Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/272

 262 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE

The tear, half started, in their eyes shrunk back ;

The writhing snakes grew to a deeper black.

And, at full length outstretched, loud hissed along our track.

Again the mournful cries All round about us rise ; Loud Charon chides his lingering train ; Awakened pity sleeps again ; And, as we hasten through the gates of hell. Far off the red-eyed dog begins to yell, And with his bark, sweet bride, is blent thy last farewell.

Swift as a fiash of light. Snatched to the realms of night, With anguished looks and outstretched hands, She mingled 'mongst the infernal bands; And, on their screaming hinges turning round. Loud crashed the ponderous gates with awful sound, And echo with ten thousand thunders shook the ground.

O, why remember more, Since time will ne'er restore Life's lost delights ? Let men from this Learn not to trifle with their bliss. I deemed her mine ; my toil was almost crowned ; Forgetful but one instant, I looked round. And lost my all for aye, even at woe's farthest bound.

Learn from my doom to obey ; In fortune's brightest day. Let no one count on certain joy ; Fate in an instant can destroy ; And, though with tuneful art thy master skill All hell entrance, and make the heavens grow still, All shall be nought to him who once forgets Jove's will.

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