Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/270

 260 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE

I tamed the rude, ferocious race That roamed like beasts about the place, Softening their rage to sympathetic mood, Till to unwonted tears they were subdued, Leaving their bloody rites for mutual brotherhood?

Ye gods ! Why thus unjust To them that in you trust ? Did not I first from tinklings vain Turn Music's voice to heavenly strain, And teach the sacred hymn on earth to sound ? Sorrow is all the recompense I've found, Ever the fate of those whose brows with bays are crowned.

Not soon shall I forget The horrors of that pit ! The demons, round me gathering fast, Winked at each other when I passed. And sneering said, " Here comes one more to dwell With the delightful brotherhood of hell." But all the din grew hushed, when thee I woke, sweet shell f

Now must I mourn for thee, Poor lost Eurydice ! Serpent shall never sting thee more, Roving that dark and joyless shore. Ah, how each listening ghost, 'midst twilight pale, Wailed, gazing from his melancholy jail ! While Charon, resting on his oar, forgot to sail.

The torturers, at the tone. Seemed as if changed to stone, And backward turned to hear the strain, And dropped their instruments of pain. Those sooty depths ne'er heard such sounds before ; The very damned dared dream of bliss once more, And, in amazement hushed, some time forgot to roar.

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