Canto Twelfth. i. The transport of a fierce and monstrous gladness Just heard the happy tidings, and in hope Closed their faint eyes; from house to house replying With loud acclaim, the living shook Heaven's cope, And filled the startled Earth with echoes: morn did ope II. Its pale eyes then; and lo! the long array 1 In this place Priests is spelt with a small p in Shelley's edition. 2 Mr. Rossetti alters it seems to they seem. I think however that Shelley, had he chosen to change the passage at all would have been much more likely to make it read and lo! the long arrays Of guards in golden arms, and priests beside, Singing their bloody hymns, whose garb betrays The blackness of the faith, &c. thus getting rid of the somewhat awkward plural, garbs; but where we can but guess, the text should remain as it is. And see, the Tyrant's gem-wrought chariot glide Among the gloomy cowls and glittering spears— A Shape of light is sitting by his side, A child most beautiful. I'the midst appears Laon, exempt alone from mortal hopes and fears. III. His head and feet are bare, his hands are bound Behind with heavy chains, yet none do wreak Their scoffs on him, tho' myriads throng around; There are no sneers upon his lip which speak That scorn or hate has made him bold; his cheek Resolve has not turned pale,-his eyes are mild And calm, and like the morn about to break, Smile on mankind-his heart seems reconciled To all things and itself, like a reposing child. IV. Tumult was in the soul of all beside, Ill joy, or doubt, or fear; but those who saw Their tranquil victim pass, felt wonder glide Into their brain, and became calm with awe.See, the slow pageant near the pile doth draw. A thousand torches in the spacious square, Borne by the ready slaves of ruthless law, Await the signal round: the morning fair Is changed to a dim night by that unnatural glare. V. And see beneath a sun-bright canopy, The anxious Tyrant sit, enthroned on high, Of fire, and look around; each distant isle Is dark in the bright dawn; towers far and near, Pierce like reposing flames the tremulous atmosphere. VI. There was such silence through the host, as when VII. What were his thoughts linked in the morning sun, Millions, with hearts that beat both loud and fast, VIII. They fly-the torches fall-a cry of fear 1 An is substituted for one in Mrs. Shelley's and Mr. Rossetti's editions, - much to the detriment of the figure's force. In Shelley's edition aspen is spelt aspin; but I do not imagine that this orthography was deliberate. Fairer it seems than aught that earth can breed, IX. All thought it was God's Angel come to sweep The Tyrant1 from his throne in dread did leap,— Scared by the faith they feigned, each priestly slave Sucked into the loud sea, the multitude With crushing panic, fled in terror's altered mood. X. They pause, they blush, they gaze, a gathering shout One checked, who, never in his mildest dreams Of his rent heart so hard and cold a creed XI. And others too, thought he was wise to see, Now with a bitter smile, whose light did shine 1 Tyrant with a small t in The Revolt of Islam. In The Revolt of Islam we have again the Iberian Priest. 3 The semi-colon is supplied by Mrs. Shelley. Rallied his trembling comrades-"Is it mine XII. "Were it not impious," said the King, "to break An Atheist; but for me she would have known XIII. They trembled, but replied not, nor obeyed, Pausing in breathless silence. Cythna sprung From her gigantic steed, who, like a shade Chased by the winds, those vacant streets among Fled tameless, as the brazen rein she flung Upon his neck, and kissed his moonèd brow. A piteous sight, that one so fair and young, The clasp of such a fearful death should woo With smiles of tender joy as beamed from Cythna now. XIV. The warm tears burst in spite of faith and fear, 1 Heaven has sent its other victim in The Revolt of Islam. 2 In The Revolt of Islam this passage is altered to Will I stand up before the golden throne U Of Heaven, and cry, to thee did I betray and Mrs. Shelley makes the further in line 7. |