XLIII.

And swelling waters bursting from each rill,
In flowing torrents coursing thro' the shade,
With murm'rings hoarse, the troubl'd welkin fill,
And the vex'd ear with deaf'ning sounds invade.

XLIV.

"Methinks the Pow'rs above, (said Goltho, then) "Resolve to shake this globe's substantial base, "And hurl swift ruin on the sons of men, "Long try'd an impious and ungodly race:

XLV.

170

"Else why these pealing sounds, these sheets of flame, "And heav'n's eternal sluices open'd round?

"This heavy gloom that wraps th' etherea! frame, "And these rude shocks that shake the solid ground?"

XLVI.

For as he spoke the rending glebe gave way,
And fires infernal from beneath broke forth,
Disclosing horrid caves unknown to-day,
Deep in the bowels of the groaning earth.

XLVI!.

"Brave Goltho, (then said Ulfinore the sage)
"Ev'n 'midst the horrors of this dreadful scene,
"This boist'rous strife of elemental rage,
"The philosophic soul may sit serene.

XLVIII.

"What if the jarring seeds of Nature, pent

181

"In hollow caves, these dreadful shocks supply, 190

"And bursting vapours struggling for a vent, "Blaze in the upper and the nether sky?

"Or what if heav'n's high pow'r in vengeance rise, "To hurl these bolts that set the skies on fire? "What if th' Almighty Mind these strokes dévise, "And groaning nations in the shock expire?

L.

"Think'st thou not Virtue can maintain her seat,

Offspring belov'd of Heav'n's eternal King? "Think'st thou such shocks can reach her blest retreat, "Shelter'd behind the cherub Mercy's wing.

LI.

"No! let the coward guilty only fear,

200

"Whose conscious hearts reproach them from within; "It is their place alone to tremble here, "Who sink oppress'd beneath a load of sin.

LII.

"Believe me, Goltho, not the roaring war
"Of yonder fiery cope, tho' mov'd etern',
"Can with the dreadful passions ere compare,
"That raging in unhallow'd bosoms burn.

LIII.

209

"For these all in their place the lot fulfil, "Which Heav'n to each most wisely hath assign'd, "Whilst those tempestuous passions thwart the will, "And cross the mandates of th' Almighty Mind."

LIV.

Touch'd with the words of one so wise and young,
Regardless of the storm brave 'Goltho walks,
Hangs on the accents falling from his tongue,
And ev'n when silent thinks that still he talks.

LV.

But now two paths full op'ning to the view,
To right and left, perplex'd the trav'llers stand,
Nor know which road to leave nor which pursue,
Alike they doubt to turn to either hand.

LVI.

One track led winding down a shelving dale,
All arch'd with bending branches over-head,
The other op'ning to the northern gale,
Wide and more wide its greenwood carpet spread.

LVII.

Goltho and Sigebert now first descend

The darkling dell, and its recess explore,

220

Whilst where the wid'ning shades more free extend, With prudent step advanc'd brave Ulfinore.

This done, they all appointed to return

To that same place where both the ways did meet,
And Ulfinore, who early did discern

The open plain, turn'd back, his friend to greet.

LIX.

But when the spot he gain'd, in vain he sought
Those friends, for whom awhile he patient waits,

231

Revolving over in his anxious thought

The various perils of uncertain fates.

LX.

But, tir'd at length, he down the darkling dale
Moves with soft pace, and prudent eye askance,
Meas'ring the track where scoops the hollow vale,
And his firm steps supporting on his lance.

LXI.

So steers some vessel thro' the boiling deep,

240

While rocks, and shoals, and quicksands are in view, Such cautious watch the steady pilots keep,

And guide what course to shun and what pursue;

LXII.

And ever and anon the boist'rous surge,

That swells to meet them, carefully avoids
Then with quick helm the answering vessel urge
To shun its rage on other billows buoy'd.

LXIII.

And now had Ulfinore, with weary pace,
Trac'd many a rood of that same winding way,
Exploring as he went each secret place,
Each dell, impervious e'en to brightest day.

LXIV.

At length, emerging frem the op❜ning glade,
He reach'd the margin of a rising hill,

Whose verdant top was crown'd with leafy shade,

And at its foot there ran a murm'ring rill.

250

LXV.

The winds were hush'd, and the loud thunder's roar
In feeble distant mutt'rings dy'd away,

The livid lightnings flashing now no more,
And night retir'd, pierc'd by Aurora's ray.

LXVI.

On the bill-top the gray dawn rested high,
Which many a wreath of purple did adorn,
Sol's sloping beams shot upward to the sky,
And the lark sang, the herald of the morn.

LXVII.

Glad earth reviv'd, and o'er her face was spread
The cheerful mantle of reviving green:

The leafy trees, each from his lofty head,
Distill'd drops, which glittring fell serene.o

LXVIII.

Nature rejoic'd! but still with downcast eye,
And heavy heart, foreboding future woe,

The prudent youth heaves fast the mournful sigh,
While half suppress'd the bursting sorrows flow.

LXIX.

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270

Goltho he calls; his manly voice he rears,
Oft' to its pitch, which hill and dale rebound,
The much-lov'd name each grot and cavern hears, í
And Goltho echoes thro' the sylvan bound.

LXX.

But Goltho hears not, distant from his friend,

In evil plight he counts the lonely hours,