The Poetical Works of John Payne Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...The bolts broke and the lightning's flame Tore up the heaven with rifts of red. And in the dream I heard the car Of Thor across the hill-tops roll, Shaking to ruin every star: The world trembled from pole to pole With that fierce clamour and the air Rang with the startled nightbirds' cries. And as I lay and listened there, The Thunderer hurled across the skies His awful hammer. Swift and straight, Meseemed, it clove the screaming heaven, Ruddy as flame, and fierce as fate, Full at my lover's brow was driven. Down at my very feet it fell, Flaming, and cleft the quaking ground Down to the immost heart of hell: And from the rift, a roaring sound Of fires innumerous burst into The midnight air: the very core Of the abysmal world shone blue And awful. Then again a roar Of thunders unendurable The cloisters of the aether broke, So terrible that the dream-spell Was cloven in twain and I awoke. The grot was still, save for the sound Of waters whispering through the air; The moonlight lay along the ground And lit my lover sleeping there. The terror of the dream possess'd My waking sense: with fearful ear I listened, half affrighted lest Some horror should be drawing near. But not a breath the stillness clave: The wind was silent: even the sea Bore not thus far its rippling wave And the birds slept on bush and tree. Perfected peace held everything; And yet there lingered in my head The terror of remembering: A cold sweat over me was shed And my heart fainted in my breast: I could not conquer with my will The tremors that upon me press'd, The thrill of thunders echoing still. Some fearful presence seemed to brood Above the place. Its every nook Was lit with moonlight: yet I could Awhile not lift my head to look. V At last, moved by some hidden spell, I...