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 A POEM 
 BY THOMAS MOORE 
 
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 THE 
 
 LOVES OF THE ANGELS, 
 
 Poem* 
 
 BY THOMAS MOORE. 
 
 It happened, after the sons of men had multiplied in those days, that 
 daughters were born to them elegant and beautiful ; and when the Angels, 
 the sons of heaven, beheld them, they became enamoured of them. 
 
 The Book of Enoch, chap. vii. sect 2. 
 
 FOURTH EDITION. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED FOR 
 
 LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, 
 
 PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 1823.
 
 THIS Poem, somewhat different in form, 
 and much more limited in extent, was ori- 
 ginally designed as an episode for a work, 
 about which I have been, at intervals, 
 employed during the last two years. Some 
 months since, however, I found that my 
 friend Lord Byron had, by an accidental 
 coincidence, chosen the same subject for 
 a Drama ; and, as I could not but feel the 
 disadvantage of coming after so formidable 
 a rival, I thought it best to publish my 
 humble sketch immediately, with such
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 alterations and additions as I had time 
 to make, and thus, by an earlier appear- 
 ance in the literary horizon, give myself 
 the chance of what astronomers call an 
 Heliacal rising, before the luminary, in 
 whose light I was to be lost, should 
 appear. 
 
 As objections may be made, by per- 
 sons whose opinions I respect, to the 
 selection of a subject of this nature from 
 the Scripture, I think it right to remark, 
 that, in point of fact, the subject is not 
 scriptural the notion upon which it is 
 founded (that of the love of Angels for 
 women) having originated in an erroneous 
 translation by the LXX. of that verse in
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 the sixth chapter of Genesis, upon which 
 the sole authority for the fable rests.* 
 The foundation of my story, therefore, 
 has as little to do with Holy Writ as have 
 the dreams of the later Platonists, or the 
 reveries of the Jewish divines ; and, in 
 appropriating the notion thus to the uses 
 of poetry, I have done no more than 
 establish it in that region of fiction, to 
 which the opinions of the most rational 
 Fathers, and of all other Christian theolo- 
 gians, have long ago consigned it. 
 
 In addition to the fitness of the subject 
 for poetry, it struck me also as capable of 
 affording an allegorical medium, through 
 
 * See Note.
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 which might be shadowed out (as I have 
 endeavoured to do in the following stories, ) 
 the fall of the Soul from its original purity 
 the loss of light and happiness which it suf- 
 fers, in the pursuit of this world's perishable 
 pleasures and the punishments, both from 
 conscience and Divine justice, with which 
 impurity, pride, and presumptuous inquiry 
 into the awful secrets of God, are sure to 
 be visited. The beautiful story of Cupid 
 and Psyche owes its chief charm to this 
 sort of " veiled meaning," and it has been 
 my wish (however I may have failed in the 
 attempt) to communicate the same moral 
 interest to the following pages.
 
 THE 
 
 LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 'TwAS when the world was in its prime, 
 
 When the fresh stars had just begun 
 Their race of glory, and young Time 
 
 Told his first birth-days by the sun ; 
 When, in the light of Nature's dawn 
 
 Rejoicing, men and angels met 
 On the high hill and sunny lawn, 
 Ere sorrow came, or Sin had drawn 
 
 'Twixt man and heaven her curtain yet ! 
 B
 
 I THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 When earth lay nearer to the skies 
 Than in these days of crime and woe, 
 
 And mortals saw, without surprise, 
 
 In the mid-air, angelic eyes 
 Gazing upon this world below. 
 
 Alas, that Passion should profane, 
 Ev'n then, that morning of the earth! 
 
 That, sadder still, the fatal stain 
 
 Should fall on hearts of heavenly birth- 
 
 And oh, that stain so dark should fall 
 
 From Woman's love, most sad of all ! 
 
 One evening, in that time of bloom, 
 
 On a hill's side, where hung the ray 
 Of sunset, sleeping in perfume, 
 
 Three noble youths conversing lay;
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 3 
 
 And, as they look'd, from time to time, 
 
 To the far sky, where Daylight furl'd 
 His radiant wing, their brows sublime 
 
 Bespoke them of that distant world 
 Creatures of light, such as still play, 
 
 Like motes in sunshine, round the Lord, 
 And through their infinite array 
 Transmit each moment, night and day, 
 
 The echo of His luminous word ! 
 
 Of Heaven they spoke, and, still more oft, 
 
 Of the bright eyes that charm'd them thence; 
 Till, yielding gradual to the soft 
 
 And balmy evening's influence 
 The silent breathing of the flowers 
 
 The melting light that beam'd above, 
 As on their first, fond, erring hours, 
 
 Each told the story of his love, 
 B 2
 
 * THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 The history of that hour unblest, 
 When, like a bird, from its high nest 
 Won down by fascinating eyes, 
 For Woman's smile he lost the skies. 
 
 The First who spoke was one, with look 
 
 The least celestial of the three 
 A Spirit of light mould, that took 
 
 The prints of earth most yieldingly ; 
 Who, ev'n in heaven, was not of those 
 
 Nearest the Throne, but held a place 
 Far off, among those shining rows 
 
 That circle out through endless space, 
 And o'er whose wings the light from Him 
 In the great centre falls most dim. 
 
 Still fair and glorious, he but shone 
 Among those youths th' unheavenliest one
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 A creature, to whom light remain'd 
 From Eden still, but alter'd, stain'd, 
 And o'er whose brow not Love alone 
 
 A blight had, in his transit, sent, 
 But other, earthlier joys had gone, 
 
 And left their foot-prints as they went. 
 
 Sighing, as through the shadowy Past 
 Like a tomb-searcher, Memory ran, 
 
 Lifting each shroud that Time had cast 
 O'er buried hopes, he thus began : 
 
 B 3
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 'Twos in a land, that tar away 
 
 Into the golden orient lies, 
 Where Nature knows not night's delay, 
 But springs to meet her bridegroom, Day, 
 
 Upon the threshold of the skies. 
 One morn, on earthly mission sent, 
 
 And mid-way choosing where to light, 
 I saw, from the blue element 
 
 Oh beautiful, but fatal sight ! 
 One of earth's fairest womankind, 
 Half veil'd from view, or rather shrin'd 
 In the clear crystal of a brook ; 
 
 Which, wliile it hid no single gleam
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 Of her young beauties, made them look 
 More spirit-like, as they might seem 
 Through the dim shadowing of a dream. 
 
 Pausing in wonder I look'd on, 
 
 While, playfully around her breaking 
 
 The waters, that like diamonds shone, 
 She mov'd in light of her own making. 
 At length, as slowly I descended 
 To view more near a sight so splendid, 
 
 The tremble of my wings all o'er 
 
 (For through each plume I felt the thrill) 
 
 Startled her, as she reach'd the shore 
 Of that small lake her mirror still 
 
 Above whose brink she stood, like snow 
 
 When rosy with a sunset glow. 
 
 Never shall I forget those eyes ! 
 
 The shame, the innocent surprise 
 i: 4
 
 j THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Of that bright face, when in the air 
 
 Uplooking, she beheld me there. 
 
 It seem'd as if each thought, and look, 
 
 And motion were that minute chain'd 
 Fast to the spot, such root she took, 
 And like a sunflower by a brook, 
 
 With face upturn'd so still remain'd ! 
 
 In pity to the wondering maid, 
 
 Though loth from such a vision turning, 
 Downward I bent, beneath the shade 
 
 Of my spread wings to hide the burning 
 Of glances, which I well could feel 
 
 For me, for her, too warmly shone ; 
 But, ere I could again unseal 
 My restless eyes, or even steal 
 
 One side-long look, the maid was gone
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 Hid from me in the forest leaves, 
 Sudden as when, in all her charms 
 
 Of full-blown light, some cloud receives 
 The Moon into his dusky arms. 
 
 'Tis not in words to tell the power, 
 The despotism that, from that hour, 
 Passion held o'er me day and night 
 
 I sought around each neighbouring spot, 
 And, in the chase of this sweet light, 
 
 My task, and heaven, and all forgot 
 All, but the one, sole, haunting dream 
 Of her I saw in that bright stream. 
 
 Nor was it long, ere by her side 
 I found myself, whole happy days, 
 
 Listening to words, whose music vied 
 With our own Eden's seraph lays,
 
 10 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 When seraph lays are warm'd by love, 
 
 But, wanting that, far, far above ! 
 
 And looking into eyes where, blue 
 
 And beautiful, like skies seen through 
 
 The sleeping wave, for me there shone 
 
 A heaven, more worshipp'd than my own. 
 
 Oh what, while I could hear and see 
 
 Such words and looks, was heaven to me ? 
 
 Though gross the air on earth I drew, 
 
 'Twas blessed, while she breath'd it too ; 
 
 Though dark the flowers, though dim the sky, 
 
 Love lent them light, while she was nigh. 
 
 Throughout creation I but knew 
 
 Two separate worlds the one, that small, 
 
 Belov'd, and consecrated spot 
 Where LEA was the other, all 
 
 The dull, wide waste, where she was not !
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 11 
 
 But vain my suit, my madness vain ; 
 Though gladly, from her eyes to gain 
 
 One earthly look, one stray desire, 
 I would have torn the wings, that hung 
 
 Furl'd at my back, and o'er that Fire 
 Unnam'd in heaven their fragments flung ; 
 'Twas hopeless all pure and unmov'd 
 
 She stood, as lilies in the light 
 
 Of the hot noon but look more white ; 
 And though she lov'd me, deeply lov'd, 
 'Twas not as man, as mortal no, 
 Nothing of earth was in that glow 
 She lov'd me but as one, of race 
 Angelic, from that radiant place 
 She saw so oft in dreams that Heaven, 
 
 To which her prayers at morn were sent, 
 And on whose light she gaz'd at even,
 
 12 
 
 Wishing for wings, that she might go 
 Out of this shadowy world below, 
 To that free, glorious element ! 
 
 Well I remember by her side 
 
 Sitting at rosy even-tide, 
 
 When, turning to the star, whose head 
 
 Look'd out, as from a bridal bed, 
 
 At that mute, blushing hour, she said, 
 
 " Oh ! that it were my doom to be 
 
 " The Spirit of yon beauteous star, 
 " Dwelling up there in purity, 
 
 " Alone, as all such bright things are ; 
 " My sole employ to pray and shine, 
 
 " To light my censer at the sun, 
 " And fling its fire towards the shrine 
 
 " Of Him in heaven, the Eternal One !"
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 15 
 
 So innocent the maid so free 
 
 From mortal taint in soul and frame, 
 Whom 'twas my crime my destiny 
 To love, aye, burn for, with a flame, 
 To which earth's wildest fires are tame. 
 Had you but seen her look, when first 
 From my mad lips the' avowal burst ; 
 Not angry no the feeling had 
 No touch of anger, but most sad 
 It was a sorrow, calm as deep, 
 A mournfulness that could not weep, 
 So fill'd the heart was to the brink, 
 So fix'd and frozen there to think 
 That angel natures even I, 
 Whose love she clung to, as the tie 
 Between her spirit and the sky 
 Should fall thus headlong from the height 
 Of such pure glory into sin
 
 14 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 The sin, of all, most sure to blight, 
 The sin, of all, that the soul's light 
 Is soonest lost, extinguish'd in ! 
 That, though but frail and human, she 
 Should, like the half-bird of the sea, 
 Try with her wing sublimer air, 
 While I, a creature born up there, 
 Should meet her, in my fall from light, 
 From heaven and peace, and turn her flight 
 Downward again, with me to drink 
 Of the salt tide of sin, and sink ! 
 
 That very night my heart had grown 
 
 Impatient of its inward burning ; 
 The term, too, of my stay was flown, 
 And the bright Watchers * near the throne, 
 
 * See Note.
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 15 
 
 Already, if a meteor shone 
 Between them and this nether zone, 
 
 Thought 'twas their herald's wing returning ;- 
 Oft did the potent spell-word, given 
 
 To Envoys hither from the skies, 
 To be pronounc'd, when back to heaven 
 
 It is their hour or wish to rise, 
 Come to my lips that fatal day; 
 
 And once, too, was so nearly spoken, 
 That my spread plumage in the ray 
 And breeze of heaven began to play 
 
 When my heart fail'd the spell was broken - 
 The word unfinished died away, 
 And my check'd plumes, ready to soar, 
 Fell slack and lifeless as before. 
 
 How could I leave a world, which she, 
 Or lost or won, made all to me,
 
 16 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Beyond home glory every thing? 
 
 How fly, while yet there was a chance, 
 A hope aye, even of perishing 
 
 Utterly by that fatal glance ! 
 No matter where my wanderings were, 
 
 So there she look'd, mov'd, breath'd about- 
 Woe, ruin, death, more sweet with her, 
 
 Than all heaven's proudest joys without ! 
 
 But, to return that very day 
 
 A feast was held, where, full of mirth, 
 Came, crowding thick as flowers that play 
 In summer winds, the young and gay 
 
 And beautiful of this bright earth. 
 And she was there, and 'mid the young 
 
 And beautiful stood first, alone ; 
 Though on her gentle brow still hung 
 
 The shadow I that morn had thrown
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 17 
 
 The first, that ever shame or woe 
 
 Had cast upon its vernal snow. 
 
 My heart was madden'd in the flush 
 
 Of the wild revel I gave way 
 To all that frantic mirth that rush 
 
 Of desperate gaiety, which they, 
 Who never felt how pain's excess 
 Can break out thus, think happiness 
 Sad mimicry of mirth and life, 
 Whose flashes come but from the strife 
 Of inward passions like the light 
 Struck out by clashing swords in fight. 
 
 Then, too, that juice of earth, the bane 
 And blessing of man's heart and brain 
 That draught of sorcery, which brings 
 Phantoms of fail*, forbidden things
 
 18 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Whose drops, like those of rainbows, smile 
 
 Upon the mists that circle man, 
 Bright'ning not only Earth, the while, 
 
 But grasping Heaven, too, in their span ! 
 Then first the fatal wine-cup rain'd 
 
 Its dews of darkness through my lips, 
 Casting whate'er of light remain'd 
 
 To my lost soul into eclipse, 
 And filling it with such wild dreams, 
 
 Such fantasies and wrong desires, 
 As, in the absence of heaven's beams, 
 
 Haunt us for ever like wild-fires 
 
 That walk this earth, when day retires. 
 
 Now hear the rest our banquet done, 
 
 I sought her in the' accustom'd bower, 
 Where late we oft, when day was gone, 
 And the world hush'd, had met alone, 
 At the same silent, moonlight hour.
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 19 
 
 I found her oh, so beautiful ! 
 
 Why, why have hapless Angels eyes? 
 Or why are there not flowers to cull, 
 
 As fair as Woman, in yon skies ? 
 Still did her brow, as usual, turn 
 To her lov'd star, which seem'd to burn 
 
 Purer than ever on that night ; 
 
 While she, in looking, grew more bright, 
 As though that planet were an urn 
 
 From which her eyes drank liquid light. 
 
 There was a virtue in that scene, 
 
 A spell of holiness around, 
 Which would have had my brain not been 
 
 Thus poison' d, madden'd held me bound, 
 
 As though I stood on God's own ground. 
 Ev'n as it was, with soul all flame, 
 
 And lips that burn'd in their own sighs, 
 c 2
 
 20 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 I stood to gaze, with awe and shame 
 The memory of Eden came 
 
 Full o'er me when I saw those eyes ; 
 And tho' too well each glance of mine 
 
 To the pale, shrinking maiden prov'd 
 How far, alas, from aught divine, 
 Aught worthy of so pure a shrine, 
 
 Was the wild love with which I lov'd, 
 Yet must she, too, have seen oh yes, 
 
 'Tis soothing but to think she saw 
 The deep, true, soul-felt tenderness, 
 
 The homage of an Angel's awe 
 To her, a mortal, .whom pure love 
 Then plac'd above him far above 
 And all that struggle to repress 
 A sinful spirit's mad excess, 
 Wliich work'd within me at that hour, 
 
 When with a voice, where Passion shed
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 21 
 
 All the deep sadness of her power, 
 
 Her melancholy power I said, 
 " Then be it so if back to heaven 
 
 " I must unlov'd, unpitied fly, 
 " Without one blest memorial given 
 
 " To sooth me in that lonely sky 
 " One look, like those the young and fond 
 
 " Give when they're parting which would be, 
 " Ev'n in remembrance, far beyond 
 
 " All heaven hath left of bliss for me ! 
 
 " Oh, but to see that head recline 
 
 " A minute on this trembling arm, 
 " And those mild eyes look up to mine 
 
 " Without a dread, a thought of harm ! 
 " To meet but once the thrilling touch 
 
 " Of lips that are too fond to fear me 
 c 3
 
 2S THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 " Or, if that boon be all too much, 
 
 " Ev'n thus to bring their fragrance near me ! 
 " Nay, shrink not so a look a word 
 
 " Give them but kindly and I fly ; 
 " Already, see, my plumes have stirr'd, 
 
 " And tremble for their home on high. 
 " Thus be our parting cheek to cheek 
 
 ** One minute's lapse will be forgiven, 
 " And thou, the next, shalt hear me speak 
 
 " The spell that plumes my wing for heaven !' : 
 
 While thus I spoke, the fearful maid, 
 Of me, and of herself afraid, 
 Had shrinking stood, like flowers beneath 
 The scorching of the south-wind's breath : 
 But when I nam'd alas, too well, 
 I now recall, though wilder'd then,
 
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 TIOJ 
 
 IF MIS AM" 
 
 WIHI.K THirs 1 f.l'OKE, TIIK FE AU-FUL MAID. 
 
 OF ME ,f , 
 
 I1AIJ .^HHIMK IMi; 31 
 
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 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 25 
 
 Instantly, when I nam'd the spell, 
 
 Her brow, her eyes uprose again, 
 And, with an eagerness, that spoke 
 The sudden light that o'er her broke, 
 " The spell, the spell ! oh, speak it now, 
 
 " And I will bless thee !" she exclaim'd 
 
 Unknowing what I did, inflam'd, 
 And lost already, on her brow 
 
 I stamp'd one burning kiss, and nam'd 
 The mystic word, till then ne'er told 
 To living creature of earth's mould ! 
 Scarce was it said, when, quick as thought, 
 Her lips from mine, like echo, caught 
 The holy sound her hands and eyes 
 Were instant lifted to the skies, 
 And thrice to heaven she spoke it out 
 
 With that triumphant look Faith wears, 
 When not a cloud of fear or doubt, 
 c 4-
 
 24 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 A vapour from this vale of tears, 
 
 Between her aiid her God appears ! 
 That very moment her whole frame 
 All bright and glorified became, 
 And at her back I saw unclose 
 Two wings, magnificent as those 
 
 That sparkle round the' Eternal Throne, 
 Whose plumes, as buoyantly she rose 
 
 Above me, in the moon-beam shone 
 With a pure light, which from its hue, 
 Unknown upon this earth I knew 
 Was light from Eden, glistening through ! 
 Most holy vision ! ne'er before 
 
 Did aught so radiant since the day 
 When Lucifer, in falling, bore 
 
 The third of the bright stars away * 
 
 * Sec Note.
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. '25 
 
 Rise, in earth's beauty, to repair 
 That loss of light and glory there ! 
 
 But did I tamely view her flight ? 
 
 Did not /, too, proclaim out thrice 
 The powerful words that were, that night, 
 Oh ev'n for heaven too much delight ! 
 
 Again to bring us, eyes to eyes, 
 
 And soul to soul, in Paradise ? 
 I did I spoke it o'er and o'er 
 
 I pray'd, I wept, but all in vain ; 
 For me the spell had power no more, 
 
 There seem'd around me some dark chain 
 Which still, as I essay'd to soar, 
 
 Baffled, alas, each wild endeavour : 
 Dead lay my wings, as they have lain 
 Since that sad hour, and will remain 
 v So wills the' offended God for ever !
 
 26 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 It was to yonder star I trac'd 
 Her journey up the' illumin'd waste 
 That isle in the blue firmament, 
 To which so oft her fancy went 
 
 In wishes and in dreams before, 
 And which was now such, Purity, 
 Thy blest reward ordain'd to be 
 
 Her home of light for evermore ! 
 
 Once or did I but fancy so? 
 
 Ev'n in her flight to that fair sphere, 
 Mid all her spirit's new-felt glow, 
 A pitying look she turn'd below 
 
 On him who stood in darkness here ; 
 Him whom, perhaps, if vain regret 
 Can dwell in heaven, she pities yet ;
 
 FIRST ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 And oft, when looking to this dim 
 And distant world, remembers him. 
 
 But soon that passing dream was gone ; 
 Farther and farther off she shone, 
 Till lessen'd to a point, as small 
 
 As are those specks that yonder burn 
 Those vivid drops of light, that fall 
 
 The last from day's exhausted urn. 
 And when at length she merg'd, afar, 
 Into her own immortal star, 
 Arid when at length my straining sight 
 
 Had caught her wing's last fading ray, 
 That minute from my soul the light 
 
 Of heaven and love both pass'd away; 
 And I forgot my home, my birth, 
 
 Profan'd my spirit, sunk my brow,
 
 28 THE LOVES OF THE AiNGELS. 
 
 And revell'd in gross joys of earth, 
 Till I became what I am now !" 
 
 The Spirit bow'd his head in shame ; 
 
 A shame, that of itself would tell 
 Were there not ev'n those breaks of flame, 
 Celestial, through his clouded frame 
 
 How grand the height from which he fell 
 That holy Shame, which ne'er forgets 
 
 What clear renown it us'd to wear ; 
 Whose blush remains, when Virtue sets, 
 
 To show her sunshine has been there. 
 
 Once only, while the tale he told, 
 Were his eyes lifted to behold 
 That happy stainless star, where she 
 Dwelt in her bower of purity !
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 29 
 
 One minute did he look, and then 
 As though he felt some deadly pain 
 From its sweet light through heart and brain- 
 
 Shrunk back, and never look'd again. 
 
 Who was the Second Spirit? he 
 
 With the proud front and piercing glance 
 
 Who seem'd, when viewing heaven's expanse, 
 As though his far-sent eye could see 
 On, on into the* Immensity 
 Behind the veils of that blue sky, 
 Where God's sublimest secrets lie? 
 His wings, the while, though day was gone, 
 
 Flashing with many a various hue 
 Of light they from themselves alone, 
 
 Instinct with Eden's brightness, drew
 
 30 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 A breathing forth of beams at will, 
 
 Of living beams, which, though no more 
 
 They kept their early lustre, still 
 
 Were such, when glittering out all o'er, 
 As mortal eye-lids wink'd before. 
 
 'Twas RUBI once among the prime 
 
 And flower of those bright creatures, nam'd 
 Spirits of Knowledge *, who o'er Time 
 
 And Space and Thought an empire claim'd, 
 Second alone to Him, whose light 
 Was, ev'n to theirs, as day to night 
 'Twixt whom and them was distance far 
 
 And wide, as would the journey be 
 To reach from any island star 
 
 The vague shores of Infinity ! 
 
 * The Cherubim. See Note.
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. .~i 
 
 'Twas RUBI, in whose mournful eye 
 Slept the dim light of days gone by ; 
 Whose voice, though sweet, fell on the ear 
 
 Like echoes, in some silent place, 
 When first awak'd for many a year ; 
 
 And when he smiPd if o'er his face 
 
 Smile ever shone 'twas like the grace 
 Of moonlight rainbows, fair, but wan, 
 The sunny life, the glory gone. 
 Ev'n o'er his pride, though still the same, 
 A softening shade from sorrow came ; 
 And though at times his spirit knew 
 
 The kindlings of disdain and ire, 
 Short was the fitful glare they threw 
 Like the last flashes, fierce but few, 
 
 Seen through some noble pile on fire !
 
 52 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Such was the Angel, who now broke 
 
 The silence that had come o'er all, 
 When he, the Spirit that last spoke, 
 
 Clos'd the sad history of his fall ; 
 And, while a sacred lustre, flown 
 
 For many a day, relum'd his cheek, 
 And not those sky-tun'd lips alone 
 But his eyes, brow, and tresses, roll'd 
 
 Like sunset waves, all seem'd to speak- 
 Thus his eventful story told :
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 33 
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 " You both remember well the day 
 
 When unto Eden's new-made bowers, 
 He, whom all living things obey, 
 
 Summon'd his chief angelic powers 
 To witness the one wonder yet, 
 
 Beyond man, angel, star, or sun, 
 He must achieve, ere he could set 
 
 His seal upon the world, as done 
 To see that last perfection rise, 
 
 That crowning of creation's birth, 
 When, mid the worship and surprise 
 Of circling angels, Woman's eyes 
 
 First open'd upon heaven and earth ;
 
 34 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 And from their lids a thrill was sent, 
 That through each living spirit went 
 Like first light through the firmament ! 
 
 Can you forget how gradual stole 
 The fresh-awaken'd breath of soul 
 Throughout her perfect form which seem'd 
 To grow transparent, as there beam'd 
 That dawn of Mind within, and caught 
 New loveliness from each new thought ? 
 Slow as o'er summer seas we trace 
 
 The progress of the noontide air, 
 Dimpling its bright and silent face 
 Each minute into some new grace, 
 
 And varying heaven's reflections there 
 Or, like the light of evening, stealing 
 
 O'er some fair temple, which all day
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 55 
 
 Hath slept in shadow, slow revealing 
 
 Its several beauties, ray by ray, 
 Till it shines out, a thing to bless, 
 All full of light and loveliness. 
 
 Can you forget her blush, when round 
 Through Eden's lone, enchanted ground 
 She look'd and at the sea the skies > 
 And heard the rush of many a wing, 
 By God's command then vanishing, 
 And saw the last few angel eyes, 
 Still lingering mine among the rest, 
 Reluctant leaving scene so blest? 
 
 From that miraculous hour, the fate 
 Of this new, glorious Being dwelt 
 For ever, with a spell-like weight, 
 Upon my spirit early, late, 
 D 2
 
 36 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Whate'er I did, or dream'd, or felt, 
 The thought of what might yet befall 
 That splendid creature inix'd with all. 
 Nor she alone, but her whole race 
 
 Through ages yet to come whate'er 
 
 Of feminine, and fond, and fair, 
 Should spring from that pure mind and face, 
 
 All wak'd my soul's intensest care ; 
 Their forms, souls, feelings, still to me 
 God's most disturbing mystery ! 
 
 It was my doom ev'n from the first, 
 When summon'd with my cherub peers, 
 
 To witness the young vernal burst 
 
 Of Nature through those blooming spheres, 
 
 Those flowers of light, that sprung beneath 
 
 The first touch of the' Eternal's breath
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 57 
 
 It was my doom still to be haunted 
 By some new wonder, some sublime 
 And matchless work, that, for the time 
 
 Held all my soul, enchain'd, enchanted, 
 
 And left me not a thought, a dream, 
 
 A word, but on that only theme ! 
 
 The wish to know that endless thirst, 
 
 Which ev'n by quenching is awak'd, 
 And which becomes or blest or curst, 
 
 As is the fount whereat 'tis slak'd 
 Still urg'd me onward, with desire 
 Insatiate, to explore, inquire 
 Whate'er the wondrous things might be, 
 That wak'd each new idolatry 
 
 Their cause, aim, source from whence they sprung, 
 Their inmost powers, as though for me 
 
 Existence on that knowledge hung. 
 D 3
 
 38 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Oh what a vision were the stars, 
 
 When first I saw them burn on high, 
 Rolling along, like living cars 
 
 Of light, for gods to journey by ! 
 They were my heart's first passion days 
 And nights, unwearied, in their rays 
 Have I hung floating, till each sense 
 Seem'd full of their bright influence. 
 Innocent joy ! alas, how much 
 
 Of misery had I shunn'd below, 
 Could I have still liv'd blest with such ; 
 Nor, proud and restless, burn'd to know 
 The knowledge that brings guilt and woe ! 
 
 Often so much I lov'd to trace 
 The secrets of this starry race 
 Have I at morn and evening run 
 Along the lines of radiance spun, 
 Like webs, between them and the sun,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 39 
 
 Untwisting all the tangled ties 
 Of light into their different dyes 
 Then fleetly wing'd I off, in quest 
 Of those, the farthest, loneliest, 
 That watch, like winking sentinels, 
 The void, beyond which Chaos dwells, 
 And there, with noiseless plume, pursued 
 Their track through that grand solitude, 
 Asking intently all and each 
 
 What soul within their radiance dwelt, 
 And wishing their sweet light were speech, 
 
 That they might tell me all they felt. 
 
 Nay, oft, so passionate my chace 
 Of these resplendent heirs of space, 
 Oft did I follow lest a ray 
 
 Should 'scape me in the farthest night 
 Some pilgrim Comet, on his way 
 D 4
 
 40 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 To visit distant shrines of light, 
 And well remember how I sung 
 
 Exulting out, when on my sight 
 New worlds of stars, all fresh and young, 
 As if just born of darkness, sprung ! 
 
 Such was my pure ambition then, 
 
 My sinless transport, night and morn ; 
 Ere this still newer world of men, 
 
 And that most fair of stars was born 
 Which I, in fatal hour, saw rise 
 Among the flowers of Paradise ! 
 Thenceforth my nature all was chang'd, 
 
 My heart, soul, senses turn'd below ; 
 And he, who but so lately rang'd 
 
 Yon wonderful expanse, where glow 
 Worlds upon worlds, yet found liis mind 
 Ev'n in that luminous range confin'd,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 41 
 
 Now blest the humblest, meanest sod 
 Of the dark earth where Woman trod ! 
 In vain my former idols glisten'd 
 
 From their far thrones ; in vain these ears 
 To the once-thrilling music listen'd, 
 
 That hymn'd around my favourite spheres 
 To earth, to earth each thought was given, 
 
 That in this half-lost soul had birth ; 
 Like some high mount, whose head's in heaven, 
 
 While its whole shadow rests on earth ! 
 
 Nor was it Love, ev'n yet, that thrall'd 
 
 My spirit in his burning ties ; 
 And less, still less could it be call'd 
 
 That grosser flame, round which Love flies 
 . Nearer and nearer, till he dies 
 No, it was wonder, such as thrill'd 
 
 At all God's works my dazzled sense ;
 
 49 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 The same rapt wonder, only fill'd 
 
 With passion, more profound, intense, 
 A vehement, but wandering fire, 
 Which, though nor love, nor yet desire, 
 Though through all womankind it took 
 Its range, as vague as lightnings run, 
 Yet wanted but a touch, a look, 
 To fix it burning upon One. 
 
 Then, too, the ever-restless zeal, 
 
 The' insatiate curiosity 
 To know what shapes, so fair, must feel 
 To look, but once, beneath the seal 
 
 Of so much loveliness, and see 
 What souls belong'd to those bright eyes 
 
 Whether, as sun-beams find their way 
 Into the gem that hidden lies, 
 
 Those looks could inward turn their ray,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 43 
 
 To make the soul as bright as they ! 
 All this impell'd my anxious chace, 
 
 And still the more I saw and knew 
 Of Woman's fond, weak, conquering race, 
 
 The' intenser still my wonder grew. 
 
 I had beheld their First, their EVE, 
 
 Born in that splendid Paradise, 
 Which God made solely to receive 
 
 The first light of her waking eyes. 
 I had seen purest angels lean 
 
 In worship o'er her from above ; 
 And man oh yes, had envying seen 
 
 Proud man possess'd of all her love. 
 
 I saw their happiness, so brief, 
 So exquisite her error, too,
 
 44 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 That easy trust, that prompt belief 
 
 In what the warm heart wishes true ; 
 That faith in words, when kindly said, 
 By which the whole fond sex is led 
 Mingled with (what I durst not blame, 
 
 For 'tis my own) that wish to know, 
 Sad, fetal zeal, so sure of woe ; 
 Which, though from heaven all pure it came, 
 Yet stain'd, misus'd, brought sin and shame 
 
 On her, on me, on all below ! 
 I hSd seen this ; had seen Man arm'd 
 
 As his soul is with strength and sense 
 By her first words to ruin charm'd ; 
 
 His vaunted reason's cold defence, 
 Like an ice-barrier hi the ray 
 Of melting summer, smil'd away ! 
 Nay stranger yet spite of all this 
 
 Though by her counsels taught to err,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 45 
 
 Though driv'n from Paradise for her, 
 (And with her that, at least, was bliss) 
 Had I not heard him, ere he crost 
 
 The threshold of that earthly heaven, 
 Which by her wildering smile he lost 
 
 So quickly was the wrong forgiven 
 Had I not heard him, as he prest 
 The frail, fond trembler to a breast 
 Which she had doom'd to sin and strife, 
 Call her think what his Life ! his Life ! * 
 Yes such the love-taught name the first, 
 
 That ruin'd Man to Woman gave, 
 Ev'n in his out-cast hour, when curst, 
 By her fond witchery, with that worst 
 
 And earliest boon of love the grave ! 
 
 * Chavah, the name by which Adam called the 
 woman after their transgression, means " Life." 
 See Note.
 
 46 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 She, who brought death into the world, 
 There stood before him, with the light 
 Of their lost Paradise still bright 
 
 Upon those sunny locks, that curl'd 
 
 Down her white shoulders to her feet 
 
 So beautiful in form, so sweet 
 
 In heart and voice, as to redeem 
 
 The loss, the death of all things dear, 
 
 Except herself and make it seem 
 Life, endless Life, while she was near ! 
 
 Could I help wondering at a creature, 
 Enchanted round with spells so strong 
 
 One, to whose every thought, word, feature, 
 In joy and woe, through right and wrong, 
 
 Such sweet omnipotence heaven gave, 
 
 To bless or ruin, curse or save ?
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 47 
 
 Nor did the marvel cease with her 
 
 New Eves in all her daughters came, 
 As strong to charm, as weak to err, 
 
 As sure of man through praise and blame, 
 
 Whate'er they brought him, pride or shame, 
 Their still unreasoning worshipper 
 
 And, wheresoe'er they smil'd, the same 
 
 Enchantresses of soul and frame, 
 Into whose hands, from first to last, 
 
 This world with all its destinies, 
 Devotedly by heaven seems cast, 
 
 To save or damn it, as they please ! 
 
 Oh, 'tis not to be told how long, 
 
 How restlessly I sigh'd to find 
 Some one, from out that shining throng, 
 
 Some abstract of the form and mind
 
 48 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Of the whole matchless sex, from which, 
 In my own arms beheld, possest, 
 
 I might learn all the powers to witch, 
 To warm, and (if my fate unblest 
 Would have it) ruin, of the rest ! 
 
 Into whose inward soul and sense 
 I might descend, as doth the bee 
 
 Into the flower's deep heart, and thence 
 Rifle, in all its purity, 
 
 The prime, the quintessence, the whole 
 
 Of wondrous Woman's frame and soul ! 
 
 At length, my burning wish, my prayer, 
 (For such oh what will tongues not dare, 
 When hearts go wrong? this lip preferr'd)- 
 At length my ominous prayer was heard 
 But whether heard in heaven or hell, 
 Listen and you will know too well.
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 49 
 
 There was a maid, of all who move 
 
 Like visions o'er this orb, most fit 
 To be a bright young angel's love, 
 
 Herself so bright, so exquisite ! 
 The pride, too, of her step, as light 
 
 Along the unconscious earth she went, 
 Seem'd that of one, born with a right 
 
 To walk some heavenlier element, 
 And tread in places where her feet 
 A star at every step should meet. 
 'Twas not alone that loveliness 
 
 By which the wilder'd sense is caught 
 Of lips, whose very breath could bless 
 
 Of playful blushes, that seem'd nought 
 
 But luminous escapes of thought 
 Of eyes that, when by anger stirr'd, 
 Were fire itself but, at a word 
 E
 
 50 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Of tenderness, all soft became 
 As though they could, like the sun's bird, 
 
 Dissolve away in their own flame 
 Of form, as pliant as the shoots 
 
 Of a young tree, in vernal flower ; 
 Yet round and glowing as the fruits 
 
 That drop from it in summer's hour 
 'Twas not alone this loveliness 
 
 That falls to loveliest woman's share, 
 
 Though, even here, her form could spare 
 From its own beauty's rich excess 
 
 Enough to make all others fair 
 But 'twas the Mind, sparkling about 
 Through her whole frame the soul, brought out 
 To light each charm, yet independent 
 
 Of what it lighted, as the sun 
 That shines on flowers, would be resplendent 
 
 Were there no flowers to shine upon
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 51 
 
 'Twos this, all this, in one combin'd, 
 
 The' unnumber'd looks and arts that form 
 The glory of young woman-kind, 
 
 Taken in their first fusion, warm, 
 
 Ere tune had chill'd a single charm, 
 And stamp'd with such a seal of Mind, 
 
 As gave to beauties, that might be 
 Too sensual else, too unrefin'd, 
 
 The impress of divinity ! 
 'Twas this a union, which the hand 
 
 Of Nature kept for her alone, 
 Of every thing most playful, bland, 
 Voluptuous, spiritual, grand, 
 
 In angel-natures and her own 
 Oh this it was that drew me nigh 
 
 One, who seem'd kin to heaven as I, 
 
 - 
 My bright twin sister of the sky 
 
 E 2
 
 52 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 One, in whose love, I felt, were given 
 The mix'd delights of either sphere, 
 
 All that the spirit seeks hi heaven, 
 And all the senses burn for here ! 
 
 Had we but hold hear every part 
 
 Of our sad tale spite of the pain 
 Remembrance gives, when the fix'd dart 
 
 Is stirr'd thus in the wound again 
 Hear every step, so full of bliss, 
 
 And yet so ruinous, that led 
 Down to the last, dark precipice, 
 
 Where perish'd both the fall'n, the dead ! 
 
 From the first hour she caught my sight, 
 I never left her day and night 
 Hovering unseen around her way, 
 And mid her loneliest musings near,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 53 
 
 I soon could track each thought that lay, 
 
 Gleaming within her heart, as clear 
 
 As pebbles within brooks appear ; 
 And there, among the countless things 
 
 That keep young hearts for ever glowing, 
 Vague wishes, fond imaginings, 
 
 Love-dreams, as yet no object knowing 
 Light, winged hopes, that come when bid, 
 
 And rainbow joys that end in weeping, 
 And passions, among pure thoughts hid, 
 
 Like serpents under flow'rets sleeping 
 'Mong all these feelings felt where'er 
 Young hearts are beating I saw there 
 Proud thoughts, aspirings high beyond 
 Whate'er yet dwelt in soul so fond 
 Glimpses of glory, far away 
 
 Into the bright, vague future given, 
 
 E 3
 
 54 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 And fancies, free and grand, whose play, 
 
 Like that of eaglets, is near heaven ! 
 With this, too what a soul and heart 
 To fall beneath the tempter's art ! 
 A zeal for knowledge, such as ne'er 
 Enshrin'd itself in form so fair 
 Since that first, fatal hour, when Eve, 
 
 With every fruit of Eden blest, 
 Save only one, rather than leave 
 That one unknown, lost all the rest. 
 
 It was in dreams that first I stole 
 
 With gentle mastery o'er her mind 
 
 In that rich twilight of the soul, 
 
 When Reason's beam, half hid behind 
 
 The clouds of sense, obscurely gilds 
 
 Each shadowy shape that Fancy builds
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 55 
 
 'Twas then, by that soft light, I brought 
 
 Vague, glimmering visions to her view 
 Catches of radiance, lost when caught, 
 Bright labyrinths, that led to nought, 
 
 And vistas, with a void seen through 
 Dwellings of bliss, that opening shone, 
 
 Then clos'd, dissolv'd, and left no trace 
 All that, in short, could tempt Hope on, 
 
 But give her whig no resting-place ; 
 Myself the while, with brow, as yet, 
 Pure as the young moon's coronet, 
 Through every dream still in her sight, 
 
 The' enchanter of each mocking scene, 
 Who gave the hope, then brought the blight, 
 Who said ' Behold yon world of light,' 
 
 Then sudden dropt a veil between ! 
 
 E 4-
 
 56 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 At length, when I perceiv'd each thought, 
 Waking or sleeping, fix'd on nought 
 
 But these illusive scenes, and me, 
 The phantom, who thus came and went, 
 In half revealments, only meant 
 
 To madden curiosity 
 When by such various arts I found 
 Her fancy to its utmost wound, 
 One night 'twas in a holy spot, 
 Which she for prayer had chos'n a grot 
 Of purest marble, built below 
 Her garden beds, through which a glow 
 From lamps invisible then stole, 
 
 Brightly pervading all the place 
 Like that mysterious light the soul, 
 
 Itself unseen, sheds through the face 
 There, at her altar while she knelt, 
 And all that woman ever felt,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 57 
 
 When God and man both claim'd her sighs 
 Every warm thought, that ever dwelt, 
 
 Like summer clouds, 'twixt earth and skies, 
 
 Too pure to fall, too gross to rise, 
 
 Spoke in her gestures, tones and eyes, 
 Thus, by the tender light, which lay 
 Dissolving round, as if its ray 
 Was breath'd from her, I heard her say : 
 
 " Oh idol of my dreams ! whate'er 
 
 " Thy nature be human, divine, 
 " Or but half heav'nly still too fair, 
 
 " Too heavenly to be ever mine ! 
 
 " Wonderful Spirit, who dost make 
 
 " Slumber so lovely, that it seems 
 " No longer life to live awake, 
 
 " Since heaven itself descends in dreams,
 
 58 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 " Why do I ever lose thee ? why 
 
 " When on thy realms and thee I gaze 
 
 " Still drops that veil, which I could die, 
 " Oh gladly, but one hour to raise ? 
 
 " Long ere such miracles as thou 
 
 " And thine came o'er my thoughts, a thirst 
 " For light was in this soul, which now 
 
 " Thy looks have into passion nurs'd. 
 
 " There's nothing bright above, below, 
 " In sky--earth ocean, that this breast 
 
 " Doth not intensely burn to know, 
 
 " And thee, thee, thee, o'er all the rest ! 
 
 " Then come, oh Spirit, from behind 
 " The curtains of thy radiant home,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 59 
 
 " Whether thou would'st as God be shrin'd, 
 " Or lov'd and clasp'd as mortal, come ! 
 
 " Bring all thy dazzling wonders here, 
 " That I may waking know and see 
 
 " Or waft me hence to thy own sphere, 
 
 " Thy heaven or aye, even that with thee ! 
 
 " Demon or God, who hold'st the book 
 " Of knowledge spread beneath thine eye, 
 
 " Give me, with thee, but one bright look 
 " Into its leaves, and let me die ! 
 
 " By those ethereal wings, whose way 
 " Lies through an element, so fraught 
 
 " With floating Mind, that, as they play, 
 " Their every movement is a thought !
 
 60 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 " By that most precious hair, between 
 " Whose golden clusters the sweet wind 
 
 " Of Paradise so late hath been, 
 " And left its fragrant soul behind ! 
 
 " By those impassion'd eyes, that melt 
 " Their light into the inmost heart, 
 
 " Like sunset in the waters, felt 
 
 " As molten fire through every part, 
 
 " I do implore thee, oh most bright 
 " And worshipp'd Spirit, shine but o'er 
 
 " My waking, wondering eyes this night, 
 " TKis one blest night I ask no more !" 
 
 Exhausted, breathless, as she said 
 These burning words, her languid head
 
 ling-raved on Sled by E-Portbury. 
 
 . 
 
 AND THERE . JUST LIGHTED ON THE SHRINE . 
 BEHELD ME 
 
 . 
 
 Perkins tind. fi^iA. Tal&l H*trdfnt3 SJfdJ'i
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 61 
 
 Upon the altar's steps she cast, 
 
 As if that brain-throb were its last 
 
 x 
 
 Till, startled by the breathing, nigh, 
 Of lips, that echoed back her sigh, 
 Sudden her brow again she rais'd, 
 
 And there, just lighted on the shrine, 
 Beheld me not as I had blaz'd 
 
 Around her, full of light divine, 
 In her late dreams, but soften'd down 
 Into more mortal grace my crown 
 Of flowers, too radiant for this world, 
 
 Left hanging on yon starry steep ; 
 My wings shut up, like banners furl'd, 
 
 When Peace hath put their pomp to sleep ; 
 
 Or like autumnal clouds, that keep 
 Their lightnings sheath'd, rather than mar 
 The dawning hour of some young star
 
 62 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 And nothing left, but what beseem'd 
 
 The' accessible, though glorious mate 
 Of mortal woman whose eyes beam'd 
 
 Back upon hers, as passionate ; 
 Whose ready heart brought flame for flame, 
 Whose sin, whose madness was the same, 
 And whose soul lost, in that one hour, 
 
 For her and for her love oh more 
 Of heaven's light than ev*n the power 
 
 Of heav'n itself could now restore ! 
 
 And yet that hour !" 
 
 The Spirit here 
 
 Stopp'd in his utterance, as if words 
 Gave way beneath the wild career 
 
 Of his then rushing thoughts like chords,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 63 
 
 Midway in some enthusiast's song, 
 Breaking beneath a touch too strong 
 While the clench'd hand upon the brow 
 Told how remembrance throbb'd there now ! 
 But soon 'twas o'er that casual blaze 
 From the sunk fire of other days, 
 That relic of a flame, whose burning 
 
 Had been too fierce to be relum'd, 
 Soon pass'd away, and the youth, turning 
 
 To his bright listeners, thus resum'd : 
 
 " Days, months elaps'd, and, though what most 
 On earth I sigh'd for was mine, all, 
 
 Yet was I happy? God, thou know'st, 
 
 Howe'er they smile, and feign, and boast, 
 What happiness is theirs, who fall ! 
 
 'Twas bitterest anguish made more keen 
 
 Ev'n by the love, the bliss, between
 
 4 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Whose throbs it came, like gleams of hell 
 
 In agonizing cross-light given 
 Athwart the glimpses, they who dwell 
 
 In purgatory catch of heaven ! 
 The only feeling that to me 
 
 Seem'd joy, or rather my sole rest 
 From aching misery, was to see 
 
 My young, proud, blooming LILIS blest 
 She, the fair fountain of all ill 
 
 To my lost soul whom yet its thirst 
 Fervidly panted after still, 
 
 And found the charm fresh as at first ! 
 To see her happy to reflect 
 
 Whatever beams still round me play'd 
 Of former pride, of glory wreck'd, 
 
 On her, my Moon, whose light I made, 
 And whose soul worshipp'd ev'n my shade-
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 65 
 
 This was, I own, enjoyment this 
 My sole, last lingering glimpse of bliss. 
 
 And proud she was, bright creature ! proud, 
 Beyond what ev'n most queenly stirs 
 
 In woman's heart, nor would have bow'd 
 That beautiful young brow of hers 
 
 To aught beneath the First above, 
 
 So high she deem'd her Cherub's love ! 
 
 Then, too, that passion, hourly growing 
 Stronger and stronger to which even 
 
 Her love, at times, gave way of knowing 
 Every thing strange in earth and heaven ; 
 
 Not only what God loves to show, 
 
 But all that He hath seal'd below 
 
 In darkness, for man not to know
 
 66 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Ev'n this desire, alas, ill-starred 
 
 And fatal as it was, I sought 
 To feed each minute, and unbarr'd 
 
 Such realms of wonder on her thought, 
 As ne'er, till then, had let their light 
 Escape on any mortal's sight ! 
 In the deep earth beneath the sea 
 
 Through caves of fire through wilds of air- 
 Wherever sleeping Mystery 
 
 Had spread her curtain, we were there 
 Love still beside us, as we went, 
 At home in each new element, 
 
 And sure of worship every where ! 
 
 Then first was Nature taught to lay 
 The wealth of all her kingdoms down 
 
 At woman's worshipp'd feet, and say, 
 " Bright creature, this is all thine own !"
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 67 
 
 Then first were diamonds caught like eyes 
 Shining in darkness by surprise, 
 And made to light the conquering way 
 Of proud young beauty with their ray. 
 Then, too, the pearl from out its shell 
 
 Unsightly, in the sunless sea, 
 (As 'twere a spirit, forc'd to dwell 
 
 In form unlovely) was set free, 
 And round the neck of woman threw 
 A light it lent and borrow'd too. 
 For never did this maid whate'er 
 
 The' ambition of the hour forget 
 Her sex's pride in being fair, 
 Nor that adornment, tasteful, rare, 
 Which makes the mighty magnet, set 
 In Woman's form, more mighty yet. 
 Nor was there aught within the range 
 
 Of my swift wing in sea or air, 
 F 2
 
 68 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Of beautiful, or grand, or strange, 
 That, quickly as her wish could change, 
 
 I did not seek, with such fond care, 
 That when I've seen her look above 
 
 At some bright star admiringly, 
 I've said " nay, look not there, my love, 
 
 Alas, I cannot give it thee !" 
 
 But not alone the wonders found 
 
 Through Nature's realm the' unveil'd, material, 
 Visible glories, that hang round, 
 Like lights, through her enchanted ground 
 
 But whatsoe'er unseen, ethereal, 
 Dwells far away from human sense, 
 Wrapp'd in its own intelligence 
 The mystery of that Fountain-head, 
 
 From which all vital spirit runs,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 69 
 
 All breath of Life, where'er 'tis shed, 
 
 Through men or angels, flowers or suns 
 The workings of the' Almighty Mind, 
 When first o'er Chaos he design'd 
 The outlines of this world ; and through 
 
 That spread of darkness like the bow, 
 CalPd out of rain-clouds, hue by hue 
 
 Saw the grand, gradual picture grow ! 
 The covenant with human kind 
 
 Which God hath made the chains of Fate 
 He round himself and them hath twin'd, 
 
 Till his high task he consummate 
 Till good from evil, love from hate, 
 Shall be work'd out through sin and pain, 
 And Fate shall loose her iron chain, 
 And all be free, be bright again ! 
 
 F 3
 
 70 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Such were the deep-drawn mysteries, 
 
 And some, perhaps, ev'n more profound, 
 More wildering to the mind than these, 
 
 Which far as woman's thought could sound, 
 Or a fall'n, outlaw'd spirit reach 
 She dar'd to learn, and I to teach. 
 Till fill'd with such unearthly lore, 
 
 And mingling the pure light it brings 
 With much that fancy had, before, 
 
 Shed in false, tinted glimmerings 
 The' enthusiast girl spoke out, as one 
 
 Inspir'd, among her own dark race, 
 Who from their altars, in the sun 
 Left standing half adorn'd, would run 
 
 To gaze upon her holier face. 
 And, though but wild the things she spoke, 
 Yet mid that play of error's smoke
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 71 
 
 Into fair shapes by fancy curl'd, 
 Some gleams of pure religion broke 
 Glimpses, that have not yet awoke, 
 
 But startled the still dreaming world ! 
 Oh, many a truth, remote, sublime, 
 
 Which God would from the minds of men 
 Have kept conceal'd, till his own tune, 
 
 Stole out in these revealments then 
 Revealments dim, that have fore-run, 
 By ages, the bright, Saving One ! * 
 Like that imperfect dawn, or light 
 
 Escaping from the Zodiac's signs, 
 
 It is the opinion of some of the Fathers, that the 
 knowledge which the Heathens possessed of the Pro- 
 vidence of God, a Future State, and other sublime doc- 
 trines of Christianity, was derived from the premature 
 revelations of these fallen angels to the women of 
 earth. See Note. 
 
 F 4-
 
 72 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Which makes the doubtful east half bright 
 Before the real morning shines ! 
 
 Thus did some moons of bliss go by 
 
 Of bliss to her, who saw but love 
 And knowledge throughout earth and sky ; 
 To whose enamour'd soul and eye, 
 I seem'd, as is the sun on high, 
 
 The light of all below, above, 
 The spirit of sea, land, and ah*, 
 Whose influence, felt every where, 
 Spread from its centre, her own heart, 
 Ev'n to the world's extremest part 
 While through that world her reinless mind 
 
 Had now career'd so fast and far, 
 That earth itself seem'd left behind, 
 And her proud fancy, unconfin'd, 
 
 Already saw heaven's gates a-jar !
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 73 
 
 Happy enthusiast ! still, oh, still 
 Spite of my own heart's mortal chill, 
 Spite of that double-fronted sorrow, 
 
 Which looks at once before and back, 
 Beholds the yesterday, the morrow, 
 
 And sees both comfortless, both black 
 Spite of all this, I could have still 
 In her delight forgot all ill ; 
 Or, if pain would not be forgot, 
 At least have borne and murmur'd not. 
 When thoughts of an offended heaven, 
 
 Of sinfulness, which I ev'n I, 
 While down its steep most headlong driven, 
 Well knew could never be forgiven, 
 
 Came o'er me with an agony 
 Beyond all reach of mortal woe, 
 A torture kept for those who know,
 
 74 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Know every thing, and, worst of all, 
 Know and love virtue while they fall ! 
 Ev'n then, her presence had the power 
 
 To soothe, to warm, nay, ev'n to bless 
 If ever bliss could graft its flower 
 
 On stem so full of bitterness 
 Ev'n then her glorious smile to me 
 
 Brought warmth and radiance, if not balm, 
 Like moonlight on a troubled sea, 
 
 Brightening the storm it cannot calm. 
 
 Oft, too, when that disheartening fear, 
 Which all who love, beneath the sky, 
 
 Feel, when they gaze on what is dear 
 The dreadful thought that it must die ! 
 
 That desolating thought, which comes 
 
 Into men's happiest hours and homes ;
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 75 
 
 Whose melancholy boding flings 
 Death's shadow o'er the brightest things, 
 Sicklies the infant's bloom, and spreads 
 The grave beneath young lovers' heads ! 
 This fear, so sad to all to me 
 
 Most full of sadness, from the thought 
 That I must still live on, when she 
 Would, like the snow that on the sea 
 
 Fell yesterday, in vain be sought 
 That heaven to me the final seal 
 
 Of all earth's sorrow would deny, 
 And I eternally must feel 
 
 The death-pang, without power to die ! 
 Ev'n this, her fond endearments fond 
 As ever twisted the sweet bond 
 'Twixt heart and heart could charm away; 
 Before her look no clouds would stay,
 
 76 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Or, if they did, their gloom was gone, 
 Their darkness put a glory on ! 
 There seem'd a freshness in her breath, 
 Beyond the reach, the power of death ; 
 And then, her voice oh, who could doubt 
 That 'twould for ever thus breathe out 
 A music, like the harmony 
 Of the tun'd orbs, too sweet to die ! 
 While in her lip's awakening touch 
 There thrill'd a life ambrosial such 
 As mantles in the fruit steep'd through 
 With Eden's most delicious dew 
 Till I could almost think, though known 
 And lov'd as human, they had grown 
 By bliss, celestial as my own ! 
 
 But 'tis not, 'tis not for the wrong, 
 The guilty, to be happy long ;
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 77 
 
 And she, too, now, had sunk within 
 
 The shadow of her tempter's sin 
 
 Shadow of death, whose withering frown 
 Kills whatsoe'er it lights upon 
 Too deep for ev'n her soul to shun 
 
 The desolation it brings down ! 
 
 Listen, and, if a tear there be 
 Left in your hearts, weep it for me. 
 
 'Twas on the evening of a day, 
 Which we in love had dream'd away ; 
 In that same garden, where, beneath 
 The silent earth, stripp'd of my wreath, 
 And furling up those wings, whose light 
 For mortal gaze were else too bright, 
 I first had stood before her sight ;
 
 78 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 And found myself oh, ecstacy, 
 
 Which ev*n in pain I ne'er forget 
 Worshipp'd as only God should be, 
 
 And lov'd as never man was yet ! 
 In that same garden we were now, 
 
 Thoughtfully side by side reclining, 
 Her eyes turn'd upward, and her brow 
 
 With its own silent fancies shining. 
 It was an evening bright and still 
 
 As ever blush'd on wave or bower, 
 Smiling from heaven, as if nought ill 
 
 Could happen in so sweet an hour. 
 Yet, I remember, both grew sad 
 
 In looking at that light ev'n she, 
 Of heart so fresh, and brow so glad, 
 
 Felt the mute hour's solemnity, 
 And thought she saw, in that repose, 
 
 The death-hour not alone of light,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 79 
 
 But of this whole fair world the close 
 Of all things beautiful and bright 
 The last, grand sun-set, in whose ray 
 Nature herself died calm away ! 
 
 At length, as if some thought, awaking 
 
 Suddenly, sprung within her breast 
 Like a young bird, when day-light breaking 
 
 Startles him from his dreamy nest 
 She turn'd upon me her dark eyes, 
 
 Dilated into that full shape 
 They took in joy, reproach, surprise, 
 
 As if to let more soul escape, 
 And, playfully as on my head 
 Her white hand rested, smil'd and said : 
 
 " I had, last night, a dream of thee, 
 " Resembling those divine ones, given,
 
 80 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 " Like preludes to sweet minstrelsy, 
 
 " Before thou cam'st, thyself, from heaven. 
 
 " The same rich wreath was on thy brow, 
 " Dazzling as if of star-light made ; 
 
 " And these wings, lying darkly now, 
 
 " Like meteors round thee flash'd and play'd. 
 
 " All bright as in those happy dreams 
 " Thou stood'st, a creature to adore 
 
 " No less than love, breathing out beams, 
 " As flowers do fragrance, at each pore ! 
 
 " Sudden I felt thee draw me near 
 
 " To thy pure heart, where, fondly plac'd, 
 
 " I seem'd within the atmosphere 
 " Of that exhaling light embrac'd ;
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 81 
 
 " And, as thou heldst me there, the flame 
 " Pass'd from thy heavenly soul to mine, 
 
 " Till oh, too blissful I became, 
 " Like thee, all spirit, all divine. 
 
 " Say, why did dream so bright come o'er me, 
 " If, now I wake, 'tis faded, gone? 
 
 " When will my Cherub shine before me 
 " Thus radiant, as in heaven he shone ? 
 
 " When shall I, waking, be allow'd 
 " To gaze upon those perfect charms, 
 
 " And hold thee thus, without a cloud, 
 " A chill of earth, within my arms ? 
 
 " Oh what a pride to say this, this 
 " Is my own Angel all divine, 
 G
 
 89 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 " And pure, and dazzling as he is, 
 
 " And fresh from heaven, he's mine, he's mine ! 
 
 *' Think'st thou, were LILIS in thy place, 
 
 " A creature of yon lofty skies, 
 " She would have hid one single grace, 
 
 " One glory from her lover's eyes? 
 
 " No, no then, if thou lov'st like me, 
 " Shine out, young Spirit, in the blaze 
 
 " Of thy most proud divinity, 
 
 " Nor think thou'lt wound this mortal gaze. 
 
 " Too long have I look'd doating on 
 
 '* Those ardent eyes, intense ev*n thus 
 
 " Too near the stars themselves have gone, 
 " To fear aught grand or luminous.
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 8.7 
 
 " Then doubt me not oh, who can say 
 " But that this dream may yet come true, 
 
 " And my blest spirit drink thy ray 
 " Till it becomes all heavenly too ? 
 
 " Let me this once but feel the flame 
 " Of those spread wings, the very pride 
 
 " Will change my nature, and this frame 
 " By the mere touch be deified !" 
 
 Thus spoke the maid, as one, not us'd 
 To be by man or God refus'd 
 As one, who felt her influence o'er 
 
 All creatures, whatsoe'er they were, 
 And, though to heaven she could not soar, 
 
 At least would bring down heaven to her ! 
 
 ft 2
 
 84. THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Little did she, alas, or I 
 
 Ev*n I, whose soul, but half-way yet 
 Immerg'd in sin's obscurity, 
 Was as the planet where we lie, 
 
 O'er half whose disk the sun is set 
 Little did we foresee the fate, 
 
 The dreadful how can it be told ? 
 Oh God! such anguish to relate 
 
 Is o'er again to feel, behold ! 
 But, charg'd as 'tis, my heart must speak 
 Its sorrow out, or it will break ! 
 
 Some dark misgivings had, I own, 
 
 Pass'd for a moment through my breast- 
 
 Fears of some danger, vague, unknown, 
 To one, or both something unblest 
 To happen from this proud request.
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 85 
 
 But soon these boding fancies fled ; 
 
 Nor saw I aught that could forbid 
 My full revealment, save the dread 
 
 Of that first dazzle, that unhid 
 
 And bursting glory on a lid 
 Untried in heaven and ev'n this glare 
 She might, by love's own nursing care, 
 Be, like young eagles, taught to bear. 
 For well I knew the lustre shed 
 From my rich wings, when proudliest spread, 
 Was, in its nature, lambent, pure, 
 
 And innocent as is the light 
 The glow-worm hangs out to allure 
 
 Her mate to her green bower at night. 
 Oft had I, in the mid-air, swept 
 Through clouds in which the lightning slept, 
 As in his lair, ready to spring, 
 
 G 3
 
 86 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Yet wak'd him not though from my wing 
 A thousand sparks fell glittering ! 
 Oft too when round me from above 
 
 The feather'd snow (which, for its whiteness, 
 In my pure days I used to love) 
 Fell, like the moultings of heaven's Dove, 
 
 So harmless, though so full of brightness, 
 Was my brow's wreath, that it would shake 
 From off its flowers each downy flake 
 As delicate, unmelted, fair, 
 And cool as they had fallen there ! 
 
 Nay ev'n with LILIS had I not 
 
 Around her sleep in splendor come 
 
 Hung o'er each beauty, nor forgot 
 To print my radiant lips on some ? 
 
 And yet, at morn, from that repose, 
 
 Had she not wak'd, unscath'd and bright,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 87 
 
 As doth the pure, unconscious rose, 
 Though by the fire-fly kiss'd all night ? 
 
 Ev'n when the rays I scatter'd stole 
 
 Intensest to her dreaming soul, 
 
 No thrill disturb'd th' insensate frame 
 
 So subtle, so refin'd that flame, 
 
 Which, rapidly as lightnings melt 
 
 The blade within the unharm'd sheath, 
 
 Can, by the outward form unfelt, 
 
 Reach and dissolve the soul beneath ! 
 
 Thus having (as, alas, deceiv'd 
 
 By my sin's blindness, I believ'd) 
 
 No cause for dread, and those black eyes 
 
 There fix'd upon me, eagerly 
 As if the' unlocking of the skies 
 
 Then waited but a sign from me
 
 88 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 How was I to refuse ? how say 
 
 One word that in her heart could stir 
 
 A fear, a doubt, but that each ray 
 
 I brought from heaven belong'd to her ! 
 
 Slow from her side I rose, while she 
 
 Stood up, too, mutely, tremblingly, 
 
 i 
 But not with fear all hope, desire, 
 
 She waited for the awful boon, 
 Like priestesses, with eyes of fire 
 
 Watching the rise of the full moon, 
 Whose beams they know, yet cannot shun 
 Will madden them when look'd upon ! 
 Of all my glories, the bright crown, 
 Which, when I last from heaven came down, 
 I left see, where those clouds afar 
 
 Sail through the west there hangs it yet, 
 Shining remote, more like a star 
 
 Than a fall'n angel's coronet
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 89 
 
 Of all my glories, this alone 
 
 Was wanting but the' illumin'd brow, 
 The curls, like tendrils that had grown 
 
 Out of the sun the eyes, that now 
 Had love's light added to their own, 
 And shed a blaze, before unknown 
 Ev'n to themselves the' unfolded wings 
 From which, as from two radiant springs, 
 Sparkles fell fast around, like spray 
 All I could bring of heaven's array, 
 
 Of that rich panoply of charms 
 A Cherub moves in, on the day 
 Of his best pomp, I now put on ; 
 And, proud that in her eyes I shone 
 
 Thus glorious, glided to her arms, 
 Which still (though at a sight so splendid 
 
 Her dazzled brow had instantly
 
 90 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Sunk on her breast) were wide extended 
 To clasp the form she durst not see ! 
 
 Great God ! how could thy vengeance light 
 So bitterly on one so bright ? 
 How could the hand, that gave such charms, 
 Blast them again, in love's own arms ? 
 Scarce had I touch'd her shrinking frame, 
 
 When oh most horrible! I felt 
 That every spark of that pure flame 
 
 Pure, while among the stars I dwelt 
 Was now by my transgression turn'd 
 Into gross, earthly fire, which burn'd, 
 Burn'd all it touch'd, as fast as eye 
 
 Could follow the fierce, ravening flashes, 
 Till there oh God, I still ask why 
 Such doom was hers? I saw her lie 
 
 Black'ning within my arms to ashes !
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 91 
 
 Those cheeks, a glory but to see 
 
 Those lips, whose touch was what the first 
 Fresh cup of immortality 
 
 Is to a new-made angel's thirst ! 
 Those arms, within whose gentle round, 
 My heart's horizon, the whole bound 
 Of its hope, prospect, heaven was found ! 
 Which, ev'n in this dread moment, fond 
 
 As when they first were round me cast, 
 Loos'd not in death the' fatal bond, 
 
 But, burning, held me to the last 
 That hair* from under whose dark veil, 
 The snowy neck, like a white sail 
 At moonlight seen 'twixt wave and wave, 
 Shone out by gleams that hair, to save 
 But one of whose long, glossy wreaths, 
 I could have died ten thousand deaths !
 
 92 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 All, all, that seem'd, one minute since, 
 So full of love's own redolence, 
 Now, parch'd and black, before me lay, 
 Withering in agony away ; 
 And mine, oh misery ! mine the flame, 
 From which this desolation came 
 And I the fiend, whose foul caress 
 Had blasted all that loveliness ! 
 
 'Twas madd'ning, 'twas but hear even worse 
 
 Had death, death only, been the curse 
 
 I brought upon her had the doom 
 
 But ended here, when her young bloom 
 
 Lay in the dust, and did the spirit 
 
 No part of that fell curse inherit, 
 
 'Twere not so dreadful but, come near 
 
 Too shocking 'tis for earth to hear
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 95 
 
 Just when her eyes, in fading, took 
 
 Their last, keen, agoniz'd farewell, 
 And look'd in mine with oh, that look ! 
 
 Avenging Power, whate'er the hell 
 Thou may'st to human souls assign, 
 The memory of that look is mine ! 
 In her last struggle, on my brow 
 
 Her ashy lips a kiss imprest, 
 So withering ! I feel it now 
 
 'Twas fire but fire, ev'n more unblest 
 Than was my own, and like that flame, 
 The angels shudder but to name, 
 Hell's everlasting element ! 
 
 Deep, deep it pierc'd into my brain, 
 Madd'ning and torturing as it went, 
 
 And here see here, the mark, the stain 
 It left upon my front burnt in 
 By that last kiss of love and sin
 
 94 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 A brand, which ev'n the wreathed pride 
 Of these bright curls, still forc'd aside 
 By its foul contact, cannot hide ! 
 
 But is it thus, dread Providence 
 Can it, indeed, be thus, that she, 
 Who, but for one proud, fond offence, 
 
 Had honour'd heaven itself, should be 
 Now doom'd I cannot speak it no, 
 Merciful God ! it is not so 
 Never could lips divine have said 
 The fiat of a fate so dread. 
 And yet, that look that look, so fraught 
 
 With more than anguish, with despair 
 That new, fierce fire, resembling nought 
 
 In heaven or earth this scorch I bear ! - 
 Oh, for the first time that these knees 
 
 Have bent before thee since my fall,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 95 
 
 Great Power, if ever thy decrees 
 
 Thou could'st for prayer like mine recall, 
 Pardon that spirit, and on me, 
 
 On me, who taught her pride to err, 
 Shed out each drop of agony 
 
 Thy burning phial keeps for her ! 
 See, too, where low beside me kneel 
 
 Two other out-casts, who, though gone 
 And lost themselves, yet dare to feel 
 
 And pray for that poor mortal one. 
 Alas, too well, too well they know 
 The pain, the penitence, the woe 
 That Passion brings down on the best, 
 The wisest and the loveliest. 
 Oh, who is to be sav'd, if such 
 
 Bright, erring souls are not forgiven; 
 So loth they wander, and so much 
 
 Their very wanderings lean tow'rds heaven !
 
 96 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Again, I cry, Just God, transfer 
 
 That creature's sufferings all to me 
 Mine, mine the guilt, the torment be, 
 
 To save one minute's pain to her, 
 Let mine last all eternity !" 
 
 He paus'd, and to the earth bent down 
 
 His throbbing head ; while they, who felt 
 That agony as 'twere their own, 
 
 Those angel youths, beside him knelt, 
 And, in the night's still silence there, 
 While mournfully each wandering air 
 Play'd in those plumes, that never more 
 To their lost home in heav'n must soar, 
 Breath'd inwardly the voiceless prayer, 
 Unheard by all but Mercy's ear 
 And which if Mercy did not hear,
 
 SECOND ANGEL'S STORY. 97 
 
 Oh, God would not be what this bright 
 
 And glorious universe of his, 
 This world of beauty, goodness, light 
 
 And endless love proclaims He is ! 
 
 Not long they knelt, when, from a wood 
 That crown'd that airy solitude, 
 They heard a low, uncertain sound, 
 As from a lute, that just had found 
 Some happy theme, and murmur'd round 
 The new-born fancy with fond tone, 
 Like that of ring-dove o'er her brood 
 Scarce thinking aught so sweet its own ! 
 Till soon a voice, that match'd as well 
 
 That gentle instrument, as suits 
 The sea-air to an ocean-shell, 
 
 (So kin its spirit to the lute's,) 
 H
 
 98 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Tremblingly follow'd the soft strain, 
 Interpreting its joy, its pain, 
 
 And lending the light wings of words 
 To many a thought, that else had lain 
 
 Unfledg'd and mute among the chords. 
 
 All started at the sound but chief 
 
 The third young Angel, in whose face, 
 Though faded like the others, grief 
 
 Had left a gentler, holier trace ; 
 As if, ev*n yet, through pain and ill, 
 Hope had not quit him as if still 
 Her precious pearl, in sorrow's cup, 
 
 Unmelted at the bottom lay, 
 To shine again, when, all drunk up, 
 
 The bitterness should pass away. 
 Chiefly did he, though in his eyes 
 There shone more pleasure than surprise,
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 99 
 
 Turn to the wood, from whence that sound 
 
 Of solitary sweetness broke, 
 Then, listening, look delighted round 
 
 To his bright peers, while thus it spoke : 
 
 " Come, pray with me, my seraph love, 
 " My angel-lord, come pray with me ; 
 " In vain to-night my lip hath strove 
 " To send one holy prayer above 
 " The knee may bend, the lip may move, 
 " But pray I cannot, without thee ! 
 
 " I've fed the altar in my bower 
 
 " With droppings from the incense tree ; 
 " I've shelter'd it from wind and shower, 
 " But dim it burns the livelong hour, 
 " As if, like me, it had no power 
 
 " Of life or lustre, without thee ! 
 H 2
 
 loo THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 A boat at midnight sent alone 
 " To drift upon the moonless sea, 
 
 " A lute, whose leading chord is gone, 
 
 " A wounded bird, that hath but one 
 
 " Imperfect wing to soar upon, 
 
 " Are like what I am, without thee ! 
 
 " Then ne'er, my spirit-love, divide, 
 
 " In life or death, thyself from me ; 
 " But when again, in sunny pride, 
 " Thou walk'st through Eden, let me glide, 
 " A prostrate shadow, by thy side 
 " Oh happier thus than without thee !" 
 
 The song had ceas'd, when, from the wood - 
 Where, curving down that airy height, 
 
 It reach'd the spot on which they stood 
 There suddenly shone out a light
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 101 
 
 From a clear lamp, which, as it blaz'd 
 Across the brow of one, who rais'd 
 The flame aloft, (as if to throw 
 Its light upon that group below) 
 Display'd two eyes, sparkling between 
 The dusky leaves, such as are seen 
 By fancy only, in those faces, 
 
 That haunt a poet's walk at even, 
 Looking from out their leafy places 
 
 Upon his dreams of love and heaven. 
 'Twas but a moment the blush, brought 
 O'er all her features at the thought 
 
 Of being seen thus, late, alone, 
 By any but the eyes she sought, 
 
 Had scarcely for an instant shone 
 
 Through the dark leaves when she was gone- 
 Gone, like a meteor that o'erhead 
 Suddenly shines, and, ere we've said, 
 " Look, look, how beautiful !" 'tis fled. 
 H 3
 
 102 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Yet, ere she went, the words, " I come, 
 " I come, my NAMA," reach'd her ear, 
 In that kind voice, familiar, dear, 
 Which tells of confidence, of home, 
 Of habit, that hath drawn hearts near, 
 Till they grow one of faith sincere, 
 And all that Love most loves to hear ! 
 A music, breathing of the past, 
 
 The present and the time to be, 
 Where Hope and Memory, to the last, 
 Lengthen out life's true harmony ! 
 
 Nor long did he, whom call so kind 
 Summon'd away, remain behind ; 
 Nor did there need much time to tell 
 
 What they alas, more fall'n than he 
 From happiness and heaven knew well, 
 
 His gentler love's short history !
 
 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 103 
 
 Thus did it run not as he told 
 
 The tale himself, but as 'tis grav'd 
 Upon the tablets that, of old, 
 
 By CHAM were from the deluge sav'd, 
 All written over with sublime 
 
 And saddening legends of the' unblest, 
 But glorious Spirits of that time, 
 
 And this young Angel's 'mong the rest. 
 
 H 4
 
 104 THE LOVES OF THE ANGEU5. 
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 
 
 Among the Spirits, of pure flame, 
 
 That round the' Almighty Throne abide 
 
 Circles of light, that from the same 
 Eternal centre sweeping wide, 
 Carry its beams on every side, 
 
 (Like spheres of air that waft around 
 
 The undulations of rich sound) 
 
 Till the far-circling radiance be 
 
 Diffus'd into infinity ! 
 
 First and immediate near the Throne, 
 
 As if peculiarly God's own, 
 
 The Seraphs * stand this burning sign 
 
 Trac'd on their banner, " Love Divine !" 
 
 * The Seraphim are the Spirits of Divine Love. See Note.
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 105 
 
 Their rank, their honours, far above 
 Ev'n those to high-brow'd Cherubs given, 
 
 Though knowing all so much doth Love 
 Transcend all Knowledge, ev'n in heaven ! 
 
 'Mong these was ZARAPH once and none 
 
 E'er felt affection's holy fire, 
 Or yearn'd towards the' Eternal One, 
 
 With half such longing, deep desire. 
 Love was to his impassion'd soul 
 
 Not, as with others, a mere part 
 Of its existence, but the whole 
 
 The very life-breath of his heart ! 
 
 Often, when from the' Almighty brow 
 A lustre came, too bright to bear, 
 
 And all the seraph ranks would bow 
 
 Their heads beneath their wings, nor dare 
 To look upon the' effulgence there
 
 106 THE LOVES OF THE 'ANGELS. 
 
 This Spirit's eyes would court the blaze, 
 
 (Such pride he in adoring took) 
 And rather lose, in that one gaze, 
 
 The power of looking, than not look ! 
 Then too, when angel voices sung 
 The mercy of their God, and strung 
 Their harps to hail, with welcome sweet, 
 
 The moment, watch'd for by all eyes, 
 When some repentant sinner's feet 
 
 First touch'd the threshold of the skies, 
 Oh then how clearly did the voice 
 Of ZARAPH above all rejoice ! 
 Love was in every buoyant tone, 
 
 Such love, as only could belong 
 To the blest angels, and alone 
 
 Could, ev'n from angels, bring such song !
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 107 
 
 Alas, that it should e'er have been 
 
 The same in heaven as it is here, 
 Where nothing fond or bright is seen, 
 
 But it hath pain and peril near 
 Where right and wrong so close resemble, 
 
 That what we take for virtue's thrill 
 Is often the first downward tremble 
 
 Of the heart's balance into ill 
 Where Love hath not a shrine so pure, 
 
 So holy, but the serpent, Sin, 
 In moments, ev'n the most secure, 
 
 Beneath his altar may glide in ! 
 
 So was it with that Angel such 
 The charm, that slop'd his fall along 
 
 From good to ill, from loving much, 
 Too easy lapse, to loving wrong.
 
 108 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Ev'n so that am'rous Spirit, bound 
 By beauty's spell, where'er 'twas found, 
 From the bright things above the moon 
 
 Down to earth's beaming eyes descended, 
 Till love for the Creator soon 
 
 In passion for the creature ended ! 
 
 'Twas first at twilight, on the shore 
 
 Of the smooth sea, he heard the lute 
 And voice of her he lov'd steal o'er 
 The silver waters, that lay mute, 
 As loth, by ev'n a breath, to stay 
 The pilgrimage of that sweet lay ; 
 Whose echoes still went on and on, 
 Till lost among the light that shone 
 Far off, beyond the ocean's brim 
 There, where the rich cascade of day
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 109 
 
 Had, o'er the' horizon's golden rim, 
 
 Into Elysium roll'd away ! 
 Of God she sung, and of the mild 
 
 Attendant Mercy, that beside 
 His awful throne for ever smil'd, 
 
 Ready, with her white hand, to guide 
 His bolts of vengeance to their prey 
 That she might quench them on the way ! 
 Of Peace of that Atoning Love, 
 Upon whose star, shining above 
 This twilight world of hope and fear, 
 
 The weeping eyes of Faith are fix'd 
 So fond, that with her every tear 
 
 The light of that love-star is mix'd ! 
 All this she sung, and such a soul 
 
 Of piety was in that song, 
 That the charm'd Angel, as it stole 
 
 Tenderly to his ear, along
 
 110 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Those lulling waters where he lay, 
 
 Watching the day-light's dying ray, 
 
 Thought 'twas a voice from out the wave, 
 
 An echo, that some spirit gave 
 
 To Eden's distant harmony, 
 
 Heard faint and sweet beneath the sea ! 
 
 Quickly, however, to its source, 
 Tracking that music's melting course, 
 He saw, upon the golden sand 
 Of the sea-shore a maiden stand, 
 Before whose feet the' expiring waves 
 
 Flung their last tribute with a sigh 
 As, in the East, exhausted slaves 
 
 Lay down the far-brought gift, and die 
 And, while her lute hung by her, hush'd, 
 
 As if unequal to the tide
 
 n Sled V Chat Heath . 
 
 ITISIIE 
 
 HE SAW, UPON THE GOLDEN SAND 
 
 or THE SEA SHORT; A MAJDEN STAND 
 
 P. no. 
 
 Pviun* tJftati, _ faiml tfartbruj SU4 flat*
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. ill 
 
 Of song, that from her lips still gush'd, 
 
 She rais'd, like one beatified, 
 Those eyes, whose light seem'd rather given 
 
 To be ador'd than to adore 
 Such eyes, as may have look'dfrom heaven, 
 
 But ne'er were rais'd to it before ! 
 
 Oh Love, Religion, Music all 
 
 That's left of Eden upon earth 
 The only blessings, since the fall 
 Of our weak souls, that still recall 
 
 A trace of their high, glorious birth 
 How kindred are the dreams you bring ! 
 
 How Love, though unto earth so prone, 
 Delights to take Religion's wing, 
 
 When time or grief hath stain'd his own ! 
 How near to Love's beguiling brink, 
 
 Too oft, entranc'd Religion lies !
 
 iii THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 While Music, Music is the link 
 
 They both still hold by to the skies, 
 The language of their native sphere, 
 Which they had else forgotten here. 
 
 How then could ZARAPH fail to feel 
 
 That moment's witcheries? one, so fair, 
 
 Breathing out music, that might steal 
 Heaven from itself, and rapt in prayer 
 That seraphs might be proud to share ! 
 
 Oh, he did feel it far too well 
 
 With warmth, that much too dearly cost 
 
 Nor knew he, when at last he fell, 
 
 To which attraction, to which spell, 
 
 Love, Music, or Devotion, most 
 
 His soul in that sweet hour was lost.
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 1 1 3 
 
 Sweet was the hour, though dearly won, 
 
 And pure, as aught of earth could be, 
 For then first did the glorious sun 
 
 Before religion's altar see 
 Two hearts in wedlock's golden tie 
 Self-pledg'd, in love to live and die 
 Then first did woman's virgin brow 
 
 That hymeneal chaplet wear, 
 Which when it dies, no second vow 
 
 Can bid a new one bloom out there 
 Blest union ! by that Angel wove, 
 
 And worthy from such hands to come ; 
 Safe, sole asylum, in which Love, 
 When fall'n or exil'd from above, 
 
 In this dark world can find a home. 
 
 And, though the Spirit had transgress'd, 
 Had, from his station 'mong the blest 
 i
 
 114 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 Won down by woman's smile, allow'd 
 
 Terrestrial passion to breathe o'er 
 The mirror of his heart, and cloud 
 
 God's image, there so bright before 
 Yet never did that God look down 
 
 On error with a brow so mild ; 
 Never did justice launch a frown, 
 
 That, ere it fell, so nearly smil'd. 
 For gentle was their love, with awe 
 
 And trembling like a treasure kept, 
 That was not theirs by holy law, 
 Whose beauty with remorse they saw, 
 
 And o'er whose preciousness they wept. 
 Humility, that low, sweet root, 
 From which all heavenly virtues shoot, 
 Was in the hearts of both but most 
 
 In KAMA'S heart, by whom alone
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 115 
 
 Those charms, for which a heaven was lost, 
 Seem'd all unvalued and unknown ; 
 
 And when her Seraph's eyes she caught, 
 And hid hers glowing on his breast, 
 
 Ev'n bliss was humbled by the thought 
 " What claim have I to be so blest ?" 
 
 Still less could maid, so meek, have nurs'd 
 Desire of knowledge that vain thirst, 
 With which the sex hath all been curs'd, 
 From luckless EVE to her, who near 
 The Tabernacle stole to hear 
 The secrets of the angels no 
 
 To love as her own Seraph lov'd, 
 With Faith, the same through bliss and woe 
 
 Faith, that, were ev'n its light remov'd, 
 Could, like the dial, fix'd remain, 
 And wait till it shone out again 
 i 2
 
 us THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 With Patience that, though often bow'd 
 
 By the rude storm, can rise anew, 
 And Hope that, ev'n from Evil's cloud, 
 
 Sees sunny Good half breaking through ! 
 This deep, relying Love, worth more 
 In heaven than all a cherub's lore 
 This Faith, more sure than aught beside, 
 Was the sole joy, ambition, pride 
 Of her fond heart the' unreasoning scope 
 
 Of all its views, above, below 
 So true she felt it that to hope, . 
 
 To trust, is happier than to know. 
 
 And thus in humbleness they trod, 
 Abash'd, but pure before their God ; 
 Nor e'er did earth behold a sight 
 So meekly beautiful as they,
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. nr 
 
 When, with the altar's holy light 
 
 Full on their brows, they knelt to pray, 
 Hand within hand, and side by side, 
 Two links of love, awhile untied 
 From the great chain above, but fast 
 Holding together to the last 
 Two fallen Splendors, from that tree, 
 Which buds with such eternally, * 
 Shaken to earth, yet keeping all 
 Their light and freshness in the fall. 
 
 Their only punishment (as wrong, 
 However sweet, must bear its brand) 
 
 Their only doonl was this that, long 
 As the green earth and ocean stand, 
 
 * An allusion to the Sephiroths or Splendors of the 
 Jewish Cabbala, represented as a tree, of which God 
 is the crown or summit. See Note. 
 
 t 3
 
 118 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 They both shall wander here the same, 
 Throughout all time, in heart and frame? 
 Still looking to that goal sublime, 
 
 Whose light remote, but sure, they see, 
 Pilgrims of Love, whose way is Time, 
 
 Whose home is in Eternity ! 
 Subject, the while, to all the strife, 
 True love encounters in this life 
 The wishes, hopes, he breathes in vain , 
 
 The chill, that turns his warmest sighs 
 
 To earthly vapour, ere they rise ; 
 The doubt he feeds on, and the pain 
 
 That in his very sweetness lies. 
 Still worse, the' illusions that betray 
 
 His footsteps to their shining brink ; 
 That tempt him, on his desert way 
 
 Through the bleak world, to bend and drink,
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 119 
 
 Where nothing meets his lips, alas, 
 But he again must sighing pass 
 On to that far-off home of peace, 
 In which alone his thirst will cease. 
 
 All this they bear, but, not the less, 
 Have moments rich in happiness 
 Blest meetings, after many a day 
 Of widowhood past far away, 
 When the lov'd face again is seen 
 Close, close, with not a tear between 
 Confidings frank, without control, 
 Pour'd mutually from soul to soul ; 
 As free from any fear or doubt 
 
 As is that light from chill or stain, 
 The sun into the stars sheds out, 
 
 To be by them shed back again ! 
 
 i 4
 
 120 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 That happy minglement of hearts, 
 
 Where, chang'd as chymic compounds are, 
 Each with its own existence parts, 
 
 To find a new one, happier far ! 
 Such are their joys and, crowning all, 
 . That blessed hope of the bright hour, 
 When, happy and no more to fall, 
 
 Their spirits shall, with freshen'd power, 
 Rise up rewarded for their trust 
 
 In Him, from whom all goodness springs, 
 And, shaking off earth's soiling dust 
 
 From their emancipated wings, 
 Wander for ever through those skies 
 Of radiance, where Love never dies ! 
 
 In what lone region of the earth 
 
 These Pilgrims now may roam or dwell,
 
 THIRD ANGEL'S STORY. 121 
 
 God and the Angels, who look forth 
 
 To watch their steps, alone can tell. 
 But should we, in our wanderings, 
 
 Meet a young pair, whose beauty wants 
 But the adornment of bright wings, 
 
 To look like heaven's inhabitants 
 Who shine where'er they tread, and yet 
 
 Are humble in their earthly lot, 
 As is the way-side violet, 
 
 That shines unseen, and were it not 
 
 For its sweet breath would be forgot 
 Whose hearts, in every thought, are one, 
 
 Whose voices utter the same wills, 
 Answering, as Echo doth some tone 
 
 Of fairy music 'mong the hills, 
 So like itself, we seek in vain 
 Which is the echo, which the strain
 
 122 THE LOVES OF THE ANGELS. 
 
 i 
 
 Whose piety is love, whose love, 
 
 Though close as 'twere their souls' embrace, 
 Is not of earth, but from above 
 
 Like two fair mirrors, face to face, 
 Whose light, from one to the' other thrown, 
 Is heaven's reflection, not their own 
 Should we e'er meet with aught so pure, 
 So perfect here, we may be sure, 
 
 There is but one such pair below, 
 And, as we bless them on their way 
 Through the world's wilderness, may say, 
 
 There ZARAPH and his NAMA go."
 
 NOTES.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 PREFACE, p. xi. 
 
 An erroneous translation by the LXX. of that verse 
 in the sixth Chapter of Genesis, 8$c. 
 THE error of these interpreters (and, it is said, of the 
 old Italic version also,) was in making it al A/ysXo* ra 
 &, " the Angels of God," instead of " the Sons" a 
 mistake, which, assisted by the allegorizing comments 
 of Philo, and the rhapsodical fictions of the Book of 
 Enoch *, was more than sufficient to affect the ima- 
 ginations of such half- Pagan writers as Clemens Alex- 
 andrinus, Tertullian, and Lactantius, who, chiefly, 
 among the Fathers, have indulged themselves in fan- 
 
 * It is lamentable to think that this absurd production, 
 of which we now know the whole from Dr. Laurence's 
 translation, should ever have been considered as an inspired 
 or authentic work. See the Preliminary Dissertation 
 prefixed to the Translation.
 
 126 NOTES. 
 
 ciful reveries upon the subject. The greater number, 
 however, have rejected the fiction with indignation. 
 Chrysostom, in his twenty-second Homily upon Ge- 
 nesis, earnestly exposes its absurdity * ; and Cyril 
 accounts such a supposition as tfyv<; /*&.?, " border- 
 ing on folly ."f According to these Fathers (and 
 their opinion has been followed by all the theologians, 
 down from St. Thomas to Caryl and LightfootJ,) the 
 
 * One of the arguments of Chrysostom is, that Angels 
 are no where else, in the Old Testament, called " Sons of 
 God," but his commentator, Montfaucon, shows that he 
 is mistaken, and that in the Book of Job they are so 
 designated, (c. 1. v. 6.) both in the original Hebrew and the 
 Vulgate, though not in the Septuagint, which alone, he says, 
 Chrysostom read. 
 
 t Lib. ii. Glaphyrorum. Philaestrius, in his enume- 
 ration of heresies, classes this story of the Angels among 
 the number, and says it deserves only to be ranked with 
 those fictions about gods and goddesses, to which the 
 fancy of the Pagan poets gave birth : " Sicuti et Paga- 
 " noruin et Poetarum mendacia adserunt deos deasque 
 " transformatos nefanda conjugia commisisse." De Haeres. 
 Edit. Basil, p. 101. 
 
 t Lightfoot says " The sons of God, or the members of the 
 Church, and the progeny of Seth, marrying carelessly and 
 promiscuously with the daughters of men, or brood of 
 Cain, &c." I find in Pole that, according to the Samaritan 
 version, the phrase may be understood as meaning " the 
 Sons of the Judges." So variously may the Hebrew word, 
 Elohim, be interpreted.
 
 NOTES. . 127 
 
 term " Sons of God," must be understood to mean 
 the descendants of Seth, by Enos a family pecu- 
 liarly favoured by heaven, because with them, men 
 first began " to call upon the name of the Lord" 
 while, by " the daughters of men," they suppose 
 that the corrupt race of Cain is designated. The 
 probability, however, is, that the words in question 
 ought to have been translated " the sons of the 
 " nobles or great men," as we find them interpreted 
 in the Targum of Onkelos, (the most ancient and ac- 
 curate of all the Chaldaic paraphrases,) and, as it 
 appears from Cyril, the version of Symmachus also 
 rendered them. This translation of the passage re- 
 moves all difficulty, and at once relieves the Sacred 
 History of an extravagance, which, however it may 
 suit the imagination of the poet, is inconsistent 
 with all our notions, both philosophical and religious. 
 
 Page 3. 
 Transmit each moment, night and day, 
 
 The echo of His luminous ivord! 
 Dionysius (De Ccelest. Hierarch.) is of opinion, 
 that when Isaiah represents the Seraphim as crying 
 out " one unto the other," his intention is to describe
 
 128 NOTES. 
 
 those communications of the Divine thought and will, 
 which are continually passing from the higher orders 
 of the angels to the lower: ota Y.O.I avrss -res 
 
 el S'toXo-yo* fairiv trepan 1100$ TOV ITSOOV 
 ev TUTU, xaS'airep oi/xa<, SvjXavTEc, OTJ ruv 
 
 ol itoaroi TO*< Sfi/Tspo*? /AEraSiSoao-*. See also, in 
 the Paraphrase of Pachymer upon Dionysius, cap. 2. 
 rather a striking passage, in which he represents all 
 living creatures, as being, in a stronger or fainter 
 degree, " echos of God." 
 
 Page 6. 
 
 One of earth's fairest -woman-kind 
 Half veil 'd from view, or rather shrind 
 In the clear crystal of a brook. 
 
 This is given upon the authority, or rather ac- 
 cording to the fancy of some of the Fathers, who 
 suppose that the women of earth were first seen by 
 the angels in this situation ; and St. Basil has even 
 made it the serious foundation of rather a rigorous 
 rule for the toilette of his fair disciples; adding, 
 ixavox yap EJ-' Trapa-yu/AVH/Azyov xaXXo? xcw vlu$ S'te npo/; 
 yorjTtvircu, xa i? etv&puves btceravT-qv awoS'yijo'x 
 
 airoSa. De Vera Virginitat. torn. i. p. 747. Edit. 
 Paris. 1618.
 
 NOTES. 123 
 
 Page 17. 
 
 Thenjirst that juice of earth, c: fyc. 
 For all that relates to the nature and attributes of 
 angels, the time of their creation, the extent of their 
 knowledge, and the power which they possess, or can 
 occasionally assume of performing such human func- 
 tions as eating, drinking, &c. &c., I shall refer those 
 who are inquisitive upon the subject to the following 
 works: The Treatise upon the Celestial Hierarchy, 
 written under the name of Dionysius the Areopagite, 
 in which, among much that is heavy and trifling, there 
 are some sublime notions concerning the agency of 
 these spiritual creatures the Questions " de cogni- 
 tione angelorum" of St. Thomas, where he examines 
 most prolixly into such puzzling points as " whether 
 angels illuminate each other," "whether they speak to 
 each other," &c.&c. The Thesaurus of Cocceius, con- 
 taining extracts from almost every theologian that has 
 written on the subject the9th, 10th and 1 1th chapters, 
 sixth book, of "L'Histoire des Juifs," where all the 
 extraordinary reveries of the Rabbins * about angels 
 
 * The following may serve as specimens : " Les Anges ne 
 sgavent point la langue Chaldaique ; c'est pourquoi ils ne 
 portent point a Dieu les oraisons de ceux qni prient dans
 
 130 NOTES. 
 
 and daemons are enumerated the Questions attri- 
 buted to St. Athanasius the Treatise of Bona- 
 venture upon the Wings of the Seraphim* and, 
 lastly, the ponderous folio of Suarez " de Angelis," 
 where the reader will find all that has ever been 
 fancied or reasoned, upon a subject which only suck 
 writers could have contrived to render so dull. 
 
 cette languc. l\s se trompent sou vent; ils ont des erreurs 
 dangereuses : car PAnge de la mort, qui est charge* de faire 
 mourir un homme, en prend quelquefois un autre, ce qui 
 
 cause de grands desordres Ils sont 
 
 charge's de chanter devant Dieu le Cantique, Saint, Saint est le 
 Dieu des armtet; mais ils ne remplissent cet office qu'une 
 fois le jour, dans une semaine, dans un mois, dans un an, 
 dans un siecle, ou dans Peternite'. L'Ange qui luttoit contre 
 Jacob le pressa de le laisser aller, lorsque 1'Aurore parut, 
 parce que c'e'toit son tour de chanter le Cantique ce jour la 
 ce qu'il n'avoit encore jamais fait." 
 
 t This work (which, notwithstanding its title, is, probably, 
 quite as dull as the rest) I have not, myself, been able to 
 see, having searched for it in vain through the King's Library 
 at Paris, though assisted by the zeal and kindness of M. 
 bangle's and M. Vonpradt, whose liberal administration of 
 that most liberal establishment, entitles them not only for 
 the immediate effect of such conduct, but for the useful and 
 civilizing example it holds forth to the most cordial gra- 
 titude of the whole literary world.
 
 NOTES. 131 
 
 Page 12. 
 
 The Spirit of yon beauteous star. 
 It is the opinion of Kircher, Ricciolus, &c. (and 
 was, I believe, to a certain degree, that of Origen) 
 that the stars are moved and directed by intelligences 
 or angels who preside over them. Among other pas- 
 sages from Scripture in support of this notion, they 
 cite those words of the Book of Job, " When the 
 morning stars sang together." Upon which Kircher 
 remarks, " Non de materialibus intelligitur." Itin. 1. 
 Isagog. Astronom. See also Caryl's most wordy Com- 
 mentary on the same text. 
 
 Page 14. 
 
 And the bright Watchers round the throne. 
 " The Watchers, the offspring of heaven." Book 
 of Enoch. In Daniel also the angels are called 
 watchers: "And behold, a watcher and an holy 
 one came down from heaven." iv. 13. 
 
 Page 18. 
 
 Then first the fatal tvine-cup rain'd, fyc. 
 Some of the circumstances of this story were sug- 
 gested to me by the Eastern legend of the two angels, 
 K 2
 
 138 NOTES. 
 
 Harut and Marut, as it is given by Mariti, who says, 
 that the author of the Taalim founds upon it the 
 Mahometan prohibition of wine. The Bafoardanush 
 tells the story differently. 
 
 Page 19. 
 
 Why, "why have hapless Angels eyes ? 
 Tertullian imagines that the words of St. Paul, 
 " Woman ought to have a veil on her head*, on 
 account cf the angels" have an evident reference to the 
 fatal effects which the beauty of women once pro- 
 duced upon these spiritual beings. See the strange 
 passage of this Father, (de Virgin. Velandis,) be- 
 ginning " Si enim propter angelos, &c.," where his 
 editor Pamelius endeavours to save his morality at the 
 expense of his Latinity, by substituting the word 
 " excussat"for " excusat." Such instances of inde- 
 corum, however, are but too common throughout the 
 Fathers, in proof of which I need only refer to some 
 passages in the same writer's treatise, " De Anima," to 
 the Second and Third Books of the Pacdagogus of 
 Clemens Alexandrinus, and to the instances which 
 La Mothe le Vayer has adduced from Chrysostom in 
 his Hexameron Rustique, Journee Seconde. 
 
 * 1 Corinth, xi. 10. Dr. Macknight's Translation.
 
 NOTES. 135 
 
 Page 24. 
 When Lucifer, in Jailing, bore 
 
 The third of the bright stars aivay. 
 " And his tail drew the third part of the stars of 
 heaven, and did cast them to the earth." Revelat. xii. 
 4 " Docent sancti (says Suarez) supremum ange- 
 lum traxisse secum tertiam partem stellarum." Lib. 7. 
 cap. 7. 
 
 Page 25. 
 
 Rise, in earth's beauty, to repair 
 That loss of light and glory there ! 
 The idea of the Fathers was that the vacancies, 
 occasioned in the different orders of angels by the 
 fall, were to be filled up from the human race. There 
 is, however, another opinion, backed by Papal autho- 
 rity, that it was only the tenth order of the Celestial 
 Hierarchy that fell, and that, therefore, the promotions 
 which occasionally take place from earth are intended 
 for the completion of that grade alone : or, as it is 
 explained by Salonius (Dial, in Eccl.) " Decem sunt 
 ordines angelorum,sed unus cecidit per superbiam, et 
 idcirco boni angeli semper laborant, ut de hominibus 
 rmmerus adimpleatur, et proveniat ad perfectum nu- 
 ts 3
 
 134 NOTES. 
 
 merum, id est, denarium." According to some theo- 
 logians, virgins alone are admitted " ad collegium 
 angelorum ;" but the author * of the " - Speculum 
 Peregrinarum Quaestionum" rather questions this ex- 
 clusive privilege : " Hoc non videtur verum, quia 
 multi,non virgines, utPetrus etMagdalena,multis etiam 
 virginibus eminentiores sunt." Decad. 2. cap. 10. 
 
 Page 30. 
 'Twos RUBI. 
 
 I might have chosen perhaps some better name, but 
 it is meant (like that of Zaraph in the following story) 
 to define the particular class of spirits to which the 
 angel belonged. The author of the Book of Enoch, 
 who estimates at 200 the number of angels that de- 
 scended upon Mount Hermon, for the purpose of 
 making love to the women of earth, has favoured us 
 with the names of their leader and chiefs Samyaza, 
 Urakabarameel, Akibeel, Tamiel, &c. &c. 
 
 In that heretical worship of angels, which prevailed, 
 to a great degree, during the first ages of Christianity, 
 to name them seems to have been one of the most im- 
 portant ceremonies; for we find it expressly forbidden 
 
 * F. Bartholomauuh Sibylla.
 
 NOTES. 135 
 
 in one of the Canons (35th) of the Council of Laodicea. 
 oyo/xajv re? a/yeXe?. Josephus too mentions, among 
 the religious rites of the Essenes, their swearing " to 
 preserve the names of the angels," rwr^o-tjy to, TWV 
 afytXuv ovo/xara. Bell. Jud. lib. 2. cap. 8. See upon 
 this subject, Van Dale, de Orig. et Progress. Idololat. 
 cap. 9. 
 
 Page 30. 
 
 Those bright creatures, nam'd 
 
 Spirits of Knowledge. 
 
 The word cherub signifies knowledge TO yvornw 
 O.VTWV x< 8r0imxov, says Dionysius. Hence it is that 
 Ezekiel, to express the abundance of their knowledge, 
 represents them as " full of eyes." 
 
 Page 33. 
 
 Summon d his chief angelic powers 
 To "witness, fyc. 
 
 St. Augustin, upon Genesis, seems rather inclined 
 to admit that the angels had some share (" aliquod 
 ministerium") in the creation of Adam and Eve. 
 
 K 4-
 
 136 NOTES. 
 
 Page 43. 
 
 / had beheld their First, their EVE, 
 Born in that splendid Paradise. 
 Whether Eve was created in Paradise or not is a 
 question that has been productive of much doubt and 
 controversy among the theologians. With respect to 
 Adam, it is agreed on all sides that he was created 
 outside; and it is accordingly asked, with some 
 warmth, by one of the commentators, " why should 
 woman, the ignobler creature of the two, be cre- 
 ated within *?" Others, on the contrary, consider 
 this distinction as but a fair tribute to the superior 
 beauty and purity of women, and some, in their zeal, 
 even seem to think that, if the scene of her creation 
 was not already Paradise, it became so, immediately 
 upon that event, in compliment to her. Josephus is 
 one of those, who think that Eve was formed 
 outside; Tertullian, too, among the Fathers and, 
 among the Theologians, Rupertus, who, to do him 
 justice, never misses an opportunity of putting on 
 record his ill-will to the sex. Pererius, however, (and 
 
 " Cur denique Evam, quae Adamo ignobilior erat, formavit 
 intra Paraclisum ?"
 
 NOTES. 157 
 
 his opinion seems to be considered the most orthodox) 
 thinks it much more consistent with the order of the 
 Mosaic narration, as well as with the sentiments of 
 Basil and other Fathers, to conclude that Eve was 
 created in Paradise. 
 
 Page 43. 
 Her error, too. 
 
 The comparative extent of Eve's delinquency, and 
 the proportion which it bears to that of Adam, is 
 another point which has exercised the tiresome inge- 
 nuity of the Commentators ; and they seem generally 
 to agree (with the exception always of Rupertus) that, 
 as she was not yet created when the prohibition was 
 issued, and therefore could not have heard it, (a con- 
 clusion remarkably confirmed by the inaccurate way 
 in which she reports it to the serpent*) her share in 
 the crime of disobedience is considerably lighter than 
 
 * Rupertus considers these variantes as intentional and pre- 
 varicatory, and as the first instance upon record of a wilful 
 vitiation of the words of God, for the purpose of suiting 
 the corrupt views and propensities of human nature. De 
 Trinitat. lib. iii. cap. 5.
 
 138 NOTES. 
 
 
 that of Adam.* In corroboration of this view of the 
 
 matter, Pererius remarks that it is to Adam alone the 
 Deity addresses his reproaches for having eaten of 
 the forbidden tree, because to Adam alone the 
 order had been originally promulgated. So far, in- 
 deed, does the gallantry of another commentator, 
 Hugh de St. Victor, carry him, that he looks upon the 
 words " I will put enmity between thee and the wo- 
 man" as a proof that the sex was from that moment 
 enlisted into the service of heaven, as the chief foe 
 and obstacle which the spirit of Evil would have to 
 contend with in his inroads on this world : "si 
 deinceps Eva inimica Diabolo, ergo fuit grata et arn- 
 ica Deo." 
 
 Page 45. 
 
 Call her think luhat his Life ! his Life! 
 Chavah (or, as it is in the Latin version, Eva) has the 
 same signification as the Greek, Zoe. 
 
 * Caietanus, indeed, pronounces it to be " minimum pucca- 
 tum."
 
 NOTES. 139 
 
 . * 
 
 Epiphanius, among others, is not a little surprised 
 at the application of such a name to Eve, so immedi- 
 ately too, after that awful denunciation of death, "dust 
 thou art, &c. &c. * Some of the commentators think 
 that it was meant as a sarcasm, and spoken by Adam, 
 in the first bitterness of his heart, in the same 
 spirit of irony (says Pererius) as that of the Greeks 
 in calling their Furies, Eumenides, or Gentle. f But 
 the Bishop of Chalon, rejects this supposition: 
 " Explodendi sane qui id nominis ab Adamo per 
 ironiam inditum uxori suae putant ; atque quod mortis 
 causa esset, amaro joco vitam appellasse." J 
 
 With a similar feeling of spleen against women, 
 some of these " distillateurs des Saintes Lettres (as 
 Bayle calls them) in rendering the text " 1 will make 
 him a help meet for him" translate these last words 
 " against or contrary to him" (a meaning which, it ap- 
 
 * KOI p.era TO aKSffat, 777 t /cat fis ~fi}v air(\evffr), pera r-rjv irapa- 
 . KO.I i\v fravfj-acrrov frri juera TIJV irapafia&iv TCUITTJV TTJI/ nfyatoiv 
 . Hseres. 78. 18. torn. i. edit. Paris, 1622. 
 
 f Lib. 6. p. 234. 
 
 J; Pontus Tyarcl. de recta nominum impositione, p. 14.
 
 140 NOTES. 
 
 pears, the original will bear) and represent them as 
 prophetic of those contradictions and perplexities, 
 which men experience from women in this life. 
 
 It is rather strange that these two instances of per- 
 verse commentatorship should have escaped the re- 
 searches of Bayle, in his curious article upon Eve. 
 He would have found another subject of discussion, 
 equally to his taste, in Gataker's whimsical dissertation 
 upon Eve's knowledge of the re^vy Iparrwq, and upon 
 the notion of Epiphanius that it was taught her in 
 a special revelation from heaven. Miscellan. lib. ii. 
 cap. 3. p. 200. 
 
 Page 57. 
 Oh idol of my dreams! whatever 
 
 Thy nature be human, divine, 
 Or but half heav'nly. 
 
 In an article upon the Fathers, which appeared, 
 some years since, in the Edinburgh Review (No. 47.), 
 and of which I have made some little use in these 
 notes, (having that claim over it as " quiddam 
 notum propriumque" which Lucretius gives to 
 the cow over the calf,) there is the following re- 
 mark: " The belief of an intercourse between angels 
 and women, founded upon a false version of a text
 
 NOTES. Hi 
 
 in Genesis, is one of those extravagant notions of 
 St. Justin and other Fathers, which show how little 
 they had yet purified themselves from the grossness 
 of heathen mythology, and in how many respects 
 their heaven was but Olympus, with other names. 
 Yet we can hardly be angry with them for this one 
 error, when we recollect that possibly to their ena- 
 moured angels we owe the fanciful world of sylphs 
 and gnomes, and that at this moment we might have 
 wanted Pope's most exquisite poem, if the version of 
 the LXX. had translated the Book of Genesis cor- 
 rectly." 
 
 The following is one among many passages, which 
 may be adduced from the Comte de Gabalis, in 
 confirmation of this remark : " Ces enfans du ciel 
 engendrerent les geans fameux, s'etant fait aimer aux 
 filles des hommes ; et les mauvais cabalistes Joseph 
 et Philo (comme tous les Juifs sont ignorans), et 
 apres eux tous les auteurs que j'ai nomme tout a 
 1'heure, out dit que c'etoit des anges, et n'ont pas scu 
 que c'etoit les sylphes et les autres peuples des ele- 
 mens, qui sous le nom d'enfans d'Eloim, sont distin- 
 gues des enfans des hommes." See Entret. Second.
 
 142 NOTES. 
 
 Page 65. 
 
 So high she deem'd her Cherub's love ! 
 " Nihil plus desiderare potuerint quae angelos pos- 
 sidebant magno scilicet nupserant." Tertull. de 
 Habitu Mulieb. cap. 2. 
 
 Page 67. 
 Thenjirst mere diamonds caught, Sfc. 
 
 " Quelques gnomes desireux de devenir immortels, 
 avoient voulu gagner les bonnes graces de nos filles, 
 et leur avoient apporte des pierreries dont ils sont 
 gardiens naturels : et ces auteurs ont cru, s'appuyans 
 sur-le livre d'Enoch raal-entendu, que c'etoient des 
 pieges que les anges amoureux, &c. &c." Comte de 
 Gabalis. 
 
 Tertullian traces all the cjiiet' luxuries of female 
 attire, the neck-laces, armlets, rouge, and the black 
 powder for the eye-lashes, to the researches of these 
 fallen angels into the inmost recesses of nature, and 
 the discoveries they were, in consequence, enabled to 
 make, of all that could embellish the beauty of their 
 earthly favourites. The passage is so remarkable that 
 I shall give it entire: "Nam et illi qui ea constituerant, 
 damnati in paenam mortis deputantur: illi scilicet
 
 NOTES. 143 
 
 angeli, qui ad filias hominum de coelo ruerunt, ut haec 
 quoque ignominia fceminae accedat. Nam cum et ma- 
 terias quasdam bene occultas et artes plerasque non 
 bene revelatas, seculo multo magis imperito prodi- 
 dissent (siquidem et metallorum opera nudaverant, et 
 herbarum ingenia traduxerant et incantationum vires 
 provulgaverant, et omnem curiositatem usque ad 
 stellarum interpretationem designaverant) proprie et 
 quasi peculiariter fceminis instrumentum istud mulie- 
 bris gloriae contulerunt : lumina lapillorum quibus 
 monilia variantur, et circulos ex auro quibus brachia 
 arctantur ; et medicamenta ex fuco, quibus lanre co- 
 lorantur, et ilium ipsum nigrum pulverem, quo ocu- 
 lorum exordia producuntur." De Habitu Mulieb. 
 cap. 2. See him also " De Cultu Fcem. cap. 10. 
 
 Page 67. 
 
 The mighty magnet, set 
 In woman's form. 
 
 The same figure, as applied to female attractions, 
 occurs in a singular passage of St. Basil, of which 
 the following is the conclusion : At ryv tvova-av v-ara, 
 
 TOV apptvoi; awrys ^WTHOJV 8wa$<av, u<; (TiS^po?, r/J'/j/xi, iroppu- 
 rovro nos eavrov aJavEvt. De Vera Vir-
 
 144 NOTES. 
 
 ginitat. torn. i. p. 727. It is but fair, however, to 
 add, that Hermant, the biographer of Basil, has pro- 
 nounced this most unsanctified treatise to be spurious. 
 
 Page 68. 
 
 fve said, " Nay, look not there, my love," Sfc. 
 I am aware that this happy saying of Lord Albe- 
 marle's loses much of its grace and playfulness, by 
 being put into the mouth of any but a human lover. 
 
 Page 71. 
 
 Note. 
 
 Clemens Alexandrinus is one of those who suppose 
 that the knowledge of such sublime doctrines was 
 derived from the disclosure of the angels. Stromat. 
 lib. v. p. 48. To the same source Cassianus and 
 others trace all impious and daring sciences, such as 
 magic, alchemy, &c. " From the fallen angels (says 
 Zosimus) came all that miserable knowledge which 
 
 is of no use to the Soul." ITavra TO, tuvyoa. xa /xijSsv 
 wf tXwra TTJV i/^x^jv. Ap. Photium.
 
 NOTES. 145 
 
 Page 71. 
 That light 
 
 Escaping from the Zodiacs signs. 
 " La lumiere Zodiacale n'est autre chose que 
 1'atmosphere du soleil." Lalande. 
 
 Page 103. 
 
 As 'tis grav'd 
 Upon the tablets that, of old, 
 
 By Cham were from the Deluge sav'd. 
 The pillars of Seth are usually referred to as the de- 
 positaries of ante-diluvian knowledge ; but they were 
 inscribed with none but astronomical secrets. I have, 
 therefore, preferred here the tablets of Cham, as 
 being, at least, more miscellaneous in their inform- 
 ation. The following account of them is given in 
 Jablonski from Cassianus : " Quantum enim antiquse 
 traditiones ferunt Cham filius Noae, qui superstitioni- 
 bus ac profanis fuerit artibus institutus, sciens nullum 
 se posse superbis memorialem librum in arcam inferre, 
 in quam erat ingressurus, sacrilegas artes ac profana 
 commenta durissimis insculpsit lapidibus."
 
 146 NOTES. 
 
 Page 103. 
 
 And this young angel's 'mong the rest. 
 Pachymer, in his Paraphrase on the Book de 
 Divinis Nominibus of Dionysius, speaking of the in- 
 carnation of Christ, says, that it was a mystery inef- 
 fable from all time, and " unknown even to the first 
 and oldest angel," justifying this last phrase by the 
 authority of St. John in the Revelation. 
 
 Page 104. 
 
 Circles of light that, from the same 
 Eternal centre sweeping ivide, 
 Carry its beams on every side. 
 
 Seethe 13th chapter of Dionysius for his notions of 
 the manner in which God's ray is communicated, 
 first to the Intelligences near him, and then to those 
 more remote, gradually losing its own brightness as 
 it passes into a denser medium. icpoa-^aXXsa-a. St ran;
 
 NOTES. 147 
 
 Page 113. 
 Then Jlrst did "woman's virgin brow 
 
 That hymeneal chaplet wear, 
 Which when it dies, no second vow 
 
 Can bid a new one bloom out there. 
 In the Catholic church, when a widow is married, 
 she is not, I believe, allowed to wear flowers on her 
 head. The ancient Romans, honoured with a " co- 
 rona pudicitiae," or crown of modesty, those who 
 entered but once into the marriage state. 
 
 Page 115. 
 
 Her, tvho near 
 The Tabernacle stole to hear 
 The secrets of the Angel. 
 Sara. 
 
 Page 117. 
 
 Two fallen Splendors. 
 
 The Sephiroths are the higher orders of emana- 
 tive being, in the strange and incomprehensible sys- 
 tem of the Jewish Cabbala. They are called by 
 various names, Pity, Beauty, &c. &c. ; and their in- 
 fluences are supposed to act through certain canals,
 
 148 NOTES. 
 
 which communicate with each other. The reader may 
 judge of the rationality of the system by the following 
 explanation of part of the machinery: " Les canaux 
 qui sortent de la MiseVicorde et de la Force, et qui vont 
 aboutir a la Beaute, sont charges d'un grand nombre 
 d'Anges. II y en a trente-cinq sur le canal de la 
 Mis^ricorde, qui recompensent et qui couronnent 
 la vertu des Saints, &c. &c." For a concise account 
 of the Cabalistic Philosophy, see Enfield's very use- 
 ful compendium of Brucker. 
 
 Page 117- 
 
 From that tree 
 
 Which buds with such eternally. 
 " On les represente quelquefois sous la figure d'un 
 arbre .... 1'Ensoph qu'on met au-dessus de 1'arbre 
 Sephirotique ou des Splendeurs divins, est 1'Infini."- 
 L'Histoire des Juifs, liv, ix. 11. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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