Poems (Edwards)/The Phantom of Earthly Glory
THE PHANTOM OF EARTHLY GLORY.
We are prone to make our wishes vain,And sigh for what we cannot gain; Thus a romantic boy,Saw in the distance rising high,A mount that seemed to reach the sky, And hailed the sight with joy.
Upon the mountain's topmost heightThere gleamed a spark as dazzling bright As gems that deck a crown;White-handed Hope stood watching by,And bade him climb the summit high And make that gem his own.
He starts at once with eager tread,With sparkling eyes and lifted head, ° To gain the jewel rare;But dangers multiply around,He starts and trembles at each sound That breaks upon his ear.
"Q! struggle on, nor faint, nor stop,Behold upon the mountain top A royal diadem;Not all the monarchs of the eastCould in their lofty grandeur boast Of such a precious gem."
Thus, whispered Hope; the happy youthDeemed it the sacred word of truth, And still his path pursued;Up, onward, o'er the mighty steepsBehold the fearless tyro leaps With vigour fresh endued.
When lo! a Seraph-form came nighWith glowing smile and beaming eye, And thus the youth addressed;"Poor mortal! give thy journey o'er,And seek earth's glittering spoils no more, In Heaven alone is rest.
My name is Wisdom, born on high,My home is far beyond the sky, Yet I am with the meek,I fill the universe around,By those who seek, I soon am found, To every one I speak."
He paused with weariness oppressed,And thus the heavenly maid addressed, "I pray thee speak no more,Upon the mountain top behold .A diamond set in stars of gold, Must I that prize forego?"
The Seraph gently glided past,She gave a look, it was the last, The sweetest to him given;"Adieu mistaken youth," she cried,And as the echo quickly died, She fled away to Heaven.
The youth toiled on from night till morn,'Till weary, vexed, and sorely torn, He reached the mountain's height,He gazed around the gem to see,But oh, alas! what misery! It no where met his sight.
'Twas but a white and flinty stone,Which in the glittering sunlight shone, That promised such delight;Such are the glories of this earth,They shine a moment at their birth, Then fade in endless night.