And from the coffin as he led the Maid,

Exclaim'd, "Where never yet stood mortal man, "Thou standest: look around this boundless vault; "Observe the dole that Nature deals to man,

"And learn to know thy friend."

She not replied,

Observing where the Fates their several tasks

Plied ceaseless.

"Mark how long the shortest web

"Allow'd to man!" he cried; "observe how soon, "Twin'd round yon never-resting wheel, they change "Their snowy hue, darkening thro' many a shade, "Till Atropos relentless shuts the sheers!"

Too true he spake, for of the countless threads, Drawn from the heap, as white as unsunn'd snow, Or as the lovely lily of the vale,

Was never one beyond the little span

Of infancy untainted: few there were

But lightly tinged; more of deep crimson hue,

Or deeper sable died. Two genii stood,

Still as the web of being was drawn forth,

Sprinkling their powerful drops. . From ebon urn,
The one unsparing dash'd the bitter wave

Of woe; and as he dash'd, his dark-brown brow
Relax'd to a hard smile. The milder form
Shed less profusely there his lesser store;
Sometimes with tears increasing the scant boon,
Mourning the lot of man; and happy he
Who on his thread those precious drops receives;
If it be happiness to have the pulse

Throb fast with pity, and in such a world

Of wretchedness, the generous heart that aches
With anguish at the sight of human woe.

To her the fiend, well hoping now success,
"This is thy thread! observe how short the span,
"And see how copious yonder genius pours

"The bitter stream of woe." The Maiden saw

Fearless. "Now gaze!" the tempter fiend exclaim'd, And placed again the poniard in her hand,

For Superstition, with sulphureal torch,

Stalk'd to the loom. “This, Damsel, is thy fate!

"The hour draws on

now drench the dagger deep!

"Now rush to happier worlds!"

The Maid replied,

"Or to prevent or change the will of Heaven, "Impious I strive not: let that will be done!"

THE VISION

OF

THE MAID OF ORLEANS.

THE SECOND BOOK.

SHE spake, and lo! celestial radiance beam'd
Amid the air, such odors wafting now

As erst came blended with the evening gale,
'From Eden's bowers of bliss. An angel form
Stood by the Maid; his wings, ethereal white,
Flash'd like the diamond in the noon-tide sun,
Dazzling her mortal eye: all else appear'd
Her Theodore.

Amazed she saw: the fiend

Was fled, and on her ear the well-known voice

Sounded, tho' now more musically sweet
Than ever yet had thrill'd her charmed soul,
When eloquent affection fondly told

The day-dreams of delight.

"Beloved Maid!

"Lo! I am with thee! still thy Theodore!

"Hearts in the holy bands of love combin'd,

"Death has no power to sever.

Thou art mine!

"A little while and thou shalt dwell with me,

"In scenes where sorrow is not. Cheerily

"Tread thou the path that leads thee to the grave, "Rough tho' it be and painful, for the grave "Is but the threshold of eternity.

"Favour'd of Heaven! to thee is given to view "These secret realms. The bottom of the abyss "Thou treadest, Maiden! Here the dungeons are "Where bad men learn repentance! souls diseased "Must have their remedy; and where disease "Is rooted deep, the remedy is long