A Picture of Helen

Repentant Helen sought the silent shade, And wept to think what ruin she had made. Reflection shews a Husband's injur'd peace, Hears the deep carses of unpeopled Greece, Points to the story of her ruin'd fame, And future ages shudd'ring at her name. Lovely in guilt the great Adult'ress stood, Saw Phrygia's plains imbru'd with Hector's blood, Saw the slain Partner of her lawless joy, A murder'd Priam, and a slaming Troy. She heav'd a groan, and clos'd her tear-stain'd eye Lest she might see the Grecian Heroes die— In vain—Patroclus rises to her fight, Dress'd in the reddest horrors of the fight: Link'd with his friend the great Achilles rose, The tow'r of Greece, and terror of her foes: Stern Ajax frown'd upon the gory field, Longing in death to grasp Pelides' shield— Vainly she strives to put them from her mind, Her guilt hears groans in ev'ry whisp'ring wind; See plated Mars, high on his crimson car Laugh 'midst the spreading tumult of the war; Now sees the Greeks and now the Trojans fly, And hears one death-fraught thunder rend the sky.— She heard—and struck with horror at the scene. On earth's cold bosom sunk the hapless Queen. In duteous haste her virgin's round her press, Heave sigh for sigh, and grieve for her distress; Anxious each balm to sooth her woes they seek, And bid its native roses tinge her cheek. Fruitless their care—In tears they raise her head, Where Lilies wept their sister Roses dead. Hark!—the kind streamlet from the neighb'ring trees In gentle murmurs chides the noisy breeze— The noisy breeze the sweet reproof obey'd, Beheld the Fair, and dy'd along the glade.

Behold her, thou, whose passions long to rove Careless of honour and connubial love, And learn that, though enamour'd of her charms Her doating Lord had ta'en her to his arms Again, restor'd her to his bed and throne, And to the world acknowledg'd her his own— Yet not his pardon, nor his throne combin'd Cou'd ease the pangs that agoniz'd her mind.