[Psyche] Canto II.

[ Psyche ] Canto II . ARGUMENT .

Introduction — Dangers of the World — Psyche conveyed by Zephyrs awakes once more in the paternal mansion — Envy of her Sisters — They plot her ruin — Inspire her with suspicion and terror — Psyche's return to the Palace of Love — Her disobedience — Love asleep — Psyche's amazement — The flight of Love — Sudden banishment of Psyche from the island of Pleasure — Her lamentations — Comforted by Love — Temple of Venus — Task imposed on Psyche conditional to her reconciliation with Venus — Psyche soothed and attended by Innocence — Psyche wandering as described in the opening of the first Canto .

CANTO II . On happy you ! who blest with present bliss See not with fatal prescience future tears , Nor the dear moment of enjoyment miss Through gloomy discontent , or sullen fears Foreboding many a storm for coming years ; Change is the lot of all . Ourselves with scorn Perhaps shall view what now so fair appears ; And wonder whence the fancied charm was born Which now with vain despair from our fond grasp is torn ! Vain schemer , think not to prolong thy joy ! But cherish while it lasts the heavenly boon ; Expand thy sails ! thy little bark shall fly With the full tide of pleasure ! though it soon May feel the influence of the changeful moon , It yet is thine ! then let not doubts obscure With cloudy vapours veil thy brilliant noon , Nor let suspicion's tainted breath impure Poison the favouring gale which speeds thy course secure ! Oh , Psyche , happy in thine ignorance ! Couldst thou but shun this heart tormenting bane ; Be but content , nor daringly advance To meet the bitter hour of threatened pain ; Pure spotless dove ! seek thy safe nest again ; Let true affection shun the public eye , And quit the busy circle of the vain , For there the treacherous snares concealed lie ; Oh timely warned escape ! to safe retirement fly ! Bright shone the morn ! and now its golden ray Dispelled the slumbers from her radiant eyes , Yet still in dreams her fancy seems to play , For lo ! she sees with rapture and surprise Full in her view the well-known mansion rise , And each loved scene of first endearment hails ; The air that first received her infant sighs With wondring ecstasy she now inhales , While every trembling nerve soft tenderness assails . See from the dear pavilion , where she lay , Breathless , she flies with scarce assured feet , Swift through the garden wings her eager way , Her mourning parents ravished eyes to greet With loveliest apparition strange and sweet : Their days of anguish all o'erpaid they deem By : one blest hour of ecstasy so great : Yet doubtingly they gaze , and anxious seem To ask their raptured souls , " Oh , is this all a dream ? " The wondrous tale attentively they hear , Repeated oft in broken words of joy , She in their arms embraced , while every ear Hangs on their Psyche's lips , and earnestly On her is fixed each wonder speaking eye ; Till the sad hour arrives which bids them part , And twilight darkens o'er the ruddy sky ; Divinely urged they let their child depart , Pressed with a fond embrace to each adoring heart . Trusting that wedded to a spouse divine Secure is now their daughter's happiness , They half contentedly their child resign , Check the complaint , the rising sigh suppress , And wipe the silent drops of bitterness . Nor must she her departure more delay , But bids them now their weeping Psyche bless ; Then back to the pavilion bends her way Ere in the fading west quite sinks expiring day . But , while her parents listen with delight , Her sisters hearts the Furies agitate : They look with envy on a lot so bright , And all the honours of her splendid fate , Scorning the meanness of their humbler state ; And how they best her ruin may devise With hidden rancour much they meditate , Yet still they bear themselves in artful guise , While 'mid the feigned caress , concealed the venom lies . By malice urged , by ruthless envy stung , With secret haste to seize their prey they flew , Around her neck as in despair they clung ; Her soft complying nature well they knew , And trusted by delaying to undo ; But when they found her resolute to go , Their well laid stratagem they then pursue , And , while they bid their treacherous sorrows flow , Thus fright her simple heart with images of woe . " Oh , hapless Psyche ! thoughtless of thy doom ! Yet hear thy sisters who have wept for thee , Since first a victim to thy living tomb , Obedient to the oracle's decree , Constrained we left thee to thy destiny . Since then no comfort could our woes abate ; While thou wert lulled in false security We learned the secret horrors of thy fate , And heard prophetic lips thy future ills relate . Yet fearing never to behold thee more , Our filial care would fain the truth conceal ; But from the sages cell this ring we bore , With power each latent magic to reveal : Some hope from hence our anxious bosoms feel That we from ruin may our Psyche save , Since Heaven propitious to our pious zeal , Thee to our frequent prayers in pity gave , That warned thou yet mayest shun thy sad untimely grave . Oh ! how shall we declare the fatal truth ? How wound thy tender bosom with alarms ? Tell how the graces of thy blooming youth , Thy more than mortal , all-adored charms Have lain enamoured in a sorcerer's arms ? Oh , Psyche ! seize on this decisive hour , Escape the mischief of impending harms ! Return no more to that enchanted bower , Fly the magician's arts , and dread his cruel power If , yet reluctant to forego thy love , Thy furtive joys and solitary state , Our fond officious care thy doubts reprove , At least let some precaution guard thy fate , Nor may our warning love be prized too late ; This night thyself thou mayst convince thine eyes , Hide but a lamp , and cautiously await Till in deep slumber thy magician lies , This ring shall then disclose his foul deformities . That monster by the oracle foretold , Whose cursed spells both gods and men must fear , In his own image thou shalt then behold , And shuddering hate what now is prized so dear ; Yet fly not then , though loathsome he appear , But let this dagger to his breast strike deep ; Thy coward terrors then thou must not hear , For if with life he rouses from that sleep Nought then for thee remains , and we must hopeless weep . " Oh ! have you seen , when in the northern sky The transient flame of lambent lightning plays , In quick succession lucid streamers fly , Now flashing roseate , and now milky rays , While struck with awe the astonished rustics gaze ? Thus o'er her cheek the fleeting signals move , Now pale with fear , now glowing with the blaze Of much indignant , still confiding love , Now horror's lurid hue with shame's deep blushes strove On her cold , passive hand the ring they place , And hide the dagger in her folding vest ; Pleased the effects of their dire arts to trace In the mute agony that swells her breast , Already in her future ruin blest : Conscious that now their poor deluded prey Should never taste again delight or rest , But sickening in suspicion's gloom decay , Or urged by terrors rash their treacherous will obey . While yet irresolute with sad surprise , Mid doubt and love she stands in strange suspense , Lo ! gliding from her sisters wondering eyes Returning Zephyrs gently bear her thence ; Lost all her hopes , her joys , her confidence , Back to the earth her mournful eyes she threw , As if imploring pity and defence ; While bathed in tears her golden tresses flew , As in the breeze dispersed they caught the precious dew . Illumined bright now shines the splendid dome , Melodious accents her arrival hail : But not the torches' blaze can chase the gloom , And all the soothing powers of music fail ; Trembling she seeks her couch with horror pale , But first a lamp conceals in secret shade , While unknown terrors all her soul assail . Thus half their treacherous counsel is obeyed , For still her gentle soul abhors the murderous blade . And now , with softest whispers of delight , Love welcomes Psyche still more fondly dear ; Not unobserved , though hid in deepest night , The silent anguish of her secret fear . He thinks that tenderness excites the tear By the late image of her parents' grief , And half offended seeks in vain to cheer , Yet , while he speaks , her sorrows feel relief , Too soon more keen to sting from this suspension brief ! Allowed to settle on celestial eyes Soft Sleep exulting now exerts his sway , From Psyche's anxious pillow gladly flies To veil those orbs , whose pure and lambent ray The powers of heaven submissively obey . Trembling and breathless then she softly rose And seized the lamp , where it obscurely lay , With hand too rashly daring to disclose The sacred veil which hung mysterious o'er her woes . Twice , as with agitated step she went , The lamp expiring shone with doubtful gleam , As though it warned her from her rash intent : And twice she paused , and on its trembling beam Gazed with suspended breath , while voices seem With murmuring sound along the roof to sigh ; As one just waking from a troublous dream , With palpitating heart and straining eye , Still fixed with fear remains , still thinks the danger nigh Oh , daring Muse ! wilt thou indeed essay To paint the wonders which that lamp could shew ? And canst thou hope in living words to say The dazzling glories of that heavenly view ? Ah ! well I ween , that if with pencil true That splendid vision could be well exprest , The fearful awe imprudent Psyche knew Would seize with rapture every wondering breast , When Love's all potent charms divinely stood confest . All imperceptible to human touch , His wings display celestial essence light , The clear effulgence of the blaze is such , The brilliant plumage shines so heavenly bright That mortal eyes turn dazzled from the sight ; A youth he seems in manhood's freshest years ; Round his fair neck , as clinging with delight , Each golden curl resplendently appears , Or shades his darker brow , which grace majestic wears . Or o'er his guileless front the ringlets bright Their rays of sunny lustre seem to throw , That front than polished ivory more white ! His blooming cheeks with deeper blushes glow Than roses scattered o'er a bed of snow : While on his lips , distilled in balmy dews , ( Those lips divine that even in silence know The heart to touch ) persuasion to infuse Still hangs a rosy charm that never vainly sues . The friendly curtain of indulgent sleep Disclosed not yet his eyes' resistless sway , But from their silky veil there seemed to peep Some brilliant glances with a softened ray , Which o'er his features exquisitely play , And all his polished limbs suffuse with light . Thus through some narrow space the azure day Sudden its cheerful rays diffusing bright , Wide darts its lucid beams , to gild the brow of night . His fatal arrows and celestial bow Beside the couch were negligently thrown , Nor needs the god his dazzling arms , to show His glorious birth , such beauty round him shone As sure could spring from Beauty's self alone ; The gloom which glowed o'er all of soft desire , Could well proclaim him Beauty's cherished son ; And Beauty's self will oft these charms admire , And steal his witching smile , his glance's living fire . Speechless with awe , in transport strangely lost Long Psyche stood with fixed adoring eye ; Her limbs immoveable , her senses tost Between amazement , fear , and ecstasy , She hangs enamoured o'er the Deity . Till from her trembling hand extinguished falls The fatal lamp — He starts — and suddenly Tremendous thunders echo through the halls , While ruin's hideous crash bursts o'er the affrighted walls . Dread horror seizes on her sinking heart , A mortal chillness shudders at her breast , Her soul shrinks fainting from death's icy dart , The groan scarce uttered dies but half exprest , And down she sinks in deadly swoon opprest : But when at length , awaking from her trance , The terrors of her fate stand all confest , In vain she casts around her timid glance , The rudely frowning scenes her former joys enhance . No traces of those joys , alas , remain ! A desert solitude alone appears . No verdant shade relieves the sandy plain , The wide spread waste no gentle fountain cheers , One barren face the dreary prospect wears ; Nought through the vast horizon meets her eye To calm the dismal tumult of her fears , No trace of human habitation nigh , A sandy wild beneath , above a threatening sky . The mists of morn yet chill the gloomy air , And heavily obscure the clouded skies ; In the mute anguish of a fixed despair Still on the ground immoveable she lies ; At length , with lifted hands and streaming eyes , Her mournful prayers invoke offended Love , Oh , let me hear thy voice once more , " she cries , In death at least thy pity let me move , And death , if but forgiven , a kind relief will prove . For what can life to thy lost Psyche give , What can it offer but a gloomy void ? Why thus abandoned should I wish to live ? To mourn the pleasure which I once enjoyed , The bliss my own rash folly hath destroyed ; Of all my soul most prized , or held most dear , Nought but the sad remembrance doth abide , And late repentance of my impious fear ; Remorse and vain regret what living soul can bear ! Oh , art thou then indeed for ever gone ! And art thou heedless of thy Psyche's woe ! From these fond arms for ever art thou flown , And unregarded must my sorrows flow ! Ah ! why too happy did I ever know The rapturous charms thy tenderness inspires ? Ah ! why did thy affections stoop so low ? Why kindle in a mortal breast such fires , Or with celestial love inflame such rash desires ? " Abandoned thus for ever by thy love , No greater punishment I now can bear , From fate no farther malice can I prove ; Not all the horrors of this desert , drear , Nor death itself can now excite a fear ; The peopled earth a solitude as vast To this despairing heart would now appear ; Here then , my transient joys for ever past , Let thine expiring bride thy pardon gain at last ! " Now prostrate on the bare unfriendly ground , She waits her doom in silent agony ; When lo ! the well known soft celestial sound She hears once more with breathless ecstasy , Oh ! yet too dearly loved ! Lost Psyche ! " Why With cruel fate wouldst thou unite thy power , And force me thus thine arms adored to fly ? Yet cheer thy drooping soul , some happier hour Thy banished steps may lead back to thy lover's bower . Though angry Venus we no more can shun , Appease that anger and I yet am thine ! Lo ! where her temple glitters to the sun ; With humble penitence approach her shrine , Perhaps to pity she may yet incline ; But should her cruel wrath these hopes deceive , And thou , alas ! must never more be mine , Yet shall thy lover ne'er his Psyche leave , But , if the fates allow , unseen thy woes relieve . " Stronger than I , they now forbid my stay ; Psyche beloved , adieu ! " Scarce can she hear The last faint words , which gently melt away ; And now more faint the dying sounds appear , Borne to a distance from her longing ear ; Yet still attentively she stands unmoved , To catch those accents which her soul could cheer , That soothing voice which had so sweetly proved That still his tender heart offending Psyche loved ! And now the joyous sun had cleared the sky , The mist dispelled revealed the splendid fane ; A palmy grove majestically high Screens the fair building from the desert plain ; Of alabaster white and free from stain Mid the tall trees the tapering columns rose ; Thither , with fainting steps , and weary pain , Obedient to the voice at length she goes , And at the threshold seeks protection and repose . Round the soft scene immortal roses bloom , While lucid myrtles in the breezes play ; No savage beast did ever yet presume With foot impure within the grove to stray , And far from hence flies every bird of prey ; Thus , mid the sandy Garamantian wild , When Macedonia's lord pursued his way , The sacred temple of great Ammon smiled , And green encircling shades the long fatigue beguiled : With awe that fearfully her doom awaits Still at the portal Psyche timid lies , When lo ! advancing from the hallowed gates Trembling she views with reverential eyes An aged priest . A myrtle bough supplies A wand , and roses bind his snowy brows : Bear hence thy feet profane ( he sternly cries ) Thy longer stay the goddess disallows , Fly , nor her fiercer wrath too daringly arouse ! " His pure white robe imploringly she held , And , bathed in tears , embraced his sacred knees ; Her mournful charms relenting he beheld , And melting pity in his eye she sees ; " Hope not ( he cries ) the goddess to appease , Retire at awful distance from her shrine , But seek the refuge of those sheltering trees , And now thy soul with humble awe incline To hear her sacred will , and mark the words divine . " Presumptuous Psyche ! whose aspiring soul The God of Love has dared to arrogate ; Rival of Venus ! whose supreme control Is now asserted by all ruling fate , No suppliant tears her vengeance shall abate Till thou hast raised an altar to her power , Where perfect happiness , in lonely state , Has fixed her temple in secluded bower , By foot impure of man untrodden to this hour ! And on the altar must thou place an urn Filled from immortal Beauty's sacred spring , Which foul deformity to grace can turn , And hack to fond affection's eyes can bring The charms which fleeting fled on transient wing ; Snatched from the rugged steep where first they rise , Dark rocks their crystal source o'ershadowing , Let their clear water sparkle to the skies Where cloudless lustre beams which happiness supplies ! " To Venus thus for ever reconciled , ( This one atonement all her wrath disarms , ) From thy loved Cupid then no more exiled There shalt thou , free from sorrow and alarms , Enjoy for ever his celestial charms . But never shalt thou taste a pure repose ; Nor ever meet thy lover's circling arms , Till , all subdued that shall thy steps oppose , Thy perils there shall end , escaped from all thy foes . " With meek submissive woe she heard her doom , Nor to the holy minister replied ; But in the myrtle grove's mysterious gloom She silently retired her grief to hide . Hopeless to tread the waste without a guide , All unrefreshed and faint from toil she lies : When lo ! her present wants are all supplied , Sent by the hand of Love a turtle flies , And sets delicious food before her wondering eyes . Cheered by the favouring omen , softer tears Relieve her bosom from its cruel weight : She blames the sad despondence of her fears , When still protected by a power so great , His tenderness her toils will mitigate . Then with renewed strength at length she goes , Hoping to find some skilled in secret fate , Some learned sage who haply might disclose Where lay that blissful bower the end of all her woes . And as she went , behold , with hovering flight The dove preceded still her doubtful way ; Its spotless plumage of the purest white , Which shone resplendent in the blaze of day , Could even in darkest gloom a light display ; Of heavenly birth , when first to mortals given Named Innocence . But ah ! too short its stay ; By ravenous birds it fearfully was driven Back to reside with Love , a denizen of heaven . Now through the trackless wild , o'er many a mile . The messenger of Cupid led the fair , And cheered with hope her solitary toil , Till now a brighter face the prospects wear , Past are the sandy wastes and deserts bare , And many a verdant hill , and grassy dale , And trace , that mortal culture might declare , And many a wild wood dark , and joyous vale Appeared her soul to sooth , could soothing scenes avail . But other fears her timid soul distress , Mid strangers unprotected and alone , The desert wilderness alarmed her less Than cities , thus unfriended and unknown ; But where the path was all by moss o'ergrown , There still she chose her solitary way , Where'er her faithful Dove before had flown Fearful of nought she might securely stray , For still his care supplied the wants of every day . And still she entered every sacred grove And homage paid to each divinity , But chief the altar of almighty Love Weeping embraced with fond imploring eye ; To every oracle her hopes apply , Instructions for her dangerous path to gain : Exclaiming oft , with a desponding sigh , " Ah ! how through all such dangers , toil and pain , Shall Psyche's helpless steps their object e'er attain ! " And now remote from every peopled town One sultry day a cooling bower she found : There , as I whilom sung , she laid her down , Where rich profusion of gay flowers around Had decked with artless shew the sloping ground ; There the wild rose and modest violet grow , There all thy charms , Narcissus ! still abound : There wrapt in verdure fragrant lilies blow , Lilies that love the vale , and hide their bells of snow . Thy flowers , Adonis ! bright vermilion shew ; Still for his love the yellow Crocus pines ; There , while indignant blushes seem to glow , Beloved by Phoebus his Acanthus shines ; Reseda still her drooping head reclines With faithful homage to his golden rays , And , though mid clouds their lustre he resigns , An image of the constant heart displays , While silent still she turns her fond pursuing gaze . And every sweet that Spring with fairy hands Scatters in thy green path , enchanting May ! And every flowering shrub there clustering stands As though they wooed her to a short delay , Yielding a charm to sooth her weary way ; Soft was the tufted moss , and sweet the breeze , With lulling sound the murmuring waters play , With lulling sound from all the rustling trees The fragrant gale invites to cool refreshing ease . There as she sought repose , her sorrowing heart Recalled her absent love with bitter sighs ; Regret had deeply fixed the poisoned dart , Which ever rankling in her bosom lies ; In vain she seeks to close her weary eyes , Those eyes still swim incessantly in tears , Hope in her cheerless bosom fading dies , Distracted by a thousand cruel fears , While banished from his love for ever she appears . Oh ! thou best comforter of that sad heart Whom fortune's spite assails ; come , gentle Sleep , The weary mourner sooth ! for well the art Thou knowest in soft forgetfulness to steep The eyes which sorrow taught to watch and weep ; Let blissful visions now her spirits cheer , Or lull her cares to peace in slumbers deep , Till from fatigue refreshed and anxious fear Hope like the morning star once more shall re-appear .