CANTO VI.

“Thus have I pictured what my art could show; Some fair illusions hidden brought to light: The depth of earth, the bowell’d earth below, Dark as the gloomy reign of Pluto’s night; And ocean’s secret wonders bared to sight, Its viewless monsters and its treasure’s heap; Gems costly hid in many a cluster bright, Embedded sunk as mine Golconda deep. These have we gazed, and shown where Neptune’s waters sleep.

“And we have looked on Nature’s lovely face, The smiling landscape and the glorious sun, Gilding the morn to run his radiant race; Mountains and glaciers dread we’ve gazed upon; The mighty flowing river seen to run; Nature beheld in woody-wild and glen, ’Mid rites of blood by ancient Druid stone; Have tracked the savage beast in hidden den, And swelling torrent’s roar, far from the haunts of men.

“The wondrous works of Art we have display’d, Temple and column tow’ring to the sky; The chisel’s skill, in statuary array’d, And living canvass’ glowing imagery; And walls adorned with ancient tapestry. Some things of marvel looked with awe upon, That still exist to all posterity; Smile o’er the desert reared its ancient stone, And have the pyramids and hoary Stonehenge shown.

“And some illustrious darling sons of fame Have in review pass’d glorious in our sight, And left behind them an enduring name, Whose works refresh our spirits, and invite, Fadeless as flowers that drink ambrosial light, A flame that sheds a never quenchless ray; So shines Hespèrus, sparkling through the night; Or Lucifer that ushers in the day: Such in their hemisphere ‘Learning’ and ‘Mind’ display.

“The feather’d fowl, that upward heav’n doth scale, These we have followed in their dusky flight; The eagle strong, or lark, or loud land-rail, And vulture fierce, with cruel talons’ might Bearing his victim to his craggy height; View’d all the air with living creatures swarm, Dance in the sunbeam with a golden light: These we discoursed, enraptured with the charm Of Nature fair dispread, that doth the fancy warm.

“And last we did direct your utmost gaze To yonder golden fires that blaze on high, Filling the mind with wonder and amaze; Her boldest pinion vain attempts to fly, Or threshold reach, its glories to descry; She cannot stretch so far, her vision dim Sees but the outskirts of immensity. The fulness of His glory dwells with Him; We but the shadow scan—how great to earth’s pilgrim!

“But vain the search, if scarce no higher aim Than curious wonder, or mere idle gaze; Employ our reason, that hath loftier claim, No less than our immortal nature raise To Him the giver,—all adoring praise His matchless works, in glory infinite! Vast in an atom as yon starry blaze; So great the pow’r display’d to mortal sight— So skilful in design, past searching out His might!

“For knowledge vain it is, and reason’s pow’rs, If man’s chief end it doth not teach enforce, And bid him turn from earth to heav’nly bowers, The soul’s implanted wish and purest source; But downward dragg’d by sin’s debasing choice, His noble spirit vain essays to rise, Till heav’nly guidance leads to holier course, And cause him mount once more his native skies, For which he ardent pants, for which he inward sighs.

“For oh! how vast is one immortal soul, Its end, capacity, duration great: Compared, how small creation’s mighty whole, Earth, with its glorious canopy of state, That last must wane and meet its doomed fate; But man’s immortal spirit ever lives, For him, new clothed, eternal garments wait, Fresh amaranthine bloom, and bliss derives, His being, powers, renewed, godlike Creator gives.

“Such destiny, co-eval with the skies, Is man’s, whose thought most like to angel’s soars, With mind endued pre-eminent, that tries To cast its slough, and try its latent pow’rs, A new existence found ’neath blissful bowers; So shines the chrysalis, with golden wing Escaped to sip on nectar-dropping flow’rs. If, when life’s trammels burst, new life doth spring, Embrace, hold fast the Truth, seek mercy’s offering.

“For why should creature man not strive for good, And evil fly, to gain eternal joy; Climb Pisgah’s height, where Hebrew prophet stood, And gaze the ‘promised land,’ where no alloy, But pleasures manifold for e’er employ Those who have cross’d by faith dark Jordan’s stream; There sin doth ever flee, nor care annoy, In that unsullied state, whose light doth beam, A holy radiance shed—‘Redeeming love’ the theme.

“And all that pleasant is through earth dispread, How chequer’d all things with its opposite; The azure sky with clouds soon overspread, Zephyr the storm, heat cold, and day the night, And summer’s glow by burly winter’s might; So human joy and sorrow mingled flow, Else earth would bind us with too much delight, And thus enchain the soul to things below. Oh! blessed, holy cross, that doth our folly show.

“What love and pity for our fallen state— Almighty arms extended, us to save! Who of ourselves could not release our fate, But unredeemed sink hopeless to the grave. Thrice blessed gift that proffered mercy gave In that vicarious sacrifice of love! Whom scorn and cruel death did righteous brave, All for our good, who did but rebels prove. Oh! love of heav’nly God, such clemency to move!

“But list! we must break off, a well-known tread Comes softly hither, sent by my good lord, That bids me linger not, but quickly sped, Nor longer discourse can for you afford, Though willingly I would, be ye assured, On works of highest God for you relate, So that some truths my feeble speech record. Dan Fantasy holds audience, and doth wait Anon my presence, whilst Sir Page attends ye straight.”

With that Sir Page, with courtier-like address, Eftsoons his message to the bard made known; Then ’gan adroitly marshal lead the press To where the stately pile ’mid cedars frown, That brought them to the entrance hall we’ve shown; When here the poet waved the crowd adieu, And onward passed, from their lost sight soon flown, When he, Sir varlet Page, attention drew To ante-room, to doff their borrowed garments new.

And as he did disrobe from their attire, Each to resume his own habiliment, A roguish chuckle, with an elfish leer, Upon his pliant features came and went, Show’d mischief lurked, but was suppress’d instant; And then anon obsequious seen to stand, And bowed his head, and low like courtier bent; With graceful stride then led the motley band, Where Herald mounted rode in outer court at hand.

Who, thus instructed, led to postern gate The rabble rout, for so they push’d and strove; So in this world, each jostling crowds his mate To push him by, and strive before him move; So urged the crowd, more like to herd or drove, While he Sir Herald’s charger paw’d the ground, Impatient check’d his fiery speed to prove; Sir Gallant’s bearing awed the throng around, When high he held his horn, as if prepared to sound.

One shrill loud blast the noisy rabble stay’d, That far resounded through the spacious court, And with less tumult silenced them afraid, And caused their egress make with grave deport; For rude disorder was forbid resort, Nor could admittance to that palace gain, But disobeyed sore punishment it brought. This he, Sir Herald, hinted to restrain Their rude unseemly din, from which they did refrain.

The lofty entrance-porch they straightway reach, Through whose wide gate the multitude outpour; The world before them spread, o’er which to search For happiness, perchance for them in store, An “Ignis Fatuus” proved in days of yore; If pleasure be their aim, or sordid gain, Such do their seekers cheat for evermore; While others, virtuous knowledge to attain Far wiser, deem all else as profitless and vain.

Some charm’d by Art, others by Science led, And Nature some her secret wonders trace; Fresh beauties found thus lavishly dispread, So far surpassing art in bounteous grace; Some thoughtful seek the darling Muse embrace, While, Cincinnatus like, some wield the plough; Or laws bestow, Lycurgus of their race; Soft pleasure seek, or love for mammon show; Or sluggish, sottish live, like swine in filthy slough.

Their several ways dispersed, and noisy sound Of rabble route, that silence scared to hear, Which glades and woods affrighted heard around, Unusual uproar and loud discord near, Whereat went bounding forth the startled deer, Whose forests have resumed their silent reign, With here and there a note of wild bird clear, Mellifluous heard with sad and mournful plain; While all reposed as if nought living did remain.

The slow descending sun hath shed his beam With slanting ray, that fall on turret bright, And shone on oriel stained with golden gleam; Its porphyry pillars blazed with dazzling light, Like fair enchantment to beholder’s sight, A palace spied of some dark wizard king; But now the shadows dim of coming night ’Gan hover round, its gloomy folds to fling O’er every living wight and every living thing.

Its ling’ring shadows scarce had waned their last When sudden brilliance struck beholder’s sight, As through that long saloon its lustre cast, And show’d eftsoons a court was held that night, In which Dan Fantasy took much delight, And more, that child of earth should roam his ground, And pleasures manifold that there invite. This known, Sir Herald, pausing, gazed around, Then blew once more his horn, for other folk to sound.