And bare, at once, Captivity displayed Stands scoffing through the never-opened gate, And I can banquet like a beast of prey, Sullen and lonely, couching in the cave Which is my lair, and—it may be—my grave. In honour of the sacred war for him, The God who was on earth and is in heaven, For he hath strengthened me in heart and limb. That through this sufferance I might be forgiven, I have employed my penance to record How Salem's shrine was won, and how adored. II. But this is o'er-my pleasant task is done:- If I do blot thy final page with tears, Know, that my sorrows have wrung from me none. I know not that-but in the innate force Of my own spirit shall be found resource. I have not sunk, for I had no remorse, Nor cause for such: they called me mad-and why? Oh Leonora! wilt not thou reply? I was indeed delirious in my heart To lift my love so lofty as thou art; That thou wert beautiful, and I not blind, Hath been the sin which shuts me from mankind; But let them go, or torture as they will, My heart can multiply thine image still; Successful love may sate itself away, The wretched are the faithful; 'tis their fate To have all feeling save the one decay, And every passion into one dilate, As rapid rivers into ocean pour ; But ours is fathomless, and hath no shore. III. Above me, hark! the long and maniac cry And hark! the lash and the increasing howl, And the half-inarticulate blasphemy! There be some here with worse than frenzy foul, Some who do still goad on the o'er-laboured mind, And dim the little light that's left behind With needless torture, as their tyrant will Is wound up to the lust of doing ill : With these and with their victims am I classed, 'Mid sounds and sights like these long years have passed; 'Mid sights and sounds like these my life may close: So let it be for then I shall repose. VOL. VI. N IV. I have been patient, let me be so yet; I had forgotten half I would forget, To be forgetful as I am forgot! Feel I not wroth with those who bade me dwell Where laughter is not mirth, nor thought the mind, Many, but each divided by the wall, Which echoes Madness in her babbling moods ;— While all can hear, none heed his neighbour's call— None! save that One, the veriest wretch of all, Who was not made to be the mate of these, Nor bound between Distraction and Disease. |