A/^j ^ "^ ^1 COURSE OF TIME. j 0C ^oem. s i EY ROBERT POLLOK, A. M. ' 1 WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR 1 INDEX, &c. 1 i PORTLAND 5 SA-VBORN & CAP TER. 1844. PR MEMOIR. ^^^ The subject of Ibis memoir, the Rev. Robert Pol- lok, was z native of Muirhouse, in tbe parish of Ea- glesham, situated aboul eleven miles southeast from the city of Glasgow, and was born on tlie 19lh Oct. 1798. Of his father, who was a very worthy and intelligent man, and good farmer, he was the youngest son ; and the days of his early life were devoted to such pursuits and avocations, as suited his father's in- terests and inclinations. Before he attained fourteen years of age, v/hether at the instance of his father or of his own choice, is not known, he was sent to ac- quire the trade of a cartwriKht, in the village of Ea- glesham, and cnmrnenced that business accordingly : but owing to the advice of his elder binther. who was engaged in the preparatory studies for the ministry, he was induced to relinquish his mechanical employ- ment, and enter upon those incipient scholastic exer- cises, necessary for one whose object was the clerical office. This new impulse given to his inclinations and feelings by his brother, received the sanclioD of his parents, and in the year 1S13 he began the study of the Latin Grammar, at a school situated in tbe parish of Fenwick, where he made rapid improve- ment. In the month ot October, ISlo, his progress in learning was so considerable, tliat he received admis- sion into the University of Glasgow, where, afterfive years of close application to the studies incident to lliat institution, ;he deiree of Master of Arts WTJ conferred upon hira at the age of twenty-' 2052109 4 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. His devotion to his studies, and his real for profi ciency in them, justly received the approbation of his literary ^ardians, and produced him several priZfi honors, which his fellow students cheerfully awarded him. But his daily offerinjs, njade wilh so much Zealand assiduity in the temple of leaminz, consid- erably reduced the tone and vigor of his health ; and although unconscious of the injurious effect of too much application, yet, it was evident he was pre- paring, at nc remote period, to become a martyr to the studies he pursued with such untiring industrj'. Some time in the autumn of 1?22, he entered' the Seminary of the United Sessions Church, as a student of Theology, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Dick, of Glasgow. During this time he was also a constant attendant on the lectures of Dr. Macgill, on Theologj', in the Uuiversify. After the accustomed period of five sessions attend- ance at the Hall, he obtained licence to preach, sim- nltaneously with his brother, in the month of May, 1827, which was granted by the United Associate Presbytery of Edinburgh, and he commenced the work of the ministry accordingly. About the period of his licensure, the poem, which had employed much of his time and engrossed much of his attention for two antecedent years, was issued trom the press, and given to the world. It was a work worthy of its author, and was properly appre- ciated by the public- At Rose-street Chapel, Edinburgh, of which the Rev. John Brown was minister, he preached his first public discourse, on the afternoon of Thursday, the third of May, a day set ap^rt for humiliation and prayer, preparatory to the administration of tlie sa- crament of the supper. He took his text in Ut Kings, xviii. chap. 21 verse: " How long halt ye be- tween two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." This first public efi'ort appenr?, from the testimony MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 6 of others, to have been abundantly successful. In one part of the sermon he rose into an awful sublimity, which carried a complete and lasting conviction to his bearers, of the superiority of his talents and elo- quence. The London Memoir, speaking of this ser- DiOD, says, " Many, we doubt not, who heard him that day, will recollect the profound and eloquent dis- course which he delivered, in which there was a brilliant display of poetical imagery, combined with metaphysical acuteness, and admirable reasoning, and many, we doubt not, wil! recollect his feeble appear- ance', and the exhaustion which was apparent ere he closed. Alas ! disease was then making rapid inroads on his constitution, and his public ministrations were soon to end forever." The weariness and prostration of strength, the offspring of this first and bold exer- tion were so excessive, that after leaving the church, he was compelled to confine himself to his bed, and notwithstanding his subsequent partial restoration, he was only able to preach three sermons afterwards ; the spirit which animated him not possessing power sufficient to resist the weakness of the body. Consumption, tlial sly and deceitful destroyer which flatters but to till, had fastened on his vitals, and with its slow but silent tooth was feeding on his constitu- tion. Yet he did not know the exent of his danger. However, " in the summer he removed from Edin- burghtoSlateford, a most romantic village in the par- ish of St. Cuthbert's, delightfully situated on the riv- ulet called the Water of Leith, about three miles from the city. There, in the family of the Rev. Dr. Belfraie, ininister of the United Congregation of Slateford, he was received with the utmost "afl'ection and respect. The salubrity of the air, and particular attention to diet, it was fondly anticipated, would re- store him to vigor, especially as he had youth and the advantage of the season in his favor. The well known medical reputation of Dr. Bellrage, was for- tunate tor him in this delightful retirement. Findios A3 6 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. however, that his health waa not returning, he wa*, duriu; the summer, ioJuced to take an easy tour to Aberdeea, in the hope that change of air and scene niisht recruit his cxoausted frame. But the expecta- tions of his friends were disappointed. He returned, and it was evident that disease was quickly hasteuiug him to the grave." It was now thought necessary that a change of cli- mate should be tried, and it w'as anticipated that lb« salubrious air of Italy might restore him to health. The city of Pisa, in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, was the place selected for his residence. To a mind like his, deeply stored with classical learning, and ca- pable of apiir'eciating the scenes of that delii^htful country, such a residence must have possessed the highest interest. The fixed determination to vjsit the classic soil of Italy was attempted to be carried into efi'ect, as soon as the preliminary arrangements necessary for his comfort on the jouriiey were execu- ted, and letters recoajmending him to the favorable notice and atiention of individuals, celebrated I'or their learning on the Continent, were procured. Ac- companied by his sister, be set out from Scotland, in August, on hiS journey. '•He proceeded by sea to England, and went first to Plymou'h , but the state of his health rendered it im- possible for him to go forward, anJ only the hope re- mained that if spared till the next summer, he would perhaps be enabled to complete his journey. He therefore took up his residence near Sonlhanip'ton, at Devonshire Place, Shirley Common." This was the Ultima Thule of bis journeyines. II was soon apparent that his disease was loo deeply planted to be removed : and hope, the last etfiirt of the mind in sickness, was now extinct. Under the conviction that he could not recover, he wrote to his brother in Scniland touching his condition, which he considered hopeless, and stated to his sister, wh.o was with him, that he should have remained at home, bad RIE.MOIR OF TUK ADTHOR. 7 he been able to realize the rapidly destructive nftturo of his disease. Afier a few afflictive days of Ibgering paiu, pre- monitorv of his hastening dissolution, he died on the 18th of September, 1827. His mortal remains were soon after decently interred, his brother not arriving until after his burial. He died in the full persuasion of the truth of the christian system, which he had es- sayed to preach ; and was cheered in his last mo- ments by a calmness and tranquility of mind, arising from his firm and unshaken faith in the religion he professed, and an unwavering confidence in the glo- ries of that promised redemption, which he had de- lineated with such pathos, eloquence and power. He fell a martyr to his too great avidity for knowledge, and his books were literally his execu- tioners. The Course of Time, the poem which had employ- ed his thoughts for a long period antecedent to Us appearance, and of which he had furnished, for the four last books, almost a thousand lines each week, is well worthy the eulogies it received, and the admi- ration it obtained. For fourteen years before its birth, this intellectual child was conceived by the au- thor, in his juvenile days ; and lived in emnryo thought as the offspring of his maturing mind. When it was introduced to the world, it met, therefore, that flatterins reception to which its merit entitled it; and wound a wreath of fame around the memory of the genius and talents of its departed author. The public approved the work, and furnished ample fe» timony in favor of him who wrote it, by the avidity with which they sought, and the commendations they bestowed upon it. His other literary performances, are three Sabbath School tales, written when he was engaged in the ftndy of Theology, and published without the sanc- »ion of his name : they were entitled " Helen of the 8 MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. GlcD;" " Ralph Gemmell," and " 1 lie Persecuted Family." In his preface to the " Persecnfed Family," he says, " every sig'o of our persecuted ancestors is recorded in heaven ; every tear which they shed, is preserved m the bottle of God. Why then, should not their memories be dear to us for whom they bled and for whom they died ? But it is not only that we may pay them our debt of gratitude, that we oueht to ac- quaint ourselves with their lives ; it is that we may Rather humility from their lowliness ; faith from their trust in God ; courage from their heaven-sus- tained fortitude ; warmth from the flame of their devotion, and hope from their glorious success " We cannot conclude this hasty sketch of the life, talents, character, and productions of Mr. FoUok better than by copying the language of one who wrote his memoir. In attending to his death, he says, "He has gone the way of all the earth ; and his spirit, we fondly hope, is among the 'spirits of the just made perfect,' who, 'by faith and patience, are now in- heriting the promises.' But he lives in the hearts of bis friends, who think of him with fond regret ; he lives in the hearts of his countryiiien ; and hispiaise is not only in the church of which he was a licen- tiate, but in all the churches.'' THE COURSE OF TIME, ANALYSIS OF BOOK I. The author invokes the Eternal Spirit to Inspire his song, that he may sing The Course of Time, The second birtli and finaJ doom of man, the essential truth, time gone, the righteous saved, the wicked damned, and providence approved. Long after time had ceased and Eternity had rolled on its periods, numbered only by God alone, a stran- ger spirit arrives high on the hills of immortality, and is there met by two other spirits, youthful sons of Paradise, who greet him with " Well done thou good andfai!hful servant," and invite him lo ascend Ihe throne of God. The stranger informs them, that, when he left his na- tive world, on his way towards heaven, he came to a realm of darkness, where he saw beings of all shapes, all forms, all modes of wretchedness, in a. place of torment, burning continually, & dying per- petuallv, and heard curses and blasphemies : the meaning of which he requests them to unfold to him : but they being unable, introduce him to an ancient bard of the earth, and all three request him to explain to them the wonders of the place of torments, and prison of the damned. The bard informs them that the place the stranger saw was Hell ; the groans he heard the wailing* of the damned, and that he will have his asking, and that, wondering doubt, shall learn to answer, while he gives them, in brief, the history of Man. BOOK I. X/TE TERNAL Spirit ! God of truth ! to whom All things seem as they are ; tliou wbo of old The prophet's eye unsealed, that ni^htiy ssir, While heavy sleep fell down on other men, In holy vision tranced, the future pass Before him, and to Judah's harp attuned Burdens that made the pa^an mounlaius shake, And Ziob's cedars bow — inspire my song; My eye unscale ; nie what is substance teach, . ♦And siiadow what, while I of things to come, ' As past rehear^in^, sing the Course of Time, The seccad Birth, and final Doom of man. The muse, that soft and sickly woos the ear Of love, or chantin; loud in windy rhyme Of tabled hero, raves through gaudy tale No*, overfrausht with sense, 1 ask not ; such A strain befits not nrpiment so high. Me thought, and phrase, severely sifting out The whole idea, eran* — uttering as "tis The essential truth — Time goue, the Righteous saved, The wicked damned, and I'rovideuceapproved. Hold my right hand, Almighty ! and me teach Tn strike the lyre, but sfl'iorn struck, to notes Uanuonious with the morcing stars, and pure J2 THE COURSE OF TIME. As those of sainted bards, and angels sung, SVhich wake the echoes of eteruity — That fools may hear and tremble, and the wise Instructed listen, of ages yet lo come. Long wSs the day, so Ion» eipected, past Of the eternal doom, that ?ave to each Of all the human race his due reward. .The sun— earth's siln, and Djoon, and stars, had ceased 1 o number seasons, days, and months, and years To mortal man : hope was forgotten, and fear ; And Time, with all its chance and change, and smiles, And frequent tears, arid deeds of villa ny, Or righteousness — once talked of much, as things Of great renown, was now but ill remembered ; In dim and shadowy vision of the past, w£een far remote, as country, which has left The traveller's speedy step, retiring f-sck From mom till etea ; and !"■ ' - ' ■ ■ •■ Had rolled his mighty yi ?■ '.-ri Men had grown old : thi " . umed From pilgrimage, and w.r .^ Had Tested in the bowers oi v •■ r, i' l r Airt The strann of life ; and 1 Jog. alis, now long To thepri it seemed, the wicked who refused To be redeemed, had wandered in the dirk Of hell's despiir, ajid drunk the buruitig cup Their sins had ftiled with everlasting wo.. Thus far the years had rolled, which none but God Doth number, when two sons, two youthful soot Of Paradise, in conversation sweet, (For thus the heavenly muse instructs me, wooed At midnight hour with offering sincere Of all the heart, poured out in hoiy prayer,) High on the hilis of immortality, ' V/hence goodliest prospect look's beyond the walla Of heaven, walked, casting oft '.heir eye far thro' The pure serene, observant, if returned From errand duly finished, any came, Or any, first in virtue now complete, Tromothcr worlds arrived, confirmed lu good. Thus viewing, one they saw, on hasty wing Directing towards heaven his cojrse j and now His flight ascending near tl;e battlements And lofty hills on which they walked, approached. For round and round, in spacious circuit wide, Mountains of tailtst stature circumscribe The plains of Paradise, wbcse tops, arrayed In uncr.rated radiance, seem so pure. That nought but an§el's foot, or saint's elect Of God, may venture there to walk J^here oft The sons of bliss take moni or eveninz pastime, Delifhied to behold ten tlwusand worlds Around their suns revolving in the vast External space, or listen to the barmonies That each lo other in its motion sin^s. And hence, in middle heaven remote, is seen The mount of God, in awful glory bright. Within, no orb create of moon, or star, Or sun gives light ; for God"s own countenance, Beaming e(ernaily, gives light to all ; But farther than these sacred hills his will Forbids its flow — too bright for eyes beyond. This is tie last ascent of Virtue ; 'here All trial ends, and hope; here perfect joy. With perfect righteousness, which to these heights Alone can rise, "begins, above all fall. — And now on wina; of holy ardor strong, Hiti*r ascends the stranger." borne upright ; For strangf-r he did seenri, with curious eye ( f nice inspection round surveying all, And at the feel alights of those' that stood His coming, who the hand of welcome gave, And the embrace sincere of holy love ; And thu«, wi'h comsly eresticg kind, began. U THE COURSE Of TIME. HaJl, brother ! hail, thou son of hapoiness ! Thou son beloved of God ! welcome ,to heaveu ! To bliss that never fades ! thy day is past Of trial, and of fear to fall. Well done, Thou good and faithful sen'ant, enter now Into the joy eternal of thy Lord. Come with us, and behold far highersi^ht Than e'er thy heart desired, or hope cnnciuved. See, yonder is the glorious hill of God, 'Bove angel's gaze, in brightness rising high. .*^ Come, join our wing, and we will guide thy flight To mysteries of eveVlastirig bliss ; — - The tree, and fount of life, the eternal tbrnne, And presence-chamber of the Kingpf kings. But what concern hangs on thy countenance, Unwont within this place ? perhaps thou deem'st Thyself unworthy to be brought before The alwavs Ancient One ? so are >ve too Unworthy ; but our God is all in all. And gives us lioldness to approach his throne. Sons of the highest ! citizens of heaven ! Began the neiv arrived, right have ye judged: Unworthy, most unworthy is your servant. To stand in presence of the King, or hold Most distant and most humble place in this Abode of excellent glory unrevealed. But God Almighty be forever praised. Who, of his fulness, fills roe with all grace. And ornament, to make me in his sight Well pleasing, and accepted in his court. But if your leisure waits, short narrative Will tell, why s'range concern thus overhacgs My face, ill seeming here; and haply too, Your elder knowledge can instruct my youth. Of what seems dark and doubtful unexplained. Our leisure waits thee ; speak — and wh.it we ran. Delighted most to give delight, we will ; Though much of mystery yet to U3 remahi. Virtue — I need not tell, when proved, and full Matured — inclines us up to God, and heaven, By law of sweet compulsiou strong, and sure ; As gravitation to the larger orb The less attracts, thro' matter's whole domain. Virtue in me was ripe — tspeik not this In boast, for what I amJo God I owe. Entirely owe, and of myself am nought. Equipped, and bent for teaven, 1 left yon world. My native seat, which scarce your eye can reach; lioUing around her central sun, far out. On utmost verge of. light : but first to see What lay beyond the visible creation Strong curiosity niy flight impelled. Long was ray way and sirange. I passed the bounds Wfijch God doth set to light, and life, and love ; Where darkness meets wiih day, where order met^ti Disorder dreadful, waste and wild ; and down The dark, eternal, uncrealcsd night Ventured alone. Long, long on rapid wing, I sailed through empty, nameless regions vast, Where utter Nothingdwells, unformed and void.- - There neither eye, nor ear, nor any sense Of being most acute, finds object ; there For ought externa! still you search in vain. ' Try touch, or sight, or smell ; try what yon will, Voii strangely find nought but yourself alone. But why sliould 1 in words attempt to tell What that is like which is— and yet— is not ? This past, my path descending still me led O'er unclaimed euntinen's of desert gloom Immense, where gravitation shifting turns The other way i. and to some dread, unknown, Infernal centre downward weighs : and now, Far travelled from the edge of daikness, far As from that glorious moi;nt of God to light's I^eniotest lin:b — dire sights I saw, dire sounds id THE COURSE OF TIMK. I heard ; and suddenly before my eye A wall of fiery adamant sprung up — Wall nioantainnus, treoiendous, famine; high Above all flight of hope. I paused, and looked ; And saw, where'er I looked upon that mound, Sad figures traced in fire — not motionless — But imitating life. One I remarked Attentively fbut how shall I describe What nought n sembles else my eye hath seen ? Of worm or serpent kind it something looked, But monstrous, with a thousand snaky heads, E)ed each with double orbs of glaring wrath ; And with as many tails, that twis'ed out In horrid revolution, tipped with stings ; And all ifs moi^hs, (hat wide and darkly gaped, And breathed most poisonous breath, had e^ch a sting Forked, and long, and venomous, and sharp j And in its wTithings infinite, it grasped Malignantly what seemed a heart, swollen, black, And quivering with torture most intense ; And still the hekrt, with anguish throbbing high, Made effort to.fiJBcape, but. could not ; for Howe'er it turned, and oft it vainly turned, These complicated foldings held if fast. And still the monstrous beast with sting of head Or tail transpierced it, bleeding evermore. What this could image much I searched to know, And while I stood, and gazed, and wondered lonr, A voice, from whence I knew not, for no one I saw, distinctly whispered in my ear These words— This is the Worm that never dies. Fast by the side of this unsightly thing Another was portrayed, more hideous still ; Who sees it once shall wish to see'l no more. For ever undescribed let it remain ! Only this much I may or can unfold — Far out it thrust a dart that might have made The knees of terror quake, and on it hnng. BOOK I. 17 Within the triple barbs, a being pierced Thro' soul and body both v of heavenly make Original the being seemed, but fallen, And worn and wasted with enormous wo. And still around the everlasting lance It writhed convulsed, and utteral mimic groans; And tr.ed and wished, and ever tried and wished To die ; but could not die — Oh, horrid siirht ! I trembling gazed, and listened, and heard this voice Approach my ear— This is Eternal Death. Nor \hess alnrie — upon that burning wall, In horrible emblazonry, were limned All shapes, all fofms, all mo»ies of wretchedness. And agony, and grief, and desperate wo. And prominent in characters of fire, Where'er the eye could light, these words you read, " Who comes this way— behold, and fear to tin I" Amazed I stood : and thought such imagery Fore'okened. w;;hin, a dangerous abodej. But yet to s^|tte worst a wish arose : For lUTtue, hj^jeholy seal of God Accredited ands^M^ed. immi-rial all. And all havuinerablerfcars no hurl. As easy A^my wish, as apidly I thro' tJK horrid ramnafll passed, unscathed And unoppo«t:i ; and, poilpd on steady wing, i hovering ga^etl. EtemaT-Justice ! Sons Of God ! lei! me, if ye eMtell. what then I saw, what then I heai9— Wide was the place. And deep as wide, and ruinous as deep. Beneath I saw a lake of burning fjre. With tempest lost perpetually, andgBl The waves of iiery darkness, 'gain^ie rocks Of dark damnation broke, and music made Of melancholy E.rt ; and pver he^d, » And a!) arouf d,wind warred with wind,8Wnn howled To s'orni, and ligr.fning, forked lightning, crossed, And thunder answered thunder, muttering sound 18 THE COUBSE OF TIME. Of sullen wrath ; and far as si5ht conld pierce, Or down descend in caves of hopeless depth, Thro' all that dungeon of unfading fire, I saw most miserable beings walk, Burning continually, yet unconsumed ; Forever wasting, yet enduring still ; Dying perpetually, yet never dead. Some wandered lonely in the desert flames, And some in fell encounter fiercely met, With curses loud, and blasphemies, that made The cheek of darkness pale ; and as they fought. And cursed, and gnashed their teeth, and wish^i to die Their hollow eyes did utter streams of wo. And there were groans that ended not, and sighs That always sighed, and tears that ever wept, And ever fell, but not in Mercy's sight. And Sorrow, and Repentance, and Despair, Among them walked, and to their thirsty lips Presented frequent cups of burning gall. And as I listened, I heard these beings curse Almighty God, and curse the Lamb, and curse The Earth, the Resurrection morn, and seek, And ever vainly seek for utter death. And to their everlasting anguish still. The thunders from above responding spoke Thess words, which thro' the caverns of perdition Forlornly echoing, fell on every ear— " Ye knew yOur duty, but ye did it not." And back asain recoiled a deeper groan. A deeper groan '. Oh, what a groan was that ! I waited not, but swift on speediest wing, With unaccustomed thoughts conversing, back Ketracai my venturous path from dark ra light ', Then up ascending, long ascending up, , I hasted on ; tho' whiles the chiming spheres, By God's own finger touched to harmony, Held me delaving— till I here arrived. Drawn upward by the eternal love of God, Of wonder full and strange astonishment. At what in yonder den of darkness dwells , Which now jour higher knowledge will unfold.y They answering said ; to ask and to bestow Knowledge, is much of Heaven's delight ; and now Most joyfully what thou requir'st n e would ; For much of new and unaccountable, Thou bring'st ; something indeed we heard before. In passing conver^tion slightly touched, Of such a place ; yet rather to be taught, Than teaching. anSwer what thy marvel asks. We need ; for we ourselves, tho' here, are but Of yesterday — creation's younger sons. But there is one, an ancient bard of Earth, Who, by the stream of life sitting rn bliss, Has oft "beheld the eternal years complete The mighty circle round the throne of God ; Great in aU learning, in all wisdom great, And great in song ; whose harp in lofty strain Tells frequently "of what thy wonder craves. While round him gathering stand the youth of Heaven With truth and melody delighted both ; To him this path directs, an easy path. And easy flight will bring us to bis seat. So saying, they linked hand in band, spread out Their golden wings, by living breezes fanned, And over heaven's broad champaign sailed serene. O'er hill and valley clothed with verdure green That never fades ;'and Iree, and herb, and flower, That never fades ; and many a river, rich With nectar, winding pleasantly, they passed ; And mansion of celestial mould, and work Divine, And oft delicious music, sung By saint and angel bands that walked the vales, Or mountain tops, and harped upon theirharps. Their ear inclined, and held by sweet constraint Their wing ; not I'jng, for stroua desire awaked Of knowledge that tn holy use might turn, E2 20 THE COURSE OF TIME. Still pressed them on to leave what rather Pleasure, due only, when all duty's done." And DOW beneath them lay the wished for spot, The sacred bower of that renowned bard ; That ancient bard, ancient in days and song ; But in immortal vigor young, and young In rosy health — to pensive solitude Retiring oft, as was his wont on earth. Fit was the place, most fit for holy musing. Upon a little mount that gently rose, He sat, clothed in white robes ; and o'er his head A laurel tree, of lustiest, eldest growth. Stately and tall, and shadowing far and wide — Not fruitless, as on earth, but bloomed, and rich With frequent clusters, ripe to heavenly taste — Spread its eternal boughs, and in its arms A myrtle of unfading leaf embraced ; The rose and lily, fresh with fragrant dew. And every flower of fairest cheek, around Him smiling flocfeed ; beneath his feet, fast by, And round his sacred hill, a streamlet walked, Warbling the holy melodies of heaven ; The hallowed zephyrs brought him incense sweet - And out before him opened, in prospect long, The river of life, in many a winding maze Descending from the Infty throne of God, That with excessive glory closed the scene. Of Adam's race he was, and lonely sat, By chance thatd.iy, in meditation deep. Reflecting much of Time, and Earth, and Man : And now to pensive, now to cheerful notes, He touched a harp of wondrous melody ; A golden harp it was, a precious sift. Which, at the day of judgment, with the crown Of life, he had received from God's own band. Reward due to his service done ou earth. He sees their coming, and with greeting kind And welcome, not of hollow forged smiles, And ceremonious compliment of plira.se, But of the heart sincere, into his bower Invitee. Like greeting they relumed ; not bent In low obeisancy, from creature most -Unfit to creature ; but with manly form Upright they entered in : though high nis rank, Hi9 wisdom high, and mighty his renowt,. And thus deferring all apology. The two their new companijii introduced. Ancient in knowledge !— bard of Adam's race ! We bring thee one of us, inquirin? what We need to learn, and with him wish to learn — His asking will direct thy answer best. Most ancient bard '. began the new arrived, Few words will set my wonder forih, and guide Thy wisdom's light to what in me is dark. Equipped for heaven, 1 left my native place; But first beyond the realms of light I bent My course ; and there, in utter darkness, far Remote, 1 beings saw forlorn in wo. Burning coniinuatly, yet unconsumed. And there were groans that ended not. and sigha That always sighed, and tears that ever wept And ever fell, but not in Mercy's sizht ; And still I heard these ivretcbed beings curse Almighty God, and curse the Lamb, and curse The Earth, the Resurrection morn, and seek, And ever vainly sec-k for utter death : And from above the thunders answered still, "Ye knew your duly, but ye d.d it not." And every where Ihroughout that horrid deo, I saw a form of Excellence, a form Of beauty without spot, that noi:ght could see And not admire — admire, and uot adore. E3 22 THE COCKSE OF TIME. And from its own essential beams it gave Lieht to itself, that made the gloom more dark ; And every eye in that infernal pit Beheld il still; and from its face, how fair ! how exceeding fair ! for evet sought. But ever vainly sought, to turn away. That image, as I guess, was Virtue, for Kought else hath Clod given countenance so fair. But why in mch a place should it abide ? What place is it? What beings there lament ? Whence came they ? and for what their endless groan ? Why curse they God ? why seek they utter death i And chief, what means the reburrection mom ? My youth expects thy reverend age to tell. Thou rightly deem'st, fair youth, began the bard j The form thou saw'st was virtue, ever fair. Virtue, like God, whose excellent majesty, Whose glory virtue is, is omnipresent ; No being, once created rational, Accountable, endowed with moral sense. With sapience of right and wrong endowed, And charged, however fallen, debased, destroyed ; However lost, forlorn, and miserable ; In guilt's dark shrouding wrapt however thick; However drunk, delirious, and mad, With sin's full cup ; and with whatever damned Unnatural diligence it work and toil. Can banish virtue from its s-ght, or once Forget that she is fair. Hides it in night, In central night ; lakes it the lightning's wing. And flies forever on beyond the bounds Of all ; drinks it the maddest cup of sin ; Dives it beneath the ocean of despair ; It dives, it drinks, it llies, it hides in vain. For still the eternal beauty, image fair, Once stampt upon the soul, before the eye All lovely stands, nor will depart ; so God Ordains — and lovely to the worst she seems, BOOK I. 2S And ever seems ; and as they look, and still Must ever look upon her loveliness, Rennembrance dire of vfbat lliey were, of what They might have been, and bitter sense of what They are, polluted, ruined, hopeless, lost, With raost repenting torment rend their hearts. So God ordains — their punishment severe, Eternally inflicted by themselves. Tis this— this Virtue hovering evermore Before the vision of the damned, and in Upon their monstrous moral nakedness Casting unwelcome light, that makes their wo, That makes the essence of the endless flame : Where this is, there is Hell — darker than aught That he, the bard three-visioned, darkest saw. The place thou saw'et was hell ; the groans thou heard'st The wailings of the damned — of those who would Not be redeemed — and at the judgment day. Long past, for unrepented sins were damned. The seven loud thunders which thou heard'st, declare The eternal wrath of the Almighty God. But whence, or why they came to dwell in wo, Why they curse God, what means the glorious mom Of Resurrection, — these a longer tale Demand, and lead the mournful lyre far hack Thro' memory of Sin, and mortal man. Yet haply not rewardless we shall trace The dark disastrous years of finished Time : Sorrows remembered sweeten present joy. Nor yet shall all be sad ; for God gave peace, Much peace, on earth, to all who feared his name. But first it needs to say, that other style, And other langiiage than thy ear is wont, Thou must expect to hear — the dialect Of man ; for each in heaven a relish holds Of former speech that points to whence he came. 34 THE COXJRSE OF TIME. But whether I of person speak, or place ; Event or action ; moral or divine ; Or things unknown compare to things unknown ; Allude, impljKj susgest, apostrophize ; Or touch, when wandering thro' the past, on moods Of mind thou never felt'st (he meaning still, With easy apprehension, thou shalt take ; So perfect here is knowledge, and the strings Of sympathy so tuned, that every word That each to other speaks, tho' never heard Before, at once is fully understood, And every feeling uttered, fully felt. So shalt thou find, as from my various song. That backward rolls o'er many a tide of years, Directly or inferred, thy asking, thou, And wondering doubt, shalt leani to answer, while 1 sketch in brief the history of Man. THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK II. A description of the earth when first created ; and the formation of man ; a reasonable free ajent, up- right and immortal. The command given was a test of filial love, loyalty, obedience and faith. The temptation, sin and fall of man, and redemption from death by the death of Christ. Many would not accept the free oSfer of life and salvafion, and in oinsequence, incurred the punishment of the second death and hell. — That they acted thus, and thus perversely chose, well assured of the conse- quence, by the information contained and given them in the Bible ; which was a code of laws, con- taining the will of heaven, and defined the bounds of vice and virtue, and of life and death. Mankiol were required to read, believe, and obey, and al- though many did so believe, and were saved, yet many turned the truth of God into a lie, transfonn- inz the meaning of the text to suit their own vile and wicked purposes, deceiving and deceived. — That (he voice of God, against which nothing could bribe to sleep the truths of Judgment, and a Judge, caused the wicked to be ill at ease: on which ac- count many ran into impious idolatry, and wor- shiped ten thousand deiiies, imagined worse than he who craved their peace. The Magistrate often turned religion info a trick of state, despising the truth, and forcing the consciences of men: while the enslaved mimicking the follies of the great, despised her too. The other infiuen- ces which led to error, are mentioned ; short sighted reason, vanity, indolence, and finally pride, self adorning pride was primal cause of all sin past, all pain, all wo to come. THE BOOK II. A HUS said, he waked the folden harp, and thus, While on dim inspiration breathed, began. As from yon everlasting hills, that gird Heaven northward, I thy course espied, I judge Thou from the Arctic regions came ? Perhaps Thou noticed on thy way a little orb, Attended by one moon— her lamp by night ; With her fair sisterhood of plane;s seven, Revolving round their central sun ; she third !n place, in magnitude the fourth ; that orb- New made, new named, inhabited anew, (Tho' whiles we sons of Adam visit still. Our native place ; not changed so far but we Can trace our ancient walks — the scenery Of childhood, youth, and prime, and hoary age- But scenery most of suflFering and wo,) That little orb, in days remote of old, When angels yet were young, was made for man, And titled Earth — her primal virgin name ; Created first so lovely, so adorned With hill, and lawn, and winding vale ; Woodland and stream, and lake, and rolling seas ; Green mead and fruitful tree, and fertile grain, And herb and flower : So lovely, so adorned With numerous beasts of every kind, with fowl 28 THE COURSE OF TIME. Uf every wing and every tuneful note ; And with all fish that in the multitude Of waters swam : so lovely, so adorned, So fit a dwellin? place for man, that as She rose complete at the creating word. The morning stars — the Sons of God, aloud Shouted for joy ; and God beholding, e.iw The fair design, that from eternity His mind conceived, accomplished, and, well pleased, His six days finished work most good pronounced, And man declared the sovereign prince of all. All else was prone, irrational, and mute. And unaccountable, by instinct led : But man He made of angel form erect, To hold communion with the heavens above. And on his soul impressed His image fair, His own similitude of holiness, Of virtue, truth, and love ; with reason high To balance right and ivrong, and conscience quick, To choose or to reject ; vvitb knowledge great, Prudence and wisdom, vigilance and strength, To guard all force or guile ; and last of all, The highest gift of God's abundant grace. With perfect^ free, unbiassed wilf,,- Thus man Was made upright, immortal made, and crowned The king of all ; to tat, to drink, to do Freely and sovereignly his will entire : By one command alone restrained, to prove. As was most just, his filial love, sincere, His loyalty, obedience due, and faith. And thus the prohibition ran, expressed, M God is wont, in terms of plaiitest truth. Of every tree that in the garden grows Thou mayest freely eat ; but o( the tree That knowledge hath of good and ill, eat not, Nor touch ; for in the day thou eatest, thou Shalt die. Go, and this one conuiiajid obey Adam, live and be hippy, and, with thy Eve, Fit consort, multiply and fill the earth. Thus they, the representatives of men, Were placaJ in Eden — choicest spot of Earth ; With royal honor and with glory crowned, Adam, the lord of all, majestic waited. With eodlike countenance sublime, and form Of lofty towerin? strength ; and bv his side Eve. fair as momin? star, with modesty Arrayed, with virtue, grace, and perfect Jove ; In holy marriage wed, and eloquent Of thought and comely words, to worship God And sing his praise — the siver of all good. Glad, in each other glad, and glad in hope ; Rejoicing in their future happy race. lovely, happy, tfilifc'imnr.ortal pair ! Pleased with the present, full of glorious hope. But short, alas, the song that sings their bliss I Henceforth the historj' of man grows dark : Shade after shade of deepening g'oom descends And Innocence laments her robes defiled. Who farther sings must change the pleasant lyre To heavy notes of wo. Why— dcst thou ask, Surprised ? The answer will surprise thee more. Man sinned — •emp'ed, be ate the guarded tree, Tempted of whom thou afterward shall hear ; Audacious, unbelieving, proud, unirateful, He ate the interdicted fruit, and fell ; And in his fall, his universal race ; For they in him by Helesration were. In him to stand or fail — to live or die. Man most ingrate ! so full of grace to sin — Here interposed the new arrived— so full ' life an heir cf death : That man — that every man w.-.s fartSier, most Unable to redeem himself, or pay Dne mite <'f bis vast debt to God-v-nay, more. Was most reluctant ai.d averse toHje Redeemed, and sin's most voluntary slave ; T hatJes'js, Son of God. of Mary bom In Bethlehem, and by Pilate crucified On Calvary — for man 'hus fallen and lost. Died : and. hv dsath. life and salvation bouebt, And perfect riilstebisnes?, for all who should In his great name believe— ihat He, the third' In the eternal EiSence, to -he prayer Sincere shoirii^ crmt. shoul J come as soon as afked, 'Proceeding fronj the Father and the Son. KIL Kxalted, and for sin by others done Were chargeable, the'king and priest were chief. Many were faithfui, holy, just, upright, Faithful to God and man — reigning renowned In righteousness, and, to ibe people, loud And fearless, speaking all the words of life. Ttiese at the judgment-day, as thou shalt hear, Abundant harvest reaped '; but many loo, Alas, how many ! famous now in Hell, Were wicked, cruel, tyrannous and vile ; Ambitious of themselves, abandoned, n/ad ; And still from servants hasting to be gods, Such gods as now they serve in Erebus. I pass their lewd example by, that led So many wrong, for courtly fashion lost, And prove them guilty of one crime alone. Of every wicked ruler, prince supieme, Or magistrate below, the one intent, Purpose, desire, and struggle day and night, Was evermore to wrest the crown from off Messiah's head, and put it on his own ; And in His place give spiritual laws to men ; To bind religion — free by birth, by God, And nature free, and made accountable To none but God— behind the wheels of state ; To make the holy altar, where the Prince Of life incarnate bled to ransom man, A footstool to the throne ; for this they met, Assembled, counselled, meditated, planned, Devised in open and secret ; and for this Enacted creeds of wondrous texture, creeds The Bible never owned, unsanctioned too, And reprobate in heaven ; but by the power That made, (exerted now in zentler form, Monopolizing rishts and privilejes. Equal to all, and waving now the sword Of persecution fierce, tempered in hell,) Forced on the conscience of inferior men The conscience that sole monarchy in mao, 42 THE COURSE OF TIME. Owing alleeiance to no earthly prince ; Made by Ibe edict of creation free ; Made sacred, made above all hiiOian laws ; Holding of beaven alone ; of most divine, And indefeasible autbority ; An individual sovereignty, that none Created might, unpunished, bind or touch ; Unbound, save by the eternal laws of God, And unamenable to all below. Thus did the uncircamcised potentates Of earth debase religion in the sight Of those they ruled — who, looking up, beheld The fair celestial gift despised, enslaved j And, mimicking the folly of the great, ^Vith prompt docility despised her too. The prince or magistrate, however named Or praised, who knowing better, acted thus, Was wicked, and received, as he deserved, Daninalion. But the unfaithful priest, whit tongue Knoujli shall execrate ? His doctrine may Be passed, tho' mixed with most unhallowed leaven, That proved to those who foolishly partook. Eternal bitterness : — but this was still His sin — beneath what cloak soever veiled. His ever growing and perpetual sin, First, last, and middle thought, whence every wish, Whence every action rose, and ended both — To n:ount to place and power of worldly sort; To ape the gaudy pnmp and equipage Of earthly state,' and on his milred brow To place a royal crown : for this he sold The sacred truth to him who most would give Of titles, benefices, honors, names ; For this betrayed his masler ; and for this Made merchandise of the immortal souls Comaiiited to his care— this was his lin. i500K II. Of all who office held unfairly, none Could plead excuse ; he least, and last of all. By solemn, awful ceremony, he Was set apart to speak the truth entire, By action and by word ; and round him stood The people, from his lips expecting knowledge ] One day in seven, the Holy Sabbath termed, They stood ; for he had sworn in face of Giad And man, to deal sincerely with their souls ; To preach the gospel for the gospel's sake ; Had sworn to hate and put away all pride, All vanity, all love of earthly pomp ; To seek all mercy, meekness, truth, and grace ; And being so endowed himself, and taught, In them like works of holiness to move j Dividing faithfully the word of life. And oft indeed the word of life he taught ; Eul practisirii;, as thou hast heard, who could Believe ? Thus was religion wounded sore At her own altars, and among her friends. The people went away, and like the priest, Fulfilling what the prophet spoke before, For honor strove, anJ wealth, and place, a8 if The preacher had rehearsed an idle tale. Ttie enemies of God rejoiced, and loud The unbeliever laughed, boasting a life Of fairer character than his, who owned, For kiug and guide, the undefiled One. Most guilty, villanous, dishonest man ! Wolf in the clothing of the gentle lamb ! Dark traitor in Messiah's holy camp ■ iC^p.er in saintly garb ! — assassin masked In Virtue's robe ! vile hypocrite accursed ! I strive in vain to set his evil forth. The words that should sufficiently accurse, And execrate such reprobate, had need Come glowing from the lips of eldest hell. Among the saldest in the den of wo, 44 THE COURSE OF TIME. Thou saw'st him saddest, 'moug the damned, most But why should I with iDdis:iiatioD bum. Not well beseeming here, and'long forgot ? Or why one censure for another's sin ? Each had his conscience, each his reason, will, And understanding, for himself to search, To choose, reject, believe, consider, act: And God proclaimed from heaven, and by an oath Confirmed, that each should answer for himself ; And as his own peculiar work should be, Tone by his proper self, should live, or die. But sin, deceitful and deceiving still. Had gained the heart, and reason led astray. A strange belief, that leaned its idiot back On folly's topmost twig— belief that God, Most wise, had made a world, had creatures made, Beneath his care to govern, and protect, — Devoured its thousands. Reason, not the true, Learned, deep, sober, comprehensive, sound ; But bigoted, one-eyed, sliort-sigh'ed Reason, Most zealous, and sometimes, lio doubt, sincere — Devoured its thousands. Vanity to be Renowned for creed eccentrical — devoured Its thousands : but a lazy, corpulent. And over-credulous faith, thai leaned on all It met, nor asked if 'twas a reed or oak; Stepped on, but never earnestly inquired Whether to heaven or hell the journey led — Devoured its teiis of thousands, and i's hands Made reddest in the precious blood of souls. In Time's pursuits men ran till out of breath. The astronomer soared up, and counted stars. And gazed, and eazed upon the Heaven's bright face, Till he dropped down dim-eyed into the grave : The numerisi in calotilations deep BOOK II. Grew gray : the merchant at his desk expired : The statesman hunted for another place, Till death o'ertook him and made him his prey : The miser spent his eldest enersy, In grasping for another mite : the scribe Rubbed pensively his old and withered brow Devising new impediments !o hold In doubt the suit that threatened to end too soon The priest collected tithes, and pleaded rights Of decimation to the very last. In science, learning, all philosophy. Men labored all their days, and labored hard. And dying, sighed how little they had done : But in religion they at once grew wise. A creed in print, tho' never understood ; A theologic system on the shelf, Was spiritual lore enough, and served their turn ; But served it ill. They sinned, and never knew ; For what the Bible said of good and bad, Of holiness and sin, they never asked. Absurd— prodigiously absurd, to think That man's minute and feeble faculties, Even in the very childhood of his being, With mortal shadows dimmed, and wrapt around Could comprehend at once the mighty scheme, Where rolled the ocean of eternal love ; Where wisdom infinite its master stroke Displayed ; and where omnipotence, opprest, Did travel in the greatness of its strength ; And everlasting justice lifted up The sword to smite the guiltless Son of God ; And mercy smiling bade the sinner go ! Redemption is the science, and the song Of all eternity : archangels day And night into its glories look ; the saints, The elders round I'lie throne, old in tJie years Of heaven, examine it perpetually ; And every hour, get clearer, ampler views 46 THE COURSE OF TIME Of risfht and wTonz — see virtue's beauty more; See vice more utterly depraved, and vile ; And this wilh a more perfect hatred hate ; That daily love with a more perfect love. But whether I for man's perdition blame Office administered amiss : pursuit Of pleasure false ; perverted reason blind ; Or indolence that oe'er inquired ; I blame Effect and consequence : Ihe branch, the leaf. Who finds the fount and bitter root, the first And guiltiest cause whence sprung this endless wo, Must deep descend into the human heart, And find it there. Dread passion ! making men On earth, and even in hell, if Mercy yet Would stoop so low, unwilling to be saved, If saved by grace of God — Hear, then, in brief, What peopled hell, what holds its prisoners there. Pride, self-adoring pride, was primal cause Of all sin past, all pain, all wo to come. Unconquerable pride ! first, eldest sin — Great foun'ain-head of evil— highest source, Whence flowed rebellion 'gainst the Omnipotent, Whence hate of man to man, and all else ill. Pride at the bottom of the human heart Lay, and gave root and nourishment lo all That grew above. Great ancestor of vice ! Hale, unbelief, and blasphemy of God ; Envy and slander ; mil ice and revenge ; And murder, and deceit, and every birth Of damned sort, was progeny of pride. It was the ever-moving, acting force. The constant aim, and the most thirsty wish Of every sinner unrenewed, to be A god :— in purple or in rags, to have Himself adored : wha'ever~shape or form His actions took : whatever phrase he threw About his thoughts, or mantle o'er his life, BOOK II. 47 To be the highest, was the inward cause Of all— the purpose of the heart to be Set up, admired, obeyed. But who would bow The knee to one who served, and was dependent ? Hence man's perpetual stru??le, night and day, To prove he was his own proprietor, And independent of his God. that what He had mi?ht be esteemed his own. and praised As such— He laliored still, and tried to stand Alone, unpropped — to be obliged to none ; And in the madness of his pride he bade His God farewell, and turned away to be A god himself ; resolving to rely. Whatever came, upon his own right hand. O desperate frenzy ! madness of the will ! And drunkenness of the heart ! that nought coald quench But floods of wo, poured from the sea of wrath, Behind which mercy set. To think to turn The back on life original, and live — The creature to set up a rival throne In the Creator's realm— to deify A worm — and in the sight of God be proud — To lift an arm of flesh against the shafts Of the Omnipotent, and midst his wrath To seek for happiness — insanity Most mad; guilt most complete! seest thou those worlds That roll at various distance round the throne Of God. innumerous, and fill the calm Of heaven with sweetest harmony, when saints And angels sleep — as one of these, from love Centripetal withdrawing, and from light, And heat, and nourishment cut off, should rush Abandoned o'er the line that runs between Create and increate ; from ruin driven To ruin still, thro' the abortive waste : « So pride from God drew off the bad ; and so Forsaken of him, he lets them ever try 48 THE COURSE OF TIi\lE. Their single arm against the second death ; Amidst vindictive thunders lets them try The stoutness of their heart ; and lets them try To quench their thirst amid the unfadin; fire ; And to reap jny where he has sown despair : To wall: alone unguided, unbemoaned, Where Evil dwells, and Death, and moral Night j In utter emptiness to find enough ; In utter dark find light ; and find repose Where God with tempest plagues for evermore : Vor so they wished it, so did pride desire. Such was the cause that turned so many off Rebelliously from God, and led them on From vain to vainer still, in endless chase. And such the cause that made so many cheeks Pale, and so many knees to shake, when men Rose from the grave : as thou shall hear anon. THE COURSE OF TIME, ANALYSIS OF BOOK HI. Id this book the bard shows that however men diso- beyed the command to love God, truth, ana virtue, they still strove to gain happiness : but which could only be gained by obedience to the command, for the attainment of wbich men pursued many strange and crooked paths, in none of which could it be found ; as happiness was indissolubly united to virtue. Yet men pursued the phantom Hope, ■which danced before them in every path, and ever mocked their grasp, till earth, beneath them, broke and wrapt them in the grave. IMany sought for happiness in the enjoyment of pleas- ures, but it ever proved vain, in hope, or in pos- session. Many sought for happiness in the attain-' ment of riches. This, also, mostly ended in bitter- ness and wo. Many pursued the phantom Fame^ that fame which raised not in the resurrection morn. Earthly fame, but all in vain. Many sought happiness in dissipation, in inebriation ; deliberate- ly resolving to be mad ; some in hawking and hunting, some in the search after curiosities, and »ome even in hopeless scepticism sought happiness. And thus mankind followed vanities in despite of wis- dom's warning voice ; in despite of the teaching of all animated and unanimated nature ; in despite of the offers of mercy continually held out to them ; in spite, even, of the threatenings of death, to make repentance vain, men rushed on determined,to ruin, and shut their ears to all advice, to all reproof, till death, the great teacher, convinced each, too late, that Eternity is all. otirse of ^imt. BOOK III. Bb »EHOLD'ST thou yonder, on the crystal sea, Beneath the throne of God, an image fair, And in its hand a Ujirror large and bright ! — 'Tis truth, immutable, eternal truth, In figure emblematical expressed. Before it Virtue stands, and smiling sees. Well pleased, in her reflected soul, no spot. The sons of heaven, archangel, seraph, saint, There daily read their own essential worth ; And as they read, take place among the just ; Or high, or low, each as his value seems. There each his certain interest learns, bis true Capacity ; and going thenee, pursues. Unerringly thro' all the tracts of thought, As God ordadns, best ends by wisest means. The Bible held this mirror's place on earth ; But, few would read, or, reading, saw themselves. The chase was after sbado\vs, phantoms strange, That in the twilight walked of Time, and mocked The eager hunt, escaping evermore ; Yet with so many promises and looks Of gentle sort, that he whose arms returned Empty a thousand times, still stretched them out, And grasping, brought them back again uoililed. D2 SH. TH£ COURSE OF TIME. In rapid outline thou hast heard of man ; His death ; his offered life ; that life by most Despised ; the Slar of God — the Bible, scorned, That else to happiness and heaven had led, And saved my lyre from narrative of wo. Hear now more largely of the ways of Time; The fond pursuits and vanities of men. Love God, love truth, love virtue, and be happy ; These were the words first uttered in the ear Of every being rational made, and made For thought, or word, or deed accountable. Most men the first forgot, the second none. Whatever path they took, by hill or vale, By night or day. the universal wish, The aim, and sole intent, was happiness: But, erring from the heaven-appiinted path, Strange tracts indeed they took through barren wastes, And up the sandy mountain climbing toiled, Which pining lay beneath the curse of God, And naught produced : yet did the traveller look, And point bis eye before him greedily. As if he saw some verdant spot, where grew The heavenly flower, where sprung the well of life, Where undisturbed felicity reposed ; Though Wisdom's eye no" vestige could discern, That happiness had ever passed that way. Wisdom was right : for still the terms remained Unchanged, unchangeable ; the terms on which True peace was given to man ; unchanged as God, Who, in his own essential nature, binds Eternally to virtue happiness ; Nor lets them part through all his Universe. Philosophy, as thou shalt hear, when she Shall have her praise — her praise and censure too, Did much, refining and exalting man ; But could not nurse a single plant that bore BOOK III. 63 True happiness. — From age to age she (oiled ; Shed from her eyes the mist that dimmed them still, Looked forih on man ; explored the wild and tame. The savage and polite, the sea and land, And starry heavens ; and then retired far back To meditation's silent shady seat ; And there sat pale, and thoughtfully, and weighed With wary, most exact and scrupulous care, Man's nature, passions, hopes, propensities, Relations and pursuits, in reason's scale ; And searched and weighed, and weighed and searched again. And many a fair and goodly volume wrote, That seemed well worded too, wherein were found Uncountable receipts, pretending each, If carefully attended to, to cure Mankind of folly ; — to root out the briers. And thorns, and weeds that choked the growth of joys And showing too, in plain and decent phrase. Which sounded much like wisdom's, how to plant, To shelter, water, culture, prune, and rear The tree of happiness ; and oft their plans Were tried ; — but still the fruit was green and sour. Of all the trees that in Earth's vineyard grew, And with their clusters tempted man to pull And eat, — one tree, one tree alone, the true Celestial manna bore which filled the soul, The tree of Holiness — of heavenly seed, A native of the skies ; Iho' stun'ed much, And dwarfed, by Time's cold, damp, ungenial aoil^ And chilling winds, yet yielding fruit so pure, So nourishing and sweet, as, on his way. Refreshed the pilgrim ; and becot desire Unquenchable to climb the arduous path To where her sister plants in their own clime Around the (ount, and by the stream of life, Blooming beneath the Sun that never sets,— Bear fruit of perfect relish fully ripe. D3 64 THE COURSE OF TIME. To plant this tree, uprooted by the fall. To earth the Sod of Go J descended, shed His precious blood ; and on it evermore, From otf his living wings, the spirit shook The dews of heaven, to nurse and hasten its growth. Nor was this care, this intinile expense, Not needed to secure the holy plant. To root it out, and wither it from earth, Hell strove with all its sirengih, and blew with all Its blasts ; and Sin, wilh cold consumptive breath, Involved it still in clouds of mortal damp. Yet did it grow, thus kept, protected thus ; And bear the only fruit of true delight ; The only fruit worth plucking under heaven. But, few, alas ! the holy plant could see, For heavy mists that Sin around it threw Perpetually ; and few the sacrifice Would make by which alone its clusters stooped, And came wilhin the reach of mortal man. For this, of him who would approach and eat, Was rigorously exacted to the full : — To tread and bruise beneath the foot, the world Entire ; its prides, ambitions, hopes, desires ; Its gold, and all its broidered equipage ; To loose its loves and friendships from the heart, And cast them oflF ; to shut the ear against Its praise, and all its flatteries abhor ; And having thus behind him thrown what seemed So good and fair— then must he lowly kneel, And with sincerity, in which the Eye That slumbers not, nor sleeps, could see no lack. This prayer pray: — "Lord God ! thy will be done; Thy holy will, howe'er it cross my own." Hard labor this for flesh and blood ! too hard For most it seemed : so, turning, they the tree Derided, as mere bramble that could bear No fruit of special taste ; and so set out Upon ten thousand different routes to seek BOOK III. 65 What they bad left behind ; to seek what they Had lost— for still as something once possest. And lost, true happiness appeared ; all thought They once were happy : and even while thty smoked And panted in the cfjase — believed themselvea More miserable to-day than yesterday — To-morrow than to-day. When youth complained, The ancient sinner shook his hoary head, As if he meant to say : Stop till you come My lenfth, and then you may have cause to sigh. At twenty, cried the boy, who now had seen Some blemish in his joys : How happily Plays yonder child that busks the mimic babe. And gathers gentle flowers, and never sighs. At forty in the fervor of pursuit. Far en in disappf^intmenf-s dreary vale, The grave and sage-like man looked back upon The strippling youth of plump unseared hope, Who galloped gay and briskly up behind— And moaning wished himself eighteen again. And he of threescore years and ten, in whose Chilled eye, fatigued with gaping after hope. Earth's freshest verdure seemed but blasted leaves, — Praised childhood, youth and manhood, and denounced Old age alone as tarren of ill joy. Decisive proof that men had left behind The happiness they sought, and taken a most Erroneous path ; since every step they took Was deeper mire. Yet did they onward ran — Pursuing hope that danced before them still, And beckoned them to proceed — and with their hands. That shook and trembled piteously with age, Grasped at the lying Shade, even t'ill the Earth Beneath them broke, and wrapped them in the grave. Sometimes indeed when wisdom in their ear Whispered, and with its disenchanting wand Effectually touched the sorcerv of their eyea, Directly pointiog to the holy iTree. 66 THE COURSE OF TIME. Where grew the food they «onght, they turned, sur- prised That they liad missed so long what now they found. A8 one upon whose mind some new and rare Idea glances, and retires as quick, Ere memory have time to write it down ; Stung with the loss, into a thoughtful cast, He throws his face ; and rubs his vexed brow : Searches each nook and corner of his soul With frequent care ; reflects, and re-reflects, And tries to touch relations that may start The fugitive again j and oft is foiled ; Till somethins like a seeming chance, or flight Of random fancy, when expected least. Calls back the wandered thought, long sought in vain, Then does uncommon joy fill all his mind ; And still he wonders, as he holds it fast. What lay so near he could not sooner find : So did the man rejoice, when from his eye The film of folly fell, and what he day And night, and far and near, had idly searched Sprung up before him suddenly displayed ; So wondered why he missed the tree so long. But, few returned from folly's giddy chase. Few heard the voice of wisdom, or obeyed. Keen was the search, and various and wide ; Without, within, along the flowery vale, And up the rugged cliff, and on the top Of mountains high, and on the ocean wave. Keen was the search, and various and wide, And ever and anon a shout was heard : Ho ! here's the tree of life ; come, eat, and live I And round the new discoverer quick they flocked In multitudes, and plucked, and with great haste Devoured ; and sometimes in the lips 'twas sweet, And promised well ; but in the belly, gall. Yet after him that cried again : Ho ! here's The tree of life ; again they ran. and pulled. EOOKIIL And chewed aeain, and found it bitter still. From disappointment on to disappointment, Year after year, a?e after age pursued : Tlie child, the youth, the hoary headed man. Alike pursued ! and ne'er grew wise, for it Was folly's most peculiar attribute, And native act, to make experience void. But hastily as pleasures tasted turned To loathing and disgust, they needed not Even such experiment to prove them vain. In hope or in possession, Fear, alike. Boding disaster, stood. Over the flower Of fairest sort, that bloomed beneath the sun. Protected most, and sheltere-d from the storm. The Spectre, like a dark and thunderous cloud. Hung dismally, and threatened before the hand Of him that wished, could pull it, to descend. And o'er the desert drive its withered leaves j Or being pulled, to blast it unen joyed, While yet he gazed upon its loveliness. And just began to drink its fragrance up. Gold many hunted, sweat and bled for gold ; Waked all the night, and labored all the day. And what was this allurement, dost thou ask ? A dust dug from the bowels of the earth, Which, being cast into the fire, came out A shining thing that fools admired, and called A god ; and in devout and humble plight Before it kneeled, the greater to the less. And on its altar sacrificed ease, peace. Truth, faith, integrity ; good conscience, fricndd, Love, charity, benevolence, and all The sweet and tender sympathies of life ; And to complete the horrid murderous rite. And signalize their folly, offered up Their souls and an eternity of bliss. To gain them— what ? an hour of dreaming joy : 58 THE CODRSE OF TIME. A feverish hour that hasted to be done, And ended in the bitterness of wo. Most for the luxuries it bought— the pomp, The praise, the glitter, fashion, and reijOWTi, This yellow phantom followed and adored. But there was one in fnlly farihi* gone ; With eye awry, incurable and wild, The laughing4tock of devils and of men. And by his euardian angel quite given up— The miser, who with dust inanimate Held wedded intercourse. Ill guided wretch t Thou might'st have seen him at the midnight hour, When good men slep', and in lig'ht winged dreams Ascended up to God, — in wasteful hall, With vigilance and fasting worn to skin And Ixjne, and wrapped in most debasing rags, — Thou might'st have seen him bending o'er his heaps, And holding strange communion vyith his gold i And as his thievish fancy seemed to hear The night-man's foot approach, starting alarmed, And in his old, decrepit, withered hand. That palsy shook, grafping the yellow earth To make it sure. Of all God made upright, And in their nostrils breathed a living soul, Most fallen, most prone, most earthy, most debased; Of all that sold eternity for Time None t>argained on so easy terms with death. Illustrious fool ! Nay, most inhuman wretch ! He sat among his bags, and with a look Which hell might be ashamed of, drove the poor Away unalmsed ; and midst abundance died — Soiestof evils ! died of utter want. Before this Shadow in the vales of earth. Fools saw another glide, which seemed of more Intrinsic worth. Pleasure her name — good name Tho' ill applied. A thousand forms she took, A thousand garbs she wore ; in every age BOOK III. 59 And clime changing, as in her votaries changed Desire : but, inwardly, the same in all. Her most essential lineaments we trace ; Her general features every where alilse. Of comely form she was, and fair of face ; And underneath her eyelids sat a kind Of witching sorcery that nearer drew Whoever with unguarded look beheld ; A dress of gaudy hue loosely attired Her loveliness ; her air and manner frank, And seeming free of all disguise ; her song Enchanting ; and her words which sweelly dropt, As honey from the comb, most large of promise, Still prn'phecying days of new delight, And rapturous nights of undecayiug joy. And in her hand, where'er she went, she held A radiant Cup that seemed of nectar full — And by her side danced fair delusive Hope. The fool pursued enamoured, and the wise Experienced man who reasoned much, and thought, Was sometimes seen laying his wisdom down, And Tying with the stripling in the chase. Nor wonder thou '. for she was really fair ; Decked to the very taste of ileeh and blood. And many thought her sound within ; and gay And healthy at the heart : but thought amiss : For she was full of all disease ; her bones Were rotten: consumption licked her blood. and drank Her marrow up ; her breath sraelled mortally j And in her bowels plague and fever lurked ; And in her very heart,^ and veins and life, Corruption's worm gnawed greedily unseen. Many her haunts, thou might'st have seen her now With indolence, lolling on the mid^day couch, And whispering drowsy words ; and now at dawa, Loudly and rough, joining the sylvan horn ; 60 THE COURSE OF TIME. Or sauntering in the park, and to the tale Of slander giving ear ; or sitting fierce, Rude, blasphemous, malicious, raving, mad, Where fortune to the fickle die was bound. But chief she loved the scene of deep debauch, Where revelry, and dance, and frantic song, Disturbed the sleep of honest men. And where The drunkard sat, she entered in, well pleased, With eye brimful of wanton mirthfulness, And urged him still to fill another cup. And at the shadowy twilight — in the dark And gloomy night, I looked, and saw her come Abroad, arrayed in harlot's soft attire ; And walk without in every street, and lie In wait at everj- corner, full of guile. And as the unwary youth of simple heart, And void of understanding, passed, she caught And kissed him, and with lips of lying said : 1 have peace-offerings with me ; I have paid My vows this day ; and therefore came I forth To meet thee, and to seek thee diligently, To seek thy face, and I have found thee here. My bed is decked with robes of tapestry, With carved work, and sheets of linen fine ; Perfumed with aloes, myrrh, and cinnamon. Sweet are stolen waters ! pleasant is the bread In secret eaten ! the goodman is from home. Come, let us take our fill of love till mom Awake ; let us delight ourselves with loves. With much fair speech she caused the youth to yield; And forced him with the flattering of her tongue. I looked and saw him follow to her house. As goes the ox to slaughter ; as the fool To the correction of the stocks; or bird That hastes into the subtle fowler's snare. And knows not, simple thing, 'tis for its life. I saw him enter in ; and heard the door BOC" m. 61 Behind them shut ; and in the dark, still night, When God's unsleepin? eye alone can see, He went to her adulterous bed. At moru 1 looked, and saw him not among the youths . I heard his father mourn, his mother weep : For none returned that went with her. The dead Were in her house ; her guests in depths of hell : She wove the winding-sheet of souls, and laid Them in the uin of everlasting death. Such was the Shadow fools pursued on earth, Under the name of pleasure, — fair outside, Within corrup'ed, and corrupting still : Ruined, and ruinous : her sure reward, Her total recompence was still, as he. The bard, recorder of Earth's seasons, sung, "Veiation, disappointment, and remorse." Yet at her door the young and old, and some Who held high character among the wise, Together stood, — and strove among themselves, Who first should enter, and be ruined first. Strange competition of immortal sods ! To sweat for death ! to strive lor misery ! But think not Pleasure told her end was death- Even human folly then had paused at least, And given some signs of hesitation ; nor Arrived so hot and out of breath at wo. Though contradicted every day by facts. That sophistry itself would s:uinble o'er, And to the very teeth a liar proved Ten thousand times, as if unconscious still Of inward blame, she stood, and waved her hand, And pointed to her bower, and said to all Who passed : Take yonder flowery path ; my steps Attend; 1 lead the smoothest way to heaven ; This world receive as surety for the next. And many simple men, most simple, Iho' Renowned for learning niucb, and wary skill. 62 THE COURSE OF TIME. Believed, and turned aside, and were undone. Another leaf of finished Time we turn, And read of Fame, terrestrial Fame, which died, And rose not at the Resurrection mom. Not that by virtue earned, the true renown, Be^un on earth, and lasting in the skies, Worthy the lofty wish of seraphim, — The approbation of the Eye that sees The end from the beginning, sees from cause To most remote etTect : of it we read In book of God's remembrance, in the book Of life, from which the quick and dead were judged^ The book that lies upon the tlirone, and tells Of glorious acts by saints and angels done ; The record of the holy, just, and good. Of all the phantoms fleeting in the mist Of Time, tho' meagre all, and ghostly thin, Most unsubstantial, unessential shade. Was earthly Fame. She was a voice alone, And dwelt upon the noisy tongues of men. She never thought ; but gabbled ever on ; Applauding most what least deserved applause : The motive, the result was naught to her : The deed alone, tho' dyed in human gore. And steeped in widow's tears, if it stood out The prominent display, she talted of much. And roared around it with a thousand tongues. As changed the wind her organ, so she changed Perpetually ; and whom she praised to-day, Vexing his' ear with acclamations loud. To-morrow blamed, and hissed him out of sight. Such was her nature, and her practice such : But, ! her voice was sweet to mortal ears ; And touched so pleasantly the strings of pride And vanity, which in the heart of main Were ever strung harmonious to her note. BOOK III. Q That many thought to live without her song Was rather death than life ; to live uuknown, Unnoticed, nnrenowned ! to die unpraised ! tJnepitaphed ! to go down to the pit, And moulder in the dust among vile worms ! And leave no whispering of a name on earth ! Such thought was cold about the heart, and chilled The blood. Who could endure it ? who could chooae^ Without a struggle, to be swept away From all remembrance ? and have part no more With living men ? Philnsfipby failed here : And self-approving pride. Hence it became The aim of most, and main pursuit, to win A name — to leave some vestige as they passed, That following ages might discern (hey once Had been on earth, and acted something there. Many the roads they took, the plans they tried ; The man of science to the shade retired. And laid his head upon his hand, in mood Of awful Ihoughtfuluess ; and dived, and dived Again— deeper and deeper still, to sound The cause remote — resolved, before be died, To make some grand discovery, by which He should be known to all posterity. And in the silent vigils of the night, When uninspired men reposed, the bard, Ghastly of countenance, and from his eye Oft streaming wild unearthly fire, set up ; And sent imagination forth ; and searched The far and near— heaven, earth and gloomy hell— For fiction new, for thought, unthought before ; And when some curious rare idea peered Upon his mind, he dipped his hasty pen. And by the glimmering lamp, or moonlight beanit That thro' his lattice peeped, wrote fondly down What seemed in truth imperishable song. 64 THE COUaSE OF TIME. And sometimes too, the reverend diTine, In meditation deep of holy things, And vanities of Time, heard Fame's sweet voice Approach his ear — and hang another flower, Of earthly sort, abnut the sacred truth ; And ventured whiles to mix the bitter text, Which relish suited to the sinner's taste. And oft-times too, the simple hind, who seemed Ambitionless, arrayed in humble garb. While round him spreading, fed his harmless flock, Sitting was seen, by some wild warbling brook, Carvin? his name upon his favorite stafi' j Or, in ill-favored letters, tracing it Upon the aged thorn ; or on the face Of some conspicuous oft frequented stone, With persevering wondrous industry ; And hoping, as he toiled amain, and saw The characters take form, some other wight. Long after he was dead, and in the grave. Should loiter there at noon and read his name. In purple some, and some in rags, stood forth For reputation ; some displayed a limb Well-fashioned : some of lowlier mind, a cano Of curious workmanship, and marvellous twist : In strength some sought it, and in beauty more. Long, long the fair one labored at the glass, And, being tired, called in auxiliar skill. To have her sails, before she went abroad. Full spread, and nicely set, to catch the gale Of praise. And much she caught, and much deserved^ When outward loveliness was index fair Of purity within : but oft alas ! The bloom was on the skin alone ; and when She saw, sad sight ! the roses on her cheek Wither, and heard the voice of fame retire And die away, she heaved most piteons sighs. And wept most lameotable tears ; and whilee. BOOK III. 65 In wild delirium, made rash attempt, Unholy mimickry of Nature's work ! To re-create, srHh frail and mortal things, Her wither'd face. Attempt bow fond and vain ! Her frame itself, soon mouldered down to dust ; And in the land of deep forgelliilness. Her beauty and her name were laid beside Eternal silence, and the loathsome worm ; Into whose darknt-ss flattery ventured not ; Where none had ears to hear the voice of Fame. Many the roads they took, the plans they tried. And awful oft the wickedness they wrought To be observed, some scrambled up to thrones, And sat in vestures dripping wet with gore. The warrior dipped his sword in blood, and wrote His name on lands and cities desolate. The rich bought fields, and bouses built, and raised The monumental piles up to the clouds. And called them by their names. And, strange to tell! Rather than be unknown, and pass away Obscurely to the grave, some, small of soul, That else had perished unobserved, acquired Considerable renown by oaths profane, By jesting boldly with all sacred things. And uttering fearlessly wha'e'er occurred ;— Wild, blasphemous, perditionable thonghlB, That Satan in them moved ; by wiser men Suppressed, and quickly banished from the mind. Many the roads they took, the plans they tried : But all in vain. Who grasped at earthly fame, • Grasped wind: nay worse, a serpent 8rrasped,that thro His hand slid smoothly, and was gone ; but left A sting behind which wrought him endless pain ; For oft her voice was old Abaddon's lure, By which he charmed the foolish soul to death. So happiness was sought in pleasure, «old, Renown— by many sought. But should I sing 66 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of all the triflias race, my time, tbjr faith, Would fail— of things erectly organized, And having rational, articulate voice. And claiming outward brotherhood with man, — Of him that labored sorely, in his sweat Smoiiing afar, then hurried to the wine, Deliberately resolving to be mad : Of him who taught the ravenous bird to fly This way or that, thereby supremely blest ; Or rode in fury with the howlingpack, Affronting much the noble animal. He spurred into such company : of "him Who down in'o the bowels of the earth Descended deeply, to bring up the wreck Of some old earthern ware, which having stowed With every proper care, he home returned O'er many a sea, and many a league of land, Triumphantly to show the marvellous prize : And him that vexed his brain, and theories built Of gossamer upon the brittle winds ; Perplexed exceedingly why shells were found Upon the mountain lops ; but wondering not Why shells were fuund at all, more wondrous still ! Of him who strange enjoyment took in tales Of fair)' folk, and sleepless ghosts, and sounds Unearthly, whispering in the ear of night Disastrous things : and him who still foretold Calamity which never came, and lived In terror all his days of comets rude, That should unmannerly and lawless drive Athwart the path of Earth, and burn mankind : As if the appointed hour of doom, by God Appointed, ere its time should come : as if Too small the number of sutistantial ills. And real fears to vex the sons of men.— These, — had they not possessed immortal souls, And been accountable, might have been passed With laughter, and forgot ; but as it was, And is, — their folly asks a serious tear. BOOK IIL 67 Keen was the search, and various and wide, For happiness. Take one example more — So strange, that common fools looked on amazed, And wise and sober men together drew, And trembling stood ; and angels in the heavens Grew pale, and talked of vengeance as at hand — The sceptic's route — the unbeliever's, who, Despising reason, revelation, God, And kicking 'gainst the pricks of conscience, rushed Deliriously upon the bossy shield Of the Omnipotent : and in his heart Purposed to deify the idol chance. And labored hard— oh, libor worse than naught I And toiled with dark and crooked reasoning, To make the fair and lovely Earth which dwelt In sight of heaven, a cold and fatherless, Forsaken thing, that wandered on, forlorn, Undestined, uncompassioned, unupheld ; A vapor eddying in the whirl of chance, And soon to vanish everlastingly. He travailed sorely, and made many a (ack, His sails oft shifting, to arrive — dread thought ! Arrive at utter nothingness, and have Being no more — no feeling, memory, No lingering consciousness that e'er he was. Guilt's midnight wish ! las', most abhorred thought: Most desperate effort of exlremest sin ! Others preoccupied, ne'er saw true hope ; He seeing, aimed to stab her to the heart, And with infernal chemistry to wring The last sweet drop from sorrow's cup of gall; To quench the only ray thai cheered the earth, And leave mankind in night which had no star. Others the streams of pleasure troubled, he Toiled much to dry her very fountain head. Unpardonable man ! sold under sin ! He was the Devil's pioneer, who cut The fences down of virtue, sapped her walls, And opened a smooth and easy way to death. 68 THE COURSE OF TIxVlE. Traitor to all existence ! to all life ! Soul-suicide ! dcterDiined foe of being ! Intended murderer of God, Most High ! Stranse road, most strange ! to seek for happiness I Hell's mad-houses are full of such ; too fierce, Too furiously insane, and desperate, To rage unbound 'mong evil spirits damned ! Fertile was earth in many things : not least In fools, who mercy both and judgment scorned : Scorned love, experience scorned: and onward rushed To swift destruction, giving all reproof ; And all instruction, to the winds : and much Of both they had — and much despised of both. Wisdom took up her harp, and stood in place Of frequent concourse— stood in every gate, By every way, and walked in every street ; And lifting up her voice, proclaimed : Be wise Ye fools ! be of an understanding heart. Forsake the wicked : come not near his house : Pass by : make haste : depart and turn away. Me follow — me, whose ways are pleasantness. Whose paths are peace, whose end is perfect joy. The Seasons came and went, and went and came, To teach men gratitude ; and as they passed. Gave warning of the lapse of time, that else Had stolen unheeded by : the gentle Flowers Retired, and, stooping o'er the wilderness, Talked of humility, and peace, and love. The Dews came down unseen at evening tide, And silently their bounties shed, to teach Mankind unostentatious charity. With arm in arm the forest rose on high, And lesson gave of brotherly regard. And on the rugsred mountain brow exposed, Bearing the blast alone— the ancient oak Stood, lifting high his mighty arm. and still To courage in distress exhorted loud. BOOK III. 68 The flocks,the herds, the birds, the streams, the breeze, Attuned the heart to melody and love. Mercy stood in the cloud, with eye that wept Esseutial love ; and, from her glorious bow, Bending to kiss the earth in token of peace, With her own lips, her gracious lips, which God Of sweetest accent made, she whispered still, She whispered to Revenue : — Forgive, forgive ! The San rejoicing round the earth, announced Daily the wisdom, power, and love of God. The Moon awoke, and from her maiden face. Shedding her cloudy locks, looked meekly forth, And with her virgin stars walked in the heavens, Walked nightly there, conversing as she walked, Of purily, and holiness, and God. In dreams and visions sleep instructed much. Day uttered speech to day, and night to night Taught knowledge : silence had a tongue : the grave, The darkness, and the lonely waste, had each A tongue, that ever said — Man I think of God ! Think of thyself ! think of eternity ! Fear God, the thunders said ; fear God, the w^vea ; Fear God, the lightning of the storm replied ; Fear God, deep loudly answered back to deep. And, in the temples of the Holy One — Messiah's messengers, the faithful few — Faithful 'mong many false — the Bible opened, And cried : Repent '. repent ye Sons of Men ! Believe, be saved : and reasoned awfully Of tenjperance, righteousness, and judgment soon To come — of evef-during life and death. And chosen bards from age to age awoke The sacred lyre, and full on folly's ear. Numbers of righteous indignalion poured. And God omnipotent, when mercy failed, Made bare his holy arm ; and with the stroke Of vengeance smote ; the fountains of the deep Broke up ; heaven's windows opened ; and sent on men A flood of wrath; sent plague and famine forth ; E3 70 THE COURSE OF TIME. With earthquake rocked the world beneath; with storms Above ; laid cities waste ; and turned fat lands To barrenness ; and with the sword of war In fury marched, and gave them blood to drink. Angels remonstrated : Mercy beseeched : Heaven smiled, and frowned ; Hell groaned : Time fled : Death shook His dart, and threatened to make repentance vain.— Incredible assertion ! men rushed on Determinedly to ruin : shut their ears, Their eyes to all advice, to all reproof— O'er mercy and o'er judgment downward rushed To misery : and, most incredible Of all ! to misery rushed along the way Of disappointment and remorse, where still At every s'ep, adders, in pleasure's form, Stung mortally ; and Joys, — whose bloomy cheeks Seemed glowing high w'ith immortality. Whose bosoms prophesied superfluous bliss, — While in the arms received, and locked in close And riotous embrace, turned pale, and cold, And died, and smelled of putrifaction rank : Turned, in the very moment of delight, A loathsome, heavy corpse, that with the clear And hollow eyes of Death, stared horribly. All tribes, all generations of the earth, Thus wantonly to ruin drove alike : We heard indeed of golden and silver days ; And of primeval innocence unstained— A pagan tale 1 but by baptized bards, Philosophers, and statesmen, who were still Held wise and cunning men, talked of so much, That most believed it so, and asked not why. The pair, the family first made, were ill ; And for their great peculiar sin incurred The Curse, and left it due to all their race ; BOOK IIL 71 And bold example gave of every crime — Hate, murder, unbelief, reproach, revenge. A time, 'tis true, there came, of which thou ioon Shalt hear— the Sabbath Day, the Jubilee Of Earth, when righteousness and peace prevailed. This time except, who writes the history Of men, and writes it true, must write them bad. Who reads, must read of violence and blood. The man who could the story of one day Peruse ; the wrongs, oppressions, cruellies ; Deceits, and perjuries, and 'anities ; Rewarded worthlessness, rejected worth ; Assassinations, robberies, thefts, and wars ; Disastrous accidents, life thrown away ; Divinity insulted ; Heaven despised ; Religiou scorned ; — and not been sick at night, And sad, had gathered greater store of mirth, Than ever wise man in the world could find. One cause of folly, one especial cause Was this — few knew what wisdom was ; tho' well Defined in God's own words, and printed large. On heaven and earth in characters of light. And sounded in the ear by every wind. Wisdom is humble, said the voice of God. Tis proud, the world replied. Wisdom, said God, Forgives, forbears and suffers, not for fear Of man, but God. Wisdom revenges, said The world ; is quick and deadly of resentment ; Thrusts at the very shadow of aflfront, And hastes, by death, to wipe its honor clean. Wisdom, said God, loves enemies, entreats, Solicits, begs for peace. Wisdom, replied The world, hales enemies ; will not ask peace, Conditions spurns, and triumphs in their fall. Wisdom mistrusts itself, and leans on heaven. Said God. It trusts and leans upon itself. The world replied. Wisdom retires, said God, 72 THE COURSE OF TIME. And CAunts it bravery to bear reproach And shame, and lowly poverty upright ; And weeps with all who have just cause to weep. Wisdom, replied ine world, struts forth to Raze ; Treads the broad stage of life with clamorous foot ; Attracts all praises ; counts it bravery Alone to wield the sword and rush on death ; And never weeps, but for its own disgrace. Wisdom, said God, is hishest, when it stoops Lowest before the Holy Throne, throws dort'n Its crown abased, forgets itself, admires, And breathes adoring praise. There wisdom stoops Indeed, the world replied — there stoops, because It must : but stoops with dignity : and thinks And meditates the while of inward worth. Thus did Almighty God, and tlius the world, ■\\'isdom define. "And most the world believed ; And boldly called the truth of God a lie. Hence, he that to the worldly wisdom shaped His character, became the favorite Of men — was honorable termed , a man Of spirit ; noble, glorious, lofty k ul ! And as he crossed the earth in chase of dreams, Received prodigious shouts of warm applause. Hence, who to godly wisdom framed his life, Was counted mean, and spiritless, and vile. And as he walked obscurely in the path Which led to heaven,fools hissed with serpent tn^agoe, And poured contempt upon his holy head ; And poured contempt on all who praised his name. But false as this account of wisdom was — The world's I mean — it was its best : the creed Of sober, grave, and philosophic men ; With much research and cogitation framed ; Of men, who with the vulgar scorned to sit. Tlie popular belief seemed rather worse. When heard replying to the voice of truth. The wise man, said the Bible, walks with God, Surveys far on tbe endless line of life; Values his soul ; thinks of eternity ; Both ^vorlds considers, and provides for bolh ; With reason's eje tiis passions guards ; abstains From evil ; lives on hope, on hope, the fruit Of faith ; looks upward ; purifies his soul ; Expands his wings, and mounts into the sky ; Passes the sun, and gains his father's house'; And drinks with angels from the fount of bliss. The multitude aloud replied — replied By practice, for they were not bookish men ; Kor apt to form their principles in words — The wise man first of all eradicates, As much as possible, from out his mind, All thought of death, God, and eternity ; Admires the world, and tliinks of Time alone ; Avoids the Bible, all reproof avoids ; Ricks conscience, if he can, asleep ; puis out The eye of reason; prisons, tortures, binds; And rnakes her thus by violence and force, Give wicked evidence against herself: Lets passion loose ; the substance leaves ; pursues The shadow vehemently, but ne'er o'ertakes ; Puts by the cup of holiness and joy ; And driuks, carouses deeply in the bowl Of death ; grovels in dust ; pollutes, destro>'S His soul ; is miserable to acquire More misery ; deceives to be deceived ; S'rives, labors to the last to shun the truth ; Strives, labors to the last to damn himself ; Turns desperate, sbuddere, groans, blasphemes, and dies. And sinks — where could he else ? — to endless wo : And drinks (he wine of God's eternal wrath. 74 THE COURSE OF TIME. The learned thus, and thus the unlearned world, Wisdom defined — in sound they disagreed ; In substance, in efl'ect, in end the same ; And equally to God and truth opposed ; Opposed as darkness to the li^ht of heaven. Yet were there some that seemed well meaning men, Who systems planned, expressed in supple words, Which praised the man as wisest, that in one United both ; pleased God, and pleased the world ; And with the saint, and with the tinner had, Changing his garb unseen, a good report. And many thought their definition best ; And in theii wisdom grew exceeding wiae. Union abhorred ! dissimulation vain ! Could holiness embrace the harlot sin ? Could life wed death? could God with Mammon dwell? Oh, foolish men ! oh men, for ever lost ! In spite of mercy lost, in spite of wrath ! In spile of Disappointment and Remorse, Which made the way to ruin ruinous ! Heir what they were : — the progeny of sin Alike ; and oft combined : but differing much In mode of giving pain. As felt the gross, Material part, when in the furnace cast, So felt the soul the victim of remorse. It was a fire which on the verge of God's Commandment's burned, and on the vitals fed Of all who passed. Who passed, there met remorse. A violent fever seized his soul ; the heavens Above, ihe earth beneath, seemed glowing brass. Heated seven times ; he heard dread voices speak, And mutter horrid prophecies of pain. Severer and severer yet to come : And as he writhed and quivered, scorched within. The Fury round his torrid temples flapped Her fierv wings, and breathed upon his lips. And parched tongue, the withered blasts of bell. It was the stiffering begun, thou sawlst In symbol of the Worm that never dies. The other — Disappointment, rather i Negation of delight. It was a thing Sluggish and torpid, tending towards death. Its breath was cold, and made the sportive blood, Stagnant, and dull, and heavy round the wheels Of life : the roots of that whereon it blew, Decayed, and with the genial soil no more Held sympathy — the leaves, the branches drooped, And mouldered slowly down to formless dust ; Not tossed and driven by violence of winds ; But withering where they sprung and rotting there. Long disappointed, disappointed still. The hopeless man, hopeless in his main wish, As if reluming back to nothing felt In strange vacuity of being hung. And rolled, and rolled bis eye on emptiness, That seemed to grow more empty every hour. One of this mood I do remember well : We name him not, what now arc earthly names ? In humble dwelling bom, retired, remote, In rural quietude ; 'mong hills, and streams. And melancholy deserts, where the sun Saw, as he passed, a shepherd only, here And there watching his little flock ; or heard The plowman talking to his steers — his hopes, His morning hopes, awoke before him smiling, Among the dews, and holy mountain airs ; And fancy colored them with every hue Of heavenly loveliness: but soon his dreams Of childhood fled away— those rainbow dreams. So innocent and fair, that withered a?e, Even at the grave, cleared up his dusty eye. And passing all between, looked fondly back To see them once again ere he departed. — These fled away — aud anxious thought, that wished 76 THE COURSE OF TIME. To go, yet whither knew not well to go, Possessed his soul, and held it still awhile. He listened — and heard from far the voice of fame- Heard, and was charmed ; and deep and sudden vow Of resolution made to be renowned : And deeper vowed again to keep his vow. His parents saw — his parents whom God made Of kindest heart — saw, and indulged his hope. The ancient page he turned j read much ; thought much ; And wiih old bards of honorable name Measured his soul severely ; and looked up To fame, ambitious of no second place. Hope grew from inward faith, and promised fair : And out before him opened many a path Ascending, where the laurel highest waved Her branch of endless green. He stood admiring ; But stood, admired not long. The harp he seized ; Ttie harp he loved— loved better than his life; The harp which uttered deepest notes, and held The ear of thought a captive to its song. He searched, and meditated much, and whiles With rapturous hand in secret touched the lyre, Aiming at glorious strains— and searched again For theme deserving of immortal verse : Chose now, and now refused unsatisfied ; Pleased, then displeased, and hesitating stilL Thus stood his mind, when round him came a cloud ; Slowly and heavily it came ; a cloud Of ills we mention not : enough to say 'Twas cold, and dead, impenetrable gloom. He saw its dark approach ; and saw his hopes, One after one, put out, as nearer still It drew his soul, but fainted not at first ; Fainted not soon. He knew the lot of nian Was trouble, and prepared to bear the worst : Endure whate'er should come, without a sigh Endure, and drink, even to the very dregs, The bitterest cup that Time could measure out : And, having done, look up, and ask for more. He called Philosophy, and with his heart Reasoned : he called Religion too, but called Reluctantly, and therefore was cot heard. Ashamed to be o'ermatched by earthly woes, He sought, and sought with eye that dimmed apace, To find some avenue to light, some place ()ri which to rest a hope — but sought in vain. Darker and darker stiil the darkness grevr ; At length he sunk, and disappointment stood Kis only comforter, and mournfully Told all was past. His interest in life. In being ceased : and now he seemed to feel, Aud shuddered as be felf ; his powers of mind Decaying in the spring-time of his day. The vigorous, weak became ; the clear, obscure ; Memory gave up her charge ; decision reeled j Aud from her flight fancy "returned, returned Because she found no nourishment abroad. The blue heavens withered, and the moon, and sun, And all the stars, and the green earth, and mora And evening withered ; and the eyes, and smiles, And faces of all men and women withered ; Withered to him ; and all the universe. Like something which had been, appeared, but now Was dead and mouldering fast away. He tried No more to hope : wished to forget his vow : Wished to forget his harp : then ceased to wish. That was his last. Enjoyment now was done. He had no hope— no wish — and scarce a fear. Of being sensible, and sensible Of loss, he, as some atom seemed which God Had made superfluously, and needed not To build creation with ; but back again Tn nothing threw, and left it in the void, With everlasting sense that once it was. 78 THE COURSE OF TIME. Oh, whn can tell what days, what nights be spent Of tideless, waveless, saiDe'ss, shoreless wo ! And who can tell, how many, glorious once, To others, and themselves of promise full, Conducted to this pass of human thought, This wilderness of intellectual death, Wasted and pined, and vanished from the earth, Leaving no vestige of memorial there ! It was not so with him : when thus he lay, Forlorn of heart, withered and desolate. As leaf of Autumn, which the wolfish winds. Selecting from its falling sisters, chase Far from its native grove, to lifeless wastes, And leave it there alone to be forgotten Eternally— God passed in mercy by. His praise be ever new ! and on hmi breathed ; And bade him live ; and put into his hands A holy harp, into his lips a song. That rolled its numbers down the tide ot Time. Ambitious now but little to be praised Of men alone ; ambitious most to be Approveu of God, the Judge of all ; and have His name recorded in the book of life. Such things were Disappointment, and Remorse: And oft united both, as friends severe, To teach men wisdom : but the fool untaught Was foolish still. His ear he stopped ; his eyes He shut ; and blindly, deafly obstinate, Forced desperately his way from wo to wo. One place, one only place there was on earth, Where no inan ere was fool — however mad. " Men may live fools, but fools they cannot die. Ah ! 'twas' a truth most true ; and sung in time, And to the sons of men. by one well known On earth for lofty verse, and lofty sense. BOOK IIL 79 Much hast thou seen, fair youth ! much heard ; but thou Hast never seen a death-bed, never heard A dying ^roan. Men saw it often : 'twas sad. To all most sorrowful and sad — to zuilt Tws! anguish, terror, darkness without bo»^. But O, it had a most convincing tongue, A potent oratory, that secured Most mute attention : and it spoke the truth So boldly, plainly, perfectly distinci, That none the meaning could mistake, or doubt. And had withal a disenchanting power, A most omnipotent and wondrous power, Wnich in a moment brohe, forever broke, And utterly dissolved the charms, and spells. And cunning sorceries of Earth and Hell. And thus it spoke to him who ghastly lay. And strusgled for another breath : Earth's cup Is poisoned : Her renown, most infamous ; Her gold, seem as it may, is really dust ; Her titles, slanderous names ; her praise, reproach ; Her strength an idiot's boast ; her wisdom, blind ; Her gain, eternal loss ; her hope, a dream ; Her love, her friendship, enmity with God ; Her promises, a lie ; her smile, a harlot's ; Her beauty, paint, and rotten within ; her pleasure, Deadly assassins masked ; her laughter, grief; Her breasts, the sting of Death ; her total sum, Her all, most utter vanity ; and all Her lovers mad ; insane most grievously ; And most insane, because they know it not. Thus did the mighty reasoner Death declare ; And volumes more : and in one word confirmed The Bible whole— Eternity is all. But few spectators, few be'lieved of those Who staid behind. The wisest, best of men Eeiieved not to the letter full ; but turned, Aiid on the world looked forth, as if they thought 80 THE COURSE OF TIME. The well trimmed hypocrite had something still Of inward worth : the dying man alone Gave faithful audience, and the words of Death To the last jot believed ; believed and felt ; But oft. alas ! believed and felt too late. And had Earth then no joys ? no native sweets. No happiness, that one who spoke the truth Mi?ht call her own ? Shehad; true, native sweets j Indigenous delights, which up the Tree Of holiness, embracing as they grew, Ascended, and bore fruit of heavenly taste : Jn pleasant memory held, and talked of oft. By yonder Saints who walk the golden streets Of New-Jerusalem, and compass round The throne, wish nearest vision blest — of these Hereafter thou shalt hear, delighted hear ; One page of beauty in the life of nun. THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK IV. The essence of earthly liberty and independence was united with lust for power ; each sought to make all subject to his will, while real liberly was the freedom from sin ; he only was free, whom the truth of God made free. Strange conflicts exhibited by the inconsistent and op- posite principles of the Christian heart. Yet final victory was found on the side of holiness, and, after all his internal struggles, the christian was triumph- ant, and brought lo the world of glory. The Books composed in Time, together with their au- thors, were doomed to oblivion under the curse which returns dust to dust. The Books entitled "The Medicine of the Mind," which were written for the help of virtue, were alone exempted from oblivion. The inscrutable and mysterious providences of God, why deeds decreed were accountable, the Trinity, and Incarnation, were subjects, which Theology, Philosophy, Fancy, and finite wisdom, toiled in vain to comprehend. The unequal distribution of worldly possessions and intellectual gifts, plainly taught that God did not es- timate men by outward' circumstances only, or by their knowledge, but by their moral worth. Illus- trated by the history of the gifted Byron. THE BOOK IV. i HE world had louch of strange and wonderful In passion much, in action, reason, will ; And much in Providence, which still retired From human eye, and led philosophy. That ill her ignorance liked to own, thro' dark And dangerous palhs of speculation wild. Some striking features, as we pass, we mark, In order such as memory suggests. Oue passion prominent appears ! — the lust Of power, which oft-times took the fairer name Of liberty, and hung the popular flag Of freedom out. Many indeed, its names, When on the throne it sat, and round the neck Of millions riveted its iron chain, And on the shoulders of the people laid Burdens unmerciful — it title took Of tyranny, oppression, despotism ; And'every tongue was weary cursing it. When in the multitude it gathered strepgtb. And, like an ocean bursting from its bounds, Long beat in vain, went forth resistlessly, It tiore the stamp and designation then, Of popular fury, anarchy, rebellion — And honest men bewailed all order void ; All laws, annulled ; all property, deatroyed ; F2 84 THE COURSE OF TIME- The venerable, murdered in the streets ; The wise, despised ; streams, red with baman blood, Harvests, beneath the frantic foot trod down ; Lands desolate ; and famine, at the door. These are a part ; bat other names it had Innumerous as the shapes and robes it wore. But under every name — in nature still Invariably the same, and always bad. We own indeed that oft against itself It fought, and sceptre both and people gave An equal aid, as long exemplified In Albion's isle — Albion, queen of the seas— And in the struggle something like a kind Of civil liberty Vew up, the best Of mere terrestrial root ; but sickly too, And living only, strange to tell ! in strife Of factions equally contending ; dead. That very moment dead that one prevailed. Conflicting cruelly against itself, By its own hand it fell; part slaying pari. And men who noticed not the suicide, Stood wondering much, why earth from age to ige. Was still enslaved, and erring causes gave. This was earth's liberty — its nature this — However named, in whomsoever found, And found it was in all of woman born. Each man to make all subject to his will ; To make them do, undo, eat, drink, stand, move, Talk, think, and feel, exactly as he chose. Hence the eternal strife of brotherhoods, Of individuals, families, commonwealths. The root from which it grew was pride — bad root 1 And bad the fruit it bore. Then wonder not That long the nations from it richly reaped Oppression, slavery, tyranny, and war ; CoofusioDj desolation, trouble, shame. BOOK IV. 85 And marvellouB tho' it seem, Ihis monster, when It took the name of slavery, as oft It did, had advocates to plead its cause ; BeJDgs that walked erect, and spoke like men ; Of Christian parentage descended too, And dipt in the baptismal font, as sign Of dedication to the Prince who bowed To death, to set the sin-bound prisoner free. Unchristian thought ! on what pretence ioe'er Of right inherited, or else acquired ; Of loss, or profit, or what plea you name, To buy and sell, to barter, whip, and hold In chains a being of celestial make — Of kindred form, of kindred faculties. Of kindred feelings, passions, thoughts, desires ; Born free, and htir of an immortal hope ! — Thought villanous, absurd, detestable ! Unworthy to be harbored in a fiend ! And only overreached in wickedness By that, birth too of earthly liberty. Which aimed to make a reasonable man By legislation think, and by the sword Believe. This was that liberty renowned. Those equal rights of Greece and Rome, where men, All, but a few, were bought, and sold, and scourged. And killed, as interest or caprice enjoined : In afiertimes talked of, written of so much, That most by sound, and custom led away, Believed the essence answered to the name. Historians on this theme were long and warm ; Statesmen, drunk with the fumes of vain debate, In lofty swelling phrase, called it perfection ; Philosophers its rise, advance, and fall Traced carefully ; and poets kindled still. As memorv^brought it up ; their lips were toached With fire, and uttered words that men adored, Kven he — true bard of Zion, holy man 1 To whom the Bible taught this precious verse • 86 THE COURSE OF TttlE. "He is — A stalely superstructure, that, nor wind, BOOK rv. Nor wave, nor shock of falling years could move ; Majestic and indissolubly firm ; As ranks of veteran vparriors in the field ; Each by himself alone, and singly seen — A tower of strength ; in massy phalanx knit, And in embattled squadron rushing on — A sea of valor, dread '. invincible ! Books of this sort, or sacred, or profane, Which virtue helped, were titled not amiss, The medicine of the mind : who read them read Wisdom, and was refreshed ; and on his path Of pilgrimage with healthier step advanced. In mind, in matter, much was difiScult To understand : but what in deepest night Retired ; inscrutable, mysterious, dark. Was evil ; God's decrees ; and deeds decreed, Responsible. Why God, the j ust, and good, Omnipotent and wise, should suffer sin To rise. Why man was free, accountable ; Vet God foreseeing, overruling all. Where'er the eye could turn, whatever track M Of moral thought it took, by reason's torch, m Or scripture's led, before it still this mount J*| Sprung up, impervious, insurmountable ; Above the human stature rising far ; Horizon of the mind— surrounding still The vision of the soul with clouds and gloom. Yet did they oft attempt to scale its sides, And gain its top. Philosophy, to climb With all her vigor, toiled from age to age ; From age to age. Theology, with all Her vigor toiled ; and vagrant fancy toiled.' Not weak and foolish only, but the wise. Patient, courageous, stout, sound-headed men, Of proper discipline, of excellent wind, And Strong of intellectual limb, toiled hard ; And oft a&ve the reach of common eye Ascended far, and seemed well nigh the top ; 91 THE COURSE OF TIME. BqI only seemed ; for still another top Above them rose, till giddy grown and mad, With gazing at these dangerous heights of God, They tumbled down, and in their raving said, They o'er the summit saw : and some believed ; Believed a lie ; for never man on earth, That mountain crossed, or saw its farther side. Around it lay the wreck of many a Sage — Divine — Philosopher ; and many more Fell daily, undeterred by millions fallen ; Each wondering why he failed to comprehend God, and with finite measure infinite. To pass it was no doabt desirable ; And few of any intellectual size, That did not sometime in their day attempt ; Bui all in vain ; for as the distant hill, Which on the right, or left the traveller's eye Bounds, seems advancing as he walKs, and oft He looks, and looks, and thinks to pass ; but still Ii forward moves, and mocks his baffled sight. Till night descends and wraps the scene in gloom : So did this moral height the vision mock ; So 41^ up its dark and cloudy head. Before the eye, and met it evermore. And some provoked — accused the righteous God. Accused of what? hear human boldness now ! Hear guilt, hear folly, madness, all eilreme ! Accused of what ? the God of truth accused ? Of cruelty, injustice, wickedness ! Abundant sin ! Because a mortal man, A worm at best of small capacity, With scarce an atom of Jehovah's works Before him, and with scarce an hour to look Upon them, should presume to censure God — The infinite and uncreated God ! To sit in judgment — on Himself, his works, His providence ! and try, accuse, condemn ! If there is aught, thought or to think, absurd. Irrational, and wicked, this i BOOK IV, £« This most ; the sin of devils, or of those To devils growing fast : wise men and good, Accused themselves, not God ; and put their banda Upon their mouths and in the dust adored. The Christian's faith had many mysteries loo. The uncreated holy Three in Oae ; Divine incarnate ; human in divine ; The inward call ;' the sanctifying Dew Coming unseen, unseen departing thence ; Anew creating all, and yet not heard ; Compelling, yet not felt : — mysterious these ; Not that Jehovah to conceal them wished ; Not that religion wished : the Christian faith, Unlike Ihe timorous creeds of pagan priests, Was frank, stood forth to view, invited all, To prove, examine, search, investigate. And gave herself a light to see her by. Mysterious these — because too large for eye Of man, too long for human arm to mete. Go to yon mount, which on the north side stands Of New Jerusalem, and lifts its head Serene in glory bright, except the hill, The Sacred Hill of God, whereon no foot Must tread, highest of all creation's walks, And overlooking all in prospect vast, From out the etherial blue— that cliff ascend ; Gaze thence; around thee look ; sought now impedes Thy view; yet still thy vision, purified And strong although it be, a boundary meets. Or rather thou wilt say, thy vision fail* To gaze throughout illimitable space. And find the end of infinite : and so It was with all the mysteries of faith ; God set them forth unveiled to the full gaze Of man, and asked him to investigate ; But reason's eye, however purified, And on whatever tall, and goodly height 96 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of observation placed, fo comprehend Then fully sought in vain. In vain seeks still ; But wiser now and humbler, she concludes From what she knows aiready of his iove. All gracious, which she cannot understand ; And gives him credit, reverence, praise for all. Another feature in the ways of God, That wondrous seemed, and made some men complain, Was the unequal gift of worldly things. Great was the difference indeed of men Externally, from beggar to the prince. The highest take, and lowest — and conceive The scale between. A noble of the earth. One of its great, in splendid mansion dwelt ; Was robed in silk and gold ; and every day Fared sumptuously ; was titled, honored, served. Thousands his nod awaited, and his will For law received : whole provinces his march Attended, and his chariot drew, or on Their shoulders bore aloft the precious man. Millions, abased, fell prostrate at his feet ; And millions more thundered adoring praise. As far as eye could reach, he called the land His oWn, and added yearly to his fields. iiike tree that of the soil took healthy root. He grew on every side, and towered on high, And over half a nation shadowing wide He spread his ample boughs : air, earth, and sea, Katore entire, the brute, and rational, To please him ministered, and vied among TTiemselves, who most should his desires prevent, Watching the moving of his rising thoughts Attentively, and ha3tin_g to fulfil. His palace rose and kissed the gorgeous clouds : Streams bent their music to his will ; trees spnuig ; The naked waste put on luxuriant robes ; And plains of happy cottages cast out Their tenants, and became a hunting field. BOOK IV. 9 Before him bowed the distant isles, with fruits And spices rare ; the south her treasures brought The east ajid west sent ; and the frigid north Caine with her offering of glossy furs. Musicians soothed his ear with airs select ; Beauty held out her arms ; aud every man Of cunning skill, and curious device, And endless multitudes of liveried wights, His pleasure waited with obsequious looL. And when the wan's of nature were supplied, And common-place extravagances filled. Beyond their asking ; and caprice itself, In all itszigzag appetites, gorged full, — The roan, new wants, and new expensej planned : Nor planned alone : wise, learned, sobei men, Of cogitation deep, took up his case : And planned for him new modes of folly wild : Contrived new w.shes wants, and wondrous means Of spending with despatch : yet after all. His fields extended still, his riches grew. And what seemed splendor infinite, increasea. So lavishly upon a single man Did Providence his bounties daily shower. Turn now thy eye, and look on poverty ! Look on the lowest of her ragged sons 1 We find him by the way, sitting in dust ; He has no bread to eat, no tongue to ask ; No limbs to walk ; no home, no house, no fiiend. Observe his goblin cheek ; his wretched eye ; See how his band, if any hand he has, Involuntary opens, and trembles forth, • As comes the traveller's foot : and bear his groan, His long and hmen^able groan, announce The want that guaws within : severely now The sun scorches and burns his old bald head ; The frost now glues him to the chilly earth ; On him hail, rain, and tempest, rudely beat -• And lU the winds of heaven, in jocular mood, G 98 THE COURSE OF TIME. Sport with his withered rags, that, tossed about, Display his nakedDess to passers by, And grievously burlesque the human form. Observe him yet more narrowly : hiS limbs, VVilh palsy shaken, about him blasted lie ; And all h s flesh is full of putrid sores. And noisome wounds, his bones of racking pains. Strange vesture this for an immortal soul ! Strange retinue to wait a lord of earth ! It seems as nature, in some surly mood, After debate and musing long, had tried, How vile and miserable thing her hand Could fabricate, then made this meagre man. A sight so full of perfect nwsery, That passengers their faces turned away, And hasted to be gone ; and delicate And tender women took another path. This great disparity of outward things Taught many lessons ; but this taught in chief. Though learned by few : that God no value set. That man should lione, on goods of worldly kind j On transitory, frail, external things, Of migratory, ever changing sort. And further taught, that in the soul alone. The thinking, reasonable, willing soul, God placed the total excellence of man ; And meant him evermore to seek it there. But stranger still the distribution seemed Of intellect ; though fewer here complained ; Each with his share, upon the whole, content. One man there was, — and many such you migh. Have met — who never had a dozen thoughts in all his life, and never changed their course ; But told them o'er, each in its 'customed place, From morn till night, from youth till hoary age. Littlp above the ox which grazed the field His reason rose : m weak his memory. BOOK 17. 93 The name his mother called him by, he scarce Remembered ; and his judement so untaught, That what at evening played alon? the swamp, Fantastic, clad in robe of fiery hue. He thought the devil in disguise, and fled With qaivering heart, and winged footsteps home. The word philosophy he never heard, Or science ; never heard of liberty. Necessity ; or laws of gravitation : And never had an unbelieving doubt. Beyond his native vale he never looked ; But thought the visual line, that girt him round, The world's extreme : and thought the silver moon. That nishtly o'er him led her virgin host, Ko broader than bis father's shield. He lived— Lived where his father lived — died where he died ; Lived happy, and died happy, and was saved. Be not surprised. He- loved,' and served his God. There was another, large of understanding, Of memory infinite, of judgment deep : Who knew all learning, and all science knew; And all phenomena in heaven and earth. Traced to their causes ; traced the labyrinths Of thought, association, passion, will j And all the subtle, nice affinities Of matter, traced ; its virtues, motions, laws ; And most familiarly and deeply talked Of mental, moral, natural, divine. Leaving the earth at will, he soared to heaven, And read theglorious visions of the skies ; And to the music of the rolling spheres Intelligently listened ; and gazed far back, Into the awful depths of Deity. Did all that mind assisted most could do ; And yet iu misery lived, in misery died, Because he wanted holiness of heart. 100 THE COURSE OF TIME. And nearer cut the branches of their pride : That not in menial, but in moral worth, God, excellence placed ; and only to the good, To virtue granted happiness alone. Admire the goodness of Almighty God ! He riches gave, he intellectual strensth To few, and therefore none consmands to be, Or rich, or learned ; nor promises reward Of peace to these. On all. He moral worth Bestowed ; and moral tribute asked from all. And who that could not pay ? who born so poor, Of intellect so mean, as not lo know What seemed the best; and knowing, might not do? As not to know what God and conscience bade, And what they bade not able to obey? And he who acted thus fulfilled the law Eternal, and its promise reaped of peace: Found peace this way ajone : who sought it else, Sought mellow grapes beneath the icy pole; Sought blooming roses on the cheek of death; Sought substance in a world of fleeting shades. Take one example ; to our purpose quite. A man of rank, and of capacious soul ; Who riches had, and fame beyond desire ; An heir of flattery, to titles born. And reputation, and luxurious life. Yet not content with ancestorial name ; Or to be known, because fathers his were; He on this height hereditary stood, And sazing higher, purposed in his heart To take another step. Above him seemed Alone the mount of Song— the lofty seat Of canonized bards; and thitherward, By nature taught, and inward melody, III prime of youth, he bent his eagle eye. No cost was spared. What Ixxjks he wished, he read ; What sage to hear, he heard : what scenes to see, BOOK IV. 101 He saw. And first in rambling school-boy days, Brittannia's mountain-walks, and heath-girt lakes, And story-tell in? glens, and founts, and brooks ; And uiaids, as dew-drops pure and fair, his soul With grandeur filled, and melody, and love. Then travel came, and took him where he wished, He cities saw, and cuurts, and princely pomp : And mused alone on ancient mountain brows ; And mused on battle-fields, where valor fought In other days ; and mused on ruins grey With years : and drank from old and fabulous wells And plucked the vine that first born prophets plucked, And mused on famous tombs ; and on the wave Of ocean mused ; and on the desert waste. The heavens, and earth of every country saw : Where'er Ihe old inspiring Genii dwelt. Aught that could rouse, expand, refine Ihe soul, Thither he went, and meditated there. He touched his harp, and nations heard, entranced. As some vast river of unfailing source, Bapid, exhaustless, deep, his numbers flowed, And opened new fountains in the human heart. Where fancy halted, weary in her flight. In other men, his fresh as morning rose. And soared untrodden heights, and seemed at home, Where angels bashful looked. Others, tho' great. Beneath their argument seemed struggling;whiles He from above descending, stooped to touch The loftiest thought ; and proudly stooped, as tho' It scarce deserved his verse. With Nature's sslf He seemed an old acquaintance, free to jest At will with all her glorious majesty. He laid his hand upon " Ihe Ocean's mane.'.' And played familiar with his hoary locks. Stood on the Alps, stood on the Appenines, And with the thunder talked, as friend to. friend ; And wove his garland of the lightning's wing. In sportive twist— Ihe lightning's fiery wing, 102 THE COURSE OF TIME. Which, as the footsteps of the dreadful God, Marching upon the storm in vengeance seemed — Then turned, and with the grasshopper, who sung Kis evening song beneath his feet, conversed. Suns, moons, and stars, and clouds his sisters were ; Rocks, mountains, meteors, sea3,and wind8,and storma, His brothers — younger brothers, whom he scarce As equals deemed. All passions of all men — The wild and tame — the gentle and severe ; All thoughts, all majtims, sacred and profane ; All creeds ; all seasons, Time, Eternity ; All that was hated, and all that was dear ; All that was hoped, all that wjis feared by man, He tossed about, as tempest, withered leaves. Then smiling looked upon the wreck he made. With terror now he froze the cowering blood ; And now dissolved the heart in tenderness : Vet would not tremble, would not weep himself Bu! back into his soul retired, alone, Dark, sullen, proud : gazing contemptuously Onhearts and passions prostrate at his feet. So Ocean from the plains, bis waves had late To desolation swept, retired in pride. Exulting in the glory of his niight. And seemed to mock the ruin he had wrought. As some fierce comet of tremendous size. To which the stars did reverence, as it passed ; So he through learning, and through fancy took His flight sublime; and on '.he loftiest top Of Fame's dread mountain sat : not soiled, and worn As if he from the earth had labored up — But as some bird of heavenly plumage fair. He looked, which down from higher regions came. And perched it there, to see what lay beneath. The nations gazed, and wondered much, and praised. Critics before him fell in humble plight ; Confounded fell ; and made debasing sigus BOOK IV. 103 To catch his eye; and stretched,aDd swelled themselves To bursting nigh, to utier bulky words Of admiration vast : and many loo, Many that aimed to imitate his flight, With weaker wins, unearthly fluttering made, And gave abundant sport to after days. Great man! the nations gazed, and wondered much, And praised : and many called his evil good. Wits wrote in favor of his wickedness j And kinjsto do him honoi took delight. Thus full of titles, flattery, honor, fame ; Bejond desire, beyond ambition full, — He'died— hedied of what ? Of wretchedness. Drank every cup of joy, heard every trump Of fame ; drank early, deeply drank; drank draughts That common millions might have quenched — Uien died Of thirst, because there was no more to drink. His goddess, Nature, wooed, embraced, enjoyed, Fell from his arms, abhorred ; his passions died j Died all but dreary solitary pride : And all his sympathies in being died. As some ill-guided bark, well built and tall, Which angry tides cast out on desert shore, And then retiring, left it there to rot And moulder in the winds and rains of heaven : So he, cut from the sympathies of life, And cast ashore from pleasure's boisterous surge — A wandering, weary, worn, and wretched thing ; Scorched and desolate, and blasted soul ; A gloomy wilderness of 'dying thought — Repined, and groaned, and withered from the earth. His groanin^s tilled the land, his numbers filled : And yet he seemed ashamed to groan. Poor man ! Ashamed to ask, and yet he needed help. 104 THE COURSE OF TIME. Was God delighted, or his peace secured : That not in natural or mental wealth, Was human happiness or grandeur found. Attempt how monstrous ! and how surely vain ! With ihings of earthly sjrt, with aught but God, With aught but moral excellence, truth and love, To satisfy and fill the immortal soul ! Attempt, vain inconceivably ! attempt, To satisfy the ocean with a drop ; To marry Immorlalily to Death ; And with the unsubstantial Shade of Time, To fill the embrace of all Eternity ! THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK V. Actions done in time live in Eternity. Men may be absolved from the consequence orsin,but the evil deed, altho' not imputed, remains a dark spot on the annals of the p3st. True happiness was within the reach of all; and that, which waa joy to one, w-as misery to another. True happiness always accompanied duty. Among the contributions to happiness were, the bliss and "jny of childhood, of maternal affection, of youthful love, and of friendship ; the study of na- ture ; recollections of the past ; anticipations of the future, repose after labor, and even grief affor- ded joys. From whatever sources men experienced joy, the pious enjoyed the same in the highest decree. Of^ the Millennium, the thousand years of Messiah's reign^ foretold by the prophets, preceded by the conflict between Truth and error. THE Qtouvnt of Kimt BOOK V. Jr RAISE God, ye servants of the Lord ! praise Gel, Ye angels strong I praise God, ye sons of men ! Praise him who made, and who redeemed your soelfij Who gave you hope, reflection, reason, wiU j Minds that can pierce eternity remote, And live at once on future, present, past ; Can speculate on systems yet to make, And back recoil on ancient days of Time. Of Time, soon past ; soon lost among the shades Of buried years. Not so the actions done In Time, the deeds of reasonable men ; As if engraven with pen of iron grain. And laid in flinty rock, they stand unchanged, Writ'en on the Various pages of the past : If good, in rosy characters of love ; If bad, in letters of vindictive fire. God may forgive, but cannot blof them out. Systems begin, and end ; eternity Rolls on his endless years ; and men absolved By mercy from the consequence, forget The evil deed ; and God impjtes it not : But neither systems ending, nor begun j Kternily that rolls his endless years ; Nor men absolved, and sanctified, and washed Ey mercy from the constquence ; nor yet 108 THE COUBSE OF TIME. Forgetfulness ; nor God imputing not, Can wash the guilty deed once done, from out The faithful annals of the past ; who reads, And many read, there find it, as it was, And is, and shall for ever be — a dark, Unnatural and loathly moral spot. The span of Time was short indeed ; and now Three-fourths were past, the last beguu, and on Careering to its close, which soon we sing : But first our promise we redeem, to tell 'Ihe joys of Time— her joys of native growth ; And briefly must, what longer tale deserves. Wake, dear remembrances ! wake, childhood-days ! Loves, friendships, wake ! and wake thou mom, and even 1 Sun ! with thy orient locks ; night, moon, and stars And thou, celestial bow ! and all ye woods. And hills, and vales ; fast trode in dawninplife ! And hours of holy musing, wake ! wake earth '. And smiling to remembrance, come ; and bring, For thon canst bring, meet argument for song Of heavenly harp ; meet hearin? for the ear Of heavenly auditor, exalted high. God gave much peace on earth; much holy joy ; Oped fountains of perennial spring, whence flowed Abundant happiness to all who wished To drink : not perfect bliss ; that dwells with us, Beneath the eyelids of the Eternal One, And sits at his right hand alone ; but such, As well deserved the name— abundant joy. Pleasures, on which the memory of saints Of highest glory, still delights to dwell. It was, we own, subject of much debate. And worthy men stood on opposing sides, VVhether the cup of mortal life had more BOOK V. 109 Of sour or sweet. Vain question this, when asked In general terms, and worthy to be left Unsolved. If most was sour — the drinker, not The cup, we blame. Each in himself the means Possessed to turn the bitter sweet, the sweet To hitter : hence from out the self-same fount, One nec'ar drank, another d.-^ughts of gall. Hence from the selfsame quarter of the sky, One saw ten thousand angels look, and smile ; Another saw as many demons frown. One discord heard, where harmony inclined Another's ear. The sweet was in the taste; The beauty in the eye ; and io the ear The melody ; and in the man — for God Necessity of sinning laid on none — .To form the taste, to purify the eye, And tune the ear, that all he tasted, saw, Or heard, might be harmonious, sweet, and fair. Who would, might groan ; who would, might siag for joy. Nature lamented little ; nndevcmred Bv spurious appetites, she found enough. Where least was found : with gleanings satisfied, Or crumbs, that from the hand of luxury fell ; Yet seldom these she ate : but ate the bread Of her own industry, made sweet by toil : And walked in robe's that her own hand had spun And slept on down, her early rising bought. Frugal, and diligent in business, clias;e And abstinent, she stored for helpless age. And keeping in reserve her spring-day health, And dawning relishes of life, she drank Her evening cup with excellent appetite j And saw her eldest sun decline, as fa-ir As rose her earliest morn, and pleased as well. Whether io crowds, or solitudes— in streets Or shady groves, dwelt happiness, it seems no THE COURSE OF TIME. In vain to ask ; lier nature makes it vain: Tho' poets much, and hermits talked and sung Of brooks, and crj'stal founts, and weeping dews, And myrtle bowers, and solitary vales ; And with the nymph made assignations there ; And wooed her with the love- sick oaten reed. And sages too, although less positive, Advised their sons to court her m the shade. Delirious babble all ! Was happiness, Was self-approving, God approving joy, In drops of dew, however pure ? in gales, However sweet ? in wells, however clear > Or groves, however thick with verdant shade ? True, these were of themselves exceeding fair : How fair at morn and even ! worthy the walk Of loftiest mind ; and gave, when all within Was right, a feast of overflowingbliss, But were the occasion, not the cause of joy : They waked the native fountains of the soul, Which slept before ; and etirred the holy tidea Of feeling up ; giving the heart to drink From its own treasures, draughts of perfect sweet- The Christian faith, which better knew the heart Of man — him thither sent for peace ; and thus Declared : Who tinds it, let him find it there : Who finds it not, forever let him seek Id vain : 'tis God-s most holy, changeless will. True happiness had no localities ; No tones provincial ; no peculiar garb. Where duty went, she went ; with justice went } And went with meekness, charity, and love. Where'er a tear was dried ; a wounded heart Bound up ; a bruised spirit with the dew Ot syropathv anointed ; or a pang Of honest suffering soothed ; or injuiy Repeated oft, as oft by love forsivt;n ; BOOK V. m Where'er an evil passion was subdued, Or Virtue's feeble embers fanned ; where'er A sin was heartily abjured, and left ; Where'er a pious act was done, or breathed A pious prayer, or wished a pious wish — There was a hi?h and holy place, a spot Of sacred light, a most religious fane, Where Happiness, descending, sat and smiled. But these apart. In sacred memory lives The morn of life ; first morn of endless days. Most joyful morn ! nor yet for nought the joy : A being of eternal date commenced ; A young immortal then was born ; and who Shall tell what strange variety of bliss Burst on the infant soul, when first it looked Abroad on God's creation fair, and saw The glorious earth, and glorious heaven, and face Of man sublime ? and saw all new, and felt All new ? when thought awoke ; thought never more To sleep? when first it saw, heard, reasoned, willed And triumphed in the vrarmth of conscious life ? Nor happy only ; but the cause of joy, Which those who never tasted always inoumed. What tongue?no tongue shall tell what blisso'crlloweJ The mother's tender heart, while round her hung The offspring of her love, and lisped her name ; As living jewels drop! usstained from heaven, That made her fairer far, and sweeter seem, Than every ornament of costliest hue. And who hath not been ravished, as she passed With all her playful band of little ones. Like Luna, with her daughters of the sky, Walking in matron majesty and grace ? All who had hearts, here pleasure found : and oft Have I, when tired with heavy task, for tasks, Were heavy in the world below, relaxed Mt weary thoughts among their guiltless sports ; 112 THE COURSE OF TIME. And led them by their little hands afield ; And watched them run and crop tlie tempting flower, Which oft, unasked, they brought me, and bestow 'd With smiling face, that waited for a look Of praise — and answered curious questions, put In much simplicity, but ill to solve : And heard their observations strange and new, And settled whiles their little quarrels, soon Ending in peace, and sorn forgot in love. And still I looked upon their loveliness ; And sought through nature for similitudes Of perfect beauty, innocence, and bliss. And fairest imagery around me thronged ; — Dew-drops at day-spring on a seraph's locks ; Roses that bathe about the well of life ; Young Loves, young Hopes, dancing on Morning^ cheek ; Gems leaping in the coronet of love : So beautiful, so full of life, they seemed As made entire of beams of angel's eyes. Gay, guileless, sportive, lovely, little things ! Playing around the den of sorrow, clad In smiles ; believing in their fairy hopes ; And thinking man and woman true : all joy : Happy all day, and happy all the night. Hail, holy love ! thou word that sums all bliss ! Gives and receives all bliss ; fullest when most Thou givest. Spring-liead of all felicity ! Deepest when most is drawn. Emblem of God ! Overflowing most when greatest numbers drink : Essence that binds the uncreated Three : Chain that unites creation to its Lord : Centre to which all being gravitates : Eternal, evergrowing, happy love ! Enduring all, hoping, forgiving all ; Instead of law, fulfilling every law. Entirely blest, because thou seek'st co more ; Hopes not, nor fears ; but on the present lives, BOOK V. 113 And holds perfection emiling ki thy arms. Mysterious, infinite, exhaiistless iove ! On earth mysterious, and mysterious still In heaven : sweet chord, that harmonizes all The harps of Paradise : the spring, the well, That fills the bowl, and banquet of the sky. But why should I to thee of love divine ? Who happy, and not eloquent of love ? Who holy, and as thou art, pure, and not A temple where her glory ever dwells, Where bum her fires, and beams ber perfect eye ? Kindred to this, part of this holy fianie, Was youthful love — the sweetest boon of Earth. Hail love ! first love, thou word that sums all bliss The sparkling cream of all Time's blessedness, The silken down of happiness complete : DiscerntT of the ripest grapes of joy — She gathered and selected with her bane. All finest relishes, all fairest sights ; All rarest odors, all divinest sounds ; All Ihouehls, all feelings dearest to the soul ; And brought the holy mixture home, and filled The heart' with all superlatives of bliss. But who would that expound which w ords transcends, Must talk in vain — Behold a meeting scene Of early love, and thence infer its worth. It was an eve of Autumn's holiest mood ; The corn fields, bathed in Cynthia's silver light, S'ood ready for the reaper's gathering hand ; And all the winds slept soundly ; tature seemed, In silent contemplation, to adore Its Djaker : now and then the aged leaf Fell from its fellows, rustling to the ground j And, as it fell, bade man tltink on his end. On vale and lake, on wood and mountain high, Wilh pensive wing outspread, sat heavenly thouglif, 114 THE COURSE OF TIME. Conversing with itself : Vesper looked forth, From out her western hermitage, and smiled ; And up the east unclouded rode the .Moon With all her stars, gazing on earth intense, As if she saw some wonder walking there. Such was the night— so lovely, still, serene ; When, by a hermit thorn that on the hill Had seen a hundred flowery ages pass, A damsel kneeled to ofifer up her prayer : Her prayer nishtly offered, nightly heard. This ancient thorn had been the meeting place Of love, before his country's voice had called The ardent youth to fields of honor far Beyond the wave. And hither now repaired, Nightly, the maid ; by God's all-seeing eye Seen only, while she sought this boon alone : — Her lover's safety, and his quick return. Jn holy, humble attitude she kneeled ; And to her lx)som, fair as moon-beam.pressed One hand, the other lifted up to heaven ; Her eye upturned, bright as the star of mom, As violet meek, escesiive ardor streamed, Wafting away her earnest heart to God. Her voice scarce uttered ; soft as Zephyr sighs On morning lily's cheek ; tho' soft and low Yet heard in heaven, heard at the mercy-seat, A tear-drop wandered on her lovely face : It was a tear of faith, and holy fear. Pure as the drops that bang at dawning time, On yonder willows by the stream of life. Od her the moon looked stedfasrly, the stars, That circle nightly round the eternal throne. Glanced down, well pleased ; and everlasting loTO Gave gracious audience to her prayer sincere. O had her lover seen her thus alone, Thus holy, wrestling thus, and all for him ! Nor did he not : for oft-times Provideuce, BOOKV, IJ With unexpected joy the fervent prayer tlf faith surprised : — returned from long delay, With glory crowned of righteous actions won, The sacred thorn to memory dear, first sought The youth, and found it at the happy hour, Just when the damsel kneeled herself to pray. Wrapt in devotion, pleading with her God, She saw hira not, heard not his foot approach. All holy images seemed too impure To emblem her he saw. A seraph kneeled, Beseeching for his ward, before the throne, Seemed fittest, pleased him best. Sweet was tl thought ; ■^~ But sweeter still the kind remembrance came. That she was flesh and blood, formed for himself^ The plighted partner of his future life. And as they met, embraced, and sat embowered In woody chambers of the starry nisht, — Spirits of love about tliem ministered, Ajad God approving, blessed the holy joy. Nor unremembered is the hour when friends Met ; friends but few on earth, and therefore dear. Sought of I, and sought almost as of in vain : Yet always sought ; so native to the heart. So much'desired, and coveted by all. Nor wonder thou— thou wonder'st not, nor need%t: Much beautiful, and excellent, and fair Was seen beneath the sun : but nought was seen More oeautiful,or excellent, or fair Than face of faithful friend ; fairest when seen In darkest day. And many sounds were sweet. Most ravishing, and pleas^.nt to the ear ; But sweeter none than voice of faithful friend ; Sweet always, sweetest heard in loudest storm. Some I remember, and will ne'er forget ; My early friends, friends of my evil day ; Friends in my mirth, friends iu my misery too , Friends given by God in mercy and in love ; 116 THE COURSE OF TIME. My counsellors, my comforters, and ^ides ; My joy in grief, my second bliss in joy ; Companions of my youn? desires ; in doubt My oracles, my wings in high pursuit. 0, I remember, and will ne'er forget, Our meeliiif spots, our chosen sacj-ed hours ; Our burning words, that uttered all the soul ; Our faces beaming with unearthly love ; — Sorrow with sorrow sighing, hope with hope Exulting, heart embracins heart entire. As birds of social feather helping each His fellow's flisht, we soared into the skies, And cast the clouds beneath our feet, aun earth, With all her tardy leaden-footed cares, And talked the speech, and ate the food of heaven. These I remember, these selectestmen ; And would their names record — but what avails My mention of their name : before the throne They stand illustrious 'mong the loudest harps, And will receive thee glad, my friend and theirs For all are friends in heaven ; all faithful friends : And many friendships in the days of Time Begun, are lasting here, and growing still : So grows ours evermore, both theirs and mine. Nor is the.hour of lonely walk forgot, In the wide desert, where the view was large. Pleasant were many scenes, but most to me The solitude of vast exteat, untouched By hand of art, where nature sowed, herself, And reaped her crops; whose garments were the doudti Whose minstrels, brooks ; whose lamps, the moor and stars ; Wliose organ-e groaned more deeply, being heavier tasked ; Some wrought with straw, and some without; but all Were slaves or meant to be ; for rulers still Had been of equal mind — excepting few- Cruel, rapacious, tyrannous, and vile ; And had with equal shoulder propped the Beast. As yet, the Church, the holy spouse of God, Jn members few, had wandered in her weeds Of mourning, persecuted, scorned, reproached. And bufleted, and killed — in members few,^ Tho' seeming many whiles ; then fewest oft, When seeming most. She still had hung her harp Upon the willow-tree, and sighed, and v^ept From age to age, Satan began the war ; 130 THE COURSE OF TIME. And all hi3 an?els, and all wicked men, Against her fought by wile, or fierce attack, Six thousand years ; but fought in vain. She stood. Troubled on every side, but not distressed ; Weeping, but yet despairing not ! cast down, But not destroyed : for she upon the palms Of God was graven, and precious in his sight, As apple of his eye ; and like the bush On Midia's mountain seen, burned unconsumed : But to the wilderness retirinz, dwelt. Debased in sackcloth, and forlorn in tears. As yet, had sung the s;arlet-colored whore, Who on the breast of civil power reposed Her harlot head — the Church a harlot then. When first she wedded civil power — and drunk The blood of martyred saints ; whose priests were lords ; Whose coffers held the gold of every land ; Who held a cup of all pollutions full ; Who with a double horn the people poshed ; And raised her forehead, full of blasphemy, Above the holy God, usurping oft Jehovah's imcommunicable names. The nations had been dark ; the Jews had pined, Scattered without a name, beneath the curse .; War had abounded ; Satan rased unchained ; And eartli had still been black with moral gloom. But now the cry of men oppressed, went up Before the Lord, and to remembrance came The teal's of all his saints — their tears, and groans. Wise men had read the number of the name ; The prophet-years had rolled ; the time, and times, And half a time, were now fulfilled complete ; The seven fierce vials of the wrath of God, Poured by seven angels strong, were shed abroad Upon the earth, and emptied to the dregs ; The prophecy for conformation stood ; And all was ready for the sword of God. The righteous saw, and fled without delay. Into the chambers of Onmipotence : The wicked mocked, and soujht for erring cause, To satisfy the dismal state of things — The public credit gone ; the fear in time Of peace ; the starving want in time of wealth ; The insurrection muttering in the streets ; And pallid consleniation spreading wide ; And leagues, tho' holy termed, first ratified In hell, on purpose made to under-prop Iniquity, and crush the sacred truth. Meantime a mighty angel stood in heaven, And cried aloud — Associate now yourselves, Ye princes ! potentates ! and men of war '. And mitred heads ! associate now yourselves ; And be dispersed : embattle, and be broken •. Gird on your armor, and be dashea to dust : Take counsel, and it shall be brought to naught : Speak, and it shall not stand. — And suddenly The armies of Ibe saints imbannered stood On Zion hill ; and with them angels stood, In squadron bright, and chariots of fire ; And with ihem stood the Lord, clad like a man Of war, and to the sound of thunder, led The battle on. Earth shook, the kingdoms shook, The Beast, the lying Seer, dominions fell ; Thrones, tyrants fell, confounded in the dust. Scattered and driven before the breath of God, As chalf of summer threshing-floor before The wind. Three days the battle wasting slew. The sword was full, the arrow drunk with blood : And to the supper of Almighty God, Spread in Hamonah's vale, the fowls of heaven, And every beast invited came — and fed On captains' flesh, and dra&k the blood of kings. 12 132 THE COURSE OF TIME. And lo ! another angel stood in heaven. Crying aloud with mighty voice : Fallen, fallen, Is "Babylon the Great — to rise uo more ! Rejoice, ye prophets ! over her rejoice, Apostles ! holy men, all saints, rejoice ! And glory give to God, and to the Lamb. And all the armies of disburthened earth, As voice of many waters, and as voice Of thunderings, and voice of multitudes. Answered, Amen. And every hill and rock, And sea, and every beast, answered, Amen. Europa answered, and the farthest bounds Of woody Chili, Asia's fertile coasts. And Afric's burning wastes, answered. Amen. And Heaven, rejoicing, answered back. Amen. Not so the wicked : they afar were heard Lamenting ; kmgs who drank her cup of whoredoms, Captains, and admirals, and mighty men. Who lived deliciously, and merchan's rich With merchandise of gold, and wine, and oil ; And those who traded in the souls of men — Known by their gaudy robes of priestly pomp ; All these afar off stood, crying, Alas ! Alas ! and wept, and gnashed their teeth,and groaned ; And with the owl, that on her ruins sat. Made dolorous concert in the ear of Night, And over her again the heavens rejoiced. And earth returned again theloud response. Thrice happy days! thrice blessed the man who saw Their dawn ! the Church and Stale, that long had held Unholy intercourse, were now divorced ; Princes were righteous men ; judges upright : And first in general now — for in the worst Of times there were some honest seers — the priest Sought other than the fleece among his floclis. Best paid when God was honored most. And like A cedar, nourished well, Jerusalem grew, BOOK V. 133 And towered on high, and spread, and flourished fair ; And underneath her boughs the nation lodged ; All nations lodged, and sung the song of peace. From the four winds, the Jews, eased of the curse, Returned, and dwelt with God in Jacob's land, And drank of Sharon and of Carmel'svine. Satan was bound ; tho' bound, not banished quite ; But lurked about the timorous skirts of things, 111 lodged, and thinking whiles to leave the earth ; And B ith the wicked, for some wicked were. Held midnight meetings, as the saints were wont ; Fearful of day, who once was as the sun, And worshipped more. The bad, but few, became A taunt, and hssing now, as heretofore The good ; and blushing hasted out of sight. Disease was none : the voice of war, forgot : The sword, a share : a pruning-hook, the spear. Men grew and multiplied upon the earth. And filled the city, and the waste : and Death Stood waiting for the lapse of lardy age, That mocked him long. Men grew and multiplied : But lacked not bread : for God his promise brought To mind, and blessed the land with plenteous rain ; And made it blest, for dews, and precious things Of heaven, and blessings of the deep beneath ; And blessings of the sun, and moon ; and fruits Of day and night ; and blessings of the vale ; And precious things of the eternal hills ; And all the fullness of perpetual spring. The prison-house, where chained felons pined, Threw open his ponderous dcors ; let in the light Of heaven ; and grew into a Church, where God Was worshipped': none were ignorant ; selfish none: Love took the place of law ; where'er you met A man, you met a friend, sincere and true. Kind looks fof^told as kind a heart within ; Words as they sounded, meant ; and promise* Were made to be performed. Thrice bappy day* ! 134 THE COUHSE OF TIME. Philosophy was sanctified, and saw Perfection, whicti stie thought a fable Ion?. Revenge his dagger dropped, and kissed the hand Of Mercy : Anger cleared his cloudy brow. And sat with Peace : Envy grew red, and smiled On Worth : Pride stooped, and kissed Humility : Lust washed his miry hands, and, wedded, leaned On chaste Desire : and Falsehood laid aside His many-folded cloak, and bowed to Truth : And Treachery up from his mining came. And walked above the ground with righteous Faith : And Covetousness unclenched his sinewy hand, And opened his door to Chari'.y, the fair : Hatred was lost in Love : and Vanity, With a good conscience pleased, her feathers cropped: Sloth in the morning rose wiih Industry : To Wisdom, Folly turned : and fashion turned Decepiion ofT, id act as good as word. The hand that held a whip was lifted up To bless J slave was a word in ancient books Met only ; every man was free ; and all Feared God, and served him day and night in love. How fair the daughter of Jerusalem then ! How gloriously from Zion Hill she looked ! Clothed with the sun ; and in her train the moon ; And on her head a coronet of stars ; And girdling round her waist, with heavenly grace, The bow of Mercy bright ; and in her hand, Immanuel's cross— her sceptre, and her hope. Desire of every land I The nations came, And worshipped at her feet ; all nations came, Flocking like doves. Columba's painted tribes, That from Magellan to the Frozen Bay, Beneath the Arctic dwelt, and drank the tides Of Araazona, prince of earthly streims ; Or slept at noon beneath the giant shade Of Andes' mount ; or roving northward, heard 13 BOOK V, J33 Niagara sin?, from Erie's billow down To Frontenac, and )iUDted thence the fur To Labrador. And Afric's dusky swarnis, That from Morocco to Angola dwelt, And drank the Niger from his native wells, Or roused the lion in Numidia's groves ; The tribes that sat among the fabled cliffs Of Atlas, looking lo Atlanta's wave, With jny and melody arose and came ; Zara awoke, and came ; and Egypt came, Casting her idol gods into the Nile. Black Ethiopia, that shadowless, Beneath the Torrid burned, arose and came : Dauma and Media, and the pirate tribes Of Algeri, with incense came, and pare Offerings, annoying now the seas no more. The silken tribes of Asia flocking came, Innumerous ; Ishmael's wandering race, that rode On camels o'er the spicy tract that lay From Persia to the Red Sea coast : ths king Of broad Cathay, wi'h numbers infinite. Of many lettered casts ; and all the tribes That dwelt from Tigris to the Ganges' wave; And worshipped fire, or Brahma, fabled god ! Cashmeres, Circassians, Banyans, tender race ! That swept the insect from their path, and lived Or. herbs and fruits ; and those who peaceful dwelt Along the shady avenue that stretched From Agra lo Lahore : and all the hosts That owned the Crescent late, deluded long. The Tartar hordes that roamed from Oby's bank, Ungovemed southward to the wondrous Wall. The tribes of Europe came ; the Greek redeemed From Turkish thrall ; the Spaniard came, and Gaol : And Britain with her ships ; and on his sledge, 'ilie Laplander, that nightly watched the beaj Circling the Pole ; and those who saw the flames Of Hecia bum the drifted snow ; the Russ, Long whiskered and equestrian Pole ; and those 136 THE COURSE OF TIME. VVho drank the Rhine, or lost the evening sun Behind the Alpine towers ; and she that sat By Arno, classic stream ; Venice and Rome, Head quarters long of sin ! first guileless now. And meanin? as she seemed, stretched forth her hands. And all the isJes of ocean, rose and caine. Whether they heard the roll of banished tides, Antipodes to Albion's wave ; or watched The moon ascending chalky Teneriffe, And with Atlanta holding nightly love. The Sun, the Moon, the Constellations came : Thrice twelve and ten that "atch'd the Antarctic slerp; Twice six that near the Ecliptic dwelt ; thrice twelve And one, that with the Streamers danced, and saw The Hvperborean ice guarding the Pole. The East, the West, the South, and snowy North, Rejoicing met, and worshipped reverently Before the Lord, in Zion's holy hill ; And all the places round about were blest. The animals, as once in Eden, lived In peace : the wolf dwelt with the lamb ; the bear And leopard with the ox ; with looks of love. The tiger, and the scaly crocodile. Together met, at Gambia's palmy wave: Perched on the eagle's wing, the bird of song, Singing arose, and visited the sun ; And with the falcon sat the gentle lark. The little child leaped from his mother's arms. And stroked the crested snake, and rolled unhurt Among his speckled waves — and wished him home. And sauntering school-boys, slow returning, played At eve about the lion's den, and wove. Into his shaggy mane, fantastic flowers : To meet the husbandman, early abroad, Hasted the deer, and waved its woody head : And round his dewy steps, the hare, unscared. Sported ; and toyed familiar with his dog : TTie flocks and heriSs, o'er hill and valley spread, BOOK V. 137 Exultine. cropped the ever-buddin? herb : The desert blossomed, and the barren sung : Justice and Mercy, Holiness and Love, Among the people walked : Messiah reigned : And earth kept Jubilee a thousand years. THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK VI. The Bard commences to sing of the final (Jeslruction of the earth. But checking himself, he sings of the time which followed the millennial rest. Impiety and ungodliness abounded. Active ambition, and indolent sloth regained a general ascendency, and siu in every form, as had existed before the millenQiura was renewed, and new forms were vented. The universal contempt of God was whol If wilful, for the age was polished and enlightened Wondrous sights and strange forebodings gave'presage of the earth's approaching dissolution. Perplexed but not reformed, the race of men inquired the eX' planation of these prodigies; all warnings were soon forgotten, men continued following their guilty pleasures, and the earth filled up the measure of her wickedness. A pause in the narrative ; as the numerous hosts of heaven look towards the unveiled Godhead, and join in the evening hymn of praise. The prophet Isaiah takes the harp, and bef'-re the throne, sings the holy song. At its close thousands of thousands Infinite, devoutly respoiid, Amen. THE BOOK VI. R. LiESUME thy tone of wo, immortal harp ! The song of mirth is past ; the Jubilee Is ended ; and the sun begins to fade. Soon past : for happiness counts not the hours ; To her a thousand years seem as a day ; A day a thousand years to misery. Satan is loose, and Violence is heard, And Riot in the s'reef, and Revelry Intoxicate, and Murder and Revenge. Put on youF armor now, ye righteous ! put The helmet of salvation on, and gird Your loins about with truth ; add righteousness. And add the shield of faith ; and take the sword Of God : awake ! and watch: the day is near ; Great day of God Almighty, and the Lamb. The harvest of the earth is fully ripe : Vengeance begins to tread the great wine-press Of fierceness and of wrath ; and mercy pleads, Mercy that pleaded long, she pleads no more. Whence comes that darkness ? whence those yells of wo ? What Ihunderings are these, that shaks the world ? Why fall the lamps from heaven as blasted figs ? Why tremble righteous men ? why angels pale ? Why is all fear ? what has become of hope ? God comes ! God in his car of vengeance comes I 142 THE COURSE OF TIME. Hark ! louder on the blast, come hollow shrieks Of dissolution ; in (he filful scowl Of night, near and more near, angels of death Incessant flap their deadly wings, and roar Thro' all the fevered air: the mounlains rock ; The moon is sick ; and all the stars of heaven Burn feeblj' ; oft aiKJ sudden gleams the fire, Revealing awfully the brow of wralh. The thunder, long and loud, utters his voice, Responsive to the ocean's troubled growl. Kight comes, last night ; the long, dark, dark, dark night That has no mom beyond it, and no star. No eye of man hath seen a niglit like this ! Heaven's trampled justice girds itself for fight J Earth to thy knees, and cry for mercy ! cry With earnest heart ; for thou art growing old And hoary, unrepented, unforgiveu : And all thy glory mourns : thy vintage mourns ; Bashan and Carmel mourn and weep : and mourn Thou Lebanon ! with all thy cedars mourn. Sun ! glorying in thy strength from age to age, So long observant of thy hour, put on Thy weeds of wo, and lell the moon to weep ! Utter thv grief at mid-day, morn, and even ; Tell all'the nations, tell the clouds that sit About the portals of the east and west. And wanlon with thy golden locks, to wait Thee not to-morrow ; for no morrow comes ; Tell men and women, tell the new-tKjrn child, And every eye that sees, to come, and see Thee set behind Eiernily ; for thou Shalt go to bed to-n ght, and ne'er awake. Stars ! walking on the pavement of the sky ; Out-sentinels of heaven ! watching the earth. Cease dancing now : your lamps are growing dim ) Your graves are dug among the dismal clouds ; And angels are assembling round your bier. Orion, mourn ! and Mazzaroth, and thou. BOOK VL H3 Arcfurus, mourn with all thy northern sons. Daughters of Pleiades ! that nightly shed Sweet influence : and thou, fairest of stars : Eye of the morning, weep — and weep at eve ; "Weep setting, now to rise no more, -'and flame On forehead~of the dawn" — as sung the bard, Great bard ! who used on Earth a seraph's lyre, Whose numbers wandered thro' eternity, And gave sweet foretaste of the heavenly harps. Minstrel of sorrow ! native of the ffark '. Shrub-loving Philomel ! that wooed the Dews At midnight from their starry beds, and charmed. Held Ihein around thy song till dawn awoke — Sad bird ! pour thro' 'the gloom thy weeping song, Pour all thy dying melody of grief ; And with the turtle spread the wave of wo— Spare not thy reed, for thou shall sing no more. Ye holy bards ! if vet a hoiy bard Remain, what chord shall serve you now ? what harp . What harp shall sing the dying sun asleep, And mourn behind the funeral of the moon ! What harp of boundless, deep, eshaus'less wo. Shall utter forth the groaningsof the damned I And sing the obsequies of wicked souls ; And wall their plunge in the eternal fire! Hold, hold your hands ; hold angels ; G jd laments. And drasys a cloud of mourning round his throne ; The Organ of eternity is mute ; And there is silence in the Heaven of heavens. Daughters of oeauty ! choice of beings made I Much praised, much blamed, much loved; tut fairer far Than aught beheld ; than aught imagined else Fairest ; and dearer than all else most dear : Light of the darksome wilderness! to Time As stars to night — whose eyes were spells that held The passenser forgetful of his way ; Whose sUpe were'majesiy ; whose words were song : 144 THE COURSE OF TIME. Whose smiles were hopejwhose actions.perfect grace; Whose love the solace, glorj' and delight Of man, his boast, his riches, his renown : When found, sufficient bliss ; when lost, despair : Stars of creation ! images of love ! Break up tlie fountains of your tears ; your tears More eloquent than learned tongue, or lyre Of purest note ; your sunny raiment stain ; Put dust upon your heads ; lament and weep ; And utter all yburminslrelsy of wo. Go fo, ye wicked, weep and howl ; for all That God hath written against you is at hand. The crv of violence hath reached his ear ; Hell is" prepared ; and Justice whets his sword. Weep all of every name : be^in the wo, Ye woods, and tell it to the doleful winds ; And doleful winds, wail to the howling hills ; And howling hills, mourn fo thedismal vales; And d ismal vales, si^h to the sorrowing brooks ; And sorrowing brooks, weep to the weeping stream; And weeping stream, awake the groaning deep ; And let the instrument lake up the song, Responsive to the voice — harmonioos wo ! Ye heavens, great archway of the universe ! Put sackcloth on ; and Ocean, clothe thyself In garb of widowhood, and gather all Thy waves into a groan, and utter it — Lone, loud, deep, piercing, dolorous, immense : The" occasion asks it ; Nature dies ; and God, And angels, come to lay her in the grave ! But we have overleaped our theme : behind A little season waits a verse or two : The years that followed the milleonial rest. Bad years they were ; and first, as signal sure, That at the core relijion was diseased, The sons of Levi strove again, for place. And eminence, and names of swelliu? pomp. BOOK VI, 14 Setting their feet upon the people's neck, And slumbering in the lap of civil power ; Of civil power again tyrannical. And second sign, sure sign, whenever seen, That holiness was dying in a land, The Sabbath was profaned, and set at nought ; The honest seer, who spoke the truth of God Plainly, was left with empty walls ; and rooad The frothy orator who busked his tales In quackish pomp of noisy words, the ear Tickling, but leaving still the heart unprobed, The judgment uninformed,— numbers immense Flocked," gaping wide, wi(h passions high inflamed And on the way reluming, heated, home, Of eloquence and not of truth, conversed — Mean eloquence that wanted sacred truth. Two principles from the beginning strove In human nature, still dividing man — Sloth and activity, the lust 0/ praise, And indolence, that rather wished to sleep. And not unfrequently in the same mind. They dubious contest held ; one gaining now, And now the other crowned, and both again Keeping the field, with equal combat fought. Much different was their voice : Ambition called To action ; Sloth invited to repose. Ambition early rose, aod, being up. Toiled ardently, and late retired to rest ; Sloth lay till mid-day, turning on his couch. Like ponderous door upon its weary hinge. And having rolled him out with much ado, And many a dismal sieh, and vain attempt, He sauntered out accoutred carelessly — With half-oped, misty, unabservanl eye, Somniferous, that weighed the object down On which its burden fell — an hour or two. Then with a groan retired so rest again. The one, whatever deed had been achieved, K 146 THE COURSE Of TIME. Thought it too little, and too small the praise : The other tried to think, for thinking so Answered his purpose best, that what of great Mankind could do, had been already done ; And therefore laid him calmly down to sleep. DiflFerent in mode — destructive both alike : Destructive always indolence ; and love Of fame destructive always loo, if less Than praise of God it sought, content with less j Even then not current, if it sought his praise From other motive than resistless love : Tho' base, main-spring of action in the world j And under name of vanity and pride, Was greatly practised on by cunning men. It opened the nigjard's puree ; clothed nakedne«8 ; Gave beggars food ; and threw the Pharisee Upon his "knees, and kept him long in act Of prayer ; it spread the lace upon the fop, His language trimmed, and planned his curioQS gait | It stuck the feather on the gay coquette, And on her finger laid the heavy load Of jewelry ; it ^id— what did it not ? The gospel preached, the gospel paid, and sent The gospel ; conquered nations ; cities built j Measured the furrow of the field with nice Directed share ; shaped bulls, and cows, and rams ; And threw the ponderous stone ; and pitiful. Indeed, and much against the grain, it dragged The stasnant, dull, predestinated fool. Thro' learning's halls, and made him labor much Abortively ; tho' sometimes not unpraised He left the sage's chair, and home returned, Making his simple mother tnink that she Had borne a man. In schools, designed to root Sin up, and plant the seeds of holiness In youthful minds, it held a signal place. The little infant man, by nature proud, "Was taught the Scriptures by the love of praise, BOOK VI. 147 Aud grew religions as he grew in fame. And thus the principle, which out of heaven The devil threw, and threw him down to hell, And keeps him there, was made an instrument To moralize, and sanctify mankind ; And in their hearts beget humility : With what success it needs not now to say. Destructive both we said, activity, And sloth— behold the last exemplified, In literary man. Not all at once. He yielded to the soothing voice of sleep ; But having seen a bough of laurel wave, He effort made to climb ; and friends, and even Himself, talked of his greatness, as at hand. And prophesying drew his future life. Vain prophecy ! his fancy, taught by sloth. Saw in the very threshold of pursuit, A thousand obstacles ; he halted first, And while he halted, saw his burning hopes, Grow dim and dimmer still ; ambition's self, The advocate of loudest toneue, decayed ; His purposes, made daily, daily broken. Like plant uprooted oft, and set again. More sickly grew, and daily wavered more Till at the last, decision, quite worn out, Decision, fulcrum of the mental powers, Resigned the blasted soul to staggering chance ; Sleep gathered fast, and weighed him downward still; His eye fell heavy from the mount of fame , His young resolves to benefit the world. Perished, and were forgotten ; he shut his ear Against the painful news of rising worth ; And drank with desperate thirst "the poppy's juice ; A deep and mortal slumber settled down, Upon his weary faculties oppressed ; He rolled from side to side, and rolled again ; And snored, and groaned, and withered, and expired, And rotted on the spot, leaving no came. K2 148 THE COURSE OF TIME. The hero best example ^ives of toil Uusanclified. One word his history writes : He was a murderer above the laws. And greatly praised for doing murderous deeds : And now he grew, and reached his perfect growth ; And also now the slu2£;ard soundest slept, Aud by him lay the uninterred corpse. Of every order, sin and wickedness, Deliberale, cool, malicious villany, This age, attained maturity, unknown Before : and seemed in travail lo bring forth Some last, enormous, monstrous deed of guilt- Original, unprecedented guilt, That might obliterate the memory Of what had hitherto been done most vile. Inventive men were paid, at public cost. To plan new modes of sin : the holy word Of God was burned with acclamations loud : New tortures were invented for the good : For still some good remained, as whiles thro' sky Of thickest clouds, a wandering star appeared : New oaths of blasphemy were framed, and sworn : And men in reputation grew, as grew The statuie of their crimes. Fairh was not found ; Truth was not found ; truth always scarce ; so scarce That half the misery which groaned on earth, In ordinary times, was progeny Of disappointment daily coming forth From broken promises, that might have ne'er Been made, or being made, might have been kept. Justice and mercy loo were rare, obscured In cottage garb : before the palace door, The beggar rotted, s'arving in his rags : And on the threshold of luxurious domes, The orphan child laid down his head, and died ; Nor unamusing »vas hispiteouscry To women, who had now laid tenderness Aside, best pleased with sights of cnjelty ; BOOK VL 1/ Flocking, when fouler lusts would give them lime, To horrid spedacles of blood ; where men, Or guiltless beasts, that seemed to look to heaven, With eye imploring vengeance on the earth, Were tortured for the merriuient of kings. The advocate for him who otTered most Pleaded ; the scribe, according to the hire, Worded the lie, adding for every- piece. An oath of confirmation ; judges raised One hand to intimate the sentence, death, Imprisonment, or fine, or loss of goods, And in the other held a lusty bribe Which they had taken to give the sentence wrong i So managing the scale of justice still, That he was wanting found who poorest seemed. But laymen, most renowned for devilish deeds, Labored at distance still behind the priest : He shore bis sheep, and having packed the wool, Sent them unguarded to the hill of wolves ; And to the bowl deliberately sat down, And with his mistress mocked at sacred things. The theatre was from the very first The favorite haunt of sin ; tlio' honest men, Some very honest, wise, and worthy men, Maintained it might be turned to good account ; And so perhaps it^might ; but never was. From first to last it was an evil place : And now such tilings were acted there, as made The devils blush : and from the neighborhood, Angels and holy men trembling retired. And what with dreadful aggravation crowned This dreary time was ain against the light : All men knew God, and knowing, disobeyed » And gloried to insult him to his face. Another feature only we shall mark. It was withal a highly polished age, K3 150 THE COURSE OF TIME. And scrupulous in ceremonious rite. When stranger stranger met upon the way, First each to each bowed most respectfully. And large profession made of humble service, And then the stronger took the other's purse. And he that stabbed his neighbor to the heart, Stabbed him politely, and returced the blade Reeking into its sheath, with graceful air. Meantime the earth gave symptoms of her end ; And all (be scenery above proclaimed. That the great last catastrophe was near. The siin at rising staggered and fell back ; As one (oO early up, after a night Of late debauch ; then rose and shone again. Brighter than wont ; and sickened again, and paused In zenith altitude, as one fatigued ; And shed a feeble twilight ray at noon. Rousing the wolf before his time to chase The shepherd and his sheep, that sought for light. And darkness found, astonished, terrified ; Then out of course rolled furious down the west. As chariot reined by awkward charioteer ; And waiting at the gate, he on the earth Gazed, as he thought he ne'er might see't again. The bow of mercy, heretofore so fair, Ribbed with the native hues of heavenly love, Disastrous colors showed, unseen till now ; Changing upon the watery gulph, from pale To fiery red, and back again to pale j And o'er it hovered wings of wrath. The moon. Swaggered in midst of heaven, grew black, and dark. Unclouded, uneclipsed. The stars fell down ; Tumbling from ofFtheir towers like drunken men ; Or seemed to fall — and glimmered now ; and now Sprang out in sudden blaze ; and dimmed again ; As lamp of foolish virgin lacking oil. The heavens this moment looked serene ; the next Glowed like an oven with God's displeasure hot. BOOK VL 151 Nor less below was intima'ion given Of some disaster great and ultimate. The tree that bloomed, or hung with clustering fruit, Untouched by visible calamity Of frost or temppst, died and came again : The flov/er, and herb, fell down as sick j then rose And fell again : the fowls of every hue, Crowding together sailed on weary wing. And hovering, oft they seemed about to light ; Then soared, as if they thought the earth unsafe : The cattle looked with meaning face on naan : Dogs howled, and seemed to see more than their masters : And there were sights that none had seen before ; And hollow, strar.ge, unprecedented sounds : And earnest whisperings ran along the hills At dead of night ; and long, deep, endless sighs. Came from the dreary vale ; and from the waste Came horrid shrieks, and fierce unearthly groans, The wail of evil spirits, that now felt The hour of utter vengeance near at hand. The winds from every quarter blew at once, With desperate violence, and whirling, took The traveller up, and threw him down again, At distance from his path, confounded, pale. And shapes, strange shapes ! in winding sheets were seen. Gliding thro" night, and singing funeral songs, And imitating sad sepulchral rites : And voices talked among the clouds ; aud still The words that men couid catch, were spoken of them. And seenied to be the words of wonder great, And expectation of some vast event. Earth shook, and swam, and reeled, and opened her jaws. By earthquake tossed, and tumbled to and fro : And Inuder than the ear of man had heard. The thunder bellowed, and the ocean groaned. J52 THE COURSE OF TIME. The race of men, perplexed, birt not reformed, yiocking together, stood in earnest crowds, Conversing of the awful state of things. Some curious explanations save, unlearned ; Some tried affectedly to laugh ; and some Gazed stupidly ; but all were sad, anJ pale ; And wished the comment of the wise. Nor less, These prodigies, occurring night and day, Perplexed philosophy : the niagi tried — Magi, a name not seldom given to fools, In the vocabulary of earthly speech — They tried to trace them still to second cause ; Eul scarcely satisfied themselves ; Iho' round Their deep deliberations crowding came. And wondering at their wisdom, went away, Much quieted, and very much deceived. The people, always glad to be deceived. These warnings passed — Ihey unregarded passed : And all in wonted order calmly moved. The pulse of Nature regularly beat. And on her cheek the bloom of perfect health Ajain appeared. Deceitful pulse ! and bloom Deceitful; and deceitful calm ! The Earth Was old and worn within ; but like the man. Who noticed not his mid.day streng'th decline. Sliding so gently round the curvature Of life, from youth to age — she knew it not. The calm "as like the calm, which oft the man Dying, experienced before his death ; The blo'im was but a hectic flush, before The eternal paleness : but all these were taken, By this last race of men, for tokens of good. And blustering public News, aloud proclaimed, News always gabbling, ere they well had thought, Prosperity, and joy, and peace ; and mocked The man who kneeling prayed, and trembled still : And all in earnest to their sins returned. BOOK XL It was not 80 in heaven — the elders round The throne conversed about the state of man, Conjecturing, for none of certain knew, That Time was at an end. They gazed intense Upon the Dial's face, which yonder stands In gold, before the Sun of Righteousness, Jehovah ; and computes times, seasons, years, And destinies ; and slowly numbers o'er The mighty cycles of eternity ; By God alone' completely understood ; But read by all, revealing much to all. And now to saints of eldest skill, the ray, Which on the gnomon fell of Time, seemed sent From level west, and hasting quickly down. The holy Virtues watching, saw besides, Great preparation going on in heaven, Betokening great event ; greater than aught That first created seraphim had seen. The faithful messengers, who have for wing The lightning, waiting day and night, on God Before his face — beyond their usual speed, On pinion of celestial light were seen, Coming and going, and their road was still From heaven to earth, and back again to heaven. The angel of Mercy, bent tiefore the Throne, By earnest pleading, seemed to hold the hand Of vengeance back, and win a moment more Of la'e repentance for some sinful world In jeopardy. And now the hill of God, The mountain of his majesty, rolled flames Of fire ; now smiled with momentary love ; And now again with fiery fierceness burned ; And from behind the darknea of his Throne, Through which created vision never saw, The living thunders in their native caves. Muttered the terrors of Omnipntenre, And ready seemed, impatient to fulfil Some errand of exterminating Avrath. 154 THE COURSE OF TIME. Meanwhile the Earth increased in wickedness ; And hasted daily to fill up her cup. Satan raged loose; Sin had her will ; and Death Enough : blood trod upon the heels of blood ; Revenge, in desperate mood, at midnight met Revena;e ; war brayed to war ; deceit deceived Deceit; lie cheated lie; and treachery Mined under treachery ; and perjury Swore bacit on perjury ; and biasphemy Arose with hideous blasphemy ; and curse Loud answered curse ; and drunkard stumbling fell O'er drunkard fallen ; and husband husband met Returning each from other's bed defiled ; Thief stole from thief ; and robber on the way Knocked robber down ; and lewdness, violence, And hate, met lewdness, violence, and hate. Oh Earth ! thy hour was come ; the Ust elect Was born ; complete the number of the good ; And the last sand fell from the glass of Time. The cup of guilt was full up to the brim ; And Mercy, weary with beseeching, had Retired behind the sword of Justice, red With ultimate and unrepeiiting wrath : But man knew not : he o'er his bowl laughed loud ; And iirophesying, said : To-morrow shall As this day be, and more abvmdant still — As thou shalt hear. But hark ! the trumpet sounds And calls to evening eong ; for, though with hymn Eternal, course succeeding course, extol In presence of the mcarnale, holy God, And celebrate his never ending praise- Duly at morn, and night, the multitudes Of men redeemed, and angels, all the host Of glory, join in universal song ; And pour celestial harmony, from harps Above all number, eloquent and sweet, Above all thought of melody conceived. And now behold the fair inhabitants. Delightful Eight ! from numerous busine^ tum, And round and round thro' all the extent of bliss, Towards the temple of Jehovah bow, And worship reverently iDefore bis face! Pursuits are various here, suiting all tastes ; Tho' holy all, and glorifyin? God. Observe yon baud pursue the sylvan stream, Mounting amon; the clitfs— they pull the flower, Springing as soon as pulled ; and marvelling, pry Into itsvems, and circulating blood, And wondrous mimicry of higher life ; Admire its colors, fragrance, gentle shape ; And thence admire the God who made it so— So simple, complex, and so beautiful. Behold yon other band, in airy robes Of bliss — they weave the sacred bower of rose And myrtle shade, and shadowy verdant bay, And laurel, towering high ; and round their song, The pink and lily bring, and amaranth ; Narcissus sweet, and jassamine ; and bring The clustering vine, stooping with flower and fruit, The peach and orange, and the sparkling stream, Warbling with nectar to their lips unasked j And talkthe while of everlasting love. On yonder hill, behold another band, Of piercing, steady, intellectual eye, And spacious forehead, of sublimest thought — They reason deep of present, future, past ; And trace efTect to cause ; and meditate On the eternal laws of God, which bind Circumference to centre ; and survey With optic tubes, that fetch remotest stars Near them, the systems circling round i Innumerous. See how — as he, the sage. Among the most renowned in days of Time, Renowned for large, capacious, holy soul — Demonstrates clearly, motion, gravity. Attraction, and repulsion, still opposed ; 156 THE COURSE OF TIME. And dips into the deep, original, Unknown, mysterious elements of thinss — See how the face of every auditor Expands with admiration of the skill, OmnipoteDce, and boundless love of God ! These other, sitting near the tree of life, In robes of linen flowing white and clean. Of holiest aspect, of divinest sou!, Ansels and men — into the glory look Of the Redeeming Love, and turn the leares Of man's redemption o'er ; the secret leaves, Which none on earth were found worthy to open ; And as they read the mysteries divine. The endless mysteries of Salvation wrooght By God's incarnate Son, thev humller bow Before the Lamb, and glow'with warmer love. These other, there relaxed beneath the shade Of yon embowering palms, with friendship smile, And talk of ancient days, and young pursuits. Of dangers past, of godiy triumphs won; And sing the legends of their native land — Less pleasing far than this their Father's honse. Behold that other band, half lifted up Between the hill and dale, rec'ined beneath The shadow of impending rocks ; 'mong streams And thundering water-falls, and waving boughs. That hand of countenance sublime, and sweet. Whose eye with piercing intellectual ray, I>ow beams severe, or now bewildered seems ; Lf:(t rolling wild, or fixed in idle eaze, V/hile Fancy, and the soul are far from home— Ttiese hold the pencil — art divine ! and throw Before the eve remembered scenes of love j Each picturing to each the hills, and skies, And treasure.! stories of the world he left : Or, gazing on the scenery of heaven. BOOK VI. !( They dip their haivJ in color's native well, And, on the everiastin? canvass, dash Figures of glory, imasery divine. With grace and grandeur in perfection knit. But whatso'er these spirits blest pursue. Where'er Ihey so, whatever sights they see Of glory and bliss thro' all the tracts of heaven The centre still, the figare eminent. Whither they ever turn, on whom all eyes Repose with'infinite delight — is God, And his Incarnate Son, the Lamb, once slaia On Calvary to ransom ruined men. None idle here : look where thou wilt, they all Are active, all engaged in meet pursuit ; Not happy else. Hence is it that the song Of heaven is ever new ; for daily thus, And nightly, new discoveries are made. Of God's unbounded wisdom, power, and love, Which give the understanding larger room. And swell the hymn with ever-growing praise. Behold they cease ! and every face to God Turns ; and we pause, from high poetic theue, Not worthy least of being sung in heaven, And on unveiled Godhead look from this. Our oft frequented hill.— Re takes the harp. Not needs to seek befitting phrase ; unsought, Numbers harmonious roUalong the lyre, , As river in its native bed, they flow Spontaneous, flowing with the tide of thought. He takes the harp —a bard of Judah leads This nizht the boundless song ; the bard that once, When Israel's king was sad and sick to death, A message brought of fifteen added years. Before the throne he stands sublime, in robes Of glory ; and now his 6ngers wake the chords To praise, ^^ hich we, and all in heaven repeat. 158 THE COURSE OV TIME. Harps of eternity ! begin the song, Redeemed, and angel harps ! bejjin to God, Bejin the anthem ever ssveetand new, While I extol Him holy, just, and good. Life, beauty, light, intelligence, and love ! Eternal, uncreated, infinite ! Unsearchable Jehovah ! God of truth ! Maker, upholder, governor of all : Thyself unmade, ungoverned, unupheld. Omnipotent, unchangeable. Great God ! Exhaustless fullness ! giving unimpaired ! Bounding immensity, unspread, unbound ! Highest and best ! beginning, middle, end. All seeing Eye ! all seemg, and unseen ! Hearing, unheard ! all knowing, and unknown ! Above all praise ! above all height of thought I Proprietor of immortality ! Glory ineffable ! Bliss underived ! Of old thou built'st thy throne on righteousness, Before the morning Stars their song began. Or silence heard the voice of praise. Thou laid'st Eternity's foundation stone, and saw'st Life and existence out of Thee begm. Mysterious more, the more displayed, where still Upon thy glorious Throne thou sitt'st alone ; Hast sat alone ; and shalt forever sit Alone ; invisible, immortal One ! Behind essential brightntss unbeheld. Incomprehensible ! what weight shall weigh ! What measure measure Thee , what know ve more, Of Thee, what need to know, than Thou hast taught And bid'tt us still repeat, at morn and even — God ! everlasting Father I Holy One ! Our God, our Father, our Eternal All. Source whence we came ; and whither we return ; Who made our spirits, who our bodies made ; Who made the heaven, who made the flowery hod ; Who made all made ; who orders, governs all ; Who walks npon the wind ; who holds the wave BOOK VI. 159 In hollow of (hy hand ; whom thunders waif : Whom tempests serve ; whom flaming fires obey : Who guides the circuit of the endless years : And sitt'st on high, and mak'st creation's top Thy footstool ; and behold'st below Thee. all- All naught, all less than naught, and vanity. Like transient dust that hovers on the scale, Ten thousand worlds are scattered in thy breath. Thou sitt'st on high, and measures destinies. And days, and monlhs, and wide revolving years : And.dost according to thy holy will ; And none can stay thy hand ; and none withhold Thy gliiry ; for in judgment, Thou, as well As mercy, art exalted, day and night. Past, present, future, magnify thy name. Thy works all praise Thee ; all thy angels praise, Thy saints adore, and on thy altars bum The fragrant incense of perpetual love. They praise Thee now : their hearts, their voices praise, And swell the rapture of the glorious song. Harp ! lift thy voice on high — shout, angels, shout ! And loudest ye redeemed ! glory to God, And to the Lamb, who bought us with his blood ; From every kindred, nation, people, tongue; And washed, and sanctified, and saved our souls ; And gave us robes of Imen pure, and crowns Of life, and made us kings and priests to God. Shout back to ancient Time ! Sing aloud, and wave Your palms of triumph ! sine, where is thy sting, O Death ? where is thy victory, Grave ? Thanks be to God, eternal thanks, who gave Us victory through Jesas Christ, our Lord. Harp, lift thy voice on high ! shout, angels shout! And loudest ye redeemed ! glory to God, And to the Lamb — all glory and all praise ; All glory and all praise, at morn and even. That come and go eternally ; and find Us happy still, and Thee forever blest ! IGO THE COURSE OF TIME. Glory to God, and to the Lamb. Amen. Forever, and forever more. Amen. And those who stood upon the sea of glass ; And those who stood upon the battlements, And lofty towers of New Jerusalem ; And those who circling stood, bowing afar ; Exalted on the everlastin? hills. Thousands of thousands— thousands infinite — With voice of boundless love, answered : Amen. And through eternity, near, and remote. The worlds adorine, echoed back : Amen. And God the Fatlier, Son, and Holy Ghost— The One Eternal ! smiled superior bliss. And every eye, and every face in heaven. Reflecting, and reflected, beamed with love. Nor did he not— the Virtue new arrived. From Godhead g?.in an individual smile. Of high acceptance, and of ivelcome high, And confirmation evermore in good. Meantime the landscape glowed with holy joy. Zephyr, with wing dipt from the well of life, Sporting through Paradise, shed living dews : The flowers, the spicy shrubs, the lawns refreshed, Breathed iheir selectest balm ; breathed odors, snch As angels love : and all the trees of heaven, The cedar, pine, and everlasting oak, Bejoicing on the naountains, clapped their bands. THE COURSE OF TIME, ANALYSIS OF BOOK VII. After the Hymn, the relation is resumed. The trans- formation of the living, Ihe resurrection otthe dead, and Ihe destruction of the Earth. On the morn of the fiual day al! the appearances of nature were as usual, at midday universal darkness prevailed, and all action, all motion ceased : and an angel from heaven proclaimed "Time should be no more." And another Angel sounded the Trump of God, when the dead awoke, and the living vrere changed. A description of the circumstances connecied with the momentous scene ; the living were changed in the midst of their several numerous avocations; in labor, study, pleasure, or crimes. The dead of every age and place raised to life ; in the cultivated field, in the wilderness , in populous cities, in the midst of ancient ruins, and from the great ocean. THE (touvnt of Kimt BOOK VII. As, 1 one who meditates at evening tide, Wanderin; aJone by voiceless soIituJes, And flies in lancy, far beyond the bounds Of viiible and vulgar things, and things Discovered liitherto, pursuing tracts As yet untravelled, and unknown, thro' vast Of new and sweet imaginings ; if chance Some airy harp, waked by the gentle sprites Of twilight, or lighc touch of sylvan maid, In soft succession fall upnn his ear. And till the desert with jts heavenly tones ; He listens intense, and pleased exceedingly, And wishes it may never stop ; yet when It stops, grieves not ; bul to his former thoughts Wi'.h fondest haste returns : sn did the Seer, So did his audience, after worship past, A.nd praise in heaven, return to sing, to hear Of man ; r.U worthy less the sacred lyre Or (he attentive ear : and thus the bartl, Isot unbesought, again resumed bis song. In cus'nmed glory bright, that mom the sun Rose, visiting the earth with light, and heat. And joy ; ami seemed as full of youth, and strong To mount the steep of heaven, as when the Sfars, 164 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of morning snng to his first dawn, and rii^ht Fled from liis face : the spacious Jky received Him blushing as a bride, when on her looked The bridegroom : and spread out beneath his eye, Earch smiled. Up to his warm embrace the dews, That all night long had wept hi^ absence, flew : The herbs and flowers, their fragrant stores unlocked, And gave the wanton breeze, that newly woke. Revelled in sweets, and from its wings shook health, A thousand grateful smells : the joyous woods Dried in his beams iheir locks, wet with the drops Of night : and all the sons of music sung TTieir matin song ; from arbored bower, the tbmsh Concerting with the lark that hymned on high : On the green hill the flocks, and in the vale The herds rejoiced : and ligtit of heart the hind Eyed amorously the milk-maid as she passed, Not heedless, though she looked another way. No sign was there of change : all nature moved In wonted harmony : men as they met In morning salutation, praised the day, And talked of common things : the husbandman Prepared the soil, and silver tongued hope, Promised another harvest : in the streets, Each wishing to make profit of his neighbor, Merchan's assembling, spoke of trying times, or bankruptcies, and markets glutted full : Or crowding to the beach, where, to their ear, The oath of foreign accent, and the noise Uncouth of trade's rough sons, made music sweet, Elate with certain gain, beheld the bark, Rf pected long, enriched with other climes, lavo t^ harbor safely steer, or saw, lartilM with many a weepmg farewell sad, AndUessing uttered rude, and sacred pledge, The rich laden carack, bound to distant shore ; And hopefully talked of her coming back, With richer freight : or sitting at the desk, BOOK VU. In calculation deep and intricate, Of loss and profil balancing, relieved, At intervals, the irksome task, witlj thought Of fu'.ure ease, retired in villa snug. With subtle look, amid his parchments sat The lawyer, weaving his sophistries for court To meet'at mid-day. On his weary couch Fat luxury, sick of the night's debauch, Lay groanin?, fretful at the obtrusive beam, That through his lattice peeped derisively : The restless miser bad begun again To count his heaps : before her toilet stood The fair, and as with guileful skill she decked Her loveliness, thought of the coming ball, Kew lovers, or the sweeier nuptial night. And evil men of desperate lawless life, By oath of deep damnation leagued to ill Remorselessly, fled from the face of day, Against the innocent their counsel held. Plotting unpardonable deeds of blood, And villanies of fearful magnitude : Despots secured behind a thousand bolts, The workmanship of fear, forged chains for man ; Senates were meeting ; statesmen loudly talked Of national resources, war and peace ; And sagely balanced empires soon to end : And faction's jaded minions, by the page Paid for abuse, and oft repealed lies. In daily prints, the thorough-fare of news, For party schemes made interest, under cloak Of liberty, and right, and public weal : In holy conclave, bishops spoke of tythes. And of the awful wickedness of men : Intoxicate with sceptres, diadems, And universal rule, and panting hard For fame, heroes were leading on the brave To battle : men, in science deeply read, And academic IbeoiT foretold L3 166 THE COURSE OF TIME. Improvements vast : and learned sceptics proved That earlh should with eternity endure ; Concluding madly that there was no God. No sign of change appeared ; to every man That day seemed as the past. From noontide path The suii looked jloriously on earth, and all Her scenes of giddy folly smiled secure. When suddenly alas, fair Earth ! the sun Was wrapt in darkness, and his beams returned Up to the throne of God ; and over all The earth came night, moonless and starless night. Nature stood still : the seas and rivers stood, And all the winds ; and every living thing. The cataract, that Uke a giant wroth, Rushed down impetuously, as seized, at once, By sudden frost with all his hnary locks, Stood still : and beasts of every kind stood still. A deep and dreadful silence reigned aloue ! Hope died in every breast ", and on all men Came fear and trembling: none to bis neighbor spoke; Husband thought not of wife ; nor of her child The mother ; nor friend of friend ; nor foe of foe. In horrible suspense all mortals stood ; And as they stood, and listened, chariots were beard Rolling in heaven : revealed m flaming fire. The angel of God appeared in stature vast. Blazing ; and lifting up his hand on high, By Him that lives for ever, swore, that Time Should be no more.— Throughout creation heard And sighed: all rivers, lakes, and seas, and woods ; Desponding ivasle, and cultivated vale ; Wild cave, and ancient hill, and every rock Sighed : earlh, arrested in her wonted path, As ox struck by the lifted axe, when nought Was feared, in all heren'rails deeply groaned. A universal crash was heard, as if The ribs of nature broke, and all her dark Foundations failed : and deadly paleness sat BOOK VII. Ifi7 On every face of itiaD, and every heart Grew chill, and every knee hia fellow smote. None spoke, none stirred, none wept ; for horror held All motionless, and fettered every tongue. Again o'er all the nations silence fell : And, in the heavens robed in excessive light. That drove the thick of darkness far aside, And walked with penetration keen thro' all The abodes of men, another angel stood, And blew the trump of God.— Awake, ye dead ! Be changed, ye living ! and put on the gsirb Of immortality ! awake '. arise ! The God of judgment comes. This said the voice : And silence from eternity that slept Beyond the sphere of the creating word, And all the noise of Time, awakened, heard. Heiven heard, and earth, and farthest hell thro' all Her regions of despair : the ear of Death Heard, and the sleep that for so long a night Pressed on his leaden evelids, fled : and all The dead awoke, and ail the living changed. Old men, that on tbeir staff, bending had leaned, Crazy and frail ; or sat, benumbed with age. In weary listlessness, ripe for the grave, Felt through their sluggish veins, and withered limbs, "Sevr vigor flow : the wrinkled face grew smooth ; Upon the head, that time had razored bare. Rose bushy locks ; and as his son in prime Of strength and youth, the aged father stood. Changing herself, the mother saw her son Grownup, and suddenly put on the form Of manhood : and the wretch, that begging aat Limbless, defomied, at comer of the way. Unmindful of his crutch, in joint and limb. Arose complete : and he that on the bed Of mortal sickness, worn with sore distress, Lay breathing forth his soul to death, felt now The tide of life and vigor rushing back ; 168 THE COUnSE OF TIME. And locking op beheld hi5 weeping wife. And daughter fond, that o'er him, bending stooped To close his eyes : the frantic madman too, In whose confused brain, reason had lost Her way, long driven at random to and fro, Grew sitjer, and his manacles fell off. The newly sheeted corpse arose, and stared On those who dressed it : and the coffined dead. That men were bearing to the tomb — awoke. And mingled with their friends : and armies which The trump surprised, met in the furious shock Of battle, saw the bleeding ranks, new fallen, Rise up at once, and to their ghastly cheeks Return the stream of life in healthy flow. And as the anatomist, with all his band Of rude disciples, o'er the subject hung, And impolitely hewed his way, thro' bones And muscles of the sacred human form. Exposing barbarously to wanton gaze, The mysteries of nature — ^joint embraced His kindred joint, the wounded flesh grew np, And suddenly the injured man awoke, Among their hands, and stood arrayed complete In immortality — forgiving scarce The insult offered to his clay in death. That was the hour, long wished for bv the good, Of universal Jubilee to all The sons of bondage ; liom the oppressor's hand The scoufffeof violence fell ; and from his back, Heal'dofits stripes, the burden of the slave. The youth of ejeat religious soul — who sat Retired in voluntary loneliness, In reverie extravagant now wrapt. Or poring now on bonk of ancient date. With filial awe ; and dippmg oft his pen To write immortal things ; to pleasure deaf And joys of common men ; working his way BOOK vn. With mighty ener^, not uninspired, Tbro' all the mines of ihouzht ; reckless of pain, And weariness, and wasted "health ; the scoff Of pride, or growl of Envy's hellish brood ; While Fancy, voyaged far beyond the bounds Of years revealed, heard many a fu'ure age. With commendation loud, repeat his name — False prophe'ess ! the day of change was come- Behind the shadow of eternity, He saw his visions set of earthly fame j For ever set : nor sighed while thro' his veins In lighter current ran immortal life ; His form renewed to ucdecaying hea'th ; To undecaying health his soul, eren hile Not tuned amiss to God's eternal praise. All men in field and city ; by the way, On land or sea ; lolling in gorgeous hall, Or plying at the oar ; crawling in rags Obscure, or dazzling in embroidered gold j Alone, in companies, at home, abroad ; In wanton merriment surprised and taken; Or kneeling reverently in act of prayer ; Or cursing recklessly, or uttering lies ; Or lapping greedily from slander's cup The blood of reputation ; or between Friendships and brotherhoods devising strife ; Or plotting to dffile a neighbor's bed ; In duel met with dasger of revenge ; Or cas:ing on the widow's heritage The eye of cove'ousness ; or with full hand On mercy's noiseless errands unobserved Administering ; or meditating fraud And deeds of horrid barbarous intent ; Tn full pursuit of unexperienced hope, Fluttering along the flowery path of youth Or steeped in disappointment's bitterness — The fevered cup that guilt must ever drink^ When parched and fainting on the road of lU: 170 IHE COURSE OF TIME. Beggar and king, the clown and haugbty lord ; The venerable sage, and empty fop ; The ancient matron, and the rosy bride ; The virgin chaste, and shriveled harlot vile ; The savage fierce, and man of science mild ; The good and evil, in a moment, all Were changed, corruptible to incorrupt, And mortal to immortal ne'er to change. And now descending from the bowers of heaven, Soft airs o'er all the earth, spreading were heard, And Hallelujahs sweet, the harmony Of righteous souls that came to represess Their long neglected bodies : and anon Upon the ear fell horribly the sound Of cursing and the yells of damned despair, Uttered by felon spirits that the trump Had summoned from the burning glooms of hell, To put their bodies on — reserved for wo. Now starting up among the living changed, Appeared innumerous the risen dead. Each particle of dust was claimed : the turf. For ages trod beneath the careless foot Of men rose organized in human form ; The monumental stones were rolled away ; The doors of death were opened ; and in the dark And loathsome vault, and silent charnel bouse. Moving were heard the mouldered bones that sought Their proper place. Instinctive every soul Flew to its clayey part : from grass-grown mould, The nameless spirit took its ashes up. Reanimate : and merging from beneath The flattered marble, undistinguished rose The great — nor heeded once the lavish rhyme, And costly pomp of sculptured garnish vain. The Memphian mummy, that from age to age Descending, bought and sold a thousand times, In hall of curious antiquary, stowed, BOOK VII. 171 Wrapt in mysterious weeds, the wondrous theme Of many an erring tale, shook off its rags ; And the brown son of Es^j)( stood beside The Europe^in, his last purchaser. In vale remote the hermit rose, surprised At crowds that rose around him, where he thought His slumbers tiad been sinele : and the bard, Who fondly covenanted with his friend To lay his bones beneath the sighing tiough Of some old lonely tree, rising was pressed By muUiUides, that claimed their proper dust From the same spot : and he, that richly hearsed, With gloomy garniture of purchased wo, Embalmed in princely sepulchre was laid, Apart from vulgar men, built nicely round And round by the proud heir who blushed to think His father's lordly clay should ever mix With peasant dust — saw by his side awake The clown that long had slumbered in his arms. The family tomb, to whose devouring mouth Descended stre and son, age after age. In long unbrofeen hereditary line. Poured forth at once the ancient father rude, And all his offspring of a thousand years. Refreshed from sweet repose, awnbe the man Of charitable life ; awoke and sung : And from his prison house, slowly, and sad. As if uusatisfitd with holding near Communion with the ear'h, the miser drew His carcass forth, and gnashed his teeth, and howled, Unsolaced by his gold and siUer tken. From simple stone in lonely wilderness, That hoary lay, o'er-leltered by the hand Of oft frequenting pilgrim, who had taught The willow tree to weep at mom and even Over the sacred spot — the martyr saint To song of seraph harp tiiumphant rose. Well pleased that he had suffered to the death. 172 THE COURSE OF TIME. "The cloud capped towers, the gorgeous palsces," As sung the bard by Nature's hand anointed, In whose capacious' giant numbers rolled The passions of oM Time, fell lumbering down. A\l cities fell, and every work of man. And gave their portion forth of human dust, Touched by the mortal finger of decay. Tree, herb, and flower, and every fov\ 1 of heaven, And fish, and animal, the wild and tame, Forthwith dissolving crumbled inlo dust. Alas, ye sons of strength ! ye ancient oaks ! ye holy pines ! ye elms ! and cedars tall ! Like towers of God, far seen on Carmel monnt, Or Lebanon, that waved your boughs on high. And laughed at all the winds — your hour waa come. Te laurels, ever green '. and bays, that wont To wreath the patriot and the poets brow ; Te myrtle towers ! and groves of sacred sliade ! AVhere Music ever sung, and Zephyr fanned His airy wing, wet with the dews of life. And Spring for ever smiled, the fragrant haunt Of Love, and Health, and ever dancing M:rth — Alas ; how suddenly your verdure died. And ceased yocr minstrelsy, to sing no more '. Ye flowers of beauty ! penciled by the hand Of God who annually renewed your birih, To gem the virgin robes of nature chaste, Ye smiling featured daughters of the Sun ! Fairer than queenly bride, by Jordan's stream Leading your eentle lives, retired, unseen j Or on the sainted clitTs on Zion hi!!. Wandering, and holdinj with the beavenly dews, In holy revelr)-, your nightly loves. Watched by the stars, and offering every mom Your incense grateful both to God and man, Ye lovely gentle things ! alas, no spring Shall ever wake you now! ye withered all. All in a moment drooped, and on your roots The grasp of everlastin? winter seized. Children of song ! ye birds that dwelt in air, And stole your no'es from anrels' lyres, and first In levee of the morn, with eulogy Ascending, hailed the advent of the dawn : Or, roRS'pd on the pensive evening bough, In melancholy numbers sun» the day To rest, your'little wings, failing dissolvad In middle air, and on your harmony Perpetual silence fell. Nor did his wing, That sailed in track of gods sublime, and fanned The sun, avail the eagle then ; quick smitten, His plumage withered in meridian height, And in the valley sunk, the lordly bird, A clod of clay. Before the ploughman, fell His steers, and in midway the furrow Itft : The shepherd saw his flocks around him, turn To dust : beneath his rider fell the steed To ruins : and the lion in his den Grew cold and stiff, or in the furious chase, With timid fawn, that scarcely missed his paws. On earth no living thing was seen but men, New changed, or rising from the opening tomb. Athens, and Rome, and Babylon, and Tyre, And she that sat on Thames, queen of the seas ! Cities once famed on earth, convulsed through all Their mighty ruins, threw their millions forth. Palmyra's dead, where desolation sat. From age to age, well pleased in solitude. And silence, save when traveller's foot, or owl Of night, or fragment mouldering down to dust, Broke faintly on his desert ear, awoke. And Salem, holy city, where the prince Of life, by death, a second life secured To man, and with him from the grave, redeemed, A chosen number brought, to retinue His great ascent on high, and give sure pledge That death was foiled,— her generations now 174 THE COURSE OF TIME. Gave up, of kings, and priests, and Pharisees : Nor even the Sadducee, who fondly said No morn cf Resurrection e'er sliould come, Could sit the summons ; to his ear did reach The trumpet's voice ; and ill prepared for what He oft had proved should never be, he rose Reluctantly, and on his face began To burn eternal shame. The ci'ies too, Of old ensepulchred beneath the flood, Or deeply slumbering under mountains huge. That earthquake — servant of the wrath of God- Had on their wicked population thrown. And marts of busy trade, lon^ ploughed and sown, By history unrecorded, or the song Of bard, yet not forgotten their wickedness In heaven — poured forth their ancient multitudes. That vainly wished their sleep had never broke. From battle fields, where men by millions met To murder each his fellow, and make sport To kings and heroes — things long since forgot- Innumerous armies rose, unbannered all, Unpanopled, unpraised ; nor found a prince. Or general then, to answer for their crimes. The hero's slaves, and all the scarlet troops Of antichrist, and all that fought for rule — Many high-sounding names, familiar once Cn earth, and praised exceedingly ; but now Familar most iu hell— their dungeon fit. Where they may war eternal!)' with God's Almighty thunderbolts, and win them pangs Of keener wo — saw, as they sprung to life, The widow, and the orphan ready stand. And helpless virgin, ravished in their sport, To plead against them at the coming l)oom. The Roman legions, boasting once how loud Of liberty, and fightiiig bravely o'er The torrid and the frigid zone ; the sands Of burning Egypt, and the frozen hills Of suowy Albion, to make mankind That morning gathered up their dust which lay Wide scattered over half the jlobe : nor saw Their eagled banners then. Sennacherib's hosts, Embattled once against the sons of God, With insult bold, quick as the noise of Diirth, And revelry, sunk in their drunken camp, When death's dark angel, at 'he dead of night. Their vitals touched, and made each pulse stand still — Awoke in sorrow: and the multitudes Of Gog, and all the fated crew that warred Against the chosen saints, in the last days, At Armageddon, when the Lord came down. Mustering his hosts on Israel's holy hills, And from the treasures of his snow and hail Bained terror, and confusion rained, and death) And gave to all the beasts and fowls of heavea Of captain's flesh, and blood of men of war, A feast of many days — revived, and doomed To second death, — stood in Hamocah's vale. Nor yet did all that fell in battle rise That day to wailing : here and there were seen, The patriot bands, that from his guilty throne The despot tore, unshackled nations made The prince respect the people's laws, drove back The wave of proud invasion, and rebuked The frantic fury of the multitude Rebelled, and fought and fell for liberty Right understood,— true heroes in the speech Of heaven, where words express the thoughts of him Who speaks— not undistinguished these, tho' few, That morn arose, with joy and melody. All woke — the north and south gave up their dead: The caravau. that in niid-joumey sunk. With all its merchandise, erpected long. And long forgot, ingulphed beneath the tide 176 THE COURSE OF TIME. Ofdeath, that the wild spirit of the winds, Swept in his wrath along the wilderness, In the wide desert woke, and saw all calm Around, and populous with risen men : Nor of his relics thought the pilerim then, Nor merchant of his silks and spiceries. And he — far vovagin; from home and friends Too curious, with a mortal eye to peep Into the secrets of the Pole, forbid By nature, whom fierce winter seized, and froze To death, and wrapped in winding sheet of ice, And sung the requiem of his shivering ghost. With the loud organ of his mighty winds. And on his memory threw the snow of ages — Felt the long absent warmth of life return, And shook the frozen mountain from his bed. All rose of every age, of every clime : Adam and Eve, the great progenitors Of all mankind, fair as they seemed that morn. When firs' they met in paradise, unfalleo, Cncursed — from ancient slumber broke, where once Euphrates rolled his stream ; and by them stood, In stature equal, and in soul as large, Their last posterity — tho' poet's sung, And sages proved them far degenerate. Blest sight ! not unobserved by angels, or Unpraised — that day'mong men of every tribe And hue, from those who drank of Teng'lio's stream, To those who nightly saw the hermit cross, In utmost south retired, — rising were seen. The fair and ruddy sons of Albion's land. How glad ! not those who travelled far, and sailei', To purchase human flesh ; or wreath the yoke Of vassalage on savage liberty ; Or suck large fortune from the sweat of slaves ; Or with refined knavery to cheat. BOOK VII. m Politely villanous, untutored men Out of their property ; or gather shells, Intaglios mde, old pottery, and store Of mutilated gods of stone, and scraps Of barbarous epitaphs defaced to be Among the learned the theme of warm debate, And infinite conjecture, sagely wrong '. But those, denied to self, to earthly fame Denied, and earthly wealth who kindred left, And home, and ease, and all the cultured joys, Conveniences, and delicate delights Of ripe society ; in the great cause Of man's salvation greatly valorous, The warriors of Messiah, messengers Of peace, and light, and lift-, whose eye UDScaled Saw up the path of immortality, Far into bliss — saw men, immortal men, Wide wandering from the way ; eclipsed in night, Dark, moonless, moral night ; living like beasts ; Like beasts descending to the grave untaught Of life to come, unsanctified, unsaved : Who strong, tho' seeming weak ; who warlike, tho' Dnarmed with bow and sword ; appearing mad, Tho' sounder than the schools alone e'er made The doctor's head ; devote to God and truth, And sworn to man's eternal weal — beyond Repentance sworn, or thought of tummg back ; And casting far behind all earthly care, All countryships, all national regards, And enmities ; all narrow bournes of state And selfish policy ; beneath their feet Treading all fear of opposition down ; All fear of danger ; of reproach all fear i And evil tongues ; — went forth, from Britain went, A noiseless band of heavenly soldiery, From out the armory of God equipped Invincible — to conquer sin ; to blow The trump of freedom in the despot's ear, To tell '.he bruted slave his manhood high, M 178 THE- COURSE OF TIME. His birthright liberty, and in his hand To put the writ of manumission, signed By God's own signature ; to drive away From earth the dark infernal legionry Of superstition, ignorance, and hell : Hieh on the pagan hills, where Satan sat Encamped, and o'er the subject kinzdoms threw Perpetual night, to plant Iniraanuel's cross, The ensign of the Gospel, blazirg round Immortal truth ; and in the wilderness Of human waste to sow eternal life ; And from the rock, where sin with horrid yell Devoured its victims unredeemed, to raise The melodv of grateful hearts to Heaven. To falsehood, truth ; to pride, humility ; To insult, meekness ; pardon, to revenge ; To stubborn prejudice, unwearied zeal ; To censure, unaccusing minds ; to stripes, liOng suffering ; to want of things, hope ; To death, assured faith of life to come, Opposin; — these, great worthies, rijinz. shone Thro' all the tribes, and nations of mackind, Like Hesper, glorious once among the stars. Of twilight, and around them flecking stood Arrayed in white, the people they had saved. Great Ocean too, that morning, thou, the call Of restitution heardst, and reverently To the last trumpet's voice in silence listened ! Great Ocean ! strongest of crea 'ion's sons ! Unconquerable, unreposed, untired ; Ttat rolled the wild, profound, eternal bass, In Nature's anthem, and made music, such As pleased the ear of God. Original, Unmarred, unfaded work of Deity ; And unburlesqued by mortal's puny skill. From age to .ige enduring and unchanged, Majestical, inimitable, vast, Loud uttering satire day aad night on each Succeeding race, and little pompous work Of mm. Unfallen, religious, holy sea ! Thou bowedst thy glorious head to none, fearedst none, Heardst none, to none didst honor, but to God Thy maker — only worthy to receive Thy ereal obeisance. Undiscovered sea ! Into thy dark, unknown, mysterious caves, And secret haunts, unfaihomably deep Beneath all visible retired, none went, And cameaeain, to tell the wonders there. Tremendous sea ! what time thou lifted up Thy waves on high, and with thy winds and storms Strange pastime took, and shook thy mighty sides Indignantly — the pride of navies fell ; Beyond the arm of help, unheard, unseen, Sunk friend and foe, with all their wealth and war ; And on thy shores, men of a thousand tribes. Polite and barbarous, trembling stood, aniazed. Confounded, terrified, and thought vast thoughts Of ruin, boundlessness, omnipotence, Icfinitude, eternity; and tlioujht And wondered sull, and grasped, and grasped, and grasped Again — beyond her reach exerting all The soul to take thy great idea in. To comprehend incomprehensible ; And wondered more, and felt their littleness. Self-purifyine, unpolluted sea ! Lover unchangeable ! thy faithful breast For ever heaving to the lovely moon, That like a shy and holy virgin, robed In saicilly white, walked nightly in the heavens, And to thy everlasting serenade Gave gracious audience ; nor was wooed in vain. That morning, thou, that slumbered not before. Nor slept, great Ocean ! laid thy waves to rest, And hushed thy mighty minstrelsy. No breath Thv deep composure stirred, no fin, no oar ; M2 130 THE COURSE OF TIME. Like beauty newly dead, so calm, so still, So lovely, tliou, beneath the li§ht that (ell From angel-chariots sentineled on hii;h. Reposed, and listened, and saw thy living change. Thy dead arise. Charybdis listened, and Scylla ; And savage Euxine on the Thracian beach Lay motionless : and every battle ship Stood still ; and every ship of merchandise. And all that sailed, of every name, stood still. Even as the ship of war, full fledged and swift Like some fierce bird of prey, bore on her foe, Opposing wilh as fell intent, the wind Fell withered from her wings, that idly hung ; The stormy bullet, by the cannon thrown Uncivilly against the heavenly face Of men, half sped, sunk harmlessly, and all Her loud, uncircuaicised, tempestuous crew, How ill prepared to meet their God ! were changed Unchangeable— the pilot at the helm Was changed,and the rough captain, while he mouthed The hugeenormous oath. The fisherman, That in his boat expectant watched his Imes, Or mended on the shore his net, and sung, Happy in thoughtlessness, some careless air, Heard Time depart, and felt the sudden change. In solitary deep, far out from land. Or steering from the port with n)any a cheer. Or while returning from long voyage, fraught With lusty wealth, rejoicing to have escaped The dangerous main, and plagues of foreign climes The merchant quaffed his native air refreshed, And saw his native hills in the sun's light Serenely rise, and thought of meetings glad, And many days of ease and honor spent Among his friends — unwarned man ! even then The knell of Time broke on his reverie. And in the twinkling of an eye his hopes. All earthly, perished all. As sudden rose. From out their watery beds, the Ocean's dead. Renewed, and on the onstfrriDghillows stood, From pole to pole, thick covering all the sea ; Of every nation blent, and every age. Wherever slept one grain cf hnman dust. Essential organ of a human soul, Wherever tossed — obedient to the call Of God's omnipotence, it hurried on To meet its fellow particles, revived, Rebuilt, in union indestructible. No atom of his spoils remained to Death ; From his strong arm by stronger arm released. Immortal now in scul and body both, Beyond his reach stood all the sons of men. And saw behind his valley lie unfeared. O Death '. with what an eye of desperate lust. From out thy emptied vaults, thou then didst look After the risen multitudes of all Mankind ! Ah, thou hadst been the terror long. And murderer of all of woman born. None could escape thee : in thy dungeon house, Where darkness dwelt, and putrid loathsomeness^ And fearful silence, villanously still. And all of horrible and deadly name, — Thou salt'sl from age to age insatiate, And drank the blood of men, and gorged their flesh, And with thy iron teeth didst grind their bones To powder — treading out beneath thy feet Their very tames and memories : the blood Of nations could not slake thy parched throat. No bribe could buy thy favor for au hour, Or mitigate thy ever cruel rage For human prey. Gold, beauty, virtne, yonth ; Even helpless swaddled innocency failed To soften thy heart of stone : the' infant's blood Pleased well thy taste— and while the mother wept, Bereaved by thee, lonely and waste in wo, Thy ever grindine jaws devoured her too. 'MS 182 THE COURSE OF TIME. Each Bon of Adam's family beheld, Where'er he turned, whatever path of life He irode, thy goblin form before him stand. Like trusty old assassin, in his aim Steady and sure as eye of destiny, With scythe, and dart, and strength invinciblei Equipped, and ever menacing his life. He turned aside, he drowned himself in sleep, 111 wine, in pleasure ; travelled, voyaged, sought Receipts for health from all he met ; betook To business ; speculate ; retired ; returned Again to active life ; again retired ; Returned ; retired again ; prepared to die ; Talked of thy nothingness ; conversed of life To come ; laughed at" his fears ; filled up the cnp ; Drank deep ; refrained ; filled up ; refrained again ; Planned; built him round with splendor, won jpplause; Made large alliances with men and things ; liead deep in science and philosophy. To fortify his soul ; heard lectures prove The present ill, and future good ; observed His pulse beat regular ; extended hope ; Thought, dissipated thought, and thought again ; Indulged, abstained, and tried a thousand schemes. To ward thy blow or hide thee from his eye ; But still thy gloomy terrors, dipped in sin, Before him frowned, and withered a'l his joy. Still, feared and hated thing, thy ghostly shape Stood in his avenues of fairest hope ; Unmannerly, and uninvited, crept Into his haunts of most select delight : Still on his halls of mirth, and banqueting, And revelry, thy shadowy hand was seen Writingthynarne of Death. Vile worm that gnawed The root of all bis happiness terrene ; the gall Of all his sweet ; the thorn of every rose Of earthly bloom ; cloud of his noon-day sky ; Frost of his spring ; sigh of his loudest laugh ; Dark spot on every form of loveliness, BOOK \1I. IS Rank smell amidst his rarest spiceries ; Harsh dissonance of all his harmony : Reserve of every promise, and the if Of all to-morrows — now beyond thy vale Stood all the ransomed multitude of men ; Immortal all ; and in their visions saw Thy visaee grin no more. Great payment day Of all thou ever conquered, none was left In thy unpeopled realms, so populous once. He, at whose girdle hangs the keys of death And life — not bought but with the bloc.d of Him Who wears, the eternal Son of God, that mom Dispelled the cloud that sat so long, so thick, So heavy o'er thy vale, opened all thy doors, Unopeoed before, and set thy prisoners free. Vain was resistance, and to follow vain. In thy unveiled caves, and solitudes Of dark and dismal emptiness, thou satt'st Rolling thy hollow eyes : disab'ed thing ! Helpless, despised, unpilied, and unfeared, Like some fallen tyrant, chained in sight of all The people : from thee dropped thy pointless dart : Thy terrors withered all ; thy ministers, Annihilated, fell before thy face ; And on thy maw eternal hunger seized. Nor yet, sad monster ! wast thou left alone. In thy dark dens snme phantoms still remained, Ambition, Vanity, and earthly Fame ; Swollen Os'entation, meagre Avarice, Mad Superstition, smooth Hypocrisy, And Bigotry intolerant, and Fraud, And wilful Ignorance, and sullen Pride ; Hot Controversy, and the subtile ghost Of vain Philosophy, and worldly Hope, And sweet lipped'hollow-hearted Flattery- All these, great personages once on earth. And not unfcllowed, nor unpralsed, were left, Thy ever unredeemed, and with thee driven 184 THE CX)URSE OF TIME. To Erebus, thro' whose nncheered wast^i, Thou mayest chase them with thy brokeo gcylho Fetching vain strokes to all eternity, Unsatisfied, as men who, in the days Of Time, their unsabstaotial forms porsued. THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK VIIL Description of the world assembled for final jadgment ; all former distinctious equalized ; all waiting in expectation, vice and virtue, good and bad, redeem, ed, and unredeemed, were now the only distinctions among men. An holy radiance shone on all countenances and re- vealed the inward state and feeling, the "index of the soul." On the wicked was depicted unuttera- ble despair ; and on the righteous "in measure equal to the soul's advance in virtue," it became the "lus- tre of the face." Various classes of the assembly are parficolarised ; the man of ear.hly fame, the mighty reasoner, the theo- rist, the recluse, the bigot theologion, the indolent, the sceptic, the follower of fashions, the dutious wife, the lunatic, the dishonest judge, the seducer, the duellist and suicide,the ypocrite, the slanderer, the false priest, the envious man, The word of God was not properly believed by any of ihe « icked ; the necessary fruit of faith beine "truth, temperance, meekness, holiness and Jove."" (toxwnt of ^ittie* BOOK VIII. n. jEANIMATED now, and dressed in robes Of everlasting wear, in tlie last pause Of expeclatioD, stood the human race ; Buoyant in air, or covering shore and sea, From east to west, thick as the eared grain. In golded auturan waved, from field to field, Profuse, by Nilus' fertile wave, while yet Earth was, and men were in her vadleys seen. Still all was calm in heaven : nor yet appeared The Judge : nor aught appeared, save here and there. On wing of golden plumage borne at will, A curious angel, thai from out the skies. Now glanced a look on man, and then retired. As calm was all on earth : the ministers Of God's unsparing vengeance waited still Unhid : no sun, no moon, no star gave light : A blest and holy radiance, travelled far From day original, fell on the face Of men, and every countenance revealed ; Unpleasant to the bad, whose visages Had lo^t all euisa of seeming happiness. With which on earth such pains they took to hide J88 THE COURSE OF TIME. Their misery in. On their grim features, now The plain unvisored index of the soul, The true untampered witness of the heart, No smile of hope, no look of vanity Beseechin? for applause, was seen ; no scowl Of self importaDt, all-despising pride. That once upon the poor and needy fell, Like winter on the unprotected flower, Withering their very btin? to decay. No jesting mirth, no wanton leer was seen ; No sullen lower of braggart fortitude Defying pain ; nor anger, nor revenge : But fear instead, and terror and remorse ; And chief one passion to its answering shaped Ttie features of the damned, and in itself Summed all the rest — unutterable despair- What on the righteous shone of foreign light Was all redundant day, tbey needed not. For, as by nature, Sin is dark, and loves The dark, still hidine from itself in gloom ; And in the darkest hell is stili itself The darkest hell, and the severest wo. Where all is wo : so Virtue, ever fair ! Dpth by a sympathy as strong as binds Two equal hearts, well pleased in wedded loTe, For ever seek the light, for ever seek All fair and lovely things, all beauteous form8, All images of excellence and truth ; And fiom her own essential being, pure As flows the fount of life that spirits drink, Doth to herself give light, nor from her beams, As native to her as her own existence, Can be divorced, nor of her glory shorn, — - Which now from every feattire of the just, Divinely rayed ; yet not from all alike ; In measure equal to the soul's advance In virtue, was the lustre of the face. BOOKVIl. 18!) It was a stranee assembly : none of all That congregaiion vast could recollect Aught like it in the history of man. No badge of outward s'ate was seen ; no mark Of age, or rank, or national attire ; Or robe professional, or air of trade. Untitled stood the man that once was called My lord, unserved, unfollowcd ; and the mau Of tithes, right reverend in the dialect Of Time addressed, ungowued, unbeneficed, Uncorpulent ; nor now from him, v/ho bore, With ceremonious gravity of step, And face of borrowed holiness o'erlaid, The ponderous book before the awful priest, And opened, and shut the pulpit's sacred gated In style of wonderful observancy, And'reverence excessive, in the beams Of sacerdotal splendor lost, or if Observed, comparison ridiculous scarce Could save the little, pompous, humble man From laughter of the people— not from him Could be distinguished then the priest untithed. None levees held, those marts where princely smiles Were sold for flattery, and obeisance mean, Unfit from man to man ; none came, or v-ent ; None wished to draw attention, none was poor, None rich ; none young, n'^ne old, deformed none ; None sought for place, or fivor ; ijone had aught To give, none could receive ; none ruled, none served ; No king, no subject was ; unscutcbeoned all, IJncrowned, unplumed, unhelmed, i^npedigreed ; Unlaced, uncoronetted, unbestarred. Nor countryman was seen, nor citizen ; Republican, nor humble advocate Of monarchy ; nor idle worshipper, Nor beaded papist, nor Mahometan ; Episcopalian none, nor presbyter ; Nor Lutheran, nor Calvinist, nor Jew, Nor Greek, uor sectary of any name. 190 THE COURSE OF TIME. Nor of those persons that loud title bore — Most high and mighty, most in»gni6ceDt ; M"st potent, most august, mosfworshipful, Most eminent; words of great pomp, that pleased The ear of vanity, and made the ni#rms Of earth mistake themselves for gods — could one Be seen, to claim these phrases obsolete. It was a congregation vast of men ; Of unappendaged, and unvarnished men ; Of plain, unceremonious human beings, Of all but moral character bereaved. His vice, or virtue now to each remained Alone. All else with their grave-clothes men had Put otf, as badges worn by mortal, not Immoitil man ; alloy that could not pass The scrutiny of Death's refining fires ; Dust of Time's wheels, by multitudes pursued Of fools that shouted — gold ! fair painted fruit. At which ambitious idiotsjnmped, while men Of wiser mood immortal harvests reaped ; Weeds of the human garden, sprung from earth's Adulterate soil, unfit to be transplanted, Though by the moral botanist too oft For flants ot heavenly seed mistaken, and nursed ; Mere chaflf that Virtue, when she rose from earth And waved her wings to gain her native heights, Drove from the verge of being, leaving vice No mask to hide her in ; base born of Time, In which God claimed no property, nor bad Prepared for them a place in heaven, or hell, Vet did these vain distinctions, now forgot, Bulk largely in the filmy eye of Time, And were exceeding fair ; and lured to death Immortal souls. But they were past ; for all Ideal now was past ; reality Alone remained ; and good and bad, redeemed And unredeemed, distinguished sole the sous Of men. Each to his proper self reduced, BOOK VJH, 191 And undisguised, was what his seeming showed. The man of earthly i5me, whom common men Made boast of having seen — who scarce could pass The ways of Time, p|r eager crowds that pressed To do him homaje, and pursued his ear With endless praise, for deeds unpraised above, And yoked their brutal natures honored much To drag his chariot on — unnoticed stood, With none to praise him, none to flatter there. Blushing and dumb, that mcminar, too was seen The mighty reasoner, he who deeply searched The origin of things, and talked of good And evil much, of causes and effects, Of mind and matter, contradictin» all That went before him, and himself the while, The laughing-stock of angels ; diving far Below his depth, to fetch reluctant proof. That he himself was mad and wicked t»o, When, proud and isnorant man, he meant to prove, That 63d had made the universe amiss, And sketchel a betterplan.Ah ! foolish sage ! He could not trust the word of Heaven, nor see The liffht which from the Bible blazed— that lamp Which God threw from his palace down to earth, To guide his wondering children home — yet leaned His cautious faith on speculations wild. And visionary theories absurd, Prodigiously, deliriously absurd, Compared with which, the most erroneous flight That poet ever took when warm with wine. Was moderate conjecturing: — he saw, Weighed ia the balance of eternity, His lore how light, and wished too late, that he Had staid at home, and learned 'o know himself, And done, what peasants did, disputed less, And more obeyed. Nor less he grieved his time MisspeDf,fheraan of curious research, 192 THE COURSK OF TIME. Who travelled far thro* lands of hostile cliue, And dangerous inha>)iiaDt, to fix The bounds of empires past, and ascertain The burial place of heroes never bom ; Despising present things, and future too, And groping in the dark unsearchable Of finished years — by dreary ruins seen, And dungeons damp', and vaults of ancient waste, With spade and mattock, delving deep to raise Old vases and dismembered idols rude ; With matchless perseverance spelling out Words without sense. Poor man ! he clapped his bands Enraptured, when he found a manuscript That spoke of pagan gods ; and yet forgot The God who made the sea and sky, alas ! Forgot that trifling was a sin ; stored much Of dubious stuff, but laid no treasure up In heaven; on mouldered columns scratched bis naioe, Eut ne'er inscribed it in the book of life. Unprofitable seemed, and unapproved, That day, the sullen, self-vindictive life Of the recluse : with crucifixes hung, And spells, and rosaries, and wooden saints, Like one of reason reft, he journeyed forth, In show of miserable poverty, And chose to beg, as if to live on sweat Of o'her men, had promised great reward ; On his own flesh inflicted cruel wounds, With naked foot embraced the ice, by the hour Said mass, and did most grievous penance vile ; And then retired to drink the filthy cup Of secret wickedness, and fabricate All lying wonders, by the untaught received For revelations new. Deluded wl^etch ! Did he not know, that the most Holy One Required a cheerful life and holy heart ? BOOK VIII. 19S Most disappointed in that crowfl of men. The man of subtle controversy stood, The bigot theologian — in minute Distinctions skilled, and doctrines nnredaced To practice ; in debate how lood ! how long ! How dexterous ! in christian love, how cold ! His vain conceits were orthodox alone. The immutable and heavenly truth, revealed By God, was nought to him : he had an art, A kind of helliBh charm, that made the lips Of truth speak falsehood ; to his liking turned The meaning of the text ; made trifles seem The marrow of salvation ; to a word, A name, a sect, that sounded in the ear, And to the eye so many letters showed, But did no more — gave value infinite ; Proved still his reasoning best, and his belief, Though propped on fancies, wild as madmen's dreams: Most rational, most scriptural, most sound ; With mortal heresy denouncing all Who in his areuments could see no force. On points of faith too fine for human sight, And never understood in heaven, he placed His everlasting hope, undoubting placed, And died : and when he opened his ear, prepared To hear, beyond the grave, the minstrelsy Of bliss— he heard, alas '. the wail of wo. He proved all creeds false but his own, and found At last, his own most false — most false, because He spent his time to prove all others so. love destroying, cursed bigotry ! Cursed in heaven, but cursed more in hell, Where millions curse thee, and mns! ever curse. Religion's most abhorred ! perdition's most Forlorn ! God's most abandoned I hell's most dainiied ! The infidel, who turned his impious war Against the walls of Zion, on the rock Of ages boilt, aod higher than the clouds. 191 THE COURSE OF TIME, Sinned, and received his due reward ; bot she Within her walls sinned more : of ienorance Begot, her daughter, Persecution, walked The earth, from age to a?e, and drank the blood Of saints, with horrid relish drank the blood Of God's peculiar children — and was drunk ; And in her drunkenness dreamed of doing good. The supplicating hand of innocence, That made the tiger mild, and in his wrath The lion pause — the groans of suffering most Severe, were nauzht to her : she laughed at groaia : No music pleased her more ; and no repast So sweet to her as blood of men redeemed By blood of Christ. Ambition's self, though mad, And nursed on human gore, with her compared Was merciful. Nor did she always rage : She had some hours of meditation, set Apart, wherein she to her study went, The Inquisition, model most co'mplete Of perfect wickedness, where deeds were done, Deeds ! let them ne'er be named, — and sat and planned Deliberate! V, and with most musing pains, How, to exlremest thrill of agony. The flesh, and blood, and souls of holy men, Her victims, might be wrought ; and wheo she saw New tortures of her laboring fancy born, She leaped for joy, and made great haste to try Their force — well pleased to hear a deeper groan. Bdt now her day of mirth was past, and come Her day to weep ; her day of bitter groans, And sorrow unbemoaned ; the day of grief, And wrath retributary poured in full On all that took her part. The man of sin. The mystery of iniquity, her friend Sincere, who pardoned sin, unpardoned etill. And in the name of God blasphemed, and did All wicked, all abominable things. Most abject stood that day, by devils hissed. And by the looks of those he murdered, scorched • BOOK VIII. 195 And plagued with inward shame that on his check Burned, while his votaries who left the earth, Secure of bliss, around him undeceived Stood, urideceivable till then ; and knew Too late, him fallible, themselves accursed, And all their passports and cerliCcales, A lie : nor disappointed more, nor more Ashamed, the Mussulman, when he saw, gnash His teeth and wail, whom he expected Judge. All these were damned for bigotry, were damned, Because Ihey thought, that they alone served God, And served him most, when most they disobeyed. Of those forlorn and sad, thou mightst have marked. In cumber most innumerable stand The indolent : too lazy these to mate Inquiry for themselves, Ihi-y stuck their faith To sonie well fatted priest, with oiferings bribed To bring them oracles of peace, and take Into his management, all the concerns Of their eternity : managed how well They knew that day, and might have sooner known. That the commandment was : Search and believe In Me, and not in man ; who leans on him Leans on a broken reed that will impierce The trusted side. 1 am the way, the truth, The life alone, and there is none besides. This did Ihey read, and yet refused to search. To search what easily was found, and found, Of price uncountable. Most foolish, they Thought God with ignorance pleased and blinded tilth That took not root in reason, purified With holy iofluence of his Spirit pure. So, on they walked and stumbled in the light Of noon, because they would not open their eyes. Effect how sad of sloih ! that made them risk Their piloting to the eternal shore, To one who could mistake the lurid flash N2 196 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of hell for heaven's true star, rather than bow The knee, and by one fervent word obtain His guidance sure, who calls the stars by name. They prayed by proxy, and at second hand Believed,'and slept and put repentance off. Until the knock of death awoke them, when They saw their ignorance both, and him thev paid To bargain of their souls 'twixt them and (jod, Fled, and began repentance without end. How did they wish that morning, as they stood With blushing covered, they had for themselves The Scripture searched, bad for themselves believed, And made acquaintance with the Judge ere then ! Great day of termination to the joys Of sin ! to joys that grew on mortal bonghs — On treeo whose seed fell not from heaven, whose fop Reached not above the clouds. From such alone The epicure took all his meals : in choice Of morsels for the body, nice he was And scrupulous, and knew all wines by smell Or taste, and every composition knew Of cookery ; but grossly drank unskilled The cup of spiritual pollution up, That sickened his soul to death, while yet his ey«e Stood out with fat : his feelings were his giiide ; He ate, and drank, and slept, and took all joys. Forbid and unforbid, as impulse urged. Or appetite ; nor asked his reason why. He said, be followed nature still, but lied ; For she was temperate and chaste, he full Of wine and all adultery ; her face Was holv, most unholy'his; her eye Was '-'we, his shot unhallowed fire ; her lips Sang ^ raise to God, his uttered oaths profane ; Her ^iCath was sweet, his rank with foul debauch. Yet pleaded he a kind and feeling heart. Even when he left a neighbor's bed defiled. Like migratory fowls that flocking sailed Whither the clime their liking best beseemed ; So he was guided ; so he moved through good And evil, right and wrong, but ah ! to fate All different ; they slept in dust unpained ; He rose that day to suffer endless pain. Cured of his unbelief, the sceptic stood, Who doubted of his being while he breathed ; Than whom, glossograpby itself, that spoke Huge folios of nonsense every hour, And left, surrounding every page, its marks Of prodigal stupidilv, scarce more Of folly raved. The Tyrant too, who sat In grisiy council, like a spider couched, With ministers of locust countenance, And made alliances to rob mankind, And holy termed — for still beneath a name Of pious' sound the wicked sought to veil Their crimes — forgetful of his right divine, Trembled, and owned oppression was of hell. Nor did the uncivil robber, who unpursed The traveller on the high way and cut His throat, anticipate severer doom. In that assembly there was one, who, while Beneath the «un, aspired to be a fool : In different ages known by different names, Not worth repeating here. Be this enough : With scrupulous care exact, he walked the rotinds Of fashionable duty ; laughed when sad ; When merry, wept ; deceiving, wa-s deceiTed ; And fiaiterine, flattered. Fashion was his god. Obsequiously he fell before its shrine. In slavish plight, and trembled to offend. If graveness suiied, he was grave ; if else, He travailed sorely, and made brief repose, To work the proper quantity of sin. In all submissive, to its changing shape, N3 198 THE COURSE OF TIME. Still chansrin^, girded he his vexed frame, And laughter made to men of sounder head. Most circumspect he was of bows, and nods, And salutations ; and most seriously And deeply meditated he of dress ; And in his dreams saw lace and ribbons fly. His soul was nought — he damned it every day Unceremoniously. Oh ! fool of fools ! Pleased with a painted smile, he fluMered On, Like fly of gaudy plume, by fashion driven. As faded leaves by Autumn's wind, till Death Put forth his hand and drew him out of sight. Oh ! fool of fools ! polite to man ; to God Most rude : yet had he many rivals, who, Age after age, great striving made to be Ridiculous, and to forget they had Immortal souls — that day remembered well. As rueful stood his other half, as wan Of cheek : small her ambition was — but strange. The distaff, needle, all domestic cares. Religion, children, husband, home, were things She could not bear the thought of ; bitter drugs That sickened her soul. The house of wanton mirth And revelry, the mask, the dance, she loved, And in their service soul and body spent Most cheerfully ; a little admiration. Or true, or false, no matter which, pleased her, And o'er the wreck of fortune lost, aad health, And peace, and an eternity of bliss Lost, made her siveelly smile : She was convinced That God had made her greatly out of taste. And took much pains to make'herself anew. Bedaubed with paint, and hung with ornaments Of curious selection— gaudy toy ! A show unpaid for. paying to be seen ! As beggar by the way, most humbly asking The alms of public gaze — she went abroad ; Folly admired and indication gave BOOK VIII. I! Of envy ; cold civility made bows, And smoothly flattered ; wisdom shook his head ; And laughter shaped his lip into a smile : Sobriety did stare ; forethought grew pale ; And modesty hung down the head and blushed ; And pity wept, as on the frothy surge Of fashion tossed, she passed them by, like sail Before some devilish blast, and got no time To think, and never thought, till on the rock She dashed of ruin, anguish, and despair. how unlike this giddy thing in Time ! And at the day of judgment how unlike '. The modest, meek, retiring dame. Her house Was ordered well ; her children taught the way Of life — who, rising up in honor, called Her blest. Best pleased to be admired at home. And hear reflected from her husband's praise, Her own, she sought no gaze of foreign eye. His praise alone, and faithful love and trust Reposed, was happiness enough for her. Yet who that saw her pass, and heard the poor With earnest benedictions on her steps Attend, could from obeisance keep his eye, Or tongue from due applause. In virtue fair, Adorned with modesty, and matron grace Unspeakable, and love — her face was like The light, most welcome to the eye of man ; Refreshing most, most honored, most desired Of all he saw in the dim world below. As morning when she shed her golden locks, And on the dewy top of Hermon walked, Or Zion hill— so glorious was her path : Old men beheld, and did her reverence. And bade their daughters look, and take from her Example of their future life : the young Admired, and new resolve of virtue made. And none who was her husband asked : his air Serene, and countenance of joj, the sign 200 THE COUBSE Of TIME. Of inward satisfactioD, as he passed The crowd, or sat among the elders, told. In holiness complete, and in the robes Of saving righteousness, arrayed for heaven, How fair, that day, among the fair, she stood I How lovely on the eternal hills her steps ! Restored to reason, on that mom appeared The lunatic — who raved in chains, and asked ISO mercy when he died. Of lunacy Innumerous wete thecatises : humbled pride, Ambition disappointed, riches lost, And bodily disease, and sorrow, oft Ky man inflicted on his brother man ; Sorrow that made the reason drunk, and yet Left much untasted — so the clip wasfdied : Sorrow that like an ocean, dark, deep, rough, And shoreless, rolled its billows o'er the soul Perpetually, and wiihout hope of end. Take one example, one of female wo. Loved by a father, and a mother's love, In rural peace she lived, so fair, so light Of heart, so good, and young, that reason scares The eye could credit, but would doubt, as she Did stoop to pull the lily or the rose From morning'sdew, if it reality Of flesh and blood, or holy vision, saw, In imagery of perfect womanhood. But short her bloom — her happiness was short One saw her loveliness, and with desire Unhallowed, burning, to her ear addressed Dishonest words : "Her favor was his life. His heaven ; her frown his wo, his night, his death.'* With turgid phrase thus wove in flattery's loom, He on her womanish nature won, and aige Suspicioniess, and ruined and forsook : For be a chosen villain was at heart, Ajid capable of deeds that durat not seek BOOK VIII. a Repentance. Soon her father saw her shame : His heart grew stone ; he drove her forth to want And wintry winds, and with a horrid curse Pursued her ear, forbidding all return. Upon a hoary cliff that watched the sea. Her babe was found — dead : on its little check, The tear that nature bade it weep, had turned An ice-drop, sparklin? in the morning beam ; And to the turf its helpless hands were frozsn : For she — the woful mother, had gone mad, And laid it down, regardless of its fate And of her own. Yet bad she many days Of sorrow in the world, but never wept. She lived on alms ; and carried in her band Some withered stalks, she gathered in the spring : When any asked the cause, she smiled, and said They were her sisters, and would come and watch Her grave when she was dead. She never spoKe Of her deceiver, father, mother, home. Or child, or heaven, or hell, or God ; but still In lonely places walked, and ever gazed Upon the withered stalks, and talked to them ; Till wasted to the shadow of her youth. With wo too wide to see beyond — she died : Not unatoned for by imputed blood. Nor by the spirit that mys'erious works, Unsanctified. Aloud her father cursed That day his guilty pride which would not own A daughter whom the God of heaven and earth. Was not ashamed to call his own ; and he Who ruined her, read from her holy look. That pierced him with perdition, manifold, His sentence, burning with vindictive fire. The judge that took a bribe ; he who amiss Pleaded the widow's cause, and by delay Delaying ever, made the Ian- at night More intricate than at the dawn, aiid on 202 THE COURSE OF TIME. The morrow farther from a close, than when The sun last set, till be who in the suit Was poorest, by his empty coffers, proved His cause the worst ; and he that had the bag Of weights deceitful, and the balance false ; And he that with a fraudful lip deceived In buying or in selling : — these that mom Found custom no excuse for sin, and knew Plain dealing was a virtue, but too late. And he that was supposed to do nor good Kor ill, surprised, could find no neutral ground ; And learned, that to do nothing was to serve The devil, and transgress the laws of God. The noisy quack, that by profession lied, And uttered falsehoods of enormous size, With countenance as grave as truth beseemed ; And he that lied for pleasure, whom a lust Of being heard, and making people stare. And a most steadfast hate of silence, drove Far wideof sicred truth, who never took The pains to think of what he was to say. But still made haste to speak, with weary tongue, Like copious stream forever flowing on — Read clearly in the lettered heavens what long Before they might have read : for every word Of folly you this day shall give account , And everv liar shall his portion have Among the cursed, without the gates of life. With groans that made no pause, lamenting there Were seen the duellist, and suicide: This thought, but thought amiss, that of himself He was entire proprietor ; and so. When he was tired of lime, with his own band, He opened the portals of eternity. And sooner than the devils hoped, arrived In hell. The other, of rf sentment quick, And, for a word, a look, a gesture, deemed Not scrupulously exact in all respect, BOOK VIII. 20 Prompt to revenue, went to the cited field, For double murder armed— his own, and bis Ttiat as himself he was ordained to love. The first in pagan-books ot early limes, Was heroism pronounced, and ^really praised. In fashion's glossary of later days, The last was honor called, and spirit high. Alas '. 'twas mortal spirit ; honor which Forgot to wake at the last trumpet's voice, Bearing the signature of time alone, Uucurrent in eternity, and base. Wise men suspected this before ; for they Could never understand what honor meant ; Or why that should be honor termed which made Man murder man, and broke the laws of God Most wantonly. Sometimes, indeed, the grave, And those of christian creed imagined, spoke Admiringly of honor, lauding much The noble youth, who, after miny rounds Of boiing, died ; or to the pistol shot His breast exposed, his soul to endless pain. But they who most admired, and understood This honor best, and on its altar laid Their lives, most obviously were fools : and what Fools only, and the wicked understood — The wise agreed, was some delusive Shade, That with the mist of time should disappear. Great day of revelation ! in the grave The hypocrite had left kie mask ; and stood In naked ugliness. He was a man Who stole 'the livery of the court of heaven To serve the devil in ; in virtue's guise Devoured the widow's house and orphan's bread ; In holy phrase transacted villanies That common sinners durst not meddle with. At sacred feast, he sat among the saints. And with his guilty hands touched holiest things. And none of sin lamented more, or sighed 204 THE COURSE OF TIME. Mo»e deeply, or with graver countenance, Or longer prayer, wept o'er the dj ing man, Whose infant children, at the moment, he Planned how to rob : in sermon style be bought, And sold, and lied ; and salutations made In scripture terms : he prayed by quantity, And with his repetitions long and loud, All knee! were weary ; with one hand he put A penny in the urn of povertv. And with the other took a shilling out. On charitable lists — those trumps which told The public ear, who had in secret done The poor a benefit, and half the alms They told of, took themselves to keep them sounding; He blazed his name, more pleased to have it there Than in the book of life. Seest thou the man ! A serpent with an angel's voice ! a grave With flower? bestrewed ! and yet few were deceived. His virtues being over-done, his face Too grave, bis prayers too long, his charities Too pompously attended, and his speech Larded too frequently, apd out of time With serious phraseology— were rents That in his garments opened in spite of him, Thro' which the well accustomed eye could see The rottenness of his heart. None'deeper blushed, As in the all piercing light he stood exposed. No longer herding with the holy ones : Yet still he tried to bring his countenance To sanctimonious seeming ; hut, meanwhile, The shame within, now visible to all. His purpose baulked : the risrhteous smiled, and even Despair itself some signs of laughter gave. As ineffectually he strove to wipe His brow, that inward guiltiness defiled. Detected wretch I of all the reprobate, None seemed maturerfor the flames of hell ; ^Vhere still bis face, from ancient custom, wears A holy air, which says to all that past BOOK VIII, I Bim by : I was a hypocrite on earth. That was the hour which measured out to each, Impartially, his share of reputation ! Correcting all mistakes, and from the name Of the good man, all slanders wiping off. Good name was dear to all : without it, nona Could soundly sleep even on a royal bed ; Or drink with relish from a cup of gold : And with it, on his borrowed straw or by The leafless hedge, beneath the open heavens. The weary beggar took untroubled rest. It was a music of most heavenly tone, To which the heart leaped joyfully, and all The spirits danced : for honest fame, men laid Their heads upon the block, and while theaie Descended, looked and smiled. It wasof price Invaluable — riches, health, repose, Whole kingdoms, life, were given for it, and ha Who got it was the winner still ; and he Who sold it, durst not open hid ear, nor look On human face, he knew himself so vile. Yet it, with all its preciousnesj, was due To Virtue, and around her should have shed, Unasked, iis savory smell ; but Vice, deformed Itself, atid ugly, and of flavor rank. To rob fair Virtue of so sweet an incense, And with it to anoint, and salve its own RoUen ulcers, and perfume the path that led To death, strove daily by a thousand means ; And oft succeeded to make Virtue sour In the world's nostrils, and its loathly self Smell sweetly. Rumcr was the messenger Of defamation— and so swift that none Could be the first to tell an evil tale; And was nilhal so infamous for lies, That he who of her sayings on his creed The fewest entered, was deemed wisest njaa. The fool, and many who had credit too 206 THE COURSE OF TIME. For wisdom, grossly swallowed all she said Unsifted ; and although at every word They heard her contradict herself, and saw Hourly they were imposed upon, and mocked. Yet still they ran to hear her speak, and stared, And wondered much, and stood aghast, and said : Jt could not be : and while they blushed for shame At their own faith, and seemed to doubt— believed, And whom they met, with many sanctions, told. So did experience fail to teach ; so hard It was to learn this simple truth, confirmed At every corner by a thousand proofs — That common fame most impudently lied. 'Twas Slander filled her mouth with lying words; Slander, the foulest whelp of Sin ; the man In whom this spirit entered was undone. His tongue was set on fire of hell ; his heart Was black as death ; bis legs were faint with haste To propagate the lie his soul had framed ; His pillow was the peace of families Destroyed, the sigh of innocence leproached. Broken friendships, and the strife of brotherhoods : Yet did he spare his sleep, and hear the clock Kumber the midnight watches, on his bed, Devising mischief more ; and early rose. And made most hellish meals of gof-d men's names. From door to door you might haye seen him speed, Or placed amidst a group of gaping fools. And whispering in their ears, with his foul lips. Peace fled tlie neighborhood in which he made His haunts ; and like a moral pestilence, Before his breath the healthy shoots, the blooms Of social joy, and happiness, decayed. Fools only m his company were seen. And those forsaken of God, and to themselves Given up : the prudent shunned him, and hi* house, As one who had a deadly moral plague. And fain would all have shunned him at the day Of judgment ; but in vain. All who save ear With greediness,or wittingly their tongues Made herald to his lies, around him wailed ; While on his face, thrown back by injured men, In characters of ever-blushing shame. Appeared ten thousand slanders, all his own. Among the accursed, who sought a hiding-pla.ee In Tain from fierceness of Jehovah's rage. And from the hot displeasure of the Lantb, Most wretched, most contemptible, most vile,— Stood the false priest, and in his conscience felt The fellest gnaw of the undying Worm. And so he might, for he had on his hands The blood of souls, that would not wipe away. Hear what he was : — He swore in sigh* of God, And man, to preach his master, Jesus Christ ; Yet preached himself: he swore that love of souls Alone, had drawn him to the church : yet strewed The path that led to hell, with tempting flowers. And in the ear of sinners, as they took The way of death, he whispered 'peace : he swore Away all love of lucre, all desire Gave most rapacious ear : his prophecies, He swore, were from the I/^rd ; and yet taught lies For gain : with quackish ointment h^led the wounds And bruises of the soul, outside, but left Within the pestilent matter unoliserved, To sap the moral constitution quite, And soon to burst again, incurable. He with untempered mor'ar daubed the walls Of Zion, saying. Peace, when there was none. The man who came with thirsty sonl to hear Of Jesus, went away unsatisfied : For he another gospel preached than Paul, And one that had no Saviour in't. And yet 208 THE COURSE OF TIME. His life Was worse : Faith, charity, and love. Humility, forgiveness, holiness. Were word? well lettered in his sabbath creed ; But with his life he wrote as plain : Revenge, Pride, tyranny, and lust of wealth and power Inordinate, and lewdness unashamed. He was a wolf jn clothing of the lamb, That stole into the fold of God, and on The blood of souls which he did sell to death, Grew fat : and yet when any would have turned Him out he cried :— Touch not the priest of God. And that he was anointed, fools believed : But knew that day, he was the devil's priest : Anointed by the hands of Sin and Death, And set peculiarly apart to ill, — While on him smoked the vials of perdition Poured measureless. Ah me ! what cursing then Was heaped upon his head by ruined souls That charged him with their murder, as he stood With eye of all the unredeemed most sad, Waiting the coming of th e Son of Man ! But let me pause, for thou hast seen his place, And punishment beyond the sphere of love. Much was removed that tempted once to sin. Avarice no gold, no wine the drunkard saw : But Envy had enough, as heretofore. To fill bis heart with gall and bitterness. What made the man of envy what he was, Was worth in others, vileness in himself, A lust of praise, with undeserving deeds. And conscious poverty of soul: and still It was his earnest work and daily toil With lying tongue, to make the noble seem Mean as himself. On fame's high hill he saw The laurel spread its everlasting green. And wished to climb : but felt bis knee* too weak i And stood below unhappy, laying hands Upon the strong ascending gloriously BOOK VIII. 203 The steps of honor, hent to draw them back ; Involving oft the brightness of their path In mists his breath had raised. Whene'er he beard, As oft he did of joy and happiness, And great prosperity, and rising worth, 'Twas like a wave of wormwood o'er his soul Rolling its bi'tercess. His joy was wo : The no of others : when from wealth to want, From praises to reproach, from peace to strife, From mirth to tears, he saw a brother fall. Or virtue make a slip — his dreams were sweet. But chief with Slander, daughter of his own, He took unhallowed pleasure : when she talked And with her filthy lips defiled the best. His ear drew near ; with wide attention gaped His mouth ; his eye, well pleased, as eager gazed As glutton, when'the dish he most desired Was placed before him ; and a horrid mirth, At intervals, with laughter shook his sides. The critic, too. who, "for a bit of bread, In book that fell aside before the ink Was dry, poured forth excessive nonsense, gave Him much delight. The critics — some, but few, Were worthy men ; and earned renown which had Immortal roots : but most were weak and vile : And as a cloudy swarm of summer flies. With angry hum and slender lance, beset The sides of some huge animal ; so did They buzz alicut the Illustrious man, and fain With his immortal honor, down the stream Of fame would have descended ; but alas ! The hand of Time drove them away : they were, Indeed a simple race of men, who had One only an, which taught them s^ill to say, Whaie'er was done, m ieht have been better done- And with this art, not ill to learn they made A shift to live : but sometimes too, beneath The dust they raised, was worth awhile obscured ; And then did Envy prophesy and laugh. 210 THE COURSE OF TIME. O Envy ! hide thy bosom ! hide it deep : A tboasand SDakes, with black envenomed mouth*, Nest there, and hiss, and feed thro' all thy heart ! Soch one I saw, here interposing, said The new arrived, in that dark den of shame, Whom, who hath seen shall never wish to see A^in : before him, in the infernal gloom, That omnipresent shape of Virtue stood. On which he ever threw his eye ; and like A cinder that had life and feeling, seemed His face, with ioward pining, to be what He could not be. As being that had burned Continually in slow consuming fire. Half an eternity, and was to burn For evermore, he looked. Oh ! sight to be Forgotten ! thought too horrible to think ! But say, believing in such wo to come, Such dreadful certainty of endless pain, Could beings of forecasting mould, as thou Entitles! men, deliberately walk on, Unscared, and overleap their own belief Into the lake of ever burning fire ? Thy tone of asking seems to make reply. And rightly seems : They did not so believe. Not one of all thou saw'st lament and wail In Tophet, perfectly believed the word Of God, else none had thither gone. Absurd, To think that beings made with reason, formed To calculale, compare, choose, and reject. By nature taught, and self, and every sense, To choose the good and pass the evil by. Could, with full credence of a time to come. When all the wicked should be really damned, And cast beyond the spfiere of light and love, Have perEevered in sin ! Too foolish this For folly in its prime. Can aught that thinks, BOOK VIII, 211 And wills, choose cerfaiD evil and reject Good, in his heart believin? he does so ? Could man choose pain, instead of endless joy ? Mad supposition, though maintained by some Of honest micd. Behold a man condemned I Either he ne'er inquired, and therefore he Could not believe ; or else he carelessly Inquired, and something other than the word Of God received into his cheated faith, And therefore he did not believe, but down To hell descended, leaning on a lie. Faith was bewildered much by men who meant To make it clear — so simple in itself ; A thought so rudimental and so plain, That none by comment could it plainer make. All faith was one : In object, not in kind The difference lay. The faith that saved a soul, And that which m the common truth believed. In essence were the same. Hear then what faith, True, Christian faith, which brought salvation, was: Belief in all tha' God revealed to men : Observe — in all that God revealed to men ; In all he promised, threatened, commanded, said. Without exception, and without a doubt. Who thus believed, being by the Spirit touched. As naturally the fruits of faith produced — Truth, temperance, meekness, holiness, and lovfr— As human eye from darkness sought the light. How could he else ? If he who had firm faith The morrow's sun should rise, ordered affairs Accordingly ; if he who had firm faith That spring, and summer, and autumnal day3 Should pass away, and winter really come, Prepared accordingly ; if he who saw A bolt of death approaching, turned aside And let it pass ; as surely did the man Who verily believed the word of God, Though erring whiles, its general laws obey, 02 212 THE COURSE OF TIME. Turn back from hell, and lake the way to That faith was necessary, some alleged, Unreigned and uncontrollable by will. Invention savoring much of teW ! Indeed, It was the masterstroke of wickedness, Last effort of Abaddon's council dark, To make man think himself a slave to fate. And worst of all, a slave to fate in faith. For thus 'twas reasoned then : — From faith alone, And from opmion. springs all action : hence. If faith's compelled, so is all action too : But deeds compelled are not accountable ; So man is not amenable to God. Arguin? that brought such monstrous birth, thougb good It seemed must have been false : most false it was, And by the book of God condemned throughout. We freely own that truth, when set before The mind, with perfect evidence, compelled Be-lief ; but error lacked such witness still. And none who now lament in m.ora! night, The word of God refused on evidence That might not have been set aside, as false. To reason, try, choose and reject, was free : Hence God, by faith, acquitted, or condemned ; Hence righteous men, with liberty of will Believed ; and hence thou siw'st in Erebus, The wicked, who as freely disbelieved What else had led them to thu land of life. THE COURSE OF TIME, ANALTSaS OF BOOK IX. An apostrophe to Religion, Virtue, Piety or love of Holiness. Description of several classes of the redeemed. The faithful minister, the true philosopher, the righteous governor, the uncorrupted statesman, the brave General, the man of active benevolence and charity, the Christian's bard. And the most numerous among the saved v^ere such, who on earth were eclipsed by lowly circumstances, many of whom were seen "Highest and first in honour." Suddenly an innumerous host of angels, headed by Michael and Gabriel, descended from heaven, si- lently and without song, and lifting mankind into mid air, parted the good and bad ; to the right and left, the good to weep no more, and the bad never to smile again ; the righteous placed "beneath a crown of rosy light," and the wicked were driven }>nd bound under a cloud of darkness, where stood also Satan and his legion, awaiting the judgment and puaisbmect due to their rebellion. itouxnt ot Wimt, BOOK IX. J; AIKEST of thwe that left the calm of heaven And Tenlured down to man. with words of peace, Daughter of Grace ! known by whatever name, Religion ! Virtue I Pie'v ! or Love Of Holinees ! the day of thy reward Was come. Ah ! thou wast Ion? despised : despised Bv those thou wooedst from deaih to endless life, ^lodest and meek, in garments white as those That seraph's wear, and countenance as mild As Mercy looking on Repentance' tear ; With eye of purity, now darted up To God's eternal throne, now humbly bent Upon thyself, and weeping down thy cheek That glowed with universal love immense, A tear pure as the dews that fail in heaven ; In thy left hand, the olive branch, and in Thy right, the crown of immortality — With noiseless foot, thou walkedst the valea of earth, Beseeching men from age to age, to turn From utter death — to turn from wo to blise ; Beseeching evermore, and evermore Despised — not evermore despised, not now, Not at the day of doom : most lovely then, 216 THE COURSE OF TIME. Most honorable thou appeared, and roost To be desired. The guilty heard the song Of thy redeemed, how loud ! and saw thy face How fair ! Alas ! it was too late ! the hour Of makiug friends was past ; thy favor then Might not be sought : but recollection, sad And accurate, as "miser counting o'er And o'er again the sum he must layout, Distinctly in the wicked's ear, retiearsed Each opportunity despised and lost ; While on them gleamed thy holy look, that like A tiery torrent went into their souls. The day of thy reward was come — the day Of great remuneration to thy friends ; To those, known by whatever name, who sought, In ever)' place, in every time, to do Unfeignedly their Maker's will revealed. Or gathered else from nature's school ; well pleased "With God's applause alone, that, like a stream Of sweetest melody, at still of night By wanderer heard, in their most secret ear, Forever whispered, Peace ; and as a string Of kindred tone awoke, their inmost soul. Responsive answered. Peace ; inquiring still And searching, night and day, to know their duty, When known, with undispu'ting trust, with love Dnquenchable, with zeal, by reason's lamp Inflamed — performing; and to Him, by whose Profound, all-calculating skill alone, Results— results even of the slightest act, Are fully grasped, with unsuspicious faith, All consequences leaving : to abound Or want alike prepared ; who knew to be Exalted how, and how to be abased ; How best to live, and how to die when asked. Their prayers sincere, their alms in secret done. Their fightings with themselves, their ahstiuence From pleasure, Iho' by mortal eye unseen, Their hearts of resignation to tbe vrill BOOK IX. 21 Of Heaven, their patient bearing; of reproach And shame, their charily, and faith, and hope,— Thou didst remember, and in full repaid. No bankrupt thou, who at the bargained hour Of payment due, sent to his creditors A tale of losses and mischances long. Ensured by God himself, and from the stores And treasures of his wealth at nill supplied,— Religion, thou alone, of all that men, On earth, gave credit, to be reimbursed On the other side the grave, didst keep thy word, Thy day, and all thy promises fulfilled. As in the mind, rich with unhorroTved wealth, "Where multiiudes of thoughts for utterance strive, And all so fair, that each seems worthy first To enter on the tongue, and from the lips Have passage forth, — selection hesitates, Perplexed, and loses time ; anxious since all Cannot be taken, to take the best ; and yet Afraid, lest vhat be left be worthier still ; And grieving much, where all so goodly look. To leave rejected one, cr in the rear Let any bs obscured : so did the bard, Tho' not unskilled, as on that multitude Of men, who once awoke to judgment, he Threw back reflection, hesitating, pause. For on his harp, in tone severe, had sung What figure the most famous sinners made, When from the grave they rose unmasked ; so did He wish to chara'cter the good : but yet Among so many, glorious all, all worth Immortal fame, with whom begin, with whom To end, was liifiBcult to choose ; and long His auditors, upon the tiptoe raised Of expectation, might have kept, had not His eye — for so it is in heaven, that what Is needed always is at hand — beheld, That moment, on a mountain near the fhroM 218 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of God, the most renowned of the redeemed Rejoicing ; nor who first, who most to praise, Debated more ; but thus, with sweeter note, Wei) pleased to sing, with highest eulogy, w&nd first, whom God applauded most,— began. With patient ear, thou now hast heard,— tho' whiles Aside digressing, ancient feeling turned My lyre, — what shame the wicked had that day, What wailing, what remorse : so hear in brief, How bold the righteous stood — the men redeemed ! How fair in virtue ! and in hope how glad ! And first among the holy shone, as best Became, the faithful mmister of God. See where he walks on yonder mount, that lifts Its summit high, oa the right hand of bliss 1 Sublime in glory ! talking wilh his peers Of the Incarnate Saviour's love, and past Affliction, lost in present joy ! See how His face wilh heavenly ardor glows ! and how His hand enraptured, strikes the golden lyre ! As now conversing of the Lamb once slain, He speaks ; and now, from vines that never hear Of winter, but in morthly harvest yield Their fruit abundantly, he plucks the grapes Of life ! but what he was on earth it most Behoves to say : — Elect by God himself ; Anointed by the Holy G host, and set Apart 10 the great work of saving men ; Instructed fully in the will divine ; Supplied with grace in store, as need might ask ; And with the stamp and sienalure of heaven, Truth, mercy, patience, holiness and love, Accredited ; — he was a man by God, The Lord commissioned to make known to men, The eternal counsels ; in his Master's name. To treat with them of everlasting things ; Of life, death, bliss, and wo : to offer termi BOOK IX. 2 Of pardon, ^ce, and peace, to the rebelled ; To teach the ignorant soul ; to cheer the sad ; To bind, to loose with all authority ; To give the feeble strength, the hopeless hope ; To help the hailing, and to lead the blind ; To warn the careless ; heal the sick of heart ; Arouse the indolent ; and on the proud And obstinate offender, to denounce The wrath of Gc-d. All other men, what name Soe'er Ihey bore, whatever office held, If lawful held — the magistrate supreme, Or else subordinate, were chosen by men, Their fellows, and from men derived their power, And were accountable for all they did To men ; but he alone his office held Immediately from God, from God received Authority, and was to none but God Amenable. The elders of the church, Indeed, upso him laid their hands, and set Him visibly u«rt to preach the word Of life ; but mis was merely outward rite, And decent ceremonial, performed (In all alike ; and oft, as thou hast heard, Performed on those, God never sent : tis call. His consecration, his anointing, all Were inward ; in the conscience heard and felt. Thus by Jehovah chosen and ordained. To take into hi? charge the souls of men ; And for his trust to answer at the day Of judgment— great plenipotent of heaven, And representative of Giid on eirth — Fearless of men and devils ; unabashed By sin enthroned, or mockery of a prince ; Unawed by armed legions ; unseduced By offered'bribes ; burning with love to loala Unquenchable, and mindful still of his Great charge and vast responsibility, — High in the temple of the living God, He stood, amidst the people, and declared 220 THE COURSE OF TIME. Aloud the truth — the whole revealed truth — Ready to seal it with bis blood. Divine Resemblance most complete ! with mercy now, And love, his face illumed, shone gloriously ; And frowning now indignantly, it seemed As if offended Justice, from his eye, Streamed forth vindictive wrath ! Men heard alarmed: The uncircumcised infidel believed ; Light thoughted Mirth grew serious and wept; The laugh profane sunk in a sigh of deep Repentance ; the blasphemer kneeling, prayed, And prostrate in the dust for mercy called ; And cursed old forsaken sinners gnashed Their teeth, as if their hour had been arrived. Such was his calling, his commission such : Yet he was humble, kind, forgiving, meek, Easy to be entreated, gracious, mild" ; And with all patience and aflfection, taught, Rebuked, persuaded, solaced, cnunselled, warned, In fervent style and manner. Needy, poor, And dying men, like music, heard his feet Approach their beds ; and guilty wretches look New hope, and in his prayers, wept and smiled, And blessed hiui, as they died forgiven ; and all Saw in his face contentment, in his life, The path to glorv and perpetual joy. Deep learned in the philosophy of heaven. He seaichedthe causes out of good and ill, Profoundly calculating their effects Far past the bounds of time ; and balancing, Jn the arithmetic of future things, The loss and profit of the soul to all Eternity. A skilful workman he. In God's great moral vineyard ; what to prune, With cautious hand, he knew ; what to uproot ; What was mere weeds, and what celestial plants. Which had unfading vigor in them, knew : Nor knew alone ; but watched them night and day, And reared and nourished Ihem, till fit to be Transplanted to the Paradise above. ! who can speak his praise ! great humble man He in the curreu: of destruction stood, And warned the sinner of his "o ; led on Immanuel's members in the evil day ; And with the everlasting arms, embraced Himself around, stnod in the dreadful front Of Lattle, high, and warred victoriously With death and hell. And now was come his rest, His trkjmph day : i'lustrious like a son, In that assembly, he, shining from far. Most excellent in glory, stood a-sured, — Wai'ing the promised crown, the promised throne, The welcome and approval of his Lord. Nor one alnne, but many — prophets, priests, Apostles, great reformers, all that served Messiah faithfully, like stars, appeared. Of fairest beam ; and round them gathered, clad In white, the vouchers of their minis'ry — The flock their care had nourished, fed, and saved. Nor yet In common glory blszing stood, The true philosopher, decided friend Of truth and man ; determined foe of all Deception, — calm, collected, patient, wise. And humble ; undeceived by outward shape Of things ; by fashion's revelry uncharmed ; By honor unbewitched ; — he left the chase Of vanity, and all the quackeries Of life to fonls and heroes, or whoe'er Desired them ; and with reason, much despised, Traduced, yet heavenly reason, to the shade Retired — retired, but not to dream, or build Of ghostly fancies, seen in the deep noon Of sleep, ill balanced theories ; retired. But did not leave mankind ; in pity, not In wrath retired ; and still, though distant, kepi His eye on men ; at proper angle, took 222 THE COURSE OF TIME. His stand to see them better, and beyond The clamor which the bells of folly made, That most had hung about them, to consult With nature, how their madness mi?ht be cured And how their true substantial cou.foris might Be multiplied. Religious man 1 what God Bv prophets, priests, evangelists, revealed Of sacred truth, he thankfully received. And, by its light directed, went in search Of more : before him darkness fled : and all The goblin tribe, that hung upon the breasts Of Night, and haunted still the moral gloom. With shapeless forms, and blue infernal lights, And indistinct and devilish whisperings, That the miseducated fancies vexed Of superstitious men, — at his approach, Dispersed, invisible. Where'er he went. This lesson still he taught, to fear no ill But sin, no being but Almighty God. All-comprehending sage ! too hard alone For him, was man's salvation ; all besides, Of Use or co.iifort, that distinction made Between the desperate savage, scarcely raised Above the beast whose flesh he ate undressed, And the most polished of the human race, Was product of his persevering search. Religion owed him much, as from the false She suffered much ; for still his main design, In all his contemplations, was to trace The wisdom, providence, and love of God, And to his fellows, less observant, show Them forth. From prejudice redeemed, with all His passions still, above the common world, Sublime in reason, and in aim sublime. He sat, and on the marvellous works of God, Sedately thought : now glan.ciog up his eye Intelligent, through all the starry dance ; And penetrating now the deep remote Of central causes, in the womb opaque BOOK IX. 223 Of matter hid ; now with inspection nice. Entering the mystic labyrinths of the mind, Where thought, of notice ever-shy, behind Thought disappearing, still retired ; and still, Thought meeting thought, and thought awakening thought. And mingling still with thought, in endless maze, — Bewildered observation : now with eye. Yet more severely purged, looking far down Into the heart, where Passion wove a web Of thousand thousand threads, in grain and hue All different ; then, upward venturing whiles. But reverently, and in his hand, the light Revealed, near the eternal throne, he gazed, Philosophizing less than worshipping. Most truly great ! his intellectual strength. And knowledge vast, to men of lesser mind, Seemed infinite ; yet from his high pursuits, And reasonings most profound, he still returned Home, with an humbler and a warmer heart. And none so lowly bowed before his God, As none so well His awful majesty And goodness comprehended ; or so well Hb own dependency and weakness knev/. How glorious now ! with vision purified At the Essential Truth, entirely free From error, he, investigating s'till— For knowledge is not found, unsought in heaven, — From world to world at pleasure roves, on wing Of golden ray upborne ; or, at the feet Of heaven's most ancient sases, sitlin?, hears New wonders of the wondrous works of God. Illustrious too, that mornin?, stood the man Exalted by the people, to the throne Of government, established on the base Of justice, liberty and equal right : Who, in his countenance sublime, erpreised 224 THE COURSE OF TIME. A nation's majesty, and yet was meek And humble ; and in royal julace gave Example to the meanest, of ihe fear Of God, and all integrity of life And manners ; who, aiigast, yet lowly ; who, Severe, yet gracious ; in liis veiy heart Detesting all oppression, all intent Of private aggrandizement ; and the first In every public duty, — held the scales Of justice, and as Ihe law, which reigned in him, Commanded, gave rewards ; or with the edge Vindictive, smote, — now light, now heavily, According to Ihe stature of Ihe crime. Conspicuous like an oak of healthiest bough, Deep rooted in his country's love, he stood And gave his hand to Virtue, helping up The honest man to honor and renown ; And with the look which goodness wears in vrralh, Wiihering the very blood of Knavery, And, from" his presence, driving far ashamed. Nor le^s remarkable among the blest Appeared the man who in the senate-house. Watchful, unhired, unbribed, and uncorrupt, And party only to the comninn weal. In virtue's awful rage, pleaded for right. With truth so clear," with arsument so strong, With action so sincere, and tone so loud And deep, as made the despot quake behind His adamantine gales, and every joint In terror smite his fellow-joint relaxed ; Or, marching to the field, in burnished steel, While, frowning on his brow, tremendous hung The wrath of a whole people long provoked, — Mustered Ihe stormy wings of war, in day Of dreadful deeds ; and led Ihe battle on. When liberty swift as the fires of heaven, lu fury rode with all her hosts, and threw The tyrant down, or drove invasion back. BOOK IX. 026 lUastrions he — illustrioQs all appeared, Who ruled supreme in righteousness ; or held Inferior place in steadfast reclitode Of soul. Peculiarly severe had been The nurture of their youth ; their knowledee great ; Great was their wisdom ; great their cares, and great Their self denial, and fhefr service done To God and man ; and great was their reward, At band, proportioned to their worthy deeds. Breathe all thy minstrelsy, immortal harp ! Breathe numbers warm with love ! while I rehearw, Delighted theme ! rtBembling most the songs Which, day and night, are sung before the Lamb Thy praise, O Charily ! thy labors most Divine ; thy sympathy with sighs, and tears, And groans ; thv great, thy god-like wish, to heal All misery, all fortune's wounds ; and make The soul of every living thing rejoice. thou wast needed much in days of time ! No virtue, half so much ; none'half so fair: To all the rest, however fine, thou gavest A finishing and polish, without which No man e'erentered heaven. Let me recnrd His praise,— the man of great benevolence, Who pressed thee closely to his elowing heart, And to thy gentle bidding, made'his feet S« ift minister. —Of all mankind, his sold Was most in harmony with heaven : as one Sole family of brothers, sisters, friends ; One in their origin, one in their rights To all the comrrioii gif's of providence. And in their hopes, their joys and sorrows one, He viewed the universal human race. He needed not a law of state, to force Grudging submission to the law o! God ; The law of love was in his heart alive : What he possessed, he counted not his own. But like a faithful steward, in a house I' 226 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of public alms, what freely he received, He freely gave ; dislributineto all The helpless, the last mite beyond his own Temperate support, and reckonings' ill the gift But justice, due to want : and so it was ; AUho'ihe world, wiih compliment not ill Applied, adorned if with a fairer name. Nor did be wait till to his door the voice Of supplication came, but went abroad. With foot as silent as the starry dews, In search of misery that pined unseen. And would cot ask. And who can tell what sight* He saw ! what groans he heard in thai cold world Below ! where Sin in league with gloomy Death JIarched daily thro' the length and breadth of all The land, wasting at will, and making earth, Fair earth ! a lazer-house, a dungeon dark ; Where Disappointment fed on ruined Hope : Where Guilt, worn out, leaned on the tripple edge Of want, remorse, despair ; where Cruelty Reached forth a cup of wormwood to the lips Of Sorrow, tha' to deeper s^rrow wailed : Where Mockery, and Disease, and Poverty, Met miserable Age, erewhile sore bent With his own burden ; where the arrowy winds Of winter, pierced the naked orphan bp.be, And chilled the mother's heart who had no home ; And where, alas ! in mid-time of his day, The honest man, robbed by some villain's hand. Or with long sickness pale, and paler yet With want and hut ger, oft drank bitter draughts Of his own tears, and had no bread lo eat. Oh ! who can tell what sigh's he saw, what shapes Of wretchedness ! or who describe what smiles Of gratitude illumed the face of wo, While from his baud he gave the bounty forth ! As when the sun. to Cancer wheeling back, Returned from Capricorn, & shewed the north, 1'hat Ions had lain in cold and cheerier night, BOOK IX. 227 His beamy countenance ; all nature then Rejoiced together glad ; the flower looked up And smiled ; the forest from his locks shoot off The hoar)' frosts, and clapped his hands ; the birds Awoke, and singing, rose to meet the day ; And from hi? hollow den, where many monthB He slumbered sad in darkness, blythe and light Of heart the savage sprung ; and saw again His mountain shine ; and with new songs of love, Allured the virgin's ear : so did the house, The prison house of guil', and all the abodes Of unprovided helplessness, revive, As on them looked the sunny messenger Of Charily ; by ansels tended still, That marked his deeds, and wrote them in the book Of God's remembrance :— careless he to be Observed of men ; or have each mite bestowed, Recorded punctually with name and place In every bill of news : pleased to do good, He gave and sought no more— nor questioned much, Nor reasoned wl.o deserved ; for well he knew The face of need- Ah me ! who could mistake > The shame to ask, the want that urged within, Composed a look so perfectly distinct From all else human, and withal so full Of misery, that none could pass untouched And be a Christian ; or thereafrer claim, In any form, tbe name or rights of man ; Or, at the day of judgment, lift his eye : While he, in name of Christ, who gave the poor A cup of water, or a bit of bread. Impatient for his advent, waiting stood. Glowing in robes of love and holiness. Heaven's fairest dress! and round him ranged in wllile, A thousand witnesses appeared, prepared To tell his gracious deeds before the throne. Nor unrenowned among the most renowned. Nor 'moDg the fairest unadmired, that morn, r2 228 THE COURSE OF TIME. When highest fame was proof of highest worth, Distinguished stood the bard ; — not he, who sold The incommunicable heavenly gift, To Folly ; and with lyre of perfect tone. Prepared by God himself, for holiest praise. Vilest of traitors 1 most dishonest man ! — Sat by the door of Ruin, and made there A melody so sweet, and in the mouth Of drunkenness and debauch, that else had croaked In natural discordance jarring harsh, — Put so divine a song, that many turned Aside, and entered in undone ; and thought Meanwhile it was the gate of heaven ; so like An angel's voice the music seemed : nor he, Who whining grievously of damsel coy, Or blaming fortune, that would nothing give For doing nought, in indolent lament Unprofitable, passed his pileousdays — Making himself the hero of his tale, Deserving ill the poet's name. But he. The bard, by God's own baud anointed, who, To Virtue's all-delighting harmony. His numbers tuned ; who from the fount of truth, Poured melody, and beauty poured, and love, In holy stream, into the human heart ; And from the height of lofty argument. Who justified the ways of God to man, And sung, what still he sings— approved m heaven ; Tho'now with bolder note, above the damp Terrestrial, which the pure celestial fire Cooled, and restrained in part his flaming wing. Philosophy was deemed of deeper thought. And iudgment more severe than Poetry ; To fable she, and fancy more inclined. And yet if Fancy, as was understood, Was of creative'nature, or of power. With self-wrought stuff to build a fabric up, To mortal vision wonderful and strange. BOOK IX. S2i Philotophy, the theoretic, claimed Undoubtedly the first and highest place In Fancy's favor : her material souls ; Her chance ; her atoms shaped alike ; ber wbits Proved black ; ber universal nothing, all; And all her wondrous systems, how the mind With niatter met ; how man was free, and yet All preordained ; how evil first began ; And chief, her speculations, soaring high Of the eternal uncreated mind. Which left all reason infinitely far Behind — surprising feat of theory ! Were pure creation of her own ; webs wove Of gossamer in Jrancy's lightest loom; And DO where on the list of being made By God, recorded : but her look meanwhile Was grave and studious ; and many thought She reasoned deeply, when she wUdly raved. The true, legitimate, anointed bard. Whose song thro' ages poured its melody, Was most severely thoughtful, most minute And accurate of obsenation, most Familiarly acquainted with all modes And phases of existence. True, no doubt, He bad originally drunk, from out The fount of life and love, a double draught. That gave, whaie'er he touched, a double life. But this was mere desire at first, and power Devoid of means to work by ; need was still Of persevering, nuick, inspective mood Of mind, of faithful memor>-, vastly stored From universal being's ample field, With knowledge ; and a judgment sound and dear, Well discipline! in nature's rules of taste ; Discerning to select, arrange, combine, From infinite variety, and still To nature true ; and guide withal, hard ta^, The sacred living impetus divine, rs. 230 THE COURSE OF TIME. Discreetly thro' the barmony of son?. Coinpleted thus, the poet sung ; and age To age enraptured, heard his measures flow ; Enraptured, for he poured the very fat And marrow of exiistence thro' his verse ; And gave the soul — ihat else in selfish cold, Unsvarmed by kindred interest, had Iain — A roomy life, a glowing relish high, A sweet expansive brotherhood of being. — Joy answerin? jov, and sigh responding sigh. Thro' all the fibres of the social heart. Observant, sympathetic, sound of head, Upon the ocean vast of hunrjan thought. With passion rouzh and stormy, venturing out Even as the living billows rolled, he threw His numbers over them, seized as they were, And to perpe'ual azes left them fixed, To each a mirror of itself displayed ; Despair for ever lowering dark on Sin ; And Happiness on Virtue smiling fair. He was the minister of fame ; and gave To whom he would renown ; nor missed himself,— Altho' despising much the idiot roar Of popular applause, Ihat sudden oft Unnaturally lurnins, whom it nursed Itself, devoured, — the lasting fame, the praise Of God and holy men, to excellence given : Yet less he sousht his own renown, than wished To have the eternal imases of truth And beauty, pictured in his verse, admired. ■Twas these, taking immortal shape and form Beneath his eye, tJiat charmed his midnight watch. And oft his soul, with awful transports, shook, Of happiness, unfelt by other men. This was Ihat spell, that sorcery, which bound The poet to the lyre, and would not let Him go ; that bidden mptery of joy. Which made him sing id spite of fortune's worst ; p BOOK IX. S ^Li was, at once, both motive and reward. Nor now among (he choral harps, in this he native clime of snng, are those unknown, 'ith higher note ascending, who, below, ' ly ardor, aimed at lofty strains. fame is never lost : many, whose names Were honored mucli on earth, are famous here For poetry, and wiih arch-angel harps, Hold no unequal rivalry in song ; Leading the choirs of heaven, in numbers high, Id uuaibers ever sweet and ever new. Behold them yonder, where the river pure Flows warbling down before the thrnne of God, And shading on each side, Ihe tree of life Spreads i's unfading boughs I see how they shine, In garments white, quaffing deep draughts of love ; And harping on their harps new harmonies Preparing for the ear of God, Most High ! But why should T, of individual worth, Of individual glory longer sing ? No true believer was that day obscure ; No holy soul but had enough of joy ; No pious wish without its full reward. , Who in the Father and the Son believed, With faith thai wrought by love to holy deeds, And purified tl.e heart, none trembled there, Nor had by earthly guise, his rank concealed: Whether unknown, he tilled the ground remote, Observant of the seasons, and adored God in the promise yearly verified, Of seedtime, harvest, summer, winter, day And night, returning duly at the time Appointed : or on the shadowy mouotam side, Worshipped at dewy eve, watching his flocks ; Or treading, saw the wonders of the deep. And as the needle to the starry pole, 232 THE COURSE OF TIME. Tnrned ccnstantly, so he his heart to God ; Or else, in servitude severe, was taught ^ To break the bonds of sin ; or be;§iag, letA^ To trust the Providence, that fed the raven, And clothed the lily with her annual g(»wn. Most numerous indeed, among the saved, And many too, not least illustrious, shone, The men who had no nameoo earth : eclipsed By lowly circumstance, they lived unknown ; Like stream that in the desert warbles clear, Still nursing, as it goes, the herb and flo«ver, Tho' never seen ; or like the star retin|di. In solitudes of eth^r, far beyond %,. < All sight, not of essential splendor less, Tho' shining unobserved : none saw tljeir puro Devotion, none their tears, their faith, and love Which burned "ithin them, both to God and man None saw but God. He, in his bottle, all Their tears preserved, and every holy wi^ Wrote in his book ; and not as they had done, But as they wished with all their heart to do, Arrayed them now in glory, and displayed, No longer hid by coarse uncourtly gartn- In lustre equal to their inward worth. Man's time was past, and his eternity Begun ! no fear remained of change. The youth , Who, in the glowing morn of vigorous life, High reaching after great religious deeds, Was suddenly cut off, with all his hopes In sunny bloom, and unaccomplished left His withered aims, — saw everlasting days Before him dawning rise, in which to achieva All glorious things, and get himself the name That jealous death too soon forbade on earth. Old things had passed away, and all was new And yet of all the new-begun, naught so ( BOOK IX. 233 jious difference made, in the affairs 'hoi^hts of every man, as certainty. roT doubt, 'all doubt was gone, of every kind ; Dubt that eiewhile, beneath the lowest base ■ mortal reasonings, deepest laid, crept in, nd made thestroiigest, best cemented lowers 'human workmanship, so weakly shake, nd to their lofty tops, so waver si ill, That those who built ihem, feared their sudden falU But doubt, all doubt was past ; and in its place To every thought that in the heart of man Was presen;, now had come an absolute, Unqu stiosa^ certaioty, which gave To each decision of the mind, immense Importance, raising to its proper height The sequent tide of passion, whether joy, Or grief. The good man knew in very truth, That he was saved to all eternity. And feared no more ; the bad had proof complete. That he was damned for ever ; and delieved Entirely, that on every wicked soul Anguish should come, and wrath and utter wo. Knowledge was much increased, but wnsdom more. The film of Time, that still before the sight Of mortal vision danced, and led the best Astray, pursuing unsubstantial dreams, Had dropped from every eye : men saw that they Had vexed themselves in vain, to understand ■What now no hope to understand, remained j That thev had often counted evil good. And good for ill;laughed when they should have wept; And wept forlorn when God intended mirth. Bui what of all their follies past, surprised Them most, and seemed most totally insane And unaccountable, was value set On objects of a day ; was serious grief. Or joy, for loss, or eaia of mortal things : So utterly impossible it seemed, 234 THE CODKE OF TIME. \Vhen men their proper interests saw, that aught Of terminable kind, that ausht, which e'er Could die, or cea^e to be, however named, Should make a human soul— a legal heir Of everlasting years— rejoice, or weep „ In earnest mood ; for nothing now seemed worth A thought, but had eternal bearing in't. Much truth had been assented to in Time, Which never, till this day, had made a due Impression on the heart. Take one example : Early from heaven it was revealed, and oft Repeated in the world, from pulpits preached And penned and rer.d in holy bonks, that God Respected not lae persons of mankind. Had this been truly creditedand felt. The king in purple robe, had owned indeed, The beggar for his brother ; pride of rank And otiice, thawed into paternal love ; Oppression feared the day of equal rights, Predicted ; covetous extortion kept In mind the hour of reckonine, soon to come ; And bribed injustice thought of being judged, When he should stand on equal foot beside The man he wronged. And surely— nay, 'tis true, Most (rue, beyond all whispering of doubt. That he, who lifted up the reeking scourge, Dripping with gore from the slave's back, before He struck again, had paused, and seriously Of that tribunal thought, where God himself Should look him in the face, and ask in wrath. Why didst thou this ? Man ! was he not thy brother ? Bone of thy bone, .ind flesh and blood of thine ? But ah ! this truth, by heaven and reason taught, Was never fully credited on earth. The tilled, flattered, lofty men of power. Whose n ealth bousht verdicts of applause for deeds Of wickedness, could ne'er believe the lime Should truly come, when judgment should proceed BOOK IX. 235 y Impartially against them, and they too, Have DO good speaker at the judge's ear : Ko witnesses to bring them off for gold ; No power to turn the sentence from its course ; i And they of low estate, wbosaw ttiemselves, ' Day after day, despised, and wronged, and mocked, Wilhout redress, could scarcely think, the day Should e'er arrive, when they in truth should stand On perfect level with the potentates Ana princes of the earth, and have their cause Examined fairly, and their rights allowed. But now this truth was felt, believed and felt, That men were really of a common stock ; That no man ever had been more than man. Much prophecy — revealed by holy hards, Who sung the will of heaven by Judah's streame, Much prophecy that waited long, the scoflf Of lips uncircumcised, was then fulfilled ; To the last tittle scrupulously fulfilled. It was foretold by those of ancient days, A time should come, when wickedness should weep Abased ; when every lofty look of man Should be bowed down, and all his haughtiness Made low ; when righteousness alone should lift The head in glory, and rejoice at heart ; When many, "first in splendor and renown, Should be most vile ; and many, lowest once And last in poverty's obscurest nook. Highest and first in honor, should be seen Exalted ; and when some, when all the good, Should rise to glory, and eternal life ; And all the bad, lamenting, wake, condemned To shame, contempt, and everlasting grief. These prophecies had tarried long ; so long That many wsgsed the head, and taunting asked. When shall they come ? But asked no more, nor mocked, 236 THE COURSE OF TIME. for the reproach of prophecy was wiped Away, and every word of God found true. And ! what change of state ! what change of rank ! In that assembly every where was seen ! The humble hearted laughed ; the lofly moanied ; And every man according to his works Wrought in the body, there look character. Thus stood they mixed ! all generations stood Of all mankind 1 innumerable throng ! Great harvest of the grave '. waiting the will Of Heaven, attentively and silent all, As forest spreading out beneath the calm Of evening skies, when even the single leaf Is heard distinctly rustle down and fall ; So silent tliey, when from above, the sound Of rapid wheels approached, and suddenly In heaven appeared a host of angels strong. With chariots and with steeds of burning fire : Cherubj and Seraph, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Bright in celestial armor, dazzling, rode: And leading in the front, illustrious shone Michael and Gabriel, servants long approved In high commission, — girt that day with power Which naught created, man, or devil, might Rfisist ; nor wailed gazing long ; but quick Descending, silently and without song. As servants bent to do their master's work, To middle air they raised the human race, Above the path long travelled by the sun ; And as a shepherd from the sheep divide* The goats ; or husbandman, with reaping handl, In harvest, separates the precious wheat. Selected from the tares ; so did they part Mankind, — the good and bad, to right and left,— To meet no more ; these ne'er again to smile ; Nor those to weep ; these never more to shars BOOK IS. 237 Society of mercy with the saints ; Nor henceforth, those to suffer with the vile. Strange parting ! not for hours, nor days, nor monthSi Nor for ten thousand times ten thousand years ; But for a whole eternity ! though fit. And pleasant to the righteous, yet to all Strange ! and most strangely felt ! The sire to right Reiirins, saw the son, sprur.g from his loins, Beloved how dearly once, — but who forgot Too soon, in sin's intoxicating cup, The father's warnings and the mother's tears, — Fall to the left among the reprobate. And son? redeemed, beheld the fathers, whom They loved and honored once, gathered among The wicked : brothers, sisters, kinsmen, friends ; Husband and wife, who ate at the same board, And under the same roof, united dwelt, From youtl] to hoary age, bearing the chance And change of time tojether, — parted then For evemiore. But none whose friendship grew From virtue's pure and everlasting roof. Took different roads —these, knit in stricter bonds Of amity, embracing, saw no more Death with his scythe stand by, nor heard the word, The bitter word, which closed all ear'hly friendshipa. And finished every feast of love, — Farewell. To all 6'range parting ; to the wicked, sad And terrible : new horror seized them while They saw the saints withdrawing, and with them ♦ Ail hope of safety, all delay of wrath. Beneath a crown of rosy light. — like that Which once in Goshen, on the flocks, and herds, And dwellings, smiled of Jacob, while the land Of Nile was dark; or like the pillar bright Of sacred fire, that stood above the sons Of Israel, when they camped at midnight by The foot of Horeb, or ihe desert side Of Sinai, — now the righteous took their place, 238 THE COURSE OF TIME. All took their place who ever wished to go To heaven, for heaven's own sake ; not one remained Among the accursed, that e"er desired with all The heart to be redeemed ; that ever sought Submissively to do the will of God, Howe'er it crossed his own : or to escape Hell, for ought other than its penal fires. All took their place rejoicing, and beheld, In centre of the crown of golden beams That canopied them o'er, these gracious wcrds, Blushing wiih tints of love : fear not, my Eaintti. To other sight of horrible dismay, Jehovah's ministers, the wicked drove, And left them bound immovable in chains Of Justice : o'er their heads a bowless cloud Of indignation hung ; a cloud it was Of thick and utter darkness ; rolling like An ocean, tides of livid, pitchy flame ; With thunders charged and lightnings ruinous. And red with forked vengeance, such as wounds The soul ; and fufl of angry shapes of wrath ; And eddies, whirling wi'b tumultuous fire .: And forms of terror raving to and f-o ; And monsters, unimagined heretofoie By guilty men in dreams before their death, From horrid to more horrid changing still, In hideous movement through that s'ormy gulph ; And evermore the thunders murmuring spoke From out the darkness, uttering loud these words, "Which every guilty conscience echoed back : " Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not.'' Dread words ! that barred excuse, and thrffw the weight Of every man's perdition on himself Directly home. Dread words ! heard then, and heard For ever through the wastes of Erebus. " Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not !" BOOK LX. 2S3 These were the words which flowed upon the sword Whose wrath burned fearfully behind the cursed, As they were driven away frora God to Tophet. "Ye knew your duty, but ye did it not !" These are the words to which the harps of grief Are sirung ; and to the chorus of ihe damned, The rocks of hell repeat them evermore ; Loud echoed thro' the caverns of despair, And poured in thunder on the ear of Wo. Nor ruined men alone, beneath that cloud, Trembled : there Satan and his legions stood ; Satan, the first and eldest sinner, bound For judsrment ; he, by other name, held once Conspicuous rank in heaven among the sons Of happiness, rejoicing day and night : But pride that was ashamed to bow to God Most high, his bosom filled with hate, his face Made black with envy, and in his soul begot Thoughts guilty of rebtllion 'eainst the throne Of the Eternal Father and the Son,— From everlasting built on righteousness. Ask not how pride in one created pure. Could grow ; or sin without example spring. Where holiness alone was sown : esteem't Enough, that he, as every being made By God, was made entirely holy, had The will of God before him set for law And regulation of his life ; and power To do as bid ; but was, meantime, left free. To prove his worth, his gratitude, his love ; How proved besides ? for how could service done. That might not else have been withheld, evince The will to serve, which, rather than the deed, God doth require, and virtue counts alone ? To stand or fall, to do or leave undone, Is reason's lofty privilege, denied To all below, by instinct bound to fate, 240 THE COURSE OF TINfE Umneriting alike reward or blame. Thus free, the Devil chose to disobey The will of God ; and was thrown out from heaven, And with him all his bad example stained : Yet not In utter punishment decreed, But left to fill (he measure of his sin, In tempting and seJucinenian : — too soon, Too easily seduced ! And frnm the day, He first set foot on earth— of rancor full. And pride, and hate, and malice, and revenge — He set himself, with most felonious aim, And hellish perseverance, to root out All good, and in its place to plant all ill ; To rub and raze, from all created things, The fair and holy portraiture divine, And on them to enslamp his features grim ; To draw all creatures off frr'm loyalty To their Creator ; and to make tliem bow The knee to him. Nor failed of great succeis, As populous hell this day can testify. He held indeed large empire in the 'world. Contending proudly with the King of heaven. To him temples were built, and sacrifice Of costly blood upon his altars flowed ; And, what best pleased him, for in show he i Then likesf God, whole nations bowing fell Before him, worshippins, and from h s lips Entreated oracles, which he, by pries's, For many were his pries's in every age. Answered, though guessing bu' at future things, And erring of t, yet still believed ; so well His ignorance, in ambiguous phrase, he veiled. Nor needs it wonder, that with man once fallen. His tempting should succeed. Large was his mind, And understanding ; though impaired by sin. Still large ; and constant practice, day and night, In cunning, guile, and all hypocrisy, BOOK IX. SMI From age to age, gave him experience vast Id sin's dark tactic*, such as boyish man. Unarmed by strength divine, conld ill withstand. And well he knew bis weaker side ; and still His lures with baits that pleased the senses busked ; To his impatient passions offering terms Of present joy, and bribing reason's eye With earthly wealth, and honors near at hand : Nor failed to misadvise his future hope And faith, by false unkerneled promises Of heavens of sensual gluttony and love, That suited best their grosser 'appetites. Into the sinner's heart, who lived secure. And feared him leait, he entered at his will. But chief be chose his residence in courts, And conclaves, stirring princes up to ads Of blood and tyranny ; and moving priests To barter truth, and swap the souls of men For lusty benefices, and address Of lofty sounding : nor the saints elect. Who walked with God, m virtue's path sublime, Did he not sometimes venture to molest ; In dreams and moments of unguarded thought, Suggesting guilty doubb and fears that God Would disappoint their hope ; and in their way Bestrewing pleasures, tongued so sweet, and so In holy garb arrayed, that many stooped, Believing them of heavenly sort, and fell ; And to their high professions, brought disgrace And scandal, to themselves, thereafter, long And bitter night of sore repentance, vexed With shame, unwonted sorrow, and remorse. And more they should have fallen, and more have wept, Had not their guardian angels, — who, by Go;! Commissioned, stood beside then: in the hour Of danger, whether craft, or (iiToe attack. To Satan's deepest skill opposinj ."kill More deep, and to his stroi.'gifst arin. nn arm a £42 THE COURSE OF TIME. Morestrong, — npborne them in their bands, and filled Their Eouli with all discernment, quick, to pierce His stratagems and fairest shows of sLn. Now like a roaring lion, up and down The world, destroying, though unseen, be nLged ; And LOW, retiring back to Tartarus, Far back, beneath the thick of guiltiest dark, Where night ne'er heard of day, in council grim He sat with ministers whose thoughts were damned, And tliere such plans devised, as, had not God Checked and restrained, bad added earth entire To hell, and uninhabited left heaven, Jehovah uuadored. Nor unsevere Even then, his punishment deserved : the Worm That uever dies, coiled in his bosom, gnawed Perpetually ; sin after sin, brought pang Succeeding pang ; and now and then ttic bolts Of Zion's King, vindictive, smote his soul With fiery wo to blast his proud designs ; And gave him earnest of the wrath to come. And chief, when on the cross, Messiah said, 'Tis finished, did the edge of vengeance smite Him through, and all his gloomy legions touch With rew despair. But yet to te the first In mischief, to have armies at his call, To hold dispute with God, in days of Time His pride and malice, fed, and bore him up Above the worst of ruin : s'ill to plan And act great deeds, though wicked, brought at least The recompense which nature hath attached To all activity, and aim, pursued With perseverance, good, or bad ; for as, By nature's laws, immutable and just, Enjoymen; s'ops where indolence begins ; And purposeless, to-morrow borrowing sloth, Itself, heaps on its shoulders loads of wo, Too heavy lo be borne : so industry, — To meditate, to plan, resolve perform. I300K IX- 243 Which in itself is good, as surely brinejs Reward of good no matter what be done : And such reward the Devil had, as long As the decrees eternal gave him space To work : but now ail action ceased ; his hope Of doing evil perished quite ; bis pride, His courage, failed him ; and beneath that cloud, Which hung its central terrors o'er his head, With all his angels, he, for sentence, stood. And rolled his eyes around, that uttered guilt And wo, in horrible perfection joined. As he had been the chief and leader, long, Of the apostate crew that warred with God And holiness ; so now, among the bad. Lowest and most forlorn, and trembling most, Wiih all iniquity deformed and foul, With all perdition ruinous and dark. He stood, — example awful of the wrath Of God ! sad mark, to which all sin must fall ! — And made, on every side, so black a hell, That spirits, used to night and misery. To distance drew, and looked another way ; And from their golden cloud, far off, the saints Saw round him darkness grow more dark, and heard The impatient thunderbolts, with deadliest crash, And frequenlest, break o'er his heart,— the sign, That Satan there, the vilest sinner, stood. Ah me ! what eyes there were beneath that clond ; Eyes of despair, final and certain ! eyes That looked, and looked, and saw, where'er they looked, Interminable darkness ! utter wo ! 'Twas pitiful to see the early flower Nipped by the unfeeling frost, just when it rose, Lovely in youth, and put its beauties on. Twas pitiful to see the hopes of all The year, the yeliow harvest, made a heap 244 THE COURSE OF TIME. By rains of judgment ; or by torrents swept, With flocks and cattle down the raging flood ; Or scattered by the winnowing winds, that bore, Upon their angry wings, the wrath of heaven. Sad was the field, where yesterday was heard The roar of war ; and sad the sight of maid. Of mother, widow, sister, daughter, wife. Stooping and weeping over senseless, cold. Defaced, and mangled lumps of breathless earth. Which had been husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, And lovers, when that morning's sun srose. >Twas sad to see the wonted seat of friend Removed by death : and sad to visit scenes. When old, 'where, in the smiling morn of life. Lived many, who both knew and loved us much, And they all gone, dead or dispersed abroad ; And stranger faces seen among their hills. 'Twas sad to see the little orphan babe Weeping and sobbing on its mother's grave. 'Twas pitiful to see an old, forlorn. Decrepit, withered wretch, unhoused, unclad, Starving to death with poverty and cold. 'Twas pitiful to see a blooming bride, That promise gave of many a happy year, Touched by decay, turn pate, and waste, and die. 'Twas pitiful to hear the murderous thrust Of ruffian's blade that sought the life entire. 'Twas sad to hear the blood come gurgling forth From out the throat of the wild suicide. Sad was the sight of widowed, childless age Weeping. I saw it once. Wrinkled with time, And hoar>' with the dust of years, an old And worthy man came to his humble roof. Tottering a'nd slow, and on the threshold stood. No foot, no voice, was heard within ; none came To meet him, where he oft had met a wife, And sons, and daughters, glad at his return j None came to meet him ; for that day had seen The old man lay, within the narrow house, BOOK IX. 845 The last of all bis family ; and now He stood in solitude, in solitude Wide as the world ; for all that made to him Society, had fled beyond its bounds. Wherever strayed bis aimless eye, there lay The wreck of some fond hope, that touched his soul Wilb bitter thoughts, and told him all was past. His lonely cot n as silent ; and he looked As if he could not enter ; on bis staff Bending he leaned ; and from bis weary eye, Distressing sight ! a single tear-drop wept : None followed, for the fount of tears was dry j Alone and last it fell from wrinkle down To wrinkle, till it lost itself, drunk by The withered cheek, on which again, no smile Should come, or drop of tenderness be seen. This sight was very pitiful ; but one Was sadder still, the saddest seen in Time : A man, today, the glory of his kind. In reason clear, in understanding large. In judgment sound, in fancy quick, in hope Abundant, and in promise, like a field Well cultured, and refreshed with dews from God ; To-morrow, chained and raving mad, and whipjied By servile bands ; sitting on dismal straw And gnashing with his teeth against the chain, The iron chain that bound him hand and foot ; And trjing whiles to send his glaring eye Beyond the wide circumference of his wo : OrJ humbling more, more miserable still, Giving an idiot laugh, that served to show The blasted scenery of bis horrid face ; Calling the straw his sceptre, and the stone, On which he pinioned sat, his royal throne. Poor, poor, poor man ! fallen far below the brute J His reason strove in vain, to find her way, Lost in the stormy desert of his brain ; And being active still, she wrought all strange. Fantastic, execrable, monstrous things. Q3 ai6 THE CODRSE OF TIME. All these were sad, and tliousaDds more, that sleep Forgotten beneath the funeral pall of Time ; And bards, as well became, bewailed them much. With doleful inslrnmeDis of weeping song. But what were these ? what might be worse had in't However small, some grains of happiness : And man ne'er dranlt a cup of earthly sort, TTiat might not held another drop of gall ; Or, in his deepest sorrow, laid his head Dpon a pillow set so close with thorns, That might not held another prickle still. Accordingly, the saddest human look Had hope in't ; faint indeed, bnt still 'twas hope. But why escuse the misery of earth ? Say it was dismal, cold, and dark, and deep, Beyond the utterance of strongest words : But say that none remeinbereJ it, who saw The eye of beings damned forevermore • Rolling, and rolling, rolling still in vain, To find some ray ; to see beyond the gulph Of an unavenued, fierce, fiery, hot, Interminable, dark Futurity ! And rolling still, and rolling still in vain ! Thus stood the reprobate beneath the shade Of terror, and beneath the crown of love. The good ; and there was silence in the vault Of heaven : and as they etood and listened, they heard Afar to left among the utter dark. Hell rolling o'er his waves of burning fire ; And thondering thro' his caverns, empty then, As if he preparation made, to act The final vengeance of the Fiery Lamb. And there was heard, coming from out the Pit, The hollow wailing of Eternal Death, And horrid cry of the undying Worm. The wicked paler turned ; and scarce the good Their color Kept ; but were not long dismayed. BOOK IX. 217 That moment, in the heavens, how Tvondrous fair ! The angel of Mercy stood, and, on the bad. Turning his back, over the raneomed threw His bow bedropped with imagery of love, And promises on which their faith reclined. Throughout, deep, breathless silence reigned again : And on the circuit of the upper spheres, A glorious seraph stood, and cried aloud. That every ear of man and devil heard : "Him that is filthy, let be filthy still ; "Him that is holy, let be holy still." And suddenly, another squadron bright, or high arch-angel glory, stooping, brought A marvellous bow ; one base upon the Cross, The other on the shoulder of the Bear, They placed, from south to north, spanning the heavens, And on each hand dividing good and bad,— Who read on either tide these burning words, Which ran along the arch in living fire, And wanted not to be believed in full : "As ye have sown, so shall ye reap this day." THE COURSE OF TIME. ANALYSIS OF BOOK X. The author invokes God, for acceptance, and the as- sistance of the holy spirit ; thai he may failbfully interpret the notes of the ancient Bard, "Ihe holy numbers" which hi» spirit hears, and describes Ihe Day of Judgment, Suddenly Michael sounds the golden trumpet, and millions, infinite, of the holy spirits gathered from heaven as well as from the farthest worlds around, and met at the Eternal throne, and from a radiant cloud, God declares the purpdse of the assembly. — He slates the destiny of man is concluded, the day of Retribution, appointed from all eternity, is come, and the generations of earth collected to the place of judgment. The Father infinite, then addresses Ihe Messiah, and assigns to him his covenant, cflBce of Judge. The Son, taking the book of remembrance, Ihe eeveo last thunders, the crowns of life, and the Sword of Justice, ascends the living Chariot of God, attended by numbers infinite, moves forward in glory, be- comes visible to the eons of men, and ascends the Throne, placed between the good and bad. In awful silence a mighty angel spread open the book of God's remembrance, and each o.ne with sincere conscience attests the record true. He arose to pro- nounce the sentence. No creature breathed, every sphere and star stood still and listened, and upon the wicked first he issued the dread decree ; and plunged the sword, which now be drew, mto the uiidst ; they sink into final misery, into utter dark- ness and irremediablewo. The fire then consumed the earth. Lastly the righteous received the crowns, and a joyous approvai, and ascend to heaven with Ihcir jndse, singing glory to God and to the Lamb. BOOKX. Go roD of my fathers ! holy, ju3t and good '. My God ! my Father ! my unfailing hope ! Jehovah ! let the incense "of my praise, Accepted, burn before thy mercy seat, And in thy presence burn both day aud night. Maker ! Preserver ! my Redeemer ! God ! Whom have I in the heavens but Thee alone ? On earth, but Thee, whom should 1 praise, wlion love ? For thou hast bronght me hitherto, upheld By thy omnipotence ; and from thy grac^", Unbought, unmerited, though not unsought— The wells of thy salvation, hast refreshed My spirit, watering it, at mom and even ! And by thy Spirit which thuu freely givest To whom thou wilt, hast led my venturous song, Over the vale, and mountain tract, the light And shade of man ; into the burning deep Descending now, and now circling the mount, Where highest sits Divinity enthroned ; Holling along the tide of fluent thought, The tide of moral, natural, divine ; Gazing on past, and present, and again. On rapid pinion borne, outstripping Time, In long eicursion, wandering through the groves Unfading, and the endless avenues, That shade the landscape of eternity 252 THE COURSE OF TIME. And talking there witli holy angels met, And future men, in glorious vision seen ! Nor unrewarded have I watched at nifht, And heard the drowsy sound of neightxiring sleep J New thought, new imagery, new scenes of bliss And glory unrehearsed by mortal tongue, Which, unrevealed, I trembling, turned and left, Bursting at once upon my ravished eye, With joy unspeakable, have filled my soul, And made my cup run over with delight ; Though in my face, the bias's of adverse winds, While boldly circumnavigating man. Winds seeming adverse, though perhaps not so, Have beat severely ; disregarded beat, When I behind me heard "the voice of God, And his propitious Spirit say, — Fear not. God of my fathers ! ever present God ! This offering more inspire, sustain, accept ; Highest if numbers answer to the theme; Best answering if thy Spirit dictate most. Jehovah ! breathe upon my soul ; my heart Enlarge; my faith mcrease ; increase my hope ; My thoughts exalt ; my fancy sanctify, Atid all my passions, that I near thy throne May venture, unreproved ; and sing the day, Which none vmholy ought to name," the Day Of Judgment ; greatest day, past or to come ; Day, which — deny me what thoo wilt ; deny Me home, or friend, or honorable name — Thy mercy grant, I thoroughly prepared, With comely garment of redeeming love. May meet, and have my Judge for Advocate. Come gracious Influence ! Breath of the Lord ! And touch me trembling, as thou touched the man, Greatly beloved, when he in vision saw, By Ulai's stream, the Ancient sit ; and talked With Gabriel, to his prayer swif'.ly sent. BOOK X. 253 At evening sacrifice. Hold my right hand, Almighty ! hear me for I ask through Him , Whom thou hast heard, whom thou shall always hear Thy son, our interceding Great High Priest. ' Reveal the future ; lei the years to come Pass by ; and open my ear to hear the harp ; The prophet harp, whose wisdom I repeat, Interpreting the voice of distant song, — Which thus again resumes »he lofty verse ; Loftiest if I interpret faithfully The holy numbers which my spirit hears. Thus came the day, the Harp again began, The day that many thought should never come ; That all the wicked wished should never come; That all the righteous had expected long. Day greatly feared, and yet too little feared, By him who feared it most ; day laughed at much By the profane ; the trembling day of all Who laughed ; day when all shadows passed, all dreams ; When substance, when reality commenced. Last day of lying, final day of all Deceit, all knavery, all quackish phrase ; Ender of all disputing, of all mirth Ungodly, of all loud and boasting speech. Judge of all Judgments ; Judge of every judge ; Adjuster of all causes, rights and wrongs. Day oft appealed to, and appealed to oft, By those who saw its dawn with saddest heart. Day most magnificent in fancy's range, Whence she returned, confounded, trembling, pale. With overmuch of glory faint and blind. Day most important held, prepared for most, P.y'every rational, wise, and holy man. Day of elernal gain, for worldly loss ; Day of eternal loss, for worldly gain. Great day of terror, vengeance, wo, despair • Revcaler of all secrets thoughts, desires ! 254 THE COURSE OF TIME. Reiii-tryiDg, heart-investigaling day, Which stood betwixt Eternity and Time, Reviewed all past, determined all to come, And bound all drstinies for evermore. Believing day of unbelief! Great day ! Which set in proper lie^t the affairs of earth, And justified the government Divine. Great day ! what can we more ) what should we more ? Great triumph day of God's Incarnate Son ! Great day of glory to the Almighty God ! Day when the everlasting years begin Their date ! new era in eternity ! And oft referred to in the song of heaven! Thus stood the spostate, thus the ransomed stood ; Those held by justice fast, and these by love, Reading the fiery scutcheonry, that blazed On high, upon the great celestial bow : — "As ve have sown, so shall ye reap this day." All read, all understood, and all believed ; Convinced of judgment, righteousness and sin. Meantime the universe throughont was still : 1 he cope, above and round atout was calm ; And motionless beneath them lay the earth. Silent and sad, as one that sentence waits. For flagrant crime : when suddenly was heard, Behind" the azure vaulting of the sky, Ab-.ve, and far remote from reach of sight. The sound of trumpets, and the sound of crowds, And prancing steeds, and rapid chariot wheels. That from four quarters rolled, and seemed in baste, AssPHiblineat some place oS rendezvous ; And so they seemed to roll, with furious speed, As if none meant to be behind the first. Nor seemed alone : ;bat day the golden trump, VVhose voire, from centre to circumference Of all (relied thmgs, is heard distinct, BOOK X. 255 God had bid Micliael sound, to sumnion all The hosts of bliss to presence of their King : And all the moruin?, millions infinite, That naillions governed each, Dominions, Poweis, Thrones, Principalities, with all their hosts. Had been arrivin? near the capital, And royal city, New Jerusalem, Prom heaven's remotest bounds : nor yet from heaven Alone, came they that day : the worlds around, Or neighboring nearest on the verge of night, Emptied, sent forth their whole inhabitants : All tribes of being came of every name. From every coast, filling Jehovah's courts. From morn till mid-day, in the squadrons poured Immense, along the bright celestial roads. Swiftly they rode ; for love unspeakable To God, and to Messiah, Prince of peace, Drew them, and made obedience haste to be Approved. And now before the Eternal Throne— Erigh'er that day than when the Son prepared To overthrow (he serjphim rebelled — And circling round the mount of Deity, Upon the sea of glass all round about. And down the borders of the stream of life, And over all the plains of Paradise, For manyaleagueof heavenly measurement,— Assembled stood the immortal multitudes, Millions atrave ail number infinitCj The nations of the blest. Distinguished each. By chief of goodly stature blazing far. By various garb, and flag of various hue Streaming through heaven from standard lifted bigh, The arms and imagery of thousand worlds. Distinguished each'; but all arrayed complete, In armor bright, of helmet, shield, and sword ; And mounted all in chariots of fire. A military throng, blent, not confused : As soldiers on some day of great review, Burning in splendor of refulgent gold. 266 THE COURSE OF TIME. Aud ornament on purpose long devMed for this expected day. Distingoished each, But all accoutred as became their Lord, And high occasion all in holiness, The livery of the soldiery of God, Vested ; and shinin? all with perfect bliss. The wages which his faithful seryants win. Thus stood they numberless around the mount Of presence ; and adoring, waited, hushed In deepest silence, for the voice of God. That moment, all the Sacred Hill on high Burned, terribly with glory, and, behind The uncreated lustre, hid the Lamb, Invisible ; when, from the radiant cloud, This voice, addressing all the hosts of heaven, Proceeded ; not in words as we converse, Each with his fellow, but in language such As God doth use, imparting without phrase Successive, what in speech of creatures, seems Long narrative, tho' long, yet loosing much, In feeble symbols, of the thought Divine. My servants long approved, my faithful sons ! Anzels of glnry, Thrunes, Dominions, Powers ! AVell pleased, this morning, I have seen the speed Of your oDedience, galhermg round my throne. In order due, as well becoming garb ; Illustrious, as I see, beyond your wont, As was my wish, to glorify this day. And now what your assembling means, attend. This day concludes the destiny of man • The hour, appointed from eternity, To judge the earth, in righteousness, is come ; To end' the war of Sin, that long has fought, Permitted, against the sword of Holiness ; To give to men and devils, as their works Recorded in ray all-remembering boob. BOOK X. m I find ; good to the good, and great reward Of everlasting honor, joy and peace. Before my presence here, for evermore : And to the evil as their sins provoke, E'ernal recompense of shame and wo, Cast out beyond the bounds of light and love. Long have I stood, as ye, my sons, well know, Between the cherubim, and stretched my arms Of mercy out, inviting all to come To me, and live ; my towels long have moved With great compassion ; and my justice passed Transgression by, and not imputed sin. Long here, upon my everlasting throne, 1 have beheld my love and mercy scorned ; Have seen my laws despised, my name blasphemed, My providence accused, my gracious plans Opposed ; and long, too long, hsve I beheld The wicked triumph, and my saints reproached Maliciously, while on my altars lie. Unanswered still, their prayers and their fears, Wh.ch seek my coming, wearied with delay : And lone. Disorder in my moral reign Has walked rebelliously, disturbed the peace Of my eternal government, and wrought Confusion, spreading far and wide, among My works inferior, which groan to be Releasal. Nor long shall groan : the hour of grace. The final hour of grace is fully past. The lime accepted tor repentance, faith, And pardon, is irrevocably past ; And Justice unaccompanied, as wont. With Mercy, now goes forth, to give to all According to their deeds. Justice alone ; For why should Mercy any more be joined ? What hath not mercy,' mixed with jodgment, done, That mercy, mixed with judgment and reproof, Could do ? Did I not revelation make, Plainly and clearly, of my will entire ? R 258 THE COURSE OF TIME. Before Ihem set my holy law, and gave Them kuowledge, wisdom, prowess, to obey, And win, by self-wrought works, eternal life ? Rebelled, did I not send Ihem terms of peace. Which, not my justice, but my mercy asked ? — Terms cosllyto my well-beloved Son ; To them gratuitous, exactinj faith Alone for pardon, works evincing faith ? Have I not early risen, and sent my seers. Prophets, apostles, teachers, ministers, With si^ns and wonders, working in my name ? Have I not still, from age to age, raised up, As I saw needful, greatj'religious men, Gifted by me with lat^e capacity, And by my arm omnipotent upheld. To pour the numbers of my mercy forth, And roll my judgments on the ear of man ? And lastly, when the promised hour was come, What more could most abundant mercy do ? Did I not send Iromanuel forth, my Son, Only begotten, to purchase, by his blood, As many as believed upon his name ? Did he not die to give repentance, such As I accept, and pardon of all sins ? Has he not taught, beseeched, and shed abroad The Spirit unconfined, and given at times. Example fierce of wralh and judgment poured VinJictive on nations guilty long ? What means of reformation that my Son , Has left behind untried ? what plainer words. What arguments more strons, as yet remain ? Did he not tell them with his'lips of truth, — The righteous should be saved, the wicked, damned ? And has he not, awake both day and night, Here interceded with prevailing voice, At ray right hand, pleading his precious blood Which magnified my holy law, and bought. For all who wished, perpetual righteousness ? And have not you, my faithful servants, all BOOK X. 2£ Been frequent forth, obedient to my wUl, With mess3(ge3 of mercy and of love, Administeriu? my gifts to sinful man ? And have not all my mercy, all my love, Been sealed and stamped with signature of heaven By proof of wonders, miracles, and signs Attested, and attested more by truth Divine, inherent in the tidings sent ? This day declares the consequence of all. Some have believed, are sanctified, and saved, Prepared for dwelling in this holy place. In these their mansions, built before my face : And now beneath a crown of golden light, Beyond our wall, at place of judgment, they, Expecting, wait the promised due reward. The others stand with Satan bound id chains ; The others, who refused to be redeemed, — Thev stand, unsanctified, unpardoned, sad, Waiting the sentei^ce that shall fii their wo. The others who refused to be redeemed ; For all had grace sufficient to believe, All who my gospel heard ; and none who heard It not, shall by its law this day be tried. Necessity of sinning, my decrees Imposed on none ; but rather all inclined To holiness ; and grace was bountiful. Abundant, overflowing with my word ; My word of life and peace, which to all men Who shall or stand or fall by law revealed, Was offered freely, as 'twas freely sent. Without all money, and without all price. Thus, they have all by wiilins act. despised Me, and my Son, and' sanctifying Spirit. But now no longer shall they mock or scorn ; The day of Gra'ce and Mercy is complete. And Godhead from their miserj^ absolved. So saying. He, the Father infinite, Turning, addressed Messiah, where he sat R2 EGO THE COURSE OF TIME. Exalted gloriously, at his right hand. This day belongs to justice, and to Thee, Eternal Son ! thy right for service done. Abundantly fulfilling all my will ; By promise thine, from all eternity. Made in the ancient Covenant of Grace ; And thine, as most befitting, since in thee Divine and human meet, impartial judge. Consulting thus Ihe interest of both. Go then, my Son, divine similitude '. Image express of Deity unseen ! The book of my remembrance take ; and take The golden crowns of life, due to the saints; And take the seven last thunders ruinous ; Thy armor take ; gird on thy sword, thy sword Of justice ultimate, reserved, till now Unsheathed, in the eternal armory ; And mount the living chariot of God. Thou goest not now, as once to Calvary, To be insulted, buffeted, and slain : Thou goest not now with battle, and the voice Of war, as once against the rebel hosts ; Thou goest a Judee, and find'st the guilty bound : Thou goest to prove, condemn, acquit, reward ; Not unaccompanied ; all these, my saints. Go with thee, glorious retinue I to sing Thy triumph, and participate thy joy ; And I, the Omnipresent, with thee go ; And with thee, all the glory of my throne. Thus said the Father ; and the Son beloved, Omnipotent, Omniscient. Fellow God, Arose resplendent with Divinity ; And He the book of God's reme'mbrance took ; And took the seven last thunders ruinoin ; And took the crowns of life, due to the saints ; His armor took ; girt on his sword, his sword Of justice ultimate, reserved, till now Unsheathed, in the eternal armory ; And up the living; chariot of God Ascended, signifying all complete. And now the Trump of wondrous uielody, By man or ansel never heard before, Sounded with thunder, and the march began. Not swift, as cavalcade, on battle bent, But, as became procession of a judge, Solemn, magnificent, majestic, slow ; Moving sublime with glory infinite. And numbers infinite, and awful song. They passed the gate of heaven, which many a league. Opened either way, to let the glory forth Of Ihis great march. And cow, the sons of men Beheld their coming, which, before they heard ; Beheld Ihe glorious countenance of God ! All light was swallowed up, all objects seen, Faded ; and the Incarnate, visible Alone, held every eye upon Him fixed I The wicked saw his majesty severe. And those who pierced Hini, saw his face with clouds Of glory circled round, essential brieht ! And to the rocks and mountains called in vain To hide them from the fierceness of his wrath : Almighty power that flight restrained, and held Them bound immovable before the bar. The righteous, undismayed ind bold — best proof This day of fortitude sincere — sustained By inward faiih, with acclamations loud, Received the coming of the Son of Man ; And drawn by love, inclined to his approach, Moving to meet the brightness of his face. Meantime, 'tween good and bad, the Judge, bis wheels Stayed, and, ascending, sat upon the great White Throne, that mornicg founded there by power Omnipotent, and built on righteousness R3 262 THE COURSE OF TIME. And truth. Behind, before, on every side, Jn native, and reflected blaze of bright Celestial equipage, the myriads stood. That with his marching came ; rank above rank, Rank above rank, with shield and flaming sword. 'Twas silence all : and quick, on right and left, A mighty angel spread Ihe book of GoJ's Remembrance ; and, with conscience, now sincere, All men compared the record written there, By finger of Omniscience, and received Their sentence, in themselves, of joy or wo, Condemned or justified, while yet the Judge, Wailed, as if to let them prove themselves. The righteous, in the book of life displayed. Rejoicing read their names ; rejoicing read Their faith forrighteousness received, and deeds Of holiness, as proof of faith complete. The wicked, in the book of endless death, Spread out to left, bewailing read their names ; And read beneath them. Unbelief, and frnit Of Unbeliet, vile, unrepented deeds, Now unrepentable for evermore ; And gave approval of the wo aflTuted. This done, the Omnipotent, Omniscient Jadge, Rose infinite, the sentence to pronounce j The sentence of eternal wo or bliss ! All glory heretofore seen or conceived ; All majesty, annihilated, dropped That moment, from remembrance, and was lost ; And silence, deepest hitherto esteemed. Seemed noisy to the stillness of this hour. Comparisons I seek not ; nor should find. If sought : that silence, which all being held. When God's Almighty Son, from off the walls Of heaven the rebel angels threw, accursed, So still, that all creation heard their fall Distinctly, in the lake of burning fire, BOOK X. Sfi3 Was now forgotten, and every silence else. All being rational, created then, Around the judgment seat, intensely listened ; No creature breathed : man, angel, devil, stood, And listened ; the spheres stood still, and every (tar Stood still and listened ; and every particle Remotest in the womb of matter stood, Bending lo hear, devotional and still. And thus upon the wicked first, the Judge Pronounced the sentence, written before of old ; ••Depart from me, ye cursed, into the fire Prepared eternal in the Gulph of Hell, Where ye shall weep and wail for evermore; Reaping the harvest which your sins have sown,'' So saying, Gfxi grew dark with utter wrath j And drawing now the sword, undrawn before. Which tbrnugh the range of infinite, all round A gleam of fiery indignation threw, He lifted up his hand omnipotent. And down among the damned the burning edge Plunged ; and from forth his arrowy quiver sent, Emptied, the seven last thunders ruinous, Which, entering, withered all their souls with fire. Then first was vengeance, first was ruin seen Red, unrestrained, vindictive, final, fierce. They howling fled lo west among the dark; But fled not these the terrors of the Lord : Pursued and driven beyond the Gulph, which frowns Impassable, between the good and bad. And downward far remote to left, oppressed And scorched with the avenging fires, begua Burning within them, — they upon the verge Of Erebus, a moment, pausing stood, And saw, below, the unfathomable lake. Tossing Willi tides of dark, tempestuous wrath ; And would have looked behind ; but greater wrath. Behind, forbade, which now no respite gave To final misery ; God, m the grasp 264 THE COURSE OF TIME. Of his Almighty strength, took them upraised, And threw them down, into the yawning pit Of bottomless perdition, mined, damned. Fast bound in chaits of darkness evermore ; And Second Death, and the undying Worm, Opening their horrid jaws with hideous yell, Falling, received their everlasting prey. A groan returned, as down they sunk, and sunk, And ever sunk among the utter dark ! A groan returned ! the righteous heard the groan ; Tbe groan of all the reprobate, when first They felt damnation sure ! and heard Hell close I And heard Jehovah, and his love retire ! A groan returned ! tbe righteous beard tbe groan i As if all misery, all sorrow, grief. All pain, all anguish, all despair, which all Have suffered, or shall feel, from first to last Eternity, had gathered to one pang. And issued in one groan of boundless wo ! And now the wall of hell, the outer wall, First gateless then,ctosed round them; that which thon Hast seen of fiery adamant, emblazed With hideous imagery, above all hope, Above all flight of fancy, burning high ; And euarded evermore,' by Justice, turned To Wrath, that hears, unmoved, the endless groan Of those, wasting within ; and sees, unmoved, The endless tear of vain repentance fall. Nor ask if these shall ever be redeemed. They never shall : not God, but their own sin Condemns them : what could be done, as thou hast heard, Has been already done ; all has been tried, That wisdom infinite, and boundless grace, Working together could devise, and all Has failed ; why now succceed f Though God should stoop, BOOK X. 28 Inviting still, and send his Only Son To offer grace in hell, the pride that first Refused, would still refuse ; the unbelief Still unbelieving, would deride and mock ; Nay more, refuse, deride, and mock ; for sin Increasing still, and growing day and night Into the essence of the soul, become All sin, makes what in time seemed probable, Seemed probable, since God invited then — Forever now impossible. Thus they. According to the eternal laws which bihd All crealures, bind the Uncreated One, Though we name not the sentence of the Judge — Must daily grow in sin and punishment. Made by themselves their necessary lot, Unchangeable to all eternity. What lot ! what choice ! I sing not, cannot sing. Here, highest seraphs tremble on the lyre. And make a sudden pause ! but thou hast seen. And nere, the bard, a moment, held hia baud, As one who saw more of that horrid wo Than words could utter ; and again resumed. Nor yet had vengeance done. The guilty Earth, Inanimate, debased, and stained by sin, Seat of rebellion, of corruption, long. And tainted with mortality thrcughout, God sentenced next ; and pent the final fires Of ruin forth, to burn and to destroy. The saints its burning saw ; and thou mays! see. Look yonder round the lofty golden walls And gaP.eries of New Jerusalem, Among the imagery of wonders past ; Look near the southern gale ; look, and behold. On spacious canvass, touched with living hues,— The conflagration of the ancient earth, The handiwork of high arch-angel, drawn From meiuory of what he savif that day. 266 THE COURSE OF TIME. See how the tnountains, how the valleys burn ! The Andes burn, Ihe Alps, the Appenines ; Taurus and Atlas, all the islands bum ; The Ocean burns, and rolls his waves of flame. See how the li^htnines, barbed, red with wrath, Sent from the quiver of Omnipotence, Cross and recross the fiery sloom, and bum Into the centre '. bum without, witbin, And help the native fixes, which God awoke, And kindled with the fury of his wrath. As inly troubled, now she seems to shake ; The flames, dividing, now a moment, fall ; And now in one conglomerated mass. Rising, they glow on high, prodigious blaze ! Then fall and sink again, as if within, The fuel, burnt to ashes, was consumed. So burned the earth upon that dreadful day, Yet not to full annihilation burned : The essential particles of dust remained, Purged by the final, sanctifying fires. From all corruption ; from all slain of sin, Pone there by man or devil, purified. The essential particles remained, of which God built the world again, renewed, improved, With fertile vale, and wood of iertile bough ; And streams of milk and honey, flowing song ; And mountains cinctured wiih perpetual green; In clime and season fruitful, as at first. When Adam woke, unfallen, in paradise. And God, from out Ihe fount of native light, A handful took of beams, and clad the sun Again in glory ; and sent forth the moon To borrow thence her wonted rays, and lead Her stars, the virgin daughters of the sky. And God revived ^he winds, revived the tides ; And touching her from his Almighty hand, With force centrifugal, she onward ran. Coursing her wonted path, to stop no more. Delightful scene of new inhabitants ; As thou, this morn, in passing hither, saw. Thus done, the glorious Ju 'ge, turning to right, With countenance of love unspeakable, Beheld the righteous, and approved them thus. "Ye blessed of my Father, come, ye just, Enter the joy eternal of your Lord ; Receive your crowns, ascend, and sit with Me, At God's' right hand, in glory evermore." Thus said the Omnipotent, Incarnate God : .And waited not the homage of the crowns. Already thrown before hira ; nor the loud Amen of universal holy praise ; But turned the living chariot of fire, And swifter now — as joyful to declare This day's proceedings in his Father's court, And to present the number of his sons Before the throne — ascended up to heaven. And all his saints, and all his angel bands, As glorious they on high ascended, sung Glory to God, and to the Lamb ! they sung Messiah, fairer than the sons of men. And altogether lovely. Grace is p'^ured Into thy lips, above all measure poured ; And therefore God hath blessed thee evermore. Gird, gird thy sword upon thy thigh, thou Most Mighty ! with thy glory ride ; with all Thy majesty, ride prosperously, because Of meekness, truth, and righteousness. Thy throne, O God, for ever and for ever stands ; The sceptre of thy kingdom still is right : Therefore hath God, thy God, anointed Thee, With oil of gladness and perfumes of myrrh, Out of the ivory palaces, above Thy fellows, crowned the prince of endless peace. Thus sung they God, their Saviour ; and themselves, Prepared complete to enter now with Christ, 263 THE COURSE OF TIME. Their living head, into the Holy Place. Behold the daughter of the King, the bride, All glorious within, the bride adorned, Comely in broidery of gold ! behold. She comes, apparelled royally, in robes Of perfect righteousness ;'fair as the sun ; With all her virgins, her companions fair ; Into the Palace of the King she comes ! She comes to dwell fur evermore ! awake, Eternal harps ! awake, awake, and sing ! The Lord, the Lord, our God Almighty, reigns ! Thus the Messiah, with the hosts of bliss, Eu'ered the gates of heaven— unquestioned now— Which closed behind them, to go out no more, And stood accepted in his Father's sight ; Before the glorious everlasting throne. Presenting all his saints ; not one was lost, Of all that he in Covenant received : And having given the kingdom up, he sat, Where now be sits, and reigns, on the right band Of glory ; and our God is all in alU ,Thu3 liave I sung beyond thy first request, Rolling my numbers o'er the track of man, The world at dawn, at mid-day and decline ; Time gone, the righteous saved, the wicked damned And God's eternal government approved. INDEX. Actions done, never recalled, Advocate, the faithless, - A?e, old, childish. Ambition, • • Amusements, innocent. • . — , criminal, Angels, separating righteous and Antiquary, Apostacy, Apostrophe to Earth, - Trees and Flowers, . Death. - Bigotry, - Ocean, • — Religion, - Assembly for Judgment, Atonement, Author, supposed allusion tc Babylon, fall of mvstical, Bard of Earth, • Battle, field of. - in Hanionab's vale, Page . 107 149 ; 202 - 244 - 145 . 118 - 148 . 236 . 262 - 191 . 29 . 141 - 172 . 171 . 193 . 178 . 213 . 187 . 31 . 132 . 20 . 244 - 164 Page Be?gar, . 97 Bible, its divinity and doctrines, . SI 37 Bigotry, .... 193 Book of God's remembrance, • 262 Books of Time. • 91 Bow, appearing at Judgment, - • 247 Byron, description of, . • lOO Caravan, .... . 75 Causes of Irreligion, . 44 Ceriainty, affecting joy and grief at Judgment, 233 Character of man. 35 Charity, praises of, 225 Christ, his Incarnation and Death, 31 , appearing as Judge, 260 Christian, his contest, ... 87 Counsellor, the faithful, 224 Creation of Earth, 27 28 Critics, .... 209 Daughters of Beauty • Dead raised, .... 143 167 Death, apostrophe to, • 181 , phantoms in den of, 183 . , ansel of, ... 175 , the Second, 18 ,264 Disappointment, 75 Distribution of worldly goods. 96 intellect, - 98 Dreams, .... 123 Duellist. .... 202 Duty, source of happiness. 110 Earth, signs presaging destruction of, • 150 , burnt at judgment, • , renewed. 263 266 Eden, - Envy, , subject of, in hell, Epicure, - Eteruily, scieoce o( Fair one, vain, . , ruined, Faith, character and eflfects of, I'alsehood, man of, Fame, , votary of, at Resurrection Fancy, active in sleep, - Fashion, woman of, Fear, n.arring Pleasure, - Fisherman, Friendship, Gabriel, leading the angels, God, no respecter of persons , i'idressing the worlds at Judgment, Gos, with enemies of saints, Gold, pursuit of, - Grief, . Hamonah, vale of. Happiness, desire of, sought in trifles, ■ — , how only found feelings of the finder, Harlot, Heart, the Christian, • Heaven, pursuits in, , hymn of praise in, , poets in, Hell described, - , occujiants of, , duration of. Hermit, . • • Hills of Scotia, • Honor, false, Hypocrite, Idolatry, • Inquisition, intellect, how distribnted, , pleasure in exercising Joys of Time, , Christian's, — in heaven, • Jubilee of Earth, • Judge, dishonest, Judgment, day of, , other worlds summoned to, Justice, sword of^ King, virtuous, • — — , wicked, - Kingdom, mediatorial, resigned Knowledge in Eternity, Lake of fire, Liberty, love of, • ', true, • Living changed, • Lord, a rich noble, Love divine, to man, — — , maternal, • , youthful, • • Lunatic, ... Page Man of titles, — - — fame, — — fashion, • Man of benevolence, - . g5 Maniac, . 245 Meeting of lovers, . 115 Memory, joys of. . 121 Merchant, . 180 Mercy, angel of, - 247 Mercy, of God, how treated by men, - - 257 Michael summoning worlds to he Judgment, - 254 Millennium, state of world in. Millennium, state of world aft - . 132 er, - - 145 Minister, ungodly. Minister, faithful, - 207 - 218 Mirror of Truth, . 51 Miser, - . 58 Missionaries, - - 176 Morn of Life, . . Ill Mother, the dying. . 125 Mummy, . 170 Musing, solitary, - 124 . 93 Nature, appearance of, at Rest orection, . 165 Nature, at the Judgment, . 262 Nature, lessons taught by. - 68 Navigator, in polar seas. - 176 New arrived, the Spirit, 13 J 27 J 29} 210 Novels, . ' . . . 92 Ocean, apostrophe to, • Offer of life, free, . 178 33; 259 Omens of earth's dissolution, . 130 Omens, effects of, on men, . 152 Omens, in heaven. . 153 One, the Holy, - 31 One, the Three in. 95 Orator, frothy, - - 145 Persecution, . 194 Piety, increasing happiness, - Piety, apostrophe to, - Poet, at the Resurrection, Poel, the tnie, - Philosophy searching for happiness, Paradise, plains of, Pleasure, her forms and haunts, Prayer of the Author, Pride, .... Priest, ungodly, Priest, ungodly, at the Resurrection, Prison house in Millenium, Prophecy fulfilled. Quotation from Thompson, Quotation from Cowper, Qjiotalion from Milton, Quotation from Shaksj^re, - Reasoner, the famous, - Recluse, Redeeming Love, praised by the Bard, Redeeming Love praised by the Bard Newarrived, Redemption, bow effected, Redemption, actual extent. Remorse, Reputation, value of, - Rest, . . . • Resurrection, morn of, Righteous, the reward of, Roman Legions, Rulers, wicked, Rulers, righteous, Rumor, ... Rustic, the ignorant, - Satan, character, ^-c-, - Scene, of Poem laid, - 215 227 229 53 12 59 251 46 42 207 Scenery, Earth's Scenery of Britain, Scenery of the Author's native place, Scholar, the dull. Seduction, victim of, • Sennacherib, - Separations at tlie day of Judgment, Sights, pitiful, - Sin, .... Slander, ... Slave equal to master, in what sense, Sloth, .... Solitude, -n-alk in, Solitude, music m, - Sorrow, ... Subject of Poem stated, Suicide, ... Theatre, Theologian, the bigoted, Throne, white. Tempest, Time of the Poem, Time, end cf, . Trinitv, Tree of Holiness, Trump of God, Unbelief, Virtue, character of, . Virtue, image of, in Hell, Walk, lonely, pleasure of. Wall of Hell, - Wicked, their sentence, Wi'imv, wasted with grief, S2 276 INDEX. Wife, the good, '^q/iLiY*:'- • «a« Wisdom, her ^Ta^mngs, . i/ . . 68 AVisdom, how r^arded, - . .69 Wisdom, defined by God and the world, . 71 Worm undying, . . - J6 ; 264 Youth early cot ofi; . . • - 232 Zion, regard to, in Millemum, . - 134 U^f-yi. .M;ur-.'Jtry^ rt'T "■■>"/' 000 002 752