He marks his mighty foe, and coursing round, Springs to his throat, and drags him to the ground. Just at that moment, terror in her eye, Morgana starting gave a piercing cry; Thunder'd the heaven, and o'er the palace fell The noble Cadwall with undaunted breast, Then smit with frantic fear the wizard fled, 'Lo here,' Melissa cried, the royal seat, For which thy heart could change my calm retreat! 'Lo, here, Morgana's faithless wiles reveal'd!' Then full before him plac'd the sacred shield. Swift each delusive colour melts away, And bursts upon his soul prophetic day. He look'd and saw a narrow path, which led Through a dark vale, with rugged rocks o'erspread; A precipice abrupt on either side; Above, before, perpetual mists reside; Behind, more awful than the thunders roar, A voice proclaims aloud, ye turn no more. Sad lamentations sound, and plaintive sighs, Deep smother'd groans, and agonizing cries; And ev'ry where the ministers of fate, Terrific forms, with threat'ning aspect wait: Dark Envy's livid hue, and snaky hair; Oppression, Want, and heart-corroding Care, And restless Jealousy, and frantic Fear; And vain Regret, Remorse, and endless Woe: The careful fairy still the knight survey'd, And, ere despondence could his soul invade, Behold,' she cried, where yonder glimmering ray Shews yet another passage to the day; 'Proceed, nor yield to fear. The noble mind Compels reluctant fortune to be kind. 'No more let vain desires thy purpose bend, 'And heav'nly guards shall lead thee and defend.' . She vanish'd. Nor was noble Cadwall there: He too, like some vain shadow, lost in air. By slow degrees gain'd on the cheerless night.. Forward he mov'd, and, fill'd with holy awe, Before him soon a shining vision saw. Less splendid in the rapt enthusiast's dream, A book she held: unutterable day Shed from the sacred page a glorious ray : The stars compos'd her crown: her sweeping vest Heaven's purest azure: and upon her breast What seem'd a sun glow'd radiant: mercy's throne Her forehead: and unclouded wisdom shone In her majestic eyes. Upon her state Life and immortal joy, her handmaids, wait. The knight, who, lost in awe and wonder, gaz'd. Through all his limbs: his heart with rapture glow'd. Smooth was the way bestrew'd with asphodel, And ev'ry flower grateful to sight or smell, While the pure æther, and the cloudless sky, |