-fl'F^WJpTJI(i:'~» 
 
 ii 
 
 ^smm
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 THE 
 
 VICISSITUJDES 
 
 OF 
 
 (31£,(DI31?a
 
 WM^^^ 
 
 THE 
 
 VICISSITUDES 
 
 OF 
 
 GLOU^, 
 
 AND 
 
 (D^iHiais i?(oiaias* 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN GALE. 
 
 WOOLWICH : 
 
 prititeH for ifft ^utfior, 
 
 BT W. SCROGGIE, CALEDONIAN PRESS, IIARE STRl^ET, 
 AND SOLD ALSO BY 
 
 All Booksellers in Town and Countrrj^- 
 
 1823.
 
 
 CONTExNTS, 
 
 Page 
 
 Vicissitudes of Glory, Book 1 . • . . . 7 
 
 Book 2 3^ 
 
 Book 3 - - - . - 79 
 
 ^"^^^y 129 
 
 Ode to Happiness .-■....... 142 
 
 Lines written in commemoration of the Mar- 
 tyrdom of King Charles I. - - - - - \A^. 
 
 The Rainbow •-*------.. 155^ 

 
 To the Right Honopble George Canning, 
 one of His Majesty's Principal Secre- 
 taries of State, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 The following Poems, 
 
 Are Humbly Inscribed, 
 With Respect, 
 
 By 
 
 THE AUTHOR.
 
 THE MCISSITl DES OF GLORY. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 H
 
 ANALYSIS ON THE FIRST BOOK. 
 
 The first Book of this Poem opens with a view from 
 the early dawn of Eden to the fall of our first Parents, 
 contrasting with the smiles of Morn, and the Glory of 
 the Sun, to the beauteous theme of virtue. — Compari- 
 sou to the once splendid, but the now unopulance of 
 remote Empires, so renowned in Sacred History, with 
 a brief contrast of their coming grandeur and dignity. 
 — An emblem of Piety, Truth, and Love, by the assu- 
 rance of Faith. — Surmounting the walls of oblivion. 
 — Crossing the streams of Death.— Meeting the Mes- 
 siah in the clouds of glory. — His condescendency. — His 
 invitation.— Ending their career in the sphere of hr.p- 
 jiinessand immortality.
 
 THE VICISSITIDES OF GLOln^ 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 Come, heavenly fair, thy loveliest charms excite, 
 Come, circle in the fetters of delight; 
 The purer sky in azure strews the day, 
 Morn waves to glory through a purple ray. 
 'Twas glory rang'd the paths of goulen time, 
 In smiling tkiys, when love attain'd her prime, 
 Where Eve in all her blooming charms embrace, 
 '^lidst the sweet roses, Eden's garden grace ;
 
 J 2 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Smote with delight, her lover stood serene, 
 Embrac'd her smiling, yet a lowly mien ; 
 Here pleasure flings her carols through the skj, 
 Floats on the breeze the sweets of harmony. 
 But ah I the cusp of pleasure surely falls, 
 When sin came fluttering over Eden's walls; 
 The melting vision of a tear assail, 
 Their sweetest slumbers dies along the vale, 
 The frighted soul 'midst hovering clouds arise, 
 And frowns on sin, a blight to early joys. 
 
 Skips from the Orient site, a lowly bride, 
 Aurora flights on half the world beside ; 
 How cheerful then we gaze, we jusl admire 
 The sprightly emblems of thy youthful ire,
 
 OFGLOKY. - 13 
 
 Flusli'd by the roses from the morning seen, 
 
 When pearly drops adorn thy flaxen sheen, 
 
 And, dancing, sweeps the fields of radiance fair, 
 
 Thy circling ringlets waves in golden air ; 
 
 Come breathe, soft zephyrs, breathe thy calm desire, 
 
 Before the dawning vision do retire. 
 
 In splendour bright the beauteous sun repair, 
 Where beams of glory gems the orient fair, 
 O'er mountains rose, flush'd on the vivid plains, 
 Throned in delight to worlds sublimely reigns ; 
 Flew from the East, transcends a comely flight, 
 Wrapt in the azure veil of spangled light, 
 Plumes of the fairest puiple.in the shade. 
 Where scatt'ring violets Wooms along the glade.
 
 14 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 His pou'r, how oft rcsuui'd in splendid hue, 
 
 > 
 
 Inspii'd the day, and with the circle flew; 
 
 But unsequestered from the evening burn, 
 
 Espous'd the morning and again return. 
 
 What flow serenely purples o'er the sky. 
 
 When charming summer smiles in gaiety. 
 
 What cheerful breezes clap their wings in air, 
 
 galutcs the verging of the plumy fair; 
 
 And from the clouds that walks in shades between, 
 
 Unfurls a banquet to the matchless scene. 
 
 Virtue, fair offspring of delight transcend. 
 Expand thy wings, and ftir thy gifts befriend, 
 Come in, ethereal joy, your flights combine, 
 But in the sweet sublimes of glory join.
 
 OF GLORY. 15 
 
 Is not the vivid path that virtue trace, 
 Held blithsome in the charms of thine embrace. 
 Or is the sound of joy in high esteem, 
 The placid gift imperial virtue deem ? 
 Blest be the gifts from heaven's eternal son, 
 How vast, how great, in full dominion run. 
 But flight the golden stars, and heaven displays. 
 Where reigns eternal love for happy days. 
 
 Then lift my thoughts to Egypt's torrid clime, 
 And call the siege to grandeur and sublime ; 
 Thence waste my bleeding heart in tears of woe. 
 And bid fresh sorrows weigh my eyelids low; 
 Art thou forgot, O Egypt, and obscure ? 
 And the long absence of thy praise demure.
 
 H THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Art thou no more, to raise thy languid head, 
 Nor once attain what princely wisdom led ? 
 Yes, glory soon shall, with sweet converse, sing, 
 Shall have communion in the princely ring, 
 Delight and liberty embrace their reign. 
 And bless the remnant of thy latter train. 
 Haste, Iiappy day, in sweet diversion, hail 
 Jicspective launch, row'd in the friendly gale ; 
 When Egypt with Assyria shall compose 
 The nuptial wreath, in friendship, love diiclose; 
 To love celestial consecrate new joy, 
 AH'cctlon sweet that carols amity; 
 IiK'lFable the chosen sons sliall meet. 
 From Canaan's land to Ninevah's retreat.
 
 OF GLORY. 17 
 
 Diffluent sounds to Heaven's high dooms revere, 
 Like thunder roll they burst upon the air ; 
 With eager steps each passive realm comprest, 
 And breathe new joy aspiring in their breast. 
 
 Past to the weary path in Zara veer, 
 To weep with danger, and outbrave career, 
 The curling sands and burning wilds explore, 
 Which strangely feed Zanhaga's thirsty shore ; 
 Convening prudence wait, when trav'Iers meet, 
 The wildering desert of this wan retreat; 
 Scarce to be found, nor chrystal streams revere^ 
 And dews inhaled, but slumber in the air; 
 For they who liv'd, 'tis here delight transphcres. 
 For they who liv'd, and drank their vesper tear
 
 18 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 When spirits droop, and life, consuming strove, 
 
 And hail the last adieu to them they love, 
 
 Life sweetens all in wealth, nor aught could 
 
 chase 
 Tlie mystic stars of death, their dirging race; 
 Nor kindly rescued hope, nor aught but strife. 
 Nor gold could purchase dearly for a life. 
 Sweet cruize, indeed, in vain asserts to one, 
 "SVas mercy there to meet his friend undone; 
 'Tvvas hard redress, their swelling veins impart, 
 Pierced through the vitals to the parching heart; 
 Their lives resigned the mystic chace pursue. 
 Recedes unseen, and o'er the desert flevv^ 
 But left behind a remnant of disguise, 
 That fed with tremor each beholder's eyes.
 
 or GLORY. ID 
 
 The Icttcr'd sign wide in the dcbcrt blooms, 
 A dirge to spleen their last, 'heir mourning tor.ib.>, 
 Sad retrospect ^vh€n travellers here descry, 
 Kor pass, but greet the omens of a sigh. 
 
 Once eminence, fair emblem of desire, 
 Great Babylon her seats in glory fire ; 
 Where beauty reign«, she kiss'd the golden showVs, 
 And sung with glory in triumphant hours ; 
 ]ligh terass'd by huge tow'rs imperial rise, 
 Knamel'd wealth, contracting for tlie skies; 
 (.'ould splendour flame, remotely trace Japan, 
 <.'ouId glory chace when costly grandeur ran. 
 But ah, the eyes of heaven, in tears unfurl'd, 
 
 Expos'd her crimes that fed the mingled world. 
 
 C
 
 20 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Say Babylon, destruction is thy rod 
 Have forc'd tlie vengt-ance from a smiling god ; 
 Deserted, Oh 1 a uildenicss arraign, 
 Sure pity weeps, who could a tear refrain, 
 Denounced by heaven tliy last, thy dreadful lot, 
 Art now become a desert, and forgot, 
 Oh ! wluit a change, what ftidcs thy blooming flovv'r, 
 S'nall Satyrs dance and single out thy powV; 
 Ko shepherd there, for they resign"d their reins, 
 Forsook iheir folds and curs'd th.eir native plains; 
 No harvest more, nor showers the wastes recoil, 
 Kor heaven again retiect a sacred smile, 
 Impeals in midnight thunder hov'ring high, 
 Tliou sunless world approach the nether sky.
 
 OF GLORY. 21 
 
 And shall the moon, by twilight, linger through, 
 Or night's black curtains brighten to the view, 
 Shrieks, and aghast, the owls, embittcr'd, sigh, 
 Nor rouse the stars, they slumber at the cry, 
 'Twas hoary guilt that stain'd their parting tomb, 
 "When heaven detcrm'd their last, their final doom, 
 From the fair stripling's tender years delay, 
 And every prattling murmur dies away. 
 
 But glory calls in view sublimer realms, 
 And windVing round a brighter cloud oerwhelras ; 
 Let ?plendour guise and tranquil hopes descry. 
 But Elam wanders in simplicity, 
 Their murmurs chace the tigress uncontroul. 
 Her heavinff flood wash'd Ashur's fervid souL
 
 •Ji' THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Again the streams of joy their flow reboundi, 
 And flirts afresh the gentle seasons round ; 
 III meekness fan each beauteous feature place, 
 lii radiance blow of unexampled grace. 
 
 Cicms in the blaze> that Zidon's margin bound, 
 Treni Tyre's rich lap, diffusing gold around; 
 lleserv'd their wealth in burnish'd time serene, 
 Of golden yearS; and purple days between ; 
 Ij.it waft my soul where charms celestial be, 
 And range the borders of eternity. 
 
 Arabia nurst her sons in light profuse. 
 But hoary blight has seized her former views;.
 
 OF GLOIU. 23 
 
 When shall ihe sacred sti-cam of grace expand, 
 Tlie gospel reach, and cheer the drooping land. 
 Across the rolling sands wan sorrow flew, 
 And charg"d the cup with tears infus'd in rue, 
 Excursive range through Edora's orient plains, 
 Where Job, in anguish, wash'd his bleeding veins^ 
 
 Descends a hov'ring cloud of sable light. 
 What awful grandeur trembling views excite; 
 Furling the air in thunderbolts expire, 
 Midst Sinia flamed dash'd unexampled fire, 
 The mountain bids his fluttering sides rebound 
 The trumpet shook 1 how awful, how profound, 
 Israel resume, draw yt)ur assemblage nigh, 
 And grace your fairest hopes on liberty;
 
 21 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Hark ! sounds the voice of God, in thunder boars- 
 Hut IMoscs braves the summit and revers 
 In solcirin awe, and grace, by meekness learns, 
 Obtain the glorious mc;;sage and returns. 
 
 Enchas'd by wortli, Palmira's costly dress 
 Full grandeur center'd in the wilderness ; 
 But age wore tresses of the rustic .flow, 
 When years hung simply, her distingush'd brow,- 
 Resign'd the perquisites of martial reign, 
 
 Aiid travel'd to her native realm asrain. 
 
 blessed land, skies serenely blue, 
 Its lofty flight the stately cedar grew;
 
 OF GLORY. 25 
 
 Wliat charms, embrace fair Edens lovely bow'rs 
 Where love first wedded, in harmonial liours, 
 On the fresh breeze, and trace the winding rills 
 Inhales a fragrance from the fiow'ry hills. 
 Imperial splendour, stamp the vesper ground 
 But admiration paints the landscape round. 
 
 High skirting where romantic views incrust 
 
 Delightful arka dwindles to the dust ; 
 Exulting Tirza, graced in beauty's arms, 
 "l^iie comely mien of Zion's fairer charms, 
 Flush'd from the brow, imperial zephyrs fan'd 
 Waves aye the circuit of fair Canaans land; 
 Unfurls the flowers of love, that virtue grac'd- 
 And blew prcmiscous o'er the drooping wastes
 
 26 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Oil rural seat, imparadis'd between 
 The smiling liiUs, Jerusalem I wccn : 
 O let me range thy lovely vales and sing, 
 And glory waft me with His golden wing. 
 O waft me where the lily, white array 
 The lowly .virgin wept her sighs away, 
 And where sweet odours flush'd in verm'il air 
 Thelovelv rose of Sharon bloom'd so fair, 
 There drink the inspiring sweets exulting round 
 Delights that breath'd amidst etherial ground. 
 Them would I choose, their tranquil signs declare 
 That in description charm the glorious fair ; 
 The pastime oftheir brief desires fulfill 
 A few lost friends to meet on Zion's hill,
 
 OF GLORY. 27 
 
 They grace the happy circlet and do more 
 
 Subjoui their interest to the heavenly shore, 
 
 But shortly, with the bless'd, becomes allied, 
 
 Conducted hither by a heavenly guide. 
 
 Oil come sweet spirit, now to glory haste 
 
 Them wrapt in visions shun'd this gloomy waste, 
 
 Oft have they flew and skim'd the rosied air 
 
 To grace and to partake their heavenly share ; 
 
 And bands of Angels circling at the gate 
 
 W^hile on the verge, etherial emulate. 
 
 And leave to all this little world arrange 
 
 To go and be transpher'd, in heaven exchange, 
 
 Full glories wreath inwcav'd with golden flow'rs 
 
 Shall crown thsir heads, and love their sweetest hours
 
 28 TlViL VICISSITUDES 
 
 Wed to the dust the sparks oflife combin'd 
 FulfiHj their sphere in every social mind 
 They lovely grac'd, who weds to frutli and love 
 And triumphs in etherial realms above. 
 
 Strike, strike the lyre, attune the nuptial lay, 
 Prepare the banquet for eternal day ; 
 Aspire to sounds while over Jordan veer ; 
 And stamp their glory on the distant sphere; 
 Beyond the spiring hills, we have in view. 
 Sweet fields, cnameKd in with azure blue, 
 Diversely shun them, yonder clouds afar, 
 Disperse the hallo of. that sickly star ; 
 ^Icthinks I hear the voice of Angels say 
 To heaven abptre, your long desires repay;
 
 OF GLOUY. 
 
 Pursue your favorite, march, Ah! I'.iither range, 
 Where saints abidC; obtain the glorious change; 
 Who can presume the fair, the matchless show, 
 V/hat strains sublime prc-cmincnlly tlow. 
 Conduct thee where etherial visions fly, 
 Aspire their course, and vanish in the sky. 
 Haste then, O haste, the glorious prize pursue. 
 We'll meet where glory never bids adieu ; 
 I yonder see the vista's opening rr;y, 
 Haste then, my love, and come, cume away. 
 
 Why should my weak, my weak desires control 
 To realms secure, O truth, conduct my soul. 
 Come glory, come, inbraid the gay festoon, 
 Shall lightly traverse aye the golden noon.
 
 sty THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 But far beyonil where blooming Eden stooil 
 
 And skim the surge ^luro Jordan \>lu>ci'd his flood; 
 
 Oiits^/iring wlicre tcrcstial Canaan lay, 
 
 Kilt far tr.insliond ihc unibra<2;c of a dav. 
 
 Like liovoring spheres ofsab:e disk pursue, 
 
 Those tonring liills obstructs this cliarming victv. 
 
 Ill Hght the cooling zephyrs cheerful rose 
 
 Nor worry in the slumbers of repose, 
 
 Cleave to ray soul, O emulate delight, 
 
 Faith lends a smile and distance hails a flight, 
 
 Eut guilt in arr^s whose banners waves impure 
 
 If aught could scrcan the bounds of heaven secure. 
 
 Should dangers leap those rugged stops divide, 
 
 Denounce deHlrt'.clion, Oh on cverv s^de.
 
 OP GLORY. 31 
 
 Fatigue might wave her banners from the spire, 
 And raise the summit of our calm desire, 
 Strangely, nor viewless from the tow'ring plight, 
 The wand ring prospect swoons before my sight ; 
 Sure signs like these contends a diff'rent world, 
 Where all the hidden schemes of life unfurl'd ; 
 Faintly I see outshoots aspiring gleam, 
 Heed near allied to some sequester 'd stream ; 
 And steps upon the rivage of a sigh, 
 To mingle tears in gladness and in joy ; 
 But see that nodding cliff before us rise. 
 And that dull stream beside the desert plyes. 
 
 Compose thy sweetest hopes, O love, compose, 
 
 Sweep off thy fears, nor languish into woes, 
 
 D
 
 S2. THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 But let ethereal life be your's and mine, 
 Impure delights are menac'd by design, 
 'Tis terror rides his vast tremendous car, 
 Whirling his fetters round each bright'ning star, 
 To speak sincere, what aids impartial truth, 
 Expose the fiend of each bewildcr'd youth. 
 Fear not, my love, the doubts that fires around 
 Will be dismiss'd beyond the sphere of bound ; 
 The varied change of life's consuming flow'r 
 Transpos'd its beauties on the fading hour. 
 But through this desert maze, with joy career, 
 Though hidden danger wheels behind despair ; 
 Dispense your fear! why terrors thee affright ? 
 When arm'd with love, the banner of delight ;
 
 OF GLORY. 33 
 
 Ascends in serial spires, a light, though pale, 
 Perceive full glory at a distance hail ; 
 But hark ! the sound, the sound of waters ply, 
 Chacing their rapid's from eternity. 
 Faith's vista open future scenes transpire, 
 That's near the verge, exhillerates desire ; 
 Then draw^ the veil, the joyful realm pursue, 
 
 And tell me what the changeless land construe. 
 
 Invading charms to my admiring eyes. 
 To such delights, O, tell me, sweet surprise ; 
 Transporting scenes, etherial my view. 
 In heaven present, that every charm pursue, 
 Bloom'd like a bride in comely vesture ray'd, 
 Serene, belov'd, celestial, unallay'd.
 
 34 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Where do the fair imperial graces gen>, 
 The beautiful, the new Jerusalem ; 
 Light shone serene, illumed each beauteous face, 
 And 'twas the glory of impartial grace, 
 iHeeds not the light of distant orbs foreborn, 
 Nor single roses from the twilight dawn ; 
 Her canopy espous'd the lucid blue, 
 Her walls compress'd a light, and glorious too,- 
 Of angels guise, O come, fair truth, behold 
 Them braid their crowns of new distinguisli'd gold, 
 \Yho's this from holy Zion's turrets rise, 
 From that bright cloud, effulgent of the skies ; 
 Behold him. move his crown resplcndant shine- 
 In waves of gold, transccndant and divine,.
 
 OF GLORY. '^ S^ 
 
 Exulting round gives tribute to their lays, 
 
 The cherubs lift their sweetest notes to praise, * 
 
 Hark! bursting forth, alternate carols roll, 
 
 Here rapture wafts delight beyond control, 
 
 Sweet is tlie breeze that lifts the cheerful sound, 
 
 Diffusing joy, while glory mus'd around; 
 
 Eut sweeter still should influential prove. 
 
 Wrapt in delight, the near ally to love; 
 
 Express thy heart's desire, and tell me why 
 
 His matchless air espous'd serenity ; 
 
 Ere cross the circle of the passing land, 
 
 But drops a tear on Salem's desert strand. ^rrox * 
 
 Rest thee awhile, before sweet converse greet, ^" 
 
 To cross those waves, we the^n shall glory meet
 
 ^" 
 
 '&. IHE ViCISSITUDES 
 
 I still behold the billows verging near, 
 
 Their verglfig niurniars flutt'ring on my ear. >, u' 
 
 Why doubts prevail ? let courage bear thy part, 
 Why fears caress ? let faith divert thy heart; 
 Why that cold stream beside the desert glide, 
 Alarm my fair one, why my lovely bride? t-" ■r. 
 'Tis courage, hush the storms of battle by, 
 'Tis faith can lash the ocean to the sky, 
 Bear up, my love, we'll shortly land supreme. 
 Nor heed the passing shadows of a dream ; 
 Who's this so glorious, see ray'd in the sun, 
 Who swung the golden morn 'tis heaven begun; 
 Beaming supreme, beside the beaten strand, 
 Hails travellers home, and kindly stretch'd his hand. "A
 
 OF GLORY. 37 
 
 See glory, where the heavenly rays invest, 
 
 Him from the purest realms of love express'd. iiaili 
 
 Celestial born to heaven's high portals fly, 
 Go, freely kindle sweet felicity, 
 Rest your desires, your joys, and happy know, 
 Nor is the tears of anguish seen to flow, nifil A 
 
 Go, gently go, the paths of welcome tread. 
 Presume the way your bleeding hours are fled ; 
 Then draw the veil and heaven presents your view 
 Where earth's fair sons, of princely vesture flew. 
 Where joys imperial flame, where bliss recoils, 
 Where sighs, where tears, they dwindle into smiles, 
 Wade through the dripping waste, and glory trod, 
 Assume the glorious kingdom of your God, ;i bJj^h
 
 3S THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Here bliss, delighted, gives the soul content, 
 Unmlng'ed pleasures, pure and permanent, 
 Here flush the blossoms their unfading plight, 
 Here blooms reflection to sublimer light, 
 Aspire in starry clouds with angels gay, 
 Hush'd in the sweet sublime of heavenly day; 
 But grace the scene where charms of glory be, 
 'Tis but to reap the fruits of piety ; 
 No more shall pleasure ever cease to shine, 
 And terror cease wliere glory sits divine.
 
 THE VICISSITUDES OF GI.ORY. 
 
 BOOK 11.
 
 ANALYSIS OX THE SECOND BOOK. 
 
 This book configurates briefly the commotions lately 
 presiding over Europe, winding through the glorious 
 days of Nelson, and succeeding exploits. — Napoleon's 
 excursion to Moscow, co-operating with the disap- 
 pointment and failure he there met with. — His distress. 
 — The shattered remains of his army. — The combina- 
 tion of Europe, and invincible army under the Duke of 
 Wellington, to their famous entry into Paris. — The 
 battle of Waterloo.— The final termination of the War. 
 — A description of battle, with its sad appearance, and 
 consequences attending, to the blessing of peace.
 
 THE VlCISSiTUDES OF GLOllY. 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 Arms, fiery contest! arms, in dire affrain, 
 
 Hence mingled Europe led the martial reign, 
 
 But hov'ring 'midst where drifting storms convene, 
 
 While uncontrolling billows roll between ; 
 
 What they presume in storms of warlike dance> 
 
 tip beats the general, and to arms advance; 
 
 But wint'ring on the waves of long delay, 
 
 Sweeps off the severing mountains and away ; 
 
 E
 
 -H THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 C'ontrasting move they, martial, for repast, 
 But some commcrg'tl in glory for the last ; 
 Their chief repast is glory, nor refrain, 
 Rift over lands, but Nelson braved tlie main ; 
 Siiil warm, like them, in circling bamls enlist, 
 But few in search of glory ere dismist, 
 Supplies their ranks, nor could dismissive yield, 
 Fulls from their posts and slumber in the field; 
 Love smiles on liberty, by fraught desire, 
 ■While courage guides his own imprided ire, 
 la conflict wander Europe's lordly sphere. 
 But France the subject of the long career. 
 
 While mutt'ring on the waves in fiery breath, 
 Wheels through the circle of reverted death;
 
 OF GLORY. "■ 46 
 
 Although the sparks of life might be survised 
 Yet in the arms of sympathy disguis'd, 
 Fair child of sympathy, and braver he, 
 Who courts alliance with humanity, 
 His sacred blood flows where Trafalgar meet, 
 Dut drew the veil in victory complete, 
 Unfading name, to honour's grandeur blaze, 
 Cut Nelson blossoms in immortal days. 
 
 Ah, valiant youths, no terrors thee alarm, 
 But strides the furling billows to a calm; 
 The glaze of honour brightens in their eyes, 
 Nor once retir'd, unless they chained the pri»e, 
 Nor British valour ever cease to reign, 
 Unless their blood expires in every vein.
 
 .IG THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 From morn till sunset, evening's calm repose, 
 And bids Aurora draw the dawning close ; 
 In rattling storms, contending for alarm, 
 And blights full glory on the noonday calm ; 
 Death combats life, who wrestles for the tomb, 
 Terestial pleasure vanish'd in the gloom, 
 Some in repose might dream their exit nigh, 
 And render future hopes to piety ; 
 For they the change of glory might condcre, 
 And languish in the trance of life's career, 
 They feel the waves of death around them flow, 
 They feel the breeze to life's eternal blow, 
 What fled to glory ? where is glory sure ? 
 The march to glory, where they part no more.
 
 OF GLORY. 47 
 
 The flights of opulence, and grandeur new, 
 Impel"d in fire, and from its light withdrew; 
 Oerwi elm'd with power, ambition snaps the chain, 
 But, Hke the vestage, in their own remain ; 
 Deterni'd and chac'd, excursion far away, 
 Career's the fiery march in hostile day ; 
 Presumes in Russia's fiir decisive strand, 
 But aye the conquest of a northern land. 
 Completes the files of long arrangements made, 
 Nurst for the field in armaments array'd ; 
 Forth to Moscow discards a wond'rous host. 
 And seas of blood expended in the cost. 
 
 The scourge of this defeat Napoleon claims, 
 And vibrates where the spiling of the flames.
 
 43 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Bui aye from lience his scatt'ring forces led, 
 Through piercing wilds, where nature daily fled, 
 In snow's eternal drift the desert moor, 
 "Why practice worried paths unus'd before, 
 But wore the rugged mask of battle preen, 
 Vv'hcre Cossacks march'd from intervals between, 
 Successive rallies shudders their alarms, 
 Death sues the victory by repeated arms, 
 But flings a ling'ring smile upon the gra\'e, 
 To be dismist, the only charm they crave, 
 Wreck'd on the winding maze in life's career, 
 Left to the wielding tortures of despair, 
 Fair nature swoon*,, while deadly slumbers rose, 
 And hug'd the snow-down pillows for repose,
 
 OF GLOKY. 49 
 
 Lays fluU'ring down and eager sleep peitbrm, 
 But nature shortly vanisih'd in the storm, 
 Expos'd in all the fires of torturd blast, 
 Depriv'd from cov'ring, soon the vale was cast, 
 Destin'd to rove and cleave untimely dooms, 
 'Midst bleeding snows unhallow'd for their tombs 
 
 Alike, if fraught with blood, the clouds be found, 
 Bleed in suffuse, and stain the landscape round ; 
 Surprised, alas, but what might strangely be, 
 In looks presume, as in reality, 
 Weeping upon a winter of distress, 
 Lost earthly joy and famisli'd in excess ; 
 Pleas'd near the vestage, to some village rise, 
 Allur'd awhile, but trembled in disguise ;
 
 50 tiil: vicissitudes 
 
 Peeps in the grave, but still the vitals prone, 
 
 What ilrooping nature scarcely calls her own ; 
 
 To gr sp the little food so long desired, 
 
 Stretch'd forth their trembling hands, and then expir'd. 
 
 Let frenzy rife, or rival, or dismay, 
 Napoleon visits fate's decisive day, 
 What frights thee to the flames where INIoscow Iiurl'd 
 Forced in the traces of a strolling world. 
 Can glory chime the worries of defeat, 
 They wander for Smolensko to retreat, 
 Dead was the march, how desperate tlieir fate, 
 Weens nothing less than terror could relate; 
 Intestine rallies vibrate on the foe, 
 Ingrave disasterous on the crimson snow,
 
 OF GLORY. 5\ 
 
 But strides where Beressina's water bound, 
 Where sighs must flutter to the purling sound ; 
 Can flight enchase a crown, a conqueror's fate, 
 If bound for glory why dissimulate, 
 Sledg'd closely where Smorgoni mingles light, 
 Surmounting Paris in the clouds of night, 
 Dire to his fate, deserts in crimes abject. 
 His few remaining forces partly wreck' d, 
 Dreams of despair, or languish to complain. 
 But scarce a vestage of the clans remain ; 
 The venal current of fair nature freeze, 
 And carries death upon the fatal breeze. 
 
 From powers injoin'd the general march began, 
 Combin'd for peace with Britain weaves a wan ;
 
 li THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 What to commeiTd tlie valiant sons ofpriJe, 
 
 Pursue the war on every martial side ; 
 
 Arm'd ! Britons arm'd ! where grandeur led the day, 
 
 In glory's little field, how gallant play, 
 
 In co.Mflict heft, and struck the spiring vane, 
 
 Britannia echoes Europe's vast domain, 
 
 The bearing conflict bleeds on German ground, 
 
 The fields of Ludzen, and Vicinal round ; 
 
 Wind up the general and dismiss the foe, 
 
 Napoleon wanders in the films of woe. 
 
 Why frenzy widen as the gloom dispires, 
 
 And clouds while hovering over Dresden's spires? 
 
 V^'hy on the blast the blossoms shed dismay ? 
 
 Why shrink or dwindle through a winter's day?
 
 OF GLORY. ;13 
 
 Distinguish d peace ami harmony dcscrr, 
 Who sweeps the plains in quest of liberty. 
 Depart disunion ! why should tumults harm ? 
 In peace exchange a tempest for a calm. 
 Yet, hovering near the clouds of death prevail, 
 In bleeding showers the bickring storms bewail, 
 While Leipsic mourn, and horror spreads disgui.-e 
 The crimson murmur, as Napoleon flies, 
 Or value dreams the visions of repose, 
 'Ciin'd to pursue, till conquest haiis a close, 
 In shouts of victory heft the wlnd'ring lance, 
 Impel'd the force, and pierc'd the shield of France. 
 
 What they in fortune attitudes relate, 
 In pomp of battle to the germs of fate,
 
 ft4 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Who claim peculiar days, by victory done, 
 
 And call the valiant home to Wellington, 
 
 In crimson tears. Why, oh, my heart, give vent, 
 
 The shuddering views that Waterloo present ; 
 
 Lost from the sight in purple streams around. 
 
 In streams that v.ander on foreboding ground, 
 
 The stars by nature brighten in the stain. 
 
 Would seem to give repose to every vein ; 
 
 But nearer to the glooms of bleeding light, - 
 
 Oppos'd the melting features of delight ; 
 
 The scenes that war presume, there let me pause, 
 
 There let me search dissension's bleeding cause, 
 
 My weary though.ts would rove, would further trace, 
 
 Where calls Britannia out to wars' embrace,
 
 OF GLORY. 5 
 
 Sure rolled from the films of light combine, 
 Sure Talavera and AlmeaJa join, 
 Give they a flush, a grandeur, aye, the rose 
 Discerns a fervour in the bud disclose, 
 Dissending whirls the light in hostile rounds, 
 The blooming charms of nature rudely wounds, 
 The rose, the thistle, to the sliamrock green, 
 But weaves a union to the glorious scene, 
 The blaze to martial pride the victor claim, 
 And Cuidad,* when resign'dto British fame, 
 Call realms aside for nearer 'ploits outreach. 
 And shouts amidst the wrangles of the breach ; 
 
 r 
 
 * Cuidad Roderigo. 
 
 F
 
 56 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 When pleasing hope, in smiling views, condcre, 
 
 And vvind'rlng through a world of painted air, 
 
 Mercv imposed, and vengeance flash'd in ire, 
 
 Verging in smoke, an J dipt their rays in firc^ 
 
 Storms bickering aye, Badajoz hostile bent. 
 
 In thunder bursting from the battlement ; 
 
 Rock'd in disguise, where rattling storms rebound, 
 
 And Salamanca vibrates to the sound, 
 
 Oft midst rebounding shouts in victory shine, 
 
 WouH think that strife would end, and wars decline; 
 
 Envy again resumes the vital breeze, 
 
 Bleeds from Vittoria to the Pyrcnnees, 
 
 And bear through envys long decisive frown, 
 
 Presume to chain the reins of battle down,
 
 OF GLORY. ^7 
 
 The conflict blaze where Orthes list for peace, 
 And victory smile the wars in Thoulouse cease. 
 
 Joy they pursue, exulting, from the war, 
 But visit Paris in the victor's car; 
 Peace ..i rough the pleasing calms of glory sail, 
 And braided laurels strew'd along ihe vale, 
 To nourish peace and call the murmurs by, 
 To sheath their swords nor flash upon the sky. 
 Who then could term the passions mere pretence, 
 In truth be called the gems of eloquence ? 
 Ah, gallant they, in trains of victory sought 
 Lit hy the stars in burnish'd radiance frauglit 
 From war bequeath the trophies of renown, 
 And peace but covers glory on a frown,
 
 5S THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 The spavks of honouv brightens to a fl.imc, 
 On Britain's dearer land, endorsed eternal fame. 
 
 And to a land where glory long ouUhone, 
 Grace, in her full admiring features, blown, 
 For England's little strand their wish detain, 
 And wind the torrents of a stormy main, 
 Induc'd by pleasure into scenes of love, 
 Grac'd where the circle in full grandeur move ; 
 V/hcnee blooming seasons fleet their gay profound^ 
 And beauty gilds the skirts of nature round ; 
 
 Vrho then but nature gives a vernal blush ^ 
 
 Where roses bloom in elegance a flush. 
 In beauty's fairer charms that most endear, 
 And love that measures Britain's kingly sphere,
 
 OF GLORY. $,9 
 
 Why them, the waves of contrast, their's impart, 
 
 Alliance wins her glory in the heart ; 
 
 And link eternal union to the chain, 
 
 Uarii^al'd pleasure held the princely train, 
 
 Who then but peace the palms of grandeur fiin^, 
 
 And emulation circle in the ring, 
 
 To honour's call the sta's of glory burn, 
 
 But grace a short lived visit to return.* 
 
 Napoleon mov'd where Elba's Isle arrange, 
 And there resignd a kingdom in exchange ; 
 Foreboding thought, unfurl the changing scene, 
 llemembrance sad, but draws a gloom between, 
 
 * The Emperor of Russia, &c. their visit ia England,
 
 CO I'lIE VICISSITUDi:S 
 
 Nurst by the clouds and like disastrous movp, 
 Or from tlie trance of grandeur seem to rovo. 
 From Elba to St. Helena convene, 
 But not converu d \\iihout: a storm between. 
 And vanish d by the vespers ofdisinay, 
 Save in the tomb that spurns the face of day. 
 
 When hovering memory weeps upon the si^ht, 
 Wlicn glooms by morning revel In .the night, 
 Or when the charms of piety depart, 
 Or when contrition bleeds upon the heart ; 
 What power can draft or paint the battle just. 
 Could on destruction fix eternal trust; 
 What povv'r can cliain the liostile murmurs down^ 
 Wlmt mortal art suppress war's bickering frawn.
 
 OF GLORY, 61 
 
 In wars defy the charge by threatning force, 
 Oft veer and traverse to a lifeless course ; 
 Charm'd to suppress ambition, chain their heart, 
 Embrace the ficlil, but few are seen to part. 
 Flash'd were the serenade in lij^htning wield, 
 Here Prusssia and Brittania take the field, 
 ilound glory smiles amidst disportive arms, 
 Shouts at the fore repeated by alarms, 
 Like charg'd in storms of lightning balls unrol, 
 Bevond unusual sallies of controul, 
 Checkering alternate rounds in peals affi'ont, 
 Deserted towns and trembling Hougoumont, 
 By their retires Perflates the landscape through^ 
 But found their batUcraents in Waterloo;-
 
 (ij THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Tlie hort:.o, near frantic, 'midst the mnrtinl fires. 
 And kick'd the wounded from then- sad retires. 
 Reclining grief bows in a weeping plight, 
 The union of a Brunswick still unite. 
 Conjoins like them in fire of glory ftll, 
 Delancv, Gordon, and a Picton, toll. 
 How many reft in twain the vital tie, 
 How many dwindled to eternity, 
 How many left their friends in frantic woe, 
 How many left to search compass^ ion flow, 
 How many offsprings left in anguish dire, 
 How many left to weep their parted sire, 
 How many rack'd by grief, in tears reply. 
 And swell the passions of humanity
 
 OF GLORY. G3 
 
 Wars calm thy tempest, calm thy broatlung strlfL'', 
 In mercy's ear the wounded sue for life, 
 Spent with fatigue repos'd them to a dream, 
 Flutt'ring with pain by starts in slumber scream ; 
 What if to wake and find their woes expire, 
 A foretaste for the regions of desire ! 
 What if to sue for peace and prize the day, 
 In songs of love, where slumber dies away, 
 And peace to *him the claims of bravery sume> 
 Chain d the manubial letter to the tomb ; 
 Caress'd by fortune and to wars inspir'd, 
 Were now but to a distant world retir'd ; 
 
 • Bluchfp.
 
 C-1 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 A little while embrac'd in nature's bound, 
 And labours hard to wlieel the circle round, 
 Life forms a desert chain d upon the mind, 
 Crost where its wildered shadow aye design'd, 
 Oidain'd to stamp contrition on the soul, 
 Prepared to meet where strife no more controuT. 
 
 Assemble now ye valiant and renown'd, 
 'Tis now where rests the fixte, or victory crown'd. 
 Assemble now and range the waiting plains, 
 And fire the ardour of your blazing veins. 
 Let fortitude arrange each partial sigh ; 
 Nor let exausted courage formal die. 
 Ambition gives to fortitude his due; 
 And glory braves fresh courage on the view.
 
 OF GLORY. U 
 
 To honours birth adjusting valour claim, 
 
 'Tis valour stamps immutable to tame, 
 
 Fame courts delight 'tis honour weds renown, 
 
 Brave courage up, and wrangles for a crown, 
 
 Oft have you skird the verge where danger side, 
 
 And hardships wreck'd the chains of martial pride. 
 
 But once again we meet the thundring blast, 
 And stamp eternal honours on the past, 
 The servile feuds, we'll scan, then whet your swords, 
 Wrest on the foe, and glory you rewards 
 Heave up your keener soul and dare alarms, 
 Victorious yield yourselves in glory's arms. 
 For strengtl' and valour, fortitude or aught. 
 Let Heaven bequest your aim in battle fraught ;
 
 CO THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 'Tisbut from thence where rest fiom war distends, 
 Present your vows to Heaven, 'tis God defends, 
 
 Hark, Hark, strike forth the trumpet, dire alarms, 
 Arms! Arms! my men, my gallant men, to arras ! 
 See prancing forth the Horse unrival'd rcign'd 
 Iiv.p.T.icnt gives repose when music strain'd, 
 HIi sprightly race and charm'd his list'ning ear, 
 Vvind'ring amidst the croud his cute career; 
 In ample strength, l!ie glory of his ire, 
 Snuft up the blaze and breath'd in lurid fire, 
 Awakes, the powder burst, when terrors flash'd 
 And in the clouds of Death repulsive dashM 
 Evasive balls — when from the drciulCul blaze, 
 Outbraves the musket eyes them as they gaze.
 
 OF GLOKY. Q/ 
 
 And, 'midst the fiery blast, tremendous left, 
 When dangers felt the carnage dread, bereft^ 
 Vituperable, spurn'd the fetid cloud, 
 The gaping bomb forced out, invidious proud, 
 His dire remain, impeal the thundering sound, 
 Evinc'd ; and scatter d seeds of death profound. 
 Then starting led the *rocket dirging feign'J 
 The world aside, nor love nor freedom stain'd, 
 But in the dreadful siege of death surpass, 
 Destruction speeds around — what more, alas ! 
 When canon hove his direous progeny 
 Come thundering from the dreadful scenery, 
 
 Congreve's Rocket* 
 
 Q
 
 68 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Kor atom left secure, the jjeneral «reclc, 
 DiJath chews insatiate down; not horrors check 
 The furbish'd spear, the axe, and aincld dirk, 
 Butguloh between they to the vitals lurk ; 
 Bleeding revenge, till every pyring vein 
 Was strangely drain'd upon the verging plain. 
 
 What next ? alas ! the hopeless veins forlorn, 
 
 'Twas horror checkM the rising bloom of morn. 
 
 Fair hope the golden rule with patience sieze 
 Who wrapt their souls, congenial to the breeze ; 
 The plaintive airs of life ineander trills 
 In purple streams wheels flutt'ring to the rills, 
 Stangply indeed outwhirls the stage of day, 
 The winding march, the pouring life away.
 
 OF GLORY. .. tJ9 
 
 Methinks I hear, congratulating, nigli, 
 
 riie voice of one half mingled with a sigh, 
 
 Bathes in the crimson fount of mingled blood, 
 
 Midst heaps, alas ! wrapt in the gory flood. 
 
 Ere the last spark extinct, and nature fade, 
 Would some kind friend pursue relenting aid ; 
 
 Bereav'd amidst the sounds of martial grief, 
 
 Suppress'd with wounds, and bleeding for relief; 
 
 Dut in the giddy swoons their visions led, 
 
 Where purple gore lay huddled for their bed, 
 
 Sighs for their music, in the daylight keep, 
 
 And o'er the mantle of the evening weep; 
 
 Bravely they fought, flush'd in the morning rose, 
 
 Till weary nature hug'd to soft repose,
 
 70 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Diversely round the hov'ring blast expand, 
 
 And cropt the finest blossom of the land, 
 
 Sure pity, then with undesembled pride ; 
 
 Might claim the garb that o'er the night preside. 
 
 Compassion lends the sunshine of her heart, 
 
 And light obtain what Heaven by love impart, 
 
 "What scenes presume, distinguish'd to recite 
 
 Jn sounds of glory, kings exchange delight. 
 
 Secretely spire the star's, meridian blaze, 
 
 And in the tomb, consign remaining days; 
 
 Puft on the nind the seeds of sorrow fall. 
 
 Fate yields increase, but envy squanders all, 
 
 Ambition flings her mists on boding spires, 
 
 And breathes a gloom while life and hope expires;"'
 
 OF GLORY. n 
 
 Exulting peace, aids waning tumults by, 
 
 They bore the scourge, but held thew- banners high,, 
 
 The secret sting of love's unblossoni'd age, 
 
 The mystic sting that checks, nor aught assuage, 
 
 A friendly sigh o'erwhelming thought beguile, 
 
 Despos'd their tears, nor could invent a Siaile ; 
 
 Whose lowly minds on future glories riv'n, 
 
 FuUill their days, and be dismist for Heaven, 
 
 Tor they who once the fairer graces wove, ,^ 
 
 Tiieir lives resign'd to be transpos'd in hive ; , f^ 
 
 D'smist, thy search for realms m glory due, 
 
 Nor urg'd the passing day from whence they flc\v, 
 
 To amity, love's iiolden chain suspends, / 
 
 Sweet is the converse with endearing friends ;
 
 •fO 
 
 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Friends, and whose cUain encircles aye the sky, 
 And social love the charms of araity ; 
 But they possess'd what truth and virtue gave, 
 And germs beyond the margin of the grave. 
 
 But further, where the realms of virtue rove, 
 Veil'd in disguise, the lost control of love, 
 Methinks I hear a lovely virgin sigh, 
 Awaits to flight the transit of the sky ; 
 Receding hope deforms her cheerful pride 
 When promis'd youth from earthly love divide;. 
 An heavenly bloom adorn'd her lowly mien, 
 And tells my heart, that virtue shone serene,^^ 
 Let passion give the tearless murmurs vent,. 
 Converse with grief, or weep to languishment..
 
 OF GLORY. 73 
 
 Corae, sweet relief, the pangs ofserrow close 
 Dissolve her tears, and vend her heart repose ; 
 True, 'tis delight that feeds the vital stream, 
 In various changes of life's little dream ; 
 Aurora speeds with roses, oft have strewn 
 The golden site, wide aye the mountains blewn. 
 Lit by the Sun, the flush to morning air, 
 Fades in the rays when light do disappear. 
 Soon love's bright flow'r might languish and descry, 
 Exchange her hue and droop beneath the sky ; 
 In cheerful guise she knits the fair costume, 
 But scarcely seen, her beauteous rose in bloom, 
 Her boding sun, refracting in the show'r, 
 Inhales the splendour of this lovely flow'r j
 
 74 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 And withering: falls, skips on ilic whirling blast, 
 Iler drooping leaves reverts their swaet repast ; 
 When time dissolves, this wasting earth decay, 
 Still rest her soul, where trouble dies away. 
 
 Ah ! lost in woe, her vvith'ring mein declare, 
 Here pleasure weave the mantle of despair, 
 Resolv'd to thought, expressive in desire 
 Dismist her exit, dash'd the mystic fire; 
 The vitals loosM, they tremble by the heart, 
 And hears the music, when the chain depart, 
 This ]):;iintivesong, unravel'd from her tongue 
 And in receding airs simplissive sung.
 
 OF GLORY. 75 
 
 Farewell, dear youth, farewell ; ere hence I strove. 
 Shall I but meet thee in the sphere of love; 
 My day will soon be shut, whose fading sun, 
 Bleeds in the shade, but shortly will be done, 
 Hai-k, them, the wispers, to my ear complain, 
 Bids me, in haste, haste, to a heavenly plain; 
 Whence, to retreat, each pleasing call renew, 
 Attend my soul the glorious feat pursue, 
 See, glory smiles, aspiring far away, 
 See, concord vibrates in exulting day. 
 Unmingled truth no more shall vent a sigh 
 In that pure realm of calm serenity, 
 Suppressed with love the feuds of sad relief. 
 Has over-iwoln my heart by constant grief.
 
 70 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Prude to exclaim, the sacred page unrol, 
 The sweeter pastime of the parting soul ; 
 Ally'd from Heaven, impressive moments dear, 
 Dear to my heart ye sons of love confere, 
 Pours from my eyes, of streams empurpled flow 
 The bitter tears of love congeal'd in woe. 
 In this frail hour, by floating anguish tost 
 lias swell'd my fears and true delights are lost, 
 In all the pleasing charms that life present, 
 Nor cease my heart to bleed in languishment. 
 Oh rest, my Soul, before itiy eyelids close. 
 In that deep sleep, the sleep, of long repose; 
 Would some kind muse celestial songs attest 
 Swell the sweet tenor to my floating breast,
 
 OF GLOItY, 77 
 
 A. few more days, will glory lift his veil, 
 Sweet vifws present, the views of Heaven prevail 
 A few moie daj's, then every grace restoie, 
 And cross the transit to a smiling shore ; 
 Crown'd with delight, those finer scenes pourtra; 
 When love shall meet, and glory strews the vray 
 
 Bear on, ye little days, your narrow bounds, 
 But are like shadows, change to annual rounds. 
 Oh wars ! why not thy fiery terrors cease, 
 And calm your hostile murmers into peace. 
 Methinks I view'd her pass where joys unfold, 
 Trim'd in the spangles of unfading gokl, 
 Where glory carols to her festal lays, 
 Exulting in the smiles of happy days ;
 
 78 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Amus'd she wauders in the sj.heio of love, 
 And claims of high pre-eminence above.
 
 THE VICISSITI DES OF GLORY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 II
 
 ANALYSIS ON THE THIRD BOOK» 
 
 What contributes principally in the Third Book, or 
 in expression denotes the sweets of solitude, or the 
 beauty of a consecrated and a studious mind.— The 
 emphasis of pleasure wrapt in the waves of death.— 
 The pressure of a fettered mind, through impiety, 
 tossed on the waves of oblivion, but revived by tlis 
 blessed animation of light. — VVarm'd in the rays' of 
 heaven. — Passing, by desire of faith, from tl.e celestial 
 bodies, to the regions of ineffable joy. — Love, and it* 
 effects. — Its career closed in eternity. — The flowery- 
 scenes of nature to the glory of a summer's evening.
 
 THE VICISSITl'DES OF GLORY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Sweet summer, come, thy vivid charms empire,. 
 The emblems of ambrosial smiles inspire, 
 Scatter the gay festoon of sweetest flowers, 
 That studious youths induce their sprightly hours, 
 Where forest laughs, his waving features cast, 
 Their souls delighting in the shaded past; 
 Comely in youthful days, and lowly be, 
 Tlie gentle passion of huraility.^
 
 84 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Then stay in sweet gublime, O glory, stay, 
 And hokl, in sounds to consecrating day» 
 Etherial pry where love more sweetly be, 
 Link'd to the circling chains of amity , 
 The sera past of mingled years a few, 
 Lost true delights, and sung their last adieu, 
 By swoons indulg'd, the change in life outbrave, 
 Bereaved of love and languish for the grave; 
 Faced to a winter blast the roses move, 
 Dtspair excites, and bids the graces rove, 
 But sable night fades in the morning blaze, 
 And winter glooms are lost in summer days, 
 Phccbeus himself leaps out the landscape views, 
 Inhaled in misty clouds the liquid dews.
 
 OF GLORY. 85 
 
 Fondly caress'd by admiration rare, 
 Sweet coincidence renders pleasure dear. 
 Cheerful they ope the gates of social liglit, 
 Hail in the beauteous summer of delight, 
 Their breach to short liv'd hope on heaven condere. 
 And carols love with cherubs in fhe rear, 
 Bind heaven secure in amity conjoin, 
 And Jove that renders special bliss divine, 
 But envy flings his boding mists awhile, 
 And clouds the beauteous features of a smile. 
 
 Presenting fears obsequious omen met, 
 Danc'd in the ring, and intreduced regret, 
 Extinguish'd joy, pale omen, prudely steeps, 
 Despairing lovCj while mirth and rapture weeps,
 
 S6 THE VTCISSITUDES 
 
 Peace and ck'light assumed contrition care, 
 To scent. s like tliese would wander iind forbear, 
 Time bi.-ckons hard, and must sincerely tell. 
 What jiiercing anguish on their bosoms fell; 
 Fair sprightly form of sweet engaging mien. 
 Her grace refined to elegance unseea; 
 Ah, loveliest she, a beauteous daughter rept, 
 Life's fatal string, and she for glory wept. 
 Ere Eve assumed her mantled lowly cr«st, 
 Ere the bright sunbeam mingles in the west ; 
 Illustrious sire, begirt the waves upros3, 
 And floats in exit. Ere the twilight close. 
 Closely pursued, each drops unnumbered tears, 
 Spruce with the tide, eternity reveres,
 
 OF GLORY. 87 
 
 From friendly sight they for the tomb contend, 
 And treads the verge, a daughter and her friend. 
 
 Responsive let my song familiar trill, 
 What though each drooping heart lies bleeding still 
 To vanish bliss in the extremes of light, 
 Or value pleasure by its luring flight, 
 Oh, ranging youth, fulfil thy joys replete, 
 Be heavenly sounds, thy tenor, thy retreat, 
 Heed thy delight, fair science, spouse lo w it, 
 The charms of virtue mingle, nor transmit. 
 Wake then to calm repose, tliy friendly sleep, 
 Child of renown, what bids thy courage weep? 
 Is it that cheeiless hopes can aye deform, 
 While rudely press'd, bewilder'd in the storm.
 
 88 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Could not thy sleepless aid give no relief, 
 
 To waves contending from the streams of grief, 
 
 Hopeless, why In the storms of midnight share, 
 
 Fate triumphs in the regions of despair, 
 
 Rifting away then to the weeping hour, 
 
 By winding storms, contending in the show'r,' 
 
 But fault'ring oft, a sound in anguish braves. 
 
 Obstreperous wheels upon the lifting waves,. 
 
 The morn resumes, nor yet the wreck discetn'd 
 
 Lost to the slumbers where the darkness spurn'dj 
 
 Tlien veil thy spleen, let sad dejection mourn, 
 
 Plough the fair circle of a calm return. 
 
 Cutbrav'd the banners of the dreary breeze,. 
 But claims a visit on snbliraer seas.
 
 OF GLORY. 89 
 
 Caress the ranging paths of cloudless tears, 
 And waste the period of liis happy years, 
 Ilcsolved to march where realms of h'ght disphjy, 
 Espouse the riiing beauties of the day, 
 Full glory trims the margin of renown, 
 The margin that voluptuous glory crown, 
 The eyehds, flatt ring, winds the azure vale, 
 Unravel through infinity's wide sail. 
 
 But flushd in view, the ecrial lights above, 
 Where all the ranging paths in glory strove, 
 Expression dipt her plumes In nature die, 
 Pourtrays the beauteous image of the sky^ 
 Stupendous wisdom of etherial power^ 
 We live in wonders still to wonder more,
 
 90 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 By roses deem tlic flush to morning flow, 
 Diversely pending aye the purple bow, 
 The sun his features bright in morn career*. 
 And drops his beams upon the twilight tears, 
 To scenes sublime like these my heart exul* 
 View Sol's fair crest, reflecting beautiful. 
 What should in frowns beset fair nature's day, 
 When pleasing joy and rapture dies away ? 
 
 Pale Luna swims an air of meekness preen, 
 Her silver locks, her placid lowly mien, 
 'Midst the fair spangles of empurpled light. 
 The checquer'd clouds obscure serener light. 
 Stars far remote in asther rolling high, 
 Like little suns address the evening sky,
 
 OF GLORY. n 
 
 Each distant world revolving in their reign, 
 Exchange their course, but swim their native main, 
 But view the golden transit glory trace. 
 And flew amidst the worlds of endless space, 
 Then draw the veil in heaven eternal be, 
 Transpose my -weary soul to extacy. 
 
 Elherial joy fulfil, nor shun recluse. 
 Oh, spend a tear, exchanging with the muse, 
 'Tis grace that follows each delightful part, 
 Oh, let my song familiar wed thy heart, 
 Then give to full delight her lovely due. 
 Subjoin a sweet contrast with glory too ; 
 Go, rove the cheerful paths in love's extreme, 
 
 To distant regions, matchless and supreme, 
 
 I
 
 92 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Shall traverse by the worlds of boundless show, 
 Shall love, and be delighted as we go, 
 Shall spire on waves of glory to the last, 
 Grace weaves a chaplet for the sweet repast. 
 Far lift above the clouds of dusky vale, 
 From sether pure the golden orbs inhale; 
 But far the intervals that parted there, 
 Behind them left a heaven superbly fair, 
 Lost to the purple where could purple vie, 
 Could none compress, the purest is the sky-, 
 'Tis redolence with roses strew'd the scene. 
 When lovers weep to glory joys replene, 
 How beautiful would melt my joys in tears, 
 "\Miat transport flow, flows in my heart, my cars,
 
 OF GLORY. $i 
 
 Perpetual joj', O, cleave my parting soul, 
 Prepared for flight, why should T hear control; 
 Shall we not hold sweet converse with delight, 
 In heaven 8 blest language, O serenely bright; 
 Tell mt what more the lavisii'd wish desire, 
 To charm the fancy and the mind inspire, 
 
 Ere heaven discloses, ere the sound begin, 
 Ere bliss supreme, ere joys etherial win, 
 Fulfils a destined march of days, though fc^v, 
 Ere hence we bid this little world adieu; 
 And heaven familiarized the sweet employ, 
 As what might render bliss eternal joy. 
 Or the exhalted charms of love defend, 
 And trace affection to its utmost end.
 
 94 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 What to the heart in fond embrace consign'd, 
 Exulting love, the sunshine of the mind, 
 Kor weeping pleasure aids a short repose, 
 Should love exchange delight for ruthless woes, 
 Trf"ue in the fairest hopes of friendship dear, 
 Corjoin'd in social bands assemblage fair ; 
 Soon might a hov'ring cloud suppress the light, 
 And sweep the hours of pleasure from their sight, 
 But he ne'er loves foreboding bannat wait, 
 Complacent to the attitudes of fate ; 
 Hides on the car in freedom's guise displaj", 
 Wading the rifted seas of martial day. 
 Elated by parental cares and smiles, 
 Decides with love in breach that honour stiles,
 
 OF GLORY. ^ 
 
 Realming the sacred band, the social tie, 
 Bids each prelude of faint delusien die. 
 
 Kind be the words, expression lends a charm, 
 Love, in sweet influence, banquets there a calm, 
 Have seen her flight, where flow'rs their odours glide.. 
 Where lilies range, and roses deem their pride, 
 Careering there, nor with deluding art, 
 But love entwines her tendrils on the heart ; 
 Prelusive o'er the hills of gladness pry, 
 Awaits to hear the blackbird sweetly sigh, 
 Full hopes in love to meet, sweet sentence hail, 
 What from the beauteous image could avail ; 
 Awake my heart, nor in deep slumbers roll, 
 Nor check the rising embers of my soul,
 
 9« THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 'Twas weav'd by love, the chaplet and the grace, 
 "Where roses buds, and, flush'd in love's embrace, 
 'Twas side where lilies blew, delightful hour, 
 And bsauty sparkles in the vermil shower, 
 Haste then, O ha^te, O lovely morning haste, 
 Nor sluill 1 wander in' the lonely waste; 
 But through the flowery meads shall thither rove, 
 
 And hail Hie candour of endearing love. 
 
 The full delighted sphere of union sure, 
 Alliance deems divinely and secure, 
 Wist love's fair streams, where murmurs carols by, 
 Kor flings a sable wave upon the sky, 
 From "\'ista's opening view, by nature preen, 
 Through pur^^ie scenes love ranged in air serene,
 
 OF GLORY. 97 
 
 Embrace the cool repast where lovers meet, 
 
 Range waving shades, their calm, their tranquil seat^ 
 
 Neat their repast, but sweeter pastime roll, 
 
 Inspire, delights, interminate the soul, 
 
 On aught sublime, their sweeter converse drew,. 
 
 llemc'mbeis.Iiim wlio foimed the uzure blue,. 
 
 Nor aided grace, to lift her neat costume, 
 
 In purple flaunt, and, dancing in the plume^ 
 
 Her lover there embrac'd by fond delight, 
 
 And pure affection chaiu'd tlieir raded plight, 
 
 lliv'd to the hilli their wand'ring summits spread^ 
 
 '^Midst wildering spires, v?hile through a forest led, 
 
 There lift their cheerful hearts in songs profound, 
 
 And sung the wonders of the landscape round,
 
 9S THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 When fading light in dusky hue comprcss'd, 
 And day retire presents a sable crest, 
 Ketire in calms replene the breezes few, 
 Home print the way and braced the near adieuj 
 To the fair image of the mind accost, 
 
 When silent thoughts are in reflection lost. 
 
 Adica, from love but meets embrace again,. 
 Orient yon orb resumes his lovely reign, 
 What if bereaved the lovelier sphere concide, 
 Deem pleasure nought, and death their only pride, 
 Taint from the rainbow variate the show'r. 
 Fair Elenora, beauteous as the flower, 
 Expands her blossoms round, and love as frcC; 
 Her kingly Edward, and a lover he,
 
 OF GLORY. 99 
 
 Ner yet congeals not where the arrow tare 
 How did she lavish out the poison there, 
 Methinks I hear, in times of pleasure say, 
 The parted venom suck'd it quite away, 
 Exalted on the breeze, sweet odours flow, 
 From bounds where loves impartial roses grow, 
 At stedfast gaze the flush now fainter grew, 
 Lost in the sight, and cross'd upon the view, 
 Successive roll the hours of sweet surprise, 
 A lowly mind that's where the beauty lies ; 
 Unclouded through the purest realms of peace. 
 The tranquil seasons where their joys increase ; 
 Arise fair morn, clasp on the chains of light, 
 Come, braid the fair espousals, come, delight,
 
 JOO THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Subjoin the sounding chords, in rapture sing, 
 Each blooming maid attune the nuptial spring, 
 Sweet vibtates thrill in greet, their eclioes fly, 
 And carols sweeter sounds along the sky. 
 
 Careers on Hymen's full aspiring rays, 
 And measure glory by serener days> 
 But unity pourtrays the azure dawn, 
 And bliss unrivalled smiles without a scorn,, 
 Delighted more the lovelier change impart. 
 The plumes of sunshine drops upon the heart. 
 Affection liolds with love the nuptial tie, 
 What glory terms the chords of unity ; 
 The vivid cliarms of Iove*s conspicuous sight, 
 
 O'erblown the genial seasons of delight.
 
 OF GLORY. 101 
 
 What from the buds they bloom to that excess, 
 The Petals flown, and scatter d their distress, 
 Or blight the flowers tliat open in the glade, 
 Their beauties varnish'd in the twilight shade, 
 And tell them more, that life is nearly run, 
 From sickly winds, contending with tlie sun, 
 To liberate the heart in tears give room, 
 When pleasures dwindle in obscurer gloom, 
 Kor long here hence, ye son^ of liberty. 
 Are call'd to face the spheres of war's decree; 
 S'carce could he think to meet his exit there, 
 A child of fate, a victim of despair. 
 Words bleeding from his mind by pressure taught, 
 Near vanish'd in the exercise of thought.
 
 102 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 A march to battle opes the martial gates, 
 Wrapt into flames intestine murmur waits, 
 A tempest s\veeps the rivagc of the shade, 
 Wliere sword and halbard form the serenade, 
 PriJc's natal buds unfurl voluptuous plume. 
 The rra3's of war, v.liy this dear heart presume ; 
 For seats of fame the martial sons impreen, 
 Their ameld swords prelucent aye the scene. 
 
 Oh, fairest youth, where is thy poignant sting? 
 Where is the chain that bound thy nuptial spring ? 
 Where then tliy sprightly form, thy blooming grace, 
 The cheerful smiles that once adorned thy face ? 
 What overblown are all the roses shed, 
 Are joys di.-pers'd and sprightly actions fled,
 
 OF GLORY. 103 
 
 As rigid Boreas, daslied the venal fires, 
 The sweetest pastime of tliy life expires; 
 O come the teen, relenting story, free, 
 'Tis but to meet the tears of sympathy. 
 
 Deep in the breach of Avar's contending flame, 
 The cute research of elemental fame, 
 ■\Vlien scatt'iing o'er my heart, the crimson dew- 
 That lightly veils the purple and the blue, 
 Waged on the plain, the fire of battle strides, 
 In exit movC; and power and life divides, 
 The streams of life congeal'd in verdant plains, 
 My native sheen are garnish'd from my veins ; 
 I feel recede the sparks I once possess'd, 
 
 Xike noonday shadows skip along the west; 
 
 K
 
 1(11 THi: VICISSITUDE'S 
 
 Now fades my last atnbrosials ending few, 
 Come near, my love, and weep the last adieu. 
 
 WJio then refrain to weep their tears engross, 
 Lost to her bUss, she swoon'd beneath the cross, 
 V/ho then contends, the path compassion tread, 
 And catch the tears relenting pity shed, 
 Wliat is so dear, what dearer to the soul. 
 Then filial love, when piety control ? 
 Delights tlic Iiallow'd ground where glory lies, 
 That skh-ts the glorious paths of Paradise, 
 Sides with the overtures of glory there. 
 And spends her happy days in love's career. 
 Unheeded time the flowers of youth devour, 
 In sprightly bloom, but fate rcsign'd an hour.
 
 OF GLORY. 105 
 
 Hour, vhcn the chaini that bound so closely, fell, 
 Each moment droops upon the last farewell j 
 Safe o'er the stormy waves of Jordan sail'd 
 Vv'eeps on the last diverge, but glory hail'd; 
 Forbid thy tears, nor let thy mind o'erwhelm, 
 You'll shortly meet him in a happier realm ; 
 'Tis but the journey on remoter day, 
 Transcend the margin of the vesper ray ; 
 Experience could but share the flutt'ring sigh, 
 Express to her desires in languid eye, 
 While practice, lost in sufF'ring, leauM aside, 
 And veil'd her tears promiscuous with the tide ; 
 Why 'truding murmurs palpitate the breast, 
 Why sighs should wound her slumbers when at rest;
 
 106 THE VICISSITUDES. 
 
 But ere the twilight sings of morning new, 
 Or form to sentiments her Iieart construe, 
 But language rending from the bounds of teen^ 
 Arc tln'own by intervals and tears between. 
 
 Unhappy day, how have I chosen thee, 
 How dill my lieart pursue temerity ; 
 As darkness fenc'd the bounds of nature round, 
 That mortal eye cannot discern the bound, 
 Why not pursue the shadows long before ? 
 Or why that cheerful hope should breathe no more; 
 How soon he wander'd in the shades of flight, 
 And left me waved in banners of the night. 
 Where shall I pose, and whiilicr shall I rove, 
 And sing the glories of supernal love;
 
 OF C.I.ORY. 107 
 
 Where are tlie roses ones carcss'd his cheeks ? 
 Where are they fled, the voice of nature spealvS, 
 Still shall they rise, thougli distant from the tomb, 
 Shall timely flush to more than mortal bloom, 
 Gazing around, beheld the blossoms fall, 
 Promiscuous wheels upon tlie breezy call, 
 Robed lowly in the vale, bewilder'd swells. 
 In clusters hung the lilies drooping bells ; 
 Near autumn bow'rs a golden mantle weaves, 
 The noontide zephyrs sweep the scatt'ring leaves; 
 Impress d awhile my drooping heart o'erflow, 
 Why should the evening breeze forbid to blow > 
 Expiring joys their wild'ring songs impart. 
 Congeals the veins of pleassre in my heart,
 
 108 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 The traveller comes, inbraids the welcome morn, 
 
 Retiring, lays aside his twitt'ring horn, 
 
 Why glory weep, and fond experience cease ? 
 
 Why then should love, why ravel out my peace ? 
 
 Why did the chain, that bound so closely, fall ? 
 
 Why hush'd the echo on departing call ? 
 
 But fluttVing on my heart, in exile sigh. 
 
 To be repos'd in love, 'lis vanity. 
 
 Had exit on my infant days compress'd^ 
 
 Transpos'd my soul, then had I been at rest; 
 
 Nor long before the heavenly gates unfold, 
 
 Shall watch my shade, but they shall not behold. 
 
 Unfathoniless, beyond what aught can veer, 
 Save they in image of their maker's sphere,
 
 OF GLCllV. 100 
 
 Or rival in the vast expanse of heaven, 
 Or to the dreadful bars of Hades be riven, 
 E'en wlien parch'd up in death, the vivid air, 
 That carries life upon its native sphere ; 
 When clouds shall melt in tears, diffusive o'er. 
 Shall rest for nought, and every hope deplore. 
 When twice five thousand years are nuraber'd in, 
 Thrice told again, when scarce thy reign begin ; 
 Wanders the vast abyss where heaven displays. 
 Dooms thee to rove, and never end thy days, 
 Beyond the light of heaven's eternal blue. 
 Beyond the huge exterms of earths construe, 
 Beyond, ere augJit I know, Time's vast reply, 
 Range the wide circle of Infinity,
 
 110 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Hut fleet the circle, fleet the grand disperge, 
 Eternity's wide bannat preen the verge ; 
 Een from the weary age in times descent, 
 E'en earth shall fall beneath the batllcment, 
 Yon glorious sun, in azure wrapt, the moon, 
 Fading or fade, can find no rest alloon, 
 For every vein to earth they disappear, 
 The hugest stars, and tremble into air, 
 Immortal spark, where is thy glorious frame. 
 Thy sacred rest, thy unextinguish'd flame? 
 
 Shall still thy features, bloom at Heaven's reply. 
 And praise, but rival through eternity. 
 
 Who mounts the car in age, where distance whelms» 
 Career, a march to far Columbian realms,
 
 OF GLORY. Ill 
 
 Why should tlicy wander through life's rosy day, 
 In wasting hours, and dwindle time away, 
 Why then should this congenial circle prove, 
 A siege to glory and a smile to love, 
 But honour deems celerity and pride, 
 A march to conflict, and a peace decide. 
 Of far, Morocco, nor in arms withstand, 
 But Cortez braved the conquest of the land, 
 From conflict to the 'vantage of release, 
 And pen the annals of discumbent peace ; 
 Let grandeur light neat Piiiladelphia's fanes, 
 Where still the name of famous Penn remains. 
 Within the chains of Wyoming pursue, 
 And- glorious Albert haii'd his friends adieu ;
 
 112 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 A pity then from relatives compare, 
 
 The parting 'dieu that wrestles with a tear. 
 
 Full in the circle ofsweet co'.ifluence greet, 
 Let glory gem Penivia's fair retreat, 
 And glitter round the world's stupendous sway, 
 Exalt the wandering ocean far away, 
 In ample times Baldivia led the van, 
 Where Chili's fairest bounds of freedom ran; 
 Could sympnthy deprive their tranqiiil race, 
 Or check the fairest buds in every place ; 
 Fair Chili s sons, nor wreck'd upon the tomb, 
 Urg'd on the war, and swept their timely doom, 
 To save their native realm in vengeance pourM 
 Till every foe were rar.i>id on the sword.
 
 OF GLORY. 113 
 
 Their floating sweets on Chili's hills cxliale, 
 Imperial fruits embrace the flowery dale, 
 Of blossoms gay, tlie rays of beauty flin<^, 
 Ambrosial sweetness on the golden spring ; 
 Diffusing clans of herds supinely main, 
 In playsome frolic, frisk and dance the plain. 
 But snuffs the sportive rivulets ateem, 
 For nature painted their incumbent theme. 
 The fervid splendour of Sol's matchless ray, 
 Meets Andes' snows dissolving far away. 
 
 But coast from hence in calms a purer sky, 
 Like morning darts upon serenity, 
 And wander seas near India's orient zone, 
 There meet the sun and smile with Him alone,
 
 114 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Salutes the east, then mounts his plumes on high, 
 
 Illumes, and gives a glory to the sky, 
 
 Who, most deh'ghted, swung the azure chain, 
 
 When evening drops into the western main, 
 
 At silent gaze I feel my heart remove, 
 
 I feel my passions mingle into love, 
 
 I feci my eyelids flutter in the skies, 
 
 I feel the tears revolving in my eyes, 
 
 But sing th' unrlval'd grandeur of his sway, 
 
 And close the annals of the smiling day. 
 
 The lovely seasons range disport) ve through, 
 What aids delightful in the grand review. 
 Where might the weary traveller rest his eyes, 
 Inceptive beauties brandish'd on surprise.
 
 OF GLORY. 115 
 
 Who flirts the plume, and chaunts the varied year, 
 Who breathe sweet murmurs on the milder air, 
 Who claims a visit aerial to the sky, 
 Unmingled pour sweet strains to harmony, 
 Bound in the circling chains, by nature riven, 
 Presents their little offrings up to heaven, 
 Presents the first, the last they give away, 
 Till rolling slumber overwhelms the day ; 
 O paint the rural graces, love's repast, 
 The vivid season breathes a sweet contrast. 
 
 O then, my soul, my willing soul prepare. 
 
 Who dreams of glory exquisitely fair, 
 
 Ethereal nature gives a vernal flow, 
 
 lleserv'd a grace on all delights below. 
 
 L
 
 116 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Short arc delights, impress'd my thoughts awhile, 
 Ture light beam'd fortli, 'twas nature 'oum'd a smile, 
 Then climb the verge, on eminence excite, 
 The vast presumes of fancy and of flight. 
 
 Aspire, my weary soul, empyreal spire, 
 Subdue thy pastime in replene desire, 
 Yonder wliere skirts those waving clouds unfold. 
 'Midst azure pure interminable gold. 
 More lovely still the centre of delight. 
 Heaven's blest recess, nor danger heeds affright, 
 Outbeaming forth from life's unmingled ray. 
 What heeds thee more, my soul, then haste away; 
 Fix'd on the sacred wings, where rapture stroll, 
 Sure bliss like this might tranquilizc control.
 
 OF GLORY. 117 
 
 Sure they, tlie social forms of tranquil life, 
 Would seem to quench the fire in evVy strife, 
 In grandeur ride the gentle rays of peace, - 
 Ethereal bound and meet with sweet release. 
 
 Then lead me over bounds where, far away, 
 In joy, retreating through love's pleasing day, 
 Invest my heart, what more could bliss convene. 
 Admiring nature charms the beautfious scene ; 
 O matchless power, congenial in the plume, 
 Hail, glorious sun, distinguish'd light presume, 
 Wrapt in the essence of enamel d spring, 
 Sweet harbingers that form the aerial ring. 
 Delightful scenes, that through Ariadia stray, 
 And range enarael'd hills where beauty play.
 
 118 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 "Retiring to Elisian prospects fair, 
 EelovM Hesperia breath'd in golden air, 
 Bloom'd on the margin of the flowery dale, 
 Such as the sparks of beauty could avail, 
 Tirza framed majestic smiles inspire, 
 Promiscuous blew and languish'd in desire; 
 But innocence embrac'd their short-lived day, 
 When Satan lur'd endearing joys away. 
 Fair Eden once to blooming loves compeer, 
 Who flung their sweets, ambrosial on the air, 
 Illusive to the strains of sacred joy, 
 Affloats in full sublimes to harmony. 
 
 Save Elenora, perhaps in love's compart, 
 Might chain the blossoms to her heart ;
 
 OF GLORY. 119 
 
 Methinks I liear the sound of glory clame, 
 Haste through the circle of enamel'd time, 
 Oh, triumph where the stars in twilight burn, 
 Hail to the western site on eve's return. 
 
 Bathe raptur'd scenes, the charniing hours ingreet. 
 Conduct me to the place of sweet retreat, 
 Prepare my soul, range them, delightful calms, 
 And stay where beairty blooms, and glory charms, 
 Trace that fair star in glorious Bethelm led, 
 But still a brighter star of Bethelm bled ; 
 But from the clouds of love, transposed to light^ 
 Now gems the sacred realm of pure delight, 
 The beaming glory of a lovely star, 
 But spheres above the light of angels far.
 
 120 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Glory to him who framed delights on high, 
 Unfading strcw'd the violets of the sky, 
 Imprest my heart, rebounding with surprise. 
 Where spotless beauty languish'd in my eyes. 
 Behold the rose that flash'd along the blue, 
 And travel'd where the sweets of friendship blew, 
 Smiles in a blush the sun with glory meet, 
 Then shall the lily range thy lov'd retreat, 
 To eloquence the flower of passion give. 
 The cute attractions of the sensitive, 
 When fixm'd Tiara sum'd her golden phrase, 
 What grac'd a prince, imperial glory blaze. 
 A princely crown in costly gems prelurae, ^ 
 
 And shone the crescence of a golden plume.
 
 OF GLORY. 12t 
 
 Condere the ameld chinlz in Iris flow, 
 
 What splendid hues divest tlie showery bow, 
 
 Infades the fleeting circle, though sublime* 
 
 Where beauty languish in the hour of prime; 
 
 Tlie golden rod its waving foliage calni'd, 
 
 Narcissus to his royal grace was charm'd, 
 
 Flush *d redolent from spikenard bathed in sweets, 
 
 Bestrews the path where love and glory meets, 
 
 Should love lie bleeding, bleeding in the dew, 
 
 Might bleed the last, and stain the glorious view; 
 
 But aim'd alert, presents a formal globe, 
 
 Inlaid a shining purple silver 'd robe, 
 
 Who grace the princtly gems fair Dalia found, 
 
 Queen Margaret calls her princely daughter round.
 
 122 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Who bids the waves of redolence" expand, 
 Tliej borrow sweets from Eden's odorous land, 
 Lest grandeur fair should on the fancy ply, 
 And paint the charming features of tlie sky. 
 
 How beautiful, what hov'ring wonders prize, 
 Transcends where yonder western paradise, 
 Eve's lovelier blush, her blush to beauty wove. 
 Like roses blooming in the charms of love, 
 Can she relent from nature's pure redress, 
 Reverts her homage to my heart's express ; 
 Express that lulls the features of embrace, 
 And charms her life unto sublimer grace ; 
 Intrude between a cloud, divides a ray. 
 Where shades appear, and light obscures the day ;
 
 OF GLORY. 123 
 
 Who raids the purple to an air of joy, 
 That gems the orient circle of the sky, 
 Careering in the splendour of his ray, 
 And sings the history of the golden day ; 
 Protrudes a flight, and fete the western chace, 
 Skirts that bright zone, its golden orbit trace, 
 Aye forests near the glimmering there behold, 
 Tipping their waving heads in spires of gold, 
 Where glory carols on the western breeze, 
 And drops a smile upon Columbian seas; 
 To evening pride his fracting orb revest, 
 The varied influence of light caress'd, 
 Aspiring charm the bo:3om of my views, 
 Unfurls a glorious plume of amel'd hues,
 
 J 24 THE VICISSITUDES 
 
 Expanding by the dusky tribes renew, 
 
 Their divers preen, admiring as they view ; 
 
 Save where refraetion lights the crimson flush. 
 
 Assumed the virent hills, a rauient blush, 
 
 A blush with splendour nurst irt twilight calms, 
 
 Sweet calms, and twilight, nurst in splendour's arms, 
 
 Aspire in love and glory crown the day, 
 
 Ye radient gems delight the heavenly way ;- 
 
 But center'd in the blue where clouds divide, 
 
 » 
 
 Near the meredian, claims the western bride ; 
 Bright Venus reigns, queen of the twilight, croivn'd, 
 Calls Eve to roll her sable waves around, 
 Flasird from the bosom of the streaming red, 
 Liglit swoon'd away, and, wliilet retiring, bled ;
 
 OF GLORY. 125 
 
 The veering image of the fading green, 
 Lights to a purple evenings glade serene, 
 Breathes aether pure, pale Luna lifts her reign. 
 Verging the surface of the orient main, 
 Huge Vista opens from the violet crest, 
 Unfading to the purest amethyst, 
 Across the stream young Meteor, strolling, flew, 
 Skirt the bright margin of the venal blue. 
 In speeded flight outshoots a streaming tear, 
 Nor sooner shed than languish into air, 
 Nor pass delight, the grand intrigues, to wit, 
 Nor spend devoid a mind so early hit. 
 Nor scare the sweet delights in virtue bent. 
 
 Nor fairer gems that grace the firmament.
 
 12G THE VICISSITUDES OF GLORY. 
 
 « 
 
 Then stamp the glowing embers on my mind, 
 O, surely, 'tis the grace to humankind, 
 Safe through the wikVring desert of despair, 
 Or through the wild exterms of endless care, 
 A friend that braids a wreath in love combin'd, 
 A friend that crowns the union, be resign'd ; 
 Congenial blaze in more exalted light. 
 And calls exertions of recluse delight, 
 So end the happy moments of our stay, 
 And hail the sweet repast of endless di)y. 
 
 .iriniC'
 
 ^m mhmmw^ 
 
 AKD 
 
 OTHER FOEMS, 
 
 M
 
 AN ELEGY. 
 
 Written in the Year 1822. 
 
 When life bathes in the waves of setting day, 
 When time pursues the wildings of alarm, 
 
 Swoons cross the sight, and roll the world away, 
 Chac'd on the winding circle to a calm. 
 
 What lures the heart on love's more sweeter flower, 
 What fades the roses on fair beauty's flow, 
 
 WTiat views the sun, nor heedless in the shower, 
 Darts from the clouds and paints the amel'd bow.
 
 130 
 
 la rising bloom the spring might slowly move, 
 But smiles upon the summer for retreat, 
 
 From gay retire, though golden autumn rove, 
 And vanish hence, where dreary winter meet. 
 
 Oh, stripling dear, that prattling murmurs tease, 
 They're heard no more, the plaintive tale relate, 
 
 But save the blackbird, whistling on the breeze, 
 Fond echo to her partner, loving mate. 
 
 From some keen wound the bursting lieartstrings bleed, 
 Each offspring passion die within the breast, 
 
 Yet long to meet their relatives decreed, 
 In that blest land where joys reviv'd posscs'd.
 
 131 
 
 And wandVing midst tJie tombs on midnight hour, 
 The moonlight hallo, circling in the gloom, 
 
 What awe profound, or emblem of its power, 
 Encircles fear and represents their doom. 
 
 Some in the bloom might catch the reeking wound, 
 And bear remembrance on the parting bed, 
 
 Still linger, yet, ere every virtue crown'd, 
 And friendly tears for sympathy be shed. 
 
 From life's short summer speeds in haste away, 
 And bids each parting relative adieu, 
 
 But sheds a tear, then earnest tribute pay, 
 And takes a flight beyond the sphere, of view.
 
 132 
 
 Iliud envy wan, or tumults wilder maze, 
 ^ Should from the partnig breast be heav'd afar, 
 Yet some slight stain might on the memory craze, 
 And veil the glory of its setting star. 
 
 To bear thine eyelids down, Oh, gentle sleep, 
 Then nurjst the ranging senses to a dream, 
 To wake, but from the tears in slumber weep, 
 
 And trace their murmurs to the waving stream. 
 
 This frail memoir, or restitution, move, 
 
 Those scatter'd fragments into life again, 
 Frem hence the tomb, or pyramid, Avill prove, 
 
 And the dark slumbers of the wand'ring main.
 
 133 
 
 But on the purling summit of a wave, 
 
 Where heav'd iu monstrous heads, and swelling o'er 
 Some giant clifF, for ages might outbrave, 
 
 And meet oppos'd, and sink to rise no more. 
 
 Save when the verging summer closing day, 
 By echo shrill, each from his slumber break, 
 
 Back to his realm, and claim the notal ray, 
 ]n fetters hung, on charms of glory wake. 
 
 To thee, sweet liberty, and be resign'd. 
 Whose paths of love ambrosial glory fan'd, 
 
 Through crimson waves have waded, unconfin'd, 
 And hung the veil of freedom o'er the land.
 
 184 
 
 The sneers of Pride, the scourge of tortur'd pain, 
 Of scepter'd dignity, or fame renown, 
 
 But cite the annals of a short lived reign, 
 Or empty fashion of the fading crown. 
 
 The luring arms of glory call'd away, 
 Victorious Edward in the hour of prime. 
 
 But call'd to search for moi e distinguish'd day, 
 Where glorious Henry chac'd Lis life sublime. 
 
 The circling bow of grandeur, radient sheen^ 
 Delights afresh the beauties of the mind, 
 
 The golden flag of freedom brighter scene, 
 Unfurls amidst the waves that love refin'd.
 
 135 
 
 From pleasure mingled fleets, each moving aim, 
 That cross the shaded plains of pity tliere, 
 
 Trac'd on the precincts of a boundless flame, 
 When crost in love, and languish in despair. 
 
 Simplicity, adorned by love serene, 
 
 Each bosom wreathed with more than rubies fair, 
 But scorn embitter'd scans each brighter scene. 
 
 And sounds of pleasure languish on the ear. 
 
 When thoughts controul, suspending far away, 
 And calls their wand ring spirits back to sight, 
 o chace the prime, or riper years delay, 
 And rue the day that aye they saw the light.
 
 136 
 
 Some vestal fair by nature finely draws, 
 A brief memorial of her fleeting life, 
 
 For thee, sweet nymph, I'd vindicate thy cause, 
 When rapture dwindles to dejected strife. 
 
 'Twas early by the lowland vale was seen, 
 When wrapt in comely smiles and lovely fair, 
 
 And dancing o'er the wayside meadows green, 
 But chain'd her roses from the cuter air. 
 
 Skipt near the side where opens in the bloom, 
 Presents a smiling youth whose charms inwove, 
 
 To braid the chain the southern winds presume. 
 And blew their gentle passions into love.
 
 137 
 
 Congenial hope they cherishtl from the sky, 
 When botli embrac'd in love and crown'd deiire, 
 
 Like pleasure wafted on the wings of joy, 
 And bliss attund the sweet Pierian lyre. 
 
 Oft in the cool of day was seen to walk. 
 The trammels of each fond embrace unite, 
 
 Across the lawn they sweetly join d in talk, 
 And pass'd each moment in supreme delight. 
 
 But soon fond amity became restrain'd, 
 Arrang'd each genial passion to a sigh, 
 
 Fair hope beguil'd, the dawning features fraln'd, 
 And flash'd her wildring eyes upon the sky.
 
 138 
 
 Could love Gngaf^e affu'jtion with more power, 
 
 Could rtign vicinal on the pictured mind, 
 Such s^parks possess to choer the parting hour, 
 
 Wlien to the couch of death he thus resign'd. 
 
 Like pining anguish bleeding on the soul, 
 
 Soft numbers flow by griefs o'erwhelming tear, 
 
 By art, nor fervid reasoning could control. 
 But makes her refuge wild'ring on despair. 
 
 How oft have seen her skip the woods along, 
 Unequal steps their tenor brading slow, 
 
 In times, and oft repeat the lovelier song, 
 With flutt'ring accents, only tun'd by woe.
 
 139 
 
 Of wind'ring clue, attun'd her setting flight, 
 A ranging world detain d her chief repast, 
 
 And wanders on from morning, noon, till night, 
 Like one emerg"d, alarm or frenzy cast. 
 
 Through the dark shadows of the evening stray d, 
 But drew their curtains o'er the smiles of day, 
 
 Where deserts range was her delighted shade, 
 But flung the lovelier themes of life away. 
 
 We mist her there, when anxious fears beset, 
 And sought, but vain, we search'd, the forest glade 
 
 Was strolling where the dewside meadows fret- 
 When some kind friend would lend a generous aid. 
 
 N
 
 140 
 
 At last wc came, her every hope expire, 
 We see her stretch'd upon the lowly bed, 
 
 Ah, lifeless lie, embrac'd her cold desire, 
 Assum d the mansion of the silent dead. 
 
 In awful pomp array "d wheels slowly by, 
 
 Come diiging from the hearse in like farewell, 
 
 Who but concern'd to bear her merits nigh, 
 And read the letter near the passing cell.
 
 HI 
 
 mEiiiB niPinrivL^iiio 
 
 With pity look beneath this hallow'd shrine, 
 
 From wilder shades where scatt'ring flowers are blown, 
 
 But suraes the withering blossoms of decline, 
 If from the scythe of time was n^vvly mown. 
 
 Where death has nurst a blooming youth to sleep, 
 And fondled where his cold embrace presume, 
 
 How soon his fair pursued, here virtue weep, 
 How soon she foUow'd to the dreary tomb.
 
 142 
 
 Love changed in turn from happiness to grief, 
 When youthful vigour ceas'd to bloom delight, 
 
 Where did they seal the bond of sure relief, 
 But where full glory brightens into light. 
 
 When touched the zenith of their short career, 
 Was death denoune'd, he struck the plaintive strain, 
 
 They're hush'd away, away from earth they steer, 
 A little distance intervened their reign. 
 
 Ciiaste was desire, by virtue, to excite, 
 
 Prone to their God, while love, unmingled, rise, 
 When bitter grief lay weeping on their sight, 
 
 Wlien death unlink'd the chain that round them ties.
 
 143 
 
 ODE TO 
 
 Come, delighted of my heart, 
 Thy enchanting smile impart, 
 Come, thou object ef renown. 
 In the glory of thy crown. 
 Only reign in cheerful time, 
 Where the moments speak sublime, 
 I this little world possessed, 
 Honour to the blazing crest, 
 Would leave for thee, Oh, lovely fair, 
 Luring wealth or golden air,
 
 144 
 
 Aught but pleasure could I see, 
 Once I was bereft of thee, 
 What can cherish, what delight, 
 In the absence of thy flight ? 
 Who can grasp a summer's smile, 
 In the anguish of recoil ; 
 But the glooms of winter prove, 
 Most congenial in their love, 
 And the hallo of the moon, 
 Sickens in the twilight noon, 
 But the spring in light return, 
 Where the stars of glory burn, 
 Pleasure's blandishments and joy, 
 Sweetens into liberty.
 
 145 
 
 Let me take an aerial flight, 
 In the arms of sweet delight, 
 Let me sing the hours anew, 
 Where the clouds are lost in blue-y 
 Let my fair one be resign'd, 
 Love be pictured on thy mind, 
 •Tis delight that wedded thee, 
 In Uie bands of amity, 
 Sweeter sounds of music rise 
 In the courts of Paradise, 
 Wedded in ethereal prime, 
 Where the bells of glory chime, 
 Oh, to meet where heaven dispense, 
 Glories of Omnipotence.
 
 I4f» 
 
 ^t'^mm 
 
 Written in commemoration of the Martyr" 
 dom of King Charles the First. 
 
 When grandeur flings her mantle o'er the great, 
 When kingly pride is menaced by debate, 
 When fortune holds her commerce on the air, 
 And pleasure courts alliance with despair, 
 When base disquietude assum'd her reign, 
 When glory lent the reigns to wan disdain, 
 When discord bids adieu to future lays. 
 And trouble burst the ties of happy days, 
 The sad arrears of long dissembled strife, 
 Despair'd of bliss, nor brighten into hfe.
 
 147 
 
 When equity, the laurel of the land, 
 Whither and die, untimely^ in the hand, 
 Conquest alert to wide ambition's power, 
 Disdain'd and trampled the sublimer hour, 
 Flash'd into fire, and lightens from afar, 
 Where dirging arms beat in the dire of war, 
 Urg'd on they fight, they conquer, or they die. 
 The conflict won, ambition's cause supply. 
 Lost to a king 'midst clouds of strife undone. 
 Held up a sceptre to the rising sun, 
 See nature from life's crimson fountain spilt. 
 Nor Cromwell wipe the stains of burnish'd guilt, 
 With scorn beheld the distant nations far, 
 A monarch doom'd before the martial bar.
 
 143 
 
 Oh, justice fled, a victim to their care, 
 When love degenerates into flaming air, 
 
 Responsive call their fierce desires invade, 
 
 To ponder strife each filial power upbraid, 
 
 Dissension shoots the arrow of disguise, 
 
 His once kind friends prov'd foes before his eyes, 
 
 Slander and scandal floats in his distress, 
 
 Disdain'd, reviled, or ribald in expresg, 
 
 Let sorrow hold her moan, let reason sigh, 
 
 Oblige their dictates in more cordial tie. 
 
 Led from a sad tribune, a king, a sire. 
 
 While justice mourn'd and wept upon the bier ; 
 
 Rack'd on the fier}' dirge of dire resent, 
 
 WitnesE'd a doom, and worse than languishment,
 
 149 
 
 Doom'd for the shade, he takes a long repose, 
 Weens the soft slumbers where the daylight close, 
 Gay titles, plumes, innate voluptuous raise, 
 But are the perquisites of happy days, 
 Where fortune changes from its finest bloom, 
 And bleeding tears but drops on freedom's tomb. 
 Of sweet redress suffus'd, his sufF'ring mind, 
 His filial heart to sympathy consign'd, 
 The sad delusion, who could feel to know. 
 Lost to the language of untutor'd woe, 
 Repeated words where oft by murmurs broke, 
 Around the gushing spring in sorrow woke. 
 
 Now to contend, but in the bands of woe, 
 My offspring, dears, for you my tears shall {[ow,
 
 no 
 
 My sun is gently floating on the deep, 
 
 To vent my tears o'er you, my dears, I'll weep, 
 
 Oft have I call'd the nightly hours aside, 
 
 On your behalf, and stretch'd the moments wide, 
 
 And still for you, before my exit close, 
 
 Tliat heaven for sirelcss babes would interpose, 
 
 Soon will this world grow dim before my sight, 
 
 All nature darkens on the verge of night, 
 
 'Tis but a visit, ere I see you hence. 
 
 Where comely joys admiring fruit 'compence, 
 
 A blight has my disastrous summer flown, 
 
 Ere fate's untimely flowers be fully blown, 
 
 Sincerely hold each fond delight by love, 
 
 Till thy more dawning years by age improve.
 
 151 
 
 Oh, elder born, my daughter, thine engage, 
 Let not ambition teach thy modest age, 
 Each finer part in wisdom's path construe, 
 Oh tell me then, ere bid your sire adieu ; 
 Or when your sire, let this be your costume, 
 Oh, when your sire lies with 'ring in the tomb, 
 Recumbent on your much devoted care, 
 Oh, yield obedience to my lovely fair. 
 
 How thick upon the wind the shadows fly, 
 
 Should I repine, or heave one anxious sigh, 
 
 Yet still my heart, my mind, my thoughts control, 
 
 The filial motion of the parting soul, 
 
 But ah, alas, the softer themes depart. 
 
 Wounds me to loose the tendrils of my heart, 
 
 o
 
 15 -J 
 
 What then console, what can my thoughts relieve 
 To preen my heart, death's dreary mantle weave, 
 By nimble steps, oh, to thy parent go, 
 Express my anguish in the voice of woe, 
 I" gentle airs, all plaintive, tune the reed. 
 Before the azure of departing bleed ; 
 Go, lovely daughter, fondly to express, 
 Go, mitigate, my fair one, her distress, 
 Go, tell her in the midst of martial frays, 
 A king will shortly end his troubled days. 
 Nor ever in the course of nature dear. 
 Nor ever roU'd away his native sphere, 
 Affection strew the wayborn paths I strove, 
 And life repos'd my passions into love.
 
 103 
 
 O kindJy interpose, etherlal power, 
 Blessings on sireless babes supremely showT, 
 Before the veil of life be drawn a^vay. 
 Or can I languish till another day. 
 
 I go, I go, ah, thither shall I go, 
 Where joys ineffable in glory flow, 
 A smiling workl that blooms a pure delight, 
 Where God, where angels reign supremely bright, 
 I see before me burst each softer tie, 
 I see before me flash the clouds of joy ; 
 Soon, and how soon shall meet the sable dirge, 
 Then clasp my soul on heaven's eternal verge. 
 This fleeting diadem, in full exchange, 
 1 BOW resign, in heaven my views arrange,
 
 1;>4 
 
 The crown celestial wear, Oli, glorious crown, 
 And hold without the tremor of a frown ; 
 
 A little v\hile then scale, the verge of life. 
 And brave the summit of terestial strife, 
 A little while this shattring stage decay, 
 And scarce a remnant of the same delay. 
 
 A world escap'd, ah, whither is he gone, 
 Were but to chain the rays of glory on. 
 
 His soul dismist, but hurried in the flight, 
 
 Ilend through the clouds, and hush the glooms of night. 
 
 But where an earthly crown no more disclose, 
 
 Fatigue by slumbers never seek repose ; 
 
 In heaven a crown, and heaven a sceptre wield, 
 
 And 'tis a saviour intervenes, a shield.
 
 155 
 
 So rest his happy days, in glory free. 
 Blest through the ages of eternity. 
 
 Lovely then from views admiring, 
 Trace the bounds where beauty run, 
 
 Plumes of glorious light transpiring 
 To the glory of the sun. 
 
 Lucid flash in air more lighter, 
 Vivid freaks of grandeur wore, 
 
 Opens in the circle brighter, 
 Fashions beauty into love.
 
 156 
 
 'Midst the aerial fountain keeping, 
 Lovely in tke youth awhile, 
 
 With the shield of nature weeping, 
 In the sunshine of a smile. 
 
 But the winter buds delighted, 
 Blossoms in the vernal spring, 
 
 Still we reap while increase flighted, 
 Wafted on her golden wing. 
 
 'Amel'd light of circled splendour, 
 Drooping in the sable sphere, 
 
 Where its charming tints surrender, 
 Beauty vanish 'd from the fair.
 
 157 
 
 From a virgin languish slowly, 
 Fade and vanish in the flower, 
 
 Rut her last request v/as lowly, 
 To be present in the shower. 
 
 Hound the sun where clouds invaded) 
 From the rose that flushd between, 
 
 In the arras of nature faded, 
 Orange, yellow, and the green. 
 
 Fades them beauteous tints arranging, 
 Wanes a flush where beauty lie, 
 
 And the blue that were exchanging. 
 For the violet of the sky.
 
 Ia8 
 
 Pleasure waves in air, serenor, 
 Walks upon the daylight fair, 
 
 Fled from hence where breezes, keener, 
 Smiles from heaven diffusi:ig there. 
 
 Iladience in the flash suspending, 
 Shuns the period of a day, 
 
 But the storms that were contending, 
 With the clouds are blown away. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Printed by W. Scroggie, Hnre Street, Woolwich.
 
 :a'^r'j^>^<jfi>^jfiL'-t-'jR>^A^^ 
 
 ^r^^K^rT^h^'^hs^^/^