The Vision of Slander and Innocence

There piping Folly tun'd, in vacant mood,
Her cuckow strain, and chim'd her tinkling bells.
Next to the gloom of caves and dusky vaults
Wander'd my eye, where Love lay pining pale,
Where laugh'd wild Frenzy, and where rav'd Despair.
There too stalk'd Slander, hideous fiend, unseen,
And from her foul tongue, like the dog of hell,
Shed her black venom on the virgin robe
Of young unweeting Innocence.
The venom black flow'd frustrate to the ground,
By her unheeded, nor one stain impress'd;
And the white robe shone whiter than before.
Strait busy Rumour, who stood list'ning by
Of all unnotic'd, caught the loathsome draught.
If haply aught her greedy thirst escap'd,
Sour-visag'd Envy, witless Idleness,
And wanton Cruelty, her constant train,
Were near, to drink the lees she left behind.
Drunk with the deadly dregs, the rout profane
Spread their false tales thro' all the busy crowd
That throngs the spacious dome.
Last to the injur'd maid's astonish'd ear
Rumour her whisper brought, in friendship's guise
Concealing all the malice of her soul,
False whisper, tainted with her venom'd breath.
The virgin's brow one momentary blush
O'erspread, one sudden start impell'd her frame —
For ah, th' imputed crime, whose mention pain'd
Her modest breast, was horrible to tell!
Soon her fair cheek its wonted smile serene
Resumes; she calms her breast, and musing mild
Lifts her bright eye to heaven. Meanwhile around
Rush Pain, and Want, and Death, a ghastly group
In terrors clad: shaking their bloody thongs
Fierce Furies rave: with half-averted eye
Came cool Contempt; and, ah! still more severe,
Came scornful Pity, with a frown supprest;
And Persecution's cruel crushing hand.
But lo, eternal Truth from heaven descends,
And all her radiance o'er the gloom extends!
Smit by her beam, the fiends, a guilty crowd,
Shoot down to Hell, their native curst abode.
While Innocence exalts her conscious eyes
Where hymns of Angels greet her from the skies,
Then wings with transport her triumphant way
To the blest kingdoms of immortal day.
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