THE
ENTHUSIAST
.
SONGS
OF
ARLA
.
SONG
I.
WILD
wing
my
notes
,
fierce
passions
urge
the
strain
;
Strong
flame
the
fires
that
kindle
in
my
soul
;
I
strike
the
wiery
harp
,
nor
will
refrain
;
Mad
is
despair
,
and
scorns
each
feeble
rein
,
Feelings
like
mine
no
virtue
can
control
.
Stifled
,
th'
inflated
heart
with
pain
respires
,
My
crimson
veins
with
struggling
blood
are
press'd
,
My
cheeks
are
flush'd
with
passion's
transient
fires
;
My
brain
with
agonies
distracted
flies
,
Till
the
fierce
streams
burst
from
my
burning
eyes
,
And
drowning
torrents
cool
my
panting
breast
.
SONG
II
.
With
awe
my
soul
the
wreck
of
Nature
views
,
The
storm
amid
the
echoing
mountain
hears
;
The
sighs
of
Autumn
,
mingling
with
my
tears
,
Mourn
the
sad
ravages
which
time
pursues
.
Hear
the
wild
roar
of
the
tempestuous
blast
,
Whirling
the
forest
leaves
to
distant
air
!
See
blooming
flowers
in
scatter'd
fragments
cast
,
While
torrents
pouring
thunder
on
the
ear
!
The
sun's
bright
beam
in
dreary
winter
lost
,
Not
joyless
is
,
as
me
,
on
passion's
tempests
tost
.
My
youthful
charms
fade
'neath
my
burning
eyes
,
The
soul-entrancing
morn
of
pleasure
flies
;
A
raging
sorrow
sweeps
without
control
Those
germs
of
genius
which
alone
inspire
:
The
sensual
passions
which
consum'd
my
soul
,
Burn
my
distemper'd
bosom
with
their
fire
.
Long
lightnings
glance
still
from
my
streaming
eyes
,
Though
vain
around
the
fiery
circles
roll
;
Virtue
and
pleasure
vanish
from
my
soul
;
The
transient
shadow
of
my
glory
flies
.
SONG
III
.
Impassion'd
strains
my
trembling
lips
rehearse
,
Echoing
my
soul
the
numbers
pierce
the
skies
,
I
seem
(
delusions
thus
my
mind
impair
)
To
catch
the
potent
fires
of
EDRAN'S
eyes
:
On
loftiest
pinions
then
,
more
noble
verse
Bursts
into
sound
,
and
floats
upon
the
air
,
Till
memory
bursts
on
my
deluded
heart
,
Mingling
discordant
strains
of
deep
despair
.
Distracting
thoughts
upon
my
spirit
pour
,
No
longer
in
delusive
dreams
I
rest
,
Such
passions
mingle
with
each
bitter
shower
!
A
father's
image
meets
my
troubled
breast
;
Ah!
wandering
heart
!
how
bitterly
distress'd
!
Consuming
flames
will
soon
thy
strength
o'erpower
,
And
thou
abandon'd
die
,
with
guilt
oppress'd
.
HER
father
,
soon
returning
,
heard
her
fate
,
Whilst
he
anticipates
his
child's
embrace
,
And
empty
hopes
his
joyful
heart
elate
;
O'erwhelm'd
at
once
he's
blasted
with
disgrace
:
No
deeper
pang
his
bosom
can
endure
;
The
laurels
fade
on
his
victorious
brow
;
From
his
uplifted
arms
,
in
fraud
secure
,
The
villain
fled
,
and
shunn'd
th'
impending
blow
.
The
parent
view'd
his
lost
desponding
child
,
But
did
not
chase
the
sufferer
from
his
breast
,
For
Christian
charity
,
benign
and
mild
,
Was
deeply
on
his
noble
heart
impress'd
:
Patient
enquiries
taught
him
the
base
art
With
which
the
vile
seducer
spread
his
snare
,
The
weakness
of
her
lost
deluded
heart
,
And
present
struggles
of
her
wild
despair
;
To
snatch
her
from
th'
abyss
with
haste
he
ran
,
And
warmly
thus
the
tender
sire
began
:
FATHER
.
"
O!
tremble
not
to
meet
thy
parent's
eyes
,
"
But
to
mine
open
arms
for
refuge
fly
;
"
From
dark
despondency
,
O
ARLA
!
rise
;
"
Child
of
my
bosom
,
calm
the
struggling
sigh
.
"
ARLA
.
"
Fast
fall
,
ye
tears
,
till
ye
have
drown'd
my
sight
;
"
Quicken
,
ye
pulses
,
your
encreasing
fire
;
"
O!
let
me
lose
myself
in
endless
night
,
"
I
burn
with
shame
,
I
sicken
at
the
light
:
"
When
will
my
passions
in
the
grave
expire
?
"
Thro'
wild
excess
my
hopes
are
all
o'erthrown
,
"
My
genius
blighted
,
and
each
virtue
flown
.
"
FATHER
.
"
Alas
!
what
fiend
is
harassing
thy
breast
,
"
Urging
thy
passions
like
impetuous
wind
?
"
Convulsively
they
rage
,
and
unsuppress'd
"
Will
wreck
the
nobler
functions
of
thy
mind
:
"
Is
pure
religion
then
no
longer
known
?
"
How
is
thine
heart
thus
from
thy
Maker
flown
?
"
ARLA
.
"
Short-breathing
,
deep
with
recent
wounds
I
smart
,
"
And
bursting
in
my
bosom
heaves
mine
heart
;
"
In
vain
my
soul
th'
o'erwhelming
storm
would
calm
,
"
Nor
can
the
dreams
of
wild
devotion
charm
.
"
Delusive
Faith
!
seducer
of
my
youth
!
"
Thy
wilder
transports
my
young
fancy
caught
,
"
Delirious
visions
led
me
far
from
truth
,
"
Provok'd
my
passions
,
and
my
misery
wrought
;
"
From
ignorance
I
wak'ad
to
bitter
thought
,
"
Saw
clear
the
folly
that
had
led
astray
,
"
Guilt's
burning
blushes
met
the
dawning
day
.
"
FATHER
.
"
Talk
not
of
day
;
O!
wrapt
in
darkest
night
!
"
Still
deepening
the
dire
shades
which
truth
should
break
;
"
Enthusiastic
mists
have
dimm'd
thy
sight
,
"
From
which
alone
to
guilt
thou
didst
awake
;
"
Unknowing
truth
,
religion
you
mistake
:
"
'Tis
not
the
raging
of
a
zealot's
fires
,
"
Nor
visions
which
from
pamper'd
fancies
spring
,
"
Nor
strains
which
a
distemper'd
zeal
inspires
,
"
Though
harmony
awak'd
its
loftiest
string
.
"
Religion
is
the
tribute
of
a
heart
"
Which
strongly
feels
GOD'S
goodness
and
his
power
,
"
And
humbly
strives
to
strengthen
its
desert
,
"
And
,
firm
in
hope
,
his
attributes
t'
adore
.
"
'Twas
thus
I
taught
thee
,
when
I
fir'd
thy
soul
"
With
GOD'S
omnipotence
and
wondrous
love
,
"
But
madly
thou
hast
started
from
control
,
"
And
o'erstrain'd
raptures
deadly
poisons
prove
:
"
Prayers
are
but
sounds
that
mount
to
heaven
in
vain
,
"
While
uncurb'd
passions
rage
with
boundless
sway
;
"
Strong
principles
must
potent
minds
restrain
,
"
Or
dire
extremes
will
on
the
reason
prey
.
"
ARLA
.
"
With
ineffectual
sounds
wound
not
mine
ear
,
"
Light
as
the
winds
,
they
cannot
reach
the
soul
:
"
She
,
like
a
hollow
blast
,
thy
voice
can
hear
,
"
And
folding
on
herself
rebukes
control
.
"
To
death
alone
my
spirit
looks
for
aid
,
"
For
all
around
me
teems
with
dire
dismay
;
"
Each
earthly
bliss
,
alas
!
is
torn
away
,
"
And
fierce
distractions
my
weak
soul
pervade
.
"
Pierc'd
by
my
fate
,
stung
with
delusion's
power
,
"
I
pant
for
death
,
and
urge
the
mortal
hour
.
"
FATHER
.
"
Thou
hast
forgot
thy
soul
can
never
die
,
"
That
to
the
virtuous
only
death
is
rest
;
"
Cover'd
with
guilt
,
o'erwhelm'd
with
infamy
,
"
While
earthly
passions
canker
at
thy
breast
,
"
Wouldst
thou
thus
rush
into
eternity
?
"
The
strong
rebellious
spirit
heard
him
speak
,
As
fix'd
on
death
her
desperate
passions
wrought
;
A
sudden
paleness
smote
her
crimson
cheek
,
And
trembling
horror
chill'd
awak'ning
thought
.
She
roll'd
her
fiery
eyes
,
but
found
no
rest
,
Her
panting
heart
congeal'd
with
sudden
fears
;
Then
,
rushing
on
her
father's
suffering
breast
,
Burst
in
an
agonizing
shower
of
tears
.
Nor
did
he
strive
her
anguish
to
control
,
But
let
it
rage
till
all
its
force
was
spent
,
Then
touch'd
the
filial
feelings
of
her
soul
,
Till
to
his
words
a
willing
ear
she
lent
;
And
then
the
heavenly
precepts
he
diffus'd
Which
breathe
forgiveness
to
the
guilty
heart
,
The
simple
tenets
she
had
once
abus'd
Now
snatch
her
from
despondency
and
smart
:
But
,
ere
the
tumult
of
her
soul
had
rest
,
The
sun
of
truth
her
mental
darkness
clear'd
;
Burst
the
thick
clouds
which
had
her
mind
oppress'd
,
While
hope
divine
her
woe-fraught
bosom
chear'd
.
To
depths
of
solitude
she
would
have
flown
To
purify
the
passions
of
her
breast
,
To
cherish
truth
sequester'd
and
alone
,
With
meditation's
pensive
pleasures
blest
:
But
her
wise
parent
check'd
her
erring
mind
,
Who
piety
with
strong
reflection
join'd
.
He
cried
,
"
What
new
delusions
wouldst
thou
try
?
"
To
what
romantic
wilds
would
ARLA
fly
?
"
A
mind
prone
to
extremes
these
wishes
fires
,
"
'Tis
passion
,
and
not
virtue
,
which
inspires
.
"
Large
powers
,
with
deep
experience
,
scarce
are
food
"
For
the
reflective
cave
of
solitude
.
"
O'er
what
would
thy
sad
meditations
roll
?
"
Still
idle
dreams
would
rise
and
cloud
thy
soul
;
"
Which
practical
devotion
must
efface
,
"
And
the
strong
exercise
of
virtue
chase
:
"
Thy
mind
already
on
itself
has
prey'd
,
"
Blinded
through
inexperience
,
and
betray'd
;
"
From
Nature's
grander
traits
conceptions
caught
,
"
Have
wak'd
thy
genius
and
enrich'd
thy
thought
;
"
But
weak
at
root
,
though
lofty
and
o'ergrown
,
"
Thy
mind
is
by
each
casual
blast
o'erthrown
;
"
Let
strengthen'd
virtue
,
then
,
each
thought
inspire
,
"
And
cherish'd
reason
check
wild
fancy's
fire
.
"
He
spake
;
she
felt
the
wisdom
of
his
words
,
Her
heart
,
resign'd
,
to
simple
truth
accords
.
SONG
OF
ARLA
,
WRITTEN
DURING
HER
ENTHUSIASM
.
FLUSH'D
,
from
my
restless
pillow
I
arose
,
To
calm
my
thoughts
,
sad
stranger
to
repose
;
Wandering
through
woods
,
by
night's
dread
shadows
gloom'd
,
At
every
glade
I
pensive
rear'd
my
eyes
,
And
view'd
the
fleecy
clouds
fleet
o'er
the
skies
,
Which
gathering
thick
a
thousand
forms
assum'd
.
Sudden
,
while
yet
I
gaz'd
,
the
heavens
grew
bright
;
The
graceful
star
of
night
Shot
,
'midst
the
dark
assembled
host
of
clouds
,
A
pure
resplendent
light
.
The
parting
vapours
floating
on
the
air
Seem'd
spirits
teeming
with
immortal
fire
,
Bright
emanations
of
th'
Eternal
Sire
Unto
my
soul
reveal'd
by
ardent
prayer
.
Clear
,
by
the
moon
,
a
numerous
host
I
view
,
Circling
its
orb
,
the
unclad
spirits
wing
,
On
music's
pinions
mystic
flights
pursue
,
Glide
through
the
air
,
and
heavenly
numbers
sing
;
While
from
on
high
Descend
long
beams
of
light
;
A
thousand
visions
crowd
upon
my
sight
;
I
seem
to
mount
,
and
,
borne
along
the
sky
,
Rapt'rous
I
sing
,
in
frenzied
ecstasy
:
"
Whither
flies
my
soul
,
amid
the
lunar
night
?
"
Glory
rushes
on
my
sight
!
"
Seraphic
music
fills
my
ear
,
"
Visionary
forms
appear
"
In
solemn
grandeur
dight
!
"
Drawn
by
silver
rays
"
Round
the
all-attracting
orb
,
"
While
Night
her
sable
wings
displays
,
"
Which
every
vivid
beam
absorb
.
"
Amid
the
sacred
host
I
fly
,
"
Fraught
with
solemn
harmony
.
"
Mingling
with
the
lunar
beams
,
"
From
every
eye
immortal
genius
gleams
;
"
The
soul
of
sound
"
Pervades
the
shadowy
space
around
:
"
From
each
wild
harp
a
nightly
spirit
springs
,
"
And
peals
of
heavenly
music
sings
;
"
Grand
clouds
of
darkness
,
hurried
by
the
wind
,
"
Bearing
th'
emanations
of
the
mind
:
"
The
touch
most
fine
,
"
The
gleam
most
magic
;
"
The
voice
most
rapt'rously
divine
,
"
Strains
most
wild
and
energetic
!
"
All
,
all
combine
,
"
They
gather
,
stream
;
"
The
sounds
encrease
,
they
join
,
"
While
still
we
fly
the
circle
round
,
"
We
dart
along
,
wake
every
sound
,
"
And
amidst
the
harmony
,
and
light
,
and
darkness
,
shine
.
"
Now
op'd
the
starry
regions
on
my
sight
,
And
'thwart
dark
space
shot
radiant
streams
of
light
;
Th'
aereal
forms
in
mists
dissolving
rise
,
Yet
still
I
hear
the
grand
concordant
song
,
Echo'd
by
all
the
offspring
of
the
skies
,
Who
each
in
their
eternal
language
sung
,
While
all
around
brake
forth
ethereal
rays
:
From
high
I
heard
a
new
and
awful
sound
,
Swelling
with
voice
divine
the
song
of
praise
.
My
feeble
sense
no
longer
bears
the
light
,
Oppos'd
my
eye-lids
close
,
The
heavenly
forms
I
lose
Amid
th'
all-piercing
light
.
My
ears
resound
no
more
,
my
pulses
cease
,
And
for
a
while
my
soul
was
hush'd
to
peace
.
Till
,
waking
in
the
fields
,
with
chill'd
affright
,
I
feel
a
shivering
being
wandering
in
the
night
.