[Psyche] Canto IV.

[ Psyche ] Canto IV . ARGUMENT .

Introduction — Sympathy — Suspicion — Psyche benighted — Credulity represented , according to a Picture by Apelles , as an old Woman the devoted prey of Slander , or the Blatant Beast — Contest between the Knight and Slander — The Knight wounded — Slander flies — Credulity leads Psyche to the Castle of Suspicion — Psyche deluded , laments the desertion of her Knight to the train of Inconstancy — Psyche betrayed by Suspicion into the power of Jealousy — Persuaded by him that her Knight , by whom she was then abandoned , was indeed Love — Psyche delivered by her Knight — Reconciliation .

CANTO IV . FULL gladsome was my heart ere while to tell How proud Ambition owned superior Love ; For ah ! too oft his sterner power could quell The mild affections which more gently move , And rather silent fled than with him strove : For Love content and tranquil saw with dread The busy scenes Ambition's schemes approve , And , by the hand of Peace obscurely led , From pride of public life disgusted ever fled . There are who know not the delicious charm Of sympathising hearts ; let such employ Their active minds ; the trumpet's loud alarm Shall yield them hope of honourable joy , And courts may lure them with each splendid toy : But ne'er may vanity or thirst of fame The dearer bliss of loving life destroy ! Oh ! blind to man's chief good who Love disclaim , And barter pure delight for glory's empty name ! Blest Psyche ! thou hast 'scaped the tyrants power ! Thy gentle heart shall never know the pain Which tortures pride in his most prosperous hour : Yet dangers still unsung for thee remain ; Nor must thou unmolested hope to gain Immortal beauty's never failing spring ; Oh ! no — nor yet tranquillity attain : But though thy heart the pangs of doubt may sting , Thy faithful knight shall yet thy steps in safety bring . Warned by late peril now she scarcely dares Quit for one moment his protecting eye : Sure in his sight , her soul of nought despairs , And nought looks dreadful when that arm is nigh On which her hopes with confidence rely ; By his advice their constant course they bend , He points where hidden danger they should fly , On him securely , as her heaven-sent friend , She bids her grateful heart contentedly depend . Oh ! who the exquisite delight can tell , The joy which mutual confidence imparts ! Or who can paint the charm unspeakable Which links in tender bands two faithful hearts ? In vain assailed by fortune's envious darts , Their mitigated woes are sweetly shared , And doubled joy reluctantly departs : Let but the sympathising heart be spared , What sorrow seems not light , what peril is not dared ? Oh ! never may suspicion's gloomy sky Chill the sweet glow of fondly trusting love ! Nor ever may he feel the scowling eye Of dark distrust his confidence reprove ! In pleasing error may I rather rove , With blind reliance on the hand so dear , Than let cold prudence from my eyes remove Those sweet delusions , where nor doubt nor fear Nor foul disloyalty nor cruel change appear . The noble mind is ever prone to trust ; Yet love with fond anxiety is joined ; And timid tenderness is oft unjust ; The coldness which it dreads too prompt to find , And torture the too susceptible mind . Hence rose the gloom which oft o'er Psyche stole Lest he she loved , unmindful or unkind , Should careless slight affection's soft control , Or she long absent lose her influence o'er his soul . 'Twas evening , and the shades which sudden fell Seemed to forebode a dark unlovely night ; The sighing wood-nymphs from their caves foretel The storm which soon their quiet shall affright : Nor cheering star nor moon appears in sight , Nor taper twinkles through the rustling leaves And sheds afar its hospitable light : But hark ! a dismal sound the ear receives , And through the obscuring gloom the eye strange forms perceives . It was a helpless female who exclaimed , Whose blind and aged form an ass sustained : Misshaped and timorous , of light ashamed , In darksome woods her hard-earned food she gained , And her voracious appetite maintained , Though all devouring , yet unsatisfied ; Nor aught of hard digestion she disdained , Whate'er was offered greedily she tried , And meanly served , as slave , whoever food supplied . A cruel monster now her steps pursued , Well known of yore and named the Blatant Beast ; And soon he'seized his prey with grasp so rude , So fiercely on her feeble body prest , That had the courteous knight not soon released Her unresisting limbs from violence , She must have sunk by his rough jaws opprest : The spiteful beast , enraged at the defence , Now turned upon the knight with foaming vehemence . But , when his fury felt the couched spear , On Psyche's unarmed form he bellowing flew ; 'Twas there alone the knight his rage could fear ; Swifter than thought his flaming sword he drew , And from his hand the doubtful javelin threw Lest erring it might wound the trembling fair : Eager the cruel monster to subdue He scorned to use his shield's protecting care , And rashly left his side in part exposed and bare . Sharp were the wounds of his avenging steel , Which forced the roaring beast to quit the field : Yet ere he fled , the knight unused to feel The power of any foe , or e'er to yield To any arm which sword or spear could wield , Perceived the venom of his tooth impure ; But , with indignant silence , unrevealed The pain he bore , while through the gloom obscure The beast , in vain pursued , urged on his flight secure . And now the hag , delivered from her fear , Her grateful thanks upon the knight bestowed , And , as they onward went , in Psyche's ear Her tongue with many a horrid tale o'erflowed , Which warned her to forsake that venturous road , And seek protection in the neighbouring grove ; Where dwelt a prudent dame , who oft bestowed Her sage advice , when pilgrims doomed to rove , Benighted there , had else with lurking dangers strove . The knight now softly bade his charge beware , Nor trust Credulity whom well he knew : Yet he himself , harassed with pain and care , And heedful of the storm which fiercer grew , Yielded , a path more sheltered to pursue : Now soon entangled in a gloomy maze Psyche no longer has her knight in view , Nor sees his page's star-crowned helmet blaze ; Close at her side alone the hag loquacious stays . Fearful she stops , and calls aloud in vain , The storm-roused woods roar only in reply ; Anxious her loved protector to regain She trembling listens to Credulity , Who points where they a glimmering light may spy ; Which , through the shade of intervening trees And all the misty blackness of the sky , Casting a weak and dubious ray she sees , And fain by this would seek her terrors to appease . Yet hoping that , allured by that same light Which singly seemed through all the gloom to shine , She there at last might meet her wandering knight , Thither her footsteps doubtingly incline As best the uncertain path they could divine , All tangled as it wound through brake and briar : While to affright her soul at once combine A thousand shapeless forms of terror dire , Here shrieks the ill-omened bird , there glares the meteor's fire . In the deep centre of the mazy wood , With matted ivy and wild vine o'ergrown , A Gothic castle solitary stood , With massive walls built firm of murky stone ; Long had Credulity its mistress known , Meagre her form and tawny was her hue , Unsociably she lived , unloved , alone , No cheerful prospects gladdened e'er her view , And her pale hollow eyes oblique their glances threw . Now had they reached the sad and dreary bower Where dark Disfida held her gloomy state : The grated casements strong with iron power , The huge port-cullis creaking o'er the gate , The surly guards that round the draw-bridge wait , Chill Psyche's heart with sad foreboding fears ; Nor ever had she felt so desolate As when at length her guide the porter hears , And at the well known call reluctantly appears . In hall half lighted with uncertain rays , Such as expiring tapers transient shed , The gloomy princess sat , no social blaze The unkindled hearth supplied , no table spread Cheered the lone guest who weetless wandered , But melancholy silence reigned around , While on her arm she leaned her pensive head , And anxious watched , as sullenly she frowned , Of distant whispers low to catch the doubtful sound . Startled to hear an unaccustomed noise Sudden she rose , and on the intruders bent Her prying eye askance ; but soon the voice Of her old slave appeased her discontent , And a half welcome to her guests she lent : Her frequent questions satisfied at last , Through all the neighbouring woods her scouts she sent To seek the knight , while Psyche's tears flowed fast , And all the live-long night in anxious woe she past . The sullen bell had told the midnight hour , And sleep had laid the busy world to rest , All but the watchful lady of that bower And wretched Psyche : her distracted breast The agony of sad suspense opprest , Now to the casement eagerly she flies , And now the wished-for voice her fancy blest : Alas ! the screaming night-bird only cries ; Only the drear obscure there meets her straining eyes . Has thy heart sickened with deferred hope ? Or felt the impatient anguish of suspense ? Or hast thou tasted of the bitter cup Which disappointment's withered hands dispense ? Thou knowest the poison which o'erflowed from hence O'er Psyche's tedious , miserable hours . The unheeded notes of plaintive Innocence No longer sooth her soul with wonted powers , While false Disfida's tales her listening ear devours . Of rapid torrents and deep marshy fens , Of ambushed foes and unseen pits they tell , Of ruffians rushing from their secret dens , Of foul magicians and of wizard spell , The poisoned lance and net invisible ; While Psyche shuddering sees her knight betrayed Into the snares of some enchanter fell , Beholds him bleeding in the treacherous shade , Or hears his dying voice implore in vain for aid . At length the cruel messengers return , Their trampling steeds sound welcome in her ear ; Her rapid feet the ground impatient spurn , As eagerly she flies their news to hear . Alas ! they bring no tidings which may cheer Her sorrowing soul opprest , disconsolate ! " Dismiss , " they cry , " each idly timid fear ! No dangers now thy faithless knight await , Lured by a wanton fair to bowers of peaceful state . " We saw him blithely follow where she led , And urged him to return to thee in vain : Some other knight , insultingly he said , Thy charms might soon for thy protection gain , If still resolved to tread with weary pain The tedious road to that uncertain land ; But he should there contentedly remain ; No other bliss could now his heart demand Than that new lady's love and kindly proffered hand . " A while she stood in silent wonder lost , And scarce believes the strange abandonment ; No fears like this her heart had ever crost , Nor could she think his mind so lightly bent Could swerve so quickly from its first intent ; Till sudden bursting forth in angry mood Disfida gave her indignation vent , " Ah , well I know , " she cried , " that wicked brood Whose cursed ensnaring arts in vain my cares with-stood , Vile Varia's fickle and inconstant train , Perpetual torments of my harassed days : Their nightly thefts my fruits , my flowers sustain , Their wanton goats o'er all my vineyards graze , My corn lies scattered , and my fences blaze , My friends , my followers they basely lure ; I know their mischievous detested ways ! My castle vainly have I built so sure While from their treacherous wiles my life is insecure . " But I will lead thee to the glittering sands , Where shines their hollow many-coloured fane : There , as the circling group fantastic stands , Thy truant knight perhaps thou mayst regain From the light arts of that seductive train . " She paused — but Psyche spoke not in reply ; Her noble heart , which swelled with deep disdain , Forbad the utterance of a single sigh , And shamed the indignant tear which started to her eye . At length with firm , but gentle dignity And cold averted eye she thus replies : " No ! let him go : nor power nor wish have I His conduct to control . Let this suffice ; Before my path a surer guardian flies , By whose direction onward I proceed Soon as the morn's first light shall clear the skies . " She ceased , then languishing her griefs to feed , Her cold dark chamber sought from observation freed . 'Twas there regret indulged the bitter tear ; She feels herself forsaken and alone : " Behold , " she cries , fulfilled is every fear , Oh ! wretched Psyche , now indeed undone ! Thy love's protecting care no more is shown , He bids his servant leave thee to thy fate , Nor longer will the hopeless wanderer own : Some fairer , nobler spouse , some worthier mate , At length by Venus given shall share his heavenly state . " Oh ! most adored ! Oh ! most regretted love ! Oh ! joys that never must again be mine , And thou lost hope , farewell ! — vainly I roye , For never shall I reach that land divine , Nor ever shall thy beams celestial shine Again upon my sad unheeded way ! Oh ! let me here with life my woes resign , Or in this gloomy den for ever stay , And shun the scornful world , nor see detested day . " " But no ! those scenes are hateful to mine eyes , And all who spoke or witnessed my disgrace ; My soul with horror from this dwelling flies And seeks some tranquil , solitary place Where grief may finish life's unhappy race ! " So past she the long night , and soon as morn Had first begun to show his cheerful face , Her couch , which care had strewn with every thorn , With heavy heart she left , disquieted , forlorn . Not thus Disfida suffered her to part , But urged her there in safety to remain , Repeating oft to her foreboding heart That fairy land she never could attain : But when she saw dissuasion was in vain , And Psyche bent her journey to pursue , With angry brow she called a trusty train And bade them keep the imprudent fair in view , And guard her dangerous path with strict observance true . In vain their proffered service she declines , And dreads the convoy of the scowling band ; Their hateful presence with her loss combines , She feels betrayed to the destroyer's hand , And trembling wanders o'er the dreary land ; While as she seeks to escape Disfida's power , Her efforts still the officious guards withstand , Led in vain circles many a tedious hour , Undistanced still she sees the gloomy turrets lower . Till wearied with her fruitless way , at length Upon the ground her fainting limbs she threw ; No wish remained to aid exhausted strength , The mazy path she cared not to pursue , Since unavailing was the task she knew : Her murmuring guards to seek for food prepare , Yet mindful of their charge , still keep in view The drooping victim of their cruel care , Who sees the day decline in terror and despair . Hark ! a low hollow groan she seems to hear Repeated oft ; wondering she looks around : It seemed to issue from some cavern near , Or low hut hidden by the rising ground ; For , though it seemed the melancholy sound Of human voice , no human form was nigh ; Her eye no human habitation found , But as she listening gazed attentively , Her shuddering ears received the deep and long drawn sigh . The guard who nearest stood now whispering said , " If aught of doubt remain within thy mind , Or wish to know why thus thou wert betrayed , Or what strange cause thy faithless knight inclined To leave the charge he with such scorn resigned , Each curious thought thou now mayst satisfy , Since here the entrance of a cave we find , Where dwells , deep hid from day's too garish eye , A sage whose magic skill can solve each mystery . " He staid not her reply , but urged her on Reluctant to the dark and dreary cave ; No beam of cheerful Heaven had ever shone In the recesses of that gloomy grave , Where screaming owls their daily dwelling crave . One sickly lamp the wretched master shewed ; Devouring fiend ! Who now the prey shall save From his fell gripe , whose hands in blood imbrued , In his own bosom seek his lacerated food ? On the damp ground he sits in sullen woe , But wildly rolls around his frenzied eye , And gnaws his withered lips , which still o'erflow With bitter gall ; in foul disorder lie His black and matted locks ; anxiety Sits on his wrinkled brow and sallow cheek ; The wasted form , the deep-drawn , frequent sigh , Some slow consuming malady bespeak , But medicinal skill the cause in vain shall seek . " Behold , " the treacherous guard exclaimed , " behold , At length Disfida sends thy promised bride ! Let her , deserted by her knight , be told What peerless lady lured him from her side ; Thy cares her future safety must provide . " Smiling maliciously as thus he spoke , He seemed her helpless anguish to deride ; Then swiftly rushing from the den he broke , Ere from the sudden shock astonished she awoke . She too had fled ; but when the wretch escaped He closed the cavern's mouth with cruel care ; And now the monster placed his form mis-shaped To bar the passage of the affrighted fair : Her spirits die , she breathes polluted air , And vaporous visions swim before her sight : His magic skill the sorcerer bids her share , And lo ! as in a glass , she sees her knight In bower remembered well , the bower of loose Delight . But oh ! what words her feelings can impart ! Feelings to hateful envy near allied ! While on her knight her anxious glances dart : His plumed helmet , lo ! he lays aside ; His face with torturing agony she spied , Yet cannot from the sight her eyes remove ; No mortal knight she sees had aid supplied , No mortal knight in her defence had strove ; 'Twas Love ! 'twas Love himself , her own adored Love . Poured in soft dalliance at a lady's feet , In fondest rapture he appeared to lie , While her fair neck with inclination sweet Bent o'er his graceful form her melting eye , Which his looked up to meet in ecstasy . Their words she heard not ; words had ne'er exprest , What well her sickening fancy could supply , All that their silent eloquence confest , As breathed the sigh of fire from each impassioned breast . While thus she gazed , her quivering lips turn pale ; Contending passions rage within her breast , Nor ever had she known such bitter bale , Or felt by such fierce agony opprest . Oft had her gentle heart been sore distrest , But meekness ever has a lenient power From anguish half his keenest darts to wrest ; Meekness for her had softened sorrow's hour , Those furious fiends subdued which boisterous souls devour . For there are hearts that , like some sheltered lake , Ne'er swell with rage , nor foam with violence ; Though its sweet placid calm the tempests shake , Yet will it ne'er with furious impotence Dash its rude waves against the rocky fence , Which nature placed the limits of its reign : Thrice blest ! who feel the peace which flows from hence , Whom meek-eyed gentleness can thus restrain ; Whate'er the storms of fate , with her let none complain ! That mild associate Psyche now deserts , Unlovely passions agitate her soul , The vile magician all his art exerts , And triumphs to behold his proud control : Changed to a serpent's hideous form , he stole O'er her fair breast to suck her vital blood ; His poisonous involutions round her roll : Already is his forked tongue imbrued Warm in the stream of life , her heart's pure purple flood . Thus wretchedly she falls Geloso's prey ! But her , once more , unhoped for aid shall save ! Admitted shines the clear blue light of day Upon the horrors of that gloomy grave ; Her knight's soft voice resounds through all the cave , The affrighted serpent quits his deadly hold , Nor dares the vengeance of his arm to brave , Shrunk to a spider's form , while many a fold Of self-spun web obscene the sorcerer vile enrolled . Scarce had the star of his attendant youth Blazed through the cavern and proclaimed the knight , When all those spells and visions of untruth , Bred in dark Erebus and nursed in night , Dissolving vanished into vapour light ; While Psyche , quite exhausted by her pains , And hardly trusting her astonished sight , Now faint and speechless in his arms remains , Nor memory of the past , nor present sense retains . Borne from the cavern , and to life restored , Her opening eyes behold her knight once more , She sees whom lost with anguish she deplored ; Yet a half-feigned resentment still she bore , Nor sign of joy her face averted wore , Though joy unuttered panted at her heart ; In sullen silence much she pondered o'er What from her side induced him to depart , And all she since had seen by aid of magic art . Was it then all a false deluding dream That wore the , semblance of celestial Love ? On this her wavering thoughts bewildered seem At length to rest ; yet onward as they move , Though much his tender cares her doubts reprove , And though she longs to hear , and pardon all , Silence she still preserves : awhile he strove Her free and cheerful spirits to recall , But found the task was vain ; his words unnoticed fall . Now in his turn offended and surprised , The knight in silence from her side withdrew ; With pain she marked it , but her pain disguised , And heedless seemed her journey to pursue , Now backward deigned to turn one anxious view As oft she wished ; till mindful of his lord , Constance alarmed affectionately flew , Eager to see their mutual peace restored , And blamed her cold reserve in many a soft breathed word . " O Psyche ! wound not thus thy faithful knight , Who fondly sought thee many an anxious hour , Though bleeding yet from that inglorious fight , Where thou wert rescued from the savage power Of that fell beast who would thy charms devour : Still faint with wounds , he ceased not to pursue Thy heedless course : let not displeasure lower Thus on thy brow : think not his heart untrue ! Think not that e'er from thee he willingly withdrew ! " With self-reproach and sweet returning trust , While yet he spoke , her generous heart replies , Soft melting pity bids her now be just And own the error which deceived her eyes ; Her little pride she longs to sacrifice , And ask forgiveness of her suffering knight ; Her suffering knight , alas ! no more she spies , He has withdrawn offended from her sight , Nor can that gentle voice now hope to stay his flight , Struggling no more her sorrows to restrain , Her streaming eyes look round with anxious fear ; Nor are those tender showers now shed in vain , Her soft lamenting voice has reached his ear , Where latent he had marked each precious tear ; Sudden as thought behold him at her feet ! Oh ! reconciling moment ! charm most dear ! What feeling heart thy pleasures would repeat , Or wish thy dearly purchased bliss , however sweet ? The smiles of joy which swell her glowing cheek , And o'er her parting lips divinely play , Returning pleasure eloquently speak , Forgetful of the tears which lingering stay , ( Like sparkling dew drops in a sunny day ) Unheeded tenants of rejoicing eyes ; His wounds her tender care can well repay : There grateful kindness breathes her balmy sighs , Beneath her lenient hand how swiftly suffering flies ! Freed from the mazes of Disfida's groves , The opening landscape brightens to their view ; Psyche , with strength revived , now onward moves In cheerful hope , with courage to renew Repeated toils , and perils to pursue : Thus when some tender plant neglected pines , Shed o'er its pendent head the kindly dew , How soon refreshed its vivid lustre shines ! Once more the leaf expands , the drooping tendril twines . Thus cheered , the knight intreats her to impart The dangers which her way had since befel , Her timid lips refuse to speak the art Which clothed him in a form she loved so well : That she had thought him Love , she blushed to tell ! Confused she stopt ; a gentle pause ensued ; What chance had brought him to the demon's cell She then enquires ; what course he had pursued , And who his steps had led throughout the mazy wood . Sooth he had much to say , though modest shame His gallant deeds forbade him to declare ; For while through those bewildering woods he came , Assisted by his page's active care , He had detected Varia's wily snare , And forced her wanton retinue to flee . With like disgrace , malignant in despair , Disfida's slaves their plots defeated see , Their feeble malice scorned , their destined victims free . But he had marked the traces of their feet , And found the path which to the cavern led : Whence now , rejoicing in reunion sweet , Their way together cheerfully they tread , Exempt awhile from danger and from dread ; While Psyche's heart , with confidence more bold , Full oft the hour of rapture pictured , When those celestial charms she should behold , And feel the arms of Love once more his bride enfold .