LITMIR.BIZ

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And sunk lamented to the shades of night. 340

       "Now vows connubial chain the plighted pair,

       And join paternal with maternal care;

       The married birds with nice selection cull

       Soft thistle-down, gray moss, and scattered wool,

       Line the secluded nest with feathery rings,

       Meet with fond bills, and woo with fluttering wings.

       Week after week, regardless of her food,

       The incumbent Linnet warms her future brood; Each spotted egg with ivory lips she turns, Day after day with fond expectance burns, 350 Hears the young prisoner chirping in his cell, And breaks in hemispheres the obdurate shell. Loud trills sweet Philomel his tender strain, Charms his fond bride, and wakes his infant train; Perch'd on the circling moss, the listening throng Wave their young wings, and whisper to the song.

      "The Lion-King forgets his savage pride,

       And courts with playful paws his tawny bride;

       The listening Tiger hears with kindling flame

       The love-lorn night-call of his brinded dame. 360

       Despotic Love dissolves the bestial war,

       Bends their proud necks, and joins them to his car;

       Shakes o'er the obedient pairs his silken thong,

       And goads the humble, or restrains the strong.—

       Slow roll the silver wheels—in beauty's pride

       Celestial Psyche blushing by his side.—

       The lordly Bull behind and warrior Horse

       With voice of thunder shake the echoing course,

       Chain'd to the car with herds domestic move,

       And swell the triumph of despotic Love. 370

      "Pleased as they pass along the breezy shore

       In twinkling shoals the scaly realms adore,

       Move on quick fin with undulating train, Or lift their slimy foreheads from the main. High o'er their heads on pinions broad display'd The feather'd nations shed a floating shade; Pair after pair enamour'd shoot along, And trill in air the gay impassion'd song. With busy hum in playful swarms around Emerging insects leave the peopled ground, 380 Rise in dark clouds, and borne in airy rings Sport round the car, and wave their golden wings. Admiring Fawns pursue on dancing hoof, And bashful Dryads peep from shades aloof; Emerging Nereids rise from coral cells, Enamour'd Tritons sound their twisted shells; From sparkling founts enchanted Naiads move, And swell the triumph of despotic Love.

      "Delighted Flora, gazing from afar,

       Greets with mute homage the triumphal car; 390

       On silvery slippers steps with bosom bare,

       Bends her white knee, and bows her auburn hair;

       Calls to her purple heaths, and blushing bowers,

       Bursts her green gems, and opens all her flowers;

       O'er the bright Pair a shower of roses sheds,

       And crowns with wreathes of hyacinth their heads.—

      —Slow roll the silver wheels with snowdrops deck'd,

       And primrose bands the cedar spokes connect;

       Round the fine pole the twisting woodbine clings,

       And knots of jasmine clasp the bending springs; 400

       Bright daisy links the velvet harness chain,

       And rings of violets join each silken rein;

       Festoon'd behind, the snow-white lilies bend,

       And tulip-tassels on each side depend.

      —Slow rolls the car—the enamour'd Flowers exhale

       Their treasured sweets, and whisper to the gale;

       Their ravelled buds, and wrinkled cups unfold,

       Nod their green stems, and wave their bells of gold;

       Breathe their soft sighs from each enchanted grove,

       And hail The Deities of Sexual Love. 410

      "Onward with march sublime in saffron robe

       Young Hymen steps, and traverses the globe;

       O'er burning sands, and snow-clad mountains, treads,

       Blue fields of air, and ocean's briny beds;

       Flings from his radiant torch celestial light

       O'er Day's wide concave, and illumes the Night.

       With dulcet eloquence his tuneful tongue

       Convokes and captivates the Fair and Young;

       His golden lamp with ray ethereal dyes

       The blushing cheek, and lights the laughing eyes; 420

       With secret flames the virgin's bosom warms,

       And lights the impatient bridegroom to her arms;

       With lovely life all Nature's frame inspires,

       And, as they sink, rekindles all her fires."

      VII. Now paused the beauteous Teacher, and awhile

       Gazed on her train with sympathetic smile.

       'Beware of Love! she cried, ye Nymphs, and hear

       'His twanging bowstring with alarmed ear;

       'Fly the first whisper of the distant dart,

       'Or shield with adamant the fluttering heart; 430

       'To secret shades, ye Virgin trains, retire,

       'And in your bosoms guard the vestal fire.'

      —The obedient Beauties hear her words, advised,

       And bow with laugh repress'd, and smile chastised.

      Now at her nod the Nymphs attendant bring

       Translucent water from the bubbling spring;

       In crystal cups the waves salubrious shine,

       Unstain'd untainted with immodest wine.

       Next, where emerging from its ancient roots

       Its widening boughs the Tree of Knowledge shoots; 440

       Pluck'd with nice choice before the Muse they placed

       The now no longer interdicted taste.

       Awhile they sit, from higher cares released,

       And pleased partake the intellectual feast.

       Of good and ill they spoke, effect and cause,

       Celestial agencies, and Nature's laws.

      So when angelic Forms to Syria sent

       Sat in the cedar shade by Abraham's tent;

       A spacious bowl the admiring Patriarch fills

       With dulcet water from the scanty rills; 450

       Sweet fruits and kernels gathers from his hoard,

       With milk and butter piles the plenteous board;

       While on the heated hearth his Consort bakes

       Fine flour well kneaded in unleaven'd cakes.

       The Guests ethereal quaff the lucid flood,

       Smile on their hosts, and taste terrestrial food;

       And while from seraph-lips sweet converse springs,

       Lave their fair feet, and close their silver wings.

      END OF CANTO II.

ORIGIN OF SOCIETY.

       CANTO III.

       PROGRESS OF THE MIND.

      

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