The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 191

'Twas then that her form on the whirlwind upholding, _15 The ghost of the murdered Victoria strode; In her right hand, a shadowy shroud she was holding, She swiftly advanced to my lonesome abode.

5.

I wildly then called on the tempest to bear me--'

NOTE: 1.--Victoria: without t.i.tle, 1811.

2.--ON THE DARK HEIGHT OF JURA.

1.

Ghosts of the dead! have I not heard your yelling Rise on the night-rolling breath of the blast, When o'er the dark aether the tempest is swelling, And on eddying whirlwind the thunder-peal pa.s.sed?

2.

For oft have I stood on the dark height of Jura, _5 Which frowns on the valley that opens beneath; Oft have I braved the chill night-tempest's fury, Whilst around me, I thought, echoed murmurs of death.

3.

And now, whilst the winds of the mountain are howling, O father! thy voice seems to strike on mine ear; _10 In air whilst the tide of the night-storm is rolling, It breaks on the pause of the elements' jar.

4.

On the wing of the whirlwind which roars o'er the mountain Perhaps rides the ghost of my sire who is dead: On the mist of the tempest which hangs o'er the fountain, Whilst a wreath of dark vapour encircles his head.

NOTE: 2.--On the Dark, etc.: without t.i.tle, 1811; The Father's Spectre, Rossetti, 1870.

3.--SISTER ROSA: A BALLAD.

1.

The death-bell beats!-- The mountain repeats The echoing sound of the knell; And the dark Monk now Wraps the cowl round his brow, _5 As he sits in his lonely cell.

2.

And the cold hand of death Chills his shuddering breath, As he lists to the fearful lay Which the ghosts of the sky, _10 As they sweep wildly by, Sing to departed day.

And they sing of the hour When the stern fates had power To resolve Rosa's form to its clay. _15

3.

But that hour is past; And that hour was the last Of peace to the dark Monk's brain.

Bitter tears, from his eyes, gushed silent and fast; And he strove to suppress them in vain. _20

4.

Then his fair cross of gold he dashed on the floor, When the death-knell struck on his ear.-- 'Delight is in store For her evermore; But for me is fate, horror, and fear.' _25

5.

Then his eyes wildly rolled, When the death-bell tolled, And he raged in terrific woe.

And he stamped on the ground,-- But when ceased the sound, _30 Tears again began to flow.

6.

And the ice of despair Chilled the wild throb of care, And he sate in mute agony still; Till the night-stars shone through the cloudless air, _35 And the pale moonbeam slept on the hill.

7.

Then he knelt in his cell:-- And the horrors of h.e.l.l Were delights to his agonized pain, And he prayed to G.o.d to dissolve the spell, _40 Which else must for ever remain.

8.

And in fervent pray'r he knelt on the ground, Till the abbey bell struck One: His feverish blood ran chill at the sound: A voice hollow and horrible murmured around-- _45 'The term of thy penance is done!'

9.

Grew dark the night; The moonbeam bright Waxed faint on the mountain high; And, from the black hill, _50 Went a voice cold and still,-- 'Monk! thou art free to die.'

10.

Then he rose on his feet, And his heart loud did beat, And his limbs they were palsied with dread; _55 Whilst the grave's clammy dew O'er his pale forehead grew; And he shuddered to sleep with the dead.

11.

And the wild midnight storm Raved around his tall form, _60 As he sought the chapel's gloom: And the sunk gra.s.s did sigh To the wind, bleak and high, As he searched for the new-made tomb.

12.

And forms, dark and high, _65 Seemed around him to fly, And mingle their yells with the blast: And on the dark wall Half-seen shadows did fall, As enhorrored he onward pa.s.sed. _70

13.

And the storm-fiends wild rave O'er the new-made grave, And dread shadows linger around.

The Monk called on G.o.d his soul to save, And, in horror, sank on the ground. _75

14.

Then despair nerved his arm To dispel the charm, And he burst Rosa's coffin asunder.

And the fierce storm did swell More terrific and fell, _80 And louder pealed the thunder.

15.

And laughed, in joy, the fiendish throng, Mixed with ghosts of the mouldering dead: And their grisly wings, as they floated along, Whistled in murmurs dread. _85

16.

And her skeleton form the dead Nun reared Which dripped with the chill dew of h.e.l.l.

In her half-eaten eyeb.a.l.l.s two pale flames appeared, And triumphant their gleam on the dark Monk glared, As he stood within the cell. _90

17.

And her lank hand lay on his shuddering brain; But each power was nerved by fear.-- 'I never, henceforth, may breathe again; Death now ends mine anguished pain.-- The grave yawns,--we meet there.' _95

18.

And her skeleton lungs did utter the sound, So deadly, so lone, and so fell, That in long vibrations shuddered the ground; And as the stern notes floated around, A deep groan was answered from h.e.l.l.

NOTE: 3.--Sister Rosa: Ballad, 1811.

4.--ST. IRVYNE'S TOWER.

1.

How swiftly through Heaven's wide expanse Bright day's resplendent colours fade!

How sweetly does the moonbeam's glance With silver tint St. Irvyne's glade!

2.

No cloud along the spangled air, _5 Is borne upon the evening breeze; How solemn is the scene! how fair The moonbeams rest upon the trees!