FRAGMENT OF A POEM

ON

THE WORLD BEFORE THE FLOOD.

The Sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair.

Gen. vi. 2.

FRAGMENT OF A POEM

ON

THE WORLD BEFORE THE FLOOD.

THERE came a spirit down at eventide

To the city of Enoch, and the terraced height
Of Jared's palace. On his turret top

There Jared sate, the king, with lifted face
And eyes intent on Heaven, whose sober light
Slept on his ample forehead, and the locks
Of crisped silver, beautiful in age,

And (but that pride had dimm'd, and lust of war,
Those reverend features with a darker shade)
Of saintly seeming, yet no saintly mood,
No heavenward musing fix'd that steadfast eye,
God's enemy, and tyrant of mankind.

To whom that demon herald, from the wing
Alighting, spake: "Thus saith the prince of air,
Whose star flames brightest in the van of night,
Whom gods and heroes worship, all who sweep
On sounding wing the arch of nether heaven,
Or walk in mail the earth,-Thy prayers are heard,
And the rich fragrance of thy sacrifice

Hath not been wafted on the winds in vain.
Have I not seen thy child, that she is fair?
Give me thine Ada, thy beloved one,

And she shall be my queen; and from her womb
Shall giants spring, to rule the seed of Cain,
And sit on Jared's throne!"" Then Jared rose,
And spread his hands before the Evil power,
And lifted up his voice and laugh'd for joy.

Say to my Lord, Thus saith the king of men,-
Thou art my god,―thy servant I, my child
Is as thine handmaid!-Nay, abide awhile,
To taste the banquet of an earthly hall,
And leave behind thy blessing!" But, in mist,
And like a vision from a waken'd man,

The cloudy messenger dissolved away,

There melting where the moonbeam brightest fell.
Then Jared turn'd, and from the turret top
Call'd on his daughter-" Haste, my beautiful!
Mine Ada, my beloved! bind with flowers
Thy coal-black hair, and heap the sacred pile
With freshest odours, and provoke the dance
With harp and gilded organ, for this night
We have found favour in immortal eyes,

And the great gods have bless'd us. Thus he spake,

Nor spake unheeded; in the ample hall

His daughter heard, where, by the cedar fire,

Amidst her maidens, o'er the ivory loom

She pass'd the threads of gold. They hush'd the song Which, wafted on the fragrant breeze of night,

Swept o'er the city like the ringdove's call;

And forth with all her damsels Ada came,
As mid the stars the silver mantled moon,
In stature thus and form pre-eminent,
Fairest of mortal maids. Her father saw
That perfect comeliness, and his proud heart
In purer bliss expanded. Long he gazed,
Nor wonder deem'd that such should win the love
Of Genius or of Angel; such the cheek
Glossy with purple youth, such the large eye,
Whose broad black mirror, through its silken fringe,
Glisten'd with softer brightness, as a star
That nightly twinkles o'er a mountain well
Such the long locks, whose raven mantle fell
Athwart her ivory shoulders, and o'erspread
Down to the heel her raiment's filmy fold.
She, bending first in meekness, rose to meet
Her sire's embrace, than him alone less tall,
Whom, since primeval Cain, the sons of men
Beheld unrivall❜d: then, with rosy smile,

;

What seeks," she said, "my father? Why remain On thy lone tower, when from the odorous hearth The sparkles rise within, and Ada's hand

Hath deck'd thy banquet?" But the king replied,———
"O fairest, happiest, best of mortal maids,
My prayer is heard, and from yon western star
Its lord hath look'd upon thee: as I sate
Watching the Heavens, a Heavenly spirit came
From him whom chiefest of the host of Heaven
Our fathers honour'd,-whom we nightly serve
(Since first Jehovah scorn'd such sacrifice)

H