Poems (Sewell)/The Cavern of the Furies

by Mary Young Sewell

THE CAVERN OF THE FURIES.

Deep in a cavern, gloomy and profound,
Where never Spring adorn'd the thankless ground,
Where never light, thro' friendly windings crept,
Nor pining Penitence her vigils kept,
Where imps of night frequent the noisome road,
The ghastly Furies held their dark abode!
Here lights infernal, vivid flashes threw,
A fearful gloom, which darkness never knew!!
A thousand meagre phantoms here remain,
Distraction raves, and Passion knaws its chain;
Two fiends defend the gate, with furious zeal,
Whose haggard eyes no slumber ere shall seal!
Pale Jealousy performs her watchful part,
And Envy hides the Vulture in her heart;
Close by her side, ingenious Falsehood sits,
And frames the pois'nous tale she ne'er forgets;
Whilst hatred shews her gloomy joy the while,
And "horribly she grins, a ghastly smile!"
These, while discordant clamours grate the car,
Uncheck'd by laws, exert their influence here.

The Furies oft their slack'ning pow'rs renew,
And sparks of rage re-kindle at their view.
Revenge, whilst fatal silence marks her trade,
From cold Suspicion takes the reeking blade!
Despair sets speechless, o'er her dark intent,
And Error lurks to ensnare the innocent!
And Cruelty enjoys her dire success,
To sharpen anguish and insult distress.

Lo! with her sponge, Ingratitude appears!
One touch obliterates the work of years:
Even savage fiends behold her with dismay!
Passion disowns—and Nature turns away.

These and a thousand more of hideous form,
Fierce and rapacious as the midnight storm!
Rush forth, malignant, from their gloomy den,
To taint with pois'nous arts the sons of men;
And, lest one destin'd victim shou'd escape,
With specious garb they hide their native shape.
Where Pride or Passion leave a weaker part,
The dang'rous venom there assails the heart;
But still, where pure Religion holds her reign,
The treach'rous enemy may plot in vain:
Benevolence excludes her fairest claim,
And hates Revenge, tho' Justice lends her name!
In sordid hearts alone can Envy grow,
And true intrepid Courage spares its foe.

"Are these your triumphs then?"-the Furies frown'd:
Enrag'd they dart their haggard eyes around;
Keen lightnings flash-pale Discord waves her hand,
And demons tremble at the fierce demand.

"Are these your triumphs then?"—the Furies cry—
"Ye wretched caitiffs! from destruction fly!
"Shall helpless Earth, its hateful peace retain
"Shall ten-fold Night then spread its shade in vain?
"Shall proud Megara, with ignoble power,
"Rule but the mistress of a feeble hour?
"No!—Our fierce wrath, detested Man shall know
"A glorious vengeance shall direct the blow.—
"Come from thy cavern! darker than Despair!
"Come forth! Oh Calumny!—thy stings prepare!
"'Tis thine, on earth t' extend our mighty reign,
"And Vice shall rule, when Virtue pleads in vain!"

They ceas'd—And lo! obedient at the call,
(Whilst fiends rejoice that Innocence shou'd fall,)
The fav'rite monster, from her dark abode,
Her odious form with pride exulting shew'd.
Two potent wings the sov'reign pow'rs supplied—
A fatal quiver grac'd her senseless side;
And ev'ry pois'nous shaft from thence she drew,
Would pierce the shield of Innocence quite thro':
Envy had lent her gall, to make them sure,
And give the secret wound no time shou'd cure;
Whilst Flattery went to smooth th' uneven way,
And Enmity and Malice mark'd their prey.

Thus arm'd, and thus equipt—the Furies saw,
A fiend, whose vengeance shou'd defy the law!
Secure from Justice, they assign'd her place,
And twice they held her in a keen embrace.
Alecto smil'd—Away the fav'rite flew—
Her baneful glance around, on earth she threw;
And conscious earth recoil'd.—Where'er she pass'd,
A deadly gloom and noxious mists were cast.
Yet still, unseen, thro' crooked paths she crept,
And blasted ev'ry shade where Virtue slept!
At length, with bolder speed she clears her way,
And spreads her pinions in the face of Day.