to unfold themselves, but while the minds of men Him, by the Paynim bard descried of yore, (1) were still clinging to the superstitions of their fathers. And ere his coming sung on either shore, The Event here described may be thought too Him could not I exalt-by Heaven design'd recent for the Machinery; but I found them together. A belief in the agency of Evil Spirits prevailed over both hemispheres; and even yet seems almost necessary to enable us to clear up the Darkness, and, in this instance at least, To justify the ways of God to Men. THE ARGUMENT. Columbus, having wandered from kingdom to kingdom, at length obtains three ships and sets sail on the Atlantic. The compass alters from its ancient direc To lift the veil that cover'd half mankind! * * * * "Twas night. The Moon, o'er the wide wave, dis- Her awful face; and Nature's self reposed; Three white sails shone-but to no mortal eye, tion; the wind becomes constant and unremitting; Thoughtful, not sad; and, as the planet grew, night and day he advances, till he is suddenly stop- His noble form, wrapt in his mantle blue, ped in his course by a mass of vegetation, extending Athwart the deck a deepening shadow threw. as far as the eye can reach, and assuming the ap- "Thee hath it pleased-Thy will be done!" he said, (3; pearance of a country overwhelmed by the sea. Then sought his cabin; and, their capas' spread, Alarm and despondence on board. He resigns him- Around him lay the sleeping as the dead, self to the care of Heaven, and proceeds on his When, by his lamp, to that mysterious Guide, voyage; while columns of water move along in his On whose still counsels all his hopes relied, path before him. That Oracle to man in mercy given, Meanwhile the deities of America assemble in Whose voice is truth, whose wisdom is from heaven, (4, council; and one of the Zemi, the gods of the island- Who over sands and seas directs the stray, ers, announces his approach. " In vain," says he," have And, as with God's own finger, points the way, we guarded the Atlantic for ages. A mortal has He turn'd; but what strange thoughts perplex'd his soul, baffled our power; nor will our votaries arm against When, lo, no more attracted to the Pole, him. Yours are a sterner race. Hence; and, while The Compass, faithless as the circling vane, we have recourse to stratagem, do you array the na- Flutter'd and fix'd, flutter'd and fix'd again! tions round your altars, and prepare for an extermi- At length, as by some unseen hand imprest nating war." They disperse while he is yet speaking; It sought with trembling energy the West!2 and, in the shape of a condor, he directs his flight to "Ah no," he cried, and calm'd his anxious brow, the fleet. His journey described. He arrives there. "Ill, nor the signs of ill, 'tis thine to show, A panic. A mutiny. Columbus restores order; continues on his voyage; and lands in a New World. Ceremonies of the first interview. Rites of hospitality. The ghost of Cazziva. Thine but to lead me where I wish'd to go!" Two months pass away, and an Angel, appearing An Angel came! He spoke, and it was done! in a dream to Columbus, thus addresses him; "Re- He spoke, and, at his call, a mighty Wind, (6) turn to Europe; though your Adversaries, such is the Not like the fitful blast, with fury blind, will of Heaven, shall let loose the hurricane against But deep, majestic, in its destined course, you. A little while shall they triumph; insinuating Sprung with unerring, unrelenting force, themselves into the hearts of your followers, and From the bright East. Tides duly ebb'd and flow'd; making the World, which you came to bless, a scene Stars rose and set; and new horizons glow'd; of blood and slaughter. Yet is there cause for rejoicing. Your work is done. The cross of Christ is planted here; and, in due time, all things shall be made perfect!" CANTO I. Night-Columbus on the Atlantic-the Variation of the Compass, etc. WHO the great Secret of the Deep possess'd And, issuing through the portals of the West, Planted his standard on the Unknown World? Yet still it blew! As with primeval sway CANTO IL. The Voyage continued. "WHAT vast foundations in the Abyss are there, (8) 1 Perhaps even a contemporary subject should not be reject- As of a former world? Is it not where ed as such, however wild and extravagant it may be, if the Atlantic kings their barbarous pomp display'd; (9) manners be foreign and the place distant-major è longinquo Sunk into darkness with the realms they sway'd, reverentia. "L'éloignement des pays," says Racine, "répare en quelque sorte la trop grande proximité des temps; car le peuple ne met guère de différence entre ce qui est, si j'ose ainsi parler, à mille ans de lui, et ce qui en est à mille lieucs." 1 The capa is the Spanish cloak. 2 Herrera, dec. 1, lib. i, e. 9. When towers and temples, through the closing wave, Long from the stern the great adventurer gazed Oh still" He spoke, and lo, the charm accurst And once again that valiant company And, see, the heavens bow down, the waters rise, Descends, and shuts the vision from their sight. CANTO III. An Assembly of Evil Spirits. THOUGH changed my cloth of gold for amice grey-(15) In my spring-time, when every month was May, 'Mid pillars of Basalt, the work of fire, Oh could I now-but how in mortal verse- "T was now in dismal pomp and order due, While the vast concave flash'd with lightnings blue, On shining pavements of metallic ore, That many an age the fusing sulphur bore, They held high council. All was silence round, When, with a voice most sweet yet most profound, A sovereign Spirit burst the gates of night, And from his wings of gold shook drops of liquid "Prepare, again prepare," He, on whose call afflicting thunders wait, Hung in the tempest o'er the troubled main; (21) What mighty banners stream in the bright track of And saw and wonder'd whence his Power He drew, Twas in the deep immeasurable cave Of Andes, (16) echoing to the Southern wave, No sounds of life are stirring in the wind. And the Night coming-and my Task not done! The Voyage continued. "Ан, why look back, though all is left behind? And you, ye birds, winging your passage home, -Still, as beyond this mortal life impell'd At day-break might the Caravelsa be seen, Chasing their shadows o'er the deep serene; Their burnish'd prows lash'd by the sparkling tide, Their green-cross standards waving far and wide. And now once more to better thoughts inclined, The seaman, mounting, clamor'd in the wind. The soldier (24) told his tales of love and war; The courtier sung-sung to his gay guitar. Round, at Primero, sate a whisker'd band; So Fortune smiled, careless of sea or land! (25) Leon, Montalvan (serving side by side; Two with one soul and, as they lived, they died), Vasco the brave, thrice found among the slain, Thrice, and how soon, up and in arms again, As soon to wish he had been sought in vain, Chain'd down in Fez, beneath the bitter thong, To the hard bench and heavy oar so long! Albert of Florence, who, at twilight-time, In my rapt ear pour'd Dante's tragic rhyme, Screen'd by the sail as near the mast we lay, Our nights illumined by the ocean-spray; And Manfred, who espoused with jewell'd ring Young Isabel, then left her sorrowing: Lerma "the generous," Avila "the proud;"4 Velasquez, Garcia, through the echoing crowd Traced by their mirth-from Ebro's classic shore, From golden Tajo, to return no more! CANTO V. The Voyage continued. YET who but He undaunted could explore (26) A world of waves, a sea without a shore, Trackless and vast and wild as that reveal'd When round the Ark the birds of tempest wheel'd; Then sunk his generous spirit, and he wept. The friend, the father rose; the hero slept. Palos, thy port, with many a pang resign'd, Fill'd with its busy scenes his lonely mind; The solemn march, the vows in concert given, (27) The bended knees and lifted hands to heaven, The incensed rites, and choral harmonies, The Guardian's blessings mingling with his sighs; While his dear boys-ah, on his neck they hung, (28) And long at parting to his garments clung. Oft in the silent night-watch doubt and fear Right through the midst, when, fetlock-deep in gore, Though Roldan, (30) sleep and death to him alike, CANTO VI. The flight of an Angel of Darkness. WAR with the Great in War let others sing, Still unsubdued by Danger's varying form, "Once more good-morrow!" and sate down and Shadow'd by Age-by Age before the time,' sigh'd. 1 F. Columbus, c. 32. From many a sorrow borne in many a clime, 2 Light vessels, formerly used by the Spaniards and Portu- Singly or clustering, round the Southern pole! Nor yet the four that glorify the Night guese. 3 F. Columbus, c. 23. 4 Many such appellations occur in Bernal Diaz. c. 204. 5 A luminous appearance of good omen. 1 F. Col. c. 3. "T was the mid hour, when He, whose accents dread, - Rose like the Condor, and, at towering height, Mountains and seas fled backward as he pass'd Now 'mid angelic multitudes he flies, CANTO VII. A mutiny excited. WHAT though Despondence reign'd, and wild Affright Stretch'd in the midst, and, through that dismal night, (37) By his white plume reveal'd and buskins white, (38) O'er him a Vampire his dark wings display'd. (39) (That in the aisles at midnight haunt me still, Turning my lonely thoughts from good to ill) "Were there no graves-none in our land," they cry, "That thou hast brought us on the deep to die?" Silent with sorrow, long within his cloak His face he muffled then the Hero spoke. "Generous and brave! when God himself is here, Why shake at shadows in your mid career? He can suspend the laws himself design'd, He walks the waters, and the winged wind; Himself your guide! and yours the high behest, To lift your voice, and bid a world be blest! And can you shrink? (42) to you, to you consign'd The glorious privilege to serve mankind! Oh had I perish'd, when my failing frame (43) Clung to the shatter'd oar 'mid wrecks of flame! -Was it for this I linger'd life away, The scorn of Folly, and of Fraud the prey; (44) Bow'd down my mind, the gift His bounty gave, At courts a suitor, and to slaves a slave ? -Yet in His name whom only we should fear, ('T is all, all I shall ask, or you shall hear), Grant but three days." - He spoke not uninspired; (45) And each in silence to his watch retired. At length among us came an unknown Voice! "Go, if ye will; and, if ye can, rejoice. Go, with unbidden guests the banquet share; In his own shape shall Death receive you there." (46) CANTO VIII. Land discovered. TWICE in the zenith blazed the orb of light; "Oh whence, as wafted from Elysium, whence The sails were furl'd: with many a melting close, Solemn and slow the evening-anthem rose, Rose to the Virgin. (47) '"T was the hour of day, When setting suns o'er summer-seas display A path of glory, opening in the west To golden climes, and islands of the blest; And human voices, on the silent air, Went o'er the waves in songs of gladness there! Chosen of Men! (48) 't was thine, at noon of night, First from the prow to hail the glimmering light; (49) (Emblem of Truth divine, whose secret ray Enters the soul, and makes the darkness day!) "Pedro! Rodrigo! (50) there, methought it shone! There in the west! and now, alas, 'tis gone!'"T was all a dream! we gaze and gaze in vain! -But mark, and speak not, there it comes again! It moves! what form unseen, what being there With torch-like lustre fires the murky air? His instincts, passions, say how like our own! Oh! when will day reveal a world unknown?" 1 Tierra del Fuego. 1 Ex ligno lucido confectum, et arte mira laboratum. P. Martyr, dec. i, 5. 2 The Simoom. CANTO IX. The New World. LONG on the wave the morning mists reposed, Then broke-and, melting into light, disclosed Half-circling hills, whose everlasting woods Sweep with their sable skirts the shadowy floods: And say, when all, to holy transport given, Embraced and wept as at the gates of Heaven, When one and all of us, repentant, ran, And, on our faces, bless'd the wondrous Man; Say, was I then deceived, or from the skies Burst on my ear seraphic harmonies? "Glory to God!" unnumber'd voices sung, "Glory to God!" the vales and mountains rung, Voices that hail'd' Creation's primal morn, And to the Shepherds sung a Savior born. Slowly, bare-headed, through the surf we bore The sacred cross, (51) and, kneeling, kiss'd the shore. But what a scene was there! (52) Nymphs of romance, (53) Youths graceful as the Faun, with eager glance, They saw, they heard; and up the highest hill, At length the spell dissolves! The warrior's lance See now borne forth the monstrous mask of gold, These now exchanged for gifts that thrice surpass That now with terror starts, with triumph glows! 1 F. Columbus, c. 28 and 34. 2 F. Columbus, c. 69. CANTO X. Cora-luxuriant Vegetation-the Humming-bird-the Fountain of Youth. * THEN Cora came, the youngest of her race, The more she search'd, pleased and perplex'd the more! prise; Her lips all mirth, all ecstasy her eyes! But soon the telescope attracts her view; Nor can thy flute, Alonso, now excite, Then stirs not, breathes not-on enchanted ground? Soon from the bay the mingling crowd ascends, rise Wings that reflect the glow of evening skies! 'Twas he that sung, if ancient Fame speaks truth, "Come! follow, follow to the Fount of Youth! I quaff the ambrosial mists that round it rise, Dissolved and lost in dreams of Paradise!" For there call'd forth, to bless a happier hour, It met the sun in many a rainbow-shower! Murmuring delight, its living waters roll'd 'Mid branching palms and amaranths of gold! (64) |