CANTO 1.
1.
When the last hope of trampled France had failed Like a brief dream of unremaining glory, From visions of despair I rose, and scaled The peak of an aerial promontory, _130 Whose caverned base with the vexed surge was h.o.a.ry; And saw the golden dawn break forth, and waken Each cloud, and every wave:--but transitory The calm; for sudden, the firm earth was shaken, As if by the last wreck its frame were overtaken. _135
2.
So as I stood, one blast of muttering thunder Burst in far peals along the waveless deep, When, gathering fast, around, above, and under, Long trains of tremulous mist began to creep, Until their complicating lines did steep _140 The orient sun in shadow:--not a sound Was heard; one horrible repose did keep The forests and the floods, and all around Darkness more dread than night was poured upon the ground.
3.
Hark! "tis the rushing of a wind that sweeps _145 Earth and the ocean. See! the lightnings yawn Deluging Heaven with fire, and the lashed deeps Glitter and boil beneath: it rages on, One mighty stream, whirlwind and waves upthrown, Lightning, and hail, and darkness eddying by. _150 There is a pause--the sea-birds, that were gone Into their caves to shriek, come forth, to spy What calm has fall"n on earth, what light is in the sky.
4.
For, where the irresistible storm had cloven That fearful darkness, the blue sky was seen _155 Fretted with many a fair cloud interwoven Most delicately, and the ocean green, Beneath that opening spot of blue serene, Quivered like burning emerald; calm was spread On all below; but far on high, between _160 Earth and the upper air, the vast clouds fled, Countless and swift as leaves on autumn"s tempest shed.
5.
For ever, as the war became more fierce Between the whirlwinds and the rack on high, That spot grew more serene; blue light did pierce _165 The woof of those white clouds, which seem to lie Far, deep, and motionless; while through the sky The pallid semicircle of the moon Pa.s.sed on, in slow and moving majesty; Its upper horn arrayed in mists, which soon _170 But slowly fled, like dew beneath the beams of noon.
6.
I could not choose but gaze; a fascination Dwelt in that moon, and sky, and clouds, which drew My fancy thither, and in expectation Of what I knew not, I remained:--the hue _175 Of the white moon, amid that heaven so blue, Suddenly stained with shadow did appear; A speck, a cloud, a shape, approaching grew, Like a great ship in the sun"s sinking sphere Beheld afar at sea, and swift it came anear. _180
7.
Even like a bark, which from a chasm of mountains, Dark, vast and overhanging, on a river Which there collects the strength of all its fountains, Comes forth, whilst with the speed its frame doth quiver, Sails, oars and stream, tending to one endeavour; _185 So, from that chasm of light a winged Form On all the winds of heaven approaching ever Floated, dilating as it came; the storm Pursued it with fierce blasts, and lightnings swift and warm.
8.
A course precipitous, of dizzy speed, _190 Suspending thought and breath; a monstrous sight!
For in the air do I behold indeed An Eagle and a Serpent wreathed in fight:-- And now, relaxing its impetuous flight, Before the aerial rock on which I stood, _195 The Eagle, hovering, wheeled to left and right, And hung with lingering wings over the flood, And startled with its yells the wide air"s solitude.
9.
A shaft of light upon its wings descended, And every golden feather gleamed therein-- _200 Feather and scale, inextricably blended.
The Serpent"s mailed and many-coloured skin Shone through the plumes its coils were twined within By many a swoln and knotted fold, and high And far, the neck, receding lithe and thin, _205 Sustained a crested head, which warily Shifted and glanced before the Eagle"s steadfast eye.
10.
Around, around, in ceaseless circles wheeling With clang of wings and scream, the Eagle sailed Incessantly--sometimes on high concealing _210 Its lessening orbs, sometimes as if it failed, Drooped through the air; and still it shrieked and wailed, And casting back its eager head, with beak And talon unremittingly a.s.sailed The wreathed Serpent, who did ever seek _215 Upon his enemy"s heart a mortal wound to wreak.
11.
What life, what power, was kindled and arose Within the sphere of that appalling fray!
For, from the encounter of those wondrous foes, A vapour like the sea"s suspended spray _220 Hung gathered; in the void air, far away, Floated the shattered plumes; bright scales did leap, Where"er the Eagle"s talons made their way, Like sparks into the darkness;--as they sweep, Blood stains the snowy foam of the tumultuous deep. _225
12.
Swift chances in that combat--many a check, And many a change, a dark and wild turmoil; Sometimes the Snake around his enemy"s neck Locked in stiff rings his adamantine coil, Until the Eagle, faint with pain and toil, _230 Remitted his strong flight, and near the sea Languidly fluttered, hopeless so to foil His adversary, who then reared on high His red and burning crest, radiant with victory.
13.
Then on the white edge of the bursting surge, _235 Where they had sunk together, would the Snake Relax his suffocating grasp, and scourge The wind with his wild writhings; for to break That chain of torment, the vast bird would shake The strength of his unconquerable wings _240 As in despair, and with his sinewy neck, Dissolve in sudden shock those linked rings-- Then soar, as swift as smoke from a volcano springs.
14.
Wile baffled wile, and strength encountered strength, Thus long, but unprevailing:--the event _245 Of that portentous fight appeared at length: Until the lamp of day was almost spent It had endured, when lifeless, stark, and rent, Hung high that mighty Serpent, and at last Fell to the sea, while o"er the continent _250 With clang of wings and scream the Eagle pa.s.sed, Heavily borne away on the exhausted blast.
15.
And with it fled the tempest, so that ocean And earth and sky shone through the atmosphere-- Only, "twas strange to see the red commotion _255 Of waves like mountains o"er the sinking sphere Of sunset sweep, and their fierce roar to hear Amid the calm: down the steep path I wound To the sea-sh.o.r.e--the evening was most clear And beautiful, and there the sea I found _260 Calm as a cradled child in dreamless slumber bound.
16.
There was a Woman, beautiful as morning, Sitting beneath the rocks, upon the sand Of the waste sea--fair as one flower adorning An icy wilderness; each delicate hand _265 Lay crossed upon her bosom, and the band Of her dark hair had fall"n, and so she sate Looking upon the waves; on the bare strand Upon the sea-mark a small boat did wait, Fair as herself, like Love by Hope left desolate. _270
17.
It seemed that this fair Shape had looked upon That unimaginable fight, and now That her sweet eyes were weary of the sun, As brightly it ill.u.s.trated her woe; For in the tears which silently to flow _275 Paused not, its l.u.s.tre hung: she watching aye The foam-wreaths which the faint tide wove below Upon the spangled sands, groaned heavily, And after every groan looked up over the sea.
18.
And when she saw the wounded Serpent make _280 His path between the waves, her lips grew pale, Parted, and quivered; the tears ceased to break From her immovable eyes; no voice of wail Escaped her; but she rose, and on the gale Loosening her star-bright robe and shadowy hair _285 Poured forth her voice; the caverns of the vale That opened to the ocean, caught it there, And filled with silver sounds the overflowing air.
19.
She spake in language whose strange melody Might not belong to earth. I heard alone, _290 What made its music more melodious be, The pity and the love of every tone; But to the Snake those accents sweet were known His native tongue and hers; nor did he beat The h.o.a.r spray idly then, but winding on _295 Through the green shadows of the waves that meet Near to the sh.o.r.e, did pause beside her snowy feet.
20.
Then on the sands the Woman sate again, And wept and clasped her hands, and all between, Renewed the unintelligible strain _300 Of her melodious voice and eloquent mien; And she unveiled her bosom, and the green And glancing shadows of the sea did play O"er its marmoreal depth:--one moment seen, For ere the next, the Serpent did obey _305 Her voice, and, coiled in rest in her embrace it lay.
21.
Then she arose, and smiled on me with eyes Serene yet sorrowing, like that planet fair, While yet the daylight lingereth in the skies Which cleaves with arrowy beams the dark-red air, _310 And said: "To grieve is wise, but the despair Was weak and vain which led thee here from sleep: This shalt thou know, and more, if thou dost dare With me and with this Serpent, o"er the deep, A voyage divine and strange, companionship to keep." _315
22.
Her voice was like the wildest, saddest tone, Yet sweet, of some loved voice heard long ago.
I wept. "Shall this fair woman all alone, Over the sea with that fierce Serpent go?
His head is on her heart, and who can know _320 How soon he may devour his feeble prey?"-- Such were my thoughts, when the tide gan to flow; And that strange boat like the moon"s shade did sway Amid reflected stars that in the waters lay:--
23.
A boat of rare device, which had no sail _325 But its own curved prow of thin moonstone, Wrought like a web of texture fine and frail, To catch those gentlest winds which are not known To breathe, but by the steady speed alone With which it cleaves the sparkling sea; and now _330 We are embarked--the mountains hang and frown Over the starry deep that gleams below, A vast and dim expanse, as o"er the waves we go.
24.
And as we sailed, a strange and awful tale That Woman told, like such mysterious dream _335 As makes the slumberer"s cheek with wonder pale!
"Twas midnight, and around, a sh.o.r.eless stream, Wide ocean rolled, when that majestic theme Shrined in her heart found utterance, and she bent Her looks on mine; those eyes a kindling beam _340 Of love divine into my spirit sent, And ere her lips could move, made the air eloquent.
25.
"Speak not to me, but hear! Much shalt thou learn, Much must remain unthought, and more untold, In the dark Future"s ever-flowing urn: _345 Know then, that from the depth of ages old Two Powers o"er mortal things dominion hold, Ruling the world with a divided lot, Immortal, all-pervading, manifold, Twin Genii, equal G.o.ds--when life and thought _350 Sprang forth, they burst the womb of inessential Nought.
26.
"The earliest dweller of the world, alone, Stood on the verge of chaos. Lo! afar O"er the wide wild abyss two meteors shone, Sprung from the depth of its tempestuous jar: _355 A blood-red Comet and the Morning Star Mingling their beams in combat--as he stood, All thoughts within his mind waged mutual war, In dreadful sympathy--when to the flood That fair Star fell, he turned and shed his brother"s blood. _360
27.
"Thus evil triumphed, and the Spirit of evil, One Power of many shapes which none may know, One Shape of many names; the Fiend did revel In victory, reigning o"er a world of woe, For the new race of man went to and fro, _365 Famished and homeless, loathed and loathing, wild, And hating good--for his immortal foe, He changed from starry shape, beauteous and mild, To a dire Snake, with man and beast unreconciled.
28.
"The darkness lingering o"er the dawn of things, _370 Was Evil"s breath and life; this made him strong To soar aloft with overshadowing wings; And the great Spirit of Good did creep among The nations of mankind, and every tongue Cursed and blasphemed him as he pa.s.sed; for none _375 Knew good from evil, though their names were hung In mockery o"er the fane where many a groan, As King, and Lord, and G.o.d, the conquering Fiend did own,--
29.
"The Fiend, whose name was Legion: Death, Decay, Earthquake and Blight, and Want, and Madness pale, _380 Winged and wan diseases, an array Numerous as leaves that strew the autumnal gale; Poison, a snake in flowers, beneath the veil Of food and mirth, hiding his mortal head; And, without whom all these might nought avail, _385 Fear, Hatred, Faith, and Tyranny, who spread Those subtle nets which snare the living and the dead.
30.
"His spirit is their power, and they his slaves In air, and light, and thought, and language, dwell; And keep their state from palaces to graves, _390 In all resorts of men--invisible, But when, in ebon mirror, Nightmare fell To tyrant or impostor bids them rise, Black winged demon forms--whom, from the h.e.l.l, His reign and dwelling beneath nether skies, _395 He loosens to their dark and blasting ministries.
31.