The opening lines
not only give a general summary of the design, but
serve well to exemplify the ruling merits of the
composition : —
" Where blooms the myrtle and the olive flings
Its aromatic breath upon the air ;
Where the sad bird of Night forever sings
Meet anthems for the children of Despair,
Who, silently, with wild hair,
Stray through those valleys of perpetual bloom ;
Where hideous War and Murder from their lair
Stalk forth in awful and terrific gloom,
Rapine and Vice disport on Glory's gilded tomb :
'* My fancy pensive pictures youthful Love,
Ill-starred yet trustful, truthful and sublime
As ever angels chronicled above :
The sorrowings of Beauty in her prime ;
Vurtue's reward ; the punishment of Crime ;
The dark, inscrutable decrees of Fate ;
319
## p.
not only give a general summary of the design, but
serve well to exemplify the ruling merits of the
composition : —
" Where blooms the myrtle and the olive flings
Its aromatic breath upon the air ;
Where the sad bird of Night forever sings
Meet anthems for the children of Despair,
Who, silently, with wild hair,
Stray through those valleys of perpetual bloom ;
Where hideous War and Murder from their lair
Stalk forth in awful and terrific gloom,
Rapine and Vice disport on Glory's gilded tomb :
'* My fancy pensive pictures youthful Love,
Ill-starred yet trustful, truthful and sublime
As ever angels chronicled above :
The sorrowings of Beauty in her prime ;
Vurtue's reward ; the punishment of Crime ;
The dark, inscrutable decrees of Fate ;
319
## p.
Poe - v08
