Pharonnida (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1820 Excerpt: ... innocence; Some purpled in afflictions, others dyed In sanguine pleasures; some in glittering pride, Spun to adorn the earth, whilst others wear Rags of deformity; but knots of care No thread was wholly freed from. Next to this Fair glorious tower was placed that black abyss Of dreadful Atropos, the baleful seat Of death and horror; in each room replete With lazy damps, loud groans, and the sad sight Of pale grim ghosts--those terrors of the night. To this, the last stage that the winding clew Of life can lead mortality unto, Fear was the dreadful porter, which let in All guests sent thither by destructive Sin. As its firm basis, on all these depends A lofty pyramid, to which each sends, Some gift from nature's treasury to Fame's Uncertain hand. The hollow room with names And empty sounds was only filled, of those For whom the Destinies 'dained to compose Their fairest threads; as if but born to die--Here all Ephemeras of report did fly On feeble wings, till, being like to fall, Some faintly stick upon the slimy wall, Till the observant antiquary rents Them thence to live in paper monuments; In whose records they are preserved to be--The various censures of posterity. 1' the upper room, as favorites to Fate, There only Poets, rich in fancy, sat; Li that beneath--Historians, whose records Do themes unto those pregnant wits afford; Yet both preparing everlasting bays To crown their glorious dust, whose happy days Were here spent well. Beneath these, covered o'er With dim oblivion's shadows, myriads more, Till dooms-day shall the gaudy world undress, Lay huddled up in dark forgetfulness. All which, as objects not of worth to cast A fixed eye on, the princess' genius past In heedless haste, until obstructed by Visions, that thus fixed her soul's wandering e5e....