immm ■I mma mm «ÉlTHE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ABCBITECZDRI GIFT OF MRS. CHARLES SUMNER GREENE AND NATHANIEL GREENE FROM THE LIBRARY OF CHARLES SUMNER GREENE  * î i.i Ì-M / I 4 « «Il RARE THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE: AN ALLEGORICAl| POEM, WRITTEN IN IMITATION OF SPENSER. BY JAMES JHOMSON. caV -&A. d~iC'r\ HARRISON AND CO., PRINTERS, LONDON: M. M. HOLLOWAY, 25, BEDFORD STREET, COVENT GARDEN: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, and CokgTATIONERS’-HALL COURT. BfflBBrv. ST. martin’s LONDON. 1Rec'd UCB ENVI DEC I 1990 Rec'd UCB ENVI JAN 1 6 1991 / ArchitectQTe Add to Lib. GIFTILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE In consequence of the very successful result of the first competition of designs in outline for the premium offered by the Committee of the Art-Union of London, it was determined to repeat the advertisement. In reply, thirty-two sets of outlines were sent in.1 The subjects illustrated were as follow:—The Tempfflt—Midsummer Nights Dream—Macbeth —King Henry the Sixth—Othello—The Castle of Indolence—The Red Crofl Knight— The Fairie Queene—Thalaba the Destroyer—RogersBHumdn Life—Colhns’tPassions —Thomson’s Seasons—Fingal—Spenser—Ossian—Early English History, four sets— Paradise Lost, two sets—Paradise Regained—Ivanhoe—The Bride of Lammermoor— The Betrothed—Ion—The origin and destine of Man—The Decalogue—The History of Man—Joseph and his Brethren—Scripture. subjectsS-ThefBritish Constitution. From these the accompanying griS (afterwards found to be by|Mr. William Rimer) was selected as the most worthy of reward. The drawings Rrere placed in the hands of Messrs. Collard, Joubert, Webb, and Whitfield, to be engraved for the Society, and of theS every subscriber for the year ending in March, 1845, is entitled to a Kopy in addition to “The Convalescent from Waterloo,” now being engraved by Mr. G. T. Doo, after W. Mulready, R.A. “ The Castle of Indolence” is the combined result of the earliest inspiration and the mature tastq of its author, having been the last poem published by him, though begun fifteen years p^fflously. It was, at first, little more than a few detached stanzas in the way of raillery on himself and some of his friends who would reproach him with indolence, while he thought them at least as indolent as himself; the importance of the subject however induced him to add to the poem till it reached its present lengthB It is written in imitation of Spenser, and in the allegorical style, which, frequent in the works of that author, was still in much favour in the time of Thomson. It describes the various tempting forms under which Indolence disguises the baits to lure its unhappy victims, and the fate which too surely awaits those who suffer themselves to be subdued by its debasing power. The opening of the poem describes the sylvan scene, where, “ close hid midst embowering trees,’■stands the castle of the Wizard. There, before the gate, he sings in seductive strains the praises of the joys to be found within; with insinuating sophistry he compares with the gay life of the birds and insects, formed only to sport in the sunshine, the wretched thraldom of man who must earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Too readily the listeners yield to his influence, and oncBpfflt the thresholdBthe onward path appears smooth and flovfery—within the gate a “ comely full spread porterHwaits to array their limbs in gowns of soft texture, loose and unconfined—a fountain of oblivion gives forgetfulness of “ vile earthly care”—soft couches invite repose—“high flavoured wines and rich viands” offer a luscious repast—the strains of unseen music “ breath soul-dissolving airs,” each sense is gratified amidst a scene of ever varying delight. But beneath the Castle, like the ashes hidden within the beauteous rind of the dead sea fruits, there lurks “ a deep and dreary cavern, where sickness tossed alway and here are the victims thrust, when “ unpleasing grown, diseased, and loathsome” in turn they suffer the certain decay which follows their unbridled indulgence. Now a new character appears upon the scene ; the Knight of Industry, “ full of great aims and bent on bold emprize,” determines to endeavour to reclaim the inhabitants of the Castle. First binding in a “ net of fate” the “ soul-enfeebling Wizard,” he bids his attendant bard to sing the praises of industry, as contrasted with the illusive falsehoods which had lured them to destruction; at the touch of the Knight’s wand, the false glittering mask dropS from the scene, and the horrors of the dreary cavern are displayed. The Knight consolffl the victims of the Wizard by a promise, that they who repent, shall yet arise to a life “ more happy and refined ;0 while those whose “hard dry hearts the obdurate demon sears,” must “ long bemoan his fatal charms,” and expiate their sins, wandering in “a desert wild, bare, comfortless, and vast.” THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS. Plate. Engraved by 1. Frontispiece.................................|S... F. Joubert. 2. The Wizard of Indolence luring passers-by to 1 K "W b enter his Castle............................. J 3. Victims entering the Castle of Indolence......... F. Joubert. 4. The Robing Hall..............3.............M..... F. Joubert. 5. The Fountain of Oblivion ........................ E. R. Whitfield. 6. An Apartment in the Castle.......H.............E. Webb. 7. The Magic Globe...........................'....... E. R. Whitfield. 8. A Garden of the Castle............ .............. H. W. Collard. 9. The House of Woe ..................J?............ F. Joubert. 10. The Knight of Industry enters the Castle....... E. Webb. 11. The Knight endeavours to Reclaim the inhabi-1 jj ^ Collard TANTS OF THE CASTLE ................... ƒ 12. The Doom of the Stubborn..................9....... E. Webb. 886 t \ THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. CANTO I. Cf)e Castle l)tgl)t of Siriöolmce, SnÖ ttó false ïujrurü, OTHjere, for a little time, alaâ! OTe Itòeb rtg^t 30IKI5. MORTAL man! who livest here by toil, Do,riot complain thy hard estate; That like an emmet thou must evei^^^^H Is a sad sentence of an ancient date: And, .fo^ra reason great; Foi^^^^^^^^fflmes it weep and wail, And cHe thy star, and es^^^^^^Mand late, ^^^^Hn^that would come a heavier bale,f Loose life, unruly passions, and diseases pale. In fast by a rr^Hs side, With woody hill o’er hill encompass’d round, A most enchanting wizard did abide, Than whom E&L^Sd: more fell is nowhere found. It was, I ween, a lovely spot of ground; Ana^I^^ffi season at ween JifflH and May, Half prankt with ^^^^Kvith Summer half embrown’d, made, where, sooth to say, NcEImng^^Hit could work, ne cared even for play. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. III. Was nought around but images of rest, Sleep-soothing groves] and quiet lawns ^Htween, And flowery beds that slumbrous influence kest From poppies breathed and beds of pleasant green, Where newer yet was creeping creature seen. Meantime unnumber’(^^^^Rg- streamlets play’d, And hurled every where their waters’ sheen, ‘ ' Tlfair, 'as the^B)icl^Bd through the sunny glade, Though restless still themselves, a lulling murmur made. IV. Join’d the prattle SHbe purling rills We^^^^Sthe lowing herds along vale, And flocks jlorid bleating from the distant hills, And vacant shepherds pipir|Sin the dale; And now and thei^^^&t Philomel would wail, Or stock-doves plain amid the^^^^Bsep, That drowsy rustled to gale; And stilllafcatl the grasshopper did keep; .. Yet all these sounds yblent inclined all to sleep. V. Full in tH passage of the vale, abo-vflfS A sable, silent; solemn forest jtqod,^ Where nought but shadowy floras was seen to* move, As Idless fancied in her dreaming mood; And up the |OTJ^jon either ^me, a wood Of blackening ay waving to and fro, Ser^^fflh a sleepy horror ^^^^Hthe blood; And where* thi^vallpy winded out, below, The murmuring main was heard, and scarcely heard, to flow.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. VI. A pleasing land of drowsy-head it was, Of dreams that^aye beforeTy^H half-shul^^^^B And of gay in the. ekmd^±Ra!^pa.ss. For ever flushing round a summer skyjffj There eke the delights^^H witchingly Instil a wanton sweetness ^^^^Rhe breast, And the calm pleasures, always.j^Ksra nigh; But whatever smack’d of noyance or unrest Was fg£ far off expelled from tMaj^licious nest. The landscape perfect ease, Where so the wizard bight) 1 Close hid his Castle ’mid emtmSffiifig teee^f That half shut ^Rt the bright. ■Bfed'made a kind ofl chee|flher’d day and night; Mean^hiaHunceasing at the massy Beneath a spacious palm, the wicked wight Was^^^m. and to his ^^Bor^maca-te, And lawImEimi. complain’d; lamenting map’s estate. VIII. Thither eMt^^Ripugnms^^^Med still, From all the roads of earth that pass thereby ; For as they chaunced to lR^^^^^^HSj|30iMng hill The f^Me§aof this valley A# And drew flBn and anon^^^a^^ffiLr Tfll clustering roifhd th’ enchanter fal^Pmey hung, Ymolten with his syren m^fod^gy While o’ert tF ^Mfeebling !|jp^p?Pnand he flung, And p),!the trembling chords^^B tempting verses sung:- THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. IX. ^■‘Behold, this earth! behold, man with unearn’d pleasure gay; ■< See her bright robes Broke from her wintry, ^^Hin prime of^^^H What can equal her array! Who can with heR^Rasy pleasure v^^H From mead mead with wing to stray, From flower tc^^^^^^flbalmy^^^^H fly, Is all she has do beneath radiant sky. “Behold the merry minstrels ^Bthe morn, ^ The swarming TenRiousanM^^^^Hfhat; fmm ‘ the ^lowering thorn, Hy^ffl their good B|Sd, and carol sweer of love, ^^^Rh grateful kindly them - emove: They neither plough no^^^^^^Rfit for flail, Eet to tne barn nodding drove, k*et| theirs each hmvesti dancing in •Wffltever crowns tn^^^^^^^miiles alcuHn^a vale. ' XI. of nature, Man! th^^^^^d thrsHl Of 'bitter^dropping sweat, of swealtry pain, Of that eat away thy heart with gall, And omh| vices an inhuman train, That all proceec|''.from savage thirsl^ra gain; For when hard-hearted infere^^Ht began ^^Rpoisa^^Ri, Astrasa left the plain; H Gruile^- violence, and murder, seized man, And soft milky streams, withiblopd ■ttSs^Ss ran.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLII. Such the gay splendour, the luxurious state, Of caliphs old, who on the Tigris’ shore, In mighty Bagdad, populous and great, Held their bright court, where was of ladies store, And verse, love, music, still the garland woreRH When sleep was coy, the bard in waiting there, Cheer’d the lone midnight with the Muse’s lore, Composing music bade his dreams be fair, And music lent new gladness to the morning air. XLIII. EAR the pavilions where we slept still ran Soft-tinkling streams, and dashing waters fell, And sobbing breezffl sigh’d, and oft began (So work’d the wizard) wintry storms to swell, As heaftn and earth they would together mell; At doors and window^threat’ning seem’d to call The demons of the tempest, growling fell, Yet the least entrance found they none at all. Whence sweeter grew our sleep, ^Eure in majgly hall. XLIV. And hither Morpheus sent his kindest dreams,® Raising a world of gayer tinct and grace^B O’er which were shadowy cast Elwian gleams, That play’d in waving lights, from place to place, And shed a roseate smile on Nature’s face. Not Titian’s pencil ger could so array, So fleece with clouds the pure ethereal space; Ne could it e’er such melting forms display, As loose on flowery beds all languishingly lay. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLV. No, fair illusions! artful phantoms, no! My Muse will not attempt your fairy-land: She has no colours that like you can glow,® TB catch your vivid Sskfenes too grosBher hand. But sure it is^pvfis ne’er a subtler band Than theseT same guileful angel-seeming Bpri^ffl Who thus in dreams, voluptuousBsoft, and bland, Pour’d all th’ Arabian heaven upon our nights, And bleSd them oft besides with more, refined delights. XLVI. They were in sooth a most enchanting train, Even Signing virtue Bskilful to unite With evil good, and strew with p^Hure pain;Fl But for those fiends whom blood and broils delight, Who hurl the wretch, as if to hell, outright,^ Down, down black gulfs, where sullen waters sleep, Or hold him clambering all the fearful night On beetling cliffs, or pent in ruinBdeep^H They, till due time should were bid far hence to keep. XLVII. Ye guardian ^spirits! to whom man is dear, From the^^Bul demons shield the midnight gloom: Angels of fancy and of love, be near, And o’er the- blank; of sleep diffuse)a bloom: Evoke the sacred shadB of Greece and Rome, And let them virtue with a look impart^H But chief awhile, 0! lend us from the tomb Those long-lost friends for whom in lo’^BlP' smart, And fill with pious awe and joy-mixt woe the heart.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLVIII. Or are you sportive----Bid the mom of youth Rise to new light, and beam afresh the days Of innocence, simplicity, and truth; „ To cares estranged, and manhood’s thorny ways. What transport, tRetrace our boyish plays, Our easy bliss, when each thing joy supplied; The woods, rate mountains, and fiS warbling maze Of the wild brooks-----But, fondly wandering widea My Muse, resume the task that yet doth thee abide. XLIX. One great amusement of our household was, In a huge crystal magic globe to spy, Still as you turn’d it, all things that do pass Upon this ant-hill earth; where constantly Of idly-busy men the restless fry Run bustling to and fro with foolish haste, In search of pleasures vain that from them fly, Or, which obtain’d, the caitiffs dare not taste: When nothing is enjoy’d, can there be greater waste? L. Of Vanity the mirror this was call’d. Here you a muckworm of the town might see, At his dull desk, amid his ledgers Eat up with carking care and penury; Most like to carcase parch’d on gallows-tree. ■fi his This boy he kept each band to disengage Garters and Kmpfesg task for him unfit, But ill-becoming ^9 grave personage, And paunch would not permit, So this same limber page to all performed it. XXVI. Meantime the master porter wide display’^E Great store Heaps, of slippers, and of gowns, Wherewith he those who enter’d in array’dj Loose as the breeze that plays along the downs, And waves the summer woods when evening frowns. O fair undress! best dress L i]; checks no But e^9y flowing li^9 in pleasure drowns, And heightens ease with grace. This jdemeynght fain, Sir Porter sat him down, and turn’d H sleep again. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXVII. ; , Thus easy rpbed, they to the fountain sped, ^^H,t in the middle of the court up-threw A stream, high spouting from its liquid bed, And falling back again in drizzly dew: There each deep draughts, as _|>6Hthirsted, drew. It was a fountain of nepenthe rare, Whence, as Han Homer sips®, huge pleasaunce grew, And sweet earthly care; Fair gladsome waking thoughts, and joyous dreams more fair. XXVIII. This rite perform’d all inly pleased and still, Withouten tromp, was proclamation made: Ye sons of Indolence, do what you wiH* And wander where youjist, through or glade^f Be no man’s pleasure for another staid; Let each as likes him best his hours employ, And cursed be he who.mindsKBs neighbour’s trade! Here dwells;kind Ease and unreproving Joy: He little merits bliss who others can annoy.” ^ XXIX. Straight of these endless numbers, swarming round, As thick as idle motes in sunny ray, one eftsoons in view was to be found, But every man stroll’d off his own glad way; Wide o’er this ample court’s blank area, Witfp^^H; lodges that thereto pertain’d, living creature could be seen to stray; While solitude, and perfect silence reign’d; So that to think you dreamt you almost was constrain’d.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXX. As when a shepherd Placed far amid the melancholy main, (Whether it be lone fancy him beguiles, Or that aerial beings sometimes To stand jmftbodied to our senses plain) - Sees on the naked hill or The wnmS*|h ocean jj^ljgtPdips his A vast assembly moving to and f%olW Then all at^^H in air dissolyes the wpnureTffi show. XXXI. T"e gods pp* quiet, and of sloep'profound! Whose soft dommion V^Bthis Castle sways,*,. ’ And a^^H widely-silent places found, * Forgive me, if my trembling What was sung^^H mortal lays^H But how shall I^attefn^ such arduous I who have spent my nights and nightly days In this soul-deadening place, loose-loitering; Ah! how shall I for this uprear my moulted wingr^B XXXII. - Come on^Hiy Muse llrnbr stoop to low despair, by celestiayj^B Thou yet shalt sing of war and Which tl^^^^Kons of Britain will insrarer™ Of .spcjoit bards thou yet shalt sweejR^Wyre; Thou yyt shalt tread in tragic pall the stage, Paint love’s enchanting woes, theriflEoBB^B The sag^pl^W^^ patriot’s Dashing^omup™n. down through every worthle^^^H 6 THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXIII. doors that knew ncK^M. alarming bell, JrNe cursed knocker plied by villain’s hand, ^^^^Bjen’d into halls, T^^Hwho can tell i Whaf ’^^^^^B and grandeur wide expand, The pride of Turkey and of Persia larid? Soft quilts on nu'^^^Si carpets carpets spread, around in seemly band, And endfess pillows ^^BLprop^^e head, that each spacious room was one full-swelling bed. And every where huge cqverW.'tables stood, j .^^^Bwines high-flavour’d, and r^a viands crowru^B tfc Whatever p On^^Breen bosom of this^arth are found, ^pffld all old Ocean genders“ ir^Bs round, ^^^^Bhand unseen these silently display’d, ^^^^nundemanded, by a sign ^9 sound; You need but wish, and, instantly obey’d, Fair ranged the dishes rose, and t^m the glasses play’d. XXXV. mHefe^^ddnrlreign’d w^^^^^e least alloy; , Nor gossip’s tale, Nor saintly spleeny durst murmur at . And with envenom’d tongue our pleasures pall. For why? there was but one greatyrukffor all; To wit, that each should M^lown desire, And eat, drink, study, sleep, as ^Bmay fall, Or melt the time in love, the lyre, And Sfror what, unbid, the Muses might inspire^ 1^ vc^r guuijÛTHE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXVI. ^The roonf^EM^^BfBtapestry were hung, Where waa inwoven many a gentle tale, Such as ^Bold the rural poets sung, • Or of Arcadian or Sicilian v^^H Reclining lovers, in the lonely dale, Pour’d fQgffi at large the sweetly-tortured heart, ^Sra^^^^^^^KKassion, swell’d the gale, And, tMght] charm’d ^fiffito resound their smart, While flocks, woods, streams, around, repose and peace impart. XXXVII. Those pleased the most ffliere^By a cunning hand, ■ ,vDepainted was patriarchal age; What time Dan Abraham left t^J Chaldee land, And pastured ohifrom verdant stageXto stage, : WTiere fields and fountains fr^^BulcILFest engage. Toil was^^^^^^HOf nothing took they heed, Bu^fiith^^Q Leasts the sylvan war jtikwage, And o’er vast plains herds Blest sons of Nature they! true Golden Age indeed! XXXVIII. airy nallsAa Bade the gay bloom H| vernal Or Autumn’s varipd shades embrown the walls: Now the black tempest strikes th’ astonish’d eyes, Now down M steep the iMjnragKorrent flies; -The trembling sun now plays o’er ocean And now rude mountains frown amid the skies: Whate’er Lorraine light-touch’d with softening hue, Or savage Rosa dash’d^or learned Poussin drew. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXIX. Each sound, ^HS,,here to languishment inclined, Lull’d the weak bosom, and induced ease; Aerial music in the warbling wind, At distance rising oft, by small degrees, ^KJearer and nearer came, till o’er the trees It hung, and breath’dlsuml soul-dissolving airs As EffiL, alas! with soft frjgKmMj please: Entangled d^S in its&enchanting snares,' The listening heart forgot all duties and all cares. XL. A certain u^Hc, never known before, Here lull^^ffl pensive melancholy mind; Full easily obtain’d. Behoves no more, But sidelong-.to the gently-waving wind, To lay the ^ffll-tuned instrument reclined, From ^Bich^Bna airy flying fingers light, Beyon^^^^Rortal touch the most refined, The gad|oj^;mc!s drew^^^M^j^ydeep delight, Whence with just cause the harp of AEolus it hight. XLI. Ah m^Bwhat hand can to^HKme string so fine? Who up R lofty diapason rtfl-Fj Such sweet, such sad, such solemn airs divine, Then let them down again into the soul3%. ■Kw rising love they fann’d; now pleasing dole They breath’d, in tender musings, through the heart; And now a graver sacred strain ^fty stole, As wl^HH hands an hymn impart; Wide-warbling Nature all, above the reach of Art!THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LIV. The puzzling sons of party next appear’d, In dark cabals and nightly1 juntos met; And now they whisper’d close, now shrugging rear’d Th’ important shoulder; then, as if to get New light, their twinkling eyes were inward set. No sooner Lucifer recalls affairs, Than forth they various rush in mighty fret; When, lo! push’d up to power, and crown’d their cares, In comes another set, and kicketh them down stairs. LV. But what most shew’d the vanity of life Was to behold the nations all on fire, In cruel broils engaged, and deadly strife; Most Christian kings, inflamed by black desire, With honourable ruffians in their hire, Cause war to rage, and blood around to pour: Of this sad work when each begins to tire, They sit them down just where they were before, Till for new scenes of woe peace shall their force restore. LVI. To number up the thousands dwelling here, An useless were; and eke an endless task; From kings, and those who at the helm appear, To gipsies brown in summer-glades who bask. Yea many a man perdie I could unmask, WFose desk and table make a solemn shew, With tape-tied trash, and suits of fools that ask For place or pension, laid in decent row: But these I passen by, with nameless numbers moe. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LVII. Of all the gentle tenants 9^ place, There was a man of special grave remark: A certain tender gloom o’erspread his face, Pensive not sad, in ^^^^Hinvolved not dark, As soot this man could sing as morning-lark, And teach the noblest morals of the heart: But these his talents were yburied stark; Of the fine nothing would impart, WFich or boon Nature gave, or nature-painting Art. LVIII. To noontide shades incontinent he ran, Where purls the brook with sleep-inviting sound; Or when Dan Sol to slope his wheels began, Amid the broom he bask’d him Lon the ground, Where the wild thyme and chamomile are found: There would he linger, EM the latest ray Of light ^^^^fflbling H the welkin’s . bound, Then homewards through the twilight shadows stray, Sauntering and slow. So had he passed many a day. LIX. Yet not in thoughtless slumber were they past: For oft the heavenly fire, that lay conceal’d Beneath the sleeping embers, mounted fast, And all native light anew reveal’d; Oft as he traversed the cerulean field, And markt the clouds that drov^^^^H the wind, . ~ Ten thousand glorious systems would he build, Ten thousand great ideas fill’d his mind; But with the clouds they fled, and left no trace behind.ssfTHE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LX. With him was sometimes join’d, in silent walk, (Profoundly silent, for they never spoke) One shyer still, who quite detested talk: Oft, stung by spleen, at once away he broke, To groves of pine, and broad o’ershadowing oak; There, inly thrill’d, he wander’d all alone, And on himself his pensive fury? wroke, Ne ever utter’cKword, save when fufflshone The glittering star og^H-“Thank heaven! the day is done.” LXI. ERE lurk’d a wretch, who had not crept abroad For years, ne face t>f*mortal seen; In chamber brooding like a loathly toad: And sure his linen was not very clean. Through secret loop-holes, that had practised been Near ^his bed, his dinner vile he took; ' and rough, of squalid face and mien, Our Castle’s shame! whence, from his filthy nook, We drove villain for fitter lair to look. LXII. One day there chaunced into these halls to rove A joyous youth, who took you at first sight; Him M wild wave of pleasure hither drove, Before the sprightly tempest tossing light: Certes^ he was a most engaging wight, Of social glee, and wit humane though keen, Turning night to day and day to night: For him the merry bells had rung, I ween, If in this nook of quiet bells had ever been. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXIII. But not e’en pleasure to excess is good: What most elates then sinks the soul as low, When spring-tide joy pours in with copious flood, The higher still th’ exulting billows flow, The farther back again they flagging go, And leave us grovelling^ffi the dreary shore; Taught by this son of joy we found it so; Who, whilst he stay’d, kept in a gay uproar Our madden’d Castle all, th’ abode of sleep no more. LXIV. As when in prime of June a burnish’d fly, Sprung from the meads, o’er which he sweeps along, Cheer’d by the breathing bloom and vital sky, Tunes up amid these airy halls his song, Soothing at first the gay-reposing throng; And oft he sips their bowl; or nearly drown’d, He, thence recovering, drives their beds among, And scares their tender sleep, with trump profound, Then out again he flies, to wing his mazy round. LXV. Another guest there was, of sense refined, Who felt each worth, for every worth he had; Serene yet warm, humane yet firm his mind, As little touch’d as any man’s with bad, Him through their inmost walks the Muses lad, To him the sacred love of nature lent, And sometimes would he make our valley glad; Whenas we found he would not here be pent, To him the better sort this friendly message sent.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE, LXYI. pf' Come dwell with us! true ^Hof Virtue, come! But if,valas! we cannot- thee persuade To lie content beneath our peaceful dome, ever more to quit “our quiet Yet when at last thy toils, but ill apaid, 1 Shall dead thy fire, and damp its heavenly spark, Thou wilt be glad to seek the rural shade, There to indulge the muse, and nature mark* We then a lodge will rear in Hagley Park.” LXVII. Here whilom ligg’d th’ Esopus of the age, But call’d by fame, in soul ypricked deep, A noble'pride restored And roused hin^^H a giant from his sleep. Even from 13^slumbers we advantage reap: Wii^^^ble force th’ c^^H’d scene he wakes, Yet quits not nature’s bounds. He knows to keep Each due decorum: not^^Hheart he shakes, And now with well-urged sense t^^nlighten’d judgment takes. LXVIII. j^,‘baifd>here dwelt, more fat than bard beseems; Who void of envy, guile, and lust of gain, On virtue still, and nature’s pleasing themes, Popr’d forth!hjs unpremeditated strain: The world forsaking with a calm disdain, Here laugh’d he careless in his easy seat; Here quaff’d encircled wit^^^gjoyous train, Oft moralizing sage: his ditty sweet He loathed much to write, ne cared to repeat. 12 THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXIX. Full oft by holy feet our ground was^^^H Of clerks good plenty here you mote espy, A ^^Hround, fat oily man of God, Was offll chiefly mark’d among the fry; He had a roguish twinkle in his^^^H 1 And shone all glittering with ungodly dew, If a tight damsel chaunced^ trippeniby; Which when' observed, l^nhrunk into his mew, And straight would recollect his piety anew. LXX. be forgot a tribe, who minded nought (Old of tnrapla^^^^^tate affairs; They looked, perdie, as if ^By deeply thought, And on their brow- every nation’s cares. The them is parcell’d out in shares, When in the Hall of Smoke hold, And the sage berry sun-burnt Mocha Has cleaKMtmminward e^B then, smoke-enfoll’d, Their oracles break ^^Hmysterious as of old. LXXI. >• Here languid Beauty keptfflr pale-faced court: Bevies of dainty dames, of high degree, From every quarter hither made resort; Where, from gross mortal care and business They lay, pour’d out in ease and luxury. Or^ffl^Ehey a vain ^^®)f work assume, Alas! and well-a-day! what can it be? To to twist, to range the vernal bloom; But far *ls cast, t^Bdistaff. spinning whe^and loom. ^ ^îB. \ .. BTHE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXXII. Theii^^Hlabour was to kill the time; k And labour dire it is, and weary woe. They sit, they' 1 You cannot rob me of free Nature» grace You cannot shut the windows of the sky, Through which Aurora shews her brightening face; You cannot bar my constant feet to trace The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve: Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace, And I their toys to the great children leave: Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave. IV. Come then, my Muse! and raise a bolder song; Come, lig no more upon the bed of sloth, Dragging the lazy languid line along^H Fond to begin, but still to finish loth, Thy half-writ scrolls all eaten by the moth: Arise, and sing that generous imp of fame, Who with the sons of softness nobly wroth, To sweep away this human lumber came, Or in a chosen few to rouse the slumbering flame. V. In Fairy-land there lived a knight of old, Of feature stern, Selvaggio well ycleped, A rough unpolish’d man, robust and bold, But wondrous poor: he neither sow’d nor reap’d, NeStores in summer for cold winter heap’d; In hunting all his days away he wore H Now scorch’d by June, now in November Seep’d, Now pinch’d by biting January sore, He still in woods pursued the libbard and the boar..ELATE IX. JM SC B . . THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. VI. As he one morning, long before the dawn, Prick’d through the forest to dislodga his prey, Deep in the winding bosom of a lawn, With wood wild-fringed, he mark’d a taper’s ray, That from the beating rain, and wintry fray, Did to a lonely cot his stepB decoy; There, up to earn the needments of the day, He found Dame Poverty, nor fair nor coy: Her he compress’d, and fill’d her with a lusty boy. VII. Amid the greenwood-shade this boy was bred, And grew at last a knight of muchel fame,'-Of active mind and vigorous lustyhed, The Knight of Arts and Industry by name. Earth was his bed, the boughs his roof did frame; He knew no beverage but the flowing stream: His tasteful well-earn’d food the sylvan game, Or the brown fruit with which the woodlandsfteem: The same to him glad summer, or the winter breme. VIII. So pass’d hifTyouthly morning, void of care, Wild as the colts that through the commons run: For him no tender parents troubled were, He of the forest seem’d to be the son; And certes had been utterly undone; But that Minerva pity of him took, With all the gods that love the rural wonne^/, That teach to tame the soil and rule the crook; Ne did the sacred Nine disdain a gentle look. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. IX. Of fertile genius him they nurtured well, In every science and in every art, By which mankind the thoughtless brutes excel, That can or use, or joy, or grace impart, Disclosing all the powers of head and heart; Ne were the goodly exercises spared, That brace the nerves, or make the limbs alert, And mix elastic force with firmness hard: Was never knight on ground mote be with him compared. X. Sometimes, with early morn, he mounted gay The hunter-steed, exulting o’er the dale, And drew the roseat breath of orient day; Sometimes, retiring to the secret vale, Yclad in steel, and bright with burnish’d mail, He strain’d the bow, or toss’d the sounding spear, Or darting on the goal outstripp’d the gale; Or wheel’d the chariot in its mid-career; Or strenuous wrestled hard with many a tough compeer. XI. At other times he pried through nature’s store, Whate’er she in th’ ethereal round contains, Whate’er she hides beneath her verdant floor, The vegetable and the mineral reigns; Or else he scann’d the globe, those small domains, Where restless mortals such a turmoil keep, Its seas, its floods, its mountains, and its plains; But more he search’d the mind, and roused from sleep Those moral seeds whence we heroic actions reap. 1THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XII. Nor would he scorn to stoop' from high pursuits Of heavenly Truth, and practise what|^^^^^^^H Vain is the tree ^^^^^^^^Mwithout fruits. Sometimes in hand the spade p§ plough Ml caught, Forth-calling all with which boon (^^^BEfraught; Sometimes he plied the strong mechanic Or rear’d the fabric from the^^^Bb draught; And oft he put himself to Neptun^Sschool, Fighting with winds and waves odfflie vext ocean pool. XIII. To solace then these rougher toils, he tried To touch the kindling canvas^^Mlife; „ With nature his creating pencil vied, With nature joyous mimic strife: Or to such shapes as graced Pygmalion’s wife He hew’d the marble; ^■Sffljvaried fire, He roused the trumpet and the martial fife; Or bad tESlute sweet tenderness inspire; Or verses framed that well might wake Apollo’s lyre. XIV. Accomplish’d thus he from the woods issued, Full of great ^Hrohid bent on bold emprize; The work, wBraa^Hig he his breast had brew’d, ralNow to perform ardent did devise; To wit, a barbarous worlcv^^^^^^^H Earth was till then a boundless forest wS|p|vy Nought to be savage wood, m|<§Syties; No cities nourish’d artsrai^^^^H smiled, laws, no gentle manners mild. in THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE,! XV. A rugged wight, the worst of brutes, was man; On^K own wretched kind he, ruthless, preyed; , Thj^^S^SRtiUlIllte weakest over-ran; In ggggffl country mighty robbers sway’d, And guile and ruffian force were all Life was a ranine, want, and woe; Which this brave knight, iwaoble anger, made To swear, he would the rascal rout o’erthrow, For, ^Bthe powers divine, i^^fflld no more b& so! nr XVI. Ht would exceed the purport of my song, To say how^^^regja; Sun, from^^ffit climes Came beaming ISe and KKgSgv all, along, chasing Indolence and crimes. ^^Ml, as he jnassS«Lne nations he sublimes, And calls forth arts and virtues wi^^M ray: Then Greece, and Rome their golden times, ^^MBlSsMLad: but no^jin ruins grey They BB. to slavi^Bsloth and tyranny a prey. XVII. To crown his toils, Sir Industry then spread The slgMm£ sail, Britain’s coast. A sylvan life till then the natives led, ^^Mthe brown shades anc||g|e£rSS^ forest lost, All careless j^ramofl^ra^^^ra^ked them most: Their wealth, wild Mr bouncing through the glade; They lodged al^^R, and lived ^nature’s cost, / s Save spear, and bow, withouten other aid; Yet not the Roman ^^Htheir naked breast dismay’d. ^UpE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XVIII. reifeg liked the soil, he liked ttl^^^^^Rkies, Msg liked the yerdant hills and flowery plains, this my great, “ This, whilst my labours Liberty sustains, Ocean all assault Xor liked he less ffiBEgWrRWBj land, | Mild | Temper’d by forming withBIpRPf^fWpBt hand. ^!;;j XIX. , Whatever gyrts and Industry can frame; Fair C^^^HijRrts! from heaven itself who came; When Eden flourish’d in unspotted fame; A nWMBith , And tender j|BS!lBndE^^!^^aigBPa name, BBUfflpgffl^^^^^Bravish|BpBro™^Plne mind: Art at RHl delight and u^Pbombin’d. BXJE1 Then towns^^BroSPrd mechanic arts, And bade glowjKSHtoil; Bade iffilraWEfflmffiieiyaise renowned marts, ^Hn land to land, and to soil, the poles, and, without bloody spoil, H^^^^^^^^^Rthcr Indole gorgeous stores; HSra^^^^^^^^^Brage the world embroil, Bade BfflBpK&remBteRB^^B^S^B^W^E While o^Bth’ encircling ffiM) Britannia’s thunder rc^H THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXI. The droopin|pSHses westward call’d From the sea, What time thadpRak th’ enfeebled Grecian thrall’d, Thence from t^ffi* cloister’d walks he set them free, And ^^^^^^^^^Hmother Castalie, Where Isis many a famous noursling breeds; Or where old Cam soft-pacesEpbr the lea In gSg^lu mood, and tunes his Doric reeds, The whffig^B flocks at large the lonely shepherd feeds. xxir. Yet the HHgjsjArts were wh^^^jfinish’d least. For why They are the quintessence of all, The growthlab^^mRpR, and slow increast; MEIi§g§, as seldom chances,*™ should fall, That mtehw patrons the coy sisters call Bt>p tojBe sunshine of uncumber’d ease, ^fi3£jhj|re no rude care the mounting thought may thrall, And where they nothing have to do but please: Ah! gracious God! thou know’st they ask no other fees. XXIII. But now, alas! we live too late time: Our patrons now j^fn grudge that little claim, to sB^^^Be. soothing rhyme; And wear Maecenas’ name, Poc^^^^R|?mift-up Vanity, not Fame. Unbroken spirits, cheer! Ball, still remains Th’ eternig^^^ffl, Liberty; whose flame, While she protects, inspires the noblest strains; The best, and sweetest far, are toil-created gains. mTHE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXIV. Whenas the Knight had framed, in Britain-Land, A matchless form of glorious government, In whichHne sovereign laws alone command, Laws stablish’d by the public free consent, Whose majesty is to the sceptre lent; When this great plan, with each dependent art, Was settled firm, and to his heart’s contents*. Then sought he from the toilsome scene to part, And let ESS vacant eve breathe quiet through the heart. XXV. For this he chose a farm in Deva’s vale, Where his long alleys pgep’d upon main: In this calm seat he drew the healthful gale; Here mix’d the chief, the patriot, and the swain. The happy monarch his sylvan train, Here, sided by the guardians of the fold, He^^Eld his rounds, and cheer’d his blest domain: His days, the days of unstain’d Nature, roll’d, Replete with peace and j(w4 like patriarchs’ of old. XXVI. Witness, ye lowing herds, who gave him milk; Witness, ye flocks, whose woolly vestments far Exceed soft India’s or her silk; Witness, with Autumn charged, the nodding car, That homeward came beneath sweet evening’s star, Or of September-moons the radiance mild. 0 hide thy head, abominable War! Of crimes and ruffian idleness the child: From heaven this life ysprung, from hell thy glories vild. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXVl^H Nor from his deep retirement banish’d was Th’ amusing care of rural industry; Still, as with grateful change the seasons pass, ■Spew scenes arise, new landscapes, strike the 'eye;^ And all th’ enliven’d countryffloeSSj^B Gay plains extend where marshes slept? O’er recent meadsH.’ exulting streamlets fly; Dark frowning heaths gro\^^^^^9with „ And woods embrown t^Ssteep, or wave along the shore. XXVIII. As nearer to his farm ym made approach, ■ He polish’d Nature hand; on her beauties durst not Art encroach; ’Tis Apras alone these ' ffiaffiMo expand. In graceful dance immingled, o’er the land, Pan, Pales, Flora, and Pomona play’d; Here, too, brisk gale^^H rude wild common fann’d, happy place; wheler?free, ancrunafraid, Amid the flowering brakes each coyer c^^^^Htray’d. XXIX. But in prime vigour what can last for ay? That soul-enfeebling wizard Indolence, I whilom his works decay: Spread far andjraS^ was his cursed Of public virtue much he dull’d the sense, private; ate our spirit out, And fed our rank luxurious whence , The land was overlaid with many a lout; ^^Has old Fame reports, wise, generou^^ffd, and stout.mmm bh \y m B a/  THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXX. A rag^of pleasure maddened every breast; Down to the lowest lees tfîe^férmënt ran: To each must ÏÏe blest, With joy be fever’d as he can. Thus Vu^Khe, standard rear’d; her arrière-ban Corruption call’d, and loud she gave the'word, “Mind, mind ! why should the vulgar man, The lacquëy^Hé more virtuous than his lorc|9P Enjoy the span ’tis all the gods afford.” XXXI. The tidings reach’^Bo where, in quiet hall, ^^^^Hpod^Hd Knight enjoy’d repose. M“Come, come, Sir Knight, tW5pmo^^Z)n thee call: Come, ye^^Q ruin round us close The demon thy ^^Herthrows.” On This the noble ^Mjfflsain’d his cheeks, ■ Indignant, through the whitening snows venerable eld: his eye full-speaks His ardent Hil, and from his couch at once he breaks. XXXII. he cried, “so help me, God! destroy That villain Archimage.” His page then straight He to him call’d, a fiery-footed Benempt Dispatch. “My steed be at the gate; My bard attend; quick, bring the ' This net was twisted by^the -Sisters three, Which when once cast o’er harden’d wretch, too late Bepentance comes cannot be From the strong iron grasp of vengeful destiny. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXIII. He came, the bard, a little Druid-wight, Of wither’d aspect; ^B his eye was keen, With sweetness mix’d. In russet brown bedight, As is his sister of the copses green, He crept along, unpromising of mien. Cross he who judges so. His soul was fair, Bright as the children of yon azure sheen. True comeliness, which nothing can impair, Dwells in the mind; all else is vanity and glare. XXXIV. “Come,” quoth the Knight, “a voice has reach’d mine ear The demon Indolence threats overthrow To all that to mankind is good and dear: Come, Philomelus! let us instant go, O’erturn his bowers, and lay his castle low. Those men, those wretched men! who will be slaves, Must drink a bitter wrathful cup of woe! But some there be, thy song, as from their graves, Shall raise. Thrice happy h|pwho without rigour saves.” XXXV. Issuing forth, the Knight bestrode his steed Of ardent bay, and on whose front a star Shone blazing bright; sprung from the generous breed That whirl of active day the rapid car, He pranced along, disdaining gate or bar. Meantime, the bard fflmilk--®te palfrey rode; An honest, sober beast, that did not mar His meditations, but Bl softly trode: And much they moralized as thus yfere they yode. 19THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXVI. XXXVII. They talk’d of virtue, and of human bliss. What else so fit for man to settle well? And still their long researches met in this, This truth of truths, which nothing can refel; • “From virtue’s fount the purest joys out-well, Sweet rills of thought that cheer the conscious soul; While vice pours forth the troubled streams of hell; The which, howe’er disguisedSat last with dole Will through the tortured breast their fiery torrent roll.” T length it dawn’d, that fatal valley gay, O’er which high wood-crown’d hills their summits On the cool height awhile our palmers stay, And spite even of themselves their senses cheer; Then to the wizard’s wonne their steps they steer Like a green isle, it broad beneath them spread, With gardens round, and wandering currents clear, And tufted groves to shade the meadow-bed, Sweet airs and song; and without hurry all seem’d glad. XXXVIII. “As God shall judge me, Knight, we must forgive,” The half-enraptured Philomelus cried, “ The frail good man deluded here to live, And in these groves his musing fancy hide. Ah! nought is pure. It cannot be denied, That virtue still some tincture has of vice, And vice of virtue. What should then betide, But that our charity be not too nice? Come, let us those we can to real bliss entice.” rear 20 THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XXXIX. “Ay, sicker,” quoth the Knight, “all flesh is frail, To pleasant sin and joyous dalliance bent; But let not brutish vice of this avail, And think to scape deserved punishment. Justice were cruel weakly to relent; From Mercy’s self she got her sacred glaive; Grace be to those who can, and will, repent, But penance long, and dreary, to the slave, Who must in floods of fire his gross foul spirit lave.” XL. Thus, holding high discourse, they came to Avhere The cursed carle was at his wonted trade; Still tempting heedless men into his snare, In witching wise, as I befor^have said: But when he saw, in goodly gear array’d, The grave majestic Knight approaching nigh, And by his side the bard so .sage and staid,Z HiScountenance fell; yet oft his anxiouSeye Mark’d them, like wily fox who rooSed cock doth spy. XLI. Nathless, with feign’d respect, he bade give back The rabble-rout, and welcomed them full kind: Struck with the noble twainBthey were not slack His orders to obey, and fall behind. Then he resumed his song, and, unconfined, Pour’d all his music, ran through all his strings: With magic dust their eyne he tries to blind, And virtue’s tender airs n.’er weakness flings. What pita base his song who so divinely sings! .—M XI. ''tsTZUVE/ & THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLII. Elate in own, tli fix’d delight: . But they instead, as Marvell’d he could with^^^^^^^ art u^^^H The lights and^^^^®f manners, wrong'and right.v^: Meantime, the silly crowd the charm devour, y" Wide pressing to the Knight' darted f^^^^Hdrag him Who backning touch, knew its power. XLIII. As ^9 throng’d amphitheatre The - Even so him bold, in the net of woe, ■gjWhereof I ^Hn made not ago. BEnragedj^^^St he scorn’d so weak a jail, And leapt,Jand^ew,]^K flounced to and fro: But, when he^TounA. He sat him^^^^^^^ and gnaw’d h^^^rar nail. XLIV. Alarm’d, the place Raised rueful s^^H annmH yells around; «Black stormy clouds deform’d the welkin’^^^^H And from b^^ffl,.was heard a wailing sound, As of in cavern bound; A solemn sadness every creature strook, And lightnings flash’d, and horror rock’d the ground: Huge blemish’d 1(^H As if on time’s last verge this frame of things had shook. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLV. Soon as the was yspent, Steam’d f^n the jaws ufCTvex’^BVvernus’ hole. A nd: nB^^Jthe hubbub of the rabblement, Sir Industry the first calm moment stole: “There must,” he cried, “amid so vast a shoal, Be some who are not tainted at heart, quite by this same villain’s bowl; Come bard! thy heavenly fire impart; Touch soul with soul, till forth the latent spirit start.” XL VI. The bard obey’d; and taking from his side, Where it in seemly sort depending hung,-jlf*His British harp, ^9 speaking strings he tried, The w!Mh with skilful touch he deftly strung Till tinkling^» clear symphony they rung. Hfflas he felt the Muses come along, Light g^^^Hchords, his raptured hand flung, And play’d a prelude to his rising song: The whilst, like midnight mute, ten thousands round him throng. XL VII. Thus, ardent, l^ftt his str^S— “Ye hapless race, Dire-labouring here to smother Reason’s ray, That lights our Maker’s image in our face, And gives us wide o^B earth unquestion’d sway: What is th’ adored Supreme Perfection, say? What, |fflt eternal never-resting soul, Almighty power, and all-directing day, By wl^rn each atom stirs, the p^^^H roll: Who K surrounds, informs, and agitates the whole? 21THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. XLVIII. “Come, ^Sthe beaming God your hearts unfold! . Draw from its fountain life! ’ Tis thence, alone, We can excel. Up |mn unfeeling mould, To seraphs (round th’ Almighty’s throne, Life rising Perfection forms, and with pejgsjSg^H bliss. In universalgBgDrajgBhis clear shewn, I wis, To prove the beauteous vvli^^^^^Sthe brute abyss. XLIX. “ Is n^Ethe field, with liv^fl culture greeny A sight more joyous than the dead morass? Do not the skies, with And fann’d by sprightlj^^^^^^Kir surpass The f(^Offl®mber-fogs, and slumb’rous mass, With which sad Nature veils her drooping face? the mountain-stream, aScMr as glass, Gay-dancing o^^Q putrid pool disgrace? The same in all holds true, chief in human race. L. “ It was Qt by vile loiterinsafu ease, That Greece obtain’d tfiOTpraraer palm of art, That soft yet ardent Athens please, Eo keen th«K^^«md to sublime the heart, In all supreme! BSEfflaB part! It was thence nffl™ Rome And the nations shook her conquering dart: For sluggard’s brow Me laurel never grows; Renown is not the of indolent repose. THE C^gEE OF INDOLENCE. LI. ^■‘Had unambitious mortals But joy their time^H wear away; Had t^S alone the MtSipP dalliance sought, Pleased onjlier 'pillov^^^^Hdl heads Eg lay, Rude nature’s state had^^Mour st^a to-day; No ^^^^^Bgyfclieir towery fronts had raised, Ho arts had made iis^rmema and gay; human race had grazecBS None e’er had soar’d to fame, n^s honour’d been, none praised. LII. “ Great Homer’s song had never fire’d the breast To thirst and Sweet Maro’s muse, sunk i Had silei^^^^^mKa the Mincian reeds: The wits of modern ffle had told their beads. And monkish legends beenonly strains; Our MiltB3 Eden had lain wrapt in weeds,V'" Our Shakspeare stroll’d Warwick swains, Ne had my master j^^Mgjffiharm’d his Mulla’s plains. LIII. “ Dumb, ^^Sgiad been the sage PB^OTic muse, And rg^s^n all the sons (EKancient fame; Those starry lights that diffuse " Through'the dark depth flame, Had all been lost with such as have no name. Who then had scorn’d his ^^Sor others’ good? Who then had toil’d to tamei^f Who'gjpthe publij»^®| devoted stood, And M his country’s cause j^jn prodigal of blood?THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. ■ LIY. ' "But should to fame your^^^^Knfeeling be, If read, ymK|^^^^^|j^Rsquire: Then hear how^^9 ma^^HRpmrd this fe^M How best enjoy’d this nature’gaSude desire. Toil, and^R gladjSijt Industry inspire Into your breath! Who does not act is dead'^E^||n^^^ra»g In miry sloth, no^^^RHoo joy he O leaden-hearted men, ^Rbe in love with death! LV. "Ah! what avail th^^^^^flgifts of Heaven, Wken drooping health and spirits g§^Smi|i^|| How mjpjless then wha^ffigPcan be given? Health is the vital principle of bliss, And prooffQf.this, Behold the wretch, away, Soon disease’s sad ajS||P*S While he whom t^H haiS^^ffl or manly play, Has light as air each limb, eacHK^^^R as clear as day. “0 who can speak of health^f Unclogg’d the body, ^ffi)bscured the mind; The morning rises gay, with pleasing stealth, . The temperafe^^^^W^^^^EeSln^i and kind. In health the -^^^^^^^^B&gladness find. See! how the younglings frisk along the meads, As May RMIKl, and wakes the balmy wind; Rampant with all exceeds; , Yet what 1^9 high-strung health this dancing pleasaunce breeds? THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LVII. "But here, instead, is foster’d every ill, Which or distemper’d minds or bodies know. Come then, my kS^^M spirits! do not spill Your talents here. ^SlaKpIace is but a shew, Whose charms delude you to 3R den of woe; Come, me, I will direct you right, Where Pleasure’s roses, void of serpents, grow, as sweet: come, follow tillgood Knight, And you will bless the day that brought him to your sight. LVIII. "Some hijffiill lead to courts, and some to camps; To senates some, and public debates, Wliere, by the solemn gleam of midnight-lamps, The world is poised, and managed mighty states; K| high discovery flappll that new creates The face Hearth; some to the thriving mart; Some to the rural reign, and softer fates; the sweet Muses some, who raise the heart: All glory shall be yours, all nature, and all art. LIX. “There are, I see, who|Pp|jM> my lay, Who wretched sigh for virtue, but despair; AHjailP^a done Hethinks I hear them say/5 Even death by generous actions fair; All., bHfor those wisp to bowers repair, Their j&qgffl power dissolved in luxury, To quit of "torpid sluggishness tM|lair, And from the powerful arms of Sloth get free. ’Tis rising ffem the dead—Alas!—it cannot be!THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LX. “Would you then learn to dissipate the band Of these huge threat’ning difficulties dire. That in the weak man’s way like lions stand, His soul appal, and damp his rising fire?H Resolve, resolve, and to be men aspire. Exert that noblesfg^^^^H alone, Here to mankind indulged: control Let godlike Reason, from her sovereign throne, Speak the commanding word—I will!—andRis done. LXI. can you then thus waste, in shameful wise, Your few important days of trial here? Heirs (^^^^^Hybom to rise ThroughSehdless states of being, still ^^Hnear To bliss approaching, and penectionV crearT^ Can you renounce a fortune so sublime, Such glorious hopes, your backward s^^^To steer, ArffftroTL with vilest brutes, Hnmigh«rSud and slime? No! no! your heaven-touch’d hearts disdain sordid c^^^H LXII. Enough! enough cried,—straight, from the crowd, The better ^Stjfin wings H transport As when amid the lifeless summits proud Of Alpine cliffs, where to the gelid sky Snows piled on snows in wintry torpcO^^B The rays divine of vernal Phoebus play; Th’ awakened heaps, in streamlets from on high, Roused into action, liv^M leap away, Glad-warbling through the' vales, in their new being gayijH 24 THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXIII. Not less the .lH^Bthe vivid joy serene, That lighted up these new-created men, Than that which wings th’ exulting sj^ft clean, When, just deliver’d from this fleshly den, It soaring seeks its natives skies agen; How j^Hts essence! how unclogg’d nS powers, Beyond the blazon of E’en so we ffld forsook these sinful bowers; E’en such enraptured life—such energy was ours. But far the greater part, with rage inflamed, Dire-mutter’a^curses^ and blasphemed high Jove:' “Ye sons of hateHthe^^fflerly exclaim’d, [m“ What brought you to this seat offncace and love? with kind Nature, here amid the grove, We pass’d the harmless sabbath of our time, What to ^^Hb it could, fell^^^^^^^^H Your barbarous hearts? Is happiness a crime? ^^fldo the fiends aKKell rule Hyon heaven sublime. LXV. BcYe impious the Knight in wrath, M^Your happiness behold!”—Then straight a wand He waved, an anti-magic power that hath, Truth from illusive falsehood to command. Sudden, the landscape sinks on every hand; pure quick streams are marshy puddles fMnd'; On baleful heaths the groves all blacken’d stand; And, o’er the weedy,^^M abhorred ground, Snakes, adders, toads, each loathsome creature crawls around.■ • H—I B BB ■ ■ yÖ' BTHE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXVI. And here and ^^^^^^Bees^r lightning scathed, Unhappy wights who loathed life Or, in fresh gore and r^^Mmurder bathed, They infuriate flung Into the f^^^^Blood, while ravens sung they down th^B^^^^fflll’d These, by distemper’d. b^^Ko madness stung, Had doom’d pft, when night controlled The world, returning hith^^^^^Ead spirits howl’d, LXVII. Meantime a moving scene That lazar-house, I whilom in my lay And g^^^fcnumber’A^^^^^Hto Who t.ossin squalid lay. unwonted smile Pour’d Through drear cave^H stretching many a mile, The sick upraised^^S heads, and dropp’d their Avoes awhiM LXVIII. “0 Heaven!” they cried, “and do we once more see this earth so fair? Are we from noisom^mamns of pest-house free? And drin^B|M5fflj^^^^^^^B;thereal air? O, thou! or Knight, or God! who holdest there That fiend, oh! keep him in eternal chains! But whaf^^His, the children Brought to the^^^^^^Ql what Jappe| remains? Repentance does pains.” THE CASTLE OF INDOMCE. LXIX. The gentle Knight, who saw their rueful case, Let fall adown his silver beard ^Be tears: quoth hes^‘it is not; even in grace T’ undo the past, and eke your broken years: Nathlessji. to nobler worlds Repentance rears, With Hnble hope, her eye; to her is given A power thaE’uly contrite heart that cheers; She quells the brand by which the rocks are riven; ||he more softens, 'she rejoices Heaven. LXX. “Then patient bear the sufferings you have earn’d, And by these sufferings purify the mind; Lei^Eisdom be by past^S^^^B^^Barn’d: Or ^^^Btdie, with penitence resign’d; And to £^lfe more happy and refined I Doubt not y^H shall, new creatures,^et arise. may expect in me to find One who will wipe your sorrowyour eyes, One who w^l soothe your pangs, and wing you to the skieH LXXI. They silent heard, and B^^^meir thanks in tears. “ For you,” resumed the Knight with, sterner “ WTiose hard dry hearts th’ obdurate demon sears, Thap^^Hs gifts' v^^Rt” you many a groan; .In dolorous mansion long you must bemoan fatal charms, and weep your stains away; Till soft as infant-goodness grown, Yoi^ftel a perfect changb: then who can say What grace may yet s^Be forth in Heaven’s eternal dayH 25THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. lxxiImI This said, his powerful wand he waved anew: glorious angel-tr^S descends, The Charities, to wit, of rosy hue, love their looks a gentle radiance lends, And with seraphicK^Mi compassion blends. At once, delighted, tSftheir charge jfragafly : When, lo^R goodly In wh^fl they aid l^^fflh, That could the sick-bed smoothes that sad^^^^^^^| LXXIII. It was a^^®y edifying sight, And g^^So human-^md peculiar grace, kind hands attending day and With tender ministry, from place Some prop the head^^^m, from t^a pallid Wipe off the faint c^^^^^Bweak nature sheds; reach the healing draught: the whilst, to chase ^^^^rear supreme.^ffl^^«th Some holy man ^Bpraye^Ell opening heaven dispreads. LXXIY. Attended by a glad rescued had from gaping ^^^B Then turn’d the Knight; and, to his hall again Yet down his pity fell, ToBgg^^^Shelple^^^^^^^^^rat remain’d, There jlffiyt through Amazed, their looks with dire dismay were stain’^^B And spreading wide their hands they meek repentm^Sygign’d. 26 THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXXV. But ah! their. S§M||d day of'grace was fmsmp For (horrible to tell!) a desert wild Before themKfflSch’d, bare, comfortless, and vast; With and There nor trim field, nor smiled; Nor waving shade was ^ffillnor- fountain fair; But samfs abrupt sands Through with painfu^^^^H Whilst Phoebus smote them and fired LXXVI. Then, varying to a j^^H lai^M^B^B| The sadden’c^^^^ffl a EBy waste appear’d; Where^^^^B but putrid streams For ever hung on drizzly Auster’s beard; Or else t^Sgroun^^^Rnercing Caurus sear’MH Was jagg’d mth frost, <^ffiieap’d with ^^^^Biow: Through these extremes a ceaseless By Bmml fiends still hurried to and fro, Gaunt Beggary, and Scorn, with many hell-hounds moe. LXXVII. The fi^B was base dunghill rags yclad, Of morbid hue his features, s^^^End sad; ight: And oE his lank jaw-bone, in His bllffi rough beard wa®^^^^Brank and vile; Direfu^^^^M a heart-appalling ^^9 Meantime foul defile, And went, ^^^Baarked all the while.THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXXVIII. The other waHa fell despiteful fiend: Hell horns no^Swo^S in baleful bower belowjy| By pridS and wit, and ra^Mand rancour, keen’d; OH man alike, if good oS bad, the foealp With nlle upturn’d, hS alwagB madS a shew As if h<9 smfflt Boms nauseous |i|pnt I his eye Waa cold, and keen, likeKEist from boreal snow; ■And pmnts h^^mn forth m^S bitterly. Such were the^B||in that off drovflthiB ungodly fry. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. LXXIX. Even so through Brentford town, a town of mud, A herd of bristly swine is prick’d along; The filthy beasts, that never chew the cud, Still gruntBand squeak, and sing .their troublous song, And oft they plunge themselves the mire among: But ay th|| ruthless driver goads them on, And ay of barking dogs the bitter throng Mak II n t Those j d o 'v\ -! cs s t f e atur e s ART-UNION OF LONDON. 1846y SLT'J S.~[ I e fo r ;•) ! c b ' e e di n o pray s I. o } I e av eri . O ayr ;n;.ii the men of 'hl ood* t’hems tlves jtiay bcBbro'[v cti ART-UXIO:^ OF LONDON . 1846Ori "WaJdeórajve s sdì olieder O) H T 1 ♦ / A.'PT-TJ'NION 01' J .ONI'O'N , 184 6 ■ I ■ m He V-c.s me dry the i amt,_____the first _ me only Lears that ever hurst .From Outalissi's soul. i R ' ■ U B i 0 N.^-11 I. | ■ ■ 0 ■✓ \ a r * IART-UNION In order to obtain a good subject for engraving, and to induce the production of a superior work of art, the Society offered in the year 1844 a'premium of £500 for an original picture illustrative of British History. Twenty-eight cartoons were received in competition ; and the premium was awarded to the designer of the one entitled, “ Queen Philippa interceding for the lives of the Burgesses of Calais,”—who, on opening the letter sent in with the cartoon, was found to be Mr. H. C. Selous. The painting when completed, will be engraved for the Society® Amongst the cartoons submitted were several of great excellence, and the Council, considering that the publication of them would be acceptable to the Subscribers, and an encouraging compliment to the artists who responded to their call, arranged to engrave in outline reduced drawings of seven, and to distribute them to the Subscribers of the year ending March 31, 1847, in addition to the pair of Prints of “ The Last Embrace,” and “ The Neapolitan Wedding.” . THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE SUBJECTS, PLACED CHRONOLOGICALLY:— / I I */l. “Non Angli sed Angeli.”—By G. Scharfjun., engravedby E. Webb.—“The subject of the cartoon is the well-known incident in the life of Pope Gregory I. (known also as St. Gregory the Great*| who seeing some fair children exposed for sale in a public market-place at Borne, inquired from what country they came, and being told that they were Angles and Pagans; he exclaimed with a sigh, ‘ They would not be Angles but angels, if they were but Christians.’ This incident, which took place in the early part of St. Gregory’s life (in 577), led to the permanent establishment of Christianity in England ; for twenty years later, after St. Gregory became pope, he sent Augustin and a party of missionaries, to preach the gospel in this country. In the cartoon, St. Gregory is represented proceeding from the altar through the forum of Aurelius, a public market-place (as indicated by the figure in the foreground with a basket, the girl selling flowers, and the woman beckoning to the two children). The attention of the saint is arrested by the group of young British slaves exposed on a raised platform for sale. (The spear above them is the traditional Roman emblem of a sale ‘ sub hasta.’) Near St. Gregory is St. Augustin, afterward the first archbishop of Canterbury, who hears and notes his memorable words ; a little behind St. Augustin, in the centre of the picture, a sub-deacon or almoner is seen engaged in effecting the ransom of the slaves, for which he is counting money to the merchant. This incident is at once in accordance with what we know of the*character of St. Gregory, who by one of his edicts, abolished slavery throughout the whole of Christian Europe; and may at the same time be considered as typical of the deliverance from the bondage of sin, which was effected by'their conversion to Christianity. The choristers in attendance are in allusion to the improvements in sacred music introduced by St. Gregory. No particular locality has been assigned by history as the scene of the action. The forum of Aurelius has been selected as equally probable and significant: it commands a view of the Antonine column, and the Basilica of Antoninus Pius; and thus the triumphs of spiritual EE zeal, and the trophies of ambition and war, are brought into one point of view before ( j the portico of the Pantheon.” V . F LONDON «assess® '/'l. Saxon Almsgiving.—By W. B. Scott, engraved by H. C. Shenton.—“ The patriarchial custom of daily bread-giving, practised by our Saxon ancestors, is the subject of the cartoon. To supply the needy was the office of the noble mistress of the mansion ; and hence our word ‘ Lady ’ ^is supposed to have originated in the term leaf dian, (loaf server), abbreviated to Lafdy. The scene is the porch of an Earl’s or rich Franklin’s house of the time of Alfred. The two principal figures are the lady and her daughter who gives fruit to the children. On one side are the female applicants, who are the most numerous, and on the other wait the men, as in an ancient illumination of the subject.” iy 3. Alfred, surrounded by his family, addresses Edward his Son and Successor.—By W. P. Salter, engraved by H. C. Shenton.—“ My son, I feel that my hour is coming. My countenance is wan. My days are almost gone. We must now part. I shall to another world, and thou shalt be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee (for thou art my dear child), strive to be a father and a lord to thy people. Be thou the children’s father, and the widow’s friend. Comfort thou the poor and shelter the weak; and with all thy might right that which is wrong. And son, govern thyself by law, then shall the Lord love thee, and God, above all things, shall be thy reward.” —Sharon Turner’s Anglo Saxons, Vol. II. p. 79. ^4. Seizure of Roger Mortimer by Edward III. in Nottingham Castle.—By J. N. Paton, engraved by H. C. Shenton.—“---The probable manner whereof is worthy the relating. There was in the Castle of Nottingham (and at this day is) a certaine secret way or Mine cut through a Rocke, vpon which the said Castle is built, one issue whereof openeth toward the Riuer of Trent, which runnes vnder it, and the other venteth it selfe farre within vpon the surface, and is (at this present) called Mortimers hole; through this, the young King well armed, and strongly seconded, was conducted with drawne swords, by some his trusty and sworne seruants, (among which was that braue Montacute, whom his vertues vnder this King raised to the Earledome of Salisbury, &c.) up to the Queenes Chamber, whose dore (so feareles is blinded affection) was vnshut, and with her was Mortimer (the Kings Master, as the rumor spred him,) whom (with the slaughter of a Knight, and one or two that resisted) they laid hold vpon. This was not reputed a slender enterprise, in regard that in Mortimers retinue were not fewer (they say) then one hundreth and fourescoer Knights, besides Esquiers and Gentlemen.”—Speed’s History of Great Britain, Book IX. c. 12. y 5. The Welcome of the Boy-King, Henry VI. into London, after his Coronation at Paris.—By Edward II. Corbould, engraved by E. Webb.—“ After various greetings from giants, and poetical admonitions from dames, the king reached the conduit of Cheapside, where he was obliged to draw bridle, the artists having expended the highest resources of their art upon this favoured spot. Here were the wells of Mercy, Grace, and Pity, where ladies ministered from the flowing fountains to all who wished to drink; and probably the applicants for their services were not few, as the water was turned into excellent wine.” \>6. Spenser Reading the “Faerie Queene,” to his Wife and Sir Walter Raleigh.—By Marshall Claxton, engravedby E. Webb. Howard Visiting an Asiatic Prison.—By E, Armitage, engraved by E. Webb.% - ,\ sa'é$k Ij t I, I IART-UNION" OF LONDON. 18477 3 Kinó Alfred adiressin(5 fiis goti Edward.. CD CD ART - I N fl 0 N 1 fl 0'fl ì ) 0I Eg I' .Vf 0. 1 Î I Ì i. i A FIT- UNION OF LCNLON. 1847. Spenser reading “The T’aeri e Queene" ART UT>JTON Eoi LONDON 1647 I F I ♦ I . : * V S' 5 I iHoward- vi siting a prisonULÏ » Kllil mm “towvu^'5b--*ji mm IBiSPSS» gü fn'“.“,>S;f ... •■<•'■• ^>T.Tfiaai