MLII. To hear, to see, to live, was on that morn Lethean joy! so that all those assembled Cast off their memories of the past outworn; Two only bosoms with their own life trembled, And mine was one,—and we had both dissembled; So with a beating heart I went, and one, Who having much, covets yet more, resembled; A lost and dear possession, which not won, He walks in lonely gloom beneath the noonday sun.

willii. To the great Pyramid I came : its stair With female quires was throngd: the loveliest Among the free, grouped with its sculptures rare; As I approach'd, the morning's golden mist, Which now the wonder-stricken breezes kist with their cold lips, fled, and the summit shone Like Athos seen from Samothracia, drest In earliest light by vintagers, and one Sate there, a female Shape upon an ivory throne. NLIV. A Form most like the imagined habitant Of silver exhalations sprung from dawn, By winds which feed on sunrise woven, to inchant The faiths of men: all mortal eyes were drawn, As famish'd mariners through strange seas gone Gaze on a burning watch-tower, by the light Of those divinest lineaments—alone With thoughts which none could share, from that fair sight I turn'd in sickness, for a veil shrouded her countenance bright. XLV. And, neither did I hear the acclamations, Which from brief silence bursting, fill d the air With her strange name and mine, from all the nations Which we, they said, in strength had gather'd there From the sleep of bondage; nor the vision fair Of that bright pageantry beheld,—but blind And silent, as a breathing corpse did fare, Leaning upon my friend, till like a wind To fever'd cheeks, a voice flow'd o'er my troubled mind.

XLVI. Like music of some minstrel heavenly gifted, To one whom fiends inthrall, this voice to me; Scarce did I wish her veil to be uplifted, I was so calm and joyous.-I could see The platform where we stood, the statues three Which kept their marble watch on that high shrine, The multitudes, the mountains, and the sea ; As when eclipse lath past, things sudden shine To men's astonish'd eyes most clear and crystalline.

XLWii. At first Laone spoke most tremulously: But soon her voice the calmness which it shed Gather'd, and—w Thou art whom 1 sought to see, And thou art our first votary here," she said: * I had a dear friend once, but he is dead!— And of all those on the wide earth who breathe, Thou dost resemble him alone—I spread This veil between us two, that thou beneath

Shouldst image one who may have been long lost in

xi.viii. • For this wilt thou not henceforth pardon me? Yes, but those joys which silence well requite Forbid reply;—why men have chosen me, To be the Priestess of this holiest rite I scareely know, but that the floods of light Which flow over the world, have borne me hither To meet thee, long most dear; and now unite Thine hand with mine, and may all comfort wither

gether,
xliv,

If our own will as others' law we bind,
If the foul worship trampled here we fear;
If as ourselves we cease to love our kind' -–
She paused, and pointed upwards—sculptured there
Three shapes around her ivory throne appear;
One was a Giant, like a child asleep
On a loose rock, whose grasp crush'd, as it were
In dream, sceptres and crowns; and one did keep
Its watchful eyes in doubt whether to smile or weep;

L. A Woman sitting on the sculptured disk Of the broad earth, and feeding from one breast A human babe and a young basilisk; Her looks were sweet as Heaven's when loveliest In Autumn eves.—The third Image was drest In white wings swift as clouds in winter skies, Beneath his feet, 'mongst ghastliest forms, represt Lay Faith, an obscene worm, who sought to rise, While calmly on the Sun he turn'd his diamond eyes.

LI. Beside that Image then I sate, while she Stood, 'mid the throngs which ever ebb’d and slowd Like light amid the shadows of the sea Cast from one cloudless star, and on the crowd That touch which none who feels forgets, bestow'd; And whilst the sun return'd the stedfast gaze Of the great Image as o'er Ileaven it glode, That rite had place; it ceased when sunset's blaze Burn'd o'er the isles; all stood in joy and deep amaze.

When in the silence of all spirits there
Laone's voice was felt, and through the air
Her thrilling gestures spoke, most eloquently fair.

1. • Calm art thou as yon sunset! swift and strong As new-fledged Eagles, beautiful and young, That float among the blinding beams of morning; And underneath thy feet writhe Faith, and Folly, Custom, and Hell, and mortal Melancholy— Hark! the Earth starts to hear the mighty warning Of thy voice sublime and holy; Its free spirits here assembled, See thee, feel thce, know thee now, To thy voice their hearts have trembled, Like ten thousand clouds which flow With one wide wind as it slics' Wisdom! thy irresistible children rise To hail thee, and the elements they chain And their own will to swell the glory of thy train,

death.

From both the hearts whose pulse in joy now beat to2. • O Spirit vast and deep as Night and Heaven! Mother and soul of all to which is given The light of life, the loveliness of being, Lo! thou dost re-ascend the human heart, Thy throne of power, almighty as thou wert, In dreams of Poets old grown pale by seeing The shade of thee:—now, millions start To feel thy lightnings through them burning: Nature, or God, or Love, or Pleasure, Or Sympathy the sad tears turning To mutual smiles, a drainless treasure, Descends amidst us;–Scorn and Hate, . Revenge and Selfishness are desolate— A hundred nations swear that there shall be Pity and Peace and Love, among the good and free!

3. « Eldest of things, divine Equality! Wisdom and Love are but the slaves of thee, The Angels of thy sway, the poor around thee Treasures from all the cells of human thought, And from the Stars, and from the Ocean brought, And the last living heart whose beatings bound thee: The powerful and the wise had sought Thy coming, thou in light descending 'er the wide land which is thine own Like the spring whose breath is blending All blasts-of fragrance into one, Comest upon the paths of men — Earth bares her general bosom to thy ken, And all her children here in glory meet To feed upon thy smiles, and clasp thy sacred feet.

• My brethren, we are free! the plains and mountains
The grey sea-shore, the forests and the fountains,
Are haunts of happiest dwellers;-man and woman,
Their common bondage burst, may freely borrow
From lawless love a solace for their sorrow; -
For oft we still must weep, since we are human.
A stormy night's serenest morrow,
Whose showers are pity's gentle tears,
Whose clouds are smiles of those that die
Like infants without hopes or fears,
And whose beams are joys that lie
In blended hearts, now holds dominion;
The dawn of mind, which upwards on a pinion
Borne, swift as sun-rise, far illumines space,
And clasps this barren world in its own bright
embrace!
5.
• My brethren, we are free! the fruits are glowing
Beneath the stars, and the night-winds are flowing
O'er the ripe corn, the birds and beasts are dreaming—
Never again may blood of bird or beast
Stain with its venomous stream a human feast,
To the pure skies in accusation steaming,
Avenging poisons shall have ceased
To feed disease and fear and madness,
The dwellers of the earth and air
Shall throng around our steps with gladness
Seeking their food or refuge there.
Our toil from thought all glorious forms shall cull,
To make this Earth, our home, more beautiful,

And Science, and her sister Poesy,
Shall clothe in light the fields and cities of the free!

6. « Victory, Victory to the prostrate nations! Bear witness Night, and ye mute Constellations Who gaze on us from your crystalline cars!

more! Victory! Victory! Earth's remotest shore, Regions which groan beneath the Antarctic stars, The green lands cradled in the roar Of western waves, and wildernesses Peopled and vast, which skirt the oceans Where morning dyes her golden tresses, Shall soon partake our high emotions: Kings shall turn pale! Almighty Fear, The Fiend-God, when our charmed name he hear, Shall fade like shadow from his thousand fanes, While Truth with Joy enthroned o'er his lost empire reigns!"

LII. Ere she had ceased, the mists of night intwining Their dim woof, floated o'er the infinite throng; She, like a spirit through the darkness shining, In tones whose sweetness silence did prolong, As if to lingering winds they did belong, Pour'd forth her inmost soul: a passionate speech With wild and thrilling pauses woven among, Which whoso heard, was mute, for it could teach To rapture like her own all listening hearts to reach.

LIII. Her voice was as a mountain stream which sweeps The wither'd leaves of Autumn to the lake, And in some deep and narrow bay then sleeps In the shadow of the shores; as dead leaves wake Under the wave, in flowers and herbs which make Those green depths beautiful when skies are blue, The multitude so moveless did partake Such living change, and kindling murmurs flew As o'er that speechless calm delight and wonder grew.

- LIV. Over the plain the throngs were scatter'd then In groups around the fires, which from the sea Even to the gorge of the first mountain glen Blazed wide and far: the banquet of the free Was spread beneath many a dark cypress tree, Beneath whose spires, which sway’d in the red light, Reclining as they ate, of Liberty, And Hope, and Justice, and Laone's name, Earth's children did a woof of happy converse frame.

- LV. Their feast was such as Earth, the general mother, Pours from her fairest bosom, when she smiles In the embrace of Autumn;–to each other As when some parent fondly reconciles Her warring children, she their wrath beguiles With her own sustenance; they relenting weep: Such was this Festival, which from their isles And continents, and winds, and oceans deep, All shapes might throng to share, that fly, or walk, or

Thoughts have gone forth whose powers can sleep no LWi. Might share in peace and innocence, for gore Or poison none this festal did pollute, But piled on high, an overflowing store Of pomegranates, and citrons, fairest fruit, Melons, and dates, and figs, and many a root Sweet and sustaining, and bright grapes ere yet Accursed fire their mild juice could transmute Into a mortal bane, and brown corn set In baskets; with pure streams their thirsting lips they wet.

LVII. Laone had descended from the shrine, And every deepest look and holiest mind Fed on her form, though now those tones divine Were silent as she past; she did unwind Her veil, as with the crowds of her own kind She mix'd ; some impulse made my heart refrain From seeking her that night, so I reclined Amidst a group, where on the utmost plain A festal watch-fire burn'd beside the dusky main.

LWiii. And joyous was our feast; pathetic talk, And wit, and harmony of choral strains, While far Orion o'er the waves did walk That flow among the isles, held us in chains Of sweet captivity, which none disdains Who feels: but when his zone grew dim in mist Which clothes the Ocean's bosom, o'er the plains The multitudes went homeward, to their rest, Which that delightful day with its own shadow blest.

CAN TO WI.

I. Beside the dimness of the glimmering sea, Weaving swift language from impassion'd themes, With that dear friend I linger'd, who to me So late had been restored, beneath the gleans Of the silver stars; and ever in soft dreams Of future love and peace sweet converse lapt Our willing fancies, till the pallid beams, Of the last watch-fire fell, and darkness wrapt The waves, and each bright chain of floating fire was snapt. ii. And till we came even to the City's wall And the great gate, then, none knew whence or why, Disquiet on the multitudes did fall: And first, one pale and breathless past us by, And stared and spoke not;-then with piercing cry A troop of wild-eyed women, by the shrieks | Of their own terror driven,_tumultuously Hither and thither hurrying with pale cheeks, Each one from fear unknown a sudden refuge seeks—

iii. Then, rallying cries of treason and of danger Resounded: and—- They come! to arms! to arms' The Tyrant is amongst us, and the stranger Comes to enslave us in his name! to arms!» In vain: for Panic, the pale fiend who charms Strength to forswear her right, those millions swept Like waves before the tempest—these alarms Came to me, as to know their cause I leapt On the gate's turret, and in rage and grief and scorn 1 wept! iW. For to the North I saw the town on fire, And its red light made morning pallid now, Which burst over wide Asia;-louder, higher, The yells of victory and the screams of woe I heard approach, and saw the throng below Stream through the gates like foam-wrought waterfalls Fed from a thousand storms—the fearful glow Of bonubs flares overhead—at intervals The red artillery's bolt mangling among them falls.

And now the horsemen come—and all was done Swifter than I have spoken—I beheld Their red swords flash in the uprisen sun. I rush'd among the rout to have repell'd That miserable flight—one moment quell'd By voice, and looks and eloquent despair, As if reproach from their own hearts withheld Their steps, they stood; but soon came pouring there New multitudes, and did those rallicd bands o'erbear.

Wi. I strove, as drifted on some cataract By irresistible streams, some wretch might strive. Who hears its fatal roar:—the files compact Whelm'd me, and from the gate avail'd to drive With quickening impulse, as each bolt did rive Their ranks with bloodier chasm:-into the plain Disgorged at length the dead and the alive, In one dread mass, were parted, and the stain Of blood from mortal steel fell o'er the fields like rain.

VII. For now the despot's blood-hounds with their prey, Unarm'd and unaware, were gorging deep Their gluttony of death; the loose array Of horsemen o'er the wide fields murdering sweep, And with loud laughter for their tyrant reap A harvest sown with other hopes; the while, Far overhead, ships from Propontis keep A killing rain of fire:–when the waves smile As sudden earthquakes light many a volcano isle.

Viii. Thus sudden, unexpected feast was spread For the carrion fowls of Heaven.—I saw the sight— I moved—I lived—as o'er the heaps of dead, Whose stony eyes glared in the morning light, I trod;—to me there came no thought of flight, But with loud cries of scorn which whoso heard That dreaded death, felt in his veins the might Of virtuous shame return, the crowd I stirrd, And desperation's hope in many hearts recurr'd.

xv. Sorrow and shame, to see with their own kind Our human brethren mix, like beasts of blood To mutual ruin armed by one behind

Who like its shadow near my youth had stood, Was stabbed!—my old preserver's hoary hair, With the flesh clinging to its roots, was strew'd Under my feet!—I lost all sense or care, And like the rest I grew desperate and unaware.

xWi. The battle became ghastlier—in the midst I paused, and saw, how ugly and how fell, O Hate! thou art, even when thy life thou shedd'st For love. The ground in many a little dell Was broken, up and down whose steeps befell Alternate victory and defeat, and there The combatants with rage most horrible Strove, and their eyes started with cracking stare, And impotent their tongues they lolled into the air.

XVII. Flaccid and foamy, like a mad dog's hanging; Want, and Moon-madness, and the Pest's swift bane; When its shafts smite—while yet its bow is twanging— Have each their mark and sign—some ghastly stain; And this was thine, O War! of hate and pain Thou loathed slave. I saw all shapes of death And minister'd to many, o'er the plain While carnage in the sun-beam's warmth did seethe, Till twilight o'er the east wove her serenest wreath.

XWiii. The few who yet survived, resolute and firm Around me fought. At the decline of day Winding above the mountain's snowy term New banners shone: they quiver'd in the ray Of the sun's unseen orb–ere night the array Of fresh troops hemm'd us in—of those brave bands I soon survived alone—and now I lay Wanquish'd and faint, the grasp of bloody hands I felt, and saw on high the glare of falling brands:

XIX. when on my foes a sudden terror came, And they fled, scattering—lo! with reinless speed A black Tartarian horse of giant frame Comes trampling o'er the dead, the living bleed Beneath the hoofs of that tremendous steed, On which, like to an Angel, robed in white, Sate one waving a sword;—the hosts recede And fly, as through their ranks with awful might, Sweeps in the shadow of eve that Phantom swift and bright; NY. And its path made a solitude.—I rose And mark'd its coming: it relaxed its course As it approach'd me, and the wind that flows Through night, bore accents to mine ear whose force Might create smiles in death—the Tartar horse Paused, and I saw the shape its might which sway'd, And heard her musical pants, like the sweet source Of waters in the desert, as she said, « Mount with me Laon, nowa–I rapidly obey'd.

who sits and scoffs –That friend so mild and good,