No. XXIV.

April 23, 1798.

(Continued.)

CANTO I.Alas!that partial Science should approve75The slyRectangle’s[218]too licentious love!Forthreebright nymphs the wily wizard burns;—Threebright-eyed nymphs requite his flame by turns.Strange force of magic skill! combined of yoreWith Plato’s science and Menecmus’ lore.[219]80InAfric’sschool, amid those sultry sandsHigh on its base where Pompey’s pillar stands,This learnt the Seer; and learnt, alas! too well,Each scribbled talisman, and smoky spell:What muttered charms, what soul-subduing arts,85Fell Zatanai[220]to his sons imparts.Gins[221]—black and huge! who in Dom-Daniel’s[222]caveWrithe your scorched limbs on sulphur’s[223]azure wave;Or, shivering, yell amidst eternal snows,Where cloud-capp’d Caf[224]protrudes his granite toes;90(Bound by his will,Judæa’sfabled king,[225]Lord ofAladdin’slamp and mystic ring.)Gins! ye remember!—for your toil conveyedWhate’er of drugs the powerful charm could aid;Air, earth, and sea ye searched, and where below95Flame embryo lavas, young volcanoes[226]glow,—Gins! ye beheld appall’d th’ enchanter’s handWave in dark air th’Hypothenusalwand;Saw him the mysticCircletrace, and wheelWith head erect, and far-extended heel;[227]100Saw him, with speed that mocked the dazzled eye,Self-whirled, in quick gyrations eddying fly:Till done the potent spell—behold him grownFairVenus’emblem—thePhœnicianCone.[228]Triumphs the Seer, and now secure observes105The kindling passions of therivalCurves.And first, the fairParabola[229]behold,Her timid arms, with virgin blush, unfold!Though, on onefocusfixed, her eyes betrayA heart that glows with love’s resistless sway;110Though, climbing oft, she strives with bolder graceRound his tall neck to clasp her fond embrace,Still ere she reach it, from his polished sideHer trembling hands in deviousTangentsglide.Not thusHyperbola;[230]—with subtlest art115The blue-eyed wanton plays her changeful part;Quick as herconjugatedaxes moveThrough every posture of luxurious love,Her sportive limbs with easiest grace expand;Her charms unveiled provoke the lover’s hand;120Unveiled, except in many a filmy ray,Where lightAsymptotes[231]o’er her bosom play,Nor touch her glowing skin, nor intercept the day.Yet why,Ellipsis,[232]at thy fate repine?More lasting bliss, securer joys are thine.125Though to each fair his treacherous wish may stray,Though each, in turn, may seize a transient sway,’Tis thine with mild coercion to restrain,Twine round his struggling heart, and bind with endless chain.Thus, happy France! in thy regenerate land,130WhereTastewithRapinesaunters hand in hand;Where, nursed in seats of innocence and bliss,ReformgreetsTerrorwith fraternal kiss;Where mildPhilosophyfirst taught to scanThewrongsofProvidence, andrightsofMan;135WhereMemorybroods o’erFreedom’searlier scene,TheLanternbright, and brighterGuillotine;Threegentle swains evolve their longing arms,And woo the youngRepublic’svirgin charms;And though proudBarraswith the fair succeed,140Though not in vain th’ AttorneyRewbellplead,Oft doth th’ impartial nymph their love forego,To clasp thy crooked shoulders, blestLepaux!So, with dark dirge athwart the blasted heath,ThreeSister Witches hailed the appalled Macbeth.145So, theThreeFates beneath grim Pluto’s roof,Strain the dun warp, and weave the murky woof;’Till deadly Atropos with fatal shearsSlits the thin promise of the expected years,While ’midst the dungeon’s gloom or battle’s din,150Ambition’s victims perish, as they spin.Thus, theThreeGraces on the Idalian greenBow with deft homage to Cythera’s Queen;Her polished arms with pearly bracelets deck,Part her light locks, and bare her ivory neck;155Round her fair form ethereal odours throw,And teach th’ unconscious zephyrs where to blow,Floats the thin gauze, and glittering as they play,The bright folds flutter in phlogistic day,.So, with his daughtersThree, th’ unsceptered Lear160Heaved the loud sigh, and poured the glistering tear:His daughtersThree, save one alone, conspire(Rich in his gifts) to spurn their generous sire;Bid the rude storm his hoary tresses drench,Stint the spare meal, the hundred knights retrench;165Mock his mad sorrow, and with altered mienRenounce the daughter, and assert the queen.A father’s griefs his feeble frame convulse,Rack his white head, and fire his feverous pulse;Till kind Cordelia soothes his soul to rest,170And folds the parent-monarch to her breast.Thus some fair spinster grieves in wild affright,Vexed with dull megrim, or vertigo light;Pleased round the fair,Threedawdling doctors stand,Wave the white wig, and stretch the asking hand,175State the grave doubt, the nauseous draught decree,And all receive, though none deserve, a fee.So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourn,[233]glidesThe Derby dilly, carryingThreeInsides.One in each corner sits, and lolls at ease,180With folded arms, propt back, and outstretched knees;While the pressedBodkin, punched and squeezed to death,Sweats in the midmost place, and scolds, and pants for breath.[234]

CANTO I.

Alas!that partial Science should approve75The slyRectangle’s[218]too licentious love!Forthreebright nymphs the wily wizard burns;—Threebright-eyed nymphs requite his flame by turns.Strange force of magic skill! combined of yoreWith Plato’s science and Menecmus’ lore.[219]80InAfric’sschool, amid those sultry sandsHigh on its base where Pompey’s pillar stands,This learnt the Seer; and learnt, alas! too well,Each scribbled talisman, and smoky spell:What muttered charms, what soul-subduing arts,85Fell Zatanai[220]to his sons imparts.

Alas!that partial Science should approve

The slyRectangle’s[218]too licentious love!

Forthreebright nymphs the wily wizard burns;—

Threebright-eyed nymphs requite his flame by turns.

Strange force of magic skill! combined of yore

With Plato’s science and Menecmus’ lore.[219]

InAfric’sschool, amid those sultry sands

High on its base where Pompey’s pillar stands,

This learnt the Seer; and learnt, alas! too well,

Each scribbled talisman, and smoky spell:

What muttered charms, what soul-subduing arts,

Fell Zatanai[220]to his sons imparts.

Gins[221]—black and huge! who in Dom-Daniel’s[222]caveWrithe your scorched limbs on sulphur’s[223]azure wave;Or, shivering, yell amidst eternal snows,Where cloud-capp’d Caf[224]protrudes his granite toes;90(Bound by his will,Judæa’sfabled king,[225]Lord ofAladdin’slamp and mystic ring.)Gins! ye remember!—for your toil conveyedWhate’er of drugs the powerful charm could aid;Air, earth, and sea ye searched, and where below95Flame embryo lavas, young volcanoes[226]glow,—Gins! ye beheld appall’d th’ enchanter’s handWave in dark air th’Hypothenusalwand;Saw him the mysticCircletrace, and wheelWith head erect, and far-extended heel;[227]100Saw him, with speed that mocked the dazzled eye,Self-whirled, in quick gyrations eddying fly:Till done the potent spell—behold him grownFairVenus’emblem—thePhœnicianCone.[228]

Gins[221]—black and huge! who in Dom-Daniel’s[222]cave

Writhe your scorched limbs on sulphur’s[223]azure wave;

Or, shivering, yell amidst eternal snows,

Where cloud-capp’d Caf[224]protrudes his granite toes;

(Bound by his will,Judæa’sfabled king,[225]

Lord ofAladdin’slamp and mystic ring.)

Gins! ye remember!—for your toil conveyed

Whate’er of drugs the powerful charm could aid;

Air, earth, and sea ye searched, and where below

Flame embryo lavas, young volcanoes[226]glow,—

Gins! ye beheld appall’d th’ enchanter’s hand

Wave in dark air th’Hypothenusalwand;

Saw him the mysticCircletrace, and wheel

With head erect, and far-extended heel;[227]

100

Saw him, with speed that mocked the dazzled eye,

Self-whirled, in quick gyrations eddying fly:

Till done the potent spell—behold him grown

FairVenus’emblem—thePhœnicianCone.[228]

Triumphs the Seer, and now secure observes105The kindling passions of therivalCurves.

Triumphs the Seer, and now secure observes

105

The kindling passions of therivalCurves.

And first, the fairParabola[229]behold,Her timid arms, with virgin blush, unfold!Though, on onefocusfixed, her eyes betrayA heart that glows with love’s resistless sway;110Though, climbing oft, she strives with bolder graceRound his tall neck to clasp her fond embrace,Still ere she reach it, from his polished sideHer trembling hands in deviousTangentsglide.

And first, the fairParabola[229]behold,

Her timid arms, with virgin blush, unfold!

Though, on onefocusfixed, her eyes betray

A heart that glows with love’s resistless sway;

110

Though, climbing oft, she strives with bolder grace

Round his tall neck to clasp her fond embrace,

Still ere she reach it, from his polished side

Her trembling hands in deviousTangentsglide.

Not thusHyperbola;[230]—with subtlest art115The blue-eyed wanton plays her changeful part;Quick as herconjugatedaxes moveThrough every posture of luxurious love,Her sportive limbs with easiest grace expand;Her charms unveiled provoke the lover’s hand;120Unveiled, except in many a filmy ray,Where lightAsymptotes[231]o’er her bosom play,Nor touch her glowing skin, nor intercept the day.

Not thusHyperbola;[230]—with subtlest art

115

The blue-eyed wanton plays her changeful part;

Quick as herconjugatedaxes move

Through every posture of luxurious love,

Her sportive limbs with easiest grace expand;

Her charms unveiled provoke the lover’s hand;

120

Unveiled, except in many a filmy ray,

Where lightAsymptotes[231]o’er her bosom play,

Nor touch her glowing skin, nor intercept the day.

Yet why,Ellipsis,[232]at thy fate repine?More lasting bliss, securer joys are thine.125Though to each fair his treacherous wish may stray,Though each, in turn, may seize a transient sway,’Tis thine with mild coercion to restrain,Twine round his struggling heart, and bind with endless chain.

Yet why,Ellipsis,[232]at thy fate repine?

More lasting bliss, securer joys are thine.

125

Though to each fair his treacherous wish may stray,

Though each, in turn, may seize a transient sway,

’Tis thine with mild coercion to restrain,

Twine round his struggling heart, and bind with endless chain.

Thus, happy France! in thy regenerate land,130WhereTastewithRapinesaunters hand in hand;Where, nursed in seats of innocence and bliss,ReformgreetsTerrorwith fraternal kiss;Where mildPhilosophyfirst taught to scanThewrongsofProvidence, andrightsofMan;135WhereMemorybroods o’erFreedom’searlier scene,TheLanternbright, and brighterGuillotine;Threegentle swains evolve their longing arms,And woo the youngRepublic’svirgin charms;And though proudBarraswith the fair succeed,140Though not in vain th’ AttorneyRewbellplead,Oft doth th’ impartial nymph their love forego,To clasp thy crooked shoulders, blestLepaux!

Thus, happy France! in thy regenerate land,

130

WhereTastewithRapinesaunters hand in hand;

Where, nursed in seats of innocence and bliss,

ReformgreetsTerrorwith fraternal kiss;

Where mildPhilosophyfirst taught to scan

ThewrongsofProvidence, andrightsofMan;

135

WhereMemorybroods o’erFreedom’searlier scene,

TheLanternbright, and brighterGuillotine;

Threegentle swains evolve their longing arms,

And woo the youngRepublic’svirgin charms;

And though proudBarraswith the fair succeed,

140

Though not in vain th’ AttorneyRewbellplead,

Oft doth th’ impartial nymph their love forego,

To clasp thy crooked shoulders, blestLepaux!

So, with dark dirge athwart the blasted heath,ThreeSister Witches hailed the appalled Macbeth.145

So, with dark dirge athwart the blasted heath,

ThreeSister Witches hailed the appalled Macbeth.

145

So, theThreeFates beneath grim Pluto’s roof,Strain the dun warp, and weave the murky woof;’Till deadly Atropos with fatal shearsSlits the thin promise of the expected years,While ’midst the dungeon’s gloom or battle’s din,150Ambition’s victims perish, as they spin.

So, theThreeFates beneath grim Pluto’s roof,

Strain the dun warp, and weave the murky woof;

’Till deadly Atropos with fatal shears

Slits the thin promise of the expected years,

While ’midst the dungeon’s gloom or battle’s din,

150

Ambition’s victims perish, as they spin.

Thus, theThreeGraces on the Idalian greenBow with deft homage to Cythera’s Queen;Her polished arms with pearly bracelets deck,Part her light locks, and bare her ivory neck;155Round her fair form ethereal odours throw,And teach th’ unconscious zephyrs where to blow,Floats the thin gauze, and glittering as they play,The bright folds flutter in phlogistic day,.

Thus, theThreeGraces on the Idalian green

Bow with deft homage to Cythera’s Queen;

Her polished arms with pearly bracelets deck,

Part her light locks, and bare her ivory neck;

155

Round her fair form ethereal odours throw,

And teach th’ unconscious zephyrs where to blow,

Floats the thin gauze, and glittering as they play,

The bright folds flutter in phlogistic day,.

So, with his daughtersThree, th’ unsceptered Lear160Heaved the loud sigh, and poured the glistering tear:His daughtersThree, save one alone, conspire(Rich in his gifts) to spurn their generous sire;Bid the rude storm his hoary tresses drench,Stint the spare meal, the hundred knights retrench;165Mock his mad sorrow, and with altered mienRenounce the daughter, and assert the queen.A father’s griefs his feeble frame convulse,Rack his white head, and fire his feverous pulse;Till kind Cordelia soothes his soul to rest,170And folds the parent-monarch to her breast.

So, with his daughtersThree, th’ unsceptered Lear

160

Heaved the loud sigh, and poured the glistering tear:

His daughtersThree, save one alone, conspire

(Rich in his gifts) to spurn their generous sire;

Bid the rude storm his hoary tresses drench,

Stint the spare meal, the hundred knights retrench;

165

Mock his mad sorrow, and with altered mien

Renounce the daughter, and assert the queen.

A father’s griefs his feeble frame convulse,

Rack his white head, and fire his feverous pulse;

Till kind Cordelia soothes his soul to rest,

170

And folds the parent-monarch to her breast.

Thus some fair spinster grieves in wild affright,Vexed with dull megrim, or vertigo light;Pleased round the fair,Threedawdling doctors stand,Wave the white wig, and stretch the asking hand,175State the grave doubt, the nauseous draught decree,And all receive, though none deserve, a fee.

Thus some fair spinster grieves in wild affright,

Vexed with dull megrim, or vertigo light;

Pleased round the fair,Threedawdling doctors stand,

Wave the white wig, and stretch the asking hand,

175

State the grave doubt, the nauseous draught decree,

And all receive, though none deserve, a fee.

So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourn,[233]glidesThe Derby dilly, carryingThreeInsides.One in each corner sits, and lolls at ease,180With folded arms, propt back, and outstretched knees;While the pressedBodkin, punched and squeezed to death,Sweats in the midmost place, and scolds, and pants for breath.[234]

So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourn,[233]glides

The Derby dilly, carryingThreeInsides.

One in each corner sits, and lolls at ease,

180

With folded arms, propt back, and outstretched knees;

While the pressedBodkin, punched and squeezed to death,

Sweats in the midmost place, and scolds, and pants for breath.[234]

(To be continued.)

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