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Where mem'ry erft, by genius taught, 



Immortal vifions caught ; 



A viewiefs train, the furies fpread 



Their mantle o'er the poet's head ; 



Hell-painted texture, warping round 



A curtain clofe, a gloom profound ; 



With horrid ftrains all holy things they chace, 



And pour th' expanfive veil o'er nature's goodly face. 



No more, the mind, with grateful change, 



Th' ideal train arrays ; 



Fancy no more, in ample range. 



With young creation plays ; 



One dread unvaried form is nigh. 



And fills, for ever fills the fafcinated eye. 



XV. 



Oh ! dim eclipfe of reafon's light ! 



Difaftrous night ! 



Without all hope of day ! 



When o'er the moon terreftrial fiiades prevail. 



And plunge in blood her vifage pale. 



With pious hand a votive croud 



Clafh the pealing cymbol loud. 



To free the ftruggling ray ; 



And folemn ftrains, and mutter'd fpells refound. 



To chace the fpirits of the vaft profound, 



That rife, with impious pow'r, 



To feize her hallow'd bow'r. 



And give the realms of night to Stygian fhades a prey. 



But 



