Canto VII

What tho’ Despondence reign’d, and wild Affright;Stretch’d in the midst, and, thro’ that dismal night,yBy his white plume reveal’d and buskins white,zSlept ROLDAN. When he clos’d his gay career,Hope fled for ever, and with Hope fled Fear,Blest with each gift indulgent Fortune sends,Birth and its rights, wealth and its train of friends,Star-like he shone! Now beggar’d, and alone,Danger he woo’d, and claim’d her for his own.O’er him a Vampire his dark wings display’d.’Twas MERION’S self, covering with dreadful shade.aHe came, and, couch’d on ROLDAN’S ample breast,Each secret pore of breathing life possess’d,Fanning the sleep that seem’d his final rest;Then, inly gliding like a subtle flame,bSubdued the man, and from his thrilling frameSent forth the voice! “We live, we breathe no more!The fatal wind blows on the dreary shore!On yonder cliffs, beckoning their fellow-prey,The spectres stalk, and murmur at delay!—Yet if thou canst (not for myself I plead,Mine but to follow where ’tis thine to lead)Oh turn and save! To thee, with streaming eyes,To thee each widow kneels, each orphan cries!Who now, condemn’d the lingering hours to tell,Think and but think of those they lov’d so well!”All melt in tears! but what can tears avail?These climb the mast, and shift the swelling sail.These snatch the helm; and round me now I hearSmiting of hands, out-cries of grief and fear,(That In the aisles at midnight haunt me still,Turning my lonely thoughts from good to ill)“Were there no graves—none in our land,” they cry,“That thou hast brought us on the deep to die?”Silent with sorrow, long within his cloakHis face He muffled—then the Hero spoke.“Generous and brave! when God himself is’ here,Why shake at shadows in your mid career?He can suspend the Jaws himself design’d,He walks the waters, and the winged wind;Himself your guide! and yours the high behestTo lift your voice, and bid a world be blest!And can you shrink? to you, to you consign’dThe glorious privilege to serve mankind!Oh had I perish’d, when my failing frameClung to the shatter’d oar mid wrecks of flame!—Was it for this I linger’d life away,The scorn of Folly, and of Fraud the prey;cBow’d down my mind, the gift His bounty gave,At courts a suitor, and to slaves a slave?—Yet in His name whom only we should fear,(’Tis all, all I shall ask, or you shall hear)Grant but three days”—He spoke not uninspir’d;And each in silence to his watch retir’d.At length among us came an unknown Voice!“Go, if ye will; and, if ye can, rejoice.Go, with unbidden guests the banquet share.In his own shape shall Death receive you there.”

His miraculous escape, in early life, during a sea-fight off the coast ofPortugal. Ibid. c. 5.