Frail as the leaf in Autumn's yellow bower, Dust in the wind, or dew upon the flower! A friendless slave, a child without a sire, Whose mortal life, and momentary fire, Lights to the grave his chance-created form, 310 Are these the pompous tidings ye proclaim, 315 320 Launch'd with Iberia's pilot from the steep, To worlds unknown, and isles beyond the deep? And wheel'd in triumph through the signs of Heav'n? Oh! star-ey'd Science, hast thou wander'd there, 325 To waft us home the message of despair? Then bind the palm, thy sage's brow to suit, Of blasted leaf, and death-distilling fruit! Ah me! the laurel'd wreath that murder rears, Seems not so foul, so tainted, and so dread, As waves the night-shade round the sceptic head. I smile on death, if Heav'n-ward Hope remain! But, if the warring winds of Nature's strife Be all the faithless charter of my life, 330 335 If Chance awak'd, inexorable pow'r ! This frail and fev'rish being of an hour, Doom'd o'er the world's precarious scene to sweep, Swift as the tempest travels on the deep, 340 To know Delight but by her parting smile, This troubled pulse, and visionary brain! Fade, ye wild flowers, memorials of my doom! And sink, ye stars, that light me to the tomb! The foe of tyrants, and the friend of man,— How can thy words from balmy slumber start Yet, if thy voice the note of thunder roll'd, And that were true which Nature never told, 345 350 Let Wisdom smile not on her conquer'd field; No rapture dawns, no treasure is reveal'd! Oh! let her read, nor loudly, nor elate, 355 The doom that bars us from a better fate; But, sad as angels for the good man's sin, Weep to record, and blush to give it in! And well may Doubt, the mother of Dismay, Pause at her martyr's tomb, and read the lay, 360 Down by the wilds of yon deserted vale, It darkly hints a melancholy tale! There, as the homeless madman sits alone, In hollow winds he hears a spirit moan! And there, they say, a wizard orgie crowds, 365 When the moon lights her watch-tower in the clouds. Poor, lost Alonzo! Fate's neglected child! Mild be the doom of Heav'n-as thou wert mild! For oh! thy heart in holy mould was cast, And all thy deeds were blameless, but the last. 370 Poor, lost Alonzo! still I seem to hear The clod that struck thy hollow-sounding bier! When Friendship paid, in speechless sorrow drown'd, Cease, every joy, to glimmer on my mind, 375 But leave-oh! leave the light of Hope behind! What though my winged hours of bliss have been, Like angel-visits, few, and far between! Her musing mood shall every pang appease, And charm-when pleasures lose the power to please! 380 |