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238 List of Books-with Remarks. PART II. entitled the PROCESSION. In this second part the Poet introduces a procession of the Vices. And, first, "Spreading her gorgeous train, the slave of fame, Sin's eldest daughter, tall AMBITION came," &c. then followed dark Revenge, pale selftormentress Envy, Treachery with Syren's charms, black Superstition, fiery Persecution, dire Cruelty, Conspiracy close muffled up, Murder with her dagger; next Flashood, "In either hand she held a folio book, All gilded o'er The one, tho' fill'd with many a labour'd note On Scripture-text by gravest fathers wrote, Serv'd only to disguise the sacred page, Confirm the sceptic, and confound the sage. The other book was stuff'd with wild romance. [dance; Where lawless Fiction wheel'd its wanton Tales of faints, pilgrims, virgins, knights and 'squires, Regions of scalding ice, and freezing fires; Monks, salamanders, stags, cats, monkies, hogs, Martyrs, popes, badgers, kings, cocks, bulls, and frogs, [dogs. Baboons, owls, prelates, emperors, and At her heels came book-laden Imposition; and with three lustrous crowns stalk'd Antichrist; Hypocrisy all robed in white; and gayer than the daughters of the earth came Sensual Joy; next leaning on her staff the old hag Avarice; "Last came Servility, of aspect low, Despis'd on earth, and hiss'd in hell below. "Thus went the Sisters," &c. An air and chorus, as before, closes this second part. PART III. entitled the BIRTH. The Poet, having in the two preceding parts described the place of meeting, and conducted the procession, in this third part assembles the Sisters to begin their rites, "While on the cliffs around the ghosts pursue, [view." With equal pace, and all their motions Before their rites begin, a chorus is repeated. Then, "A vapour, falling, gave the quick alarm, And ev'ry Sister pluck'd her secret charm Forth from her bosom." These mingling, a burning begins; and the Sisters, snatching up the flame, "Each to the winds her fiery portion threw." From thence a horrid band of Daemons overspread the earth; "Nor fled they idle; but, with evil fir'd, Lighted on beds, and impious dreams inspir'd." A recitative and air accompany the rites; but all at once they cease, and the Sisters cluster round. An invitation to the Daemons to attend, and a full chorus usher in the birth: "They scarce had ended, when a dismal groan Burst from beneath Now each Sister's face With expectation flush'd, keen to embrace The welcome stranger; when a monster rose So hideous, Each in his face beheld herself so plain, Looking the started, starting look'd again; But, gazing long, the shape familiar grew, The Sisters, bolder, near the monster drew; [part, At length they play'd the sympathetic And every Sister press'd him next her heart." This third part ends with the repetition of the six last lines in chorus. PART IV. entitled the FLIGHT. In this part the Ghosts of Martyrs, who had been spectators of all that passed, shuddering with fear, suddenly withdrew; and, having reached the mansions of the blessed spirits, "No sooner had they told the dreadful tale, Than sorrow fill'd coelestial hill and vale; The blood of saints enthron'd ran cold as ice, And tears of woe were shed in Paradise." These lines compose the chorus; and the saints are soon relieved by the voice of angels, who foretel the downfal of Babylon, and conclude with Alleluia! "Mean while in hell's unluminous domains, [maintains, Where Horror, dusky king, his throne Fierce, sportive Daemons held a festive day." Here the Poet describes the pastimes of the infernal spirits, and takes occasion to open a transient view of horrid mansions of the damned, and concludes this fourth part with a chorus. PART V. entitled the BAPTISM. The Poet, in this part, first describes the monster's garb: "He, for a coat, a long black vest had on; [one:" Like priest, like daemon, he was both in and then attempts to draw his portrait; but in this he sinks below himself, and, not unconscious of his fall, he thus apologizes, "but List of Books with Remarks. 239 "but to describe his face, Which every vice express'd, where not one grace, [Muse, To make atonement, smil'd; the labouring To paint her images, lacks words to chuse." He then pursues his subject: The Sisters consult about the monster's name; Anti-Christ addresses him by that of LEGION; Ambition seconds this address; but Hypocrisy thus: "Legion thou art! but a more hallow'd name [fame. Must cloak thy vices, and support thy Devoted at the shrine of Jesus bow; Of all religious, most religious Thou. Henceforth be Jesuit call'd. "Thus said, the strait produc'd, with look demure, A christal vial, fill'd with water pure: Then feigning awful, faint-like melancholy, With sacerdotal muttering, made it holy; And with her finger sprinkling, once or twice, Baptiz'd the hideous monster in a trice. "With foot advanc'd, in interrupting haste, (A cruise of blood suspended at her waist) Murder, officious, silence chose to break, And sacred text, blaspheming, thus she spake: "Let it be said, that he like Jesus came, With full credentials to secure his fame; To discipline the nations with his word He comes, and o'er the earth sends fire and sword; [good, And that his baptism may be firm and Baptiz'd with water, now baptize with blood. The Sisters all, with one consent, agreed; And Murder, Priestess dire! perform'd the deed." Hypocrisy, disliking the monster's hideous and mishapen face, forth from her bosom draws a flesh-like mask: "Deform'd no more, The loves took place, where furies frown'd before." Being now baptized, and his deformities concealed under the mask of Hyprocrisy, this part of the ceremony concludes with an air and chorus. PART VI. entitled the UNCTION. The Poet prefaces the enchantments which he intends to exhibit in this part, with the following invocation: "Spirit of sacred pomp! conclude the song, [sters long. Come from thy favourite ayles and cloy- Come with thy splendors all! each sense confound, [ground. And lead me, dazzled, o'er enchanted Then, in an airy circuit, let me climb Up to the heights of verity sublime, And sing the Unction, last and grandest rite, [light." The Sisters solemniz'd 'e're morning Hypocrisy quickens the performance of this rite, lest Morning should intrude, and reproach their tardiness. The Sisters, in an instant, change their robes from white to purple. All "Save Anti-Christ alone. She, triple crown'd, [nown'd; Conspicuous stood, o'er all the rest re- Still wore her scarlet, as superior deem'd; Pope she, they Cardinals, in conclave seem'd." "Lowly the Jesuit bow'd, and met the ground, [profound; And thrice pac'd back, with abasement low, [toe." Devoutly seiz'd, and kiss'd the harlot's The Poet now erects a visionary Temple, ornamented with sculpture, and enriched with paintings, such as Rome has copied since: "Thro' Sisera's Temples, here the Kenite fair [with air. Drove the cold steel, and mix'd his soul There Judith, carving Holofernes' head, Sent the drunk hero dreaming to the dead." While the Jesuit and Sisters are rapt and amazed at the objects that surround them, the powers of Hell are exerted to heighten the joy, and, that nothing might be wanting, "Altars, saints, images, fill'd each their space, [grace And brilliant lamps discovered every All slowly rising, gentle as the dew, Nine shapes on either side, in whitest hue, Fair Virgin forms, arose: each in her hand A vial held with sweets of Saba's land. The Jesuit fell Down prostrate, and ador'd the powers of Hell: [Supreme Then rose commanded; and the VICE Pour'd on his head, of sweets, a flood extreme." A sudden transition is here happily introduced by the Poet, that marks the uncertainty of vicious pleasures. While the Sisters were preparing for rejoicings Up rose DESPAIR, Shaking the snaky foldings of her hair. She spoke - she was not - and th' unreal pile (aile, With columns, sculpture, cupola, and Dissolv'd in air; the virgin shapes were lost, [aether tost. Altars, fonts, pictures, all-in sightless No trace was left. The rocks were hid no more, And to their shapes return'd the Sisters as before." PART
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Reopened for Editing 2023-05-11 13:15:25