Zophiel Part 4

As the vexed Caspian, tho' its rage be past And the blue smiling heavens swell o'er in peace, Shook to the centre, by the recent blast, Heaves on tumultuous still, and hath not power to cease.

So still each little pulse was seen to throb Tho' pa.s.sion and its pains were lulled to rest, And "even and anon" a pitious sob Shook the pure arch expansive o'er her breast. [FN#12]

[FN#12] This effect is very observable in little children, who for several hours after they have cried themselves to sleep, and sometimes even when a smile is on their lips, are heard, from time to time, to utter sobs.

XXIX.

Save that 'twas all tranquillity; that reigned O'er fragrance sound and beauty; all was mute-- Save when a dove her dear one's absence plained And the faint breeze mourned o'er the slumberer's lute.

x.x.x.

It chanced, that day, lured by the verdure, came Zophiel, now minister of ill; but ere He sinned, a heavenly angel. The faint flame Of dying embers, on an altar, where

Raguel, fair Egla's sire, in secret vowed And sacrificed to the sole living G.o.d, Where friendly shades the sacred rites enshround;--(2) The fiend beheld and knew; his soul was awed,

And he bethought him of the forfeit joys Once his in Heaven;--deep in a darkling grot He sat him down;--the melancholy noise Of leaf and creeping vine accordant with his thought.

x.x.xI.

When fiercer spirits, howled, he but complained (3) Ere yet 'twas his to roam the pleasant earth, His heaven-invented harp he still retained Tho' tuned to bliss no more; and had its birth

Of him, beneath some black infernal clift The first drear song of woe; and torment wrung The spirit less severe where he might lift His plaining voice--and frame the like as now he sung:

x.x.xII.

"Woe to thee, wild ambition, I employ Despair's dull notes thy dread effects to tell, Born in high-heaven, her peace thou could'st destroy, And, but for thee, there had not been a h.e.l.l.

"Thro' the celestial domes thy clarion pealed,-- Angels, entranced, beneath thy banners ranged, And stright were fiends;--hurled from the shrinking field, They waked in agony to wait the change.

"Darting thro' all her veins the subtle fire The world's fair mistress first inhaled thy breath, To lot of higher beings learned to aspire,-- Dared to attempt--and doomed the world to death.

"Thy thousand wild desires, that still torment The fiercely struggling soul, where peace once dwelt, But perished;--feverish hope--drear discontent, Impoisoning all possest--Oh! I have felt

"As spirits feel--yet not for man we mourn Scarce o'er the silly bird in state were he, That builds his nest, loves, sings the morn's return, And sleeps at evening; save by aid of thee,

"Fame ne'er had roused, nor song her records kept The gem, the ore, the marble breathing life, The pencil's colours,--all in earth had slept, Now see them mark with death his victim's strife.

"Man found thee death--but death and dull decay Baffling, by aid of thee, his mastery proves;-- By mighty works he swells his narrow day And reigns, for ages, on the world he loves.

"Yet what the price? with stings that never cease Thou goad'st him on; and when, too keen the smart, He fain would pause awhile--and signs for peace, Food thou wilt have, or tear his victim heart."

x.x.xIII.

Thus Zophiel still,--"tho' now the infernal crew Had gained by sin a privilege in the world, Allayed their torments in the cool night dew, And by the dim star-light again their wings unfurled."

x.x.xIV.

And now, regretful of the joys his birth Had promised; deserts, mounts and streams he crost, To find, amid the loveliest spots of earth, Faint likeness of the heaven he had lost.

And oft, by unsuccessful searching pained, Weary he fainted thro' the toilsome hours; And then his mystic nature he sustained On steam of sacrifices--breath of flowers. (4)

x.x.xV.

Sometimes he gave out oracles, amused With mortal folly; resting on the shrines; Or, all in some fair Sibyl's form infused, Spoke from her quivering lips, or penned her mystic lines. [FN#13]

[FN#13] This pa.s.sage merely accords with the belief that the responses of the ancient oracles were spoken by fiends, or evil spirits. We need only look into the "New Testament for a confirmation of the power which such beings were supposed to possess of speaking from the lips of mortals."

x.x.xVI.

And now he wanders on from glade to glade To where more precious shrubs diffuse their balms, And gliding thro' the thick inwoven shade Where the young Hebrew lay in all her charms,

He caught a glimpse. The colours in her face-- Her bare white arms--her lips--her s.h.i.+ning hair-- Burst on his view. He would have flown the place; Fearing some faithful angel rested there,

Who'd see him--reft of glory--lost to bliss-- Wandering and miserably panting--fain To glean a scanty joy--with thoughts like this-- Came all he'd known and lost--he writh'd with pain

Ineffable--But what a.s.sailed his ear, A sigh?--surprised, another glance he took; Then doubting--fearing--gradual coming near-- He ventured to her side and dared to look;

Whispering, "yes, 'tis of earth! So, new-found life Refres.h.i.+ng, looked sweet Eve, with purpose fell When first sin's sovereign gazed on her, and strife Had with his heart, that grieved with arts of h.e.l.l,

"Stern as it was, to win her o'er to death!-- Most beautiful of all in earth, in heaven, Oh! could I quaff for aye that fragrant breath Couldst thou, or being likening thee, be given

"To bloom forever for me thus--still true To one dear theme, my full soul flowing o'er, Would find no room for thought of what it knew-- Nor picturing forfeit transport, curse me more. (5)

"But oh! severest pain!--I cannot be In what I love, blest ev'n the little span-- (With all a spirit's keen capacity For bliss) permitted the poor insect man.

x.x.xVII.

"The few I've seen and deemed of worth to win Like some sweet flowret mildewed, in my arms, Withered to hidiousness--foul ev'n as sin-- Grew fearful hags; and then with potent charm [FN#14]

[FN#14] One of the most striking absurdities in the lately- dispelled superst.i.tion of witchcraft, is the extreme hidiousness and misery usually ascribed to such as made use of the agency of evil spirits. I have therefore made it the result of an unforeseen necessity: no female can be supposed to purchase, voluntarily, the power of doing mischief to others at the price of beauty and every thing like happiness on her own part.

"Of muttered word and harmful drug, did learn To force me to their will. Down the damp grave Loathing, I went at Endor, and uptorn Brought back the dead; when tortured Saul did crave,

"To view his pending fate. Fair--nay, as this Young slumberer, that dread witch; when, I arrayed In lovely shape, to meet my guileful kiss She yielded first her lip. And thou, sweet maid-- What is't I see?--a recent tear has strayed And left its stain upon her cheek of bliss.--