The Lady's Monthly Museum Volume 6 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 edition. Excerpt: ... the apollonian wreath. the fatal gift. A poem. C Concluded from page 295.) Soon as the placid evening's dewy close Had hush'd the world to silence and repose, With cautious step, befitting that dull hour, Abdallah glided from the palace bower, Unlock'd the gate, and hurried forth to reach The lonely windings of the distant beach. Soft o'er the ocean from her heaven of blue The rising moon a silvery lustre threw, In vivid glory round her azure throne Each twinkling star and nightly planet shone, The truant winds were hush'd, or scarcely sigh'd Along the level surface of the tide, The murmuring billows, heaving to the land, Fell faint and fainter on the pebbly sand; Gradual they slept--and now was heard no more The sound of waters on the lone sea-shore. Abdallah gaz'd, as one that fain would die, On the calm landscape and the cloudless sky; All nature slumber'd in the moon's pale beam, Rock, grove, and bower, the valley, and the stream, All, all was still--Abdallah could not bear The heavenly quiet of a scene so fair, But sat him down, and with a flood of tears Bewail'd the darker aspect of his years, Look'd on his ruby ring with angry scorn, And thus exclaim'd, repentant, and forlorn--"Detested gift to thee, to thee I owe The source of all my grief and all my woe: The mystic veil that providence design'd To screen from mortal ken the mortal mind" Thy hated spells have snnder'd to my view, And shown me that which scarcely angels knew. What hast thou taught me?--what alas but this--That nature's ignorance was nature's bliss; That heaven enough had prov'd us each to each By outward act, propensity, and speech; And if indeed there lurk'd some deadly sin, Some innate viciousness conceal'd within, 'Twere best a fault unknown, and happiest he...