The Poetical Works of Elijah Fenton/Part of the xivth Chapter of Isaiah paraphrased
PART OF THE
FOURTEENTH CHAP. OF ISAIAH
PARAPHRASED.
Now has th' Almighty Father, seated high
In ambient glories, from th' eternal throne
Vouchsaf'd compassion, and th' afflictive power
Has broke whose iron sceptre long had bruis'd
The groaning nations. Now returning Peace, 5
Dove-ey'd, and rob'd in white, the blissful land
Deigns to re-visit; whilst beneath her steps
The soil, with civil slaughter oft' manur'd,
Pours forth abundant olives. Their high tops
The cedars wave, exulting o'er thy fall, 10
Whose steel from the tall monarch of the grove
Sever'd the regal honours, and up tore
The scions blooming in the parent shade.
When vehicled in flame thou slow didst pass
Prone thro' the gates of Night, the dreary realms 15
With loud acclaim receiv'd thee. Tyrants old
(Gigantic forms, with human blood besmear'd)
Rose from their thrones; for thrones they still possess,
Their penance and their guilt. "Art thou, they cry,"
"O emulous of our crimes! here doom'd to reign 20
"Associate of our woe? nor com'st thon girt
"With livery'd slaves or bands of warrior-knights,
"Which erst before thee stood, a flattering crowd,
"Observant of thy brow; nor hireling quires,
"Attemp'ring to the harp their warbled airs, 25
"Thy panegyric chant: but, hush'd in death,
"Like us thou ly'st unwept; a corse obscene
"With dust, and preying worms, bare and despoil'd
"Of ill-got pomp. We hail thee our compeer!"
How art thou with diminish'd glory fall'n 30
From thy proud zenith, swift as meteors glide
Aslope a summer-eve! of all the stars
Titled the first and fairest, thou didst hope
To share divinity, or haply more,
Elated as supreme, when o'er the North 35
Thy bloody banners stream'd, to rightful kings
Portending ruinous downfal: wondrous low,
Opprobrious and detested art thou thrown,
Disrob'd of all thy splendours: round thee stand
The swarming populace, and with fix'd regard 40
Eyeing thee pale and breathless, spend their rage
In taunting speech, and jovial ask their friends,
"Is this The Mighty, whose imperious yoke
"We bore reluctant, who to desert wilds
"And haunts of savages transform'd the marts, 45
"And capital cities raz'd, pronouncing thrall
"Or exile on the peerage? how becalm'd
"The tyrant lies, whose nostrils us'd to breathe
"Tempests of wrath, and shook establish'd thrones!"
In solemn state the bones of pious kings, 50
Gather'd to their great fires, are safe repos'd
Beneath the weeping vault; but thou, a branch
Blasted and curs'd by Heav'n, to dogs and fowls
Art doom'd a banquet, mingling some remains
With criminals unabsolv'd, on all thy race 55
Transmitting guilt and vengeance. From thy domes
Thy children skulk erroneous and forlorn,
Fearing perdition, and for mercy sue
With eyes uplift, and tearful. From thy seed
The sceptre Heav'n resumes, by thee usurp'd
By guile and force, and sway'd with lawless rage. 61
In ambient glories, from th' eternal throne
Vouchsaf'd compassion, and th' afflictive power
Has broke whose iron sceptre long had bruis'd
The groaning nations. Now returning Peace, 5
Dove-ey'd, and rob'd in white, the blissful land
Deigns to re-visit; whilst beneath her steps
The soil, with civil slaughter oft' manur'd,
Pours forth abundant olives. Their high tops
The cedars wave, exulting o'er thy fall, 10
Whose steel from the tall monarch of the grove
Sever'd the regal honours, and up tore
The scions blooming in the parent shade.
When vehicled in flame thou slow didst pass
Prone thro' the gates of Night, the dreary realms 15
With loud acclaim receiv'd thee. Tyrants old
(Gigantic forms, with human blood besmear'd)
Rose from their thrones; for thrones they still possess,
Their penance and their guilt. "Art thou, they cry,"
"O emulous of our crimes! here doom'd to reign 20
"Associate of our woe? nor com'st thon girt
"With livery'd slaves or bands of warrior-knights,
"Which erst before thee stood, a flattering crowd,
"Observant of thy brow; nor hireling quires,
"Attemp'ring to the harp their warbled airs, 25
"Thy panegyric chant: but, hush'd in death,
"Like us thou ly'st unwept; a corse obscene
"With dust, and preying worms, bare and despoil'd
"Of ill-got pomp. We hail thee our compeer!"
How art thou with diminish'd glory fall'n 30
From thy proud zenith, swift as meteors glide
Aslope a summer-eve! of all the stars
Titled the first and fairest, thou didst hope
To share divinity, or haply more,
Elated as supreme, when o'er the North 35
Thy bloody banners stream'd, to rightful kings
Portending ruinous downfal: wondrous low,
Opprobrious and detested art thou thrown,
Disrob'd of all thy splendours: round thee stand
The swarming populace, and with fix'd regard 40
Eyeing thee pale and breathless, spend their rage
In taunting speech, and jovial ask their friends,
"Is this The Mighty, whose imperious yoke
"We bore reluctant, who to desert wilds
"And haunts of savages transform'd the marts, 45
"And capital cities raz'd, pronouncing thrall
"Or exile on the peerage? how becalm'd
"The tyrant lies, whose nostrils us'd to breathe
"Tempests of wrath, and shook establish'd thrones!"
In solemn state the bones of pious kings, 50
Gather'd to their great fires, are safe repos'd
Beneath the weeping vault; but thou, a branch
Blasted and curs'd by Heav'n, to dogs and fowls
Art doom'd a banquet, mingling some remains
With criminals unabsolv'd, on all thy race 55
Transmitting guilt and vengeance. From thy domes
Thy children skulk erroneous and forlorn,
Fearing perdition, and for mercy sue
With eyes uplift, and tearful. From thy seed
The sceptre Heav'n resumes, by thee usurp'd
By guile and force, and sway'd with lawless rage. 61