Poems (Sewell)/Horatio and Amanda
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HORATIO AND AMANDA.
A POEM.
FOUNDED UPON A REAL FACT AT THE BATTLE OF FONTENOY, AND RELATED IN THE ADVENTURER.
HORATIO AND AMANDA,A POEM.
Sequester'd in a verdant rich retreat,
Where lavish Nature pour'd forth ev'ry sweet,
Where Summer with unusual beauty glow'd,
And golden Autumn all her fruits bestow'd;
Horatio and Amanda—matchless pair!
Retir'd from pleasures they disdain'd to share:
The joys of dissipation seem'd to them,
Something as much to pity as condemn;
Their souls for nobler happiness were form'd,
Benevolence and Love their bosoms warm'd.
Benevolence no secret view directs,
That wins the praise it modestly rejects. you
Love, that Esteem had nourish'd from its root,
And bore the tend'rest Friendship for its fruit;
Love, that heal'd ev'ry care but one—to part!
And made each circumstance engage the heart.
Where lavish Nature pour'd forth ev'ry sweet,
Where Summer with unusual beauty glow'd,
And golden Autumn all her fruits bestow'd;
Horatio and Amanda—matchless pair!
Retir'd from pleasures they disdain'd to share:
The joys of dissipation seem'd to them,
Something as much to pity as condemn;
Their souls for nobler happiness were form'd,
Benevolence and Love their bosoms warm'd.
Benevolence no secret view directs,
That wins the praise it modestly rejects. you
Love, that Esteem had nourish'd from its root,
And bore the tend'rest Friendship for its fruit;
Love, that heal'd ev'ry care but one—to part!
And made each circumstance engage the heart.
Nature with wond'rous skill her part had done,
And mark'd HORATIO for her fav'rite son;
She gave him that insinuating air,
Which art can never teach nor words declare;
She gave him that intelligence of eye,
Whose silent force might eloquence supply:
Yet humble, soft, sincere!the gay, the meek,
Wou'd gladly all unite to hear him speak.
He gave a confidence to modest worth—
Gave life and energy to decent mirth;
And join'd with dignity, such native ease,
He now seem'd form'd to rule—and now to please.
And mark'd HORATIO for her fav'rite son;
She gave him that insinuating air,
Which art can never teach nor words declare;
She gave him that intelligence of eye,
Whose silent force might eloquence supply:
Yet humble, soft, sincere!the gay, the meek,
Wou'd gladly all unite to hear him speak.
He gave a confidence to modest worth—
Gave life and energy to decent mirth;
And join'd with dignity, such native ease,
He now seem'd form'd to rule—and now to please.
Amanda shone in ev'ry female grace,
And beauty reign'd unconscious in her face.
The gentlest look—the most bewitching air—
A smile, beyond description or compare;
Simplicity, not always known to youth,
And the pure accents of unsullied truth:—
These were Amanda's. In her spotless mind
Set Pity, Love, and Innocence combin'd;
Malice and Envy, long in vain had sought
To gain one selfish, one injurious thought:
Horatio all her earthly care supply'd,
Nor cou'd the world have drawn her from his side;
To see his brilliant eye express delight,
Was more than Summer to Amanda's sight;
To walk with him had made a desart gay,
And smooth'd the steep and rugged mountain's way;
To hear him talk, such rapture 'twou'd confer;
'Twas more than e'en the Nightingale to her!
And beauty reign'd unconscious in her face.
The gentlest look—the most bewitching air—
A smile, beyond description or compare;
Simplicity, not always known to youth,
And the pure accents of unsullied truth:—
These were Amanda's. In her spotless mind
Set Pity, Love, and Innocence combin'd;
Malice and Envy, long in vain had sought
To gain one selfish, one injurious thought:
Horatio all her earthly care supply'd,
Nor cou'd the world have drawn her from his side;
To see his brilliant eye express delight,
Was more than Summer to Amanda's sight;
To walk with him had made a desart gay,
And smooth'd the steep and rugged mountain's way;
To hear him talk, such rapture 'twou'd confer;
'Twas more than e'en the Nightingale to her!
Ah sweet Amanda! see the moment near,
When this enchanting scene must disappear,
When this tranquility shall take its flight,
And leave the horrors of tremendous night!
Thy timid soul, a poignant grief must prove,
And Patience find a shield for coward Love!
Tis Honour calls Horation to the camp,
And shall thy fears his rising ardour damp?
No!—Soft Amanda ev'ry pang supprest,
And check'd the sigh which struggled in her breast.
But could she from her much-lov'd Soldier part,
And bear in solitude a widow'd heart?"
Oh could she bear to range those meads alone,
Where oft his charming converse she had known
Oh could she bear to think the barb'rous foe
Might deal the dire irrevocable blow,
Might wound the fearless bosom she ador'd,
Where all her treasure, all her hope was stor'd;
And strangers shou'd the healing balm apply,
With rough attention, and unmoisten'd eye?
When this enchanting scene must disappear,
When this tranquility shall take its flight,
And leave the horrors of tremendous night!
Thy timid soul, a poignant grief must prove,
And Patience find a shield for coward Love!
Tis Honour calls Horation to the camp,
And shall thy fears his rising ardour damp?
No!—Soft Amanda ev'ry pang supprest,
And check'd the sigh which struggled in her breast.
But could she from her much-lov'd Soldier part,
And bear in solitude a widow'd heart?"
Oh could she bear to range those meads alone,
Where oft his charming converse she had known
Oh could she bear to think the barb'rous foe
Might deal the dire irrevocable blow,
Might wound the fearless bosom she ador'd,
Where all her treasure, all her hope was stor'd;
And strangers shou'd the healing balm apply,
With rough attention, and unmoisten'd eye?
"Ah no!" she cried, "Amnda shall attend
"Her Love, her Lord! her Husband, and her Friend!
"Amanda's hand shall dress thee for the fight,
"Her cares shall soften thy fatigue at night:
"Shall she in danger quit thy much-lov'd side,
"To ev'ry care as well as joy allied?
"Coud'st thou my heart's remotest dwelling see,
"All climes all places are the same with thee.
"Ah, dear Horatio! trust my truth in this;
"I'd rather share thy danger than thy bliss!
"And cou'dst thou one, and only one impart,
"I'd cherish half thy sorrows in my heart."
"Her Love, her Lord! her Husband, and her Friend!
"Amanda's hand shall dress thee for the fight,
"Her cares shall soften thy fatigue at night:
"Shall she in danger quit thy much-lov'd side,
"To ev'ry care as well as joy allied?
"Coud'st thou my heart's remotest dwelling see,
"All climes all places are the same with thee.
"Ah, dear Horatio! trust my truth in this;
"I'd rather share thy danger than thy bliss!
"And cou'dst thou one, and only one impart,
"I'd cherish half thy sorrows in my heart."
In vain the youth represt her tender zeal,
And told her all the horrors she must feel;
How wou'd the tumult fright her gentle ear,
Unus'd the solemn din of war to hear!
But now that tongue, accustom'd to prevail,
Found all its pow'rs of elocution fail;
That eloquence, which never fail'd before,
Preserves its magic influence no more!
In vain each care, and each fatigue is shewn,
Whilst all her care is fix'd on him alone.
She pray'd—she wept!—at length her wish obtain'd;
They left the blest retreat where pleasure reign'd.
Amanda oft the trickling sorrows hid,
For Love will feign that ease it will forbid;
Her boding fancy, scenes of terror drew,
And seem'd to bid her take the last adieu.
The meads that boasted such a fragrant bloom,
She thought o'erspread with a prophetic gloom;
The very trees, in silence seem'd to mourn,
As if they said,—Ye never shall return!
The streams in doleful murmurs crept along,
And the sweet Blackbird sung his saddest song.
In vain the Hero, with the Lover join'd,
To soothe the anguish of Amanda's mind:
She oft essay'd to speak—a vain essay!
The pow'rs of utt'rance seem'd dissolv'd away;
Her eyes alone, their eloquence produce,
And gaze on him, as if 'twas all their use;.
And that this spacious world, of him bereft,
Had nothing for Amanda—nothing left!
And now! the dreadful morn bestow'd its light;
How many now shall never see the night!
How many that with health and vigour glow,
This awful morn shall lay for ever low!
Horatio! who can tell thy doubtful fate?
Tremendous death has op'd his iron gate;
Oh! shou'dst thou enter with the slaughter'd crew,
The fatal dart must pierce Amanda too!
"Farewell!" she cried—"Oh kindest, dearest, best!—
"May Heav'n"———A flood of sorrow spoke the rest!
Thrice to each other's arms they fondly sprung,
Whilst mute affliction tied each fault'ring tongue;
Thrice did they fondly gaze. 'Tis o'er—'tis past!
That look—oh poor Amanda! was thy last!
And now the Sons of Mars embattled meet,
And hungry Death prepares his savage treat;
Glory inspires each unexperienc'd sword,
The hero now is in his son restor'd;
And now the Father—now the Brother dies,
Whilst groans and shouts of conquest rend the skies.
Horatio dealt destruction all around,
And tumbled youth and valour to the ground!
But oh! fond youth! beware that fatal ball!
It comes—Horatio, thou art doom'd to fall,
On the cold earth, he soon resign'd his breath,
And look'd like Vict'ry in the Arms of Death.
And told her all the horrors she must feel;
How wou'd the tumult fright her gentle ear,
Unus'd the solemn din of war to hear!
But now that tongue, accustom'd to prevail,
Found all its pow'rs of elocution fail;
That eloquence, which never fail'd before,
Preserves its magic influence no more!
In vain each care, and each fatigue is shewn,
Whilst all her care is fix'd on him alone.
She pray'd—she wept!—at length her wish obtain'd;
They left the blest retreat where pleasure reign'd.
Amanda oft the trickling sorrows hid,
For Love will feign that ease it will forbid;
Her boding fancy, scenes of terror drew,
And seem'd to bid her take the last adieu.
The meads that boasted such a fragrant bloom,
She thought o'erspread with a prophetic gloom;
The very trees, in silence seem'd to mourn,
As if they said,—Ye never shall return!
The streams in doleful murmurs crept along,
And the sweet Blackbird sung his saddest song.
In vain the Hero, with the Lover join'd,
To soothe the anguish of Amanda's mind:
She oft essay'd to speak—a vain essay!
The pow'rs of utt'rance seem'd dissolv'd away;
Her eyes alone, their eloquence produce,
And gaze on him, as if 'twas all their use;.
And that this spacious world, of him bereft,
Had nothing for Amanda—nothing left!
And now! the dreadful morn bestow'd its light;
How many now shall never see the night!
How many that with health and vigour glow,
This awful morn shall lay for ever low!
Horatio! who can tell thy doubtful fate?
Tremendous death has op'd his iron gate;
Oh! shou'dst thou enter with the slaughter'd crew,
The fatal dart must pierce Amanda too!
"Farewell!" she cried—"Oh kindest, dearest, best!—
"May Heav'n"———A flood of sorrow spoke the rest!
Thrice to each other's arms they fondly sprung,
Whilst mute affliction tied each fault'ring tongue;
Thrice did they fondly gaze. 'Tis o'er—'tis past!
That look—oh poor Amanda! was thy last!
And now the Sons of Mars embattled meet,
And hungry Death prepares his savage treat;
Glory inspires each unexperienc'd sword,
The hero now is in his son restor'd;
And now the Father—now the Brother dies,
Whilst groans and shouts of conquest rend the skies.
Horatio dealt destruction all around,
And tumbled youth and valour to the ground!
But oh! fond youth! beware that fatal ball!
It comes—Horatio, thou art doom'd to fall,
On the cold earth, he soon resign'd his breath,
And look'd like Vict'ry in the Arms of Death.
Horatio spent the day in ardent pray'r,
And wept and watch'd with unremitting care.
The ev'ning rose, and no Horatio came!
A mortal horror chill'd her tender frame.
"Where is Horatio?" often wou'd she say;
But none could clear her anxious doubts away;
None could the sad catastrophe reveal,
But silence told what pity wou'd conceal.
Unable now her anguish to contain,
She sought the bloody mansions of the slain;
O'er mangled heaps, with trembling haste she flew,
Whilst conscious Nature shudder'd at the view;
But savage death had such confusion made,
In vain the bleeding havock she survey'd:
She saw with grief, confusion, and despair,
Nor form, nor feature were distinguish'd there.
But as she turn'd away with frantic eye,
She heard her faithful dog in anguish cry;
And as the wretched beast prolong'd its whine,
She turn'd, and saw it on the earth recline;
Close by a cold disfigur'd corpse it lay,
And seem'd a mournful reverence to pay;
With anxious care she view'd the mangled face,
But no resemblance cou'd her fancy trace;
Till gazing on the hand—her eye was caught,
Some work she 'spy'd, that once her fingers wrought;
The pattern still she knew, tho' stain'd and torn,
And knew the precious hand on which 'twas worn:
Upon the lifeless corpse, herself she threw,
And clasp'd the bosom bath'd in chilly dew;
The hand she press'd, in anguish, o'er and o'er,
And kiss'd the lips she knew wou'd ope no more!
And wept and watch'd with unremitting care.
The ev'ning rose, and no Horatio came!
A mortal horror chill'd her tender frame.
"Where is Horatio?" often wou'd she say;
But none could clear her anxious doubts away;
None could the sad catastrophe reveal,
But silence told what pity wou'd conceal.
Unable now her anguish to contain,
She sought the bloody mansions of the slain;
O'er mangled heaps, with trembling haste she flew,
Whilst conscious Nature shudder'd at the view;
But savage death had such confusion made,
In vain the bleeding havock she survey'd:
She saw with grief, confusion, and despair,
Nor form, nor feature were distinguish'd there.
But as she turn'd away with frantic eye,
She heard her faithful dog in anguish cry;
And as the wretched beast prolong'd its whine,
She turn'd, and saw it on the earth recline;
Close by a cold disfigur'd corpse it lay,
And seem'd a mournful reverence to pay;
With anxious care she view'd the mangled face,
But no resemblance cou'd her fancy trace;
Till gazing on the hand—her eye was caught,
Some work she 'spy'd, that once her fingers wrought;
The pattern still she knew, tho' stain'd and torn,
And knew the precious hand on which 'twas worn:
Upon the lifeless corpse, herself she threw,
And clasp'd the bosom bath'd in chilly dew;
The hand she press'd, in anguish, o'er and o'er,
And kiss'd the lips she knew wou'd ope no more!
"Take me,"—she cried,—"thou dear disfigur'd earth;
"The world can ne'er restore thy matchless worth.
"All pale and cold, and mangled as thou art,
"Thou'rt all the treasure of Amanda's heart!
"Oh precious relics!—all that's left me now!—
"To part again Amanda can't allow.
"Take me, thou bleeding earth!—One grave shall join,
"And make thee, spite of fate, for ever mine:
"Thine own Amanda, faithful shall attend,
"For her's was not a love for Death to end!
"In the damp grave he shall be her's alone.
"Oh blest Amanda! he is still thy own!
"Kind Heaven, in mercy, gives my soul release,
"And guides a sufferer to the paths of Peace."
"The world can ne'er restore thy matchless worth.
"All pale and cold, and mangled as thou art,
"Thou'rt all the treasure of Amanda's heart!
"Oh precious relics!—all that's left me now!—
"To part again Amanda can't allow.
"Take me, thou bleeding earth!—One grave shall join,
"And make thee, spite of fate, for ever mine:
"Thine own Amanda, faithful shall attend,
"For her's was not a love for Death to end!
"In the damp grave he shall be her's alone.
"Oh blest Amanda! he is still thy own!
"Kind Heaven, in mercy, gives my soul release,
"And guides a sufferer to the paths of Peace."
And then again, she press'd the breathless clay,
As if her soul had nigh dissolv'd away;
To Heaven she turn'd her look, in silent prayer,
And Resignation gain'd the triumph there!
Then with a yielding sigh resign'd her breath,
No gentler Spirit ever smil'd on Death;
Bright Mercy call'd it to Celestial Love,
And Angels bore it to the Realms Above!
As if her soul had nigh dissolv'd away;
To Heaven she turn'd her look, in silent prayer,
And Resignation gain'd the triumph there!
Then with a yielding sigh resign'd her breath,
No gentler Spirit ever smil'd on Death;
Bright Mercy call'd it to Celestial Love,
And Angels bore it to the Realms Above!