Zophiel | Page 8

state were he,?That builds his nest, loves, sings the morn's return,?And sleeps at evening; save by aid of thee,
"Fame ne'er had roused, nor song her records kept?The gem, the ore, the marble breathing life,?The pencil's colours,--all in earth had slept,?Now see them mark with death his victim's strife.
"Man found thee death--but death and dull decay?Baffling, by aid of thee, his mastery proves;--?By mighty works he swells his narrow day?And reigns, for ages, on the world he loves.
"Yet what the price? with stings that never cease?Thou goad'st him on; and when, too keen the smart,?He fain would pause awhile--and signs for peace,?Food thou wilt have, or tear his victim heart."
XXXIII.
Thus Zophiel still,--"tho' now the infernal crew?Had gained by sin a privilege in the world,?Allayed their torments in the cool night dew,?And by the dim star-light again their wings unfurled."
XXXIV.
And now, regretful of the joys his birth?Had promised; deserts, mounts and streams he crost,?To find, amid the loveliest spots of earth,?Faint likeness of the heaven he had lost.
And oft, by unsuccessful searching pained,?Weary he fainted thro' the toilsome hours;?And then his mystic nature he sustained?On steam of sacrifices--breath of flowers. (4)
XXXV.
Sometimes he gave out oracles, amused?With mortal folly; resting on the shrines;?Or, all in some fair Sibyl's form infused,?Spoke from her quivering lips, or penned her mystic lines. [FN#13]
[FN#13] This passage merely accords with the belief that the responses of the ancient oracles were spoken by fiends, or evil spirits. We need only look into the "New Testament for a confirmation of the power which such beings were supposed to possess of speaking from the lips of mortals."
XXXVI.
And now he wanders on from glade to glade?To where more precious shrubs diffuse their balms,?And gliding thro' the thick inwoven shade?Where the young Hebrew lay in all her charms,
He caught a glimpse. The colours in her face--?Her bare white arms--her lips--her shining hair--?Burst on his view. He would have flown the place;?Fearing some faithful angel rested there,
Who'd see him--reft of glory--lost to bliss--?Wandering and miserably panting--fain?To glean a scanty joy--with thoughts like this--?Came all he'd known and lost--he writh'd with pain
Ineffable--But what assailed his ear,?A sigh?--surprised, another glance he took;?Then doubting--fearing--gradual coming near--?He ventured to her side and dared to look;
Whispering, "yes, 'tis of earth! So, new-found life?Refreshing, looked sweet Eve, with purpose fell?When first sin's sovereign gazed on her, and strife?Had with his heart, that grieved with arts of hell,
"Stern as it was, to win her o'er to death!--?Most beautiful of all in earth, in heaven,?Oh! could I quaff for aye that fragrant breath?Couldst thou, or being likening thee, be given
"To bloom forever for me thus--still true?To one dear theme, my full soul flowing o'er,?Would find no room for thought of what it knew--?Nor picturing forfeit transport, curse me more. (5)
"But oh! severest pain!--I cannot be?In what I love, blest ev'n the little span--?(With all a spirit's keen capacity?For bliss) permitted the poor insect man.
XXXVII.
"The few I've seen and deemed of worth to win?Like some sweet flowret mildewed, in my arms,?Withered to hidiousness--foul ev'n as sin--?Grew fearful hags; and then with potent charm [FN#14]
[FN#14] One of the most striking absurdities in the latelydispelled superstition of witchcraft, is the extreme hidiousness and?misery usually ascribed to such as made use of the agency of evil spirits. I have therefore made it the result of an unforeseen necessity: no female can be supposed to purchase, voluntarily, the power of doing mischief to others at the price of beauty and every thing like happiness on her own part.
"Of muttered word and harmful drug, did learn?To force me to their will. Down the damp grave?Loathing, I went at Endor, and uptorn?Brought back the dead; when tortured Saul did crave,
"To view his pending fate. Fair--nay, as this?Young slumberer, that dread witch; when, I arrayed?In lovely shape, to meet my guileful kiss?She yielded first her lip. And thou, sweet maid--?What is't I see?--a recent tear has strayed?And left its stain upon her cheek of bliss.--
XXXVIII.
"She's fall'n to sleep in grief--haply been chid,?Or by rude mortal wronged. So let it prove?Meet for my purpose: 'mid these blossoms hid,?I'll gaze; and when she wakes with all that love
"And art can lend, come forth. He who would gain?A fond full heart, in love's soft surgery skilled?Should seek it when 'tis sore; allay its pain--?With balm by pity prest 'tis all his own, so healed
XXXIX.
"She may be mine a little year--ev'n fair?And sweet as now--Oh! respite! while possest?I lose the dismal sense of my despair--?But then--I will not think upon the rest.
"And wherefore grieve to cloud her little day [FN#15]?Of fleeting life?--What doom from power divine?I bear eternal! thoughts of ruth, away!?Wake pretty fly!--and--while thou mayst,--be mine.
"Tho' but an hour--so thou suppli'st thy looms?With shining silk, [FN#16] and in the cruel snare?See'st the fond bird entrapped, but for his plumes?To work thy robes, or