Classic Poem

But violence in nature cannot last:
What region's known to bear eternal blast?
Time changes all, dissolves the melting rock,
And on fix'd water turns the chrystal lock.
Time o'er his anguish shed a silent balm,
A peace unsmiling, and a gloomy calm;
By ill untaught to mourn, by joy to glow,
And still insensible to bliss or woe.

To him, thus careless of the circling year,
Five annual suns had roll'd their bright career:
To Heaven alone, his earthly ardours turn'd;
There, late to meet the dear C ONSTANTIA , burn'd:
Still that fond hope remain'd — his sole desire!
And gave new wings to the celestial fire.
" But yet — Hereafter! — What might there betide
" The blood-stain'd hand, by whom a parent died?
This, this gave doubtful thought, unhinged his rest,
And shook the region of his contrite breast;
At length taught satiate vengeance to relent,
And shipt for Rome, the Royal Pilgrim sent.

O'er Tiber soon the far-fraught tidings sped,
(For far beyond the Warrior's fame had spread)
And Gallia's Hugo, to whose generous care,
Protecting Heaven consigned the wandering Fair,
With those whom virtuous approbation fired,
(As still the Brave are by the Brave admired)
To see to touch the gallant A LLA glowed,
And rank'd to meet the Regal Pilgrim rode.
With all due rite and answering grace humane,
The courteous Prince received the shining train:
But Hugo chief, with port of winning view,
The Hero's eye and prime affection drew;
And him, with note selected from the rest,
The Prince solicits for a frequent guest.

But ah! when now it reach'd C ONSTANTIA 's ear,
That A LLA , lovely, barbarous man, was near,
Her soul a thousand different thoughts assail;
Expell'd by turns, by turns they all prevail:
With melting joy and burning love she glows,
With cooling grief and icy hate she froze;
Dear to her heart, though horrid to her will,
He was the loved the charming A LLA still.

Nor Hugo now, in pompous dress array'd,
To wait Britannia's potent Lord delay'd.
With him M AURITIUS frequent chat supplied,
A little gay companion at his side —
He beams a Ganymede, in whose sweet face
The Sire and Mother lived with mingling grace:
Here still they met, in beauty reconciled;
Here still, in soft delicious union, smiled;
So join'd, so blended, with Divinest art,
As left it not in any power to part!

Upon the Pratler's aspect, with surprize,
And charm'd attention, A LLA fix'd his eyes:
Somewhat of wonted semblance there he spied,
Dear to his sense, and to his heart allied;
Somewhat that touch'd beyond all mortal view,
And inly with the link of nature drew.
Disturb'd he rose; upon his secret soul,
Unweeting thaw, and cordial earnings stole:
Big with the soft distress, aside he stept,
And much the Warrior wonder'd why he wept.
Composed, he clasp'd the infant to his breast,
And ask'd, what sire with such a son was blest?
" That, " Hugo cried, " his Dame alone must show;
" Sire hath he none, or none of whom we know:
" But Mother, sure, he hath, that's such a mate
" No man can boast, nor boastful tongue relate:
" Though Fancy, to give semblance of her face,
" From all her sex should cull each separate grace,
" To speak her soul should rob from every saint;
" Low yet were phrase, and all description faint! "

Thus, while his tongue with free encomium flowed,
With strange emotion Alla's aspect glowed:
Full on his heart the dear idea rush'd;
His cheek with hope, and lively ardour flush'd;
When straight despondence sickening in his soul,
From its known seat the rosy tincture stole:
" Once, once, " he cried (the labouring sigh supprest)
" Such treasure once these widow'd arms possest!
" Nature is rich — yet gladly should I know,
" If the world's round can such another shew. "
" Be that, " replied the Gallic chief, " confest,
" Whene'er my house boasts A LLA for a guest. "