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CONSCIENCE: AN ETHICAL ESSAY.
BY The REVEREND J. BRAND.
LONDON: Printed for T. BECKET, in the Strand; W. WOODYER, at Cambridge; and W. CHACE, at Norwich.
MDCCLXXIII.
ADVERTISEMENT.
[]THE Subject of this Piece is the ſame with that propoſed the two laſt Years for SEATON'S Prize Poem, on which Account it was originally written: An accidental Delay it met with upon the Road, occa⯑ſioned its being preſented to the Vice-Chancellor two Days after the Time appointed by the Will of Mr. SEATON; who therefore found himſelf obliged not to receive it.
CONSCIENCE.
THE ARGUMENT.
[]I. the SUBJECT propoſed.
II. [3—40] The INVOCATION addreſt to the Spirit of Song, as
- (1) alleviating the ſufferings of mankind,
- (2) inſpiring virtue,
- (3) and the piety of men and angels.
III. [41—46] The DEFINITION of CONSCIENCE. * The ſenſe of pleaſure or pain ariſing from a perception of the agreement or diſagreement of our actions with the rules of virtue.
IV. [47—206] The SOURCES of CONSCIENCE, or this moral ſenſe of pleaſure and pain.—
- 1ſt, Sympathy—†
- 2d, Pride and Shame—
- 3d, Self-love.
1ſt. [51—70] From Sympathy we rejoice in the pleaſures of others, and our affection is conciliated to their author; [2]relation to him heightens that pleaſure; conſequently its greateſt ſtrength is, when that happineſs ſprings from our⯑ſelves, and our own Virtue.
[71—74] The converſe true of Vice.
2d. [75—88] From Pride. The natural excellencies of the body or mind, when ſurveyed, neceſſarily give a ſpecies of pleaſure which we call ſelf-complacency or pride: this emo⯑tion is ſtronger on the perception of thoſe degrees of perfection, which we give birth to in ourſelves, by acts of the will; and is ſtill augmented in proportion of the dignity of the end by which it is put in action; the higheſt gratification of this inſtinct is therefore, the contemplation of thoſe of our own actions, to which ſome virtue was the end.
[89—92] From Shame. The converſe of the former argu⯑ment holds good, as vice is attended with the greateſt degree of ſhame.
3d. [93—206] From Self-love. Self-love actuates our hopes and fears from a conſideration of—1ſt, our preſent, and—2dly, our future ſtate.
[93—134] From the preſent State.—Thoſe actions which promote the felicity of Society, (or the moral virtues) natu⯑rally bring their own rewards with them: Thoſe which obſtruct it, (or vices) their reſpective puniſhments. Whence according to the nature of our actions, we are filled with [3]the hopes of theſe rewards, or the fear of theſe puniſh⯑ments: and as the mind is always more employed in con⯑ſidering the future, than either the preſent or the paſt, theſe future expectations (which contribute to compoſe that moral ſenſe, named Conſcience) form the greater part of our pre⯑ſent happineſs or miſery.
[135—206] From a future State.—Our hopes are ſtrongly excited by the views of that eternal happineſs, our fears by the repreſentation of the divine juſtice revelation has given us. Digreſſion. Deſcription of the divine juſtice; her infinity; her almighty power to protect—or puniſh. She deſcends upon earth to chaſtiſe the ſins of men; the effects of her vengeance. The terror a conſideration of this muſt inſpire in the breaſt of the wicked, and more particularly on the point of death.
V. [207—648] The FINAL CAUSES of CONSCIENCE.—1ſt, to excite repentance—2dly, to counterpoiſe the paſſions—3dly, to render the happineſs of individuals more propor⯑tioned to their moral merits.
1ſt. [213—220] Conſcience excites us by repentance to appeaſe the divine juſtice.
2dly. [221—262] It counterpoizes the paſſions, by making them ſubſervient to the general good; which otherwiſe would [4]engage us in exceſſes the moſt deſtructive to ſociety. It introduces the fineſt moral harmony in the mind; and reconciles all the various purſuits of life to univerſal happineſs.
3dly. [263—648] Vice is frequently ſucceſsful, and virtue depreſt in the world: Conſcience, by being the ſecret puniſh⯑ment of the former, and the ſupport of the latter, renders the happineſs of each, more proportioned to the moral merit of individuals: and thus forms a neceſſary ſupplement to the external adminiſtration of providence.
[273—578] Hence unreſtrained Avarice, Ambition, Sen⯑ſuality, and other crimes derive their ſecret puniſhment.
[579—610] And from hence the man of virtue when diſtreſt, experiences a ſupport, enabling him to triumph over or deſpiſe the afflictions of life.
[611—648] While its influence gives new pleaſure to all its finer enjoyments, and exalts proſperity into happineſs.
CONSCIENCE.
[]CONSCIENCE I ſing; her nature, ſource, and power;
Her ſecret ſcourge, and ſelf-approving hour.
OH THOU! whoſe ſway ſubdues the willing ſoul,
And charms each paſſion to thy mild controul,
In every breaſt ſpeaks peace to every care,
Wakes round affliction's couch, and ſooths deſpair:
PARENT OF VIRTUE! thou whoſe breath inſpires
The good, the wiſe, and fans their nobleſt fires;
Excites the high reſolve, the godlike deed;
Aids all their toils, and pours the immortal meed:
Or taught the voice of piety to raiſe,
The pealing anthems deep majeſtick lays;
Where through the ſolemn iſles, and vaulted choir,
With choral ſound her hallow'd ſtrains aſpire:
[6] Benignant hear from thy empyreal height,
Where thron'd thou ſit'ſt in realms of living light,
Crown'd with celeſtial wreaths and flowers that blow
Faſt by the ſtreams of life, and as they flow
Drink immortality; while on thy ſtate
The bands of Angel and Archangel wait
To lead the eternal Paean of the ſkies;
At once from twice ten thouſand harps ariſe
Their golden ſymphonies, and taught by thee,
Rolls the full tide of heavenly harmony;
'Till ſwell'd with all thy pomp the deſcant floats,
And more than rapture fires the ſacred notes;
SPIRIT OF IMMORTAL SONG! the verſe inſpire,
Aſſiſt the ſtrain, and kindle all its fire,
To ſing what peace, what joy, what ſoft content,
Await the Conſcience of a life well ſpent:
The keen the ſecret grief, the heart-felt woe,
The fears, the ſhame, the pang, the guilty know.
The breathing grace, the glowing thought impart,
To beam conviction on the enlight'ned heart;
To finer ardors raiſe the godlike mind,
Or form that virtue which they fail to find;
[7]To wipe the tear from Virtue's radiant eye,
Spare vice one crime, prevent one riſing ſigh,
Bid peace and hope on pale dejection ſhine,
Theſe are thy nobleſt praiſe, and theſe be mine.
WHEN man compares his actions with the rule
Of moral life deduc'd from virtue's ſchool,
With joy their juſt conformity we ſee,
And mark with grief where'er they diſagree:
1 This MORAL SENSE of PLEASURE and of PAIN,
Of CONSCIENCE forms the wide extended reign.
From THREE great principles by Heav'n impreſt,
She holds her empire o'er the human breaſt,
Mild SYMPATHY, with PRIDE's more ardent ſway;2
And ſtrong SELF-LOVE which awes us to obey.
[8]
WHEN Virtue wakes felicity around;
And bleſt with calm content, gay tranſport crown'd,
That peace the good man ſpreads, we mark the few;
Each ſocial paſſion kindles at the view,
Nor there ſubſides; but urg'd by nature's laws
Transfers the pleaſure to its active cauſe;
The liberal heart which ſhow'rs ſuch bliſs approves,
And glows expanded o'er the worth it loves:
Each ſlight connection can new force impart,
And bring that pleaſure nearer to the heart:
But livelier joy, more home-felt raptures bleſs
The godlike mind which ſhow'rs ſuch happineſs:
[9]Sweet ſpring's Favonian airs, and bluſhing flow'rs,
Sweet to the thirſty earth deſcending ſhow'rs,
To virgins ſweet the dance's graceful rounds,
And ſweet the tuneful lyre's melodious ſounds;
Yet ſweeter far the joys which Virtue warm,
To view that ſmiling ſcene ſhe loves to form,
Sooth pain and care, repreſs affliction's ſtings,
And riſe with peace and healing on her wings.
WHEN Vice her dark vile induſtry employs
To waſte the happy field of human joys,
Even there ſhall SYMPATHY aſſert her laws,
And teach the vile to feel the pain they cauſe.
WHATEVER great from Nature's gift alone
Of ſtrength, of form, of mind we boaſt our own,
This by implanted Inſtinct given to pleaſe,
The ſoul with PRIDE, and SELF-COMPLACENCE ſees:
That excellence from Active Will which flows,
A nobler triumph on the breaſt beſtows;
But when Great Ends the kindling ſoul inſpire,
When Virtue animates her ſacred fire,
Then glows ſerene the pureſt bliſs on earth,
The large, the liberal ſenſe, of manly worth,
[10] Calm Reaſon's chaſt'ned Praiſe, and CONSCIOUS [PRIDE,
(A virtue ſtill to virtue where allied;)
Superior to each low, each ſelfiſh aim,
And all the vulgar thirſt of vulgar Fame.
HENCE in the breaſt where Vice maintains her throne,
Which every ſordid baſeneſs calls her own,
SHAME from himſelf retiring, lurks unſeen,
Stables at large, and deſolates his den.
WITH lenient hand to give each pain relief,
By every care to ſoften every grief,
Confer fair friendſhip's joys, the ſocial hour,
Pity's mild dew, and bounty's liberal ſhower;
Or bid injuſtice, rapine, fraud, and ſtrife,
Range all abroad, and blaſt the ſcenes of life,
To point detraction's vile envenom'd dart,
Inſult fall'n virtue, wring the inmoſt heart
Of bleeding Innocence: ſuch aids we find,
And ſuch the ills man ſuffers from mankind:
On acts like thoſe attends their ſacred meed;
Fair fame,* the public care, the grateful deed,
[11] Proſperity's warm beam, and gayeſt hour,
Wealth without fears, and without envy power;
Peace courts their walk, and Hope their manſion loves,
Earth ſpeaks their virtue, and high Heaven ap⯑proves:
On theſe flagitious deeds what pains await?
Shame's canker'd ſting, dejection's weeping ſtate,
Pale care and fruſtrate hope, and chill diſdain,
And ſtern adverſity, and all her train,
Fear, want, deſpair the frantic deed to urge,
Juſtice' deep laſh, and Memory's bitter ſcourge.
Theſe views the mind affect in different ways,
And ſink in ſorrow, or to rapture raiſe;
Of half our cares, and half our thoughts, at leaſt,
The future robs the preſent and the paſt;
Fond to embrace that future, Hope and Fear
At once enlarge its proſpects, and draw near,
While on the ideal landſkip's varying ray
Depends the colour of our preſent day:
Hence glows the heart as ſummer ſkies ſerene,
Where chearful HOPE irradiates all the ſcene,
Smiles on the future hour, approves the paſt,
Enjoys the preſent, yet can wiſh the laſt:
[12]But vice in vain ſhall ſeek her ſecret ſhade,
Dark conſcious FEARS her penſive walk invade,
Paint each vile art, each deed of ſecret night,
Bar'd to the day, and dragg'd to public light;
The ſcorn of virtue's keen indignant eye,
Inflicted pain, and galling infamy;
His preſent lot all grief, his paſt all care,
His future torment, and his end deſpair.
WERE all our thought to this low ſphere con⯑fin'd,
By pain and pleaſure, pride and ſhame combin'd,
Would CONSCIENCE thus maintain her heaven-taught ſway,
And bend reluctant Paſſion to obey:
To nobler ends RELIGION bids us riſe,
Aſſert our birth, and claim our kindred ſkies;
With every hope the ſoul of Virtue warms,
With every fear the breaſt of Guilt alarms:
Here all the bliſs of opening Heaven appears,
In golden order riſe the eternal years,
And endleſs joy extends her radiant reign,
Exempt from all ſatiety and pain:
[13]Inſulted Heaven avenging juſtice there,
And the dark realms of death, and brief, and care:
JUSTICE dread offspring of the God of light!
Immutable! Eternal! Infinite!
In vengeance arm'd, beneath her feet ſhe treads
The reign of death and hell, the vanquiſht heads
Of fal'n immortals and etherial powers;
And crown'd with living light, her head ſhe towers
Above the Heaven of Heavens: on high upheld
Before her beams her adamantine ſhield
Effulging flame on flame; divine, immenſe,
To which, the ſpace the vaſt circumference
Of Saturn's all-involving orb ſurrounds,
Shrinks to a point; beneath whoſe ample bounds,
Syſtems and worlds from fate and force ſhe ſaves:
And in her ſtrong right hand, the ſword ſhe waves
Which girds omnipotence; whoſe mighty length
Flames through immenſe infinitude: its ſtrength
Created nought reſiſts, but falls away,
Toucht by the power of its reſiſtleſs ſway,
To uneſſential nothing. When the cries
Of wrong, and luſt, and blood confuſed ariſe,
[14]FAMINE, and PESTILENCE, and WAR, prepare
Her winged courſers and aetherial car;
She mounts; from all her form the lightnings blaze
Through aether's boundleſs deeps, inceſſant plays
Above, around, beneath: on ſwifteſt wing
Through all the Heavens the immortal courſers ſpring:
Not one ten-thouſandth part ſo ſwift as they
Angelic thought, light's inſtantaneous ray
Darts rapid: at each bound through all the ſkies,
From world to world the flaming chariot flies.
Famine and Peſtilence her march preceed,
War burns around, and bids the nations bleed;
Dark ſanguine horror ſhrouds the orbs of light,
Loud tempeſts rage, the whirlwind's furious might
Howls through the lab'ring air, the hoary deeps
Roar terrible, from all their pine-clad ſteeps
The marble mountains to their baſes nod;
Earth to her center trembles at her rod;
Hell hears the coming ruin, and beneath
A deeper horror fills the realms of death;
Its ſurging flames with added wrath aſpire,
And wing'd with vengeance, and pernicious fire,
[15]Tartarean thunders loud rebellowing roar,
And kindled rage, and pangs unfelt before,
And Heaven's ſevereſt agonizing ſcourge
For endleſs ages her ſad exiles urge;
Fear quells celeſtial breaſts; and ſcarce ſerene,
Amidſt the avenging terrors of the ſcene,
Even Virtue but not trembles. And ſhall Man,
His world a bubble, and his race a ſpan?
Shall guilty man, though wing'd with whirl⯑winds, fly
Her red right arm, or her all ſeeing eye?
Death's horrid power arreſts him from afar,
And drags his trembling victim to her bar:
And come he will; (fixt is thy utmoſt date;)
Swift as the rapid march of time and fate;
Diſtraction in his van, and pain, and fear,
And enleſs night and horror in his rear.
ASK we the CAUSE why Nature has impreſt
A moral Conſcience in the human breaſt?
To wake remorſe her ſecret ſcourge was given,
And teach us to avert the wrath of Heaven;
To fortify its vaſt eternal plan,
Its firſt great end, the happineſs of Man.
[16]
WHEN arm'd in vengeance Juſtice aims the wound,
Proſtrate in duſt and growing to the ground,
In ſorrow's humbleſt lowlieſt form array'd
Oft meek-ey'd Penitence, celeſtial maid,
Hangs on her hand, averts the impending blow,
And calms the avenging terrors of her brow,
Till by her prayers her tears to pity mov'd,
She ſmiles ſuperior o'er her beſt belov'd.
Two Principles impell the human ſoul,
Paſſion to urge, and Conſcience to controul:
In niceſt equipoize united ſtill,
Theſe ballanced forces guide the human will:
As wheels ſome planet its perennial courſe,
Urged by attraction, and impulſive force;
With ſwift celerity this wings his way,
While that with gentle, ſecret, conſtant ſway,
Makes man by force unſeen, yet unwithſtood,
Reſpect the central point of general good;
And move obedient to the ſacred plan,
In that fixt orbit heaven preſcribes to man:
[17]Relax the* golden chain, with mad career
And headlong fury, ſtarting from his ſphere
Like ſome red comet blazing through the ſkies,
Now here, now there, with madding ſpeed he flies,
Flames thro' the waſte of life with lawleſs force,
And plagues, and death, and ruin mark his courſe.
HAIL Conſcience! ſource of all our bliſs below,
From thee what joys in long ſucceſſion flow!
Grateful to mortal and immortal ears,
The warbled Paean of the heavenly ſpheres!
But far more grateful when inſpir'd by thee
Man's chaſt'ned paſſions moral harmony!
Grateful their myſtic rounds and endleſs dance,
Where hours, days, years, with meaſur'd change advance;
The ſhadowy forms and ſtarry robe of night,
The grateful interchange of uſeful light;
Spring's laughing pride, gay ſummer's purple glow,
Autumn's full lap, and winter's virgin ſnow:
But far more grateful is the winding maze,
The endleſs intricacy Life diſplays:
[18]In varied courſe its varied rounds we glide,
By turns advance, retreat, combine, divide,
Trace and retrace its whirling circle's ſpeed,
Prompt to urge on, and eager to recede;
Conſcience unſeen each varied motion guides,
And through the maze with ſecret ſway preſides,
Marks all our way, our erring courſe deflects,
Inſpires, repells, aſſiſts, reſtrains, directs;
Each wild extreme combines with mutual ties,
And bids fair order from confuſion riſe.
IF man with philoſophic eye ſurvey
The pains, the pleaſures which attend her ſway,
More juſtly balanc'd happineſs he ſees,
As moral merit marks the juſt degrees;
Conſcience, the laſt great ſupplement, was given
To fill up all the ſacred plan of Heaven;
To render all that vice can boaſt her own,
RAPINE's pil'd heaps, AMBITION's gorgeous throne,
PLEASURE's gay ſcene, AFFLICTED VIRTUE's ſighs,
Conſiſtent with the juſtice of the ſkies.
OPPRESSION may encreaſe the miſer's ſtore,
With all the wealth of either India's ſhore;
[19] His ſwelling ſails tower proudly o'er the main,
Exhauſt whole realms, and plunder'd regions drain;
A thouſand vales his golden harveſt fills,
His vintage purples o'er a thouſand hills;
Yet not his treaſur'd hoards, his ſwelling ſails,
The vine-clad mountains, or the golden vales,
Clear the ſad brow by conſcious dread o'ercaſt,
Or ſooth the bitter memory of the paſt:
Where dark AMBITION winds her treacherous way,
Smiles to deſtroy, and flatters to betray,
And ſtoops to win the wretch her heart diſproves,
To ſacrifice the generous worth ſhe loves;
With varied guilt each varied ſhape to try,
Till ceaſeleſs toil wins ſplendid miſery:
Or fired with the delirious dream of fame,
The empty glories of an empty name;
She wildly burns to dare each arduous deed,
Forms the deep phalanx, bids the battle bleed,
Bids rapine, luſt, and death with lawleſs ſway
Range uncontroul'd thro' half the realms of day;
Not each proud argument of old renown,
The trophied column, and the victor's crown,
[20]The pride of conqueſt, or the joys of power,
Can calm reflection's ſelf-accuſing hour.
With AVARICE and AMBITION 'tis the ſame,
The knave of intereſt, and the fool of fame;
Fell diſcontent with burning hectic curſt,
Who only drinks to parch with double thirſt,
Remorſe with anguiſh weeping o'er the paſt,
Fear her ſad ſcene with future ills o'ercaſt,
Care with dejected eye and dubious brow,
Gaunt terror trembling at the name of foe,
Suſpicion trembling at the name of friend,
With ceaſeleſs bay their flying ſpeed attend,
And urge ſagacious all the rapid courſe;
In vain they fly, wake every latent force,
Toil up the high hill, ſweep along the plain,
Ruſh from the ſteep, or croſs the ſtormy main;
O'er plains, o'er rocks, the loud Cerberean cry,
Wing ſtep with ſtep, and follow where they fly,
Hang on their rear, and circle as they tread,
For ever preſent though for ever fled.
NOR can the guilty joys which PLEASURE brings
Heal the ſick breaſt or ſooth its conſcious ſtings:
[21]Together let us trace her flattering maze,
Where every art her happieſt charm diſplays;
See the gay ſcene its ſhining ſkirts unfold
Emblazed with purple, elephant, and gold;
The leſſ'ning columns graceful ranks extend,
From fretted roofs the ſtarry lamps depend,
The beamy luſtres trembling ſplendors ſhine,
Inlaid with every gem from every mine;
The ſculptur'd marbles breathe in living rows,
With thought, with ſoul the ſpeaking canvaſs glows:
The courtly youth and virgin train advance,
Share the glad feaſt or form the graceful dance:
Through the high dome the ſprightly pipe re⯑ſounds,
The clear recorder wakes her dulcet ſounds,
The cittern ſilver voice, the living lyre,
The vocal flute inſtilling young deſire,
Breathe extacy: while thus the choral ſong
Devolves its ſtream of melody along:
"ARISE! ye ſons of ſocial joy, ariſe!
"Now radiant Heſper gilds the evening ſkies;
[22]"Spring, ſummer, autumn all their treaſures join,
"Spread the gay feaſt, and pour the ſparkling wine;
"See o'er the verge its dancing luſtres ſwim,
"And liquid radiance trembles round the brim,
"Prompts the warm wiſh, inſpires the flow of ſoul,
"And bids new fragrance crown the laughing bowl.
"And thou of frolic mirth the roſy power,
"Oh ſmile propitious o'er the genial hour!
"Come with thy ſportive train, and bring along
"The jeſt ambiguous, and the feſtive ſong,
"Life's brighteſt ſunſhine and her vernal air,
"The wild oblivion of every care,
"Wit's laughing front, and humour's grave pretence,
"And all the gay debauch of taſte and ſenſe."
THEY ceaſe; alternate then the virgin train
Wake into rapture the ſymphonious ſtrain:
Soft as the ſouth winds breathe, when genial ſprings
With new born odours lade their downy wings,
[23]Soft as the tear which ſtreams from beauty's eye,
Soft as the love-lorn virgin's ſofteſt ſigh,
Whoſe breaſt new hopes, new fears alternate move,
And heaves with trembling extacy to love,
The breathing airs in tuneful deſcant flow,
Now lightly gay, now muſically ſlow,
Or circling wheel their wildly warbling round;
Silence hangs o'er enamour'd of the ſound,
And tremblingly attentive waves with fear
His downy pinions in the liſt'ning air
Not to diſſolve the charm. With varied notes
Thus o'er the ſoul the ſmooth enchantment floats.
"IN beauty rob'd now comes the JOLLY SPRING,
And winnows fragrance from his buxom wing:
"He comes, and with him leads the laughing hours,
"The vernal gales, the mildly-genial ſhowers:
"Earth courts his warm approach, where'er he treads,
"Luxuriant all her wanton pride ſhe ſpreads,
"Bids each gay flower its warmeſt bluſh improve,
"And new-born odours breathe through every grove.
[24]"Spontaneous tribes their beauteous forms unfold,
"The flaming lotus kindling into gold,
"Gay amaranth, the jaſmine's virgin white,
"Rob'd in the mildeſt beam of ſilver light,
"Myrtle, and aſphodell, and iris riſe,
"The race of brighter ſuns and genial ſkies.
"For Spring thus Nature pants with kind alarms,
"For Youth thus Beauty puts on all her charms,
"Love's brighteſt, happieſt ſmile, the ſigh ſuppreſt,
"Which half conceals, and half betrays the breaſt;
"Soft ſpeech, the fond repulſe, the tender tear,
"The trembling, wiſhing, kind, reluctant fear;
"The bluſhing ardor's warm contagious fire,
"The humid eye which beams intenſe deſire:
"Attend her call; and paſs not unpoſſeſt
"The roſeat joys which court thee to be bleſt."
YET Melancholy, yet the bitter ſcourge
Of ſad reflection, the tumultuous ſurge
Of paſſion raging in the ſick'ning breaſt,
By guilt, by anguiſh, by deſpair depreſt,
The pang for ever new, for ever keen,
Haunt the ſad maſter of the guilty ſcene.
[25]While down his cheek the tear inceſſant ſtole
Thus flow'd the ſecret anguiſh of his ſoul.
"NOT the gay feaſt, not muſic's ſprightly ſound,
"The blameleſs dance, the bowl with roſes crown'd,
"Sweet ſong, love's gentle joy, th' endear'd em⯑brace,
"Not every art refin'd by every grace
"Can calm Remorſe; can break her iron rod,
"And to her pain ſpeak peace. My God! my God!
"'Tis ſharp, 'tis terrible! to breathe, to be,
"But to converſe with ceaſeleſs miſery!
"The cool, the fragrant morn returns; again
"To life, to joy, ſhe wakes the ſons of men;
"But not to me comes joy; his chearing ray,
"Ne'er gilds one dark hour of my gloomy day.
"Night ſhades the world; beneath her ſombre wings,
"Silence, and peace, and balmy ſleep ſhe brings;
"But peace the guilty couch for ever flies,
"Nor balmy ſleep e'er viſits theſe ſad eyes;
"To-morrow dawns as wretched as to-day;
"Thus wear my years of miſery away.
[26]"Yet ah! might all-involving time conſign—
"Alas! that balm heals every wound but mine!
"Vain is the promiſe of it's ſoothing power:
"Thus ſome fond infant on the ſea-beat ſhore,
"When waves on waves move on their marſhall'd bands,
"In ſilent eager expectation ſtands
"Till every ſwelling ſurge be overpaſt;
"Now this, now that, he fondly hopes the laſt;
"Still ſurge on ſurge, on billows billows hurl'd,
"To the vext ſhore rolls all the watry world."
Now reigns the ſtilly hour, when Night had driven
Her ebon car through half the road of Heaven
Spangled with ſtars; and from her utmoſt height
Surveys this nether world: In chaſter light
O'er the calm ſcene the virgin Moon preſides,
Her pale ray trembling o'er old Ocean's tides:
She ſees the vales with vapour deluged o'er,
A wavy ſea of miſt without a ſhore;
Above, emerging from the fleecy plain,
The peaſant's humble roof, the ſolemn fane,
The ſilent groves with trembling light o'erſpread,
And robed in luſtre the high mountain's head:
[27]Around ſhe views kind ſleep's fraternal power,
Through her ſtill reign his balmy bleſſings ſhower;
And drooping worth by fruſtrate hope purſued,
And toil, whoſe pain but ends to be renew'd,
Affection's hopeleſs care, and grief's ſad ſway,
Forget their ſorrows, and abſolve the day.
YET all the ſplendid ſcene's illuſion fled,
No ſoft ſleep hovers o'er its maſter's head:
Gaunt terror pictures in the midnight ſhade,
The weeping form of innocence betray'd,
Expos'd to piercing want, afflictive pain,
Faint ſick'ning agony, and death's dread reign:
A weeping father, impotent to ſave,
By frantic ſorrow urg'd to ſeek a grave.
To each ſad image of diſtracting thought
A new ſucceeds with deeper anguiſh fraught;
And memory to wound his inmoſt heart,
Steeps in her bittereſt gall her ſharpeſt dart;
Now here, now there he turns to ſeek repoſe,
Averſe ſhe flies, and leaves him all his woes;
Till ſick'ning nature by fatigue oppreſt,
Sinks down in torturing dreams of feveriſh reſt.
[28]
FORSAKEN, chearleſs, deſolate, diſmay'd,
He ſeems to wander in the midnight ſhade,
'Midſt penſive iſles and ſolitary tombs;
Chill horror broods through all the hallow'd domes:
In awful ſhades, half veil'd from mortal ſight,
The flitting melancholy forms of night
Through the long gloom in ſolemn ſilence ſweep;
And drops of blood from every marble weep:
Loud-ruſhing roars a hollow blaſt around;
And from its womb with more than thunder's ſound,
A voice thus breaks on his aſtoniſh'd ſenſe:
"Mortal, 'tis paſt! and vengeance ſweeps thee hence."
The yawning grave its marble jaws expands,
And burſting into light a dread form ſtands
Shrowded in terrors: his grim boſom gor'd,
Still freſhly ſtream'd beneath the gleaming ſword;
Corruption's loathſome bane had half deſtroy'd
His undiſtinguiſht form; and from the void
Together with him burſts Death's horrid king,
Whoſe mortal dart he ſeizes; bent to ſpring
Upon his trembling prey; "In vain you fly!
"Vengeance demands her victim, and you dye.
[29] "My child! my, child! exacts thy forfeit breath,
"Her tears, her ſhame, her agonies, her death:
"My frantic breaſt with every pang to tear,
"Againſt my ſoul my madding ſword to bare,
"In all my crimes to meet my doom hurl'd down!
"THUS I avenge her fate! and THUS my own!"
Aſtoniſht, nerveleſs, impotent he ſtands,
Fear chains his feet, and binds his trembling hands;
He ſtrives, he toils, yet wants the power to fly,
And ſeems transfixt to fall, to writhe, to dye.
Trembling he wakes; and ſcarce forgets his ſears,
While anxious terror ſteeps his couch with tears.
To court ſleep's balmy gifts again he tries,
And other ſhapes, and other forms ariſe:
He ſtrays by ſober evening's grateful ſhades,
Through devious walks and fragrance-breathing glades,
Glittering by Moon: a ſolemn ſilence reigns;
Save in ſome bourne that ſkirts the dewy plains,
The ſweeteſt warbler of the feather'd throng
Wakes to ſoft rapture her love-labour'd ſong;
And penſive liſt'ning to her amorous lay,
His lov'd, his lovelieſt charmer weeps his ſtay.
[30]Thus ſome fair lily, on the mountain's ſide,
With rain ſurcharg'd declines her ſilver pride;
Till young Hyperion from his gorgeous height,
On her chaſte boſom ſhow'rs the dazzling light:
Then chear'd to life, in virgin ſtate array'd,
Half her retreating elegance diſplay'd,
While half-conceal'd her modeſt form ſhe veils,
And ſtreams freſh odour to the paſſing gales,
His golden beams her ſpotleſs beauties rear,
To lend new luſtre to the vernal year.
Hope gleams a moment o'er his deep diſtreſs,
And bids him thus his raptur'd ſenſe expreſs.
"Dear as ſoft ſhowers when gaſping Nature mourns!
"Dear as cool ſhades when fervid Sirius burns!
"Dear as the vital air! as balmy reſt!
"Dear as the laſt beſt hope that warms my breaſt!
"Oft Fancy ſaw thee mingled with the dead,
"And o'er the thought my heart with anguiſh bled:
"Nor reſt my ſoul nor joy my boſom knew,
"Save haply when Remembrance to my view
"The wretched ſcenes of other days retrac'd,
"In fond idea thy paſt griefs I chac'd;
[31]"Repuls'd no more with ſtern averting eye
"Thy weeping lovelineſs, thy ſtruggling ſigh;
"But wiped thy tears, bad all thy ſorrows ceaſe,
"And ſmil'd thy fond ſubſiding fears to peace:
"Then fled the fancied ſcenes, and as they fled,
"I wept no cares could reach the ſilent dead.
"Or when my mind its deareſt joy has prov'd,
"To bleſs the Friend thy gentler virtues lov'd;
"Thus have I ſaid to my expanding heart,
"Had ſhe now liv'd ſome joy it might impart
"To that mild breaſt, where ſoftneſs fixt her throne,
"To feel the bliſs of thoſe ſhe lov'd her own.
"While ſooth'd affection's tear, and pleaſing grief,
"Through my ſick breaſt diffus'd ſevere relief.
"God of my ſoul! be all her future bleſt!
"And let her cloſing day be peace and reſt!
"Heal all thy feſt'ring griefs, and thoſe forgot,
"Let Juſtice or let Mercy fix my lot."
Then ardent he extends his longing arms,
Intent to graſp her viſionary charms,
When lo! that inſtant, in his fond embrace,
Again—pale Famine in her bloated face,
[32]And pangs and terror in her meager eyes,
Expiring, proſtrate at his feet ſhe lies,
Convulſt with madding agoniſing pain,
While death and torture burns in every vein;
Now finks the heart, now pants recover'd life,
Now nature labouring in her laſt ſad ſtrife,
Frantic with ſhrilling ſhrieks ſhe rends the air,
Then ſinks exhauſted down in mute deſpair;
Yet turns on him her fond, forgiving eye,
And on his preſt hand breathes her laſt ſad ſigh.
His boiling brain with frantic paſſion burns,
He rages, loves, and weeps, and ſtorms by turns;
Now deems, array'd in terrors and the night,
The kindred ſhades purſue his trembling flight,
With whips of Scorpions; and a dreary yell,
The unutterable fury forms of hell:
Till flying, from ſome dread tremendous ſteep
Headlong he ſinks, ten thouſand fathoms deep;
Down, down, the eternal precipice he goes;
And o'er his ſoul the depths of ocean cloſe.
WITH fears and ſtern conflicting pangs poſſeſt,
Thus Conſcience agitates the guilty breaſt;
[33]Hence Luſt that can the golden bands deſpiſe
Of Nature and her deareſt charities;
The wretch who ſharpens fell affliction's dart,
To bid it pierce a friend's a parent's heart;
And midnight murder, and relentleſs hate,
Transfixt with horror feel their future fate.
YET hence the firm ſupport of godlike minds,
The laſt beſt refuge ſuffering Virtue finds;
She ſmooths the good man's path, ſerenes his way,
And on his thickeſt gloom pours light and day:
If on the ſea of life indulgent gales
Aid all his courſe and fill his ſwelling ſails,
While o'er the parted waves his light bark glides,
With ſober hand her deſtin'd courſe he guides:
If black'ning clouds the face of heaven deform,
He all collected dares the riſing ſtorm;
Marks one fixt ſtar, and by her guiding ray,
Stems all the terrors of the watry way.
Darkneſs in vain the face of heaven o'erſhrowds,
Storms ſwell on ſtorms and clouds are roll'd on clouds;
The afflicting hail deſcends, the driving rain
Sweeps o'er the ſurge, and blackens all the main;
[34] The uplifted billows toſſing to the ſkies,
Roaring, immenſe, foamy, abrupt, ariſe;
O'er the tall maſt their raging tops aſpire,
And wrathful lightnings robe the main in fire,
One wide inceſſant blaze: loud thunders roll,
Tremendous, deep, and bellow round the pole:
And he the angel of Deſtruction forms
Their muſt'ring ire, and drives on all their ſtorms;
And deep retir'd in clouds and tenfold night,
Full on the bark impells their raging flight,
Arreſt the bolt with erring fury ſped,
And hurls it flaming o'er his ſacred head:
Serene the good man ſteers his conſtant way,
While fruſtrate lightnings innocently play;
And ſees their baffled rage with generous ſcorn,
Or gild his triumphs, or his fall adorn.
'TIS CONSCIOUS WORTH alone can form our bliſs,
Exalt proſperity to happineſs,
Aid life's beſt joys, illume her brighteſt day,
And gild her proſpects with diſtinguiſht ray.
Fair Wealth's enchanting ſcene, her fretted room,
Her feaſt, her ſong, her treaſures, and her plume:
[35]And dear the warrior's Wreath, the patriot's Fame,
The poet's bay, the ſage's deathleſs name:
Sweet Friendſhip's tye, the mutual heart that binds,
The ſacred ſympathy of kindred minds:
Soft Love's endearing joy, and golden dart,
The gentle wiſh, fond cares, and pleaſing ſmart:
Yet Wealth's enchanting ſcene, the boaſt of Fame,
Love's gentle wiſh, and Friendſhip's ſacred flame,
For Conſcious Worth refine their happieſt hour;
On Conſcious Worth their choiceſt bleſſings ſhower;
And every joy of every appetite
Her ſecret power refines to true delight:
Thus when the dew of heaven pervades unſeen
Earth's inmoſt breaſt, and morn returns ſerene;
Then beams the liberal luſtre of the year,
The hills the plains ſpontaneous herbage rear,
Intenſer beauty robes the laughing ſpring,
The herds rejoice, the exulting vallies ring;
Man, grateful Man the glowing ſcene ſurveys,
Eyes its great Source, and pours his ſoul in praiſe.
In bright ſucceſſion year thus leads on year,
Till having finiſh'd all his full career,
[36]She ſinks mature upon the lap of earth;
The lot impos'd by Nature on her birth:
No guilty fear diſturbs her cloſing eyes,
But hope ſerenes her paſſage to the ſkies;
Points to the reign of Peace, and Hope, and Joy,
There where no pains torment, no cares annoy;
Immortal ſtreams and realms for ever bright,
The eternal Throne, the flood of living light,
And Virtue's higheſt brighteſt beſt reward,
The applauding ſmile of Heaven's almighty Lord.
THE END.
Notes
*
See Note to v. 45.
†
See Note to v. 49.
1
(V. 45.) Conſcience is defined to be a ſenſe of pleaſure or pain; not a bare abſtract perception of the mind, excluſive of an operation on the paſſions: becauſe ſuch a perception muſt terminate in itſelf, and can never become a ſource of action, any more than the abſtract deductions of geometry or any other ſcience; and Conſcience is an active principle.
2
(V. 49.) The term Pride muſt be underſtood in a philoſophical ſenſe, as a natural pleaſure ariſing from the view of its object; not as oppoſed to the virtue of humility, in which ſenſe it is a vice. The advan⯑tages of life are ſurveyed with pleaſure; the means by which theſe are procured are therefore pleaſing, by the operation of the mind aſſociating the pleaſure ariſing from the contemplation of the end, with the idea of the means: the foremoſt among theſe we reckon the natural excellencies of the body or mind: thus 'tis proved, there muſt exiſt ſuch a pleaſure as ſelf-complacence or pride, from a view of our natural perfections; if nature has not given us an original primary inſtinct, which makes the natural advantages neceſſarily and per ſe give pleaſure to their poſ⯑ſeſſors. Ours is not the only language which wants a term which may expreſs ſelf-complacency, without the danger of being miſunderſtood without ſome explanation. Since the writing the above I have happened of the following obſervation on the word orgueil, which one of the beſt modern French poets wanted to have introduced in the ſenſe I have uſed the term Pride.—"J'aurois ſubſtitué le mot d'orgueil a ces mots, ſentiment de nos forces, de nos qualités, &c. mais dans notre langue le mot d'or⯑gueil ſe prend toujours en mauvaiſe part." Les ſaiſons, note, p. 98.
*
Publica Cura.
*
[...] Il. viii.—The golden chain:—the force of attraction. See Pope's Iliad.
- Citation Suggestion for this Object
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4441 Conscience an ethical essay By the Reverend J Brand. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5FFB-0