A ROMAUNT. CANTO II. I. COME, blue-eyed maid of heaven!--but thou, alas! Didst never yet one mortal song inspire- And is, despite of war and wasting fire,' But worse than steel, and flame, and ages slow, Is the dread sceptre and dominion dire Of men who never felt the sacred glow That thoughts of thee and thine on polish'd breasts bestow." F II. Ancient of days! august Athena! where, Where are thy men of might? thy grand in soul? They won, and pass'd away-is this the whole? The warrior's weapon and the sophist's stole Are sought in vain, and o'er each mouldering tower, Dim with the mist of years, grey flits the shade of power. III. Son of the morning, rise! approach you here! Poor child of Doubt and Death, whose hope is built on reeds. IV. Bound to the earth, he lifts his eye to heavenIs't not enough, unhappy thing! to know Thou art? Is this a boon so kindly given, That being, thou wouldst be again, and go, Thou know'st not, reck'st not to what region, so On earth no more, but mingled with the skies? Still wilt thou dream on future joy and woe? Regard and weigh yon dust before it flies: That little urn saith more than thousand homilies. V. Or burst the vanish'd Hero's lofty mound; Far on the solitary shore he sleeps: 3 He fell, and falling nations mourn'd around; Where demi-gods appear'd, as records tell. Is that a temple where a God may dwell? Why ev'n the worm at last disdains her shatter'd cell! VI. Look on its broken arch, its ruin'd wall, And Passion's host, that never brook'd control: VII. Well didst thou speak, Athena's wisest son! There no forc'd banquet claims the sated guest, But Silence spreads the couch of ever welcome rest.. VIII. Yet if, as holiest men have deem'd, there be A land of souls beyond that sable shore, To shame the doctrine of the Sadducee And sophists, madly vain of dubious lore; How sweet it were in concert to adore With those who made our mortal labours light! To hear each voice we fear'd to hear no more! Behold each mighty shade reveal'd to sight, The Bactrian, Samian sage, and all who taught the right! IX. There, thou!-whose love and life together fled, And woo the vision to my vacant breast: For me 'twere bliss enough to know thy spirit blest! |