Horror
B E hid from me the sapphire sky,
What is to me the verdure's dye?
Or yonder vales where sportive cattle play?
Near shady Groves, yes there I see,
Why do those beauties burst on me?
Bright Rivers run, and dart redoubled Day.
Can such vain scenes enchant a mind
To deep disgust and gloom resigned?
'Tis but o'er hearts where reigns sweet peace they've power.
Vain are such views, from them I fly,
On scenes of Ruin turn my eye,
And greet thee Horror at the mouldering Tower!
Where, 'mongst unwholesome murky damps,
The fitting gleamy vapour lamps
Of ignes fatui show, midst thickest night,
Where morbid Melancholy sits,
And weeps, and sighs, and raves, by fits,
Or, from her vision hides some fancied sprite.
Or if, amidst the Arctic gloom,
To hurry many a Wretch's doom,
Thou formest hideous Phantoms of Despair,
Instant thy dreadful labours leave,
With raven wing the concave cleave,
'Thwart the dark vapours of nocturnal air.
Now waft me to th' impending Cliff
Below whose brow the stranded skiff
Beholds thee seated on thy rocky throne,
Where, midst the shrieking wild wind's roar,
With outstretch'd hands wreck'd crews implore,
Their fear-seized sinews motionless as stone.
Hide, hide the Moon's obtrusive orb,
The gleam of every star absorb,
And make Creation, for a moment, thine!
Bid billows dash, let whirlwinds roar,
And the stern, rocky, threat'ning shore
Back to the waves the stranded bark resign!
Then, whilst from yonder turbid cloud
Thou roll'st thy Thunders long and loud
Thy Lightnings darting on the deep below,
Let the expiring Seaman's cry,
The Pilot's agonizing sigh,
In dreadful Chorus all immingled flow!
Horror! far back thou dat'st thy reign,
Ere Tyrants History's page could stain
With records dark of deeds of lawless sway;
Ere Alexanders States o'erthrew,
Or Faction mad'ning C ÆSARS knew,
To thee Mankind was yielded for thy Prey!
Whose pen J EHOVAH'S self inspired,
He who, with power from Heaven acquired,
Led I SRAEL'S gifted armies o'er the earth,
Midst frenzied Mothers, Children drowned,
And mansions topling to the ground,
Grandly terrific paints thy dreadful birth!
Th Almighty from his Throne on high
Bade forth the venging Seraphs fly,
'Gainst Earth imbued with every vice's stain.
He gave th' irrevocable sign,
Which marked to Man the hate divine
For Heaven's commands all treated with disdain!
And sudden to the opening sky
The Angels of his Wrath quick fly,
Then Horror thou didst riot o'er the whole!
Whilst fell th' annihilating shower,
To Thee th' A LMIGHTY gave the hour
To fill and rack each self-accusing soul!
'Twas thine to scourge each sinful land,
No creature could thy glance withstand,
The Pride-swoln Cities crumbled at thy yell.
O NCE MORE thou'lt reign! the E ARTH on Fire,
Its Frame in Chaos will expire
Ere thou dost seek thy native seat in Hell!
What is to me the verdure's dye?
Or yonder vales where sportive cattle play?
Near shady Groves, yes there I see,
Why do those beauties burst on me?
Bright Rivers run, and dart redoubled Day.
Can such vain scenes enchant a mind
To deep disgust and gloom resigned?
'Tis but o'er hearts where reigns sweet peace they've power.
Vain are such views, from them I fly,
On scenes of Ruin turn my eye,
And greet thee Horror at the mouldering Tower!
Where, 'mongst unwholesome murky damps,
The fitting gleamy vapour lamps
Of ignes fatui show, midst thickest night,
Where morbid Melancholy sits,
And weeps, and sighs, and raves, by fits,
Or, from her vision hides some fancied sprite.
Or if, amidst the Arctic gloom,
To hurry many a Wretch's doom,
Thou formest hideous Phantoms of Despair,
Instant thy dreadful labours leave,
With raven wing the concave cleave,
'Thwart the dark vapours of nocturnal air.
Now waft me to th' impending Cliff
Below whose brow the stranded skiff
Beholds thee seated on thy rocky throne,
Where, midst the shrieking wild wind's roar,
With outstretch'd hands wreck'd crews implore,
Their fear-seized sinews motionless as stone.
Hide, hide the Moon's obtrusive orb,
The gleam of every star absorb,
And make Creation, for a moment, thine!
Bid billows dash, let whirlwinds roar,
And the stern, rocky, threat'ning shore
Back to the waves the stranded bark resign!
Then, whilst from yonder turbid cloud
Thou roll'st thy Thunders long and loud
Thy Lightnings darting on the deep below,
Let the expiring Seaman's cry,
The Pilot's agonizing sigh,
In dreadful Chorus all immingled flow!
Horror! far back thou dat'st thy reign,
Ere Tyrants History's page could stain
With records dark of deeds of lawless sway;
Ere Alexanders States o'erthrew,
Or Faction mad'ning C ÆSARS knew,
To thee Mankind was yielded for thy Prey!
Whose pen J EHOVAH'S self inspired,
He who, with power from Heaven acquired,
Led I SRAEL'S gifted armies o'er the earth,
Midst frenzied Mothers, Children drowned,
And mansions topling to the ground,
Grandly terrific paints thy dreadful birth!
Th Almighty from his Throne on high
Bade forth the venging Seraphs fly,
'Gainst Earth imbued with every vice's stain.
He gave th' irrevocable sign,
Which marked to Man the hate divine
For Heaven's commands all treated with disdain!
And sudden to the opening sky
The Angels of his Wrath quick fly,
Then Horror thou didst riot o'er the whole!
Whilst fell th' annihilating shower,
To Thee th' A LMIGHTY gave the hour
To fill and rack each self-accusing soul!
'Twas thine to scourge each sinful land,
No creature could thy glance withstand,
The Pride-swoln Cities crumbled at thy yell.
O NCE MORE thou'lt reign! the E ARTH on Fire,
Its Frame in Chaos will expire
Ere thou dost seek thy native seat in Hell!
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