To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight, To find if books, or swains, report it right, (For yet by swains alone the world he knew, The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, Now sunk the sun; the closing hour of day Still made his house the wandering stranger's home: The table groans with costly piles of food, Then led to rest, the day's long toil they drown, At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day, Along the wide canals the zephyrs play: Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep, And shake the neighbouring wood to banish sleep. Up rise the guests, obedient to the call: An early banquet deck'd the splendid hall : Rich luscious wine a golden goblet graced, Which the kind master forced the guests to taste. Then pleased and thankful from the porch they go; And, but the landlord, none had cause of woe; His cup was vanish'd: for in secret guise The younger guest purloin'd the glittering prize. As one who spies a serpent in his way, Glistening and basking in the summer ray, Disorder'd stops to shun the danger near, Then walks with faintness on, and looks with fear: So seem'd the sire; when, far upon the road, The shining spoil his wily partner show'd. He stopp'd with silence, walk'd with trembling heart, And much he wish'd, but durst not ask to part: Murmuring he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard, That generous actions meet a base reward. While thus they pass, the sun his glory shrouds, The changing skies hang out their sable clouds; A sound in air presaged approaching rain, And beasts to covert scud across the plain. Warn'd by the signs, the wandering pair retreat, To seek for shelter at a neighbouring seat. "Twas built with turrets, on a rising ground, And strong, and large, and unimproved around; Its owner's temper, timorous and severe, As near the Miser's heavy doors they drew, And Nature's fervour through their limbs recalls: With still remark the pondering Hermit view'd, In one so rich, a life so poor and rude; And why should such (within himself he cried) Lock the lost wealth a thousand want beside ?'But what new marks of wonder soon took place, In every settling feature of his face; When from his vest the young companion bore That cup the generous landlord own'd before, And paid profusely with the precious bowl The stinted kindness of this churlish soul. But now the clouds in airy tumult fly; The sun emerging opes an azure sky; A fresher green the smelling leaves display, And, glittering as they tremble, cheer the day: The weather courts them from the poor retreat, And the glad master bolts the wary gate. While hence they walk, the Pilgrim's bosom wrought With all the travel of uncertain thought; Now night's dim shades again involve the sky, 'Without a vain, without a grudging heart, To him who gives us all, I yield a part; From him you come, from him accept it here, A frank and sober, more than costly cheer.' He spoke, and bid the welcome table spread, Then talk'd of virtue till the time of bed, When the grave household round his hall repair, Warn'd by a bell, and close the hours with prayer. At length the world, renew'd by calm repose, Was strong for toil, the dappled morn arose ; Before the Pilgrims part, the younger crept Near the closed cradle where an infant slept, And writhed his neck: the landlord's little pride, O strange return! grew black, and gasp'd, and died. Horror of horrors! what! his only son! How look'd our hermit when the fact was done! Not hell, though hell's black jaws in sunder part, And breathe blue fire, could more assault his heart. Confused, and struck with silence at the deed, He flies, but, trembling, fails to fly with speed. His steps the youth pursues; the country lay Perplex'd with roads, a servant show'd the way: `A river cross'd the path; the passage o'er Was nice to find; the servant trod before; Long arms of oaks an open bridge supplied, And deep the waves beneath the bending glide. The youth, who seem'd to watch a time to sin, Approach'd the careless guide, and thrust him in; Plunging he falls, and rising lifts his head, Then flashing turns, and sinks among the dead. Wild, sparkling rage inflames the father's eyes; He bursts the bands of fear, and madly cries, 'Detested wretch !'-But scarce his speech began, When the strange partner seem'd no longer man : His youthful face grew more serenely sweet; His robe turn'd white, and flow'd upon his feet; Fair rounds of radiant points invest his hair; Celestial odours breathe through purpled air; And wings, whose colours glitter'd on the day, Wide at his back their gradual plumes display; The form ethereal burst upon his sight, And moves in all the majesty of light. Though loud at first the Pilgrim's passion grew, Sudden he gazed, and wist not what to do; Surprise in secret chains his words suspends, And in a calm his settled temper ends. But silence here the beauteous angel broke: (The voice of music ravish'd as he spoke) "Thy prayer, thy praise, thy life, to vice unknown, In sweet memorial rise before the throne: |