552 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1813. 



" One morn, I track'd him on his lonely way. 

 Pale as the gleam of slow-awakening day ; 

 With feeble step he climb'd yon craggy height, 

 Thence fix'd on distant Paradise his sight ; 

 He gazed awhile in silent thought profound, 

 Then falling prostrate on the dewy ground, 

 He pour'd his spirit in a flood of prayer, 

 Bewail'd his ancient crime with self-despair, 

 And claim'd the pledge of reconciling grace, 

 The promised Seed, the Saviour of his race. 

 Wrestling with God, as Nature's vigour fail'd. 

 His faith grew stronger and his plea prevail'd ; 

 The prayer from agony to rapture rose, 

 And sweet as Angel accents fell the close. 

 I stood to greet him ; when he raised his head, 

 Divine expression o'er his visage spread, 

 His presence was so saintly to behold, 

 He seem'd in sinless Paradise grown old. 



• 



«« — .' This day,' said he, ' in Time's star-lighted round, 



* Renews the anguish of that mortal wound 



* On me inflicted, when the Serpent's tongue 



* My Spouse with his beguiling falsehood stung. 



* Though years of grace tho centuries have pass'd 

 ' Since my transgression, this may be my last ; 



* Infirmities without, and fears within 



* Foretell the consummating stroke of sin ; 



* The hour, the place, the form to me unknown, 



* But God, who lent me life, mill claim his own : 



* Then, lest I sink as suddenly in death, 



* As quicken'd into being by his breath, 



* Once more I climbd these rocks with weary pace, 



* And but once more, to view my native place, 



* To bid yon garden of delight farewell, 

 'The earthly Paradise, from which I fell. 



* This mantle, Enoch ! which I yearly wear 



* To mark the day of penitence and prayer, 



* These skins, the covering of my first offence, 



* When, conscious of departed innocence, 



* Naked and trembling from my Judge I fled, 

 ' A hand of mercy o'er my vileness spread ; — 

 ' Enoch ! this mantle thus vouchsafed to me, 



* At my dismission I bequeath to thee ; 



* Wear it in sad memorial on this day, 



* And yearly at mine earliest altar slay 



' A lamb immaculate, whose blood be spilt 

 < Id sign of wrath removed and cancell'd guilt ; 



