Volume II Part 9 (1/2)
In those white cloisters live secure, From the rude blasts of wanton breath; Each hour more innocent and pure, Till ye shall wither into death.
Then that which living gave ye room, Your glorious sepulchre shall be; There needs no marble for a tomb,-- That breast hath marble been to me!
The epistle to Castara's mother, Lady Eleanor Powis, who appears to have looked kindly on their love, contains some very beautiful lines, in which he a.s.serts the disinterestedness of his affection for Castara, rich as she is in fortune, and derived from the blood of Charlemagne.
My love is envious! would Castara were The daughter of some mountain cottager, Who, with his toil worn out, could dying leave Her no more dower than what she did receive From bounteous Nature; her would I then lead To the temple, rich in her own wealth; her head Crowned with her hair's fair treasure; diamonds in Her brighter eyes; soft ermines in her skin, Each India in her cheek, &c.
This first part closes with ”the description of Castara,” which is extended to several stanzas, of unequal merit. The following compose in themselves a sweet picture:
Like the violet, which alone Prospers in some happy shade, My Castara lives unknown, To no looser eye betray'd.
For she's to herself untrue Who delights i' the public view.
Such her beauty, as no arts Have enrich'd with borrow'd grace Her high birth no pride imparts, For she blushes in her place.
Folly boasts a glorious blood-- She is n.o.blest, being good!
She her throne makes reason climb, While wild pa.s.sions captive lie; And each article of time Her pure thoughts to heaven fly.
All her vows religious be-- And her love she vows to me!
The second part of these poems, dedicated to Castara as ”the WIFE,” have not less variety and beauty, though there were, of course, fewer incidents to record. The first Sonnet, ”to Castara, now possest of her in marriage,” beginning ”This day is ours,” &c. has more fancy and poetry than tenderness. The lines to Lord Powis, the father of Castara, on the same occasion, are more beautiful and earnest, yet rich in fanciful imagery. Lord Powis, it must be remembered, had opposed their union, and had been, with difficulty, induced to give his consent. The following lines refer to this; and Habington a.s.serts the purity and unselfishness of his attachment.
Nor grieve, my Lord, 'tis perfected. Before Afflicted seas sought refuge on the sh.o.r.e, From the angry north wind; ere the astonish'd spring Heard in the air the feathered people sing; Ere time had motion, or the sun obtained His province o'er the day--this was ordained.
Nor think in her I courted wealth or blood, Or more uncertain hopes; for had I stood On the highest ground of fortune,--the world known, No greatness but what waited on my throne-- And she had only had that face and mind, I with myself, had th' earth to her resigned.
In virtue there's an empire!
Here I rest, As all things to my power subdued; to me There's nought beyond this, the whole world is SHE!
On the anniversary of their wedding-day, he thus addresses her:--
LOVE'S ANNIVERSARY.
Thou art returned (great light) to that blest hour In which I first by marriage, (sacred power!) Joined with Castara hearts; and as the same Thy l.u.s.tre is, as then,--so is our flame; Which had increased, but that by Love's decree, 'Twas such at first, it ne'er could greater be.
But tell me, (glorious lamp,) in thy survey Of things below thee, what did not decay By age to weakness? I since that have seen The rose bud forth and fade, the tree grow green, And wither wrinkled. Even thyself dost yield Something to time, and to thy grave fall nigher; But virtuous love is one sweet endless fire.
”To Castara, on the knowledge of love,” is peculiarly elegant; it was, probably, suggested by some speculative topics of conversation, discussed in the literary circle he had drawn round him at Hindlip.[53]
Where sleeps the north wind when the south inspires Life in the Spring, and gathers into quires The scatter'd nightingales; whose subtle ears Heard first the harmonious language of the spheres; Whence hath the stone magnetic force t'allure Th'enamour'd iron; from a seed impure.
Or natural, did first the mandrake grow; What power in the ocean makes it flow; What strange materials is the azure sky Compacted of; of what its brightest eye The ever flaming sun; what people are In th' unknown world; what worlds in every star:-- Let curious fancies at these secrets rove; Castara, what we know we'll practise--love.
The ”Lines on her fainting;” those on ”The fear of death,”--
Why should we fear to melt away in death?
May we but die together! &c.