AVISIONOFREPENTANCE

avisionofrepentance

(1796?textof1818)

isawafamousfountain,inmydream,

whereshadypath-waystoavalleyled;

aweepingwillowlayuponthatstream,

andallaroundthefountainbrinkwerespread

widebranchingtrees,withdarkgreenleafrichclad,

formingadoubtfultwilight-desolateandsad.

theplacewassuch,thatwhosoenter'din

disrobedwasofeveryearthlythought,

andstraightbecameasonethatknewnotsin,

ortotheworld'sfirstinnocencewasbrought;

enseem'ditnow,hestoodonholyground,

insweetandtendermelancholywraptaround.

amoststrangecalmstoleo'ermysoothedsprite;

longtimeistood,andlongerhadistaid,

when,lo!isaw,sawbythesweetmoon-light,

whichcameinsilenceo'erthatsilentshade,

where,nearthefountain,somethinglikedespair

made,ofthatweepingwillow,garlandsforherhair.

andekewithpainfulfingerssheinwove

manyanuncouthstemofsavagethorn—

"thewillowgarland,thatwasforherlove,

andtheseherbleedingtempleswouldadorn."

withsighsherheartnighburst,salttearsfastfell,

asmournfullyshebendedo'erthatsacredwell.

towhomwheniaddrestmyselftospeak,

shelifteduphereyes,andnothingsaid;

thedelicateredcamemantlingo'erhercheek,

and,gath'ringupherlooseattire,shefled

tothedarkcovertofthatwoodyshade,

andinhergoingsseem'datimidgentlemaid.

revolvinginmymindwhatthisshouldmean,

andwhythatlovelyladyplainedso;

perplex'dinthoughtatthatmysteriousscene,

anddoubtingif'twerebesttostayorgo,

icastmineeyesinwistfulgazearound,

whenfromtheshadescameslowasmallandplaintivesound:

"psycheami,wholovetodwell

inthesebrownshades,thiswoodydell,

whereneverbusymortalcame,

tillnow,topryuponmyshame.

"atthyfeetwhatthoudostsee

thewatersofrepentancebe,

which,nightandday,imustaugment

withtears,likeatruepenitent,

"ifhaplysomydayofgrace

benotyetpast;andthisloneplace,

o'er-shadowy,dark,excludethhence

allthoughtsbutgriefandpenitence."