1715. Robert Southey to Walter Savage Landor, [25/26 November 1809]

The strong foundations of the inmost Earth

Rest upon Padalon. That icy mound

Which girt the mortal Ocean round

Reachd the profound;

Ice in the region of the upper air.

Crystal midway, & adamant below,

Whose strength sufficed to bear

The weight of all this upper world of ours,

And with its rampart closd to the Realm of Woe.

Eight gates hath Padalon, eight heavenly Powers

Have them in charge, each alway at his post,

Lest from their penal caves the accursed host

Maugre the might of Bali & the God

Should break & carry ruin all abroad.

Those gates stand ever open, night & day,

And Souls of mortal men

For ever throng the way.

Some from the dolorous den

Children of sin & wrath, no more return.

Others whose deeds create

For them a happier fate,

Pass joyfully beyond this glowing bourn

The dread sojourn

Of guilt & twin-born punishment & woe,

And wild remorse, here linkd with worse despair,

They to the Eastern Gate rejoicing go,

The Ship of Heaven awaits their coming there,

And on they sail, greeting the blessed light

Thro realms of upper air,

Bound for the Swerga once. But now no more

Their voyage rests upon that happy shore,

Since Indra by the dreadful Rajahs might

Compelld hath taken flight:

On to the second World their way they wend;

And there in trembling hope await the doubtful end.

Yet still in them doth Hope predominate

Faiths precious privilege, while higher Powers

Give way to fear in these portentous hours.

Behold the Wardens eight,

Each silent at his gate

Expectant stands! They turn their anxious eyes

Within, & listening to the distant din

Of mutinous uproar, each in all his hands

Holds all his weapons, ready for the fight.

For hark! what clamorous cries

Upon Kehama for deliverance vile!

Come Rajah! they exclaim, too long to groan

In torments. Come Deliverer! yonder throne

Awaits thee, – now Kehama – Rajah now,

Earthly Almighty wherefore tarriest thou?

Such were the sound which rung in wild uproar

Oer all the echoing vaults of Padalon,

And as the asuras from the brazen floor

Struggling against their fetters, strove to rise,

Their clashing chains were heard, & shrieks & cries

With curses mixd, against the Fiends who urge

Fierce on their rebel limbs the avenging scourge.

These were the sounds which at the Southern gate

Assaild Ereenias ear. Alighting here

He laid before Neroodi’s feet the Maid

Who pale & cold with fear

Hung on his neck, well nigh a lifeless weight.

Who & what art thou, cried the Guardian Power

Sight so unwonted wondering to behold,

O Son of Light!

Who comest here at this portentous hour,

When Yamens throne

Trembles, & all our might can scarce keep down

The rebel race from seizing Padalon!

Who & what art thou? & what wild despair

Or wilder hope, from realms of upper air

Tempts thee to bear

This mortal Maid to our forlorn abode?

Fitter for her I ween the Swerga Bowers

And sweet society of Heavenly Powers

Than this, a doleful scene,

Even in securest hours.

And whither would ye go?

Alas! can human or celestial ear

Unmaddend hear

The shrieks & yellings of infernal woe.

Can living flesh & blood

Endure the passage of the Fiery Flood!

Lord of the Gate, replied the Glendoveer

We come obedient to the will of Fate

And happy doomd to bring

Hope & salvation to the Infernal King,

For Seeva sends us here.

Even He to whom futurity is known

The Holiest bade us go to Yamens throne

Thou seest my precious charge.

With thee secure from harm, I leave her

While I ascend to bear her father down.

Beneath the shelter of thy arm receive her!

Then quoth he to the Maid

Be of good chear my Kalyal! dearest dear

In faith subdue thy dread,

Anon I shall be here. So having said,

Aloft with vigorous bound the Glendoveer,

Sprung in celestial might,

And soaring up in spiral circles wound

His indefatigable flight.

But as he thus departed,

The Maid who at Neroodi’s feet was lying

Like one entranced or dying,

Recovering strength from sudden terror started

And gazing after him with straining sight

And straining arms she stood

As if in attitude

To woo him back from flight.

Yea she had shapd his name

For utterance, to recall & bid him stay

Nor leave her thus alone; but virtuous shame

Repressd the unbidden sounds upon their way,

And calling faith to aid

Even in that fearful hour the pious Maid

Collected courage, till she seemd to be

Calm & in hope, such power hath piety.

Before the Giant Keeper of the Gate

She crost her patient arms, & at his feet

Prepared to meet

The aweful will of Fate with equal mind

She took her seat resignd.

Even the stern trouble of Neroodis brow

Relaxd as he beheld the valiant Maid.

Hope long unfelt till now

Rose in his heart reviving, & a smile

Dawnd in his brightening countenance the while

He gazd on her with wonder & delight

The blessing of the Powers of the Padalon,

Virgin, be on thee! cried the admiring God,

And blessed be the hour that gave thee birth

Daughter of Earth!

For thou to this forlorn abode hast brought

Hope who too long hath been a stranger here.

And certes for no lamentable lot

Natures, who erreth not,

To thee that heart of fortitude hath given

Those eyes of purity, that face of love,

There is no truth above

If thou be’est not the inheritrix of heaven.

Thus as Naroodi spake, his brow severe

Shone with an inward joy; for sure he thought

When Seeva sent so fair a creature here

In this momentous hour

Ere long the Worlds deliverance would be wrought

And Padalon escape the Rajahs power

With pious mind the Maid, in humble guise

Inclin’d, receivd his blessing silently,

And raisd her grateful eyes

A moment, then again

Abas’d them at his presence. Hark! on high

The sound of coming wings: her anxious ears

Have caught the distant sound. Ereenia brings

His burden down. Up starting from her seat

How joyfully she rears

Her eager head! & scarce upon the ground

Ladurlads giddy feet their footing found,

When with her trembling arms she clasps him round

No word of greeting

Nor other sign of joy at that strange meeting

Expectant of their fate,

Silent & hand in hand,

Before the Imperial Gate

The Father & his heavenly Daughter stand

Then to Neroodi said the Glendoveer,

No heaven-born eer hath visited

This region drear & dread, but I the first

Who tread the World accurst.

Lord of the Gate to whom these realms are known

Direct my fated way to Yamens throne

Bring forth my chariot, Carmala! quoth

The Keeper of the way –

It was the Car wherein

On Yamens festal day

When all the Powers of Hell attend their King,

Yearly to Yamenpur did he repair

To pay his homage there

Poisd on a single wheel it movd along

Instinct with motion: by what wonderous skill

Compact, no human tongue could tell

Nor human wit devise; but on that wheel

Moving or still,

As if an inward life sustaind its weight

Supported stood the Car of miracle.

Then Carmela brought forth two mantles wide

As the swans breast, & bright as mountain snow

When from the wintry sky

The Sun, late-rising shines upon the height

And willing vapours fill the vale below

Not without pain the unacustomd sight

That brightness could sustain,

For neither mortal stain

Nor parts corruptible remain,

Nor aught that time could touch or force destroy

In that pure web whereof the robes were wrought.

So long had it in tenfold fires been tried,

And blanchd & to that brightness purified.

Apparelld thus alone,

Children of Earth, Neroodi cried

In safety may ye pass to Yamens throne.

Thus only can your living flesh & blood

Endure the passage of the Fiery Flood.

Of other frame, O Son of Heaven, art thou,

Yet hast thou now to go

Thro regions which thy heavenly mould will try.

Glory unutterably bright I know,

And beams intense of empyrean light

Thine eye divine can bear. But fires of woe

The sight of torments, & the cry

Of absolute despair,

Might not these things dismay thee on thy flight,

And thy strong pennons flag & fail thee then?

Trust not thy good heart, which horror might assail

And pity quail.

Pity, in these abodes of no avail.

But take thy seat this mortal pair beside,

And Carmela the infernal car will guide,

Go, & may happy end your way betide!

So as he spake the self-movd Car rolld on,

And lo! they pass the Gate of Padalon.

Whoeer hath lovd with venturous step to tread

The chamber dread

Of some deep cave, & see his tapers beam

Lost in the arch of darkness overhead,

And mark its gleam

Playing afar upon the silent stream.

Where from their secret bed

And course unknown & inaccessible

The sunless waters well:

Whoeer hath trod such caves of endless night,

When measuring back the way

He knows with what delight refreshd his eye

Perceives the shadow of the light of day,

Thro the far portal slanting where it falls

Dimly reflected on the watry walls

How heavenly seems the sky

And how with quickened feet he hastens up,

Eager again to greet

The living World & blessed sunshine there,

And drink as from a cup

Of joy, with thirsty lips the open air

Far other light than that of day there shone

Upon the travellers entering Padalon

They too in darkness entered on their way,

But far before the Car

A glow as of a fiery furnace light

Fill’d all before them. Twas a light which made

Darkness itself appear

A thing of comfort, & the sight dismayd

Shrunk inward from the molten atmosphere.

Their way was thro the adamantine rock

Which girt the World of Woe; on either side

Its massive walls arose, & overhead

Archd the long passage. Onward as they ride

With stronger glare the light around them spread

And lo! the regions dread

The World of Woe before them, opening wide.

There rolls the Fiery Flood

Girding the realms of Padalon around.

A sea of flame it seemd to be

Sea without bound

For neither mortal nor immortal sight

Could pierce across thro that intensest light.

A single rib of steel

Keen as the edge of keenest scymetar

Spread this wide gulph of fire. The infernal Car

Rolld to the gulph, & on its single wheel

Self-balanced rose upon that edge of steel.

Red quivering float the vapours overhead,

The fiery gulph beneath them spread,

Tosses its billowing blaze with rush & roar,

Steady & swift the self-movd Chariot went

Winning the long ascent,

Then downward rolling gaind the farther shore.

But Oh what sounds & sights of woe

What sights & sounds of fear,

Assail the mortal travellers here.

Their way was on a causey straight & wide,

Where penal vaults on either side were seen

Ranged like the cells wherein

Those wonderous winged alchemists infold

Their luscious stores of liquid gold.

Thick walls of adamant divide

The dungeons, & from yonder circling flood

Off streams of fire thro secret channels glide,

And wind among them, & in each provide

An everlasting food

Of righteous torments for the accursed brood.

Different the dole of torments to the sum

Of their offences portiond rightfully.

In baths of fire the worst Offenders lie

Immerst, or upon beds of molten ore

Welter eternally.

Others are fastend prone upon the floor

With adamantine chains,

While on their substance inconsumable

Leeches of fire for ever hang & pull,

And worms of fire for ever gnaw their food

That still renewd,

Freshens for ever their perpetual pains.

These were the race who in their might

Confiding impiously, would fain have driven

The Deities supreme from highest Heaven.

But by the Suras in celestial fight

Oppposd & put to flight

Here in their penal dens the accursed crew

Not for its crime, but for its failure rue

Their wild ambition: yet again they long

The contest to renew,

And wield their arms again in happier hour,

And with united power

Following Kehamas triumph to press on

From World to World, & Heaven to Heaven, & Sphere

To Sphere, till Hemakoot shall be their own,

And Meru mount, & Indras Swerga Bowers

And Bramas region where the year-long Hours

Weave the vast circle of his ample day.

Even over Veeshnoos empyreal seat

They trust the Rajah shall extend their sway,

And that the hundred-headed Snake whereon

The strong Preserver sets his conquering feet,

Will rise & shake him headlong from his throne,

When with their irresistible array,

Amid the milky Sea they force their way,

Even higher yet their frantic thoughts aspire,

Yea, on their beds of torment as they lie

The highest holiest Seeva they defy

And tell him they shall have anon their day

When they will storm his throne, & seize Mount Calasay.

Such impious hopes torment

Their raging hearts, impious & impotent,

And now with unendurable desire

And lust of vengeance, that like inward fire

Doth aggravate their punishment, they rave

Upon Kehama; him the accursed rout

Acclaim with furious cries & maddening shout

They call on him to save

Kehama they exclaim,

Thundering the dreadful echo rolls about,

And Hells wide arch repeats Kehamas name

Over these dens of punishment the host

Of Padalon maintain eternal guard,

Keeping upon the wall their vigilant ward.

At every angle stood

A watch tower, the Decurion Demons post,

Where raisd on high he viewd with sleepless eye

His trust, that all was well. And over these

Such was the perfect discipline of Hell,

Captains of fifties & of hundreds held

Authority, each in his loftier tower

And Chiefs of legions over them had power

And that all Hell with towers was girt around

Aloft the brazen turrets shone

In the red light of Padalon,

And on the walls between

Dark moving the infernal guards were seen.

Gigantic Demons, pacing to & fro,

Who ever & anon

Spreading their crimson pennons plunged below

Faster to rivet down the Asuras chains,

And with the snaky scourge & fiercer pains

Repress their rage rebellious. Loud around

In mingled sound the echoing lash, the clash

Of chains, the ponderous hammers iron stroke

With execrations, groans, & shrieks & cries

And thro the din their broke

Like thunder heard thro all the roaring winds

The dreadful name. Kehama! still they rave

Hasten & save!

Now – now Deliverer, now Kehama now

Earthly Almighty, wherefore tarriest thou

Oh if that name abhorrd

Thus utterd could well-nigh

Dismay the powers of Hell & daunt their Lord

How fearfully to Kalyals ear it came!

She as the Car rolld on its rapid way

Bent down her head, & closd her eyes for dread

And deafening with strong effort from within

Her ears against the din,

Covered & prest them close with both her hands

Sure if the mortal Maiden had not fed

On heavenly food & long been strengthened

With heavenly converse for such end vouchsafd

Her human heart had faild, & she had died

Beneath the horrors of this aweful hour.

But Heaven supplied a power

Beyond her earthly nature, to the measure

Of need infusing strength,

And Fate whose secret & unerring pleasure

Appointed all, decreed

An ample meed & recompense at length

High-fated Maid the righteous hour is nigh,

The all-embracing eye

Of Retribution still beholdeth thee,

Bear onward to the end O Maid courageously.

On rolls the Car, & lo! afar

Upon its height the Towers of Yamenpur

Rise on the astonishd sight.

Behold the Infernal City, Yamens seat

Of empire. In the midst of Padalon

Where the eight causeys meet,

There on a rock of adamant it stood

Resplendent far & wide,

Itself of solid diamond edified,

And all around it rolld the fiery flood.

Eight bridges arched the stream; huge piles of brass

Magnificent, such structures as beseem

The seat & capital of such great God

Worthy of Yamens own august abode.

A brazen tower & gateway at each end

Of each was raisd, where Giant Wardens stood

Stationed in arms the passage to defend,

That never foe might cross the fiery flood.

Oh what a gorgeous sight it was to see

The Diamond City blazing on its height

With more than mid-sun splendour, by the light

Of its own fiery river, –

Its towers & domes & pinnacles & spires,

Turrets & battlements, that flash & quiver

Thro the red, restless, atmosphere for ever.

And hovering over head

The smoke & vapours of all Padalon,

Fit firmament for such a world, were spread,

With surge & swell & everlasting motion,

Heaving & opening like tumultuous ocean.

Nor were there wanting there

Such glories as beseemd such region well,

For tho with our blue heaven & genial air

The firmament of Hell might not compare,

As little could our earthly tempests vie

With the dread storms of that infernal sky,

Whose clouds of all metallic elements

Sublimd, were full. For when its thunders broke,

Not all the united worlds artillery

In one discharge could equal that loud stroke,

And tho the Diamond towers & battlements

Stood firm upon their adamantine rock,

Yet while it vollied round the vault of Hell,

Earths solid arch was shaken with the shock,

And cities in one mighty ruin fell.

Thro the red sky terrific meteors scour,

Huge stones come hailing down, or sulphur shower,

Floating amid the lurid air like snow,

Kindles in its descent

And with blue fire-drops rains on all below

At times the whole, supernal element

Igniting, burst in one vast sheet of flame.

And roard as with the sound

Of rushing winds, above, below, around.

Anon the flame was spent & overhead

A heavy cloud of moving darkness spread.

Straight to the brazen bridge & gate

The self-moved chariot bears its mortal load.

At sight of Carmala

On either side the Great Guards divide

And give the chariot way

Up yonder winding road it rolls along

Swift on its course & strong

That not with steeper nor with swifter flight

Rising on spiral wing

The bittern soareth to her heavenly height, –

And lo the Palace of the Infernal King.

Two forms inseperable in unity

Hath Yamen; even as with hope or fear

The Soul regardeth him doth he appear,

For Hope & Fear

Here from prophets conscience spring

And err not in their bodings. Therefore some

They who polluted with offences come,

Behold him as the King

Of Terrors, black of aspect, red of eye,

Reflecting back upon the sinful mind,

Heightend with vengeance & the wrath divine

Its own inborn deformity.

But to the righteous Spirit how benign

His aweful countenance, where parental love

And heavenly goodness, tempering mercy shine

Yet is he still

Himself the same, one form, one face, one will.

And these his two foldx aspects are but one

And change is none

In him, for change in Yamen could not be

The immutable is he.

He sate upon a marble sepulchre

Massive & huge, where at the monarchs feet

The righteous Bali had his judgement seat.

A golden throne before them vacant stood

Three human forms sustaind its ponderous weight

With lifted hands outspread & shoulders bowd

Bending beneath their load

A fourth was wanting. They were of the hue

Of coals of fire; yet were they flesh & blood,

And living breath they drew,

And their red eye balls rolld with ghastly stare,

As thus for their misdeeds they stood tormented there.

Here issuing from the Car the Glendoveer

Did homage to the God, – then raisd his head.

Suppliants we come, he said,

I need not tell thee by what wrongs opprest,

For nought can pass on earth to thee unknown,

Sufferers from tyranny we seek for rest

And Seeva bade us go to Yamens throne

Here he hath said all wrongs shall be redrest.

Yamen replied, Even now the hour draws nigh near

When Fate its hidden will ways will manifest.

Not for light purpose would the Holiest send

His suppliants here when we in doubt & fear

The aweful issue of the hour attend.

Wait ye in patience & faith the end.

So spake the Lord of Padalon when lo!

The voice of lamentation ceasd in Hell

And sudden silence all around them fell,

Silence more wild & terrible

Than all the infernal dissonance before.

Thro that portentous stillness far away

Unwonted sounds were heard, advancing on

And deepening on their way

For now the inexorable hour

Was come, & in the fullness of his power,

Now that his dreadful rites had all been done,

Kehama from the Swerga hastened down

To seize upon the throne of Padalon.

He came in all his might & majesty

With all his terrors-clad, & all his pride.

And by the attribute of Deity

Which he had won from Heaven, self multiplied

The dreadful One appeard at on every side.

In the same indivisible point of time

At the eight gates he stood at once, & beat

The Warden Gods of Hell beneath his feet,

Then in his brazen car of triumph straight

At the same moment drove thro every gate.

By Aullays hugest of created kind

Fiercest, & fleeter than the viewless wind

His cars were drawn, ten yokes of ten abreast,

What less sufficed for such almighty weight?

Eight bridges from the fiery flood arose

Growing before his way as on he goes,

And drives the thundering chariot wheels along,

At once oer all the roads of Padalon

Silent & motionless remain

The Asuras on their bed of pain

Waiting with breathless hope the great event.

All Hell was hushd in dread

Such was that omnipresent coming spread;

Nor had its voice been heard, tho all its rout

Innumerable had lighted up one shout;

Nor if the infernal firmament

Had in one unimaginable burst

Spent its collected thunders, had the sound

Been audible, such louder terrors went

Before his forms substantial. Round about

The presence scattered lightnings far & wide

That quenchd on every side

With their intensest blaze the feebler fire

Of Padalon, even as the stars go out,

When with prodigious light

Some blazing meteor fills the astonishd night.

The Diamond City shakes,

The Adamantine Rock

Is loosend with the shock;

From its foundation movd it reels & quakes,

The brazen portals crumbling fall to dust.

Prone fall the Giant Guards

Beneath the Aullays crusht.

On on thro Yamenpur their thundering feet

Speed from all points to Yamens judgement-seat

And lo where multiplied

Before, behind him, & on every side

Shaking all weapons in his countless hands

Around the Lord of Hell Kehama stands

He too put forth his might,

Thick darkness blacker than the blackest night

Rose from their wrath & veild

The unutterable fight.

The power of Fate & Sacrifice prevaild

And soon the strife was done.

Then did the Man-God reassume

His unity, absorbing into one

The consubstantiate shapes: & as the gloom

Opened, fallen Yamen on the ground was seen

His neck beneath the conquering Rajahs feet

Who on the marble tomb

Had his triumphal seat.

Silent the Man-Almighty sate, a smile

Gleamd on his dreadful lips, the while

Dallying with power, he paused from following up

His conquest, as a man in social hour

Sips of the grateful cup,

Again & yet again with curious taste

Searching its subtle flavour ere he drink

Even so Kehama now forbore his haste,

Having within his reach whateer he sought

On his own haughty power he seemd to muse

Pampering his swelling heart with arrogant thought

Before him stood the Golden Throne in sight

Right opposite; he could not chuse but see

Nor seeing chuse but wonder. Who are ye

Who bear the Golden Throne tormented there

He cried, for whom doth Destiny prepare

The Imperial Seat, & why are ye but Three?

1^st Bearer

I of the Children of mankind was first

Me miserable! who adding store to store

Heapt up superfluous wealth; & now accurst

For ever I the frantic crime deplore.

2^d Bearer

I oer my brethren of mankind the first

Usurping power, set up a throne sublime,

A King & Conquerer; therefore thus accurst

For ever I in vain repent the crime.

3^d Bearer

I on the Children of mankind the first

In Gods most holy name imposed a tale tale

Of impious falshood; therefore thus accurst

For ever I in vain the sin <crime> bewail.

Even as thou here beholdest us

Here we have stood tormented thus,

Such countless ages that they seem to be

Long as eternity,

And still we are but Three.

A fourth will come to share

Our pain, at yonder vacant corner bear

His portion of the burthen & complaint

The Imperial Throne for Yamens judgement-seat.

Thus hath it been appointed: he must be

Equal in guilt to us, the guilty Three, –

Kehama come! too long we wait for thee!

Thereat with one accord

The Three took up the word like choral song,

Come Rajah! Man-God! Earths Almighty Lord!

Kehama come! we wait for thee too long.

A short & sudden laugh of wondering pride

Burst from him in his triumph: to reply

Scornful he deignd not; but with altered eye

Wherein some doubtful meaning seemed to lie,

He turnd to Kalyal. Maiden, thus he cried,

I need not bid thee see

How vain it is to strive with Fates decree,

When hither thou hast fled to fly from me,

And lo even here thou findst me at thy side.

Mine thou must be, being doomd with me to share

The Aureate cup of immortality,

Yea by myself I swear

It hath been thus appointed. Joyfully

Join then thy hand & heart & will with mine,

Nor at such glorious destiny repine,

Nor in thy folly more provoke my wrath divine.

She answered I have said. It must not be.

Almighty as thou art,

Thou hast put all things underneath thy feet,

But still the resolute heart

And virtuous will are free.

Never, oh, never – never – can there be

Communion Rajah, between thee & me.

Once more, quoth he, I urge, & once alone

Thou seest yon Golden Throne

Where I anon shall set thee by my side.

Take thou thereon thy seat

Kehamas willing bride,

And I will place the Kingdoms of the Earth

Beneath thy Fathers feet,

Appointing him the King of mortal Men.

Else underneath that throne

The fourth supporter he shall stand & groan,

Prayers will be vain to move my mercy then

Again the Virgin answerd I have said,

Ladurlad caught her in his proud embrace,

While on his neck she hid

In agony her face

Bring forth the Amreeta cup, Kehama cried,

To Yamen, rising sternly in his pride.

It is within the marble sepulchre,

The vanquishd Lord of Padalon replied.

Bid that be opened. Give thy treasure up!

Exclaimd the Man Almighty to the Tomb.

And at his voice & look

The massy fabric shook, & opend wide.

A huge Anatomy was seen reclind

Within its marble womb. Give me the Cup

Again Kehama cried, nor other charm

Was needed than that voice of stern command.

From his repose the ghastly form arose,

Put forth his long & gigantic arm,

And gave the Amreeta to the Rajahs hand.

Take! Drink! With accents dread the Spectre said

For thee & Kalyal hath it been assignd,

Ye only of the Children of Mankind.

Then was the Man Almightys heart elate,

This is the consummation he exclaimd,

Thus have I triumphd over Death & Fate.

Now Seeva look to thine abode!

Henceforth on equal footing we engage,

Alike immortal now, & we shall wage

Our warfare, God to God.

Joy filld his impious soul

And to his lips he raisd the fatal bowl.

With that the fiery Three

Again in one accord renewd their strain,

Kehama come, too long we wait for thee.

O fool of drunken hope & frantic vice!

Madman to seek for power beyond thy scope

Of knowledge & to deem

Less than omniscience could suffice

To wield omnipotence! O fool to dream

That immortality could be

The meed of evil! yea thou hast it now,

Victim of thine own wicked hearts device,

Thou has thine object now, & thou must pay the price

He did not know the aweful mystery

Of that divinest cup, that as the lips

Which touch it, even such its quality

Good or malignant: Madman & he thinks

The blessed prize is won

And joyfully he drinks.

Then Seeva opened on the Accursed One

His Eye of Anger; upon him alone

The wrath-beam fell. He shudders but too late

The deed is done.

The dreadful liquor works the will of Fate.

Immortal he would be

Immortal he remains, but thro his veins,

Torture at once & immortality,

A stream of poison doth the Amreeta run,

Infinite everlasting agony.

And while within the burning anguish flows

H His outward body glows.

Like molten ore beneath the Avenging Eye,

So doomd to live & burn eternally.

The fiery Three

Beholding him set up a fiendish cry

A song of jubilee,

Come Brother come! too long

Have we expected thee

Henceforth we bear no more

The unequal weight, come Brother! we are Four.

Vain his Almightiness, for mightier pain

Subdued all power, pain reignd supreme alone.

And yielding to the bony hand

The unemptied cup he movd toward the throne,

There the Fourth Bearer took his fated stand

Behold the Golden Throne at length compleat,

And Yamen silently ascends the Judgement seat.

For two alone of all mankind to me

The Amreeta cup was given.

Exclaimd the Anatomy

The Man hath drank, the Womans turn is next.

Come Kalyal come receive thy doom

And do the will of Heaven.

Wonder & doubt & Awe at once perplext

The mortal Maidens heart, but over all

Hope rose triumphant. With a trembling hand

Obedient to his call,

She took the fated cup, & raising up

Here eyes where xxx holy tears began to swell,

Is it not your command

Ye heavenly Powers? as on her knees she fell

The Virgin cried. Ye know my innocent will

My heart sincere,

Ye govern all things still,

And wherefore should I fear?

She said & drank. The Eye of Mercy beamd

Upon the Maid: a cloud of odour steamd

Like incense smoke, as all her mortal former part frame

Dissolvd beneath the potent agency

Of that mysterious draught, such quality

From her pure hand the fated Cup partook.

Like one entranced she knelt,

Feeling her body melt,

Till all but what was heavenly passed away.

Yet still she felt

Her spirit strong within her, the same heart

With the same loves, & all her heavenly part

Unchanged, & ripend to such perfect state

In the miraculous birth as here on earth

Dimly our holiest hopes anticipate.

Mine – mine – with rapturous joy Ereenia cried

Immortal now, & yet not more divine

My heavenly Bride, mine – mine – for ever mine

The immortal Maid replied

For ever ever thine.

Thus hath the will of Destiny been done,

Then said the Lord of Padalon

Thus are the secret ways of Heaven <Fate> made known

And justified. Ye heirs of Heavenly bliss

Go to the Swerga Bowers

And there recall the hours

Of endless happiness.

For thee Ladurlad there is yet in store

One glorious task. Return to Earth, restore

Justice & Peace by tyranny put down,

Then shalt thou have thine everlasting Crown

And join thy best-belovd for ever more. [1]

Romantic Circles

A refereed scholarly Website devoted to the study of Romantic-period literature and culture

1715. Robert Southey to Walter Savage Landor, [25/26 November 1809]

1715. Robert Southey to Walter Savage Landor, [25/26 November 1809] ⁠*

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