The Poems of William Blake (Shepherd, 1887)/Poetical Sketches
POETICAL
SKETCHES.
By W. B.
LONDON:
Printed in the year MDCCLXXXIII.
B
ADVERTISEMENT.
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HE following Sketches were the production of untutored youth, commenced in his twelfth, and occasionally resumed by the author till his twentieth year; since which time, his talents having been wholly directed to the attainment of excellence in his profession, he has been deprived of the leisure requisite to such a revisal of these sheets, as might have rendered them less unfit to meet the public eye.
Conscious of the irregularities and defects to be found in almost every page, his friends have still believed that they possessed a poetical originality, which merited some respite from oblivion. These their opinions remain, however, to be now reproved or confirmed by a less partial public.
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THOU with dewy locks, who lookest down
Thro' the clear windows of the morning, turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!
The hills tell each other, and the listening
Valleys hear; all our longing eyes are turn'd
Up to thy bright pavilions: issue forth,
And let thy holy feet visit our clime.
Come o'er the eastern hills, and let our winds
Kiss thy perfumed garments; let us taste
Thy morn and evening breath; scatter thy pearls
Upon our love-sick land that mourns for thee.
O deck her forth with thy fair fingers; pour
Thy soft kisses on her bosom; and put
Thy golden crown upon her languish'd head,
Whose modest tresses were bound up for thee!
O THOU who passest thro' our valleys in
Thy strength, curb thy fierce steeds, allay the heat
That flames from their large nostrils! thou, O Summer,
Oft pitched'st here thy golden tent, and oft
Beneath our oaks hast slept, while we beheld
With joy thy ruddy limbs and flourishing hair.
Beneath our thickest shades we oft have heard
Thy voice, when noon upon his fervid car
Rode o'er the deep of heaven: beside our springs
Sit down, and in our mossy valleys, on
Some bank beside a river clear, throw thy
Silk draperies off, and rush into the stream:
Our valleys love the Summer in his pride.
Our bards are famed who strike the silver wire:
Our youth are bolder than the southern swains:
Our maidens fairer in the sprightly dance:
We lack not songs, nor instruments of joy,
Nor echoes sweet, nor waters clear as heaven,
Nor laurel wreaths against the sultry heat.
O AUTUMN, laden with fruit, and stain'd
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof, there thou mayst rest,
And time thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.
"The narrow bud opens her beauties to
"The sun, and love runs in her thrilling veins;
"Blossoms hang round the brows of morning, and
"Flourish down the bright cheek of modest eve,
"Till clustering Summer breaks forth into singing,
"And feather'd clouds strew flowers round her head.
"The spirits of the air live on the smells
"Of fruit; and joy, with pinions light, roves round
"The gardens, or sits singing in the trees."
Thus sang the jolly Autumn as he sat;
Then rose, girded himself, and o'er the bleak
Hills fled from our sight; but left his golden load.
O WINTER! bar thine adamantine doors:
The north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark
Deep-founded habitation. Shake not thy roofs
Nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.
He hears me not, but o'er the yawning deep
Rides heavy; his storms are unchain'd, sheathed
In ribbed steel; I dare not lift mine eyes;
For he hath rear'd his sceptre o'er the world.
Lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings
To his strong bones, strides o'er the groaning rocks:
He withers all in silence, and in his hand
Unclothes the earth and freezes up frail life.
He takes his seat upon the cliffs, the mariner
Cries in vain. Poor little wretch! that deal'st
With storms, till heaven smiles, and the monster
Is driven yelling to his caves beneath Mount Hecla.
THOU fair-hair'd angel of the evening,
Now, whilst the sun rests on the mountains, light
Thy bright torch of love; thy radiant crown
Put on, and smile upon our evening bed!
Smile on our loves, and, while thou drawest the
Blue curtains of the sky, scatter thy silver dew
On every flower that shuts its sweet eyes
In timely sleep. Let thy west wind sleep on
The lake; speak silence with thy glimmering eyes,
And wash the dusk with silver. Soon, full soon,
Dost thou withdraw; then the wolf rages wide,
And the lion glares thro' the dun forest:
The fleeces of our flocks are cover'd with
Thy sacred dew: protect them with thine influence.
O HOLY virgin! clad in purest white,
Unlock heaven's golden gates and issue forth;
Awake the dawn that sleeps in heaven; let light
Rise from the chambers of the east, and bring
The honey'd dew that cometh on waking day.
O radiant morning, salute the sun,
Roused like a huntsman to the chase, and with
Thy buskin'd feet appear upon our hills.
THE bell struck one and shook the silent tower;
The graves give up their dead: fair Eleanor
Walk'd by the castle-gate, and looked in;
A hollow groan ran thro' the dreary vaults.
She shriek'd aloud, and sunk upon the steps,
On the cold stone her pale cheek. Sickly smells
Of death issue as from a sepulchre,
And all is silent but the sighing vaults.
Chill death withdraws his hand, and she revives;
Amazed she finds herself upon her feet,
And, like a ghost, through narrow passages
Walking, feeling the cold walls with her hands.
Fancy returns, and now she thinks of bones
And grinning skulls, and corruptible death
Wrapt in his shroud; and now fancies she hears
Deep sighs, and sees pale sickly ghosts gliding.
At length no fancy, but reality
Distracts her. A rushing sound, and the feet
Of one that fled, approaches.—Ellen stood,
Like a dumb statue, froze to stone with fear.
The wretch approaches, crying, "The deed is done;
"Take this and send it by whom thou wilt send;
"It is my life—send it to Eleanor:—
"He's dead, and howling after me for blood!
"Take this," he cried; and thrust into her arms
A wet napkin, wrapt about; then rush'd
Past, howling: she received into her arms
Pale death, and follow'd on the wings of fear.
They pass'd swift thro' the outer gate; the wretch
Howling, leap'd o'er the wall into the moat,
Stifling in mud. Fair Ellen pass'd the bridge,
And heard a gloomy voice cry, "Is it done?"
As the deer wounded Ellen flew over
The pathless plain; as the arrows that fly
By night; destruction flies, and strikes in darkness.
She fled from fear, till at her house arrived.
Her maids await her; on her bed she falls,
That bed of joy where erst her lord hath press'd:
"Ah, woman's fear!" she cried, "Ah, cursed duke!
"Ah, my dear lord! ah, wretched Eleanor!
"My lord was like a flower upon the brows
"Of lusty May! Ah, life as frail as flower!
"O ghastly death! withdraw thy cruel hand,
"Seek'st thou that flower to deck thy horrid temples?
"My lord was like a star in highest heaven
"Drawn down to earth by spells and wickedness;
"My lord was like the opening eyes of day,
"When western winds creep softly o'er the flowers.
"But he is darken'd; like the summer's noon
"Clouded; fall'n like the stately tree, cut down;
"The breath of heaven dwelt among his leaves.
"O Eleanor, weak woman, fill'd with woe!"
Thus having spoke, she raised up her head,
And saw the bloody napkin by her side,
Which in her arms she brought; and now, tenfold
More terrified, saw it unfold itself.
Her eyes were fix'd; the bloody cloth unfolds,
Disclosing to her sight the murder'd head
Of her dear lord, all ghastly pale, clotted
With gory blood; it groan'd, and thus it spake:
"O Eleanor, behold thy husband's head
"Who, sleeping on the stones of yonder tower,
"Was reft of life by the accursed duke!
"A hired villain turn'd my sleep to death!
"O Eleanor, beware the cursed duke,
"O give not him thy hand, now I am dead;
"He seeks thy love; who, coward, in the night,
"Hired a villain to bereave my life."
She sat with dead cold limbs, stiffen'd to stone;
She took the gory head up in her arms;
She kiss'd the pale lips; she had no tears to shed;
She hugg'd it to her breast, and groan'd her last.
SONG.
HOW sweet I roam'd from field to field
And tasted all the summer's pride,
Till I the Prince of Love beheld
Who in the sunny beams did glide!
He shew'd me lilies for my hair,
And blushing roses for my brow;
He led me through his gardens fair
Where all his golden pleasures grow.
With sweet May-dews my wings were wet,
And Phœbus fired my vocal rage;
He caught me in his silken net,
And shut me in his golden cage.
He loves to sit and hear me sing,
Then, laughing, sports and plays with me;
Then stretches out my golden wing
And mocks my loss of liberty.
SONG.
MY silks and fine array,
My smiles and languish'd air
By love are driven away;
And mournful lean Despair
Brings me yew to deck my grave:
Such end true lovers have.
His face is fair as heaven
When springing buds unfold;
O why to him was't given,
Whose heart is wintry cold?
His breast is love's all-worshipp'd tomb,
Where all love's pilgrims come.
Bring me an axe and spade,
Bring me a winding-sheet;
When I my grave have made
Let winds and tempests beat:
Then down I'll lie, as cold as clay:
True love doth pass away!
SONG.
LOVE and harmony combine
And around our souls intwine,
While thy branches mix with mine,
And our roots together join.
Joys upon our branches sit,
Chirping loud, and singing sweet;
Like gentle streams beneath our feet
Innocence and virtue meet.
Thou the golden fruit dost bear,
I am clad in flowers fair;
Thy sweet boughs perfume the air,
And the turtle buildeth there.
There she sits and feeds her young,
Sweet I hear her mournful song;
And thy lovely leaves among
There is Love; I hear his tongue.
There his charming nest doth lay,
There he sleeps the night away;
There he sports along the day
And doth among our branches play.
SONG.
I LOVE the jocund dance,
The softly-breathing song,
Where innocent eyes do glance
And where lisps the maiden's tongue.
I love the laughing vale,
I love the echoing hill,
Where mirth does never fail,
And the jolly swain laughs his fill.
I love the pleasant cot,
I love the innocent bower,
Where white and brown is our lot
Or fruit in the mid-day hour.
I love the oaken seat,
Beneath the oaken tree,
Where all the old villagers meet,
And laugh our sports to see.
I love our neighbours all,
But, Kitty, I better love thee;
And love them I ever shall,
But thou art all to me.
SONG.
MEMORY, hither come
And tune your merry notes:
And while upon the wind
Your music floats
I'll pore upon the stream
Where sighing lovers dream,
And fish for fancies as they pass
Within the watery glass.
I'll drink of the clear stream
And hear the linnet's song,
And there I'll lie and dream
The day along:
And when night comes, I'll go
To places fit for woe,
Walking along the darken'd valley
With silent Melancholy.
MAD SONG.
THE wild winds weep,
And the night is a-cold;
Come hither, Sleep,
And my griefs infold:
But lo! the morning peeps
Over the eastern steeps,
And the rustling beds of dawn
The earth do scorn.
Lo! to the vault
Of paved heaven,
With sorrow fraught
My notes are driven:
They strike the ear of night,
Make weep the eyes of day;
They make mad the roaring winds,
And with tempests play.
Like a fiend in a cloud
With howling woe,
After night I do crowd
And with night will go;
I turn my back to the east
From whence comforts have increased;
For light doth seize my brain
With frantic pain.
SONG.
FRESH from the dewy hill, the merry year
Smiles on my head and mounts his flaming car;
Round my young brows the laurel wreathes a shade
And rising glories beam around my head.
My feet are wing'd while o'er the dewy lawn
I meet my maiden risen like the morn:
Oh bless those holy feet, like angels' feet;
Oh bless those limbs, beaming with heavenly light!
Like as an angel glittering in the sky
In times of innocence and holy joy;
The joyful shepherd stops his grateful song
To hear the music of an angel's tongue.
So when she speaks, the voice of Heaven I hear;
So when we walk, nothing impure comes near;
Each field seems Eden, and each calm retreat;
Each village seems the haunt of holy feet.
But that sweet village, where my black-eyed maid
Closes her eyes in sleep beneath night's shade,
Whene'er I enter, more than mortal fire
Burns in my soul, and does my song inspire.
SONG.
WHEN early morn walks forth in sober gray,
Then to my black-eyed maid I haste away,
When evening sits beneath her dusky bower
And gently sighs away the silent hour,
The village-bell alarms, away I go
And the vale darkens at my pensive woe.
To that sweet village where my black-eyed maid
Doth drop a tear beneath the silent shade,
I turn my eyes; and pensive as I go
Curse my black stars, and bless my pleasing woe.
Oft when the summer sleeps among the trees,
Whispering faint murmurs to the scanty breeze,
I walk the village round; if at her side
A youth doth walk in stolen joy and pride,
I curse my stars in bitter grief and woe,
That made my love so high and me so low.
O should she e'er prove false, his limbs I'd tear
And throw all pity on the burning air;
I'd curse bright fortune for my mixed lot,
And then I'd die in peace, and be forgot.
TO THE MUSES.
WHETHER on Ida's shady brow
Or in the chambers of the East,
The chambers of the Sun, that now
From ancient melody have ceased;
Whether in heaven ye wander fair
Or the green corners of the earth,
Or the blue regions of the air,
Where the melodious winds have birth;
Whether on crystal rocks ye rove,
Beneath the bosom of the sea
Wandering in many a coral grove,
Fair Nine, forsaking Poetry!
How have you left the ancient love
That bards of old enjoy'd in you!
The languid strings do scarcely move,
The sound is forced, the notes are few!
GWIN, KING OF NORWAY.
COME, Kings, and listen to my song:
When Gwin, the son of Nore,
Over the nations of the North
His cruel sceptre bore;
The Nobles of the land did feed
Upon the hungry poor;
They tear the poor man's lamb, and drive
The needy from their door!
The land is desolate; our wives
And children cry for bread;
Arise, and pull the tyrant down,
Let Gwin be humbled.
Gordred the giant roused himself
From sleeping in his cave;
He shook the hills, and in the clouds
The troubled banners wave.
Beneath them roll'd, like tempests black,
The numerous sons of blood;
Like lions' whelps, roaring abroad,
Seeking their nightly food.
Down Bleron's hills they dreadful rush,
Their cry ascends the clouds;
The trampling horse and clanging arms
Like rushing mighty floods!
Their wives and children, weeping loud,
Follow in wild array,
Howling like ghosts, furious as wolves
In the bleak wintry day.
"Pull down the tyrant to the dust,
"Let Gwin be humbled,"
They cry, "and let ten thousand lives
"Pay for the tyrant's head."
From tower to tower the watchmen cry,
"O Gwin, the son of Nore,
"Arouse thyself! the nations black
"Like clouds, come rolling o'er!"
Gwin rear'd his shield, his palace shakes,
His chiefs come rushing round;
Each, like an awful thunder-cloud
With voice of solemn sound:
Like reared stones around a grave
They stand around the King;
Then suddenly each seized his spear,
And clashing steel does ring.
The husbandman does leave his plough
To wade thro' fields of gore;
The merchant binds his brows in steel,
And leaves the trading shore;
The shepherd leaves his mellow pipe,
And sounds the trumpet shrill,
The workman throws his hammer down
To heave the bloody bill.
Like the tall ghost of Barraton
Who sports in stormy sky,
Gwin leads his host as black as night
When pestilence does fly,
With horses and with chariots—
And all his spearmen bold
March to the sound of mournful song,
Like clouds around him roll'd.
Gwin lifts his hand—the nations halt;
"Prepare for war," he cries—
Gordred appears!—his frowning brow
Troubles our northern skies.
The armies stand, like balances
Held in the Almighty's hand;—
"Gwin, thou hast fill'd thy measure up,
"Thou'rt swept from out the land."
And now the raging armies rush'd
Like warring mighty seas;
The heavens are shook with roaring war,
The dust ascends the skies!
Earth smokes with blood, and groans and shakes,
To drink her children's gore,
A sea of blood; nor can the eye
See to the trembling shore!
And on the verge of this wild sea
Famine and death doth cry;
The cries of women and of babes
Over the field doth fly.
The king is seen raging afar,
With all his men of might;
Like blazing comets scattering death
Thro' the red feverous night.
Beneath his arm like sheep they die,
And groan upon the plain;
The battle faints, and bloody men
Fight upon hills of slain.
Now death is sick, and riven men
Labour and toil for life;
Steed rolls on steed, and shield on shield,
Sunk in this sea of strife!
The god of war is drunk with blood,
The earth doth faint and fail;
The stench of blood makes sick the heavens,
Ghosts glut the throat of hell!
O what have kings to answer for
Before that awful throne!
When thousand deaths for vengeance cry,
And ghosts accusing groan!
Like blazing comets in the sky
That shake the stars of light,
Which drop like fruit unto the earth
Thro' the fierce burning night;
Like these did Gwin and Gordred meet,
And the first blow decides;
Down from the brow unto the breast
Gordred his head divides!
Gwin fell: the Sons of Norway fled,
All that remain'd alive;
The rest did fill the vale of death,
For them the eagles strive.
The river Dorman roll'd their blood
Into the northern sea;
Who mourn'd his sons, and overwhelm'd
The pleasant south country.
AN IMITATION OF SPENSER.
GOLDEN Apollo, that thro' heaven wide
Scatter'st the rays of light, and truth his beams,
In lucent words my darkling verses dight
And wash my earthy mind in thy clear streams,
That wisdom may descend in fairy dreams:
All while the jocund hours in thy train
Scatter their fancies at thy poet's feet;
And when thou yield'st to night thy wide domain,
Let rays of truth enlight his sleeping brain.
For brutish Pan in vain might thee assay
With tinkling sounds to dash thy nervous verse,
Sound without sense; yet in his rude affray,
(For Ignorance is Folly's leasing nurse,
And love of Folly needs none other's curse;)
Midas the praise hath gain'd of lengthen'd ears,
For which himself might deem him ne'er the worse
To sit in council with his modern peers
And judge of tinkling rhymes and elegances terse.
And thou, Mercurius, that with winged bow
Dost mount aloft into the yielding sky,
And thro' Heaven's halls thy airy flight dost throw,
Entering with holy feet to where on high
Jove weighs the counsel of futurity;
Then, laden with eternal fate, dost go
Down, like a falling star, from autumn sky,
And o'er the surface of the silent deep dost fly.
If thou arrivest at the sandy shore
Where nought but envious hissing adders dwell,
Thy golden rod, thrown on the dusty floor,
Can charm to harmony with potent spell;
Such is sweet Eloquence, that does dispel
Envy and Hate, that thirst for human gore;
And cause in sweet society to dwell
Vile savage minds that lurk in lonely cell.
O Mercury, assist my labouring sense
That round the circle of the world would fly,
As the wing'd eagle scorns the towery fence
Of Alpine hills round his high aëry,
And searches through the corners of the sky,
Sports in the clouds to hear the thunder's sound
And see the winged lightnings as they fly;
Then, bosom'd in an amber cloud, around
Plumes his wide wings, and seeks Sol's palace high.
And thou, O warrior Maid invincible,
Arm'd with the terrors of Almighty Jove,
Pallas, Minerva, maiden terrible,
Lovest thou to walk the peaceful solemn grove,
In solemn gloom of branches interwove?
Or bear'st thy ægis o'er the burning field,
Where, like the sea, the waves of battle move?
Or have thy soft piteous eyes beheld
The weary wanderer thro' the desert rove?
Or does th' afflicted man thy heavenly bosom move?
BLIND-MAN'S BUFF.
WHEN silver snow decks Susan's clothes,
And jewel hangs at th' shepherd's nose,
The blushing bank is all my care,
With hearth so red and walls so fair.
"Heap the sea-coal, come, heap it higher,
"The oaken log lay on the fire:"
The well-wash'd stools, a circling row,
With lad and lass, how fair the show!
The merry can of nut-brown ale,
The laughing jest, the love-sick tale,
Till, tired of chat, the game begins,
The lasses prick the lads with pins;
Roger from Dolly twitch'd the stool,
She falling, kiss'd the ground, poor fool!
She blush'd so red, with side-long glance
At hob-nail Dick, who grieved the chance.
But now for Blind-man's Buff they call;
Of each incumbrance clear the hall—
Jenny her silken kerchief folds,
And blear-eyed Will the black lot holds,
Now laughing, stops, with "Silence, hush!"
And Peggy Pout gives Sam a push.—
The Blind-man's arms, extended wide,
Sam slips between:—"O woe betide
Thee, clumsy Will!"—but tittering Kate
Is penn'd up in the corner strait!
And now Will's eyes beheld the play,
He thought his face was t'other way.
"Now, Kitty, now; what chance hast thou,
"Roger so near thee trips, I vow!"
She catches him—then Roger ties
His own head up—but not his eyes;
For thro' the slender cloth he sees,
And runs at Sam, who slips with ease
His clumsy hold; and, dodging round,
Sukey is tumbled on the ground!—
"See what it is to play unfair!
"Where cheating is, there's mischief there."
But Roger still pursues the chace,—
"He sees! he sees!" cries softly Grace;
"O Roger, thou, unskill'd in art
"Must, surer bound, go through thy part!"
Now, Kitty, pert, repeats the rhymes
And Roger turns him round three times,
Then pauses ere he starts; but Dick
Was mischief-bent upon a trick;
Down on his hands and knees he lay
Directly in the Blind-man's way,
Then cries out "hem!" Hodge heard, and ran
With hood-wink'd chance—sure of his man;
But down he came.—Alas, how frail
Our best of hopes, how soon they fail!
With crimson drops he stains the ground,
Confusion startles all around!
Poor piteous Dick supports his head,
And fain would cure the hurt he made;
But Kitty hasted with a key
And down his back they straight convey
The cold relief—the blood is stay'd
And Hodge again holds up his head.
Such are the fortunes of the game,
And those who play should stop the same
By wholesome laws, such as—all those
Who on the blinded man impose,
Stand in his stead; as long agone
When men were first a nation grown.
Lawless they lived, till wantonness
And liberty began t' increase,
And one man lay in another's way;
Then laws were made to keep fair play.
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KING EDWARD THE THIRD.
PERSONS.
King Edward.
The Black Prince.
Queen Philippa.
Duke of Clarence.
Sir John Chandos.
Sir Thomas Dagworth.
Sir Walter Manny.
Lord Audley.
Lord Percy.
Bishop.
William, Dagworth's man.
Peter Blunt, a common soldier.
KING EDWARD THE THIRD.
SCENE. The Coast of France, King Edward and Nobles before it. The Army.
King.
THOU to whose fury the nations are
But as dust! maintain thy servant's right.
Without thine aid, the twisted mail and spear,
And forged helm, and shield of seven-times beaten brass,
Are idle trophies of the vanquisher.
When confusion rages, when the field is in a flame,
When the cries of blood tear horror from heaven,
And yelling death runs up and down the ranks,
Let Liberty, the charter'd right of Englishmen,
Won by our fathers in many a glorious field,
Enerve my soldiers; let Liberty
Blaze in each countenance and fire the battle.
The enemy fight in chains, invisible chains, but heavy;
Their minds are fetter'd; then how can they be free,
While, like the mounting flame,
We spring to battle o'er the floods of death?
And these fair youths, the flower of England,
Venturing their lives in my most righteous cause,
O sheathe their hearts with triple steel, that they
May emulate their fathers' virtues.
And thou, my son, be strong; thou fightest for a crown
That death can never ravish from thy brow,
A crown of glory—but from thy very dust
Shall beam a radiance, to fire the breasts
Of youth unborn! Our names are written equal
In fame's wide-trophied hall; 'tis ours to gild
The letters, and to make them shine with gold
That never tarnishes: whether Third Edward,
Or the Prince of Wales, or Montacute, or Mortimer,
Or ev'n the least by birth, shall gain the brightest fame,
Is in His hand to whom all men are equal.
The world of men are like the numerous stars
That beam and twinkle in the depth of night,
Each clad in glory according to his sphere;
But we, that wander from our native seats,
And beam forth lustre on a darkling world,
Grow large as we advance! and some perhaps
The most obscure at home, that scarce were seen
To twinkle in their sphere, may so advance,
That the astonish'd world, with upturn'd eyes,
Regardless of the moon, and those that once were bright,
Stand only for to gaze upon their splendour!
[He here knights the Prince and other young Nobles.
Now let us take a just revenge for those
Brave Lords, who fell beneath the bloody axe
At Paris. Thanks, noble Harcourt, for 'twas
By your advice we landed here in Brittany,
A country not yet sown with destruction,
And where the fiery whirlwind of swift war
Has not yet swept its desolating wing.—
Into three parties we divide by day
And separate march, but join again at night;
Each knows his rank, and Heaven marshal all.
[Exeunt.
SCENE. English Court; Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Queen Philippa, Lords, Bishop, &c.
Clarence.
MY Lords, I have by the advice of her
Whom I am doubly bound to obey, my Parent
And my Sovereign, called you together.
My task is great, my burden heavier than
My unfledged years;
Yet, with your kind assistance, Lords, I hope
England shall dwell in peace: that while my father
Toils in his wars, and turns his eyes on this
His native shore, and sees commerce fly round
With his white wings, and sees his golden London
And her silver Thames, throng'd with shining spires
And corded ships, her merchants buzzing round
Like summer bees, and all the golden cities
In his land, overflowing with honey,
Glory may not be dimm'd with clouds of care.
Say, Lords, should not our thoughts be first to commerce?
My lord bishop, you would recommend us agriculture?
Bishop.
Sweet Prince, the arts of peace are great,
And no less glorious than those of war,
Perhaps more glorious in the philosophic mind.
When I sit at my home, a private man,
My thoughts are on my gardens and my fields,
How to employ the hand that lacketh bread.
If Industry is in my diocese
Religion will flourish; each man's heart
Is cultivated and will bring forth fruit:
This is my private duty and my pleasure.
But as I sit in council with my prince,
My thoughts take in the general good of the whole,
And England is the land favour'd by Commerce;
For Commerce, though the child of Agriculture,
Fosters his parent, who else must sweat and toil
And gain but scanty fare. Then, my dear Lord,
Be England's trade our care; and we, as tradesmen,
Looking to the gain of this, our native land.
Clarence.
O my good lord,
True wisdom drops like honey from your tongue
As from a worshipp'd oak! Forgive my lords,
My talkative youth that speaks not merely what
My narrow observation has pick'd up,
But what I have concluded from your lessons:
Now, by the Queen's advice, I ask your leave
To dine to-morrow with the Mayor of London:
If I obtain your leave, I have another boon
To ask, which is the favour of your company;
I fear Lord Percy will not give me leave.
Percy.
Dear Sir, a prince should always keep his state,
And grant his favours with a sparing hand,
Or they are never rightly valued.
These are my thoughts: yet it were best to go:
But keep a proper dignity, for now
You represent the sacred person of
Your father; 'tis with princes as the sun;
If not sometimes o'erclouded, we grow weary
Of his officious glory.
Clarence.
Then you will give me leave to shine sometimes, My lord?
Lord.
Thou hast a gallant spirit, which I fear
Will be imposed on by the closer sort_-_Endpiece_p68.png)
PROLOGUE
INTENDED FOR A DRAMATIC PIECE OF KING EDWARD THE FOURTH.
O FOR a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand? When the soul of the oppress'd
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of His countenance
Drive the nations together, who can stand?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of hell rejoice upon the slain,
O who can stand? O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God?
The Kings and Nobles of the land have done it!
Hear it not, Heaven, thy ministers have done it!
PROLOGUE TO KING JOHN.
JUSTICE hath heaved a sword to plunge in
Albion's breast; for Albion's sins are crimson-dyed,
and the red scourge follows her desolate
sons. Then Patriot rose; full oft did Patriot rise,
when Tyranny hath stained fair Albion's breast
with her own children's gore. Round his majestic
feet deep thunders roll; each heart does tremble,
and each knee grows slack. The stars of heaven
tremble; the roaring voice of war, the trumpet,
calls to battle! Brother in brother's blood must
bathe, rivers of death! O land most hapless! O
beauteous island, how forsaken! Weep from thy
silver fountains, weep from thy gentle rivers! The
angel of the island weeps! Thy widowed virgins
weep beneath thy shades! Thy aged fathers gird
themselves for war! The sucking infant lives to
die in battle; the weeping mother feeds him for
the slaughter! The husbandman doth leave his
bending harvest! Blood cries afar! The land
doth sow itself! The glittering youth of courts
must gleam in arms! The aged senators their
ancient swords assume! The trembling sinews of
old age must work the work of death against their
progeny; for Tyranny hath stretched his purple
arm, and "Blood," he cries: the chariots and
the horses, the noise of shout, and dreadful thunder
of the battle heard afar! Beware, O proud! thou
shalt be humbled; thy cruel brow, thine iron heart is
smitten, though lingering Fate is slow. O yet may
Albion smile again, and stretch her peaceful arms,
and raise her golden head, exultingly! Her citizens
shall throng about her gates, her mariners
shall sing upon the sea, and myriads shall to her
temples crowd! Her sons shall joy as in the
morning! Her daughters sing as to the rising
year!
_-_Endpiece_p71.png)
A WAR SONG.
TO ENGLISHMEN.
PREPARE, prepare the iron helm of war,
Bring forth the lots, cast in the spacious orb;
The Angel of Fate turns them with mighty hands,
And casts them out upon the darken'd earth!
Prepare, prepare.
Prepare your hearts for Death's cold hand! prepare
Your souls for flight, your bodies for the earth!
Prepare your arms for glorious victory!
Prepare your eyes to meet a holy God!
Prepare, prepare.
Whose fatal scroll is that? Methinks 'tis mine!
Why sinks my heart, why faltereth my tongue?
Had I three lives, I'd die in such a cause,
And rise, with ghosts, over the well-fought field.
Prepare, prepare.
The arrows of Almighty God are drawn!
Angels of Death stand in the lowering heavens!
Thousands of souls must seek the realms of light,
And walk together on the clouds of heaven!
Prepare, prepare.
Soldiers, prepare! Our cause is Heaven's cause;
Soldiers, prepare! Be worthy of our cause:
Prepare to meet our fathers in the sky:
Prepare, O troops that are to fall to-day!
Prepare, prepare.
Alfred shall smile, and make his harp rejoice;
The Norman William and the learned Clerk,
And Lion-Heart, and black-brow'd Edward with
His loyal queen shall rise, and welcome us!
Prepare, prepare.
THE COUCH OF DEATH.
THE veiled Evening walked solitary down the
western hills, and Silence reposed in the
valley; the birds of day were heard in their nests,
rustling in brakes and thickets; and the owl and
bat flew round the darkening trees: all is silent
when Nature takes her repose.—In former times,
on such an evening, when the cold clay breathed
with life, and our ancestors, who now sleep in
their graves, walked on the steadfast globe, the
remains of a family of the tribes of Earth, a mother
and a sister were gathered to the sick bed of a
youth. Sorrow linked them together; leaning on
one another's necks alternately—like lilies, dropping
tears in each other's bosom, they stood by the
bed like reeds bending over a lake, when the evening
drops trickle down. His voice was low as the
whisperings of the woods when the wind is asleep,
and the visions of Heaven unfold their visitation.
"Parting is hard, and death is terrible; I seem to
"walk through a deep valley, far from the light of
"day, alone and comfortless! The damps of death
"fall thick upon me! Horrors stare me in the face!
"I look behind, there is no returning; Death follows
"after me; I walk in regions of Death, where no
"tree is; without a lantern to direct my steps,
"without a staff to support me."—Thus he laments
through the still evening, till the curtains of darkness
were drawn! Like the sound of a broken
pipe, the aged woman raised her voice. "O my
"son, my son, I know but little of the path thou
"goest! But lo, there is a God, who made the
"world; stretch out thy hand to Him." The
youth replied, like a voice heard from a sepulchre,
"My hand is feeble, how should I stretch it
"out? My ways are sinful, how should I raise mine
"eyes? My voice hath used deceit, how should I
"call on Him who is Truth? My breath is loathsome,
"how should He not be offended? If I lay
"my face in the dust, the grave opens its mouth
"for me; if I lift up my head, sin covers me as a
"cloak! O my dear friends, pray ye for me!
"stretch forth your hands, that my helper may
"come! Through the void space I walk between
"the sinful world and eternity! Beneath me burns
"eternal fire! O for a hand to pluck me forth!"
As the voice of an omen heard in the silent valley,
when the few inhabitants cling trembling together;
as the voice of the Angel of Death, when the thin
beams of the moon give a faint light, such was this
young man's voice to his friends! Like the bubbling
waters of the brook in the dead of night, the
aged woman raised her cry, and said, "O voice,
"that dwellest in my breast, can I not cry, and
"lift my eyes to heaven? Thinking of this, my
"spirit is turned within me into confusion! O my
"child, my child! is thy breath infected? so is
"mine. As the deer wounded, by the brooks of
"water, so the arrows of sin stick in my flesh; the
"poison hath entered into my marrow."—Like
rolling waves upon a desert shore, sighs succeeded
sighs; they covered their faces, and wept! The
youth lay silent—his mother's arm was under his
head; he was like a cloud tossed by the winds, till
the sun shine, and the drops of rain glisten, the
yellow harvest breathes, and the thankful eyes of
the villagers are turned up in smiles. The traveller
that hath taken shelter under an oak, eyes the
distant country with joy! Such smiles were seen
upon the face of the youth! a visionary hand
wiped away his tears, and a ray of light beamed
around his head! All was still. The moon hung
not out her lamp, and the stars faintly glimmered in
the summer sky; the breath of night slept among
the leaves of the forest; the bosom of the lofty
hill drank in the silent dew, while on his majestic
brow the voice of angels is heard, and stringed
sounds ride upon the wings of night. The sorrowful
pair lift up their heads, hovering angels are
around them, voices of comfort are heard over the
Couch of Death, and the youth breathes out his
soul with joy into eternity.
CONTEMPLATION.
WHO is this, that with unerring step dares
tempt the wilds, where only Nature's foot
hath trod? 'Tis Contemplation, daughter of the
grey Morning! Majestical she steppeth, and with
her pure quill on every flower writeth Wisdom's
name: now lowly bending, whispers in mine ear,
"O man, how great, how little thou! O man, slave
"of each moment, lord of eternity! seest thou
"where Mirth sits on the painted cheek? doth it
"not seem ashamed of such a place, and grow immoderate
"to brave it out? O what an humble
"garb true Joy puts on! Those who want
"Happiness must stoop to find it; it is a flower
"that grows in every vale. Vain foolish man,
"that roams on lofty rocks, where, 'cause his
"garments are swoln with wind, he fancies he is
"grown into a giant! Lo, then, Humility, take it,
"and wear it in thine heart; lord of thyself, thou
"then art lord of all. Clamour brawls along the
"streets, and destruction hovers in the city's smoke;
"but on these plains, and in these silent woods, true
"joys descend: here build thy nest; here fix thy
"staff; delights blossom around; numberless beauties
"blow; the green grass springs in joy, and the
"nimble air kisses the leaves; the brook stretches
"its arms along the velvet meadow, its silver inhabitants
"sport and play. The youthful sun joys
"like a hunter roused to the chase; he rushes up the
"sky, and lays hold on the immortal coursers of
"day; the sky glitters with the jingling trappings!
"Like a triumph, season follows season, while the
"airy music fills the world with joyful sounds." I
answered, "Heavenly goddess! I am wrapped
"in mortality, my flesh is a prison, my bones the
"bars of death, Misery builds over our cottage
"roofs, and Discontent runs like a brook. Even
"in childhood, sorrow slept with me in my cradle;
"he followed me up and down in the house when
"I grew up; he was my school-fellow: thus he
"was in my steps and in my play, till he became
"to me as my brother. I walked through dreary
"places with him, and in church-yards; and oft I
"found myself sitting by Sorrow on a tomb-stone!"
SAMSON.
SAMSON, the strongest of the children of men,
I sing; how he was foiled by woman's arts,
by a false wife brought to the gates of death! O
Truth, that shinest with propitious beams, turning
our earthly night to heavenly day, from presence
of the Almighty Father! thou visitest our darkling
world with blessed feet, bringing good news of Sin
and Death destroyed! O white-robed Angel, guide
my timorous hand to write as on a lofty rock with
iron pen the words of truth, that all who pass may
read.—Now Night, noon-tide of damned spirits,
over the silent earth spreads her pavilion, while in
dark council sat Philistia's lords; and where
strength failed, black thoughts in ambush lay.
Their helmed youth and aged warriors in dust
together lie, and Desolation spreads his wings over
the land of Palestine: from side to side the land
groans, her prowess lost, and seeks to hide her
bruised head under the mists of night, breeding
dark plots. For Dalila's fair arts have long been
tried in vain; in vain she wept in many a treacherous
tear. "Go on, fair traitress; do thy
"guileful work; ere once again the changing
"moon her circuit hath performed, thou shalt overcome,
"and conquer him by force unconquerable,
"and wrest his secret from him. Call thine alluring
"arts and honest-seeming brow, the holy kiss of
"love and the transparent tear; put on fair linen,
"that with the lily vies, purple and silver; neglect
"thy hair, to seem more lovely in thy loose attire;
"put on thy country's pride, deceit; and eyes of
"love decked in mild sorrow, and sell thy lord for
"gold."—For now, upon her sumptuous couch
reclined, in gorgeous pride, she still entreats, and
still she grasps his vigorous knees with her fair
arms. "Thou lovest me not! thou'rt war, thou
"art not love! O foolish Dalila! O weak woman!
"it is death clothed in flesh thou lovest, and thou
"hast been encircled in his arms! Alas, my lord,
"what am I calling thee? Thou art my God!
"To thee I pour my tears for sacrifice morning
"and evening: my days are covered with sorrow!
"shut up, darkened: by night I am deceived!
"Who says that thou wast born of mortal kind?
"Destruction was thy father, a lioness suckled
"thee, thy young hands tore human limbs, and
"gorged human flesh! Come hither, Death; art
"thou not Samson's servant? 'Tis Dalila that
"calls; thy master's wife; no, stay, and let thy
"master do the deed: one blow of that strong
"arm would ease my pain; then I should lay at
"quiet and have rest. Pity forsook thee at thy
"birth! O Dagon furious, and all ye gods of
"Palestine, withdraw your hand! I am but a
"weak woman. Alas, I am wedded to your
"enemy! I will go mad, and tear my crisped
"hair; I'll run about, and pierce the ears o' th'
"gods! O Samson, hold me not; thou lovest
"me not! Look not upon me with those deathful
"eyes! Thou wouldst my death, and death
"approaches fast."—Thus, in false tears, she
bathed his feet, and thus she day by day oppressed
his soul: he seemed a mountain, his brow among
the clouds; she seemed a silver stream, his feet
embracing. Dark thoughts rolled to and fro in
his mind, like thunder-clouds troubling the sky;
his visage was troubled; his soul was distressed.
"Though I should tell her all my heart, what can
"I fear? Though I should tell this secret of my
"birth, the utmost may be warded off as well when
"told as now." She saw him moved, and thus
resumes her wiles: "Samson, I'm thine; do with
"me what thou wilt; my friends are enemies; my
"life is death; I am a traitor to my nation, and
"despised; my joy is given into the hands of him
"who hates me, using deceit to the wife of his
"bosom. Thrice hast thou mocked me and grieved
"my soul. Didst thou not tell me with green
"withs to bind thy nervous arms, and after that,
"when I had found thy falsehood, with new ropes
"to bind thee fast? I knew thou didst but mock
"me. Alas, when in thy sleep I bound thee with
"them to try thy truth, I cried, The Philistines be
"upon thee, Samson! Then did Suspicion wake
"thee; how didst thou rend the feeble ties! Thou
"fearest nought, what shouldst thou fear? Thy
"power is more than mortal, none can hurt thee;
"thy bones are brass, thy sinews are iron! Ten
"thousand spears are like the summer grass; an
"army of mighty men are as flocks in the valleys:
"what canst thou fear? I drink my tears like
"water; I live upon sorrow! O worse than wolves
"and tigers, what canst thou give when such a
"trifle is denied me? But, oh! at last thou mockest
"me, to shame my over-fond inquiry! Thou toldest
"me to weave thee to the beam by thy strong
"hair; I did even that to try thy truth: bot when
"I cried, The Philistines be upon thee! then didst
"thou leave me to bewail that Samson loved me
"not." He sat, and inward grieved, he saw and
loved the beauteous suppliant, nor could conceal
aught that might appease her; then, leaning on
her bosom, thus he spoke: "Hear, O Dalila!
"doubt no more of Samson's love; for that fair
"breast was made the ivory palace of my inmost
"heart, where it shall lie at rest; for sorrow is the
"lot of all of woman born: for care was I brought
"forth, and labour is my lot: nor matchless might,
"nor wisdom, nor every gift enjoyed, can from
"the heart of man hide sorrow. Twice was my
"birth foretold from heaven, and twice a sacred
"vow enjoined me that I should drink no wine,
nor eat of any unclean thing, for holy unto
"Israel's God I am, a Nazarite even from my
"mother's womb. Twice was it told, that it might
"not be broken: Grant me a son, kind Heaven,
"Manoa cried; but Heaven refused! Childless
"he mourned, but thought his God knew best.
"In solitude, though not obscure, in Israel he
"lived, till venerable age came on: his flocks
"increased, and plenty crowned his board: beloved,
"revered of man! But God hath other
"joys in store. Is burdened Israel his grief?
"The son of his old age shall set it free! The
"venerable sweetener of his life receives the promise
"first from Heaven. She saw the maidens
"play, and blessed their innocent mirth; she
"blessed each new-joined pair; but from her the
"long-wished deliverer shall spring. Pensive, alone
"she sat within the house, when busy day was
"fading, and calm evening, time for contemplation,
"rose from the forsaken east, and drew the curtains
"of heaven: pensive she sat, and thought on Israel's
"grief, and silent prayed to Israel's God; when
"lo! an angel from the fields of light entered the
"house! His form was manhood in the prime,
"and from his spacious brow shot terrors through
"the evening shade! But mild he hailed her—
"Hail, highly favoured! said he; for lo! thou
"shalt conceive, and bear a son, and Israel's
"strength shall be upon his shoulders, and he
"shall be called Israel's Deliverer. Now, therefore,
"drink no wine, and eat not any unclean thing;
"for he shall be a Nazarite to God.—Then, as a
"neighbour, when his evening tale is told, departs,
"his blessing leaving; so seemed he to depart: she
"wondered with exceeding joy, nor knew he was
"an angel. Manoa left his fields to sit in the
"house, and take his evening's rest from labour—
"the sweetest time that God has allotted mortal
"man. He sat, and heard with joy, and praised
"God, who Israel still doth keep. The time rolled
"on, and Israel groaned oppressed. The sword
"was bright, while the ploughshare rusted, till
"hope grew feeble, and was ready to give place
"to doubting; then prayed Manoa: O Lord, thy
"flock is scattered on the hills! The wolf teareth
"them, Oppression stretches his rod over our
"land, our country is ploughed with swords, and
"reaped in blood! The echoes of slaughter reach
"from hill to hill! Instead of peaceful pipe the
"shepherd bears a sword; the ox-goad is turned
"into a spear! O when shall our Deliverer come?
"The Philistine riota on our flocks, our vintage is
"gathered by bands of enemies! Stretch forth thy
"hand, and save.—Thus prayed Manoa. The aged
"woman walked into the field, and lo! again the
"angel came, clad as a traveller fresh risen on
"his journey. She ran and called her husband,
"who came and talked with him. O man of God,
"said he, thou comest from far! Let us detain
"thee while I make ready a kid, that thou mayest
"sit and eat, and tell us of thy name and warfare;
"that when thy sayings come to pass, we may
"honour thee. The angel answered, My name is
"Wonderful; inquire not after it, seeing it is a
"secret; but, if thou wilt, offer an offering unto
"the Lord."