The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles Volume Ii Part 20

Oh! would that the whole world were not "almost,"

But "altogether" such as I am now, Except these bonds.

Soldier, I say the same.

But hie thee to thy eagle; I am here, 60 A poor old man, like Paul, a prisoner, And thou, an officer of mighty Rome; Yet would I pray to G.o.d, that thou may'st be, Oh! not "almost," but "altogether," such As I am now, except these few gray hairs, Old age, and many sorrows; yet even here My soul hath been sustained by Him who said, Lo! I am with you alway, and I know He still is with me. I have heard his voice, And seen his look of glory and of love 70 Turned on me, in this solitude; and he-- He who did shudder with me at the voice Of thy bold blasphemy, here lately came With words of comfort, and these aged eyes Have seen the things that must hereafter be; Yet know, stern soldier, if my days were pa.s.sed Lonely as hopeless, I would not exchange These few gray hairs for thy green laurel crown-- This solitude, for living Caesar's throne, Or Caesar's subject world! 80 The soldier turned Disdainful, and his crest shook in the wind; Then, lifting high his ensign of command, He bade the trumpet sound the second watch.

John knelt, and prayed, Thy kingdom come, O Lord!

Then he who stood beside him, spoke unmoved: Rome--Rome shall be no more! At dead of night, Hark! the barbarian trump; Jerusalem Shall be avenged; and those of distant days, Pondering the fate of empires, there shall come 90 To muse upon the fragments of her might, Her ancient glory pa.s.sed as morning clouds, And tremble for the judgments of the Lord In all the world!

Now to the cave retire, For other visions of the things to come, And other fearful shadows, must thou see.

John sat, and held his hands upon his brow: The earth seems to retire, and all the sounds Of tumult and of woe at once to cease. 100 Then John was in the Spirit, and he saw Seven angels, and, beneath, a sea of gla.s.s Mingled with fire; and on the sea of gla.s.s Those who had gained, on earth, the victory 104 Over the beast, all standing on the sea Of gla.s.s, and in their hands the harps of G.o.d, And thus they sung, Oh! great and marvellous Art thou, Almighty G.o.d, and just and true Are all thy ways, thou King of saints! Amen.

Now from the temple a loud voice was heard, 110 Which said to the seven angels, Go your ways, Pour out the vials of the wrath of G.o.d Upon the earth.[175] Then on the men which bore The mark upon their foreheads of the beast, Or fell down to his image, noisome sores And plague-spots fell.

The second angel poured His vial on the sea, and it became The blood of a dead man; and every thing Which had the breath of life died in the sea. 120 And the third angel poured his vial out Upon the rivers, and fresh fountains clear, And they became red blood. And then John heard, In trance, the angels of the waters say, Righteous art thou, O Lord! and righteously, O thou which art, and was, and which shall be, Thus hast thou judged, for they have shed the blood Of prophets and of saints! A voice replied, From out the altar, Even so, O Lord!

Almighty G.o.d, thy judgments are most true! 130 And the fourth angel poured his vial out Upon the sun, and power was given to him To scorch men with the fire, and they blasphemed The name of G.o.d, and still repented not, Looking with gnas.h.i.+ng teeth upon the sun.

And the fifth angel poured his vial out Upon the kingdom of the beast, and, lo! 137 The kingdom of the beast at once was dark: But men repented not--even while they gnawed Their tongues for pain, blaspheming G.o.d in heaven.

And the sixth angel poured his vial out Where the great river of Euphrates rolls, And it was quick dried up, and so became A highway for the armies of the east, And for the kings of earth, and the whole world, Gathering to battle, on the dreadful day Of the incensed Lord, into a place Called "Armageddon," in the Hebrew tongue.

And the seventh angel poured his vial out Into the air, and a loud voice was heard 150 Out of the temple's inmost shrine, which cried, All is fulfilled! At once an earthquake shook The ground, and lightnings, red and terrible, Flashed, and the thunders rolled along the sky, And strange and fearful voices in the air Were heard, so dreadful was that storm. Aghast, The nations fell; and the great Babylon Came in remembrance before G.o.d, to pour On her the fierceness of his wakened wrath.

And now John saw another angel fly 160 In clouds, and coming down with power from heaven Unto the earth; and all the earth beneath Was lighted with his glory; and he cried, With the loud voice of judgment, Babylon The great is fallen! And then another voice Answered, Come out of her! Hath she not said, I sit a queen, mighty as Ashtoreth?

The kings of earth shall tremble when they see The smoke of her great torment; they shall stand Afar off from her burning, and shall cry, 170 That mighty city, Babylon, alas! 171 In one hour is her judgment come! The voice Of harpers and of trumpeters no more Shall in her streets be heard: the blood of saints, Of prophets, and of martyrs, is avenged!

The cries are heard, the smoke is seen, no more.

And after this, John lifted up his eyes, And heard the voice of mighty companies, Which sang and shouted, Alleluia! reign For ever, Lord of lords and King of kings! 180 Salvation, honour, glory, power, and praise, Be unto thee, O Lord! for thou hast judged With righteousness! They, with acclaiming voice, Still sang and shouted, Alleluia--reign For ever, Lord of lords and King of kings!

Heard through the empyrean, the great voice Again went up, whilst all the courts of heaven Rang, Alleluia! glory be to thee, Glory and power, Lord G.o.d Omnipotent![176]

Then the heaven opened, and, behold! a horse 190 As white as snow, and he who sat thereon Was called "True and Faithful;" on his head Were crowns on crowns, and underneath a name Which no man knew, save he who bore that name.

His vesture was a robe of blood, and they Who followed him proclaimed, The Word of G.o.d!

And all the heavenly armies followed him On horses white like his; and on his robe Was written--King of kings and Lord of lords.

The pomp is pa.s.sed, and now John raised his eyes, And saw an angel standing in the sun. 201 The angel in his watch looked down to earth, And all the armies of the earth came forth To war with the bright chivalry of heaven, 204 And Him who sat on the white horse! And, lo!

Before the mighty cherubims advanced Michael, the great archangel, while a shout Rang, that the sun in heaven might seem to stand Still at a sound so terrible. Opposed To the great armies of the living G.o.d, 210 Frown the Satanic host, far as the eye Can reach; and horses black as night, And spectre armies, led, in front, by Death, Appear, receding into farther depths Of blackness; while, anon, a dragon, scaled, Moves weltering onward. Michael, from the ranks Of cherubim advancing, lifts on high His mace, and full on the scaled dragon's crest Smites. At his feet the dragon lay, and, lo!

The sable phantom-hors.e.m.e.n at the sight 220 Are vanished. Raise the victor-song to Him Who rides on the white horse, and to his G.o.d In heaven, for the great dragon is cast down Into the bottomless and burning lake!

Another angel, with white waving plume, Descends; an iron chain is in his hand, And the dark key of destiny, which shuts The bottomless abyss, from whence the smoke Ascends--ascends, but not a groan is heard.

The ancient dragon is cast down, and bound-- 230 Bound for a thousand years, in chains, and thrown, Howling, into that nethermost abyss; While mercy, equity, and peace, and truth, Like angel forms, visit the earth, and move, Radiant as light, among the sons of men, And only sounds are heard of harmonies, Such as in heaven are sung about the throne, O'er which, in dewy light, the rainbow bends. 238 The trump of bannered war, the sighs and groans Of miserable slaves, that rise from earth, In one deep murmur, to high heaven, are ceased; For love and mercy walk among mankind, And so shall walk, till the last trump shall sound.

Now a new heaven and new earth appear; And, coming down from heaven, even as a bride Adorned to meet her husband, John beheld The City of the New Jerusalem, Glittering beyond the clouds; and then he heard A voice from a bright cloud, The Lord shall come And dwell with men, and he shall be their G.o.d; 250 And G.o.d shall wipe from every eye the tear, And death shall be no more!

John spread his hands, And cried, with eyes upraised to heaven, Oh! stay, Visions of bliss! I am bowed down with age, Forlorn on earth, and I have tarried long Alone and sad. Oh! come, Lord Jesus Christ!

A voice replied, Thou shalt be where he is!

Hark! 'twas the billow beating on the rocks Of melancholy Patmos, and John wept, 260 As, slowly fading, like a summer dream, He saw the towers, and gates, and palaces, Of New Jerusalem fade in the clouds Of eve, which shot its gleaming pinnacles Aloft in the pale sky, and flushed the track Of the sun's westering orb with crimson light.

As the sun sunk, the sound of trump and horn Shrilled, and the old man, starting from his trance, Beheld below the cave the Roman troop, Stationed to guard the island criminals, 270 Wind slow, in martial file, with banners spread, 271 Returning to their tents.

Ah! where are now The temples of the New Jerusalem, Glittering amid the clouds of parting day?

Gone, like the rack; and Patmos' dreary isle And melancholy caves return the sound Of marching men, and the hoa.r.s.e Roman trump.

The Apostle to the entrance of his cave, The last remaining light on his gray hairs, 280 Comes slowly forth, and rests upon his staff, When the rock-pigeon, at the trump disturbed, Flew to his withered hand. With plumed crest Upon his brazen helmet, holding high The ensign of command, an eagle borne Before him, on a spear, the praefect leads His legionary band; and as aloft The banners wave, and s.h.i.+elds and corslets throw Back a pale glimmer, mark a mournful train Of fettered men move sullenly, with whom, 290 Thoughtful, and with his hands upon his breast, His eyes, at times, uplifted to the heavens, One, as a soldier worn with toil, but marked With a stern sadness on his manly brow, Comes silently, a tear on his dark cheek.

Near him, a youth, wan and emaciate, Leans on a female, by his side, in bloom Of youthful beauty; while, at intervals, Whene'er the trumpet ceased to ring, is heard The breath of muttering, and the clank of chains. 300 John sighed, and, turning to the stranger, said (For both were at the entrance of the cave): Even to this desert spot in the lone waves, War, and the ensigns and the sounds of war, 304 Have reached.

His guest ill.u.s.trious, with a smile, Answered: Yet this is the mere mimickry Of that appalling spectacle, that fills The world's wide scene with havoc and with blood; The murmur of whose mighty coil goes up 310 Still to the ear of Heaven. So man, the worm, Preys on his fellow-worm. Turn from the earth, As gradual evening shades the sinking scene, And think upon its sins and strife no more.

Come, let us, on the stone, before the cave, For all above is still and glorious, Sit down, and watch the stars as they steal out, One after one, and garnish the pale cope Of heaven. How bright the troops of Hesper s.h.i.+ne, Above the shadow of yon farther rock, 320 Whose western side is l.u.s.trous; for the moon, Ascending in her car of glory, casts A meditative and a solemn light From cape to cape! Look! there is Helice,[177]

Watched by the Grecian traders of the deep-- How clear she s.h.i.+nes to-night above the sea!

High in the zenith, here and there, apart, Some solitary stars, now scarce discerned, Seem to retire into the farthest s.p.a.ce, As if to shun the prouder planet's gaze, 330 Each in his watch, with never-blenching eye, Steadfast. Nor marvel, then the stranger said, When all the silent host of the blue sky Appear so beautiful, Idolatry Should deem them G.o.ds, and to the Sun and Moon, Bel and Astarte, pay the wors.h.i.+p due 136 To the invisible, Almighty Lord, Who rules in heaven and earth.

Is there a G.o.d?

Yes! Nature cries aloud, There _is_ a G.o.d, Visible in his works, and infinite In power! There is a G.o.d, and he is just!

There is a G.o.d, and he is merciful!

Yet might we rather say, there is no G.o.d, Than think, that to a being such as man No revelation of bright hope was given: That man, created in G.o.d's image, placed Amid this vast and unknown universe, To sojourn upon earth a few brief years Of feverish life, should look, for the last time, 350 Hopeless, upon the setting sun, and die.

Oh! better be the worm that feeds on him.

With lifted gaze, the last Apostle cried, Fervently cried, Oh! yes, Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Christian's hope! but most of me-- Of me, whom thou hast visited, and cheered Through life's long pilgrimage; of me, of me, In age and solitude; I, too, shall live When all the clouds of time are rolled away, For ever live in glory where thou art! 360 Retiring to the cave, pausing, he turned To his companion, but he was not there; The moon shone, but there was no form or shape Of living thing; so lonely to his cave, O'erwearied, John retired, there musing lay On what he saw and heard, till sleep unawares Oppressed him, and that night--that only night-- He had not fallen upon his knees, and prayed, Protect me through this night, O Lord my G.o.d!

When, suddenly, a hiss was heard without, 370 And the dull hurtle, as of iron wings, And short and intermitted flames, at times, Lighted the cavern roof; then all again Was dark, save when the moon dilated hung, And all again was still. John's heavy eyes Were closed; and dreaming half, and half awake, He slumbered in the cavern. Who art thou?

Starting, he cried, and trembled, for strange eyes Glared through the dusk, and seemed to look at him.

It was the coinage of the aged brain, 380 When sadness and the sense of loneliness Oppress the weary heart! His eyes are closed A moment, when strange voices, in the air, Syllable words unknown, as mocking him, Then all is hushed again: from the dark roof Fantastic and deriding shapes, half seen, Point down long fingers, and a laugh is heard From the dark fissure of the rocky cave, Till even his shadow, by a moon-glance seen, Seems joining the fantastic mockery. 390 Strange forms of beasts and birds, with monstrous beaks Solemnly nodding, in the dusk appear.

Yonder, by moonlight, all with heads hung down, There moves a shrouded and a moping train, But not a form distinctly visible, Save of a corpse, that silently they bear, On which the moonlight falls. Now a dark cloud Is interposed, and the dim troop dissolves.

Forthwith a spectre, towering to the skies, Moves onward--on, directly to the cave; 400 And, towering higher as he moves, he lifts-- Half cloud and half anatomy--a dart, Barbed with fire, and a deep voice is heard, Through the involving clouds about his head: 404 I am Apollyon; dost thou sleep, old man?

Tremble--and die!

John raised his eyes, and prayed, Still shuddering, Save me, save me, Jesus Christ!

The spectre vanished: some faint lightning shone At distance; and now gentler forms drew nigh, 410 With airy minstrelsy of harps unseen, Surrounding him, like shadows of the blessed: Here, radiant female forms came gliding by; There, in a stream of light, an angel turned His look upon him, while soft voices sing:

Christian, dost thou yet remain In this weary world of pain?

Dost thou bend thy h.o.a.ry head When all beloved on earth are dead?

Hast thou oft, by years oppressed, 420 Prayed for rest, eternal rest?

Lo! we come, ere morning peep, To sing thee to thy rest asleep.

ECHO FROM THE CAVE.

Asleep.

VOICES.

Asleep.

Sing thee to thy rest asleep.

ECHO.

Asleep.

Then came another song, like lullabies Of ocean, mingled with the airs of night: Whilst a mother's only child 430 Rests in short and sweet repose, All her troubles are beguiled When its placid eyelids close!

But angels watch beside the bed Where aged Christians rest their head, And as their watchful vigils cease, Parting, they whisper, Peace!

ECHO FROM THE CAVE.

Peace.

PARTING VOICES.

Peace.

Tired nature sank to sleep, like infancy 440 Soft-breathing, and as calm. Then, in a dream, The shades of mitred and majestic James, Peter, and Paul, came up. He heard their voice, And saw their forms, as when they lived on earth.

James looked upon his beard of snow, and said: We have borne witness to the truth in blood; But thy old age shall calmly pa.s.s away, Till death be lost in sleep. Then thou shalt wake In everlasting bliss, to weep no more, For He whom thou hast seen shall be with thee, 450 And we shall live together--where He is.

After a placid and refres.h.i.+ng sleep, The last Apostle raised his eyes, and saw The same majestic and mysterious man Who stood before him in the cave, and now The dim dawn broke on the aegean deep.

PART FIFTH.

Day-break--Ascend the highest Mountain--Comparison with the Vision on Mount Tabor--Transfiguration--View to East and West--s.h.i.+p descried from the East--Descend.

John, gazing on the glimmering eastern surge, Sat with fixed eyes, when thus the stranger spake: Up! for the Word and Spirit of the Lord Are come to me. Let us ascend, old man, The summit of Elijah's cliff, that hangs High o'er the ocean surge, and see the sun Rise o'er the aegean solitude to-day.

John answered, Can these feeble limbs sustain The labour up the long and slow ascent, Step by step, when I feel my strength decay 10 Daily, and draw my breath with pain?

Thy G.o.d Will give thee strength, the stranger said, and took His trembling hand, and led his feeble step Slow up the hill; and ever as they went, And the horizon widened, in his heart John felt a strange reviving power, that braced His sinews, and gave a vigour to his steps, Conquering the pain and labour of the way: But needs not pain or labour, for a thought 20 Hath brought them there, the white hairs, in the wind, Of John, yet gently stirring, and his cheek Just lighted with a transient glow; and now Both stood upon the promontory's point, Thoughtful and silent: soon they saw the sun Slowly emerging, a vast orb of fire, Above the shadowy edge of ocean; now Flaming direct o'er Asia, with a stream 28 Of long illumination, on the clouds, Marked with confusion of rich hues, and thence Touching the nearer promontory's height, Pale cliffs, and eagles' wings above the clouds, And now careering through the heaven, supreme, Full and magnificent, in loneliness Of glory. When the rays first touched his brow, Then more exalted, and of larger frame, The stranger seemed to grow, as not of earth, Or earth's inhabitants; so tall his form, So glorified his aspect. John had fallen Upon his knees, but a mild voice rebuked: 40 See that thou do it not; hast thou received Or strength or comfort, give the thanks to G.o.d.

John, resting on the crag of the wild rock, Looked up, and then to his companion spoke: Not uninstructive hath thy converse been, Nor unrefres.h.i.+ng to my weary heart Thy presence; more so, in a scene like this, Raised, as it were, above the shade and clouds Of transient time. And so, long since, my soul Felt a divine refreshment, when I stood 50 Upon the mount of vision with our Lord That day when in transfigured form he rose.

Oh! well do I remember it, who saw, With James and Peter, by the sight oppressed, The glorious apparition. Each stray cloud Wandered far off, and lost in the blue sky, And not a freckle stained the firmament High overhead. The mystic mount itself, Tabor, seemed rising up to heaven, and loomed In such illumination, that the track 60 Below, and all the plains of Galilee, Rivers and lake to the great western sea, 62 Looked cold and dim, even in the morning sun; Such was the glory of the sudden blaze That wrapped the mount. The crowd of lesser hills On to the city of Tiberias, Appeared below o'er which the eagle sailed, Mute, for his eyes yet blenched from the excess Of light, unlike the sun, that startled him, With bursting splendour, where he slept. He flew, 70 High soaring o'er the hills of Jezreel, On to the mountains of Samaria.

We fell upon the ground, and with our hands Covered our faces, when we raised our eyes, We saw three glorified appearances; Two, as of aged prophets, with their beards Streaming; each held a book, and in the midst, And, buoyant in the air, his countenance Bright as the sun, our Saviour's form appeared Above them, while his vest, intensely white, 80 Floated, as thus transfigured he arose.

With clasped hands, and eyes upraised to heaven, Peter, in joy and wonder, ardently Cried: Let us build three tabernacles here, To Moses, and Elias, and to thee, Saviour and G.o.d! not knowing what he said.