Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

NOTES

ON THE

TRIUMPH OF DEATH.

(1) This is an exact account of the last scene of Laura. Her biographer observes, as an indubitable proof of her uncommon merit, that the attachment of her female friends was not lessened by their envy at her personal charms. The sentiments expressed by them on this occasion are the same which are recorded by Petrarch in his prose works.

(2) On account of this sentiment of Laura this part is in some editions printed with the Triumph of Fame, and not without reason; because if the account be true, as it is highly probable, she at least

endangered her delicacy, if not her virtue, by her inordinate passion for the reputation of furnishing a theme to so celebrated a poet.

END OF THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH.

THE

TRIUMPH OF FAM E.

PART THE FIRST.

WHEN cruel Death his paly ensign spread

Over that face, which oft in triumph led

My subject thoughts; and Beauty's sovereign light, Retiring, left the world immerst in night;

The Phantom, with a frown that chill'd the heart, Seem'd with his gloomy pageant to depart, Exulting in his formidable arms,

And proud of conquest o'er seraphic charms.

26

When, turning round, I saw the Power* advance
That breaks the gloomy grave's eternal trance,
And bids the disembodied spirit claim

The glorious guerdon of immortal FAME.
Like Phosphor, in the sullen rear of night,

Before the golden wheels of orient light

He came.

But who the tendant pomp can tell,
What mighty master of the chorded shell
Can sing how Heaven above accordant smil'd,
And what bright pageantry the prospect fill'd.
I look'd, but all in vain: the potent ray
Flash'd on my sight intolerable day

At first; but to the splendor soon inur'd,
My eyes perus'd the pomp with sight assur'd.
True dignity in every face was seen,

As on they march'd with more than mortal mien;
And some I saw whom Love had link'd before,
Ennobled now by Virtue's lofty lore.

*Viz. Fame.

« AnteriorContinuar »