No sound is heard, save when the loosen'd rock Heavily rise the long blue clouds of smoke From yonder hamlet, and in wavy folds Unrolling slowly to the moon's pale ray, 620 Streak the deep shades of night; the kindling fire, 625 At first half-smother'd, casts a livid glare Upon the lowest wreaths, till bursting forth In one o'erwhelming blaze it upward shoots Its pointed spires, and with a bloody tint 630 And glow more vivid 'midst th' impending gloom. Rous'd from their slumbers, crowd in haste along, 635 On the devouring flame; but hark! a cry Of louder woe appals the ear, a shriek Of female agony, and now the shouts As of contending hosts-they come, they come, His giant form, furrow'd with channels deep, Of cave and yawning dell, where Silence holds 640 645 650 Her empire unmolested, save by sounds Of savage melody, the wild beasts' roar, 655 Or rush of distant waters; ye gray rocks, Cleft by the midnight tempest, shooting high Your rugged tops, with grass and lichen wreath'd, To Heav'n; ye olive groves, which wave your boughs 660 To the hoarse blast that sweeps the mountain's breast, With pleasing dread I view you, and confess An awe which overpow'rs, yet charms the soul. Whence did the bards, who in the choirs of Greece Struck their wild harps to list'ning multitudes, Their inspiration draw? Say, mighty Shades, 665 Whence came your Heav'nly visions, whence the pow'r To thrill the soul, to pour the flood of joy, Or call the willing tear down beauty's cheek? 'Our lips we bath'd in dews of Castalie.' Is your responsive murmur-Vain reply— Ye sought indeed that sacred fount, and bow'd 670 To taste its stream; Nature stood by and smil'd. 'Weak mortals' (she exclaim'd) dash from your lips 'The cup, and roam with me; climb the rough path 675 'Where human foot ne'er trod; explore the glen Where dark projecting rocks exclude the day; Pass fearless o'er the knotted trunk athwart The torrent thrown; ascend the time-ting'd cliff, And view beneath you the broad ocean's wave Rolling in amber floods; this be your draught Of inspiration, this your Castalie.' 680 |