21

"O Thou, at whose creative smile, yon Heaven, In all the pomp of beauty, life, and light, Rose from the abyss; when dark Confusion, driven Down, down the bottomless profound of night, Fled, where he ever flies thy piercing sight!

O glance on these sad shades one pitying ray, To blast the fury of oppressive might, Melt the hard heart to love and mercy's sway, And cheer the wandering soul, and light him on the way!"

22

Silence ensued; and Edwin raised his eyes In tears, for grief lay heavy at his heart.

"And is it thus in courtly life," he cries, "That man to man acts a betrayer's part?

And dares he thus the gifts of Heaven pervert, Each social instinct, and sublime desire?

Hail, Poverty! if honour, wealth, and art, If what the great pursue and learn'd admire, Thus dissipate and quench the soul's ethereal fire!"

23

He said, and turn'd away; nor did the Sage O'erhear, in silent orisons employ'd.

The Youth, his rising sorrow to a.s.suage, Home, as he hied, the evening scene enjoy'd: For now no cloud obscures the starry void; The yellow moonlight sleeps on all the hills; [2]

Nor is the mind with startling sounds annoy'd; A soothing murmur the lone region fills Of groves, and dying gales, and melancholy rills.

24

But he from day to day more anxious grew, The voice still seem'd to vibrate on his ear.

Nor durst he hope the hermit's tale untrue; For man he seem'd to love, and Heaven to fear; And none speaks false, where there is none to hear.

"Yet, can man's gentle heart become so fell?

No more in vain conjecture let me wear My hours away, but seek the hermit's cell; 'Tis he my doubt can clear, perhaps my care dispel."

25

At early dawn the Youth his journey took, And many a mountain pa.s.s'd and valley wide, Then reach'd the wild; where, in a flowery nook, And seated on a mossy stone, he spied An ancient man: his harp lay him beside.

A stag sprang from the pasture at his call, And, kneeling, lick'd the wither'd hand that tied A wreath of woodbine round his antlers tall, And hung his lofty neck with many a floweret small.

26

And now the h.o.a.ry Sage arose, and saw The wanderer approaching: innocence Smiled on his glowing cheek, but modest awe Depress'd his eye, that fear'd to give offence.

"Who art thou, courteous stranger and from whence Why roam thy steps to this sequester'd dale?"

"A shepherd boy," the Youth replied, "far hence My habitation; hear my artless tale; Nor levity nor falsehood shall thine ear a.s.sail

27

"Late as I roam'd, intent on Nature's charms, I reach'd at eve this wilderness profound; And, leaning where yon oak expands her arms, Heard these rude cliffs thine awful voice rebound (For in thy speech I recognise the sound).

You mourn'd for ruin'd man, and virtue lost, And seem'd to feel of keen remorse the wound, Pondering on former days, by guilt engross'd, Or in the giddy storm of dissipation toss'd.

28

"But say, in courtly life can craft be learn'd, Where knowledge opens and exalts the soul?

Where Fortune lavishes her gifts unearn'd, Can selfishness the liberal heart control?

Is glory there achieved by arts as foul As those that felons, fiends, and furies plan?

Spiders ensnare, snakes poison, tigers prowl: Love is the G.o.dlike attribute of man.

O teach a simple youth this mystery to scan.

29

"Or else the lamentable strain disclaim, And give me back the calm, contented mind.

Which, late exulting, view'd in Nature's frame Goodness untainted, wisdom unconfined, Grace, grandeur, and utility combined.

Restore those tranquil days that saw me still Well pleased with all, but most with humankind; When Fancy roam'd through Nature's works at will, Uncheck'd by cold distrust, and uninform'd by ill."

30

"Wouldst thou," the Sage replied, "in peace return To the gay dreams of fond romantic youth, Leave me to hide, in this remote sojourn, From every gentle ear the dreadful truth: For if any desultory strain with ruth And indignation make thine eyes o'erflow, Alas! what comfort could thy anguish soothe, Shouldst thou the extent of human folly know?

Be ignorance thy choice, where knowledge leads to woe.

31

"But let untender thoughts afar be driven; Nor venture to arraign the dread decree.

For know, to man, as candidate for heaven, The voice of the Eternal said, Be free: And this divine prerogative to thee Does virtue, happiness, and heaven convey; For virtue is the child of liberty, And happiness of virtue; nor can they Be free to keep the path, who are not free to stray.

32

"Yet leave me not. I would allay that grief, Which else might thy young virtue overpower; And in thy converse I shall find relief, When the dark shades of melancholy lower; For solitude has many a dreary hour, Even when exempt from grief, remorse, and pain: Come often then; for haply, in my bower, Amus.e.m.e.nt, knowledge, wisdom thou mayst gain: If I one soul improve, I have not lived in vain."

33

And now, at length, to Edwin's ardent gaze The Muse of history unrolls her page.

But few, alas! the scenes her art displays, To charm his fancy, or his heart engage.

Here chiefs their thirst of power in blood a.s.suage, And straight their flames with tenfold fierceness burn Here smiling Virtue prompts the patriot's rage, But, lo! ere long, is left alone to mourn, And languish in the dust, and clasp the abandon'd urn.

34

"Ambition's slippery verge shall mortals tread, Where ruin's gulf, unfathom'd, yawns beneath?

Shall life, shall liberty be lost," he said, "For the vain toys that Pomp and Power bequeath?

The car of victory, the plume, the wreath Defend not from the bolt of fate the brave: No note the clarion of Renown can breathe, To alarm the long night of the lonely grave, Or check the headlong haste of time's o'erwhelming wave.

35

"Ah, what avails it to have traced the springs, That whirl of empire the stupendous wheel?