A
BALLAD
OF
THE
EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY
.
We
speak
—
.........
"
of
one
whose
hand
,
"
Like
the
base
indian
,
throws
a
pearl
away
,
richer
than
all
his
tribe
.
"
SHAKESPEAR
.
'TWAS
at
the
time
the
moon's
broad
shield
Shone
'midst
the
vaulted
skies
,
While
trembling
round
,
in
regal
state
,
The
starry
myriads
rise
.
Her
pale
beams
silver'd
o'er
the
gate
Where
sculptur'd
frenzy
glares
,
And
moping
melancholy
scowls
Upon
a
world
of
cares
.
From
these
dark
cells
,
where
horror
reigns
,
And
wild
distraction
bides
,
A
hapless
maniac
burst
her
chains
,
And
through
the
portal
glides
.
Onward
she
press'd
,
with
eager
haste
,
So
swift
she
seem'd
to
fly
,
One
object
fill'd
her
troubled
breast
,
And
fix'd
her
wand'ring
eye
.
Loose
flow'd
her
robes
,
and
on
her
breast
Chill
fell
the
ev'ning
dew
;
She
felt
it
not
:
cold
blew
the
blast
,
The
blast
unheeded
blew
.
Forward
she
press'd
,
with
eager
haste
The
well
known
mansion
sought
,
Where
pass'd
in
youth
those
happier
days
,
Which
still
return'd
in
thought
.
Through
lighted
halls
of
gay
resort
,
And
trim
domestic
bands
,
She
pass'd
resistless
,
and
at
once
Before
the
banquet
stands
.
O
most
unlook'd-for
at
that
board
,
And
most
unwelcome
guest
;
Cold
is
for
thee
the
marble
heart
,
Which
robb'd
thee
of
thy
rest
.
Appall'd
he
view'd
her
alter'd
form
,
And
met
her
vacant
eye
;
The
blood
forsook
his
conscious
cheek
,
And
nature
forc'd
a
sigh
.
With
the
wild
glance
of
keen
despair
She
ey'd
the
shining
train
,
Of
lords
,
and
knights
,
and
ladies
fair
,
Who
silent
all
remain
.
Then
recollecting
,
quick
she
cried
,
"
Why
was
I
hence
convey'd
,
By
fiends
accurst
,
to
darkness
drear
,
And
thou
deniest
me
aid
?
"
Where
are
my
children
?
are
they
near
?
O
bring
them
to
my
sight
!
Alas
!
I
rave
;
banish'd
they
fled
;
Like
me
forgotten
quite
.
"
I
burn
,
I
burn
!
a
wheel
of
fire
Whirls
round
my
tortur'd
brain
:
They
come
;
they
tear
them
from
my
arms
,
And
I
resist
in
vain
.
"
Ah
!
see
they
weep
;
I
cannot
weep
!
Frown
not
,
nor
look
unkind
;
That
gentle
pity
sheds
her
balm
To
sooth
my
troubled
mind
.
"
Fair
blooms
thy
bride
in
pride
of
youth
;
But
will
she
love
like
me
?
The
holy
knot
is
often
tied
,
And
yet
the
heart
is
free
.
"
Were
not
ambition
,
wealth
,
and
show
,
The
aim
of
her
desires
?
Is
it
from
youth
declining
age
Can
hope
for
mutual
fires
?
"
For
me
,
I
lov'd
thee
more
than
life
,
My
children
,
or
my
fame
;
Nor
seiz'd
a
shelter
from
disgrace
,
Beneath
thy
offer'd
name
.
"
But
,
hark
!
methinks
a
distant
bell
Low
warns
me
to
attend
,
Where
the
last
gleam
of
parting
hope
Marks
out
a
kinder
friend
.
"
Death
is
the
friend
I
go
to
meet
,
And
from
his
bounty
crave
All
that
can
now
remain
for
me
,
An
undistinguish'd
grave
.
"
She
stopt
,
scream'd
wild
;
with
frantic
laugh
She
darted
to
the
door
,
And
,
in
the
passing
of
a
thought
,
Fled
,
to
return
no
more
.