced. Indiscreetly left unskirted, Rudely into utterance chased, Most ridiculous, unhappy. And contemptuously would sound ; To the sluggard, well nigh nappy ; Not to any much profound. And the luckless, daft historian Of our meeting here this night, Would be hounded with stentorian Bursts from the indignant sight, Of which he would be deserving Were he not to mystify, THE INFERNAL REALMS. 35 At the outstart, readers nervinj; Faculties, the point to spy. As it is, I so considered This from such a point ot view. Though for the result I diddered, And my troubles were not few. First 1 teased th' imagination. Then I set it satisfied. Making every preparation That you should become allied With the dignity and beauty .And the pride of the sublime. Thougli I stumbled in my duty Oft o'er must vexatious " rhyme. "And so that to ridicule the Climax you could never bring O'er your heart to do, nor school the Mind to jeer at anything. Subjects great need introduction : If the latter be too weak. We condemn the whole productimi ; Prefaces must be unique. — And ncjw, this digression waving. Let me to the point proceed Of the mankind you are craving Me your interesl at to lead. Man as an example taking Of the living things on earth ; — Other souls therewhile forsaking, What their import, what their worth, All his birth and life and actions. Death, and doings ill or well. Labors, efforts and distractions : Find them reproduced in hell, And in heaven, which is included When 1 mention but the first, And which need not be intruded On the realm earth deems accursed. Man is shown into these regions, His allotted time exists 'Midst these gloomy precincts' legions. Entered on the hellish lists. Till his term of life is ended And he once again expires, Into nothingness extended. Past the sway of his desires. As on earth, man here arises To be born, to live, to die ; Germinates and aggrandizes. Fades into eternity. With this difference : that the mortal Of the sod that saw your birth Ne'er again can view the portal Ushering him unto the earth ; With a very few exceptions. As Gotama, and as Christ, As Mahommed, with perceptions Ne'er by man too highly priced. Krum the shell of heaven descended They, and saw once more dear life. Saw, but being not befriended. Thence returned, rid of the strife. Ill the glow of memory embered. Live these men unto the close. But of heaven and hell remembered They enough naught to expose. ('.car in iiund, sir, that the planet Whence you spring, is not the all ; With that world I but began it. This, the tale of mankind's fall. Nay, all space is yet encumberetl, Inside of the heavenly shell. With a haze of worlds unnumbered Which supply our heaven and hell. — When on earth is born a suckling, He attains to age, and dies, At the gates eternal knuckling Ere 't has ceased its infant cries. If it fades out prematurely. If man lives a natural life. Floats adown the stream securely. Makes escape from ball and knife. Falls into a natural slumber. Peacefully resigns his breath. He has passed off, ne'er to number 'Mong the throng that outlives death ; He will view these deserts never. Nor the plains of heaven's delight. He has died away forever Into nothing, into night. Fled away in the eternal. Lost in nature's mystery, Harred from heavenly or infernal Life ; forever ceased to be. But be his career as mortal Shortened by disease, excess. Violence, he sees the portal Of his future's happiness ; To his tacit choice according. Lives anew in heaven or hell Where, another life affording, He pursues it, ill or well. Thus, may heaven be gained by evil, Hell invaded by the good. Virtue fondled by the devil, Vice adorn the heavenly mood. Ciood and evil are misnomers When applied to heaven or hell : 36 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Both precincts are filled with roamers Opposite to each as well. At the moment of his entry, Man continues in his life, And becomes his person's sentry In the new, abnormal strife. He, where he left off, commences To live on as though he'd been Yet in his old mortal senses, Steeped in virtue or in sin. But becomes recuperated In each innate faculty ; He resumes life newly dated Under our new ministry : And his life will he continue As if he'd been born again, Fixtured in each vein and sinew Subject to the novel strain : He will live his life allotted In his supernatural state By the same reverses dotted. With a like delight elate, If he be not too soon carried Off into the void's distress. If he has not too long tarried With our folly and excess, Or been by disease polluted. Or brought down by violence. By his errors executed Into the eternal hence. Here, like bankrupts once more graiitei From their failures a release, He may yet become enchanted With the wisdom of life's peace. Profit by his past reverses, Play with fate as with a toy. And instead of muttering curses. Learn to live and to enjoy. — What is in him, let him show it, And he'll reap his just reward. Be he critic, be he poet. Be in this or that he lored. Here his nature and profession Seeks he them, and they seek him : Or he may at any cession Of his wits change, ni a whim. Here is man, what nature made him In his past mimdane career; And as they have there portrayed him, They respect, regard him here. But he may develop slowly ; Not indeed, till he's in hell : Howe'er, we shall soon know wholly What his worth, be't ill or well. Thus, you here with ardor fill us, While on earth you were a rake ; You resolved into Armillus And exalted rank will take. I am ordered to conduct you To your destiny at once : Until then, I will instruct you In our law and custom fonts. Ah, but see ahead a glinuner. Watch it larger, brighter grow : That is the diffused, faint skimmer Of the light from ht-aven helmv : Streaming out, a brilliant fininel From a road that bends adown Into a bewildering tunnel Toward heaven's effulgent crown. In the future you'll be fated To descend to that fair .sky : Now, sir, not to be belated, We must pass the opening by." Wonderingly our hero viewed it From afar, as hastened he On his journey, and pursued it With a new alacrity. CANTO V. INHKKNAL POLII HUGON'S was a sturdy figure. Shouldered broad and chested deep Bursting with full, manly vigor, Still the heir to full nights' sleep. On his brow accumulated Lay the thought o{ a decade : in the orbs still bright' dilated Shone the intellect displayed. Full of earnest his expression .As he turned upon his charge Once more, without intercession, On his subject to enlarge : " In that light you see the reason Why the air about is mild. And we seem in autumn season 'Stead of winter stern and wild. Soon will endless ice dominions Greet the then dismayed outlook : You will alter your opinions Of these realms at every crook. H'rigid bergs stupendous flounted Into the unpierced beyond. THE INFERNAL REALMS. 31 W'ith thriim-s frozen boldly mounted I'Vom the searching gaze abscond In the vertical, while hilly Wildlands, without shrub or tree. Roll along these confines chilly Further than the eye could sec Were it light, and we'd ascended To the summit uppermost, And our piercing glance transcended What may human vision boast, And our sight were sterescopic To a wonderful degree But I wander from my topic, Which I'll treat now socially : Heaven and earth you must consider As you would consider earth Your maternal ; you must rid her Of ideas of human birth As pertaining to her solely And to any sister world ; Such perceptions must be wholly From the understanding hurled. That small earth is but a midget, And we too live on a sphere. With the same desire to bridge it And the same results to rear. Man's a state in the creation Of the whole wide universe. And contained in population Where'er living things rejoice. 'I'herefore understand, nor wonder. When 1 tell yen that this hell, 'J"hough earth, hell, heaven far asunilcr. Aborigines as well Owned as did the earth, who Hourishcd Long before your ancestor Karliest his interests nourished, And in hand a weapon bore. Then ensued a great transcarriage PVom the earth into this place, Settling here ; and intermarriage Soon produced a mixed new race. Men and beasts were here transplanted .After they had suffered death There below, and here enchanted With the regain of their breath : For a man, 'though wondrous creature, Is not solely soul-pcssessed : Other beings of that feature Stand in nature's ban confessed, 'Though he is so far conceited To believe himself alone In that, as if nature treated Him with more maternal lone. It is singidar how narrow Is the scope of human thought. When man's own dear flesh and marro Is into discussion brought. Wl sir, death's a mighty teacher Of the truth so little guessed; Like it there was ne'er a preacher. Here, that subject is at rest. — The inhabitants extended First alone to heaven's fair fields. And no souls this wild befriended. As it mighty little yields. But at last these saving clauses Saw their fill of human kmd Which, through some politic' causes. Did at last its way here find. Karth's profane and sacred writers Such as Milton, fabulize. Wondrous seers and brilliant sightcrs, On the truth with misty eyes. Fre long you vvill solve the mystery AUegorically writ By thai poet, and our history Learn, as told by other wit. — I have said that all condition-. Reproduction find in hell, Quite analogous positions Occupy in here as well. So you find distinct all races In these shades, as on the world. And all worlds ; with different faces Lie the lands apart unfurled. Realize that all the nations In th' entire universe Share our agricultural rations. Seek to mate the self-same ferse. B\u our st.irk domains are ample. And none ever come too late. Taking hell as an example, F.very nation has its state. There's America, there's Europe, As though you were still on earth ; Such conditions well allure up Here mankind to seek our worth. i'hen we've lands from worlds we nevei Heard of until mentioned here, Held by people quite as clever As your planet's men appear. Their own languages imported Have all from their sod of birth. Here in populace consorted Into one stupendous earth. Heaven and hell each has its nations Living on and dying out. 38 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Complimentary aggregations To all worlds' contents, who sprout Their triumphal eras, giving Finally to others place, And cede o'er th' infernal living To a newly sprung up race. Histories of earth and other Planets here themselves repeat, Brother struggling 'gainst his brother. Carnage mingled in with cheat. Thus the Indians of the prairies Here succumb unto the whites. And are driven from their areas, Plundered of their ancient rights. Hell must wrestle with precisely The same problems as the world, And we get along as nicely Here. Thus, take the raven-curled Children of the Afric regions ; They are still here reckoned slaves, And not one of all these legions Us with his defiance braves. They are brutes, and will remain so. Servile must they ever be, 'Though America disclaims so Barbarous a theory. — Here a synonym will find you For earth's every state and thing ; 'Though surroundings will oft blind you 'Tis as finger to the ring Here as there, in all relations Of th' entire social state^ Subject to the contemplations Of a human critic's prate. Take the Indian, he's dispo.sed of. Shot down like a rabid dog. Dies, by commentators prosed of, But yet looked on as a log. Here he lives anew, is shot down Once again, and gone fore'er. Buried, and is left to rot down In the earth without a care. He is warlike, and contented To live out his life in fight : His incursions are resented ; The result, eternal night. So a Mormon dies, and leaving Wives a score to mourn hisfatc ; Here, his nature not deceiving. Links himself to many a mate. So all trades and all professions Hellishly are repioduced; AU pursuits hold here their cessions. Neither heightened nor obtused. Whate'er was a man's acumen, Worldly lot or worldly store. His associations human Finds again he on this shore. We have millions who are wealthy, Millions, too, as vastly poor : Millions sick, and millions healthy. In a toil or sinecure. On this future sphere arriving. He begins where he left off. Struggling with his fate, or thriving, Met with pleasure or with scoff. But there is this great exception . Difference have we none in creeds. None are open to deception, None for his religion bleeds. Comers here attain the knowledge Which I now impart to you, Nor e'er visit here a college To be told what's false, what's true Names are here perpetuated : Noble names live cjn in hell. Just as much with pride inflated ; Humbler names live on as well. Old associations fill us, And to our old names we turn ; Why you, sir, are here Armillus, You will in the future learn. So you see that man infernal Is of the same paltry school. And is on this shell external As on earth, as great a fool. — As man here is amenable To the loss of life and breath, Heir to ills, and never able To adjourn the date of death. And is powerless to throw such Off into futurity. You perceive that there is no such Thing as immortality. This to mortals seems stupendous, 'Gainst all theologic' sense. Warped by theories tremendous' Shallow in their vain pretense. Yet it is so, and the thinker Will agree that it sounds right. And will be the willing drinker In of its correct tnith's might. But to bring this in connection With our post-demise affairs, Let me point out the direction Which our politics here bears. Know, then, that the shades infernal. And the realms of heaven as well. THE INFERNAL REALMS. 39 Were, are, and will be eternal', 'Spite what revelations tell, Monarchies with constitutions. Such as England is on earth. Hut divested of pollutions By that system given birth. We've no faith in visionary Perfect' built republic states, 'I'hought to be the exemplar)' Of all human estimates. As experiment politic'. We believe that it has failed. And as such some hellish critic Diplomatic' has assailed That most doubtful institution Of a nation's weal and peace, Tocsined then its execution. And abridged its hellish lease. Therein we have been progressive, 'Though you fail to see the point : But experiments successive Taught us wherewith to annoint. Man's not ripe for life fraternal As republic' state suggests ; That we've proved in these infern;il Limits by most careful tests. It will come to 't sooner, later, But that time has come not yet ; Mankind's virtues must be greater, And its passions be more set. When man shall be perfect : error. Sin and vanity effaced ; When forgot", the scenes of terror Which have history disgraced. Then let principles of equal Rights be scattered to the crowd : Then, as necessary sequel. Will in common peace be bowed Ma.sses 'fore the ideal beauty. Of its order stand in awe ; But there cannot be found duty Where there's no respect for law. Law must be associated Now with regal majesty. That our crimes may be abated ; And protected, property. For this purpose find ensconed here. Both in heaven fair and in hell, Monarchs powerful, enthroned there : And they serve their purpose well. Socialists are kept in order, Law is held in due respect. Swaying to our empire's border. Purpose stout and head erect. Majesty's supreme regarded ; To deride it, is a crime; All contempt must be discarded When addressing power here prime To connect this with my saying That immortal there is none, 1 must shock the faithfuls praying To an omniscient one ; K-now then, that the God tlie mighty Whom they worship on the earth In their adorations flighty, Atheists regard with mirth. Him all nations have coml)ine(l in To beseech and to adore- In the faith thej^ are so blind in. He, Jehovah, is no more I He has long since been succeeded In his enviable reign By an heir who, 'tis conceded. Knows his power to sustain. Kings have followed, and departed. On that heavenly, splendid throne. One by one, by death e'er thwarted To reign in all times alone. So, too, Satan, long is numbered With the dead ; his place is filled ; But his memory has not shnnbered : Into you 'twill be instilled. — Hell, as heaven also, possesses Its America, its Spain ; Italy in dire distresses, Ireland, too, 'neath British strain; Germany, with France to wrangle ; Russia, to subdue the Turks ; Austria, with Greece to dangle After ; Scotland with its kirks ; Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden ; Norway with its fosses' fall : Hungary, an earthly Eden ; Cuba, steeped in fight and gall ; Venezuela, with its changes; Brazil, with its wooded wastes : Chili, with its mountain ranges; And Peru, with treasured tastes : There's Bolivia, with its craters, Argentine, with clouded peace ; Paraguay, with order haters ; Uraguay, with dire caprice ; There's Guiana, with its peppers ; And Granada, with its strife ; China and Japan, with lepers ; India, revolution rife ; Persia, with its ancient fables ; Siam ; Araby the blest ; 40 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Hindoostan, with towering gables; And New Zealand, in unrest ; Whole Australia, energetic ; Borneo, with rapid streams ; Tartary, a vile emetic ; Iceland, where the Edda gleams ; Egypt, with its ruined wonders : Tunis, with its pirate crew ; Tripoli ; Algiers, in thunders : And Morocco, dark of hue. And the other combinations Of unsettled, curious man, Lessonful agglomerations. All on one same reckless plan. And besides, the territories Of the other worlds and spheres. Teeming with most wondrous stories, Racked with war and wails and fear All by like signification Are in heaven and hell here called. Each the self-same congregation, Here enlarged, and there ensmalled : Each a province tributary To the emperor of the whole ; All their share of burden carry Of th' entire Hellopole : All in congress represented. Taxed according to their worth. Each as much or more contented As it was below on earth. All a wonder, will surmise you : So it is : a mighty truth. Let its nature not surprise you ; Study it ; you're still in youth. You will find therein great cities, London, Paris, Berlin named. With their thousand faults and pities. In like circumstances framed. You will find your world repeated. Thus is constituted hell. Be it, then, familiar' greeted ; Play therein your part, sir, well. — Sex is sex the wide space over, On all globes and worlds and earth'^ People marry, live in clover Or disunion, 'midst their births. Man's prone here to all the passions Which disgrace his earthly life, Woman to the same vain fashions, Child or widow, maid or wife. — And to end this brief summation Of the attributes of hell, For your special delectation On one more thing will 1 dwell : Its topography wants beauty. Unless romance gives it that. But it will yet be your duty On this subject oft to chat. Here grim winter reigns eternal". Summer lives in heavenly realms, Endless frost the shades infernal With its rigor ovenvhelms. liut we make it comfortable By cute artificial means, .^nd we pierce the precincts sable With electric, brilliant sheens. Warmth infuse we by invention: Science lends a mighty hand ; ^'ou'll not suffer by detention In this rugged, cheerless land. Viju will praise the fates that guided You into our friendly mid ; That you think you've wrong' decided In your choice, that be forbid." Hugon paused. All things uncertain Had become as clear as light : Rent asunder, hung the curtain Which had shrouded them in night. CANTO VI. THE TORTURES OF THE DAMNED. THE procession was most curious : Hugon with his flowing beard (living him an aspect furious. With his gray head proudly reared : Clad in long and sombre mantle. Waist enrapped in narrow belt Which unconscious' he would tantle As his hand it playful' felt : On his locks a militarj- Hat aristocratic' perched : In his grasp a cane did carrj- Which the .ground each three yards searched. On the horse Armillus saddled. Still in duellist costume, On his journey slowly daddled, Thus stran.ge' rescued from the tomb : And the blood as if by magic Fled from off the spotless white. Nothing to recall the tragic Hell-and-horror-stricken night ; And the wound, too, was a memorj-. He had never felt so strong ; THE INFERNAL REALMS. 41 All was blotted by the emery Of oblivion, pardoned wrong. And behind tlieni irndged the fellow With the lantern at his side Sending out a sickly, yellow Fnlgence o'er the precincts wide. All were lost in Contemplation, All was silent as a grave ; Hugon pondered o'er damnation ; And his thoughts course headlong gave Young Armillus, in reviewing What his guide had him revealed ; Now for what his fates were brewing He his heart with valor steeled. But see there, in gloomy distance Did he not perceive a star? And to lend his sight assistance. Pinched his ^yes to see more far. And his orbs to utmost straining, He beheld to his amaze' An effulgence dim, yet gaining On the sense throughout the haze : It appeared as though a valley Was illuminated bright' ; Onward faster did he sally Through the great infernal night. " 1 hat," e.xclaimed the aged mentor, " Is the city whence we're bound, Which we soon shall reach and enter, With success my mission crowned, \\'here we soon will be reclining, And you'll rest on your fatigue ; That bright star you see there shining, Is not far by many a league. "I'is a light electric, sending Beams e'en stronger than the moon'-. On the streets and squares e.xtendini; ( )'er the site tt,>ii \ Museums, gilded hells where dizzy Mobs indulged in rinigc-i't-noiy , \'ile and innocent diversion, Festive halls and gay saloons. Great bazaars in light-immersion. Palaces with rich festc"ins. .\nd on other hand were squallid Homes, and doubtful, low retreats. Hurried through by faces pallid, Scourged with scars and anxious pleats Hugon led his charge in hurry To a splendid, bright hotel. And escaped the flight and flurry, And the city's mad pell-mell There a suite of chambers festive Waited for the guests' command, Where Armilhis, flushed and restive, Vainly sighed for Morpheus' hand. < )ut upon the streets the violent Glare and flutter came to end, And the city lapsed in' silent Peace, for further strife to meiul. In the morning, — thus accept it- Life was everywhere renewed. And th' electric lights o'erleapt it With refulgence motley hued. Hy his bedside, at his rising, Found Armillus rich attire Which, without their source surmising. He put on with great desire. He was pleased at the reflection As he glanced into the glass : " What a smiling resurrection ! What may not all come to pass I" All was modern, fashionable . Gallant was the cutaway ; And tonsorial artists able Brought his graces into play . Then a breakfast fit tor princes. And a fragrant cigarette. While the guide his charge convinces That he need o'er nothing frer 'Ihen there came the morning papers With their complement of news, I'liU of scandal, crime and capers, Sport and speeches, to amuse ; Humors of impending fighting In some savage province far; Editorials on the righting Of the sins which home-scenes mar. And while reading, it was stated That a magistrate below Their convenience there awaited ; Hugon bid them up him show. And Armillus was required To give answer to his quest, As the state of him desired As its new and welcome guest : " Name the planet whence you issue, .And the sod that gave you birth."— THE INFERNAL REALMS. 43 "An Anicrican by lissuc, From the little mother Kailli." — " What the age when ilealli o'ertook you." — " Years 1 inimher twenty-five." " What your worth when breath forsook yon. " Nolhini; : \ coiiU! never thrive." — '■ What, then, was ymn- occupation'.'" — ■' Sir, I wa.s a gentleman." — " What was your denomination '.'" — "Atheist, beneath the ban." — " What yoin' name when there yon (lo\ni5hecl';' '■ 'Vow my sotil, that I've forgot", For a new one have I nourished Since 1 touched iipon this spot. "I'is Armi'.his, and no other. That, 1 trust, sir, will suffice." — " Quite so. Had you sister, brother?" — " No, I had not such a vice." " Were, when you passed off, you married .'" " No, I never could me wed ; Once such an idea I carried. But the maiden long is dead." — " Have you any expectation Of what yoti expect to do?" — " Mistily. My occupation Is, methinks, known but to few." — " Have you debts?" — "Some ten or twenty.' "Are you in a mind to pay?" — " Yes ; I'll soon have money plenty. Hugon will not say mc nay." — Then, with proper salutation, Bowed himself the justice out : There ensued a conversation On some questions of some doubt : " Now sir, you've become a heller, And are fully naturalized ; . And, as this hotel's high dweller, Yon will soon he advertised. Ixjok about you, note the people. Note its customs and its ways, Note the city void of steeple. Time all nights, with naught of days ; Note its social ties and passions. Note how they with earth agree, Note their pleasures and their fashions, And, too, note their misery. Note the features truly human In their daily life displayed, Note the status of fair woman. Note the culture here essayed. Grasp the link that holds all persons In this whole society. Note th' effects and the incursions Of this and that theoiy. And then .isk, how to ref.jrni ii. How to do away its ills ; And the evil, how to storm it. How to stay its aches and chills. I can see disdain expanding O'er your features when yon look ( )n humanity, demanding Ills removed ymi cannot brook. And 1 answer that our nalioii>, And societies as well. Are as perfect in gradations On all earths, in heaven and hell .\s they can be, in their actions. Principles, morality. Institutions and attractions, .\nd in their philosophy. Take one social factor : could you Change it sudden' on the spot To one better? And sir, would you Cut out, or erase, a blot? If man's methods are still wanting Perfect knowledge, why despair? How would yon enjoy my taunting 'Though you grasped from out of air ?- Man's as perfect as he should be, And methinks, is doing well ; If not struggling, he ne'er could be Half .is far, I'm free to tell. Time will yet see man the master Of all knowledge and all spheres. And that day is coming faster Than you think, I have no fears. Man has sins .ind hideous vices. Some in hand and some on shelves, Some with happily passed-through crises Rut they puni.>h all themselves. l.et me show you that the errors Which into foul yell you crammed, Manifest are here as terrors. And as tortures of the damned ; J.et me show you how they offer For each sin a sacrifice, How they shriek and burn and suffer For each hellish, cursed vice ; Mother Nature, vigilante, Notes and punishes sins well, Reproduces here what Dante Showed us in his horrid hell. In this human folly's medley You will note at every stride They own seven sins and deadly, And the first of these is pride. See the proud their way pursuing Till they suffer serious fall, 44 THE INFERNAL CO MED V. Bitterly llieir pritlc- then rueing, For the fall of pride is gall. Next comes envy, loathsome feature Of the countenance of the heart : Note the sufferings of the creature 'I'hat has played with that its part ; Note how hatred marks distortion In their purity of soul. Note their miserahle portion To the very end and goal. Note the wrathful, with what shrinking Fellows look upon that sin, E'er avoiding it, and thinking They have well escaped its din. Then, sir, note the avaricious. What regard hold they in man '! They are shunned as something vicious, And are placed beneath the ban ; People dare not think to offer, For they grasp at things at once : Closed to them is every coffer ; One in vain for credit hunts. Take the gluttons, note tlie tortures They for their delight endure ; Yet the humble and the courtiers Vic to play the epicure. 1,01 mc mention the lascivious, Note the consequence there ; Their conditions, note how grievious ; What a fright, the load they bear. Sec the violent, how carries Fvery act of theirs to fruit ; How unhappy, if one jnarries. What repentance there's to bnut. — Note how murder ends on gallows, Suicide in black despair. What the breakers, rocks and shallows They encounter, wreck on there. Note the world of fraud conducers. How they battle for their gain ; Note the woes of the seducers, How their lives with care they stain. See those idle, wily chatterers By their folly tossed and wrung, Miserable, hunted flatterers. What they suffer with their tongue. See the misers, how they tremble When in jeopardy 's their gold, How they're tantled, and dissemble, How they run now hot then cold. See the barterers, how they're rated By disdainful fellowmen. Hypocrites, how execrated ; None will stoop to deal with them. Mark how thieves are shimned and branded, Quaking at their every turn. Evil counselors, how handed Hy all men who them but spurn. Then belinld of war the leaders. What they in their doings bear; Those unsightful discord-breeders Of damnation get their share. Worse than thieves ana graceless liars. See the fate of that cursed class Whom we know as falsifiers, What misforttmes they amass. — And from simple fraud descending Into blacker treachery. Note how night and horror, blending. Trace out their ignominy. See this Caiiia 'mong the mortals, How the papers with it teem ; Note how deep down are the portals In great Allighieri's dream. By the dreadest demons hindered To remain a sp.ace in peace ; Those who would betray their kindreil, (let from sorrow no release. Sec the Antenora swelling Through our nation's history ; Wretches vile their nations selM'ng. H ow tlicy eke out terribly Chastisement from their historians Who eternally defame These accursed Antenorians, And hold out their blotted name. Note the Ptolcmaca spreading Further through the universe, (iuest-betrayers rashly wedding With a reeking, shameful curse ; Hunted, and by flight eluding, One remains an outcast e'er, O'er his treacherous misdeeds brooding; And if trapped, the noose his share. Such betrayers have no Mecca Where in prayer they find relief. Who would join the drear Judecca'.' Its fell woes are past belief. — Thus the hell, in which you're living. Is with equal terrors rammed, And the heads I here am giving. Are the tortures of the damned. Which with their intense dread kill us. — But enough, we must be gone ; Mepha waits Arouse, Armillus. We must be there ere next morn. THE INFERNAL REALMS. 45 (Iff to Paris, hell's briglu centre, 'I'o our sovereign beauteous (luecii. Where in pomp, sir, you will enter, Hero uf the splendid scene. It is she who sununons to her \iHi. ArinilUis. Wx preDticr ! (jo, and of her favor woo her: (lo, and bless the coming day. You'll admire her fine acumen, And will praise her beauty well Sir, the devil is woman !" — '■ Let ns go. A splendid hell !" THE ENU OF THE INFERNAL REALMS. CANTO I. THE CHARACTER OF TH K Ul.l-hSELl. THE mind is great that flashes scuni On evil, wrong and error ; That visits sense, from duty torn, With deep and awful terror : The heart is great that bleeds at si^hi Of loathsome prostitution Of quality, of thought, of right, And beats for retribution ; The soul is great that swells alarm When morals meet prostraticm, And antidotes the ruinous harm With scathing condemnation. But oft, appearances dehule. And, 'neath unsightly rubble, The gem appears, while brightly-hvied Phantasm bursts, a bubble I So greater far are those who probe The motive of each action. And view the progress of the globe With care, and not distraction ; Who sort from seeming right the true. Who see the sense of folly, The romance of a rugged view. The glee of melancholy. All is not vile thai will not rhyme With one's own sense of duty, Nor is the standard of one clime Another's mete of beauty. Where one thinks this is right, that wrong A thousand will take issue ; Delusion may be ere so strong Its fabric is a tissue. As weeds oft flourish in the sand. So chastisement will nourish The evil it is meant to brand; And waste and riot flourish. But weeds ennoble oft in sod. And flagrant coarseness mellows ; A heretic may turn to God When taken from his fellows 'Tis better, in an estimate Of man, to judge him lightly Than to repent, and that too late. He has not been judged him rightly. hi acts we do, in thoughts we bear. In exercise of reason, Let all our justest judgments e'er Sweet charity rich' season. So would I have ye judge my song Until to end ye've read it ; Then cry it right or cry it wrong. With praise or censure wed it. Then damn it ye that have been struck With its unorthodo.xy Of modern sentiment, and pluck, In person or by proxy. Its stinging brambles from the stem, And hold to execration. To scorn, ignominy up them, And heap them with damnation. And I will smile to see the rage And horror I've inflicted — But until then let persiflage And war be interdicted. Pon't sneer at every sentiment That meets not your approval. But let a patient temperament Be till then your behooval. Full opportunity I'll give For rapture and for wonder : And while ye flare and choke and grieve. Spare till the end your thunder. Appreciate in all its might The hatred that I bear yc ; And when I've finished what I write. To conflict will I dare ye. And ye that love me for my strain. And gather 'neath my banner, iMy errors meet not with disdain. Nor mind my clumsy manner, But follow me unto the end ; Forgive my uncouth fashions ; Your patience and attention lend. And tolerate my passions. THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 47 1 must avenge a bitter wrong. And may be oft prolific ; But 1 must manifest e'er long that it will be terrific, rile vengeance that 1 have prepared ; I might have been so happy, Elysian joys I might have shared : Hut now my spirit 's nappy. My mind a cloud, my heart a wreck, My life a mad distraction, My best emotions held in check By galling stupefaction. 1 look about me, and 1 see How beings tender' mingle 'I'heir happiness and misery, Until my cheeks hut' tingle. I cast my eyes on chastity. On rosy youth and beauty, -"Vud feel my heart's blear poverty ; "Iwas broke' while yet on duty. And they that brought this break alioii With their fanaticism, That put my paradise to rout With spiritualism, They, and the brethren of their class, Must pay me, aye, and doubl' For all the hours they made me pass Of torture, tears and trouble. i w ill not spare one sacred thing They hold to, but provoke them With epithet and vicious fling Until my scorn shall choke them. And who are i/iey / Not ye that ask, For those I mean will know it, And will severely take to task Me, the infernal poei. But I will meet them with my verse And show that 1 write reason, .\nd science will avert their curse As calumny and treason. And now, forget what 1 have said ; Let harmony yet fill us ; Ve have but very little read ; Return we to Armillus. — He and his guide the city left By rail, checked through in sleeper Of no improvement earthly 'reft, And plowed Inferno deeper. The air without was bitter' cold, And lights illuminated Long tracts of icy bergs untold, And snow-drifts unabated. Within, the travelers sat in ease, To destination whirling. With various' measured energies Blue clouds of smoke unfurling. And as they sat, the guide began His history detailing ; With interest stud' the story ran, The other high' regaling : " On earth, lor that is whence 1 sprang, I proved an idle fellow ; My father at my earlaps rang Till they were worn and mellow. We lived in south of sunny trance In plenty and in clover. But I did not have many a chance To get me half seas over -My father held a bishopric : And, with his endless preaching And argument and logic' trick, Went on his faith me teaching. He won me to his own belief. In which none was sincerer ; Nor have I seen a Jesuit chief Who held to it severer. He brought me up to serve the church, And I was cloaked in season, Ihitil 1 left it in the lurch ; It broke his heart, my treason. The old man left me all his worth, For I had ne'er a brother; .\n<\ laboring heavily at my birth, Was too much for my mother 1 threw my rosary away , Was excommunicated ; My heritage became their prey, And I was foully rated. I turned my heel upon the scene .\nd drifted into science, .\nd climbed upon a twiglec green Through my astute reliance, Into the French Academy, Where I had bread and leisure, .And paged me through philosophy To my content and pleasure — Until, one day, I met a priest Whom I most fondly hated, And who had long years never ceased To have me e,vecrated. We had an argument or two On faith and health and weaihcr, .\nd both of us vehement grew As we stood there together. He hurled the vilest epithets Upon my head devoted, .\nd dealt me out some hideous threats Of hell not sugar-coated. THE INFERNAL COMEDY. The argument got out of joint, And I got out of patience, And brought him much too sharp a point To keep up our relations ; The point was steel, and 1 was flown. But soon thereafter dangled From lofty public gibbet down. And died of being strangled. 1 rame to hell 1 know not how, And set up for assessor. But to superiors would not bow. And so became professor (^f physics and of chemistry In some infernal college Where I obtained a high degree. And wondrous wealth of knowledge. The chancellor died, and me they chose To fill his late position. And higher in esteem I 'rose ; The queen saw my condition. And when there died the minister Of things of the interior. On me the seat did she confer As being not inferior To what I had ; I bowed in grace. Accepted the portfolio ; She dropped a title on my place. Thus ending the imbroglio. I .idded to my worldly store, — Which is, too, store infernal, — And 'rose in honor more and more By ministries internal, Until, one day, our gi-acious queen An hour of me demanded ; Her majesty, no sooner seen, A document me handed On which a lengthy tale was writ' That one by fate elected. Possessed of supernatural wit. Was here to be detecteil Who might himself Armilhis lall : He was to be arrested. And brought within the royal thrall, With dignity invested. 1 will not now anticipate The queen's communication. Which she will in due time relate. But she divulged your station To be in future her premier ; 'Tis here the highest honor, And Congress did not say her nay To be of it the donor. We call it Congress here in hell ; 'Tis Parliament in heaven ; A heavener is a British swell In all the holy seven. Vou see, the difference 'twixt the two Inimicals is curious ; I'heir states are not their mortal due ; The sense of heaven is spurious. Those men and women on the earth Who live to read the Bible And other such, up from their birth. On common sense a libel ; Who lay upon their knees and pray. Sincere' or hypocritic' ; Who fast the Lenten days away, Abstain from life politic' ; Who go to church, and spend their gold On beggarly collection ; Who ape the sheeps of shepherds' fold. And howl for heaven's protection , Who frown upon the dance, the stage, And shrink from glee and pleasure ; Who fear a godhead in its rage. And wait its lordly leisure ; Whose life's a narrow-minded sphere Of meekness and devotion; Who, ere they'd smile, would shed a tear. And deem a woe a lotion ; Who go about with bowed-down heads In covert, sneaking manner ; Who tremble in their very beds When dreaming of our banner ; Who represent the ignorant, The obstinate, fanatic. The ministers of wretched cant And dogmas theocratic ; And others of that hateful ilk Who 'round delusion fumble. Be they decked nut in sack or silk. Be titled they, or humble, — All such, at their express demand. Attain the heaven they sigh for ; While such who live on other hand. Get to the hell they die for. So note the more congenial air Of sharers of damnation, And thank your stars that you are where They think and act elation." And thus they passed the time away. Exchanging their opinions. Engaged in narrative or play And crossed the bleak dominions. It went by rail, it went by sea, Through wintry wind and rigor; It went in earnest, went in glee. It went with speed and vigor THE INFERNAL HISTORY 49 The realms athrougli, until they saw The capital infernal, 'I'he centre of the might and law Of the confines eternal. Armillns stepped with swelling heart Into a line conveyance, ' A comfortable, regal part Of majesty's purveyance. They drove unto a grand hotel To make due preparation To show themselves refreshed and well Upon the presentation. They rested from their late fatigue. And donned a rich attire To join the court' s^t/cU intrigue. And notice to inspire, And then set out in regal state, Aquafi'with fortune's chalice. To bow before their potentate Within the royal palace. Armdius was aglow, and burst With youth and manly beauty, Elate, impatiently athirst To do the queen his duty. They hurried through the brilliant streets. And lively, splendid courses. In gallant style and dashing heats. Drawn on by prancing horses. Unto his charge the old man said : "Assume the blackest feather. And look your best, erect your he.id When we go in together. Remember you are more than they Who stand by in derision ; Be amiable, be proud, be gay, Assimie yoyr brightest vision. Then play it well, your destined part ; Be prudent, bold, infernal ; Inspire with love Queen Mepha's heart. And yours is joy eternal !" CANTO II. THE THIKD TE.STAMENT. ARMILLUS gazed with wondering looks Upon th' illumination Of miles of park and garden nooks, And endless sequestration ; And, in their midst, a palace fair In gorgeous guise uprising, The simile of which he ne'er Had set about devising. There was a maze of firs and pines. With snowy silver lining, Their twigs and curious' clinging vines In icy breaths repining. The battlements and towers were ice. Of palace and out-buildings ; And flashing beams of rare device. As if from costly gildings. Upon the bleak vicinity From thousand lights reflected ; The park's unique intricacy By pathways intersected. They passed the chilly splendor through. Up at the portals landing. Where guards, in clothes of regal hue. Were silently 'round standing. These bowed a welcome to the twain As they the portals entered. The interest of each guard and swain Upon them fi.xed and centered. The halls within were rich and great. With decoration fangled, The evidence of royal state, Escutcheon proud' bespangled. A chamber then received the pair. Wherein a crowd 'round strutted Of humble mendicants with prayer. And courtiers fortune-glutted. Immediately they were perceived, A page approached politely, A hundred feeling much aggrieved These were preferred, and brightly Old Hugon smiled, /(>?/;7w/;v(;' the boy. And in his footsteps followed; Armillus fell behind, his joy, Treplditation swallowed. They stood before their august queen, Armillus fiercely blushing. Old Hugon looking on serene'. His charge's blood hot" rushing. Nor dared he raise to her his eyes, He felt so much confounded ; Her aspect could he not surmise. His heart so rapid' bounded. And Hugon took the word and spake: " Your majesty, behold me With him I searched for, in my wake ; 'Tis he, and so he's told me." — " Tis well," replied a woman's voice So thrilling and so charming That he attrapped his heart rejoice. And feelings to her warming. 50 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. " We thank thee for thy loyal zeal, And more, that wast successful ; We shall bethink us of thy weal ; It shall not prove distressful. And you, kind sir, that have obeyed Our call sans hesitation, Be you 'mongst us a welcome prayed ; Accept our salutation." And then Armillus fell on knee, And grasped the royal ermuie, And pressed to lip it ardently. His homage to determine. And then be raised his eyes to hers With admiration glowing, The scion of the Lucifers Upon, their glance bestowing. He saw a most entrancing face Of dark and radiant beauty, And vowed, by every faultless trace. To do her sacred duty. Such eye he had ne'er had dreamt to see, So black, so bright, so bursting With inward fire and ecstacy ; How fell his own to thirsting! What classic brow, so royal' set. As white as alabaster, That with an inward epithet As with the gods he classed her. How burned those cheeks, so soft, so smooth. With color high and rosy : How cinb his gaze, his passions soothe In features silent, pmsy ? How swelled those lips alluringly — A life he'd give to kiss them. And die out in eternity. Eternally to miss tliem. Those raven tresses, how they fell Upon the royal mantle — What cup or food was there in hell That him like these could tantal'? With gracious smile, in stately wise, With gentle, well-meant manner, Her looks aflash, she bid him rise. And took him 'neath her banner. "Ah, beauteous queen," quoth he, " I bless My stars to've brought me to thee To lay my homage under stress, And with my service woo thee. Accept me, heart and hand and soul. To die for, to defend thee Unto the end, unto each goal. Wherever thou may'st send me. If 1 have been elect' of fate Thy foes to fight and crumble, And stand within thy service, great. Yet am I thine most humble. For thee would I endure once more My death's sublimest terrors, And wade in heaven's own blood and gore. And count them not for errors. Hail thee, thou fairest of thy sex, To thee I consecrate me ; And if in smallest thing I ve,x. Thou may est execrate me. If thQu wilt give to me my sword. In hand my shield, too, place me. And send me thus one glance adored. In battle will I face me Thy enemies, be Who they may, I will so long annoy them 'Till they'll not see another day To give me to destroy them." And on her hand he pressed a kiss That sent the blood fierce' sweeping Athrough her veins in thrilling bliss, And on her cheeks high leaping. Thus had Queen Mepha won a knight Who would a host assemble To fill the power of heaven with fright. And make its legions tremble. And Hugon smiled upon the pair ; His presence well might 'reave them Of liberty and tender air : He bowed salute to leave them. She gave her train a royal sweep With lordly, gentle vigor. And into cushions soft and deep Reposed her graceful figure. And motioned to the fluttering youth To seat himself beside her. Which he obeyed her quick, in sooth. With love-looks to betide her. She tinkled on a silver bell And called for fruit and sherry, Nor needed he her words to tell To be him fast and merry. "Armillus," quoth the lovely girl Who bore the crown infernal, " I thank thee thou art not a churl Within, nor yet external'," And blushed to say it, while he met The glass she high uplifted ; And he, his rapture still to whet. Her own with full eyes sifted. " Here's to the future, may it prove. My queen, an age of pleasure; May fortune e'er success behoove. And we enjoy 't at leisure. THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 51 And may yuii realize and learn The homage that 1 bear you, The sentiment with which I burn, To eqvial which 1 dare you." And he bestowed a blazing glance Upon the lovely creature, With blush and shame yet to enhance The glory of each feature. They sat and chat', and looked a world Of meaning and of feeling ; A hurricane of passion whirled Into a soft congealing. And when they 'rose, he burned of her, And she of him, distracted' ; Affection stopped not to aver Its fervor, nor protracted In bashfulness its backwardness. But spoke with loud assurance From eyes that gleamed with wickedness And passionate allurance. "And now," quoth she, " but follow me To my communication. So that there be no mystery Between us, for your station Must be determined in the hour. For so, sir, do I will it ; Impatient' will the time devour I e'en until I fill it M'ith romance of your noble birth In history's extension. Which you knew not while you on earth Yet suffered your detention." She led the way into a hall. Of his attention certain. Since she so exercised her thrall ; And pointed to a curtain : " Behind that stands a massive plate Of rarest, whitest marble. Which sacredest of things I rate, And what it bears in garbel. Know then, when Satan lost his cause. Retired with his legions. And made his long and bitter pause In these infernal regions. Upon this marble slab he writ A prophesy for certain. In terms of brevity and wit " Slie tore aside the curtain : " Read for yourself!" — Armillus read ; " My fall, to fate impute it ; Historians will with lie it wed; Armillus shall refute it ! So when he comes, then tremble, Christ, Or ye of his succession; He will avenge me, and high-priced Will be his intercession. And ye that follow me in reign. Receive, adore and hail him. And let the highest be his gain ; With honor high regale him. What follows that, I may not know. But tell him that I love him, For he will Jove's destruction sow. And place himself above him." Armillus turned away, and frowned With sternest resolution ; "Aye, Lucifer, and I'll be crowned Thy scourge, thy retribution !" And then he bowed unto his queen : " I thank you for this showing. For this inscription that I've seen; For true', 'tis worth the knowing. I'll be your ancestor's best friend. And be yours too, to measure ; You my perceptions, power lend. And be your slave, your pleasure." And Mepha caught his raving eye Aburst with love, and kindled; Alas for maiden modesty ; Into a naught it dwindled. He caught her in impulsive arms, Her wild to bosom straining. He clasped to heart those splendid charms Their sweet ambrosia draining And when they parted for the night, It was in mellow sorrow. Expectant of the dawning light Of promising to-morrow. The morrow came, and witli it brought A scene of regal splendor. In which Armillus, sense high wrought Met Mepha, she to tender The emblems of official state. Before the court assembled. To him, with dignity elate And passion well dissembled. And when 'twas done, and he the oath Of office had him taken. They left the throne -hall, happy both To have the throng forsaken. And sought a refuge where they might Pour out their young affection. Enamored of each other's sight, And fearless of detection. And when they'd cooed till either knew The other's heart, requested Armillus of his queen to shew In what her past was vested ; 52 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. To tell him of the history Of matters thought eternal. To open out the mystery, The tale of things infernal. The narrative of time and space, Of man's birth, of his sinning; The features of the struggle trace To end from their beginning. And she most willingly complied, For to her woman's graces She familiarity allied With circumstance and places. And we will follow what she tells ; I pray for your attention. And I will weave ye wondrous spells Of interest and invention. Armillus lent a willing ear. And marveled at her story ; So may ye marvel when ye hear The tale of Mepha's glory. CANTO III. THE NEW GENESIS. QUKF.N Mepha owned extensive store Of cosmic erudition, (_)f history and ancient lore Devoid of superstition. She had been taught philosophy In an infernal college, And could surpass the mastery Of petty human knowledge. In common with the lowest serf. The problem of all ages. The origin of blooming turf. And life in all its stages. The starry maze, the heavens blue. The miles of restless ocean. The meadows laughing in the dew. The zephyrs in their motion. The towering mountains, great cascades Of rainbow-tinted waters In fury lashed on rocky blades In foul Charybdian quarters, — Knew she. And much beyond all To her by sires related Who set forth their hypothesis Of things emphatic' stated ; Nor proudest intellect on earth Of educated woman. this. Of most aristocratic birth. Could equal her acumen. She spoke delight, and breathed love When so it pleased her humor. All idle slander far above, Beyond the reach of rumor ; Or she could prattle on all things Divine, infernal, mortal ; Deal out the most sarcastic flings, Yet stop short at the portal Of vanity, her steps retrace. And shine at home resplendant, A worthy scion of her race. Of Satan the descendant. And when she oped her lips to smile, She won all hearts about her ; Her enemies ne'er saw her guile. Nor could they stop to doubt her. And when she knit that classic brow In earnest meditation, She hushed a riot, quelled a row. And won o'er detestation. And as she now began to speak. It seemed no condescension; Yet he beside her felt so weak. And list' with wrapt attention. She spoke as I can ne'er repeat, With sense and animation ; To hear her, was a royal treat. Without exaggeration : " The oldest records they possess On earth of the beginning, What some in Christian faith profess, Although their ranks are thinning. Are found contained, ni book and verse. In a divine-called Bible, Which would me for my precepts curse And hold mc for them liable. Therein 'tis writ that world and sky Are wonders of creation, A sacred, hallowed mystery Beyond our penetration. And yet the truth lies bare and clear. Nor hiding from detection; In evolution find its gear. In natural selection. Begin we then where time began To work its ancient wonders. And let us thought and reason span. Defy the church's thunders ; And fly with me from narrow thought. From would-be wits and sages. And learn what common agents wrought In untold, misty ages." THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 53 lint hero I bid you p;uise a while, You rash and careless reader ; Here is a stone that marks a mile ; Read slow', and try to heed her: " Then know that in the womb of time, Beyond the first beginning, Before there was a zone or clime, Or thoughts of mortals sinning. There was a blank — a mighty blank — Of nothing! Note my meaning. There was no life, no file, no rank. No stirring and no weaning. All what you may of things conceive. Was absent ; no perception Was there into this blank to weave By fancy or surreption. There was no void, there was no space. There was no realm chaotic, No things to mend, no mist to face, No life, no germ e.xotic. 'Twas nothing. Think, and you are lost ! A nothing is no vision; It is not even ; 't has no cost, No measure, no precision. It was no ether, was no air, It lacked qualification; It bore no fruit, it owned no share. It had no emanation." Then did a God step forth to make A plan for system-building ? Establish earths, with moons in wake, And sinis co lend them gilding ? A wretched thought ! How darkly plod These men in narrow folly ! Can out of naught proceed a God? It makes me melancholy To think that in the face of truth, As taught by evolution, A faith should live to lend, in sooth. Our living its pollution. No, no : the fact may yet be hid. Or yet be theoretic : All theory I welcome bid, 'Though thought to be heretic. Before I give to faith my ear. Before I stoop to praying ; A few short years will make it clear Past hooting and gainsaying. Until then let us speculate. Account this faith a treason To common sense, and boldly state Cosmology in reason. Let her proceed : " The human mind. To certain workings narrowed. Cannot conceive a naught, and find The mental pulse unharrowed By struggles for the sober sense Of clear, concept! ve vision, But in such reasonings must commence With doubt and indecision. A naught is nothing, yet's embraced In everything — how say you? I seek to have the bottom traced. Nor will with words betray you. Were there not everything, we could No nothing have ; for, clearly. All things were in a curious mood If everything were merely Aparfofall. This nothing, then. Of everything a part is. It cannot go beyond your ken That this of all the start is. But 'everything,' with 'nothing' classed Within its comprehension. Must be of particles amassed. Have nature and extension. All things have pores, interstices. And 'nothing' 's no e.xception; So nothing with its pores agrees. Though hazy the conception. Interstices, 'though rifts so small That they cannot be sighted. And oft beyond the fancy fall. Are yet not to be slighted. So little so that they comprise The alpha of all action. And 'though with comprehension vies The thought, 'tis not distraction. These pores infinitesimal Then might be, or prodigious. Yet there they were — 'though criminal Seems this to the religious. These pores took heart, and burst their sphere. And battled for extension ; The 'nothing' fled as if in fear. And oflfered no prevention. In infinite time, to infinite space Grew out these pores with vigor; They vanished in the boundless trace Of universal figure. But mark that space not mere extent Implies ; that were a fiction ; You may not catch my words' intent ; It beggars my description. Of 'something' the e.xtent is space, Not ' nothing,' or not spacious At all extent would be, nor place Would be for aught that's gracious. 54 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. That something which extent then filled. Or filled all space, extended Through all extent, spaced space, was milled A thing that much portended. That something's known by various names, By ether, or by other Much vaguer titles, mistier framss, The fancy's breath to smother. I'll call it simply hydrogen. And suffer your objection, And rest me on my feeble ken For mercy and protection. So that, when infinite years had chased Eternity on further A lazy step, the future based Stood, fashioned by the birther Who was not God, but simple law Of natural creation ; See how the frosts of ages thaw Beneath our penetration ! The atoms of this 'something' massed, A mobile fluid forming. The furthest frontiers' lines surpassed. In lively motion storming For change of place and change of scene. And constant intertumbling, In noiseless strife and subtle spleen Upon each other rumbling. Until the atoms streaming curled In ordersome rotation. To aid in building up a world In this immense creation. And in an infinite space of time. These atoms changed their nature ; By inci-accident and clime, They changed their nomenclature. This atom into carbon changed. To sulpher changed the other ; A third into bright silver ranged. And gold became its brother : And so forth, till the elements, In gaseous state assorted. Became the planets' instruments. And with each other sported. For all the elements have sprung From common base parental. As they would tell had each a tongue. And each a talent mental." Here Mepha paused. Armillus said : " Your argument is novel, ^ Yet is 't not with conviction wed' ; For my consent you grovel. At first you ask me to conceive A nothing not e'en spacious ; And then you ask me to believe A consequence audacious, Which I audacious call because If space were not existing In nothing, then you now must pause The contrary persisting ; For space at last is space at first. And spaceous is like porous ; You have been blinded by your thirst For knowledge ; and in chorus Will sages overthrow your scheme ; Your logic is inihealthy ; Your premise seems an idle dream ; Your wit alone is wealthy." — "Armillus, speak not hastily," Him warned the glorious woman, " This question's simple majesty Appalls your young acumen ; Nor can you hope to understand By credence me refusing Before you've taken it in hand, And my design abusing. Can you conceive of emptiness. Of nothing, with your reason? A thing that 's attributionless, A thing to fancy treason? You cannot, perfectly. Therefore Must you accept its nature. And too, sir, if it own a pore. From logic's nomenclature. Can you my premises deny ? You cannot. Then accept me The rest. Can you with logic vie? Then have you overleapt me." — " My queen," replied the gallant youth, " Forgive me for this trouble ; I must accept it all as truth ; Denoimce all else a bubble. For all our world's philosophy Is, might I say, the science Of the infinite mystery On finite grounds' reliance. So may we argument our lives Away in vain dissention Of creed; no theory e'er thrives That passes the extension Of worldly wit and human ken ; We are so small, so humble. We puny and vain-glorious men ; How quick' our fancies crumble ! How oft have I not listened to A war of words, and thought me How idly the conclusion woo These men who oft have wrought me THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 55 Stupendous plans of cosmical Commencement, to astound me ; Hereafter, I but laugh me shall At these disputes around me. We know that we were given birtli ; To propagate, our mission , To live our space on some small earth, Or supplement th' edition Upon another sphere like this ; But die we must when 't 's over; So I'll accept th' hypothesis. And lie me down in clover. I can endure what you me preach While it is not religious. And 'though your ends and fancies reach Away in the prodigious. So far your majesty spoke well ; What follows, acceptation Will find, whatever you may tell Me of the whole creation. Proceed, fair queen, nor on the way Of your narrative dally, And in your intellect's display. Another triumph tally.' He gazed on her with tender eyes ; For love did he enlist her ; He drew her out some deep, deep sighs ; He caught in arms and kissed her. CANTO IV. AtnoCREATION. SOCIETY : what does it mean? It means the world of fashions In which each action is a screen To lullaby the passions. So when a man and woman meet In intercourse profounder Than common talk, they seize the treat, 'Though slanders fall around her Whom t concerns ; not less divine Is their precipitation In love, nor less her glorious shine Who yields to the sensation On first attack ; this couple met On ground far higher, stranger That that on which plain mortals fret. Nor was there any danger That Mepha should be less a queen, A virgin, and a woman; She did not bloom to blush unseen ; She was trifle human. Armillus was to her a man To whom she was mdebted For dreams of vengeance on a plan That her desires whetted. So it was natural that she Should give him her affection ; And it was given hastily, 'Though not without reflection. Out to this interthought a truce ; A truce to explanation, 'i'o this apology, excuse ; Resume we her narration ; The way in which she said these things So affable and pretty. As though they gushed from thousand springs Of wisdom rare and witty : " I said that, at a certain stage. The universe was ruflled With elements in gaseous guage. In which they moved and shuffled. In time, a movement rotary Became the ragged motion ; Each pushed its fellow zealously Along within this ocean. Until on systematic plan They followed revolution. The universe with spheres to span. And narrow their dilution. The spheres, at first a hurricane Of gases in rotation. Assumed a faster, denser grain, And won in condensation. Until these globes were nebular ; Then came their liquifaction ; And soon, a shell of regular Solidity the action Still furthered, till the misty haze Had burst in planetary Completion, and the starry maze On orbit wing made merry. So our empyreal shell was made ; And with it many brothers Who envelope a colonnade Of spheres, for there are others Besides our own yet pigmy shell. Vast systems proud' enclosing, Who bear the heaven, and too, the hell Of those worlds grandly posing In other realms of space; and now Let fancy rise in vigor. And truth, superior strange, avow. And comprehend my figure. 56 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. You saw a system which you fail To pierce with aided vision. Confined in shell as if in jail ; Of all, a small division. Now think of this empyreal shell As though it were a planet Like that on which your childhood fell, And from its grandeur ban it. Conceive a system made of such Empyreal shells revolving On wondrous paths ; here is a touch Immensity dissolving. And 'round this mighty system wrap A shell ; to that we wander If life should find too soon a tap On this ; nor do I squander Your time with idle tales ; Hugon Knows little of this wonder, 'Though such like themes he's pondered on E'en sages may oft blunder. Conceive this second shell to be A planet in relation To myriad others, and you see How vast a revelation The universe becomes ; each state Divine and, too, infernal Unknown states to a smaller rate Must we ; these shells external Embrace into infinity The systems next below them. Then realize the majesty Of nature's products ; show them The homage which they well deserve. Is faith not a derision Upon the systems as they curve Beyond all ken and vision ? — And now turn, on the other hand. Back to the smallest planet ; Take we the earth where once your stand You made to learn and scan it : In it you see that nature's not Yet finished in its labor. For time will work its contents hot Into a system, neighbor Unto a smaller held within The shell of some revolving Yet unborn globe this system in. Still other worlds unsolving. Thus follow to infinity The thread of this conception To smallest mites, and you will be A master in adeption, And see between this pigmy mite And nature the proportion — Are you much larger in its sight? What matters it, your portion ? " — Armillus smiled as was his use When fallacy he sifted : " I fear your simile is loose; 'Though I am far from gifted With logical acumen, yet How is it that the outer Confines of earth in light are set And we're in darkness '. Doubter I would not be if 1 could but My way observe athrough it ; Still, why are we in darkness shut ? Why does not light imbue it? " — " Your earth," replied with grace the queen, " Has sim to light and warm it ; But here no blazing globe is seen To heat our crust; winds storm it Year in, year out, relentlessly. Without regard for season. With uncongeniality ; And you would know the reason ? Because we skirt our system's space ; Our distance is much greater For suns with light us out to trace; Mayhap they'll find us later. We are as great as earth is small. And greater is our distance. In due proportion, from the ball Next to us ; the resistance That light encounters by this space Is too great to come over ; And so it leaves us in the race A dark and cheerless rover. The one faint, scintillating ray That flies on undulations Through darkness toward our far wa)'. In its peregrinations Is lost, and does not strike our sphere : We see no stars above us ; We have no brilliant heavens here, No sister worlds to love us." — " So must our hearts the want supply," E.xclaimed the youth excited', "And worlds must speak from each true eye; Then will all things be righted. But say on, love : earth has a moon That's dead. Is it infernal? Can I suppose that it will soon Be but a shell external To systems in itself contained ? " — " Nay, sir, not all eggs hatching You'll find in nature. Is 't explained ? Or do my words need patching? THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 57 No ? Thank yoii, sir. Then have I won You o'er to my opinions? And has my mission so far done Its work ? Nor failed its pinions ? \ our looks, sir, are the best reply. They nerve me, and they chasten The spirit of my victory ; Hut let us now on hasten. — 1 lead you back to gaseous spheres. To elemental oceans, The automatic engineers Of many curious motions Which, in the course of time, involved Two .§reat, conflicting forces ; For thus the genesis is solved Of nature in its cotu'ses. 'J'he one was the centripetal. Which to the centre tended -All particles to draw : so shall This force be comprehended. By centres mean I to descry The centres of rotation Of gaseous spheres which sought tii tr\ To gain their concentration. The second, the centrifugal. Which with the other wrestled To throw off atoms from their thrall. To drive them whence they nestled. Thus were these forces both at war. And each in turn was mighty ; At poles the first would reign and soar; Elsewhere the last was flighty. At equatorial sides the first Was sure to be the stronger. And from the other's thralldom burst. To make the struggle longer. So came it, then, that, 'twi.\t the poles. The spheres strung out and fattened, While from the equidistant goals. The spheres sank in and flattened. As density increased, the force Centrifugal off" carried The palm of victory ; divorce Ensued where union tarried. It used its fierce predominance To work the sphere's detraction ; And from its body off did glance A ring of gas, the paction To overthrow, and for itself A world to form, dependent Upon its mother for the pelf Of brilliancy resplendant. And while the mother ball condensed Into a world, its daughter A sphere-life for itself commenced ; .\nd thus a moon was wrought her. lUit still it happened that the force Centripetal victorious Came out the fight, and so no course Of moon was born laborious*. And such a sphere was this our shell ; Its surface soon was hardened, .\nd thus became what proves your hell ; For this, it may be pardoned. The inside, filled with mobile gas. Developed, during ages. Into your universe, to pass The muster of your sages." Thus spoke the queen, and here I leave To rest the wearied reader ; I would my strain no further weave. And be no longer breeder Of technic' lore. From hence all know Their course themselves to follow From modern books in reason's glow, Discarding what is hollow. Still Mepha spoke, and .spoke so well That wrapt Armillus listened, -■^nd as he heard the queen of hell So speak, his glances glistened With admiration, joy and pride. And bursting satisfaction ; Here were his sympathies allied ; Here roused his soul to action. She spoke of elements and life, And drew from evolution The pictures of e.xistence-strife With startling elocution. .She spoke of carbon as the germ Of all protean matter. And tore, in many an ardent strain, The Christian faith to tatter. She dwelt on monera at length, On form and protoplasms. And threw, with intellectual strength, Man's errors down the chasms Of science's late triumphs, wed With sympathy and vigor Unto its edicts; doctrine bled Where she advanced with rigor. And as she spoke, with ardent fire High waxed the queen's recital ; She drew religion through the mire. — Of life hermaphrodital; Of life as burst in, wrought by, sex ; Of natural selection, The theories divine to vex, She spoke with rare inflection. 5S THE INFERNAL COMEDY. She led Armillus through the maze Of species, and expounded The fallacy of priestly craze, Until he was confounded. In brief, she proved the non-divine Progression of creation, And made his brow to countershine The height of her elation. And in these words she closed her speech. And cosmic -discourse ended : " Each natural history will teach How man his race extended. And history itself will lead You to your own existence. That is the scope of all my creed, For which I crave enlistance ; The alpha and the omega Of my sincere religion, The mono-and-the-polyra Of my beliefs trans-Stygian. It is all clear, from when all time And substance had beginning Unto the end, when breath and rhyme Have ceased fore'er their sinning. There is no mystery of life ; In the infinite living. In the immensity of strife. Of time its sands slow' sieving, Of space in its continual growth. You are a nothing, breathing A mite of air ; a thing of sloth ; Soon comes your actions' sheathing. And yet, from the infernal point. You ne'er will be a fossil ; With rapture we your brow annoiiit. For here you are colossal !" And Mepha paused. Armillus 'rose, Full bursting with emotion. While hatred in his bosom froze Against fair faith's devotion. He smiled in scorn at thought of prayer. The biblical narration ; Its every point he thought a tare. And hooted revelation. His glance alighted on his queen Her eyes reflective' closing ; Your hearts had thrilled had they but seen Her beauty thus reposing. CANTO V. THE TRUTH AT LAST. TRUST you will not judge me here A brutal, scoffing Vandal For what remains yet to appear. And what is past ; I'll handle My subject with all charity ; And if I spare no feeling. The error will not lie with me But with my topic, stealing Its merciless, atrocious way Through worlds and spheres and ages, And standing soon full face at bay On these presumptuous pages. 1 have no sympathy with those Against whom I am writing. And may be often acrimose, These arguments inditing; I hold most sacred what I touch, So fear its desecration, Nor can I stop to flatter such As meet my condemnation. Prepare to hear your fondest thoughts Exposed to reason's pity. Your truths exhibited as torts. Defamed your holy city ; I come to scorch, and not to scoff. And shall not end in prayers ; I cast all prejudices off. And wait to meet gainsayers. You are a sorry, wretched lot ; ■At sight of you, I tremble With loathing for your errors' rot. And can me not dissemble. I write not of my own free will ; ' A force unseen is driving Me on, and so these pages fill With thoughts of its conniving. Prepare to have your altars shorn Of all their shallow vestige. Prepare to have dragged through my scorn Your living's ancient prestige. I hate whatever you may love, And side me with your foemen ; I wear for you no soothing glove, 1 show no welcomed omen. Prepare to have your dearest shrines Despoiled of consecration, Uprooted, and their intestines Delivered to damnation. To work you harm, I am a mite. But still I breathe defiance ; E'en fleas the greatest monsters bite : There lies my whole reliance. I may not live to see the day That witnesses your going. Yet still I chant my simple lay. Extermination sowing. — THE INFERNAL HISTORY 59 The queen threw her reHectioiis ofl". In memory well sinewed ; A short, preliminary cough, And then she thus continued : '■ Ere yet on earth had broken life. And its domains were steepled, F.re history to act was rife. And yet this hell was peopled. There reigned in heaven a mighty king. Well known to his descendants, Whose praises still whole nations sing. And thousand priests' dependents. That king was Jove the Great, who ruled His provinces like Nero, His subjects into warfare schooled ; Himself, howe'ei, no hero. Tt was not fashion then to take A mate in holy marriage : The women lived for passion's sake. And were of masters' carriage A part, as was a house or horse ; There was no wife, no cousin ; Society was vile and coarse ; A man had mates a dozen. And so King Jove had many a wonch His vanity to tickle, His morbid thirsts to still and quench : And every one vifas fickle. His harem had two favorites. Dark Lilith and fair Mary, Who plied him with their charming wits, Of which they were not chary. And Lilith bore him first a child, A boy so fine in feature. So strong in form, in heart so wild : And he surprised his teacher With wondrous sense and iron will. And heart to greatness swelling. And spirit never fagged nor still, Of fateful future telling. They dubbed the youngster Lucifer ; She was his slave, his mother: But Jove no love had to aver; And then there came a brother : A gentle boy bore Mary's womb. Of mien and form the sweetest. With air that durst no pride assume. With love that flew the fleetest. And won the father's marble heart ; He stroked his ringlets golden ; The boy grew of himself a part ; No fairer was beholden. They called him Jesus, and his soul In loveliness expanded, Which everywhere about him stole. But on his brother stranded. They loved each other not, the boys ; While Lilith's was outspoken With hatred fierce, forsaken toys, The other's words were spoken In tender mood and loving art And sweet conciliation. But he never won the elder's heart. So stood the situation. When still another concubine Of Jove's became a mother. And offered to her master's lino Of royal heirs another Beloved boy; and Jove rejoiced. And thanked the faithful madame. And on his fathership did foist ; They called the third one Adam. A spoiled and wilful child was he. And turned out craven-hearted : He gave himself to forestry. And from his brothers parted. The palace halls were filled with noise. And loud and youthful laughter ; When on the ill-assorted boys A maiden followed after Born of a wench, the mate of one Of Jove's most faithful sages, As radiant as a summer sun. The topic of all ages. A maiden you could ne'er conceive Who won so fast affection ; You know her well, for she was Eve : All caught the sweet infection. And Lucifer and Adam fought To win the maiden over. Lentil the last her notice caught. And warmed into her lover. He swore that he would never care For any other woman. And woidd alone her colors bear ; But then, the youth was human. He sported 'round as best him pleased. Unto the courtiers' scandal ; His passions to such length appeased That Jove reproved the Vandal. And thenceforth lived he peacefully. And down in Eden settled, And passed his hours most blissfully ; But Lucifer was nettled, And in his suit the win the maid From Adam's side was zealous. And plans for his destruction laid. So was he fierce and jealous. 6o THE INFERNAL COMEDY. A man who such a purpose hath, Will stop at no contriving; And in his bold and bitter wrath He set about conniving How he could best destroy the bliss Of the enamored couple. Think you they heard a serpent's hiss, A creature false and supple? Nay, he surrounded her with snares Of bountiful temptation, And played about her loving cares With honied 'fatuation. And of an apple he'd prepared To eat he her persuaded. So that she fell to him, ensnared. With poisoned lust pervaded. And Adam's manly spirit broke By poison by her given ; Another apple wrought the stroke, And there was woe in heaven. Hut shortly after this had happed. So different' from the fable. The girl was down, in birth-pain wrapped; There sprang forth Cain and Abel. And while this plot was being scened, Of Jove's three sons the second. With Satan's sympathies not weened. On satisfaction reckoned. He spied about them night and day, And the intrigue detected ; Now Lucifer might pardon pray. He would not be protected. For Jesus from the garden chased To Jove, and told his story, And Lucifer was called in haste Unto the father hoary. ' What is 't I hear that thou hast done. Thou villain ? Thou hast ravished The mate whom Adam fairly won ; In vain, then, have 1 lavished My kindness upon thy head. Speak not; disgrace dost merit ; T turn thee from thy crown and bed ; Thus do I disinherit The serpent lain along my breast : No succor will I lend thee ; Such is my will and my behest ; Go forth, and seek to mend thee. But drop the title Lucifer ; I have the last time named it; 'J'hou castedst on it naught but slur ; Thou hast too much defamed it. And she who gave herself to thee, Be she from Eden driven ; And he who lost her sanctity, As her companion given. Be thou called Satan, evil boy. Thus ignominious' branded ; Be rape and robbery thy joy, With lust and revel banded.' And Jesus smiled as thus disgrace Was on his brother spoken ; Then Satan spurned him to his face ; His spirit was not broken : ' Thinkst thou to rob me of my throne ? Then art thou sad' mistaken ; For my great fall wilt thou atone. If th' empire shall be shaken From end to end with civil strife, And war and bloody riot ; Thou shalt repay me with thy life For breaking on the quiet Of my career with callous tongue ; Revenge you'll hear paroling, From my indignant bosom wrung. And thy destruction tolling. I leave you to your triumph now : When I return, then tremble. For I will keep my present vow. And followers assemble. And father, you, who cast me off. Have dealt with me in measures Which will expose me to the scoff Of idle tongues' foul pleasures. Has not a man a right to win A mistress from another? Is it in our wild state a sin, E'en though he be a brother? He would have stole' her had I gained Her heart to my possession. And would with crime his hand have stained. Nor brooked your intercession. Your purpose I can see and parse ; I understand the hidden Conspiracy ; this is a farce : Of me you would be ridden. You love that fawning flatterer there ; To make him your successor, You would use means both foul and feir; E'en stand up, my oppressor. But you have gone too far, I vow ; It is too weak, the tissue; T leave your courtly splendor now ; But tremble for the issue ! I'm Satan, am I? You shall hear That name again, your terror ; And if we fall, your heirs shall fear The chances of your error. THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 6i Farewell 1 I go to meet my fate. Farewell, my home, my mother : Farewell, yoii faithless potentate, Farewell, my precious brother ! ' And Satan passed from out of sight Of home and court, admonished To come no more ; if he we right, They were to be astonished Ere long by the condemned's revolt, So they prepared resistance, And called to arms of bow and bolt A thousand swains' enlistance. Full many a trusted gallant knight Appeared to render battle. And wage a bloody civil fight, With bundle, bag and chattel. They were prepared, with Gabriel, Their general, to direct them ; Their foes were taken care of well : No mercy would protect them. And Jove gave to his son in hand A trusty blade, and bid him Take of his armies the command. And of the rebels rid him. 'Go forth, my son,' spake he, ' and fighi For country, throne and reason ; You shall be victor, as the right Lies with us 'gainst this treason." And Jesus did as he was bid : He heard that there assembled A throng, with Satan in their mid. Who at defeat not trembled. The day came on, the fight was done, The heralds came derisive' ; And Jesus in the struggle won : The battle proved decisive. And Satan fled with all his crew. With Gabriel pursuing. And many in that fight he slew : Much blood cost Satan's wooing. Into these realms of cold and night. At his defeat much nettled. The vanquished went from out the fight. And here a homestead .settled. He often tried to win the field He lost with so much sorrow, But always had to flee and yield. To 'wait another morrow. He died lamented by the land ; His will he left behind him : 'Armillus will resume command: Let who me love remind him.' And Jove was followed by the son Who since the world's ' Redeemer ' Has been installed ; he had his run ; He was an idle dreamer In all but his morality ; That is in truth amazing ; At his succinct philosophy 1 shall ne'er tire me gazing. — But in the meanwhile sprang on earth .\ race whom you've descended Of, adding to our might and worth By being with us blended As you already have here learned ; And so a mighty nation Has sprung from those whom Jesus spurned And doomed to emigration. I am the heiress of the crown That Satan has here founded : You may yet add to its renown When the attack is sounded. In heaven, too, reigns a maiden queen. So 'tis not man 'gainst woman ; I only fear that when you've seen The maid, you'll prove too human, And me, poor girl, for her forsake. And leave your pressing duty : You smile in scorn, your head you shake : Ah sir, she is a beauty." — "And are not you ?" rejoined the youth, " Can your charms find their equal ? I shall prove true, and speak the truth." — " We'll find that in the sequel." — "Aye. that we will, for where a queen Reigns over those who squandered Below on earth the ray serene Of reason, darkly wandered In paths of most preposterous hue. And proved in faith fanatic, Who noblest sentiments fell slew. And proved so high' emphatic In what was rankest ignorance. And brutish fear and blunder,— Then will that queen me not entrance, And we two fall asunder. I hate that heaven you have described. And may its queen be fairer Than what I ever have imbibed, I would not be the sharer Of those delights that pin the mind On such accursed opinions ; .Another husband must she find To rule o'er her dominions. Nay, nay, you need not fear for me ; I will not fail : I swear it ! Place on me Satan's livery : With honor will I wear it. 62 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Prepare your armies for the fray ; Great courage will I meed them. And ere the dawn of many a day. To victory I'll lead them, To show the universe that I Can tread upon the Bible, To show the world the hideous lie That lurks beneath its libel. Girt on my sword, thy sweet lips purse That I may once more kiss them. And in that kiss your foemen curse ; I shall not fail to miss them. 1 will avenge the mighty wrong . That drove from throne and power Thy ancestor with all his throng: I will cut down this flower That rules the heaven they have usurped For her to bask within it ; Her songsters have the last time chirped When war 1 once begin it. And be she beautiful howe'er, 1 will no mercy show her : No smile nor tear can make me spare Her royal pride to lower. Aye, she will come to grievous harm ; Her crown shall be your feather." They passed to dinner arm in arm : "Nay, we shall reign together!" Some day, they'll leave these in the lurch. And call them superstition. The civilized on earth soon will Be totally converted ; It wants but little time to fill What I have here asserted. Among the obstinate remain The children tressed in flaxen. But even there, 'tis on the wane ; He yields, the Anglo-Saxon : He yields to Europe's trumpet voice ; His faith but rests on fashion ; And fashions change ; the present choice Was, is no more, a passion. I see the mighty edifice In Its foundations crumbling : " I almost hear the latent hiss That breaks out with its tumbling; I see the towers in ruins lie, I see despoiled the altar, I see its ancient prestige die ; I see it bow and falter. I see the light break o'er the world, I see explode the fable In which the faith was aptly furled : I see this modern Babel Destroyed by lightning in the flash Of truth's emancipation. Retreating 'fore the gallant dash Of reason's concentration. CANTO VI. VIVE LE ROI ! I HAVE no words at hand to speak Of things apochryphally At further length, and try to seek Where this and that don't tally ; I have no space to pour you out In arguments the action Against your Holy Writ, to spout Upon its sense-infraction ; 1 have no time at length to dwell Upon the contradictions Presented in your heaven and hell. Upon your curious fictions ; 1 could, so would I, fill a world Of volumes on the topic Of reason in distraction hurled : But I'll be philantropic. I leave the world its faith, its church, Its sacrament and mission ; I see all nations fraternize, I see the sects united. All things looked on with other eyes, The naked truth invited. I see the love of humankind Affecting man and woman, I see morality defined A thing decisive' human. I see proud science glorify The whole civilization, And former theologians vie With atheists to station The solemn fact of mortal life Upon its proper bases : I see the priest e.xpouse a wife, I see rela.x the faces Of hypocrites, to smile once more Upon his man and brother In honest frankness, see them pour Their candor o'er each other. I see the harlot rise from out Her filth and degradation, The hell that damns her put to rout ; And fill another station ; THE INFERNAL HISTORY. (>3 I see the thief return the gold He stole ; I see the master. To whom the slave was boimd and sold, Release him ; I see faster The wheels of industry revolve, And capital and labor Upon fraternity resolve; I see the tattler's neighbor Protected from his idle tongue ; I see the proud official Of his embezzled booty wrung; I see the step initial Inaugurated to destroy The weapons used in battle, No war to break upon our joy. To hush our infant's prattle. I see society reformed : Its shams, its vice subtracted ; I see its prejudices stormed. Its erring rules infracted. I see the world a paradise, I envy me who follow ; And yet, I fear some strange device ; Mefears the thing is hollow : For now and then I catch a glimpse Of chaos and confusion. Of darkness and its shadowy imps ; But hope this is delusion. But let us see whereto we tend, And leave this speculation ; Then follow me unto the end Of this unique narration. My task yet seems me but begun ; I see long ways before me A monstrous history outspun, So will I on, and soar me Into its fastnesses, and seek The likely bloody sequel ; It is for you to judge and speak If to my task I'm equal.— Armillus entered on his sphere With ardor and precision. And soon decided his career; He came into collision With sluggardness and with abuse. And with the court's corruption. And put his talents to the use Of aught but its voluption. He charmed with elegance and wit And energy the college. And showed that he was aptly fit In the domain of knowledge Of statesmanship, diplomacy. And daring legal action. While most conciliatingly Observing every faction. And as he ruled with subtle art The whole infernal nations. He filled their bosoms with the dart Of vengeance, dealt out rations Of wrapped intent in every turn Of his expert devotion. And taught the cabinet to burn ' With his constrained emotion. He pictured to their minds the scene Of Satan's fall, and lectured Upoh the feelings of their queen ; He labored and conjectured From morn till eve upon the cause Of heaven's fell castigation. And thrust in many a clever clause To win their approbation. And soon the scheme was wrought, and ripe. And hell arose to action, The insult with heaven's blood to wipe. Resent its rights' infraction. It needed but the call to arms The warriors to assemble. To sound the tocsin's wild alarms To cause their foes to tremble. "Well done, Armillus," quoth the queen, " We'll put them on their mettle ; The time has come to make the mien Our old accounts to settle. You've not in vain been called to serve In this our revolution, Nor shall we from our purpose swerve Until the execution In every manner is complete. And they capitulate them ; That flaxen hussy we'll unseat; O Satan, how I hate them !" 'Twas in the royal library The twain sat thus conversing, Their ancient rights and liberty Most vollubly rehearsing. They sought the records of those days To help their understanding Of Jove's foul means and Jesus' ways. And Satan's reprimanding. ~- " I wonder," said the youth, " how we The books of earth can enter Into th' infernal library. How every mortal mentor ' Can find a place on these our shelves, AVhen there is no connection Between the earthly and ourselves ; I find in every section 64 THE INFERNAL CO MED V. The books I read when 1 was ycmng. Each dear, familiar volume, The songs I have so often sung, And papers to the column." — " That was indeed stupendous work, And yet we have succeeded ; No time nor labor did we shirk. And every mite was heeded. VVe offer a reward for all Who can a verse remember, A passage or a line recall ; And thus we stir the ember Of every scholar's memory. And put the links together, Till the completed chain you see Here boinid in Russia leather. — But let us not on such things dwell While we must soar the higher ; A troubled time awaits this hell : We must our efforts fire. Say on, Armillus, is it right That you should go to battle, And risk your life in daily fight, While I receive the tattle Ofpraising tongues, and bear the palm Of victory you've wrested From heaven; I cannot stay me calm While I am thus invested." Armillus colored to the hair; He guessed the hidden meaning Her words conveyed ; he was to share Alike with her ; and leaning Him o'er to catch her by the hand, He cried : " I'm not mistaken ; 1 am your slave, at your command. To what do I awaken ! My gracious queen, my dearest love, Accept my life's devotion ; Such honors I have ne'er dreamt of; I stifle with emotion. What can I do myself to nerve To take the blushing blessing? What have I done this to deserve? That am I far from guessing." And down he knelt, and kissed the hem Of Mepha's robe ; she raised him; Their passion's tide unmastered them ; How willingly she gazed him In those dark, burning, dancing eyes. With soul-absorption brimming. So full of ardent, mute replies, A tear-drop fondly trimming Their fulsomeness ; he pressed his lips Upon her own, and kept them So pressed, and drank in throbbing dips, With naught to intercept them. And then she led him forth in glee. And issued proclamation That she would maid no longer be, Nor fill alone her station. -And when the word was given out, All hell in tumult bursted ; Here was the crown without a doubi For which so long he'd thirsted. But far from being satisfied, High flamed his bold ambition ; And to the multitude he cried. Wrapped up in his condition : " I thank you, friends, for your esteem, But I have not been chosen To sit in state, and idly dream ; Too long have we been frozen In indolence and usurped reign Of heaven's delightful region; Our honor bears a hateful stain, So let our host be legion. To bear upon the enemy. Regain the crown of Satan, Restore his ancient dynasty, As 1 have oft relaten. In armor will you find your king. To lead you to the border ; With cannon shall his praise you sing In bloody, thundering order. Prepare to laugh and toast a while. And dance, and shout, and prattle, Your merry humor to beguile ; And then prepare for battle!" A storm of cheers arose to greet Armillus when he'd ended. And through each eager-peopled street The hubbub far extended. From town to hamlet flew the news. Across the land and water, Its fervor elsewhere to infuse Into each son and daughter Of hell's domain, to understand The aim that was at issue. And to await their king's command To lead them to the fissue That enters here, that enters there Into the regions nether, And whither they would now repair Beneath their flag together. The sons to fight, the maids to heal The wounds that would await them ; To wield the sword, to flash the steel; To battle and berate them THE INFERNAL HISTORY. 65 Until the crcivvii nf heaven was won, Until tlicir flag was planted On topmost lower in blazing sun, Until tlieni peace was grantetl. — Anil so Arniillns came to wed His i|ueen, herself her donor. And place upon his manly head Her crown, her love, her honor. How yelled the crowd, how sang the court, How flowed the wine in fountains, How swelled in mad display the sport, How 'rose to rugged mountains The flashing lamps, the dazzling lights. The bright illumination, How grew in dizziness the sights, Tlie glee, the animation ; How pressed to heart his royal wife The new'-made king, invoking 'l"hc fates to spare her precious life I'o frosty age, and cloaking In choicest epithet his glee ; How 'rose his breast with ardor : How sparkled fine' and royally His crown ; how flew the harder The jest, the sentiment about. How highly went the revel, How went in air the laughing shout From thousands : " Vive the devil !" How rolled their eyes in maddening maze, How red their cheeks were burning, How waxed th' exhiliarated craze ; See how the dance is turning ! Ai-Miillus (led at last the scene Which beggars my description ; As king, he had there honored been ; As husband, no proscription Would he another hour endure; And Mepha was a woman. And thirsted for the blissful lure ; The devil is but human ! They bid the merry crew gcjod-night. And so, too, we will bid them ; So let us screen them from our sight, And of our presence rid them. And, meanwhile, yet arose the glee. And 'rose to exultation In maddest, merriest degree Of crazed intoxication. They sang to woman, song and wine. They drank and loved and boasted, They felt that sentiment divine Which Christians never toasted. They outdid madness in a way That swims my head to tell it. That wants the wildest fancy's sway With utterance to swell it. They tasted what it meant to sieve Bright pleasures from distraction ; They knew then what it meant to live — What wot you of such action? Hear how they shout, list how thej sing: " While wine and woman thrill us. All hail, all hail unto our king ! All hail to thee, ArmiUus !" ?THE END OF THE INFERNAL HISTOKY. ^BOOK IV.^ opffiS (B®ir(©Wll©W ©IF WIM&W)! CANTO I. TH K sill iiiid the shame ami vice we see. Frivolity we espy, However attractive and gay 't may he, However may laugh its eye, Has yet to appear in culois bright To moral philosophy. Be other than virtue's foe and hliglit. And bane of society. How sweet in a maid tluit she is pure ; A wretch who would see her fall : And justice, 'though slow, how good 'tis sure : A fnol who would end its thrall. Who loves lint to see the sky wlien blue, Tile meadows and woods when green, The sun when it sets in golden hue, A sight when is bright the scene '! 'Tis good that the wrong some love, 's luit right, And good that all right 's not wrong, That virtue is fair unto the sight. And error is masked not long. We love what is good to keep the peace : What's pure, for our family's weal ; Nor order nor law shall ever cease While we unto these appeal. A nation that lives in unity. Obedient to all its laws, We laud for its fame and probity, And give it our best applause. In short, we condemn whate'er 's not right, We turn from what 's wrong away ; In darkness we seek and search for light. And revel in open day. Yet must I oppose what fain you 'd draw As moral from what I've said; .■Xnother conclusion thence must thaw. And differently 't must be read. A saying sounds good that seems us true, Yet fallacy may be there : *Tis fallacy what I've just rhymed you : I hasten to lay it bare. If fallacy seems what I'll conclude. To differ you have a right ; My sentiments m.iy be different' viewed, Infallible 's not my sight. A woman is pure, and fair to see. And men to her pur'ty bow ; She claims on that strength society Shiiuld hold to lier then as now. Hut look on the woman, young and old: How aim they to spend their life? To not be a maiden nor a scold. But simply to be a wife. I'll' ambition we laud as quite correct. But see what it brings them to : With an.vious deliberation pecked When silent' they favor sue. In order to be adjudged as pure. As modest, as learned in arts. The judgment of virtue to secure, They play us some hateful parts, The girls are bred stupid, dull, demure. Their spirit is bound and crushed. The flashes of nature come out fewer. The laughter is gradual' hushed. A woman is nothing that's not held As parcel and part of man : Her beauty of spirit harsh' they weld To serve them this rigid plan. She looses her grace to be bound up A puppy, a doll to seem ; She's turned from the fountains of the cup, And rudely 's dispelled her dream. She dare not appear in all her light. Her fulsome entirety. Fur fear that to some it seem to bright, And stepping o'er modesty. I'he poor little thing is cooped and vexed. And bred in a silent life, Her feeling 's congealed, her mind perple.sed The blossom is plucked e'er rife. Her lesson is trick to catch a man ; To this she must sacrifice All else, to this end must work and plan Until it becomes a vice. THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 67 A woman ili.u's lirilliant is abused As simictliinji that 's not quite straight; She stands 'fore the world as sure' accused. And looses beneath its weight. l!ut girls who are laced in wrong ideas Of hideous propriety, 'Though secretly they may far from please. And have not a spark of glee, Wlio play on the piano, sing a song. Can dance, and be silent, dull. Are weary and languid all day long. Their temper not seen, and lull. Who prattle a tongue that's not their t>\y\\. Embroider a trifle, draw, To virtues domestic slightly prone. Whatever may be their flaw, — Are those that are called the gems of youth, The models and trumps of girls, In face of full sense, delight and truth, A creature of stays and curls. But those who resplendent' shine and flash. Reflecting their beauty, wit. Displaying their vigor, girlish dash. Who gaily throu.gh vision flit, 'Though they be endowed with wondrous love. Be learned in whatever art, Be true to the inner sterling'core. And swell with a splendid heart. The verdict 's against them : they 're too free; Come down with the dash, they say : You seem not to have us probity ; Go fall on your knees, and pray. And rather than woman be of wa.\, I'd see her composed of sin ; And rather than see her spirit lax, I'd see it to rot within. I like not a harlot : wrong me not : That thing is too foul for sight. Too shocking a sore, too dark a lilot. Too sickening to see in light. But hate do I well a dressed-up doll, A victim of mothers' schemes. Taught blabber as is a scarecrow poll — Most hateful of all my themes. And ho« does it come that one giil 's dull, Another so bright and fair? What system doth here the flowers cull. And leaves them to blossom there? Here comes in my point : what you deem pure Deprives the sweet girl of life ; The system that you denounce a lure, Makes woman for what's my strife. Is woman to live to shine in arts To catch a rich husband but, For sale in her own domestic marts, 1-ike birds in their cages shut? < )r is she to be what may by wit And wisdom in life she gain? What odds if she stumble now a bit? It was not a woiuid : — a sprain. Your girls' education : " Marry, dear !" 1 say that the thing is wrong ; Much better we stood of altar clear : So run on, infernal song ! Kilt then there's the nationality Which claims in these thoughts a voice; A woman must bred in climates be Of certain blue blood, the choice Of these my conditions' scope to seem, To be what is bold yet pure, To rise with the wealth of captious dream. And yet on her foot be sure. An Anglican maid should dull appear, With innocent, sheepish air. Or else would she vulgar, coarse be mere, Disgusting her ardent stare. No grace can her crown when out of tune With weak and insipid taste, To leave her to languor, 's e'er a boon. Or else she would fall, and waste. But go where the blood and juice of grapes Are mingled in harmony : There will you spy humors, tacts and shapes That rise with their jollity. There Anglican eyes view foul the scene Of female depravity, And see in the air infernal spleen. And fall with a prayer to knee. There woman's herself, secure and free From straight-laced, suspected ways. Alive in her spirit, sense and glee ; In sunshine enwrapped, her days. The chic that they bear, unknown to those Who sour at the sight oi/etc, Who blush at exposure gay of hose By chance, and a sin it rate. But think not that folly I applaud; That burns like the mother in flame ; \t >u must not construe my sense too broad You shall not here blush for shame. But there in the sunny lands of France, I'he vine-clad precincts on Rhine, Where jollity, fervor, fun and dance ( )n holidays topmost shine. There woman is wit, is life and soul. The essence of joy and glee, A glory, a triumph, true, heart-whole. As woman should always be. THE INFERNAL COMEDY. And if it you seem that there they fall Too readily, then you 're wrong; The sight, it is true, will on you pall. But rest not in error long. For there, when she falls, a woman falls Into a next lower sphere. And comes out anew in festive halls. Not less to some sinner dear. All know she's no more what ought to be, And view her as her becomes, Depraved, and out cast from sanctity; They know that she's in the slums. But where the staid Anglo-Sa.\on lives, A woman must be demure ; And if she not sours and weeps and grieves. They take it she is not pure. A woman who falls, falls low : to hell. Where never they cast a look ; She's damned; and they damn her, nh, so well ; Her aspect they ne'er could brook. Those virtuous dames who form the world Of fashion as such it is. In bigoted, narrow doctrines furled ; They never go off and fizz. But look them not deep into the soul For fear you might start at sight l)f what to your eye would there unroll ; You'd shudder to see that night. The woman of cast where thee and tlwii Replaces the tii and dit. Are worse than ^r/.fc/i'cs m France, I vow, Who hide not their shame from view ; Thus, rotten are families to the core In Brooklyn, New York ct al, The mother seducer, daughter more Depraved than e'er think you shall. In Liverpool, London it 's the same ; 'Tis good that the sin is hid ; 'Tis well it is buried deep, the shame. Or all would there fly your mid. The difference is plain : hypocrisy Is worse than the open deed. Much worse if it is depravity, Which claims in the dark more meed. And what does this prove? What I have said : That wrong may be often right, That life crops out there where thought you 't dead, And day where you saw but night. You think that morality there pines Where women like men are free, Where cluster the grapes on aching vines. And people laugh merrily ? Those lands have been wild in point ot real' Unblemished, white virtue, true. But now it turns out unto their weal — And where are, dear Saxon, you? They 're turning to right, you stick to wrong. You're rotten within ; without They seem, but do not, to hell to throng : Your preaching is put to rout. You claim to be e'er the champion of What's virtue, what's right, what's true, What's faith, what's devotion, what is love, What's unctions, what's pure, what's blue ; You claim that the Teutons delve in sin. The French are gone down in vice, That you have alone e'er righteous been, And fit for a paradise. You pitiful fool, you're worse than all : They sin, but they do not lie ; They leave all their virtue when they fall. Nor Christians profess to die. Your system is wrong; you say it 's right ? Then wrong, as I said, bears fruit Delicious, and day breaks out of night. Your pretence to slay, to hoot. I say let's be honest ; weak we are, And much is our mortal sin ; At nightfall we drag it on too far, So let it not hide within. 1 hope that the day is near at hand When vice and when sin's unknown, Have ceased our escutcheons black to brand, And out of the world are thrown. And that can be done by giving up The thralldom of priestly rule, By ceasing on wafers yet to sup, And routing the Christian school, By throwing aside hypocrisy. And being a trifle bold, By setting the soul at liberty Of ministers' crafty fold ; By living a life without as you Would rather you lived within ; No white is so pure as mixed with blue, No virtue as tinged with sin. Confound your religion, woes and tears, Live out as you feel at heart ; Aside with your prayers, your sighs, your fears, And play us an honest hart. The devil's a fellow you'll all like, Come join me to cry him hail ; E'en Milton not cared him hard to strike; I'll go for him freely bail. I'm gilding not sin, nor stirring vice, But sorting from wrong the right ; I've sought not your virtues to entice, To put your good thoughts to flight. THE C0N(2UEST OF HEAVEN. 69 1 have not taught folly linked with shame. My moral came out in end ; Mine was not a desperate, roguish game ; Here virtue and honor blend. Then follow me on to hear my song From canto to canto, and Compose yourselves well to come along Into a new, heavenly land. Armillus is roused, and Mepha stout In purpose her cause to gain, To put the old foe to flight, to rout — Long may they together reign ! Our hero resolved to send to her Who ruled o'er the bright domains. Their purpose in honor to aver E'er entering upon those mains. He went o'er the ground of Satan's fall, And stated his testament. Asserted the destiny of his call. And showed her his will and bent. He did not desire to spill the blood Of those who sustained her crown, Nor would with his minions heaven bold' flood : But she must from throne come down. He pledged her that she should fare as well As though she still reigned alone. But heaven must bow to the rod of hell, And Satan's dominion own. Thus wrote the young king, sustained by her Who shared his exalted height ; ' )ld Hugon, who ne'er was known to err, Was sent ofi' that self-same night To travel in haste to yonder court. Deliver the message there. Its manner of taking to report. And bear him their charge with care. They waited six days by hellish count. When Hugon did there return, High' welcomed, the palace steps to mount; Now would they the answer learn. He stepped 'fore the throne with vigor graced. And bowed to his sovereign low ; A murmur about th' assembled chased ; He spoke 'midst their faces' glow : " I came to the court ; her majesty- Received me with some surprise : She guessed not what mought my message be; She took it in stately wise, And read with calm eyes your majesty's Most gracious command ; methought 'J'he blood in her purple veins woidd freeze, So highly was she upwrought. She prorogued her ministry, let thom see Your majesty's hand and seal ; And them, too, it touched as fearfully ; I saw it their looks reveal, I saw how the horror swelled their hearts, I felt they'd fain strangle me. And make me the aim of thousand darts If such in their might could be. I saw how the Christian troubled soul Was harrowed e'en by th' idea That hell, hated hell, should up, and roll Upon their loved sanctity. I noted the fear that seized their mind When all that they held so dear Should conquest at hand of Satan find ; I saw them convulse with fear. Yet saw I defiance line their brows Still stark in the Christian faith. Determined to hold unto their vows. As likely their answer saith. They parleyed in private two long days, And left me to bide their time. To notice their manners, learn their ways, And study their sense and rhyme. And then the queen came to have writ down What she and the Parliament Concluded to say for her renown. And me on return forth sent. Here am I, and this, sire, gave she me. This parchment, to bring in haste ; I know not its sense, your majesty ; In seal hath she 't well encased." And Hugon was still, and handed out The message; Armillus read, And left them not long its mind to doubt ; This was what the queen had said : " Armillus, Rex. We've received your hand. And having us thought what word To say in reply, at your command. Our purpose have firm' averred. You misunderstand your royal place. And issue in blasphemy What seems not unto your august grace ; Our answer in friendship be. We live side by side on unknown sphere, But neither in heaven nor in hell ; Still worldly is all we may see here ; On this strange empyreal shell. We knew not on earth or other globe This land that there is between The there and thereafter, still to probe Our nature on such a scene. The God you deny still dwells on high ; We hope yet to see His face. And shall us in ways of life yet try To win us His godly grace. 70 THE INFERNAL CO MED V. And Christ our Redeemer you would seek As dead, and in tomb here set, Will yet show your wisdom where 'tis weak, Unto your condign regret. The Spirit Most Holy '11 teach you fly From what you imagine right : You have yet in care to live and die Before the eternal night. We pray you will see your royal state Is not what it claims to be ; It is of itself most high and great Without you should set the plea That we rule in heaven and you in hell ; That we are the child of Jove, And you in the line of Satan dwell, He father of her you love. May Jesus enlight' your royal heart To rob it its dread conceit, And show you your humble, rightful part ; Repent, for the hoius fast fleet. But if you persist you're Satan's child. And we wear the crown of God, Your sin will in heaven's archives be filed. And truly be hell your sod. We fear not your threat to fight the claim You issue in sinful boast : God's with us, will give us victors' fame ; We stand by our word and post. We're ready to teach by force of arms How vain is your mad demand ; Already we hear our host's alarms To fight for their faith and land. Our banners will fly to war-charged bree/e. With cross on their colors wrought; And if in our blood we wade to knees. We stand by what was us taught. Yea, verily, are you child of hell To battle 'gainst Christian cross ; With prayers we'll win, and win .so well That you shall esteem your loss. We crave not your night ; there may you go You back when we whip you here ; But ne'er must your face again you show- When vanquished, where suns shine clear To show us the greatness, grace of God Who led us to victory ; Ah, iron will prove for you His rod In flaming eternity. Come on with the legions 'neath your reign. In God's name we you defy ; You bring them to be by thousands slain. To hear their poor orphans' cry. God's curse be on you for what you think. And what you would now attempt ; In horror yet will from flames you shrink. From mercy, t'rom grace e.xempt. We sully the seal that binds this hand, But send it our faith to screen. Such is our reply ; and to command. We sign it : Yours, Piva, Queen." Armillus was struck, but none there knew What struck him in this reply ; His features assumed an ashen hue : Nor saw they the reason why. For next did he smile, and give command That all should prepare for war. To win him her crown and hated land Which hell-fire, defeat him swore. It went through the realm like thunder blast, The call to infernal arms ; In armor and valor all were cast ; They came in unnumbered swarms. They hurried to place their wealth and life In hand of their monarch's will, Prepared to do earnest, bloody strife ; All hell was aroused, athrill. And when they'd assembled on the plain p'rom furthest and nearest strand, .\rmillus him knew that not in vain Had been his contemned demand. He saw that the victory was theirs. He saw the fanatic herd Asunder, he heard the bugle-blares That would her compel those words So proudly she'd uttered, to eat ; he saw Her sceptre delivered o'er. And noted the carnage made, in awe. The corpses in blood and gore. The order to march like eagle shriek Resounded throughout the ranks ; And over the regions cold and bleak, O'er rivers, along their banks. Through gulches, o'er mountains, moved the train. As though it would never end ; Well might the young king himself then wain As Satan in power, to send His legions 'gainst Jove, to try once more The cause so repeated' lost As told in Miltonic, classic lore, Whatever might prove the cost. How fondly he kissed his queen good-bye, And caught her in rapt' embrace ; He saw the bright tears like dew in eye. And rolling adown the face. And then he was off like flying wind, On horse of a royal breed ; If Diva was right, so much he'd sinned Him never as now. His steed THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 71 Him Ciiiricd well o'er the frozen snow- Till light came fnnii heaven's domain. When thoughtful' he turned, his heart aglow, And sang into hell this strain: " Thou beautiful, peaceful, queenly night J'hat lulls me soft" asleep, Thai shroudest the naked truth from sight, That closest the eyes that weep. That bringcbt on joy in dreamy hue, And rosiest, fondest bliss. That hidest oiu- follies, sins from view, That sealest our peace with kiss ; That wakest at times to maddest heat Our passions, emotions, thoughts; And mak'st them now dread, and now so sweet. With ghastly or fair consorts ; That servedst my heart on earth of yore, That art my companion now ; It saddens my soul, my heart grows sore To leave thee behind, I vow. Farewell, fare thee well, fare long thee well, But fare me not well fore'er ; I long to return to thee and hell. Thy darkness with thee to share. Sweet night, with thy tresses soft and black. Preserve me thy kisses ; 'though I now must e'en turn awhile my back, Await me from there below My coming in haste, to woo fore'er With ardent devot' thy love ; So mayest thou well at present fare : I go me not far to rove. Farewell, thou still night, farewell to thee Until we shall meet again. Anil pray that Armillus may not be Found munbered among the slain." CANTO II. YOU think that my rhyme 's a Atrocious e'en in its way. Its sentiments writ in hapless time. Its morals some lengths astray. Von think that the man I've pictured here. And woman, too, I've described. Are offals of healthy thought and cheer. Their natures not well imbibed. You tliink this eccentric, that is wrong, Most wretchedly wrought my theme : i;urious rhyme, Vou think to descry throughout my song A sordid, an idle dream. You think me abnormal for my verse. My characters rate you loose Of natural feature, much too terse My fancies, or too obtuse. \'ou read of a man who 's not like those You see in your daily life, A woman who is not all the prose You seek for in child and wife. You see men engaged in heinous deeds, And women who shock your sight. In manner that no compassion pleads. On others and selves a blight. You read of a rape or other crime. And shudder as if you thought In no conditions of place and time You such dreadful thing had wrought. You hear of the foU'es of humankind And think of them as if you Could ne'er be so false, so weak, so blind, Nor turn from the right and true. You wonder at things you read each day As if you were angel-bred ; You smile at the claims of fiction's sway When lovers .and maids are wed. When villians intrigue and deftly plot. As if it were all romance, As if there exist' no human blot. There was no such thing as chance. And when you in papers read of sin. Of horror, of crime, of death. You marvel that in the heart within There lives such a foetid breath. Not strange nor so much perverse are you ; You're human ; and so are they Who write you in .such a dreadful hue, .■Vnd chant an infernal lay. Remember that man 's the tenement Of all that's debased and false. Of all that's on truth and honor bent. Of all that at nothing halts. I am not at all of other blood Than you, for my wrathfid song ; My fancies not flow in other flood Than that which bears you along. My hero is cast in human form ; I know of a man, his like ; The passion that sweeps him like a storm Bears others upon its pike. My heroine not differs from her sex In many examples cast. Nor see I wherefore she should perplex. Nor why you should stand aghast. 72 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. The fiction that whets our appetite For further fantastic plots, Is less unlikely than what you sight In palaces, pens and cots. Each man lives a life he deems that he Experiences here alone. Each woman a strife to which thinlcs she Herself but of all is prone. These lives were as great, as nobly writ, As dread and as black of tint. If only the proper chance would flit About them to rouse their dint. Temptation to sin not comes to all. And so some abound as pure Who would, were they tempted, deep, deep fall ; You'll grant me that truth, I'm sure. Napoleons there live in humble hearts Who want but the chance to rise : They sally along in graceless parts Unnoticed by other eyes. A man has the elements within To make him a devil or God, An acme of virtue or of sin To feel or to wield the rod. Men differ in that they're bred to be Of other design, instilled With early, parental ministry, With varied perception filled. Some feel that they own the master hand For this or the other art ; Not all, it is true, take genius' stand. But all have the thing at heart. And all that men do and act and say I deem not a whit perverse ; For me they may steal and kill and pray, And live out a grace or curse : I mean to assert that man can ne'er Astonish me with his acts ; A man is but human; it is there Behold I the germ of facts. .So call me not strange, my verse a snare. My characters falsely drawn ; With them you the self-same foibles share, And similar motives fawn. In all this wide world all things are right Because they exist, and Pope Held never a thing so well in sight. And was not a misanthrope. Go seek to reform what's wrong, but know That wrong is a trait of things. And when you it deal its mortal blow And rob it its poisoned stings. You alter what e'er has been, and will In spite of your efforts be ; It lies not within your human skil. To alter humanity. If I should attempt to be as wild. As mad as I ne'er have been. The father of such a monstrous child That flee would it you as sin. If I should quadruple horrors pa.ssed. And add to my railing still. Should hold to yet fiercer doctrines fast. Run riot with pest and ill. Confound institutions, break your peace, Play hell with your fondest ties. Your wrath with my blasphemies increase, Sift truth with the foulest lies, — I still would you have but think my mind As if it were all your own, A rightful adjunct of humankind. In normal condition shown. I'll make not a stroke to rescue this From censure and e'en abuse. From animadversion, scorn and hiss ; I 'wait that the storm break loose. But this will I say : a fool 's a fool, The worse if he critic be ; He'll plaster and slash in various school. In folly and vanity. A critic's a man like all small men, All-wise in his own conceit. With fickle, perverse and forward pen. To thunder, to frown, to beat. I rest not my hopes on such as these To rescue my name from out Oblivion, but only seek to please Those few whom remains no doubt In questions of plain philosophy. Who read me between the lines. Who question me not the honesty Of purpose that here out shines. Methinks I can read this life aright ; I doubt if my view be wrong; And what I have swept up with my sight I .give you again in song. I have not the patience nor the gift My subject to treat in full. The chaff from its wheat to pick and sift, The weeds from its bed to pull. It is but a youth who pens this verse, Unmannered in poet's art ; So if you at all these lines rehearse, Take what I have said to heart. Armillus will seem you less a knave If he is but judged a man. And Mepha not needs your grace to crave If rightly the sex you scan. THE CON(2('ES/' OF HEAVEN. 73 Go sec where he rides liy Hugon's side. And leaves his dcimains behind ; 1 would you had half his hellish pride, And half of his steadfast mind. To Hiigon he spake: " The dawn's at hand, I notice its shimmer there ; 1 wonder if in that heavenly land My purpose will happ'ly fare." And Hugon replied: "As yonder cone Of fulgence there stands on end. So shall in the heavens Armillus" throne Its glory the old transcend. See how in the darkness stands the light Out thrown from th' empyreal shell's fair bowels, a column proud to sight, .\s if to announce oin- hell's Staunch legions the triumph them awaits ; And note how the air grows mild As now we approach these rocky straits There yawning so deep, so wild. But fear not. my sire, to climb them tlown As if they were eartlily refts ; Our builders have earned them much renuwn By wonderful cars and hefts On which to descend to that bright realm : We'll on e'er the rest catch up ; It would not be fair to overwhelm Queen Diva. Suppose we sup In friendliest wise within her court As heralds her sent to tell That now she must strengthen every fort To cope with the arms of hell? Your majesty's unbeknown to her ; She'll surely not know what quest She harbors in such a knightly sir; ^'ou'll leave to my care the rest. Besides, sir, you'll learn to know the queen Whom destiny made your foe ; She's worth, T am told, to well be seen ; So look e'er you strike the blow." Armillus him smiled : "Our wife at home Would scold if she knew that we On frivolous pleasure were to roam. While silent and sad is she. She's jealous, I fear, of Diva's face; They tell me that beauty sits Upon it, and regal, melting grace. While goldenest sunshine flits Around and within the tresses fair : If rumor here speak the truth. Then Mepha may well concern it bear, For beauty love I, in sooth. But love is a thing I ne'er could feel For one who is thus endowed With faith which I must and dn As ne'er by myself avowed. epcal Vet will I this paragon observe. And see if so fair she be; To 'scape from the charms will I me nerve. And think that my foe is she. Come hither, thou page : thee backward hie, And say that we go ahead ; And ere we command their arms to try, No blood must in heaven be shed. Let's haste, my old friend, now he is gone To bear my behest to them Who led my dark arms to conquest on ; Here have we now gained the hem Of hell's wide domains. Hallo there, swain, Await us to tread thy car : This day we must be in heaven, I wain ; The way, as I hear, 's not far." The briefest delay, and off were they The rocky defile adown ; And nearer and nearer came the day, And nigher the heavenly crown. Here happened a wonder to the king : The train thundered down the steep With slackening speed, nor failed to bring Concern and amazement deep. The vertical horizontal seemed, A level became the fall. But when upon heaven's fair fields they beamed. The sight there explained it all : For once more they righted, turned about, And then did Armillus learn That gravity thrice had in their route Been different, and changed at turn Of hell to the chasm, chasm to heaven; That gravity centred in Th' empyreal shell, and had him given Sensation he ne'er had seen. They shot into light, the brimming light That dwells in a summer zone : Their hearts beat anew within the sight. As used to the dark alone. How different the scene, how mild the air, How green were the woods around ; So bounteous a nature had he ne'er Yet seen. What melodious sound. The singing of birds ; how deep' they thrilled Armillus into the soul ; Tt softened his heart ; he fain had willed To turn from the bloody goal. How shone through the green the sea so blue As though it had ne'er seen gales ; How scudded the ships, and passed review. How gleamed in the light the sails. 74 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. And now came a valley, peaceful, still, Sweet" nestling among the mounts. Traversed by a rippling, sparkling rill : How gaily its course it flounts. Here broken by rocks, there held by twigs. Here eddied by unseen pools, And carrying onward tiny rigs Of verdure, or splashing schools Of silvery fishes — then the scene Was changed in a moment's flash ; There came an extent of endless green, And o'er it they rumbling dash. Armillus looked up into the sky. And wondered to see not one, But thousands of orbs, to beautify The country they over-run. It was as he e'er had tutored been While yet in his dark domain : The shell was lit up by suns within Which myriads of systems reign. Some flashed with a face that blinded sight Which caught but an instant's glance ; And others, far off, gave lesser light. Or sent but a ray by chance. And as he yet looked, a village passed Them by, in their headlong course ; The look that upon Hugon cast Struck t'other as strange, perforce. He scowled when the steeple of a church Unwillingly met his eye ; And other concern his glances search As madly they dashed it by. Armillus him hardened in his heart, And hated the land that bore Within its society such a part ; It scorched him unto the core : "Out on you, vile fanatics, fools and knaves That keep such a faith as this. And carry it e'en beyond your graves. When here in fair heaven you miss The Trinity you adored on earth. The glory you sighted here. The bliss that awaited heavenly birth. The welcoming angels cheer. I paused for a while ere I would raise My sword to attack your peace. But now you have wounded thus my gaze, I'll not for a moment cease, When onoe I've begun, to do you harm. To fell to the last your race ; So may you come on, your legions arm ; Defy will I you to face. And scatter your corpses o'er the plain As though they were mown grass blades. And blood shall the verdure 'round you stain Till pestilence haunt these glades. A day but I'll wait to tell your queen Armillus has come to fight. And leave her to sorrow o'er the scene To which she'd no title, right To reign. May she fair as sunlight be. She shall not me move my will ; My Mepha is far too dear to me ; Of vengeance she '11 have her fill." Alas for the words ; his heart beat high ; It grieved for what here he'd said. It gave to his cruel boast the lie ; 'Twas filled with an unknown dread. CANTO III. THE QUEEN OH HEAVE.V. METHINKS that 1 saw you smile, when I Have read you of things sublime. At words not alwaj' in poet's eye Nor introduced oft in rhyme, At terms scientific, theories Of modern demand, and thought That with the didactic sole' agrees. In sturdy expression wrought. 1 ask you : is poetry the same It was in the days of yore When minstrels to mart it off there came Their mistress or king before. And sang about gallant knights, fair maids. Of dragons' and monsters' keeps. Of robbers engaged in bloody raids. Of charges in gallant leaps'.' Of armor, of bow-strings, lances, shields. Of helmets and trusty blades, Of gory and fiery battle fields, Of castles and rich arcades? Of woodcraft, of witches, goblins dread. Of ballads and twanging lyres. Of banners, of might, and nuptial bed, Of valiant and faithful squires? Is that not a poem which not sings Of such now enfossiled themes? A paean not that which no more rings With such long forgotten dreams? Must verses be 'strict' to love and war, To flowers and knightly deeds, To chivalry, clumsy ancient lore, To sentiment, foolish creeds ? THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 75 C:iii poems iiol licar llie llic-im-s of tho\ii;hls Of modern coiueil, design : Discuss the vain follies, ruinous tons Of matters in social line, Philosophy, science, history. Cosmogony, life and law : Kxamine the natural mystery : From such its conclusions ilrau ? Were Pope but a bard had he but writ His essay on man, were spent To purposelessness his caustic wit. His practical sentiment':' \'oiu' answer I pass: it suits my style To bring you in rhyth' and rhyme My topic in modern rank and file, To bow to the thought of time. 1 write not of threadbare subjects here. And follow will not your verse In similar radiance, cast off gear, To merit my public's curse. Accustom yourselves to words I bring In metre to speak my will, And listen to terms in which I sing As though they had by-gone thrill. Didactic I'll be at times, I know, But that must not hurt the rest : I feel for my topic all the glow- Contained in the minstrel's zest. Armillus may not a hero be For whom you would pant and sigh. But now is the sign of poesy Quite aught than in days gone by. Vou see him in heaven on purpose bent Its glory to fell destroy. The treachery ancient to resent, To INIepha's eternal joy. He went to the city where the queen Held court with her saintly band : Incognito came he on the scene To view him that sunlit land. What Paris in hell was throne and crown. Was London in heaven, he found : Appropriate even to renown, The centie of priestly ground In Protestant sense ; heaven had its Rome, But Diva was queen for atight ; Her gospel had proved the rod of home. And so were her subjects taught. Armillus soon learned that th' older church Was loathe to then aid the new, But could not well leave it in the lurch 'Gainst Satan's infernal crew, So sent on its knights to aid the cause. And then to dispute the crown With Diva for making heavenly laws, .\nd trod the usurper down. Armillus and Hugon 'rived at court As messengers sent from hell I'd bring her the sense of their retort To what she had writ' so well. When hardly announced, they were received In presence of majesty ; The answer, she said, her sorely grieved : To war she could not agree. And yet she nuist stand in her defence. And give them an eye for eye ; So might they come on, and fight commence ; She 'd triumph or she would die. And as she thus spoke, Armillus turned His looks from her own away : She saw not his cheeks how red they btirned. And brought to an end her say. And Hugon bowed low to take the word And carry it to his king. To tell him what he had seen and heard. In arms her his will to bring. He sorrowed to think that one so young. So wondrously bright and fair, Should thus of her crown and throne be wrung. And bitter defeat her bear. For Diva looked not a thing to spite. But rather to dearly love : He fain would him draw from out the fight. Return to his hell above. She was but a girl, but glorious girl. With sunniest, softest hair ; Of all of her sex the brightest pearl : How sad she should ill her fare. The brow was as smooth as marble block. The eye was so loving' brown Nor looked not a glance that served to mock, To go with a telling frown : It looked like a fawn's, and struck the heart With tenderest chivalry ; It looked it could never prove the dart Of him that enjoyed its glee. The cheeks were a trifle fine and pale, But raised her rare charm to height ; Those lips Hugon seemed as though no tale Could issue their bloom to blight. The chin was as childish as could be, And warded oflf thoughts of guile ; The form was a gem of symmetry ; You melted to see her smile. Her voice was as silver from a bell, As though it an angel owned ; The heart in her boson seemed to swell As full as those sounds sweet' toned. 76 THE INFERNAL COMED V. The soul that enwrapped that woman fair. That spoke in her every grace, Seemed more than a goddess' gift and share Than held in a mortal's face. Armillus was shaken Hke a reed ; It looked as his heart would burst. Nor seemed him her presence then a heed : Though look up, his eye not durst. She wondered to see that manly form Thus taken with unsuppressed Emotion and fiercest passions' storm ; Her mhid not the cause yet guessed. When Hugou turned 'round to leave the hall, Armillus not stirred a limb ; He saw on his friend the cm-tain fall, And yet he not followed him, . But turned on the queen a maddened face, And caught her in blazing eye : And Diva fell back a startled pace, And sounded a painful cry. Emotion brought beauty on that cheek And into those flashing orbs No stylus can 'grave, no tongue can speak. No Venus in grace absorbs. She turned from the king of hell as thonijh She stood in the sight of pest, Yet did she his office far from know. And still did her looks invest This man with the attributes cf all That seemed her of bad repute. So did she in haste from him back fall. Aversion her glances shoot. " Methought," she addressed him with, " that you Would seek an abode with those Who deem themselves part of Satan's crew ; I wonder not thus you chose. You know that I hate your very sight — Then why do you seek me out ? Return to your wrong and shame and night. Your sacrilege, sinful doubt." Armillus recovered sense and speech : ■' Your majesty, let me say That you I believed without my reach, And ne'er in my humble way. I knew not that she I loved on earth. In heaven here doth rule a queen " " Enough; you mistake my crown and worth. And miscomprehend the scene. Our audience is over ; leave us, sir; Return to the land you chose ; We cannot us more or less aver ; So leave us to our repose." Armillus inclined his stately head. Made gesture with graceful hand : " Most willingly would I right be led. And everything understand. Dismiss me in anger not, I pray ; Let what you onpe felt for me Determine to say me now not nay, -And merciful to me be. You left me to mourn for years your death. Decided my future life. And passed us away, resigned ynur breath Before you became my wife. Then wonder not that I now request You tell me what you befell When you 'd passed away to what seemed rest On this our empyreal shell. I ne'er saw a face when you had died That blotted your memory ; Your passing-off robbed me all my pride. My joy and my vanity. You followed me through my whole career. Monopolized every thought. And left me a future blank and bear ; In vain for respite I've sought. 1 know that your soul exceeds your heart, But pity me in my strait. And let us in wrath and spite nol part. Nor villain me wholly rate. I see that I am your bitter foe Where politics are concerned, But let us awhile that fact not know, .•\nd let me not thus be spurned. The blows to be struck have yet to cimie ; Till then let us have a truce : And let what our hate therewhile be munb. And put the few hours to use." Queen Diva frowned heavily, bit her lip, And shot him a graceless glance, And colored with anger to the tip. Her beauty yet to enhance. Then spake she : " I have no word for you ; What would you, I pray, with me? What have I that can be deemed your due? In nothing do we agree. You think me a queen in heaven e'en set. And think you are bound with hell ; Then why should we quarrel here and fret? What would you that I should tell ? You cannot me shake my simple creed, And I can't redeem your sin ; It were me sheer foil' with you to plead ; Then why would you I begin ? My heart, it is true, with yours was linked While yet it on earth owned life ; But soon was my love for you extinct; I'd never have been your wife. THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 77 Ami why'.' Ask yourself if I could share An infidel's house and bed. His name and his sin with him could bear? No, no ; we had ne'er been wed. You trampled on all that I adored, Vdii sneered when 1 sang and prayed, \'c)in- ril)aldry evei on me poured : What \M>nder our love did fade? \\ hy would you once more revive those days Of misery, cruel tears, ( )f iliscord and most unhappy frays : We knew but a dearth of cheers. ( !ood bye. I have said mucli more than 1 Intended when I began ; Then leave me, for I must earnest' try My victory yet to plan." Armillus still moved not: " I'm amazed To hear what you tell me now : Your sentiments have me almost dazed ; I cannot thus leave, I vow. Your majesty must take off her crow n A moment, and speak with me As though a girl still. I brook yom- frown, Rut satisfied will I be. You tell me that after all the love You've showered upon my own, Y'our thoughts went astray to things above To leave me at length alone? Ah, vain, heartless girl, I guessed it not. But read I my folly now ; Unhappy has been my earthly lot : To much did I bend and bow. Is love, then, a thing to be cast off Because we could not agree On faith? And seemed all my words you scoff? I would I had e'er been free From such a false love ; from each bright curl 1 read out a curse at last ; I thought to have won me such a pearl : And now I must stand aghast." The queen knit her brows. — " Go on," said she, " Now you have so well begun, And let me attend this homily ; That space have you fairly won." Armillus not flinched. — '■' 'Tis well: I speak : I cannot have much to say ; Your manner has left me stunned and w eak ; ^et dear' will for this you pay. I was yet a boy, my heart as free As bird in the greenwood shade ; We met, and I saw my destiny, My lot at your mercy laid. tjuite other were you in those bright days : A guileless, an artless girl ; You won me with all your simple ways, A love-sick, a verdant churl. I gave you my heart the ntomenl 1 But saw you, and left distressed My duties, my home ; I had no eye For .inght but fur you, no rest. I hovered about you day and night. And saw I was not all wrong ; I feasted my soul upon your sight, I praised you in burning song. Remember the stormy night we sat Alone in your island home ; 'Twas there that my love return begat. And hi.cher my hopes bright clomb. That night you asked not if God or Christ Us ever might come between. For Cupid had both of us enticed. And everything seemed serene. We romped by the hour to feel the thrill A touch would produce, and sought By various sharp means and clever skill To be into contact brought. JNhich reason was there against our love. And much was 'fore me adduced ; But demons below, nor elfs above Me could have from you seduced. I bore them all down with might and main, My fervor too great to break ; I bowed to no threats and no disdain ; But stood it for your dear sake. I won you e'er reason bid yuu halt : You threw in my arms yourself: The sugar was mi.xed with too much salt, The jewel with too much pelf You loved me in folly, and when sense O'er-mastered your feeble heart. In vain might I stand in my defence : You coldly me bid depart. Nine months you endured the absent swain. And then you but thought to fail. And drew to your side me on again, And bid me once more you hail. And then, — what a broil was not our life. Distract' with the wildest woe; Y'ou promised yourself to be my wife. And turned out my bitter foe. You followed your dreams and whims to end. And I might stand by in pain. My trouble you deigned not to befriend ; You met it with cold disdain. You granted me promise once to be In future your better half. And left me unto my misery To spend on all else your laugh. 78 THE INFERNAL COMEDY You sneered at my utterance, met with scorn M3' wishes and humble pleas ; I often me wished I'd ne'er been born ; What horrors on me did seize ! Vciu quoted against what you'd find To wound me in deepest soul ; To all my solicitude proved you blind : Yovi left me in grief to roll. At last 1 could stand no more the strain. And broke from the heartless tie ; And broke in my flight my heart in twain. And saw through the hideous lie. You suffered and fretted much, 1 know, But I was dismissed of fault By all who there knew my endless woe ; But 1 knew me not to halt : I worried until my joy was fled ; And vanished, nay boyish glee ; My heart to fair woman ever dead : 1 rushed into revel me. At last you succumbed to sombre life, And I wept till tears were gall. For shameful exploit and error rife ; I answered to folly's call. You left me to curse my later days. And cursed have I them so well That sin grew upon me dreadful craze; I gloated to end in hell. I see in ;our look vindictive joy To have me thus ruin wrought, And make a detested wretch the boy Who ever your pleasure sought. I see on your brow the mind within Full choked with its poisoned dart. More hateful than e'en the gauntest sin, A beauty without a heart. You call that a Christian soul when hate Runs riot therein with rot? I now see the truth, alas, too late; Oh, aw ful then was my lot. But let me forget the grief you brought Upon my poor, broken frame ; Enough have we two dissension wrought; Die out in the air, wild flame ! My interest in you can never fade, And e'en as I here rehearse The wrong you did me while yet maid ; I cannot your acts now curse. 'Tis over, ray passion ; but still were you The one that I loved on earth ; In honor no more did there I woo. And not till my hellish birth. Then frown ; still I ask to hear how came My love to be here the queen ; I buried in hell the by-gone shame ; In honor may I be seen. Forget we once loved and hated thus, And tell me your wondrous tale : Then will I depart; and ne'er shall us A meeting again detail. We are on the eve of war and strife, And enemies must we be ; We never again will meet in life ; Then tell me your history." And just as the word he last had spoke Died out on the summer air. In haste on the twain a warrior broke. With head of his helmet bare. " Forgive, gracious liege, that I intrude," He gasped as he sank on knee, With breathless alarm and haste imbued ; "Speak!" ordered her majesty. " The foe has arrived on Tartar plains In numbers we failed to count. And ever and e'er in forces gains. And stretching from moimt to moinit, He does not advance, but stays in camp ; Our armies are on the move : Their spirits, howe'er, are lax and damp ; I doubt we shall valiant prove." The queen shot a glance of fretful rage Upon the unfortunate ; With such as Armillus in the stage. She heard with a sullen hate The tale of dismay ; the hell-king smiled ; A thunder cloud waxed her brow. With tempest and passion on it piled, That caused even him to cow. " 'Tis well," she replied unto the knight, " Go forth and let strife be done, And God will be with the cause that's right ; Already I feel we've won." The herald arose and looked about. And when he Armillus spied, He could not refrain a start and shout ; " What is it "?" Queen Diva cried. " I cannot be wrong; I know him well," E.xclaimed the astonished man, " My liege, you behold the king of hell !" .And tumult and hue began. The queen grew as pale as snow, and cried : " Arrest him ! Secure his sword !" A rush, and the king was seized and tied : " We have him, th' infernal lord !" — " Then let him be led to dungeon deep. And burdened with heavy chains ; Now may the reward deserved he reap. And see who will cure his pains. 77/ A" COA()UEST OF HEAVEN. 79 He stole like a ihief at night to see \Vhat*;trength to oppose was here Before he attacked ; a spy is ho. And now we have naught to fear. The armies witlioia their ruling mind We'll put in dismay to (light When they in a corpse their monarch fnul : So God helps the cause of right. He puts in oiu- grasp the enemy Who is at same time His own ; His instruments in this work are we : This man must for all atone. Then lead him away, and hold him safe ; Ourself will we him attend; In vain shall he plead and sigh and chafe : He shall not our will unhencl. His armies shall scattered be like dust, His widow shall weep aloud. His orphans shall learn to welcome crust. Himself shall be wrapped in shroud. This blasphemy shall be punished well ; Armillus, your mission's o'er ; In truth shall you taste of fire and hell. And mercy of heaven implore." ( )ur hero flashed back defiant glance, And followed his jailers out, Nor feared that this luckless circumstance Would give o'er his might to rout. They placed him within a diuigeon cell. And threw him a loaf of bread ; The captive bore out misfortune well : " Laugh on, I am not yet dead !" CANTO IV. A DIVINE FIEND. AND now you shall hear how beauty's May cover a rotten mind. What labors it takes itself to task, Atrocities seeks to find. I show you a woman as she lived On earth in my own regard, How deeply my every sense she grieved, My sympathies foully marred ; And I will adduce from rigid fact The damnable fruits that grow (Jn breeding with Christian error racked. What horrors and sins thence flow. There lived a fair maid, of girlish mien. With innocent, childish glee In infancy ; now observe the spleen That comes with maturity. The heart is a void, the mind a haze. The soul is a hateful thing ; The mind is a knot, all thought a craze. Their issue a dreadful fling. The crimes that some parents thus commit In maddening the crumbling brain With mockery for no heathen fit, And driving the mind insane, I ne'er can forgive them : I have reaped The harvest that they have sown. And with it you'll find this canto steeped. Its gloom and distress you shown. — In foulest and deepest dungeon cell, Unpierced by a ray of light, Tay chained to the wall the king of hell, A piteous, disheartening sight. His eyelids were closed, but not in sleep ; The mind was but too awake : The heart was a wreck, it throbbed so weak It seemed him as though 'twould break. What ending was here to his campaign : A prisoner to the foe Himself, and his followers mayhap slain — Oh bitter, oh burning woe ! His armies, encamped in foreign land, Would wait for the word in vain That was to the onslaught to command ; His absence who could explain? Had he not commanded they should not Shed blood till he gave the word '? How could from the depths of such a spot His word of command be heard? He saw them demoralized, foot and horse. His generals at counsel's end. At variance to pursue a course, — Where now was a succoring friend ? He saw the young queen sweep o'er the plain And take them in sheer surprise. To last gallant knight despoiled and slain, — Where now were his fondest ties ? He pictured a widow stunned with grief, The country distract' and poor, At mercy of every heavenly thief Of Diva's protection sure. Could Mepha avenge his own defeat? Alas, she would crippled be ; The carnage that went with the retreat At hand, would her death-knell be. His boy but just born he saw exposed To strangers' slow mercy, waifed, His royal career forever closed — How tortured his heart-strings chafed ! So THE INFERNAL COMEDY. But still there was hope, for Hugon 'd know That he was a captive held In forcible bonds by this their foe- — His heart with the new thought swelled. So was the mind torn with this and that To feel and to hope and fear, The rising despair to hard combat, His doubts to dispel and clear. And hours thus passed on, and wearily watched The prisoner for relief; On empty, dark tablets periods notched That marked him his joy or grief. The liiiurs sped to days, the days to weeks. And still there was not a sign ; Had Diva then tired of further freaks"' How hmg would he have to pine? Had battle been done? The victor, who? Was Diva now queen of hell ? What agony sped his vigils through. His misery who shall tell ? His figure grew waste, his spirit nigh 'Neath all this distraction broke, .4nd still the blear days went slowly by. Nor came there a voice that spoke A cheerful accost ; the uniform That once was so grand and fine. Too ragged to further keep him warm. Was tearing in every line : And chilly the dampness crept apace On I'eeling, on heart and brain, And deepened the shades on thinning face ; Dread horrors came in its train. The crust that was flung to serve his meal Was mockery, for he starved ; He noted the faintness o'er him steal. With lowering phantasms larved. The water he drank was stale, nor quenched A spark of his burning thirst : He drank it ; and drinking, hand he clenched, And Diva's unfeeling cursed. He sank as the night sinks on the wood There down on his native earth. He altered in temper, changed in mood. And wished he had ne'er known birth. The hate that arose 'gainst humankind Within that envenomed heart Could parallel in no bosom find. So cutting had grown its smart ; The malice he bore 'gainst Christendom Would frighten the queen to see. His better dictates had waxed so numb. So narrowed his charity. And by went the weeks, and yet no word. To tell him he still was king, Was through those confines of darkness heard. His tortures relief to bring : • Until, of an hour, the jailer's key Was thrust in the dungeon's lock, The bolts were slid back, and horribly They grated, and jarred the rock. And open the iron door went wide ; He saw — not the man austere Who there in that gloom vocation plied. But her he had held so dear. Queen Diva herself, with lantern dim That flashed a dull ray about And lit up a space to show the grim .Seclusion. There was no doubt But that she had come in triumph there : Her eyes blazed with poisoned light — Armillus' heart sank, he could not dare To hope that it all was right Without with his troops : she could yet smile. And smiled not in mad despair As if her defeat thus to beguile ; Now must he damnation bear. She set the lamp down, and shot a fierce And cruel, quick look at him. His mind with its poignant shaft to pierce, In bitter, vindictive whim. " So this is Armillus, king of hell," She laughed with a harsh refrain, " You look your so sorry office well : You'll ne'er look yourself again. But I did not come to you in jest." And as she pronounced these words, Her brow was lit up with dreadful zest ; His blood seemed to lump in curds. She looked such a fury, j'et so fair As goddess of wrath were she. So royally did her glances flare. As armed 'gainst a sinner's plea. " List' well, fallen king, to what I say," Began the young queen, " for you Will never again see light of day. So be to your manhood true. I'll put it to test, for 'though the love I once in my j'ounger days Was able to give, was yours, a dove Not always to love true stays. And learns to despise what once was tlear : So I, too, now bear you hate ; And bleed shall you now for every tear You caused me in girlish state. \c)u came with eccentric thoughts and ways. And won me against my will, 'Though struggling against the ardent lays You penned me my heart to thrill. THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 8j I came to my sense betimes, and spurned The love that I felt was false ; And 'though you with thoughtful passion burned, You now, in these gloomy vaults, Must see that no spark of love was left When you from my side did stray, That I am of pity's sense bereft. Have ceased to be young and gay. You ask what has changed my heart to this ? I bid you observe your own. Where feelings of prayer have gone amiss. Religion has turned to stone. As you hate Christianity, I hate Your heresy, and I mean To punish you in your direful strait. And vent on yourself the spleen I bear toward those who sneer at prayer. At faith, and devout intent ; That vow have I made, and you shall ne'er To keep it me find relent. The hatred you feel for me and mine Has led you to storm my crown, To rob me the prestige of my line, And hound me to ruin down. A merciful providence has willed Your plan should not come to pass. Your mission should never be fulfilled ; Your soldiers in vain here mass. You know what I feel, can realize What actuates me this hour To torture you in this cruel wise. What goads me to use my power. I feel as 'though I could cause you pain As mortal on earth ne'er bore. Until you dismembered, racked, insane. Were rotting unto the core. This will 1 perform, my victim you To die here a martyr death To heresy, ever lost to view. Passed off in an anguished breath. You start as if these were unreal, strange. As if I were not the same. And yet I did since then not much change In sentiment nor in frame. You cannot forget the maid you won. You pressed to your boyish breast Beneath the mild rays of summer sun. With hatred and strife at rest. 'Tis true I am now a mighty queen, But I am that Diva still Who struck on your heart no more than seen. Now strong with intent to kill. I died when still young on earth below. In sorrow and stinging pain, And thought me in heaven with all its glow When here I awoke again. The king had but died without an heir Or relative to assume The crown ; there arose no little care To place it on some one whom The gift might well honor; there was none Who seemed for the sceptre fit. Who Parliament's approbation won; It passed the legation's wit. So finally did they all agree That they would the crown bestow On her who should maiden fairest be, And Christendom's precepts know. And me did they choose, without a voice To say there was one more fair. Nor did they repent them of the choice, Or factions a grudge me bear. My heart was my own since free from you. And here am I well beloved ; The honor not long appeared me new. And wanting have I not proved. My armies are eager for the fray. And wait but for my command To make all your force a ready prey. And drive it from out the land. And now that I've spoken thus at length. Have answered what you have asked. Collect what remains of all your strength ; Too long have in ease you basked. Arise, while your jailer breaks your chains. And follow us where we go ; We'll see how you bear your ills and pains, Your tortures and fright and woe," And while she yet spoke, his chains fell off. And brutally was he bid To rise, 'midst his jailer's sneers and scoff Who him of his fetters rid. The queen left the cell, her lips hard pressed. Her eye with a fiendish look Aglow, and her brow aflash with zest Of hatred sight could not brook. Armillus arose in pain, so weak He staggered against the wall. With fever so parched he could not speak, 'Scarce strong to prevent a fall. And coldly she looked upon his pain. And bade him be quick and spry — " A sorry Armillus you, I wain !" She sneered ; " Come, the hours go by." He dragged his frail frame through corridor Aslirae with cold damp and rot. With vermin ascamper on the floor, A drear and a frightful spot. 82 THE INFERNAL CO MED V. And finally stood they in a hall With import of dreadest kind; How welcome now seemed the chain and ball 'Gainst what his eyes here did find. From ceiling there hung a lantern which Threw 'round a dim radiance there. How gloomy and dark appeared each nich. How heavy, how chill the air. A chamber of torture 's what he saw, With instruments standing 'round That filled him with horror and with awe, And caused his weak heart to bound. Full masked, were assembled those who were To do their young queen's foul will, To cast on hell's king this shameless slur. " Keep still, my poor heart, keep still !" He whispered, while Diva assumed a seat. He stood 'gainst a pillar leaned. Scarce able to stand upon his feet. Addressed by that beauteous fiend : " You see what awaits you in this night, And fear that you want the strength To bear what I threaten you of fright And torturous pain, at length. I'll spare you it all if you will swear On knee, and the Bible kissed. To leave off your heresy fore'er, And unbelief to resist, If you will renounce philosophy, And Christian hereafter be. Then will I relieve your misery. And let you go off scot-free. What say you ?" — " I say that I defy Your threats ; you may do your worst ; Ere I be a Christian, will I die. And hold you fore'er accursed." — •' I thought you would answer thus, proud king. But think not my threats are vain ; I have me no fear but that I'll bring You 'round to repeat my strain." — • " I swear you will not, by all that's dear !" — " Swear not ; 'twill be perjury ; You might want to break your word when fear Will visit your misery. Be obstinate ; we shall see ere long If you can bear out your woe ; Your spirit, how brave, how staunch, how strong 'Neath every new anguished throe. Lay hold, and him bind unto the rack. Secure him as well 's you can, And stretch his vile frame till 's sinews crack : We'll see what he bears, the man." And even as bid, they stretched and tore. But he was as mute as though All iron unto the deepest core, Yet horrible was his woe. She watched by his face till blue it waxed. And reason had fled its seat. Each fibre was strung and overtaxed. And heart had nigh ceased to beat. And yet he was true to soul and sense ; They racked the poor wretch in vain ; He set up no plea, no frail defence ; He bore out the awful strain. And finally they released his frame, And gave him a cooling draft ; Still Diva appeared to own no shame ; She 'd trj' him till he was daft. And so they secured and screwed his thumb Until it out spirted blood. Until it was dead, distort' and numb. Despoiled of its vital flood. And still he refused th' inhuman queen Her mad and unheard request ; And still it went on, the frightful scene. With crueller, fiercer zest. They tortured as it was ne'er conceived In Spain's most disgraceful days. Nor could it have ever been believed That woman could go such ways Though she be the worst of all her sex. Been wronged to the last degree ; Such matters might well the sage perplex Who broods o'er sociology. I will not delay what suffered here Armillus of this fair fiend ; Enough that she drew him scarce' a tear. So well had his pain he screened. He answered her nay until his tongue Hung out and refused to speak. His body him scorched, his skin sore' stung ; And rendered a craze, her pique. Exhausted in means to pain him more. They rested from further tasks. And back to his dungeon cell him bore. Foul' cursing beneath their masks. And there the poor wretch was chained anew. And left to bemourn his fate. While Diva set out fresh plans to brew To heighten her victim's strait. What horror had not his life e'er been From birth to his fearful death ! In youth, he'd atoned for love and sin. And now he was racked for faith. He hardly had strength to grasp his crust. To moisten his feverish lip, For yet he not felt that sink he must. That death had outstretched its grip THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 83 Once more to retard his mad career ; In spite of the pangs he bore, He thought he could yet not pass from here Unto a still other shore. For where 'd be the mission he 'd been told That he would fulfill e'er long : If death was now nigh? He 'd make so bold To think the advent was wrong. Armillus he felt himself at soul, Arniillus would meet success ; This was not the end, the final goal, 'Though dire might be th' distress. And as he there lay and suffered on. And hoped, it well seemed, in vain. With features that grew each day more wan. And limbs that increased in pain. He heard in the night a cautious voice Through keyhole impressive' sound, That made his fast-sinking heart rejoice ; Aha ! The escape was found ! But no, for the voice was heard to say : " Your majesty, it is I, Old Hugon, who found to you his way ; To see you I had to try. So have I sought friendship with the man Who sends you your daily food And keeps you beneath the girl-queen's ban ; He proved me a tithe too good. He would not allow me to approach. But now I have left him drunk' ; So hither I sped my cause to broach Ere out my reach you 'd sunk. I could not obtain the keys, for he Delivered them to the queen ; She watches you, sire, too carefully That I could her come between. This hour must I leave, e'er they suspect That we have exchanged a word, And into our camp my course direct Before I am seen and heard. I knew they had recognized our king. And made him a captive here; The news of your death they think I'll bring. But now they will have no fear When I shall announce that you're alive; Full energy will they 'rouse Themselves for your freedom soon to strive. And aid you to keep your vows To raze from her stolen throne this girl. And humble her in the dust ; Our banners shall in the breeze unfurl To save you from cell and crust. Queen Mepha has come to take command And act in your time and place ; She masters the reins with gallant hand And shows a determined face. So rest you in hope, my gracious sire; Soon will you be out and free ; This palace will crumble 'neath the fire Of cannons and musketry. And speak but a word that all is well. And that there is no mistake ; The victory rests with those of hell; That hope can me no man shake." Armillus drank in each precious sound, And fiery his heart did burn. And with a new life in valor bound; These words did he him return : " Away, my old friend, and speed in haste ; Tell Mepha she must not grieve. But gather her strength for war and waste ; And tell her I love and live. And bid her be quick, for dreadful pain Must I in this dungeon bear ; Then say that if me she 'd see again. The fight she at once must dare !" And Hugon replied : " 'Tis well, I fly ; Adieu til! we meet when hell Shall triumph as hither we us hie To open your dungeon cell !" And then he was off, and silence reigned Once more in those regions dark ; His terrible wounds him fiercer pained. The gloom seemed him twice as stark. When hark, there came footsteps o'er the stone. But lightly, as if a child Was tripping along them, and alone ; What meant it? Was not reviled Armillus enough ? For 'twas the queen Who came to survey the man She 'd offered so frightful, dread a scene. Her hatred so fierce' to fan. She opened the door, and streamed the light Of lantern upon his face : A pitiful, granite-softening sight; Yet loosened not Diva's grace. " I come to inquire," she said, " if you Are still of the olden mind. If you have not changed a tithe your view. Conviction you could not find." Armillus burst out : " I am the same. And fear me not now to die ; What meeds it I live with such a frame? For succor what care have I ?" With devilish mien she him replied : " Your suffering can yet be worse ; I have but the least persuasion tried. And am to extremes averse. THE INFERNAL COMED\. But tempt me too far, and you shall feel That monstrous can be my rage, And deal you some wounds that ne'er can heal. No remedy can assuage." And he : " I'm content to see how far Your torture I can me bear ; So may you my flesh and features mar, Your doctrines I will not share." And she : " It is well, and I will show You how I'll avenge the speech, That none .shall ere say they knew your woe, My boast to defy, impeach." She turned on her heel, and slammed the door That even the rocks 'round shook; He sank on the pitiless stone floor. By mercy and grace forsook. And how did the queen fulfill the threat, How words with their acts invest ? She caused in his dungeon to be set A being alive with pest, A leper whose breath was death to breathe^ Whose contact was foul disease, Whose tumors with putrid flow did seethe And horror none might appease. In stinking and putrid atmosphere Armillus th' infliction bore. With poison infested every tear. And tainted unto the core. And still he defied the queen, and said He never would budge nor shrink, But answer the same till he was dead. And tottered upon the brink. Nor did she desist in that foul work. But tortures for him devised With water and fire, with rope and dirk. In terror and craft disguised : Until the poor wretch had lost the sense To suffer another pang. Nor could by a gesture make defence On which an appeal to hang. So finally Diva bid him starve, And die like a dog, that he Who would in the heavens his fortune carve. Should finish in misery, To those an example dread who might Feel tempted to war 'gamst Christ; In thought or in act His fall indite ; That honor should come high-priced ! And so it died out, the golden spark That fired th' infernal realm ; He ended in shame, in pain and dark, To nevermore overwhelm These heavens with his forces — what a pass To had our Armillus come ! The prophecy, where was that? Alas, That voice was at present dumb. He lay on the mouldy straw, a wreck. With poisoned and cancered frame. No soothing to mind his anguished beck ; 'Twas played, the infernal game. He breathed, 'tis true, but oh, so low That life seemed a glimmer but That at the least warning out would go, His page be forever shut. And yet it endured, that spark of life. Through hours and through days of pain, Of horrible fits, of dreadful strife, Of ravings and cries insane. He uttered : " Armillus must not die. His mission is not yet done. This heaven must in war yet conquer I ; The cause must be fought and won !" Alas for the boast : it was the last He made on empyreal shell ; His glorious command and might were past. Armillus, farewell ! Farewell ! CANTO V. THE INFERNAL VICTORY. ALL heaven was inarms, 'neath banners ranged All nations to war 'gainst hell ; And brothers met there long years estranged. To join in the wild pell-mell. All trade was at end, profession closed. All answered the royal call. And faith in their arms and strength reposed ; The devil must yield, must fall ! Here came the staunch Prussians, helmet topped, A small but a sturdy band. There came the brave Gauls in line well dropped To succor their mother land. The Britons came flocked in gallant file. The Spaniards in sombre hue, Italians in gay Berzerker style. The Norsemen in stalwart view. There came the wild Turk with cymbal sound. The Russians in fur out-decked. The Arabs with desert chargers' bound. The Indians with head erect. There came who could carry musket, there Came all who could trudge along And join in the nation's cry and air, And join in the common song. THE C0N(2UEST OF HEAVEN. S3 They came from all lands, all climes and Eones, With cannons and baggage carts Aclattering over the roads and stones. With fiery and valiant hearts. A motley array to meet and fight. Ten thousands to rout, destroy, A powerful force to put to flight To dampen tlie hellers' joy. Queen Diva reviewed the monstrous throng, And called the assemblage well : This army so great, so fierce, so strong. To sweep off the sons of hell. Each city was fortified to last. Provided with shell and food. With garrisons from the bravest cast To hold them unto the blood. On seas floated ships of all degree : Fast cruisers, torpedo boats, Great iron-clads, men-o'-war, to see No men in infernal coats Steal marches with oars ; all was prepared. The enemy, where was he? Still there where he first his tents had aired ; He fought not, nor did he flee. Then was it commanded charge be made To see what the foe would do. But gallantly were the shots repaid. And valiantly did he hew. The heaveners retreated, but no foe Came after to cut them down ; He backed to his tents without ado, With silence and sulky frown. How looked it within the hellers' camp? Alas, it looked none too well : Their energj' flagged, their spirits damp, A wrapped in some unknown spell. Their king was away, and none knew where He 'd gone ; and Queen Mepha cried ; Alarm was fast brewing in the air. And spreading out far and wide. What meant this inaction? Discontent Grew higher from day to day ; Their journey began they to repent; Still nothing the storm to 'lay. When suddenly life seemed new' infused Into the disheartened ranks, And soldiers no more the queen abused. Nor played their unseemly pranks. Old Hugon arrived in deep disguise With message unto the queen ; His coming each heart was there to prize ; Quite different now waxed the scene. The king had been seen, so ran the tale. And suffered most grievous harms A captive in Diva's hand and pale ; And everyone cried : " To arms ! To arms ! To the rescue ! Save our king!" High sounded the loud alarms: " To horse ! To the gims ! To everything ! To victory ! War! To arms !" The tents were soon struck ; in rank and file Marched column on column on In endless array; by rod and mile. Came pioneer, zouave, uhlan. Came cuirrassier, footman, cavalry. Came janizar, came dragoon. Came elephants, camels, infantry. In company and platoon. Then hark to the fife that cheerily Pipes piercing a rousing air. The drum as it rattles merrily. The bugle in brazen blare ; The burst of the instruments of brass, The pibroch's quaint melody ; In stirring conclave they onward pass To death or to victory. Then left, and then left, then left, left, left. Huzza, and huzza, huzza ; Still left, and still left, still loft, left, left, Hurrah, and hurrah, hurrah! And noisily clatter hoofs of horse On rubble, on stick and stone, On hallowing, noisy, dusty course. To win them the heavenly throne. And on, on to war, to glee, to fight, To powder, to shot and shell ; Then right, and then right, then right, right, right. Huzza and hurrah for hell ! O'er meads, o'er the fields, o'er rock and sand, Through canyon and mountain pass. O'er blooming and over desert land. In solid and singing mass. The hearts how they swell, the souls how great, The sentiments rise on high. Excitement without the least abate. All eager, all roused, all spry. And march, and then march, then march, march, march. And march in unbroken tread ; The suns might shine down, the tongues all parch, Through carnage fields they be led. They'd march, and they'd sing, and sing, sing, sing, 'Though everything might go wrong, 'Though this might them hunger, suffering bring. They 'd sing their enrapturing song. The foe might be great, the prospect drear. The faces grow flushed or wan. They 'd cheer, they would cheer, and cheer, cheer, cheer ; And cheering, march bravely on. 86 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Hurrah for the war, the queen, the king, Huzza for the wine and beer. They 'd sing, they would sing, and succor bring. They 'd cheer, and they 'd cheer, and cheer. They came to the walls of sullen fort : " Surrender !" was their demand ; But those there behind were not that sort ; They lengthy defence had planned. " Then up with the guns, the shot and shells. And level the thing to ground !" And bullets and balls and leaden hells Made dreadful and booming sound, And splintered the walls, like pallisades Blow down in a hurricane ; The first blow was struck to win this Hades ; Its glory was on the wane. They butchered resistance, tore down weft ; No stone on a stone remained ; And left, and then left, and left, left, left. Left ruins full bloody stained. Resistance they met at every town, But victory crowned their arms ; They battered the walls and houses down. And spread through the land alarms That terror and panic seized the foe Who fled to be strongly met. And heap on the conquerors fell ivoe. With teeth in defiance set. The day came at last when force and force Was measured on level plain. To battle and slay without remorse. Till neither should rise again. They glared at each other, while a truce Was being arranged that each Might put a few hours to any use He pleased, or lend ear to speech. Queen Mepha rode forth 'neath pennant white. Surrounded by all her court ; Queen Diva appeared, full hate and spite. With gallant and rich consort. " Say on," Diva cried, " what means this rise In fierce and unhallowed arms. To come in this rash and uncouth wise. And spread through our realms alarms?" — " The question is idle, sister sweet," In humor hell's queen replied, " We offer you now a safe retreat. So you by our will abide." — " And what is that will 1" Queen Diva sneered. " That you will revise your tone. Your sceptre of claim and title cleared, Our husband set on the throne." — " So so. We refuse. Your king is dead. So wholly we can't comply; This hand has him lopped his royal head \" " A wicked, malicious lie ! But if he be harmed, then woe be yours. And all 'neath your banner ranged ; Then mercy and hope no more endures For you, and we are estranged. Return as you came, with curling lip ; Our arms shall our cause decide ; From sabres your heavenly blood shall drip If we are at length defied. Adieu !" and she galloped from the spot, While Diva was pale with rage, And cried: " I'll prepare you such a lot. Such carnage and blood you wage, Armillus shall think that he was nursed With honey and milk and wine ; So shall you yet find your fate accursed, So piteous shall be your whine !" And she, too, rode oflf; the field was cleared ; Now might it begin, the fight; The trumpets were blown, the horses reared ; Now providence aid the right ! The charge, how it sounded 'cross the plain ! Like monsters the armies moved. And met with a shock of blood and pain That ruinous, bitter proved. Then belched forth the cannons fire and flame. And flesh-razing, whizzing ball ; Then roars of mad pain which lines acclaim ; They struggle and fret and fall. Then trampled the horse on luckless head. The elephants crushed through ranks Of harrowed detachments, gory, red. And played them some fatal pranks. — By all that is sacred, great and true, I ask you, can such things be? Can man his own brother thus down hew. And hate him so terribly That with their whole might and strength and main They hound down each other's joy, Their lands with each other's blood thus stain. Each other defeat, destroy ? Are men, then, such beasts that arms decide Among them, as if they wild Ran 'round like hyenas, warfare plied From morning till night, defiled Their living with constant sight of blood. And owned neither art nor sense. Were happy alone when gory flood Came over their wild pretense ? I trust that foul war fore'er is past. Its measures may soon be fled. The battle last fought indeed the last. The feeling of carnage dead. J THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 87 See but how they fly Hke tiger cats. These men, on the others down ; How fiercely his ground each man combats — Is this worth a monarch's crown ? How coolly they stand and aim their shot One man on another ! See How grows the thick field more fierce, more hot. And breeds animosity. The crisis has come, the columns close. Now heaven or now hell must yield ; So bitter were ne'er on earth two foes. So bloody was ne'er a field. At last the one gains, the other falls. The cries grow exultant' wild. And thicker and thicker rain the balls. And deeper 's the foeman riled. An effort to gain the stand once lost. And then came the fatal flight At frightfully bloody, dear a cost ; It was a disgraceful sight. Yea, hell had her won ! " Huzza, huzza ! Hew down what you find and can ! The victory 's ours ! Hurrah, hurrah ! Cut down every flag and man !" In headless confusion fled the foe. The flight being fair' begun : Resistance now made no more a show The day and the heaven were won ! Queen Mepha raced on to London's walls. And shattered the bulwarks down With murderous shells and gimlet balls. And entered the stricken town. She galloped unto the palace door. Took headlong her fiery course. With frenzy alive unto the core, And sprang from her foaming horse. She dashed up the steps, into the hall. And up to the royal throne Where Diva stood, all around the wall Her courtiers like men of stone Full ranged. " It is yours," Queen Diva cried, " My country, my throne, my crown. My sceptre that reigns so far and wide. My palace, my arming gown. And more can I give ; and will, in truth ; And give will I all I've said ; And here is the gift of gifts, in sooth. Your husband's devoted head !" And shrieking the words, she drew from out Of royal robe's purple fold A head ; and appalled, each bosom stout. However depraved and bold. Was filled with a sickening, shocking sense ; The head rolled at Mepha's feet. Who, standing in ghastly, cold suspense. As pale as a winding sheet, Bent down with intent and burning eye. And shuddered to inmost core ; She uttered a piercing, awful cry, And fell on the marble floor. Spectators grew statues at the sight. Or fainted, and Diva smiled. And gloated fiiU o'er the fearful blight She had on her rival piled. They seized on the wretch with cries of loud Resentment, and would have torn Her mantle to serve instead as shroud. But that she was freed their scorn By Hugon, who held the crowd at bay. And thundered them to retreat Or they would the penalty for it pay ; So Diva was saved their heat. Hell triumphed, but oh, at what a cost ! What horrors had not been done ! The next dreadful thing to battle lost Is surely a battle won. CANTO VI. HELL-FIRE. ^rpi ''IS wonderful how the human heart Is open to fiction's sway. How readily into action dart The thoughts that we reap from lay. From romance and tale, from fancy's fields, From sketches of human life. From poem that food for purpose yields. From story that speaks of strife. A man sees his hero here described, A woman her heroine there ; And spite of the hits with which they're gibed. They gather a goodly share Of nature from these, and bide their time To act as they've read these did. In eloquent prose and flowing rhyme. In novel or poem hid. They like to resemble they admire Thus pictured in fervent tongue. And to the same acts and deeds aspire As they have observed there strung ; And writers of fiction are the source Of doings in modern life. Bring action to play, dictate the course Of mother, of maid and wife, 88 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. Of youths and of men, of love-sick boys. Of ardent and gallant swains, The authors of hopes, of griefs, of joys. Of effort in wondrous strains. Thus youths would be just such men as they Saw pictured in idle tales. Appear in the same romantic way, And fill up, perchance, our jails. Philosophers, Hamlets, roues, kings Find semblance in would-be such ; Some sigh for a seraph's supple wings. Some ache for infernal touch. I know me a youth who'd sell his soul, Like Faust, and indulge himself In Croesus-like might and wealth to roll, And fling out the golden pelf. So maids would be Haidees, Juliets, Eves, And Mephas as I've described. Be goddesses or be fallen leaves, To sin with a jewel bribed. And wondrous it is that most would be As wicked, as bad, as vile A.5 possible, if but wealth and glee Eternally on them smile. So Diva came out in heaven what she On earth had her dreamt so oft, Armillus in all his deviltry When he had attained aloft The station he wished so much to hold ; Alas, it was over now : What meeds him his glory and his gold When he must to death dark bow ? His tortured remains were brought away From whence he had suffered so. Embalmed to resist their quick decay And laid in his kingdom low. A monument to his might and worth Now graces in hell his grave. Remembers his death, infernal birth. Commends him unto the brave. Queen Diva, a queen no more, is held A captive in Mepha's hand, Her prestige, her pride, her glory felled. Her torture and ruin planned. They brought her to trial, ruled that she Had murdered their liege most foul', Condemned her to death in stern degree Amid the enraged mob's howl. But Mepha requested them to give This woman to her, that she Might then, by her own design and leave, Speak sentence, ignominy On her who had slain her loving king. Had blighted her happy life. Had done such a vile, a heartless thing. And widowed a faithful wife. They granted her wish as she had willed. And Hugon and she oft met. With feelings of dire revenge instilled, The punishment her to set. In chamber of regal luxury The murderess was secured. And treated with generosity Armillus had ne'er endured. And Mepha and Hugon entered there To tell her what they 'd decreed; They found her on knee, at silent prayer. Indulging in faith and creed. Queen Mepha grew crimson, as, in scorn She bid the fair captive rise : " I wished that I never had been born Since you have bedimmed my eyes. You drove in the rapier to the hilt ; What prayer can your crime condole? How dare you approach a God when guilt So heavily burds your soul ? Then up, lest my wrath be not aroused To visit on you the pain You have in my king, my husband housed. So pitiful', monstrous' slain. You know what your judges granted me : That I should decide yovir fate ; I come to impart you my decree. How highly your crime I rate. I offer you freedom, station, gold If you will forswear your creed. Your faith a confess delusion hold. Its tenets in heaven stampede. Refuse, and I give jou o'er to death : So have you Armillus told : I utter the words in like fell breath, My arms for an answer fold." Then Diva arose, th' unruffled brow As set and as pale as though It changed into spotless marble now. And faced her determined foe ; Her lips were as colorless, her eye Forbiddingly rolled, her cheek Was ashen, while raven dye Was gathered in frantic freak Just over the lids ; .she tried to say A fitting reply to this. But obstinate did her tongue fixed stay ; The answer turned out a hiss. " Speak not," went gn Mepha, " if you choke With words that will bear no speech ; Your faith you will not, I see, revoke ; Then listen, nor me beseech. i THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN. 89 Aniiilhis is dead. Wliy did he die ? Because he has answered you As you have this moment made reply To me. That, 1 think, is true. And more, he was tortured cruelly, And racked was his soul and frame ; Shall you suffer less of Mepha, me ? That would be indeed a shame. I have it at heart to bid you go. And nevermore form and face In these my infernal regions show. But such would not please the grace Of Congress, nor heal my wounded pride ; So must I not think of that: This day must your destiny decide, Your fate you with nerve combat. No punishment can be too severe For such an atrocious crime : So start not your sentence now to hear. How judgment and justice chime ! You were a great queen. A queen ne'er take Advantage of throne and crown. Her dignity, mercy ne'er forsakes To hew an oflfender down. Therefore that you outraged royal throne. Shall sit you, in mockery. On brow a huge crown, this to atone. You think this a mild decree ? That is because you have lost the sense Of honor. But I've not done. To womanhood made you, too, pretense: But woman would such deeds shun As you have performed in woman's name. The chastisement must be rude : In public must you expose your shame. To pillar be bounden, nude. I see that you do not even blush. Nor faster comes forth your breath : Yet would I not stand in sullen hush But pray of my judge my death The sooner than suffer such disgrace. What wot you of shame and pride That stand me before with brazen face, When horror and grief 't should hide? That chastises woman and queen, but there Remains yet the mortal deed. Who murders, must death herself here bear; No smaller can be her meed. Yours was an infernal, fiendish act, And fiendish miisfbe th' reward. So cannot the reins for you be slacked. Nor edged off for you the sword. Then be you condemned, to-morrow morn, As which it is known with us. To be of your cloak and vestments torn. Be crowned, and to be led thus Along the full-peopled avenues E'en unto the Place Vendome, Exposed to the rude and brutal views Of those who about you roam. There shall you be fastened to the stake. With fagots around you piled. And these shall be lit for judgment's sake. And you shall be martyr styled To Christian belief, hypocrisy. To which you might well aspire ; And so shall it end, your misery. In horror, in pain, hell-fire." And Diva said not a word, but turned From Mepha's stern look away. But unto the soul the speech had burned, And kindled a fearful fray. And Mepha and Hugon left her to Her anguish, her shame, her grief, Forgetfulness of her fate to woo, To cling to her vain belief. She slept not a wink athrough the night. But waited in mad dismay For Mepha's revenge and all its fright. In shame to be brought away. They came at the hour as they had said, And merciless, cruel hands Tore down from the heart that anguished bled Its shroud at the queen's commands. She stood in her beauty, nude and bare, With angry and crimson face. And bosom that heaved with high-wrought care, In all her fine, native grace. They led her away into the street Where thousands were bent to see The murderess from their gaze retreat In hornir and misery. They bound her unto the stake, and lit The fagots about her feet ; M'hey saw the alarm her brow o'erflit. They saw how that heart wild' beat. The wind caught the flame and wrapped it 'round The supple and girlish form ; .'Vnd higher and fiercer 'rose the sound Of voices into a storm. And as the flames grew and licked her breast. She uttered a fearful shriek That added luito the tumult zest. Augmented its cruel freak. It crackles and hisses 'bout the limbs, And blisters the marble skin. And frenzies the eye that fairly brims With terror amid the din. go THE INFERNAL CO MED Y. The lips tried in vain to hold the cries That 'rose from the throbbing heart Now bursting in such a horrid wise, Receiving so dire a dart. The orbs from their sockets started out, The fingers clutched wild' in air; And louder and madder 'rose the shout From those who 'd assembled there. And so it went on, until the fire Had finished its fearful task, Until it had done the queen's desire. Who might in her triumph bask. But triumph not hovered in that eye. Naught but a subdued, sad care, A fever she could not from them cry, In silence and grief must bear. And Diva's soul sped inito the shell That clasped that huge universe. And fled from this horror, pain and hell, Its monarch to hate and curse. Queen Mepha but lived to nurse the boy Armillus had her conceived ; He now was her last, her only joy. As well it may be believed. And Hugon took pride in tutorship Until he succumbed to years ; He blessed him with quivering, dying lip, And fled the infernal cares. Queen Mepha soon followed in the wake. Bowed down with her sorrow, and Awoke in the future, there to take Of hell in its train command. Armillus she saw not there, for he Had fled to another sphere ; She carried his sacred memory Unto the remotest tear. Prince Mara assumed the reins of hell. And royally wore the crown ; They say he performed the service well ; We'll leave him to his renown. Now reader, we bid this hell adieu ; If there we perchance should meet. Most cordially will I welcome you. So far is my song complete. I've led you through sorrow and through night, To heaven have I e'en you drawn ; Now have we to greet but one more light ; Of reason the glorious dawn ! .1 -THE END OF THE CONQUEST OF HEAVEN.. CANTO I. THE DAWN OF REASON. I BREATHE again, as though 1 come Once more into the light From out of fancy cumbersome, From out of gloomy night. From out a cave of dark design, And issue into day. And hail the sun's effulgent shine To bask within each ray. Yet do I feel a deep regret To leave that hell behind. In memory's oblivion set. Dismiss it from the mind. I fondled every phase and thought That led my soul to dwell. With so much animation frought. On this my cherished hell. I have not done it justice, I Know well ; that makes me sad ; Yet did I earnest' seek and try To make it bright and glad. I mixed much chaflf with glowing wheat ; Too much, I fear, to please ; I spoke much madness in my heat. And uttered much to freeze. But la, the thing is done, nor would One line I now drop out ; I've said enough that you not should My thought and purpose doubt. And now that I've the burdens off My mind that it oppressed, I am prepared to meet your scoff. And let damnation rest. I feel less bitter than I felt Now I my mind have said ; My topic shall be gentler dealt In what 's yet to be read. The light affects the sight that roved Through realms of sombre hue. And each gaunt, spectral aspect loved, The devil gave his due. The glare's too great, but time will give It back its strength and use. For brighter views and scenes to live, With laughter more in truce. So you who followed me along Through death and hellish life. Who saw but horror in my song Prolonged and fearful strife. Read to the end, and brighter views Will, I to you unfold. No more distract' with torture's hues. Nor feelings hot and cold. I bid you leave the scenes where war Had just so bitter' raged. And left the fancy sad and sore. And sympathy engaged. For fresher scenes where tropic' calms. And perfume-laden mists Dream through the zephyr's fragrant balms, And sweet, secluded trysts. Look on the still meridian sea. So beautiful and blue, Asplash with murmuring harmony, The golden rays to woo That scintillate upon its face. And burn into its breast. Its innermost confines to trace, With loving, ardent zest. A single sun 's upon the sky To laugh upon the wave ; Where may my scene, then, think you, lie Before, beyond the grave? Before. For we are back on earth. The same that saw the breath Armillus there acquired at birth Fierce' given o'er to death. The sea lies golden, blue and green In lonely splendor there, A dazzling, dreamy, beauteous scene ; The heat hangs in the air With heavy grace, and seems to lie Upon the flashing glass With heaving breath, in lullaby, A mobile, glowing mass. gs THE INFERNAL COMEDY. No shore as far as eye can reach, No far-off, swelling sail, No cloud, no albatross's screech. No sign of nighing gale. It rocked in ceaseless heave and swell, As though 'twere breathing hard, With burdens on its soul to tell Unto some idle bard. My soul is rocked upon its peace Into a languid haze. Its fearful passions gradual' cease Into a loving maze For natural delights and joys, 'Though not less earnest they, Not altogether silly toys To fill a rhythmic lay : For every scene and every view Has deeper sense for me Than merely born in brilliant hue Of childish harmony. I see the world with other eyes, Through other glasses' cut, Observe its every move and wise. Spy in its every rut, With laden heart of deep design Seen in its every trace, Seen in its every curve and line. In its expressive face. I am no thorough pessimist To oote the death in life. Its sweets with horrid venom kissed. Its peace distract' with strife. But all seems as if all were not As much and earnest' seen As I should wish, as though a spot Were shadowed on the screen. These people live their every day, .\nd labor at their task. Or spend their time at idle play. But never stop to ask The meaning of what meets them here. This play, this life, this work ; They pause not in their dull career. Their labor do not shirk. All thoughts of hence are answered by The verdict of a priest ; They pass all other edict by As coming last and least. A man should smile at every sight .^s though he knew it well. As though familiar with its light. And could its purpose tell ; Nor should a scene be so much new That he should at it start If seen at first ; lie should be true To his exalted part. There is a meaning in all things. Or they were not at all ; The beggars and the highest kings Come under one same thrall Of wisdom, accident and whirl ; And he that sees in dross The truth-imparting, shimmering pearl. Sees half the way across This life ; who sees the rest of way. Is truly great a man ; He holds the threads of this great fray, ."^nd may its purpose span. So every man who lives at all Should be, and know the truth, Conversant with his state and call. His living and his youth. Alas, the world lives on, and dies. And lives again, to live On lying lives and living lies, With not a thought to give To undercurrent ways and means, E.xcept some cho.sen few Who study out the sense of scenes, And take the proper view. The naked truth is fright to see, 'Tis true, as Schiller wrote, But should not be a mystery On which the people dote. Humanity is racked with vice. With sin, dishonor, shame, With fa.shion paid with heavy price, With pretense hollow, lame. The passions of a by-gone age Which graced the public mind, With falsity and treason wage, And follow far behind. 'I'o-day a friend 's a friend as long As interest bids him be Sincere at heart, but will go wrong ."^t opportunity. For gold a man will sell his name. His every virtue blight ; A woman sacrifice her fame, And bury shame from sight. A smile derides a noble thought That chimes not with success, Consideration coimts for naught. And pity meets distress. But all this filth may pass away, Humanity be saved. And live to see another day. In virtue's glory laved. THE DAWN OF REASON. 93 Look to the stars for the reply To nature's mighty scheme, And let iis pass the present by As though it were a dream. Philosophy will teach how mucli We all have yet to learn, What wonders yet to reach and touch, To what our minds to (urn. The sentiment of priestly lore Must first be blotted out, Expunged unto the deepest core, And given up to doubt. Then may we swell with brighter looks Into the vast design Of nature's yet unopened books, And road their every line. All earth is yet in state so crude That thinkers must astound To see how knowledge is yet nude. And by delusion bound. But that will change ; the vista clears, And breaks into delight To kiss away the idle tears That now bedim the sight. Look on the sea, the shimmering sea. Warm' nestled in the sun. And note another regency In beauty there begun. Look on the light, the love of day. And think it is the note That sounds the darker thoughts away. And sets new joys afloat. My hell was blotched with incident Most foul in many a line. But ever on the truthful bent ; And ne'er did right repine. But glorious is the on-come ray Of dreamy, hazy light : See where it basks within the day, ,\ diamond to the sight. Look on the sea, the breathing sea. And let its mighty swell Now be your feelings' ministry, And cha.se the shades of hell Into the past : let merry glee Find entrance in your heart. And float with me upon the sea, The gurgling brine athwart. Thou peaceful sea, thou splendid sea. Thou breathing field of peace, I sing to thee, I melt with thee Into each watery crease. I lean to thee, I sink in thee, I fall into thy dream, I drown in iheo, thou tender sea, I fade into thy beam. I burn with all the heat the suu Pours down into thy soul, I turn to thee with facile run Of pen, in thee to roll. But look, what is that thing I wist There floating on the wave. Half woven in the crested mist. As risen from the grave ? It is a head, a human head. With earnest, up-turned eye. There rising from the watery bed. And ever coming nigh. 1 know that head, I know that face, I know that eye, that mien, And so do you know every grace In lineament there seen. There is but one who has that look, Who owns that noble brow : He cannot be misjudged, mistook ; It is himself, I vow. 'Tis he himself, Armillus, my Loved hero there I see ; . Do you him welcome here as I Now welcome him with glee. It is not o'er, his strange career ; His mission 's not fulfilled ; He has not wept his latest tear, His latest passion stilled. He lives again to fight anew The problem of the age. Until the wrong shall beg the true No further war to wage. I see it in his steadfast glance That he is born again To throw another crushing lance At clerical disdain. And rise above the havoc made Of superstition's force With reason's unpolluted blade. Thus follow on his course. He has outlived a two-fold death To see another sphere Of action, to revive in breath. To make himself more dear To such as I, and such as you. If you have sympathy For what is right and what is true, And will with sense agree. Oh cannot you now understand The world is shaking off Rank orthodoxy's heavy hand? Can you mistake the scoff 94 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. With which is met the faith of old, Now reason's on the dawn, Now common sense has grown more bold. And will no longer fawn On usage as expressed in prayer And worship for a God ? Last century I could not dare On you this wise to trod. They would have burned me on the stake For this infernal song. But now they will to heart mc take, 'Though much be crude and wrong. The world's awakening from its dream Of blear theology. And reason soon will stand supreme To shame your heresy. It is for this Armillus comes Once more : to end the work. To raise you from your senses' slums, To drive you from your kirk, To teach you now to throw aside To what so long you 've clung, And set afloat you on the tide Of wisdom rightly sung. You must explore the skies above With other eyes and thought, With quite another sense and love. In different meaning caught. You must appreciate that we Have much to search and learn, You must in our new industry In ardor with us biu-n To solve the mystery of life, Of action and of sense. Of nature's ever changing strife, And lay aside pretense To antiquated monkish lore As obsolete and blind. And cease your Savior to adore ; He has been too unkind With you in all but in his theme Of sweet fraternity ; For that may hold you him in dream ; The rest is lunacy. Armillus lives again ; all hail To him ; learn him to love ; Forsake the standard proven frail. Nor hope for things above. 'Tis but the Anglo-Saxon race That holds on to the cross. Except the herds whose sunken face Is pallid with the dross Of Catholic design and fraud ; All else have turned to sense. Cast off the cruel, misty God Why will not you commence? You will commence, you do commence. You will yet think with shame That you believed this mad pretense. Theocracy wild, lame. Look on where proud Armillus floats Into another clime. And on the self-same mission dotes Through all his three lives' time. His brow is heavy with the load Of what lies factured there. Philosophy to spur and goad Into a better care. He floats along, he drifts along On with the listless tide, Adown with my infernal song, The cleric' sharks defied. He floats all day, he drifts all night; And, on another morn, A far-offshore looms into sight. The misty curtain torn. It is a sweet and verdant isle There nestling on the sea. Lit up by old King Sol's bright smile ; The birds pipe merrily. The leaves flap languor, woods breathe shade. The surf sing well along. The quadrupeds hide in the glade. The zephyr joins the song. Armillus lands upon the beach As manly and as nude As though escaped a sea-nymph's reach, With energy imbued. And as he pierces with his look The forest there outstretched. There come from out its every nook In sombre nature etched, A throng of dusky forms, to spy The guest upon their shore. To learn the wherefore and the why He comes, and what's in store. They welcome him with friendly mien. And bid him come more near ; They place him food upon the green. And water flashing clear. And he' partakes of food and drink, And dusky maidens' smile. Who half approach and half off shrink. Without a sense of guile. And they receive him in their mid. And touch his soft, white skin, And him a hearty welcome bid : His like they ne'er had seen. THE DA WM OF REASON. 95 The men extend a friendly hand, And seat him at their side, As though to hid him join their band. And choose himself a bride. Armilhis looked upon the scene. And seemed to guess its sense; He had not lived for naught yestreen In the infernal hence. He saw his mission on this isle. And took the task to heart. And went about it in his style To play his blessed part. And as he oped his lips to speak. He saw he knew their tongue ; This was no silly nature's freak On vanity him hung. And they rejoiced to hear his word In accents known so well, In measures they had always heard E'ach one the other tell. And so Armillus soon became One of that dusky band ; Familiar grew his splendid name Within that sunny land. He studied them in all their ways. Their faith, their mode of life; He joined them in their sports antl plays. Their hunts and daily strife. — Thus happened it Armillus 'rose Once more upon the earth, To heal of its fanatic woes The globe that saw his birth. Nor Christ, Mahommed, India's liudilh. Nor Hiawath's fame, C'onfucius with his honors stud. Might equal him in name. Where these had dawned upon earth's parts, And banners there unfurled, Armillus won all nations' hearts, And blessed th' entire world. CANTO 11. THE HISTORY OF A FAITH. THE tropic' sun in golden phase Sent down its dazzling gold In ardent zest and sultry blaze. In mighty r^ys unrolled, Upon the bright, devoted isle There grown from out the sea, In sweet repose and verdant smile. And swelling harmony. Its centre 'rose into a mount High towering in the air With bold disdain and wooded flount. The skies to pert' outstare. And there, upon the summit's height. Two figures stood oudined Against the sun's refulgent light, E.xtended view to find. Armillus was the one, with eyes Turned out upon the wave. In solemn and majestic wise ; A dusky warrior brave, A nerveful youth, companion he Unto the other stood ; Both gazed upon the breathless sea, Each in a thoughtful mood. " What is that spol?," Armillus asked, " The far horizon nigh. In misty, vaporous distance basked, I yet distinctly spy? Thine eyes have doubtless' long explored What may the vision mean. And to its nature frequent' soared ; Thou know'st what 'tis, I ween." — " That, sir, is yet another isle Like this on which we stand, A verdant and vulcanic pile Of ocean-laved high land." — " What say'st thou, then, to thither hie In yonder thy canoe ? I gladly would our neighbors spy : Are they, too, dark of hue?" The dusky youth stepped back a pace As if in dire alarm. And gazed upon the other's face ; Then caught him by the arm : "Unhappy man, gainsay the thought; Ne'er steer there thy canoe ; That were with greatest peril frought ; That islet is taboo !" — " ' Taboo !' How so ? What means the word ? And why art thou so pale ? Such accent strange I never heard ; Why must not there I sail?" — " Because a sacrilege were that, Here punished but with death : Nor could thy friends thy fate combat : It were thy latest breath." — "A sacrilege, to see that isle? Why, what is there to see To bring on death? Thou mak'st me smile; (Jr dost thou scoff at me?" 96 THE INFERNAL COMEDY. The native's eye with horror blazed ; He knelt upon the sod ; In superstitious terror gazed As though upon a god, On that far isle. "Arise, arise," Armillus earnest' cried, " And tell me, in thy calmest wise. What may out there he spied."— " Then say not that I scoff at thee When of that isle I speak ; My endless woe and misery Were such a sinful freak." And as he spoke, he grew more calm. And even smiled again ; It seemed at end, the passing qualm. " Come, Loti, me e.vplain What means this terror on thy part. And what it has to do. That thou shouldst thus go and start, With what thou call'st taboo?" And Loti heaved a heavy sigh, And knit his dusky brow ; And gazed into the azure sky. As though 't should him endow With facile speech to tell his tale : He pressed his woolly head. That it might now his tongue not fail ; And this is what he said : " A many years ago the ground On which we live and stand. Was yet not to be seen and foimd ; There was no such green land. This was, like all the watery rest, A briny, flowing sea, A foaming waste at winds' behest, Or calm monotony. And yonder isle, so small t(^ sight. Was all the spot we knew, (3n which we had full many a fight ; There prospered we and grew. We were a mighty nation then. Which all its neighbors speared. When men were eaten up by men. Whom all their foemen feared. We waged great wars with other tribes Far down toward the south. Who trembled at our bloody gibes. And filled our hungry mouth. We 'rose in power until we'd won All rebels to our crown. Full smiled on by fair fortune's sun ; We owned a great renown. We knew no god but then our king, A mighty warrior he. Who let us dance and feast and sing ; The scourge of all the sea. We nuiltiplied, and lived serene', And had a splendid trade With nations far beyond our scene, So was our fortune made. Until, one day, a gallant .ship Bore down upon our shores. Of swelling saifs and graceful dips; With sturdily swept oars Its crew approached us in its boats. And came into our mid. In new blue shirts and gold-trimmed coats ; They were not welcome bid : We'd had a feast, and mind and brain Were crazed with ardent drink ; It proved our downfall and our bane ; To tell it, do I shrink. The crew was seized upon and bound, The ship was robbed and burned. The women outraged whom we found, And pleas for mercy spurned. And when the fearful crime was done. And we were wrapped in sleep, 1'he sun its daily course had run, And silence on the deep Dark' reigned, there was a rumbling noise. And smoke filled through the air, A fearful damp upon our joys. That filled our hearts with care. The very bottom of the isle Was shaken, and the ground Upheaved, high did the billows pile. And made a dreadful sound. And high upon tlic mountain steep In centre of the land. There did a crimson fountain leap. To terrify oiu" band. A shower of rocks and earth rained down. And higher 'rose the flame ; In ashes lay our woods and town ; A fright us all o'ercame. We ran like shadows here and there, And wailed aloud and cried ; Destruction was our monarch's share : Struck down, that night he died. And many a promising fine boy. And daughter fair to see, Their parents' life and hope and joy. Too, ended shamefully. Crushed under falling stones and trees. Or swallowed h^ a wave. That we did to the marrow freeze ; Whole families found their grave TH1-: DAWN OF REASON. 97 K'er yet the worst had come ui)Oii Our isle, for ere the morn Was seen on eastern line to dawn, No tree was there not torn With all its roots from out the sod. No stone not moved from base : It was the first we knew of (jod ; We ne'er had seen His facr. This was to punish us for all Our crime and shame and sin ; He let us feel His wrath and thrall In deafening, fiery din. He stood upon the mountain's height, And thundered down His rage With flaming eye and direful blight ; Our grief might none assuage. And none escaped but those who daslied Themselves into the sea ; These, battling with the waves, were washed Upon the isle that we Now stand upon, come up that niglu From out beneath the brine ; No tree or shrub was there in sight On which the sim might shine. In after years, the rocky pile Changed into what may'st view In this so richly verdured isle Soft' pillowed on the blue. We ne'er went near the woeful scene That saw our nation's fall Ffir many a year, but reared this green And blooming tract : and all .\re once more happy as can be, .■\nd thrive and laugh once inore ; We have no power, but yet we're free, And love our mother shore. Since then the angry God has done No further violence ; The green's to spout once more begun In forests dark and dense On yonder late forsaken land, And now it blooms again; But it is lost to our command. As thou shalt of me wain. Some fifteen years ago, one night. There was an awful gale ; • A ship went down before our sight. From water-line to sail : And there was thrown on shore a maii Who clasped a little child ; Full mountain-high the billows ran, The wind raged fierce and wild. That man and child we lodged and fed. And nursed through pain and ill ; They were so fagged, wc tleemeil them dead, 'J'hey lay so cold and still. But they revived, and then wc found We'd saved a holy two ; They dwell upon yon hallowed ground, The island called taboo. The stranger thanked us for our care In deep and broken tongue, Conunended us for cheer and fare, Our hands us kindly wrung. .'Vnd then he told us he had come, A i)rophet, to defend Our nation and our island from Ciod's wrath, and he would scn