The Funeral of Arabert, Monk of La Trappe: A Poem

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TH»

FUNERAL

T. K. A B E R T,

JVtONK OF La TR.APPE:

a

P O EM.

Bir Miii»"|ERN INGHAM.

L or y D N!

FMNTED FOK J. KOBSON, BOOKSELLER, AT THZ tSAttOta,
NEW BOND STREET.

Digitized by V^iOOQIC

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ADVERTISEMENT.

Arabsrt, a yoiuig ecclefiaflic, retired to the convent of La
Trappe, in obedience to a vow he had taken, during a- fit

• of illnefa: Leonora, with whom he had lived in the
Arifteft intimacy, followed her lover, and by the means of
a difguife, obtained admilHon into the monaftery, where &.
few days after flie aflifted at her lover's funeraU

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FUNERAL, &c.

FAIR Leonora, byaffllAion led.
Sought the dread dome where lleep the hallow'd
dead:
The folemn edifice was wrapt around«
In midnight HarkneTs, and in peace profcAind :
A Iblitary lamp, with languid light,
Serv'd not to chafe, but to difclofe the night :
Serv'd to difclofe (of all her grief the fource,)
The tomb that gap'd for Ar abertus* corfe:
To this, {he fent the deep, the frequent figb»

And fpoke— the tear juft gath'ring in her eye. i

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* Doom'd to receive all that my foul holds dear,

* Give him that reft; his heart refus'd him. here :

* Oh fcfccD him from the piun the tender know^

* The train of forrows that from paflion flow i

* And to his envied new-born ftate adjoin^ 15

* (Or all is vain) an ignorance bf mine^*

As thus flie mourn'd, an aged prieft drew near,
(Whofe pure life glided as die riv*let clear,)
The virtuoHS Anselm. — ^Tho' in cloifters brcd^
Still bright-ey'd Wildom to his cell he led : 20

From paths of Ifophiflry he lov'd to ftray.
To tread the walk where Nature led the way.
The prior's ranklie long had held approv'd,
EftecmM, rever'd, and as a parent lov'd:
Unskilful in the jai^oa of the fchools,. 25

He knew humanity's diviner rules :
To others gentle, to himfelf fevere.
On forrow's wound he dropt the healing tear.

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In all die negligence of grief he found.

The fair extended on the naked ground. 30

Touch'd at her woe the facved father faid,

* Well may 'ft thou droop if happinefs be fledi

* Sure, if at holy Abab£RT*s deceafe,

* Impetuous forrows ruih upon thy peace^

* Some much-lov'd friend in him you muft deplore, 3 j;
' Or, dearer ftill, a brother is no more:

' Yet, as thro' life our weary fteps we bend^

* Let us not fink when beating ftorms defcend :
' Still let Religion hold unrlval'd fway,

* And Patience walk companion of our way. 40

* Ah, lofe not iight of that delightful fliore,

* Whofe blifsful bow'rs ihall friends to friends reftore:
' Tho* here misfortune comes to blaft our will,

* The Heav'ns are juft, and God a Father ftill.

* Bleft be the voice, the rifing mourner faid, 45

* That bids Affliiftion raife her drooping head:

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* That bids me hope (beyortd ev'n Death's domaiai)

* Thefc eyes fliall banquet on my love again.

* Ah, ftart not Anse LM — for to truth allied*

* Impiety now throws her mask afide : fo
' No holy monk by contemplation led,

'* To thefe fequeftered manfioas of the d£ad ;

' No youth devoted to Religion's pow'r,

' laiplores thy pity at this awful hour.—

' The guilty ftcret — I'll at length unfold — 55-

* In me — (forgive) a woman you behold.
•* Ah fly me not, let mercy now prevail,

" And deign to mark my fad difailrous tale.*

* Known to misfortune from my tmder years,

* My parent's afhcs drank my early tears : 6q

* A barb'rous uncle to each vice allied,

* The office «f a parent ill fupplied:

* Of my entire inheritance poflefs'd,

■ By lucre prompted, and by fortune Weft,

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■ ' He pafi'd the dWHi «9*t e> rttte, 6;
^ And left nl< wtejnflg o'ef ifty partnff ' iMl ;

' Then AKAiSEUt the gett'rousftingei-cmaej
* To footh iii"yfortt)#s, arid peHeVii i^yihdmtfi
' Beneath His tender dare, niy voi^ dccr^'ii,

' More than ReHg^Sri'j, he w«s Pi^s! t*"** : 70

' To reach his boiintjr my adidioff ftirove,
' Till gratittid* w'aa heiglSten'd iiitti kive :
' Nor he aC leiigth refiii'd thtf lover's jfart,

* The pity that adom'd, hetray*d hia heart;

* How ardently he wilh*d the nuptial rite, y^
■* In holy wedlock^ riiight otrf hands- unit6;

' But ftern Religion at otir vOws escclaiih'di

■ And tore the bands thJit Love and Nature fiatii'd:
■• For then devoted to her hall6»'d fflrinei,

^ His counWy's la\*8 forbad htm to bt niine. 8o

" Thd' frooi my uind each flatfring thfttfghtretto'd,
' And in my bofijm, hope- a!nd peace otiAr'dj
' Yec on their rtuns, love triumpRaht rdfe:

* Enough— fliame o'er the reft a mantle throws :

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* At length Remprfeeff^c€(J the guilty- f«;ic;_ ; - • 8fr

* And to hi? breaA apply'd her daggec keen;; ■ .

* Reftrain'd in full career the erripg youth,

* And led hipi back to Innocence and.Tntfh : ■

* 'Twas th«ihe fledfrom.Pleafure'sTofyhow'rs,

* To wop Religionia thefe gloomy tow'rs: ■ ' qo^

* Yet ere he fled, myblifs he fondly, planfl^,

* And fcatter'drj(chM;With-a;lav^ hjind.i,:' ■ '. »

* Ah, whattome ■ayail'd ihcgoldea-ftprgf. . ; - >

* The giver goo?,. the gift cpu'A.qha^ii^ ijiomot-e^.: .

' WhiUii^^^heglpom.hi&.]tcdiaus;at^i^cecafl:^ _^- • 95.
' My former lifqin/anf;y, I ref«fs,'d, ■ "

* Repentance gaia'd admiffion to my breaft,,,

' Nor did it cntep-anunwclcpmc gijeft.: ' ■'■-:'['

* Forne'ertoPleafuff I difmifs'd therein: , :" '

* Free and unconfcious of refletaion's pain j . ; 100

* If haplefs Leonora loy'd too wellji ■ '..:,';:;.■ •

* Concent, fj»ir Virtue's friend, !wiEh:V^r(|ue{)feIlr,V '

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* But not JCQyftuJ3bor4.fQulfqott'|t pray 'r.fub4itei
'■ Ev'n gjrafted on;rcmorfpjm^I^flfpngrewi ■

* Too.£*<8l pafEon-'-byitsiimpulfeled,

* In man's^attirp 19 tbi« r^eR|;I flfd :, ; .;, .

* Yet then,; ey'^ then to b^fljfial fear aliitdj. ■

* :SriU o'er my love did modefty prpfide. .

■ In thofe fwcet i?wnieat§: dia^ pr?^^, tte. tiighti.
I * When peact:fol Nafure, yrq|ss,a;feft?n.'d light;'!

* I iT)pt,tlKyputh \Yit^m^tl^iiblepan.g|ov6,.

* (His frequent walk),;abforb.'d in. heav'nlyloyc:

* I ftrovfttoi ijf>eak» feurt ^«!0JFd«:f«ftls*d.ti& flow-,.- , ;.

* And, fix^ .i;ft^pdi^■|l^onwTO*t of svc«:^'..,^: '
' While QiotJjiB^hftettploy the. trepiWing-fcenei^
' TwecerlactHegc,:! ^pHg|^t_,, tO' ruHi. between : ;

* Still fror^[^t,.b<lii.i:ji»-y-wifhes I reftraia'd,^ r
** And in iny breaft th' unwillipg fecret chain*d '•

* Unknown to hiijij yet.half-contentl grew,

. . ' So that his form might daily charm my view :
' Think hoW[,miignide4 by youi;gwIeIcfs heart,

* You toofc for virtue, what in me was art,

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' And highly hoi*w'ait4tli'iipp!tmdingfltriDi • ' '
•' The zed that JMU'df ReflgioB's fiibtrftriin, '■

* Unknowing-thaf the call' thau did'ft approve, ' no

* And all my viffoe,' aU-my zeal wai-lore: ■ '
' But hew AifflSai«a,i witfc retentlefs handi ''

* O'erthrcw tlie projcft that my heart had piflnn'd : '
' Aalid th» hoEWfS of d«- loBefimM night,

* A ghalUy Jpe€lro rafh'dnpion my light,- . 125

* And poui^d theft aceerftt-on irry trembling^ car*'
Tiitti mt MfUvfJhM triumfh here •■

Thy hopa are M/^ii—DaOffs trmndmts kU
Stall found, trevu»ftumi,th)lovet'rkne6:

* 1 Aartsd from-xoy eouchj with- fright imprefs'd, !}•

* And anxious douhts-wero "bafy m my Iji^aff "

" By love then pTompted-"yta by-love difmayM,
-* The peopled choir I trembHngly furvey'dj ■

* Still mid th' innmacrotB-monaftic train,

* Thefe eyes fohcited his form irt Twn : ijj
•• Nor in the field OF penttve grove rttit'd:

' Could I difcover whom my heart requir'd :

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* Then Aire (T cried) at this unbapj^ hour • 14*
' Does anguiAi o'er his ceU diffiiie its pow'r :

■* ShaJI Leonora not relieve his pain:,

' And with thefe arms his drooping head fu^ua i >

^ Say, at the couch, when d«ath is ftalking round,

' Shall not the CfwSe of lus £bnd heart be fcnutd U 1^5

' Ah no — th' aSedion diat fubdues me ilill,

* At that dread moment chcck'd my ardent wiU^

* Left ruflung on his £ght I £bottld control

* The holy thoughts that hover'd o'er his Tout

* This lowVing mora difcWd the &tal truth :

* Oh early loft — oh lov'd — ah faapk^ youth—
-* Fix'd to thecoUunaof dic-haUow'4.iMH^'—

* Twas fiazccly ligjit^fouw fery tent:hev tordhn^

* I read--

Tir fmtt AjlabeAt'j m mti.
The peace the dfdd requiret.J<)r bim'mifiore: '

* Let peace, let joy, (( iatd) ha %irit join,

' Nor joy, nor peace muft e'er encircle mine :
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* Lamented youth t too tenderly atlied,

* In vain you fled' me, and in vain you died^ t6s>

* Still to your image, which this bread inurns>
' My conllant heart a lamp perpetual bums.

' But thou, to whom as friend he did impart
' Each latent wiih, and foible of the heart;

* For well I know, where Sorrow drops her tear, ' 1 6s
' Or Mifery complains, thou ilill art ncar>

* Ah fay, by love did my idea dreft,.

* Come to his mind thus welcome, thus carcft ?

* Or on bis foul come ruling undeflr'd

* The fatal fair, by female arts infpir'd,- 170
' Who dimm'd the luftre of his radiant name,

' And from his temples torethe flow'r of fama:

* Who thro' the labyrinth of PIeafurc*s bowV
' Allur'd (for. beauty fuch as mine had pow'r)

* Ev'a to the dang'rous fteep— and caft him dowtt 175

* From high repuce to grov'ling diirenown:

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* Wretch that" I am, to my diftrefsful ftate

* There wanted: not th' Oildition of his hate :

' For him I pluog'd my artleis youth in fhame,.

' Unlock'd rrfctve,. and Sacrificed my fame : . i8l^

* Still*; ftill I fear (unable to confide,)

* Beforciny Arabert, the lover died s

* This thought (to thee I'll own) fulpends my grief,

* While cold iodiffecence comes to-my relief:

* Say virtuous Ansel Ht if this thought be vuut iBs,

* And give,. Oh., giye me. all my grief again. -

Tohcr replied the pity-breathing fter,
*" Mark well'ffly words, and lofe thy idle fear->
*■ When eb the couch of Death, the TiAimlay*.
*" Not in that moment- was his friend away: loa

'^ As at his fide I tock my moumfulftand>.
' With feeble grafp he feiz'd my ofiei*d hand,'
' And dins began. — " The fatal dan is iped^
^ Soon, ibon jQiall Arabp.rt encreafe the deadi.

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" Tis well— for what cao added lifebcrtow, ' rp^

" But da^ retaining ftill with added woe:
*' Say, have I not fecluded froia my fight,
*' The lovely object of my paft delist f
" Ah, had I too dethraa'd her fn>m my iaxAd,
" When here the holy brotherhood I join'd> *©•

'* Remorfe VDu'd noti encreafiiLg my difeaie,
" Prey ob my foul, and rob it of its eaie :
'* And yet I ftrore uneqtial to the part,
^ Weak to perform the laccifice of heart :
" And now, ev'n now, too feeble to control, zog

" I feel her clinging to my fnrting foul :*•
* He {poke — (my fympathetic hoi<xn bled.)
. ' Aj)d to the realms i^ Death his fptrk fled.

The fairrgowi'd : ' Miflcd by fool tfiftruft,

* To bun, whole heart was mine, am I unjoft?

* Ah, ^KABEK-T, th* unwilling fauhforgine,
' Dead to di' allnring world, in thee I live :

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' My thoughts, my deep regret, my borrows own>

' No view, no objed fUll but thee alone:

' At all the vengeance burfling from above, 2ts

* Alann'di I vrcep, I fliudder, yet I love ■•'

As thus ihe fpoke, the death-bell fmote her ear,
While to the porch the fun'ral train drew near :
Ah, Leonore in that tremendous hour,
Did'il thou not feel all Heav'n's avenging pow'r, 220

When moving thro' the ifle, i^e choral band.
And veiled priefts, with t(»x:hes in thetr hand.
Gave to thy view, unfortunately dear.
Thy loTcr flecping on th' untimely bier ?

CoUefting now at lengdi her fcatta'd force, 225-

With trembling footfteps flie approach'd the corfe.
And while (he check'd the coriflift in her breaft,
The wide-encircling throng fhe thus addrefs'd :
' Well may ye mark me mth aftoniih'd eyes,

* Audacious hypocrite in man's difguife « 230

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' Who urgM by paHlon, dartd with ftcpe pro&ae^

* Approach the haUow'd dome of Virtue's train :

* Lead me^ ah lend me to the dungeon's g^bom^

* The rack prepace — I yield me to yonr daom :

* Yet ftill ihou'd Pity in your breaft abide,. 23^-
' And Pity f^*e to Vntue m allied.:

' To my diftrefs benign otteation lend; .

* Your afts oF rigof for. a while ^ufpeiMi, .

' TiU o'ef thk ^er ('tis Nature's kmd relief).

* I've ponr'd my. plaints* andpay'dthexitec-af giief: 240.

* Ah. he was dearer to dnt blcedJng hgsat*
*■ Far dearer than eKpreffion'CMn imfMin:..

' Thou who didft pl&ce us in this vale of tears,

* Where forrow blafts the plant that fcteaiure ifcars ;

* If, as the ten«t6otf o«r creed mquire. 245
< Thy waken'd juftice bpeat^s iinmartal ice y

* If 16ve> frcHn whence ev'n here:nusfoiftanes Aow,.

* Beyond the i^rave you curfe wi&h esadkofs woe r

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* Ah not o'icr Arabert tfey vcng^jicc fprwd I

'^ Oa jnc on me chj j^rc^ of wgf^r ib&4 ! 250^

* For I alluf'd iiim far frptn Viitw's.wajr,

* Afld kd hisyotuiiftri iun^cfnt* aftray :

* Ah not in. punilhment our fate conjoin, '

*• He ihar'd die. rapmre, l»uttfac guilt was mine/

With trembKng hand flw flow t^ ^1 withdrew, * 255-
When lo the wdl-knowH featuKS ftruck hisr view :
Abforpt in grief ftie caft a fond furv^ —
At length her thoughts in. murmurs brtAe away :
' That eye— which ibcd on mine voluptuous li^ht,
•■ Alas how funk in everlaiting night* 260

' See from thofe lips the living colour fled,

* Where Love refided, and where Heafure f ed T

* And where bright Eloquence had pour'd her ftore,.
' Dumb Horror fits--and. Wifdom is no more;

* Y'et ere die werm (fince this is doom'd its prey) 2^5,;

* Shall. fteal the ling'ring likenefs quite away,

* *Tis ufual to bury the monks of La Trappe in thtir monaftic -
habit extended on a plank..

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* On that cold lip fure Leonore may dwell,

* And, free from guilt, imprint the long farewell :'
She added not— But bending low her head.

Three times the mourner kifs'd tb* unconfcious dead. 270

Now holy Anselm urg'd her to veilrain
Her bonndleJs grief in rev'rence of the fane :
She aafwer'd, iUrting from the fable bier,
■* Can I forget that Akabert was dear !

* Can I, cold monitor, from hence remove, 275

* His worth unrival'd, and his lafUng love !

* Can I for^t, as deftitute I lay,

■* To ficknefs, grief, and penury a prey,

' How eagerly he ilew at Pity's call,

-* Put forth his hand and rais'd me from my fall ! 280

* All unfolicited he gave me wealth,

■* He gave me folace, and he gave me health j
■• And, dearer than the blifs thofe gifts impart,
' He Arain'd me to his breaA> and gave his heart:

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*- And fliall thefe h^ow'd waUs and awful fane* 29jr.

^ RepToadi die voice that poors the praifeful ftrain i
' Sty at the friend's, the guardian's*, lover's tomb,

* Can forrow fleeg,, and gratitude be dumb ?
'- But I fobmtt — and bead thus meekly low,

* To kifs t^* avenging lutn4 diat dealt theblow: '2^^

* Refign'd Iquit^Mloiing path I. trod,.

' Fall'n is my idol — and I worlhip God.*

She ceas'd — the chcur intones the fun'fal Caag^

Which holy echoes plaintively prolong :

And now the iibiemn organs tun'd.to-woev. 393.

Pour'd the clearnotes pathetically flow :

Thefe rites perfbnoft'd— along th' ^tending fane.

She now. attends ihe flow-.proceeding train ;

Who o'er the inoumful cyprefs-fhaded way, ,

To the expcdtihg tomb, the dead convey : 300

See now thepriefts, the clofing aft prepare, .

And to the darkfome vault commit their care ;

At this dread icene, too feelingly dlftrefs'd.

She pour'd thelaft efiujions of her breail.

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