The Dream of Pythagoras and Other Poems/The Dream of Pythagoras
THE
DREAM OF PYTHAGORAS,
AND
OTHER POEMS.
THE DREAM OF PYTHAGORAS.
"The soul was not then imprisoned in a gross mortal body, as it is now; it was united to a luminous, heavenly, ethereal body, which served it as a vehicle to fly through the air, rise to the stars, and wander over all the regions of immensity."
Pythagoras, amidst Crotona's groves,
One summer eve, sat; whilst the sacred few
And favour'd at his feet reclin'd, entranc'd,
List'ning to his great teachings. O'er their heads
A lofty oak spread out his hundred hands
Umbrageous, and a thousand slant sunbeams
Play'd o'er them; but beneath all was obscure
And solemn, save that, as the sun went down.
One pale and tremulous sunbeam, stealing in
Through the unconscious leaves her silent way,
Fell on the forehead of Pythagoras
Like spiritual radiance; all else wrapt
In gloom delicious; while the murmuring wind,
Oft moving through the forest as in dreams,
Made melancholy music. Then the sage
Thus spoke: " My children, listen; let the soul
Hear her mysterious origin, and trace
Her backward path to heaven. 'Twas but a dream;
And yet from shadows may we learn the shape
And substance of undying truth. Methought
In vision I beheld the first beginning
And after-changes of my soul. joy!
She is of no mean origin, but sprang
From loftier source than stars or sunbeams know.
Yea, like a small and feeble rill that bursts
From everlasting mountain's coronet,
And, winding through a thousand labyrinths
Of darkness, deserts, and di'ear solitudes,
Yet never dies, but, gaining depth and power,
Leaps forth at last with uncontrollable might
Into immortal sunshine and the breast
Of boundless ocean,—so is this my soul.
I felt myself spring like a sunbeam out
From the Eternal, and my first abode
Was a pure particle of light, wherein
Shrined like a beam in crystal, I did ride
Gloriously through the firmament on wings
Of floating flowers, ethereal gems, and wreaths
Of vernal rainbows. I did paint a rose
With blush of day-dawn, and a lily-bell
With mine own essence; every morn I dipt
My robe in the full sun, then all day long
Shook out its dew on earth, and was content
To be unmark'd, unworshipp'd, and unknown,
And only lov'd of heaven. Thus did my soul
Live spotless like her Source. 'Twas mine t' illume
The palaces of nature, and explore
Her hidden cabinets, and, raptur'd, read
Her joyous secrets. return, thou life
Of purity! I flew from mountain-top
To mountain, building rainbow-bridges up—
From hill to hill, and over boundless seas:
Ecstasy was such life, and on the verge
Of ripe perfection. But, alas! I saw
And envied the bold lightning, who could blind
And stai'tle nations, and I long'd to be
A conqueror strong to destroy, like him.
Methought it was a glorious joy, indeed,
To shut and open heaven as he did.
And have the thunders for my retinue.
And tear the clouds, and blacken palaces.
And in a moment whiten sky, and sea,
And earth: therefore I murmur'd at my lot.
Beautiful as it was, and that one murmur
Despoil'd me of my glory. I became
A dark and tyrant cloud driven by the storm,
Too earthly to be bright, too hard of heart
To drop in mercy on the thirsty land;
And so no creature lov'd me. I was felt
A blot where'er I came. Fair Summer scom'd
And spurn'd me from her blueness, for, she said,
I would not wear her golden fringe, and so
She could not rank me in her sparkling train.
Soft Spring refused me, for she could not paint
Her rainbows on a nature cold as mine,
Incapable of tears. Autumn despis'd
One who could do no good. Dark Winter frown'd,
And number'd me among his ruffian host
Of racers. Then unceasingly I fled
Despairing through the murky firmament,
Like a lone wreck athwart a midnight sea,
Chased by the howling spirits of the storm,
And without rest. At last, one day I saw.
In my continual flight, a desert blank
And broad beneath me, where no water was;
And there I mark'd a weary antelope.
Dying for thirst, all stretch'd out on the sand,
"With her poor trembling lips in agony
Press'd to a scorch'd-up spring; then, then, at last
My hard heart broke, and I could weep. At once
My terrible race was stopp'd, and I did melt
Into the desert's heart, and with my tears
T quench'd the thirst of the poor antelope.
So having pour'd myself into the dry
And desolate waste, I sprang up a wild flower
In solitary beauty. There I grew
Alone and feverish, for the hot sun burn'd.
And parch'd my tender leaves, and not a sigh
Came from the winds. I seem'd to breathe an air
Of fire, and had resigned myself to death.
When lo! a solitary dewdrop fell
Into my burning bosom; then, for joy,
My spirit rush'd into my lovely guest,
And I became a dewdrop. Then, once more,
My life was joyous, for the kingly sun
Carried me up into the firmament.
And hung me in a rainbow, and my soul
Was robed in seven bright colours, and became
A jewel in the sky. So did I learn
The first great lessons; mark ye them, my sons.
Obedience is nobility; and meek
Humility is glory; self alone
Is base; and pride is pain; patience is power;
Beneficence is bliss. And now first brought
To know myself and feel my littleness,
I was to learn what greatness is prepar'd
For virtuous souls, what mighty war they wage,
What vast impossibilities o'ercome.
What kingdoms^ and infinitude of love.
And harmony, and never-ending joy.
And converse and communion with the great
And glorious Mind unknown,—are given to high.
And godlike souls.
"Therefore the winds arose.
And shook me from the rainbow where I hung,
Into the depths of ocean; then I dived
Down to the coral citadels, and roved
Through crystal mazes, among pearls and gems,
And lovely buried creatures, who had sunk
To find the jewel of eternal life.
Sweet babes I saw clasp'd in their mothers' arms;
Kings of the north, each with his oozy crown;
Pale maidens, with their golden streaming hair
Floating in solemn beauty, calm and still,
In the deep, silent, tideless wave; I saw
Young beauteous boys wash'd down from reeling masts
By sudden storm; and brothers sleeping soft,
Lock'd in each others' arms; and countless wealth,
And curling weed, and treasur'd knots of hair,,
And mouldering masts, and giant hulls that sank
With thunder sobbing; and blue palaces
Where moonbeams, hand in hand, did dance with me
To the soft music of the surging shells.
Where all else was at rest. Calm, calm, and hush'd.
And stormless, were those hidden deeps, and clear
And pure as crystal. There I wander'd long
In speechless dreamings, and well nigh forgot
My corporeal nature, for it seem'd
Melting into the silent infinite
Around me, and I peacefully began
To feel the mighty universe commune
And converse with me, and my soul became
One note in nature's harmony. So sweet
And soothing was that dream-Uke ecstasy,
I could have slept into a wave and roll'd
Away through the blue mysteries for ever,
Dreaming my soul to nothing; I could well
Have drown'd my spark of immortality
In drunkenness of peace; I knew not yet
The warrior life of virtue, and the high
And honourable strife and storm that cleanse
And exercise her pinions. I was now
To learn the rapture of the struggle made
For immortality and truth; therefore
The ocean toss'd me to his mountain chains.
Bidding me front the tempest; fires of heaven
Were dancing o'er his cataracts, and scaring
His sounding billows; glorious thunders roll'd
Beneath, above, around; the strong winds fought.
Lifting up pyramids of tortur'd waves.
Then dashing them to foam. I saw great ships
As feathers on the opening sepulchi'es
And starting monuments,
And the gaunt waves leap'd up like fountains fierce,
And snatch'd down frighten'd clouds, then, shouting, fell.
And rose again. I, whirling on their tops,
Dizzy flew over masts of staggering ships.
Then plunged into black night. My soul grew mad,
Kavish'd with the intense magnificence
Of the harmonious chaos, for I heard
Music amidst the thunders, and I saw
Measure in all the madness of the waves
And whirlpools; yea, I lifted up my voice
In praise to the Eternal, for I felt
Rock'd in His hand, as in a cradling couch,
Rejoicing in His strength; yea, I found rest
In the unbounded roar, and fearless sang
Glad echo to the thunder, and flash'd back
The bright look of the lightning, and did fly
On the dark pinions of the hurricane spirit
In rapturous repose; till suddenly
My soul expanded, and I sprang aloft
Into the lightning flame, leaping for joy
From cloud to cloud. Then, first I felt my wings
Wave into immortality, and flew
Across the ocean with a shouting host
Of thunders at my heels, and lit up heaven,
And earth, and sea, with one quick lamp, and crown'd
The mountains with a momentary gold.
Then cover'd them with blackness. Then I glanced
Upon the mighty city in her sleep,
Pierced all her mysteries with one swift look,
Then bade my thunders shout. The city trembled;
And, charm'd with the sublime outcry, I paus'd
And listen'd. Yet had I to rise and learn
A loftier lesson. I was lifted high
Into the heavens, and there became a star,
And on my new-form'd orb two angels sat.
The one thus spoke: ^ spirit, young and pure!
Say, wilt thou be my shrine? I am of old.
The first of all things, and of all the greatest;
I am the Sovereign Majesty to whom
The universe is given; though for awhile
I war with rebels strong; my name is Truth.
I am the Spirit of wisdom, love, and power,
And come to claim thee; and if thou obey
My guiding, I will give thee thy desire,
Even eternal life.' He ceas'd, and then
The second angel spoke. ' Ask not, soul!
My name; I bid thee free thyself, and know
Thou hast the fount of life in thy own breast,
And need'st no guiding; be a child no longer;
Throw oif thy fetters, and with me enjoy
Thy native independence, and assert
Thy innate majesty; Truth binds not me,
And yet I am immortal; be thou, too,
A god unto thyself.'
"But I had learn 'd
My own deep insufficiency, and gazed
Indignant on th' unholy angel's face.
And pierced its false refulgence, knowing well
Obedience only is true Hberty
For spirits form'd to obey; so best they reign.
Straight the base rebel fled, and, rul'd by Truth,
I roll'd unerring on my shining road
Around a glorious centre; free, though bound,
Because love bound me, and my law became
My life and nature, and my lustrous orb
Pure spirits visited; I wore a light
That shone across infinitude, and serv'd
To guide returning wanderers. I sang
With all my starry sisters, and we danced
Around the throne of Time, and wash'd the base
Of high Eternity like golden sands.
There first my soul drank music, and was taught
That melody is part of heaven, and lives
In every heaven-bom spirit like her breath;
There did I learn, that music without end
Breathes, murmurs, swells, echoes, and floats, and peals,
And thunders through creation, and in truth
Is the celestial language, and the voice
Of love; and now my soul began to speak
The speech of immortality. But yet
I was to learn a lesson more severe —
To shine alone in darkness, and the deeps
Of sordid earth. So did I fall from heaven
Far into night, beneath the mountains' roots,
There, as a diamond burning, amidst things
Too base for utterance. Then, alas! I felt
The stirrings of impatience, pining sore
For freedom, and communion with the fires
And majesties of heaven, with whom erewhile
I walk'd their equal. I had not yet learn'd
That our appointed place is loftiest,
However lowly. I was made to feel
The dignity of suffering. 0, my sons!
Sorrow and joy are but the spirit's life.
Without these she is scarcely animate;
Anguish and bliss ennoble: either proves
The greatness of its subject, and expands
Her nature into power; her every pulse
Beats into new-born force, urging her on
To conquering energy. Then was I cast
Into hot fires and flaming furnaces,
Deep in the hollow globe; there did I bum
Deathless in agony, without one murmur,
Longing to die, until my patient soul
Fainted into perfection; at that hour,
Being victorious, I was snatch'd away
To yet another lesson. I became
A date-tree in the desert, to pour out
My life in dumb benevolence, and full
Obedience to each wind of heaven that blew.
The traveller came—I gave him all my shade,
Asking for no reward; the lost bird flew
For shelter to my branches, and I hid
Her nest among my leaves; the sunbeams ask'd
To rest their hot and weary feet awhile
On me, and I spread out my every arm
T ' embrace them, fanning them with all my plumes.
Beneath my shade the dying pilgrim fell,
Praying for water; I cool dewdrops caught
And shook them on his lip; I gave my fruit
To streDgthen the faint stranger, and I sang
Soft echoes to the winds, living in nought
For self; but in all things for others' good.
The storm arose, and patiently I bore
And yielded to his tyranny; I bow'd
My tenderest foliage to his angry blast,
And sujffer'd him to tear it without sigh,
And scatter on the waste my all of wealth.
The billowing sands o'erwhelm'd me, yet I stood
Silent beneath them; so they roll'd away.
And rending up my roots, left me a wreck
Upon the wilderness.
" ' Twas thus, my sons,
I dream'd my spirit wander'd, till at length,
As desolate 1 mourn'd my helpless woe,
My guardian angel took me to his heart.
And thus he said: ' Spirit, well tried and true!
Conqueror I have made thee, and prepar'd
For human life; behold! I wave the palm
Of immortality before thine eyes:
'Tis thine; it shall be thine, if thou aright
Acquit thee of the part which yet remains,
And teach what thou hast leam'd.'
" This said, he smil'd,
And gently laid me in my mother's arms.
Thus far the vision brought me—then it fled,
And all was silence. Ah! 'twas but a dream;
This soul in vain struggles for purity;
This self-tormenting essence may exist
For ever; but what joy can being give
Without perfection? vainly do I seek
That bliss for which I languish. Surely yet
The Day-spring of our nature is to come;
Mournful we wait that dawning; until then
We grovel in the dust—in midnight grope,
For ever seeking, never satisfied."
Thus spake the solemn seer, then pausing, sigh'd.
For all was darkness.