Where Reason's meteor-rays, with sickly glow, O'erwhelming mountains tottering from on high, Transporting thought! here let me wipe away The tear of grief, and wake a bolder lay. How vain the hope of man !—But cease the strain, Mixed with yon drooping mourners, on her bier 1 ODE TO HOPE. I. 1. O THOU, who glad'st the pensive soul, More than Aurora's smile the swain forlorn, Where desolation frowns, and tempests howl; Far o'er the monstrous wilderness resound, And cross the gloom darts many a shapeless form, And many a fire-eyed visage glares around, O come, and be once more my guest! Come, for thou oft thy suppliant's vow hast heard, And oft with smiles indulgent cheer'd, And soothed him into rest. F I. 2. Smit by thy rapture-beaming eye, Deep flashing through the midnight of their mind, The sable bands combined, Where Fear's black banner bloats the troubled sky, Nor dares th' obliquely gleaming eye-ball raise; Speeds to dark Phlegethon's detested maze. Lo, startled at the heavenly ray, With speed unwonted Indolence upsprings, And, heaving, lifts her leaden wings, And sullen glides away. I. 3. Ten thousand forms, by pining Fancy view'd, When Phoebus rears his awful brow, From lengthening lawn and valley low The troops of fen-born mists retire. Along the plain The joyous swain Eyes the gay villages again, And gold-illumined spire; While, on the billowy ether borne, To the damp dungeon shrink, or hoary hall, Or westward, with impetuous flight, Shoot to the desart realms of their congenial Night. II. 1. When first on Childhood's eager gaze Life's varied landscape, stretch'd immense around, Starts out of night profound, Thy voice incites to tempt th' untrodden maze. Fond he surveys thy mild maternal face, His wingy nerves to climb. II. 2. Pursue thy pleasurable way, Safe in the guidance of thy heavenly guard, While melting airs are heard, And soft-eyed cherub forms around thee play : Simplicity, in careless flowers array'd, Prattling amusive in his accent meek; And Modesty, half turning as afraid, The smile just dimpling on his glowing cheek; |