Poems (1786) Part 9

ADVERTIs.e.m.e.nT.

That no readers of the following work may entertain expectations respecting it which it would ill satisfy, it is necessary to acquaint them, that the author has not had the presumption even to attempt a full, historical narration of the fall of the Peruvian empire. To describe that important event with accuracy, and to display with clearness and force the various causes which combined to produce it, would require all the energy of genius, and the most glowing colours of imagination. Conscious of her utter inability to execute such a design, she has only aimed at a simple detail of some few incidents that make a part of that romantic story; where the unparalleled sufferings of an innocent and amiable people, form the most affecting subjects of true pathos, while their climate, totally unlike our own, furnishes new and ample materials for poetic description.

THE ARGUMENT.

_General description of the country of Peru, and of its animal, and vegetable productions--the virtues of the people--character of_ Ataliba, _their Monarch--his love for_ Alzira--_their nuptials celebrated-- character of_ Zorai, _her father--descent of the genius of Peru-- prediction of the fate of that empire._

PERU.

CANTO THE FIRST.

Where the pacific deep in silence laves The western sh.o.r.e, with slow and languid waves, There, lost Peruvia, rose thy cultur'd scene, The wave an emblem of thy joy serene: There nature ever in luxuriant showers 5 Pours from her treasures, the perennial flowers; In its dark foliage plum'd, the tow'ring pine Ascends the mountain, at her call divine; The palm's wide leaf its brighter verdure spreads, And the proud cedars bow their lofty heads; 10 The citron, and the glowing orange spring, And on the gale a thousand odours fling; The guava, and the soft ananas bloom, The balsam ever drops a rich perfume: The bark, reviving shrub! Oh not in vain 15 Thy rosy blossoms tinge Peruvia's plain; Ye fost'ring gales, around those blossoms blow, Ye balmy dew-drops, o'er the tendrils flow.

Lo, as the health-diffusing plant aspires, Disease, and pain, and hov'ring death retires; 20 Affection sees new l.u.s.tre light the eye, And feels her vanish'd joys again are nigh.

The Pacos[A], and Vicunnas[B] sport around, And the meek Lamas[C], burden'd, press the ground.

Amid the vocal groves, the feather'd throng 25 Pour to the list'ning breeze their native song; The mocking-bird her varying note essays, The vain macaw his glitt'ring plume displays.

While spring's warm ray the mild suffusion sheds, The plaintive humming-bird his pinion spreads; 30 His wings their colours to the sun unfold, The vivid scarlet, and the blazing gold; He sees the flower which morning tears bedew, Sinks on its breast, and drinks th' ambrosial dew: Then seeks with fond delight the social nest 35 Parental care has rear'd, and love has blest: The drops that on the blossom's light leaf hung, He bears exulting to his tender young; The grateful joy his happy accents prove, Is nature, smiling on her works of love. 40

Nor less, Peruvia, for thy favour'd clime The virtues rose, unsullied, and sublime: There melting charity, with ardor warm, Spread her wide mantle o'er th' unshelter'd form; Cheer'd with the festal song, her lib'ral toils, 45 While in the lap of age[D] she pour'd the spoils.

Simplicity in every vale was found, The meek nymph smil'd, with reeds, and rushes crown'd; And innocence in light, transparent vest, Mild visitant! the gentle region blest: 50 As from her lip enchanting accents part, They thrill with pleasure the reponsive heart; And o'er the ever-blooming vales around, Soft echoes waft each undulating sound.

This happy region _Ataliba_ sway'd, 55 Whose mild behest the willing heart obey'd; Descendant of a scepter'd, sacred race, Whose origin from glowing suns they trace; And as o'er nature's form, the solar light Diffuses beauty, and inspires delight; 60 So, o'er Peruvia flow'd the lib'ral ray Of mercy, lovelier than the smile of day!

In Ataliba's pure and gen'rous heart The virtues bloom'd without the aid of art.

His gentle spirit, love's soft power possest, 65 And stamp'd Alzira's image on his breast; Alzira, form'd each tenderness to prove, That sooths in friends.h.i.+p, and that charms in love.

But, ah! in vain the drooping muse would paint (Her accents languid, and her colours faint,) 70 How dear the joys love's early wishes sought, How mild his spirit, and how pure his thought, Ere wealth in sullen pomp was seen to rise, And break the artless bosom's holy ties; Blast with his touch affection's op'ning flower, 75 And chill the hand that rear'd her blissful bower.

Fortune, light nymph! still bless the sordid heart, Still to thy venal slave thy gifts impart; Bright in his view may all thy meteors s.h.i.+ne, And lost Peruvia open every mine; 80 For him the robe of eastern pomp display, The gems that ripen in the torrid ray; Collected may their guilty l.u.s.tre stream Full on the eye that courts the partial beam: But Love, oh Love! should haply this late hour, 85 One softer mind avow thy genuine power; Breathe at thy altar nature's simple strain, And strew the heart's pure incense on thy fane; Give to that bosom scorning fortune's toys, Thy sweet enchantments, and thy virtuous joys; 90 Bid pleasure bloom thro' many a circling year, Which love shall wing, and constancy endear; Far from this happy clime avert the woes, The heart from alienated fondness knows; And from that agony the spirit save, 95 When unrelenting yawns the op'ning grave; When death dissolves the ties for ever dear; When frantic pa.s.sion pours her parting tear; With all the cherish'd pains affection feels, Hangs on the quiv'ring lip, that silence seals; 100 Views fondness struggling in the closing eye, And marks it mingling in the falt'ring sigh; As the lov'd form, while folded to her breast, On earth's cold bosom seeks more lasting rest!

Leave her fond soul in hopeless griefs to mourn, 105 Clasp the pale corse, and bathe th' unconscious urn;-- Mild, to the wounds that pierce her bleeding heart, Nature's expiring pang, and death's keen dart.

Pure was the l.u.s.tre of the orient ray, That joyful wak'd Alzira's nuptial day: 110 Her auburn hair, spread loosely to the wind, The virgin train, with rosy chaplets bind; The scented flowers that form her bridal wreathe, A deeper hue, a richer fragrance breathe.

The gentle tribe now sought the hallow'd fane, 115 Where warbling vestals pour'd the choral strain: There aged Zorai, his Alzira prest With love parental, to his anxious breast: Priest of the sun, within the sacred shrine His fervent spirit breath'd the strain divine; 120 With glowing hand, the guiltless off'ring spread, With pious zeal the pure libation shed; Nor vain the incense of erroneous praise When meek devotion's soul the tribute pays; On wings of purity behold it rise, 125 While bending mercy wafts it to the skies!

Peruvia! oh delightful land; in vain The virtues flourish'd on thy beauteous plain; In vain sweet pleasure there was seen to move, And wore the smile of peace, the bloom of love; 130 For soon shall burst the unrelenting storm, Rend her soft robe, and crush her tender form: Peruvia! soon the fatal hour shall rise, The hour despair shall waste in tears and sighs; Fame shall record the horrors of thy fate, 135 And distant ages weep for ills so great.

Now o'er the deep chill night her mantle flung, Dim on the wave the moon's faint crescent hung; Peruvia's Genius sought the liquid plain, Sooth'd by the languid murmurs of the main; 140 When sudden clamour the illusion broke, Wild on the surface of the deep it spoke; A rising breeze expands her flowing veil, Aghast with fear, she spy'd a flying sail-- The lofty mast impends, the banner waves, 145 The ruffled surge th' inc.u.mbent vessel laves; With eager eye he views her destin'd foe Lead to her peaceful sh.o.r.es th' advent'rous prow; Trembling she knelt, with wild disorder'd air, And pour'd with frantic energy her pray'r-- 150 "Oh, ye avenging spirits of the deep!

"Mount the blue lightning's wing, o'er ocean sweep; "Loud from your central caves the sh.e.l.l resound, "That summons death to your abyss profound; "Call the pale spectre from his dark abode, 155 "To print the billow, swell the black'ning flood, "Rush o'er the waves, the rough'ning deep deform, "Howl in the blast, and animate the storm-- "Relentless powers! for not one quiv'ring breeze "Has ruffled yet the surface of the seas-- 160 "Swift from your rocky steeps, ye condors[E] stray, "Wave your black plumes, and cleave th' aerial way; "Proud in terrific force, your wings expand, "Press the firm earth, and darken all the strand; "Bid the stern foe retire with wild affright, 170[F]

"And shun the region veil'd in partial night.

"Vain hope, devoted land! I read thy doom, "My sad prophetic soul can pierce the gloom; "I see, I see my lov'd, my favour'd clime, "Consum'd, and fading in its early prime. 175 "But not in vain the beauteous realm shall bleed, "Too late shall Europe's race deplore the deed.

"Region abhorr'd! be gold the tempting bane, "The curse that desolates thy hostile plain; "May pleasure tinge with venom'd drops the bowl, 180 "And luxury unnerve the sick'ning soul."-- Ah, not in vain she pour'd th' impa.s.sion'd tear!

Ah, not in vain she call'd the powers to hear!

When borne from lost Peruvia's bleeding land, The guilty treasures beam'd on Europe's strand; 185 Each sweet affection fled the tainted sh.o.r.e, And virtue wander'd, to return no more.

[A] The pacos is a domestic animal of Peru. Its wool resembles the colour of dried roses.

[B] The vicunnas are a species of wild pacos.

[C] The lamas are employed as mules, in carrying burdens.

[D] The people cheerfully a.s.sisted in reaping those fields, whose produce was given to old persons, past their labour.

[E] The condor is an inhabitant of the Andes. Its wings, when expanded, are said to be eighteen feet wide.

[F Transcriber's note: Misnumbered in original.]

PERU.

CANTO THE SECOND.

THE ARGUMENT.

Pizarro, _a Spanish Captain, lands with his forces--his meeting with_ Ataliba--_its unhappy consequences_--Zorai _dies_--Ataliba _imprisoned, and strangled_--Alzira's _despair, and madness._

PERU.

CANTO THE SECOND.

Flush'd with impatient hope, the martial band By stern Pizarro led, approach the land: No terrors arm the hostile brow, for guile Charms to betray, in Candour's open smile.

Too artless for distrust, the monarch springs 5 To meet his latent foe on friends.h.i.+p's wings: On as he moves, with glitt'ring splendours crown'd, His feather'd chiefs the golden throne surround; The waving canopy its plume displays, Whose varied hues reflect the morning rays; 10 With native grace he hails the warrior train, Who stood majestic on Peruvia's plain, In all the savage pomp of armour drest, The radiant helmet, and the nodding crest.

Yet themes of joy Pizarro's lips impart, 15 And charm with eloquence the simple heart; Unfolding to the monarch's wond'ring thought, All that inventive arts the rude have taught: And now he bids the purer spirit rise Above the circle of surrounding skies; 20 Presents the page that shed religion's light O'er the dark mist of intellectual night; While thrill'd with awe the monarch trembling stands, He dropp'd the hallow'd volume from his hands.

[A]Sudden, while frantic zeal each breast inspires, 25 And shudd'ring demons fan the impious fires, The b.l.o.o.d.y signal waves, the banners play, The naked sabres flash their streaming ray; The martial trumpet's animating sound, And thund'ring cannon, rend the vault around; 30 While fierce in sanguine rage the sons of Spain Rush on Peru's unarm'd, devoted train; The fiends of slaughter urg'd their dire career, And virtue's guardian spirits dropp'd a tear.-- Mild Zorai fell, deploring human strife, 35 And clos'd with prayer his consecrated life.

In vain Peruvia's chiefs undaunted stood, s.h.i.+eld their lov'd prince, and bathe his robes in blood; Touch'd with heroic ardor, rush around, And high of soul, receive each fatal wound: 40 Dragg'd from his throne, and hurry'd o'er the plain, The wretched monarch swells the captive train; With iron grasp, the frantic prince they bear, And bless the omen of his wild despair.

Deep in the gloomy dungeon's lone domain, 45 Lost Ataliba wore the galling chain; The earth's cold bed refus'd oblivious rest, While throb'd the pains of thousands at his breast; Alzira's desolating moan he hears, And with the monarch's, blends the lover's tears-- 50 Soon had Alzira felt affliction's dart Pierce her soft soul, and rend her bleeding heart; Its quick pulsations paus'd, and, chill'd with dread, A livid hue her fading cheek o'erspread; No tear she gave to love, she breath'd no sigh, 55 Her lips were mute, and clos'd her languid eye; Fainter, and slower heav'd her s.h.i.+v'ring breast, And her calm'd pa.s.sions seem'd in death to rest!-- At length reviv'd, mid rising heaps of slain She prest with trembling step, the crimson plain; 60 The dungeon's gloomy depth she fearless sought, For love, with scorn of danger arm'd her thought: The cell that holds her captive lord she gains, Her tears fall quiv'ring on a lover's chains!

Too tender spirit, check the filial tear, 65 A sympathy more soft, a tie more dear Shall claim the drops that frantic pa.s.sion sheds, When the rude storm its darkest pinion spreads.

Lo! bursting the deep cell where mis'ry lay, The human vultures seize the dove-like prey! 70 In vain her treasur'd wealth Peruvia gave, This dearer treasure from their grasp to save: Alzira! lo, the ruthless murd'rers come, This moment seals thy Ataliba's doom.

Ah, what avails the shriek that anguish pours! 75 The look, that mercy's lenient aid implores!

Torn from thy clinging arms, thy throbbing breast, The fatal cord his agony supprest: In vain the livid corse she fondly clasps, And pours her sorrows o'er the form she grasps-- 80 The murd'rers now their struggling victim tear From the lost object of her keen despair: The swelling pang unable to sustain, Distraction throbb'd in every beating vein: Its sudden tumults seize her yielding soul, 85 And in her eye distemper'd glances roll-- "They come! (the mourner cried, with panting breath,) "To give the lost Alzira rest in death!

"One moment more, ye b.l.o.o.d.y forms, bestow, "One moment more for ever cures my woe-- 90 "Lo where the purple evening sheds her light "On blest remains! oh hide them, pitying night!

"Slow in the breeze I see the verdure wave "That shrouds with tufted gra.s.s, my lover's grave: "There, on its wand'ring wing in mildness blows 95 "The mournful gale, nor wakes his deep repose-- "And see, yon h.o.a.ry form still lingers there!

"Dishevell'd by rude winds his silver hair; "O'er his chill'd bosom falls the winter's rain, "I feel the big drops on my wither'd brain: 100 "Not for himself that tear his bosom steeps, "For his lost child it flows, for me he weeps!

"No more the dagger's point shall pierce thy breast, "For calm and lovely is thy silent rest; "Yet still in dust these eyes shall see thee roll, 105 "Still the sad thought shall waste Alzira's soul-- "What bleeding phantom moves along the storm?

"It is--it is my lover's well-known form!

"Tho' the dim moon is veil'd, his robes of light "Tinge the dark clouds, and gild the mist of night: 110 "Approach! Alzira's breast no terrors move, "Her fears are all for ever lost in love!

"Safe on the hanging cliff I now can rest, "And press its pointed pillow to my breast-- "He weeps! in heav'n he weeps! I feel his tear-- 115 "It chills my trembling heart, yet still 'tis dear-- "To him all joyless are the realms above, "That pale look speaks of pity, and of love!

"My love ascends! he soars in azure light; "Stay tender spirit--cruel! stay thy flight-- 120 "Again descend in yonder rolling cloud, "And veil Alzira in thy misty shroud-- "He comes! my love has plac'd the dagger near, "And on its hallow'd point has dropp'd a tear"-- As roll'd her wand'ring glances wide around 125 She s.n.a.t.c.h'd a reeking sabre from the ground; Firmly her lifted hand the weapon press'd, And deep she plung'd it in her panting breast: "'Tis but a few short moments that divide "Alzira from her love!"--she said--and died. 130

[A] "Sudden, while frantic zeal, &c." PIZARRO, who during a long conference, had with difficulty restrained his soldiers, eager to seize the rich spoils of which they had now so near a view, immediately gave the signal of a.s.sault. At once the martial music struck up, the cannon and muskets began to fire, the horse sallied out fiercely to the charge, the infantry rushed on sword in hand.

The Peruvians, astonished at the suddenness of an attack which they did not expect, and dismayed with the destructive effects of the fire-arms, fled with universal consternation on every side. PIZARRO, at the head of his chosen band, advanced directly towards the Inca; and though his n.o.bles crowded around him with officious zeal, and fell in numbers at his feet, while they vied one with another in sacrificing their own lives, that they might cover the sacred person of their Sovereign, the Spaniards soon penetrated to the royal seat; and PIZARRO seizing the Inca by the arm, dragged him to the ground, and carried him a prisoner to his quarters.--_Robertson's History of America_.

PERU.

CANTO THE THIRD.

THE ARGUMENT.

Pizarro _takes possession of Cuzco--the fanaticism of_ Valverde, _a Spanish priest--its dreadful effects--A Peruvian priest put to the torture--his daughter's distress--he is rescued by_ Las Casas, _an amiable Spanish ecclesiastic, and led to a place of safety, where he dies--his daughter's narration of her sufferings--her death._