Or wails, a screech-owl, to the deaf, cold moon; Haunts the dread brakes where serpents hiss and glare, Or hums, a glittering insect, in the air. The illustrious souls of great and virtuous men, In noble animals revive again: But base and vicious spirits wind their way, In scorpions, vultures, sharks, and beasts of prey. The fair, the gay, the witty, and the brave, The fool, the coward, courtier, tyrant, slave; Each, in congenial animals, shall find An home and kindred for his wandering mind "Even the cold body, when enshrined in earth, THE BEAMIN. EXTRACT FROM CANTO II. "Now, mark the words these dying lips impart, For all that live and breathe have once been men, And, in succession, will be such again: Even you, in turn, that human shape must change, And through ten thousand forms of being range. "Ah ! then refrain your brethren's blood to spill, And, till you can create, forbear to kill! Oft as a guiltless fellow-creature dies, The blood of innocence for vengeance cries: Even grim, rapacious savages of prey, Presume not, safe in self-defence, to slay; What though to Heaven their forfeit-lives they owe, Hath Heaven commission'd thee to deal the blow i Crush not the feeble, inoffensive worm, Thy sister's spirit wears that humble form! Why should thy cruel arrow smite yon bird 'I In him thy brother's plaintive song is heard. When the poor, harmless kid, all trembling, lies, And begs his little life with infant cries; Think, ere you take the throbbing victim's breath, You doom a dear, an only child to death. When at the ring the beauteous heifer stands, (Stay, monster ! stay those parricidal hands; Canst thou not, in that mild, dejected face, The sacred features of thy mother trace 1 When to the stake the generous bull you lead, Tremble—ah, tremble—lest your father bleed. Let not your anger on your dog descend, The faithful animal was once your friend; The friend whose courage snatch'd you from the grave When wrapt in flames or sinking in the wave. —Rash, impious youth! renounce that horrid knife, Spare the sweet antelope !—ah, spare—thy wife! In the meek victim's tear-illumined eyes, See the soft image of thy consort rise: Such as she is, when, by romantic streams, Her spirit greets thee in delightful dreams: Not as she look'd, when blighted in her bloom; Not as she lies, all pale, in yonder tomb; That mournfid tomb, where all thy joys repose: "While yet I sing, the weary king of light "There is a Power, all other powers above, Or old, when fiery warriors met, The victor, rising from the blow Who falls in honourable strife, |