O’er all, though invisible, this spirit dwells; But from ethereal mansions he descends To show himself to men, and thus portends His steps the night rain, and the thunder tells. There have I seen him: or perhaps serene In the sun’s beam, he wanders to o’erflow Heaven, earth and sea, in waves of golden glow. On music’s accent trembles he unseen; And solitude he loves, he lists attent The waters’ rush in headlong fury sent: The wandering Arabs o’er their sands he leads, And through their agitated breasts inspires A feeling undefined, but great to deeds Of desperate and wild liberty that fires. With joy he sits upon the mountain heights, Or thence descends, to mirror in the deep, In crystal fixedness, or animates The tempest with his cries along to sweep: Or if its clear and sparkling veil extend The night, upon the lofty poop reclined, With ecstasy delights to inspire his mind, Who raptured views the skies with ocean blend. Noble and lovely is the ardour felt For glory! for its laurel pants my heart; And I would fain, this world when I depart, Of my steps leave deep traces where I dwelt. This of thy favour, spirit most divine! I well may hope, for that eternal lives Thy glowing flame, and life eternal gives. Mortals, whom fate gave genius forth to shine, Haste anxious to the sacred fount, where flows Thy fiery inspiration; but bestows The world unworthy guerdon on their pains: While them a mortal covering enshrouds, Obscure they wander through the listless crowds; Contempt and indigence their lot remains, Perchance ev’n impious mockery all their gains: At length they die, and their souls take the road Of the great fount of light whence first they flow’d; And then, in spite of envy, o’er their tomb A sterile laurel buds, ay, buds and grows, And thus protects the ashes in the gloom, ’Neath its immortal shade; but vainly shows To teach men justice. Ages onward fleet The lamentable drama to repeat, Without regret or shame. Homer! thou divine, Milton sublime, unhappy Tasso thine, The fate to tell it. Genius yet the while Faces misfortune undismayed; his ears Dwell only on the applauses to beguile, His songs will happy gain in future years; His glory, his misfortunes will excite Sweet sympathy; posterity will requite Justice against their sires, who thus condemn Him now to grief and misery, shame on them! From his tomb he will reign; his cherish’d name Will beauty with respect and sighs proclaim. On her eye gleams the bright and precious tear His burning pages then will draw from her, Kind-hearted loveliness! he sees it near; His heart beats, he is moved; and strong to incur The cruelty and injustice, is consoled;