XI. And what art thou? I know, but dare not speak : Is whispered, to subdue my fondest fears: XII. They say that thou wert lovely from thy birth, Shines on thee, through the tempests dark and wild Which shake these latter days; and thou canst claim The shelter, from thy sire, of an immortal name. XIII. One voice came forth from many a mighty spirit, The music of his home :--unwonted fears Fell on the pale oppressors of our race, And Faith and Custom and low-thoughted cares, Like thunder-stricken dragons, for a space Left the torn human heart, their food and dwelling-place. XIV. Truth's deathless voice pauses among mankind! If there must be no response to my cry— If men must rise and stamp, with fury blind, On his pure name who loves them,-thou and I, Sweet friend, can look from our tranquillity Like lamps into the world's tempestuous night,— Two tranquil stars, while clouds are passing by Which wrap them from the foundering seaman's sight, That burn from year to year with unextinguished light. CANTO I. I. 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 aërial promontory, Whose caverned base with the vexed surge was hoary; 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. II. So, as I stood, one blast of muttering thunder 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. III. Hark! 'tis the rushing of a wind that sweeps Earth and the ocean. See the lightnings yawn One mighty stream, whirlwind and waves upthrown, IV. For, where the irresistible storm had cloven That fearful darkness, the blue sky was seen Countless and swift as leaves on autumn's tempest shed. V. For ever, as the war became more fierce Between the whirlwinds and the rack on high, Passed on, in slow and moving majesty ; Its upper horn arrayed in mists, which soon VI. 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 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. VII. Even like a bark, which from a chasm of mountains, Which there collects the strength of all its fountains Sails, oars, and stream, tending to one endeavour; 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. VIII. A course precipitous, of dizzy speed, Suspending thought and breath; a monstrous sight! An Eagle and a Serpent wreathed in fight: :- Before the aërial rock on which I stood, 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. IX. A shaft of light upon its wings descended, And every golden feather gleamed therein— 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, Sustained a crested head, which warily Shifted and glanced before the Eagle's steadfast eye. X. Around, around, in ceaseless circles wheeling With clang of wings and scream, the Eagle sailed Incessantly-sometimes on high concealing 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 assailed The wreathed Serpent, who did ever seek Upon his enemy's heart a mortal wound to wreak. XI. What life, what power, was kindled and arose XII. Swift chances in that combat-many a check, XIII. Then on the white edge of the bursting surge, 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, As in despair, and with his sinewy neck Dissolved in sudden shock those linked rings,— Then soar, as swift as smoke from a volcano springs. XIV. Wile baffled wile, and strength encountered strength, 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, With clang of wings and scream, the Eagle passed, Heavily borne away on the exhausted blast. XV. 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 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-shore-the evening was most clear And beautiful; and there the sea I found Calm as a cradled child in dreamless slumber bound. XVI. There was a woman, beautiful as morning, |