Helen Maria Williams

While thee I seek, protecting Power! Be my vain wishes still'd; And may this consecrated hour

I. No riches from his scanty store My lover could impart;

"Ah! pity all the pangs I feel, If pity e'er ye knew;-- An aged father's wounds to heal,

I mean no giddy heights to climb, And vainly toil to be sublime; While every line with labour wrought,

Whether dispensing hope, and ease To the pale victim of disease, Or in the social crowd you sit,

I. As wand'ring late on Albion's shore That chains the rude tempestuous deep,

Mark it, Cesario, it is old and plain; The spinsters and the knitters in the sun, And the free maids, that weave their thread with bones

As roam'd a pilgrim o'er the mountain drear, On whose lone verge the foaming billows roar; The wail of hopeless sorrow pierc'd his ear,

Heaven speaks! Oh Nature listen and rejoice! Oh spread from pole to pole this gracious voice! "Say every breast of human frame, that proves

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. Precept divine! to earth in mercy given, O sacred rule of action, worthy heaven!

The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; thou hast made summer and winter. PSALM lxxiv. 16, 17.

ADVERTISEMENT. The following Poem is formed on a very singular and sublime idea. A young gentleman, possessed of an uncommon genius for drawing, on visiting the Tower of London, passing one door of a singular construction, asked what apartment it led to, and expressed a desire to have it opened. The person who shewed the place shook his head, and answered, "Heaven knows what is within that door - it has been shut for ages." - This answer made small impression on the other hearers; but a very deep one on the imagination of this youth. Gracious Heaven! an apartment shut up for ages - and in the Tower! "Ye Towers of Julius! London's lasting shame,

To Mrs. Montagu. While, bending at thy honour'd shrine, the Muse Pours, MONTAGU, to thee her votive strain,

THE ARGUMENT. Character of Zamor, a Bard - his passion for Aciloe, daughter of the Cazique who rules the valley - the Peruvian tribe prepare to defend themselves - a battle - the Peruvians are vanquished - Aciloe's father is made a prisoner, and Zamor is supposed to have fallen in the    engagement - Alphonso becomes enamoured of Aciloe - offers to marry her; she rejects him - in revenge he puts her father to the torture - she appears to consent, in order to save him - meets Zamor in a wood - Las Casas joins them - leads the two lovers to Alphonso, and obtains their freedom - Zamor conducts Aciloe and her father to Chili - a reflection on the influence of Poetry over the human mind. PERU. CANTO THE FIFTH.

ADVERTISEMENT. That no readers of the following work may entertain expectations respecting it which it would ill satisfy, it is necessary to acquaint them, that the author has not had the presumption even to attempt a full, historical narration of the fall of the Peruvian empire. To describe that important event with accuracy, and to display with clearness and force the various causes which combined to produce it, would require all the energy of genius, and the most glowing colours of imagination. Conscious of her utter inability to execute such a design, she has only aimed at a simple detail of some few incidents that make a part of that romantic story; where the unparalleled sufferings of an innocent and amiable people, form the most affecting subjects of true pathos, while their climate, totally unlike our own, furnishes new and ample materials for poetic description. THE ARGUMENT.

THE ARGUMENT. Almagro's expedition to Chili - his troops suffer great hardships from cold, in crossing the Andes - they reach Chili - the Chilese make a brave resistance - the revolt of the Peruvians in Cuzco - they are led on by Manco-Capac, the successor of Ataliba - his parting with Cora, his wife - the Peruvians regain half their city - Almagro leaves Chili - to avoid the Andes, he crosses a vast desert - his troops can find no water    - the rest divide in two bands - Alphonso leads the second band, which soon reaches a fertile valley - the Spaniards observe the natives are employed in searching the streams for gold - they resolve to attack them. PERU.

THE ARGUMENT. Pizarro, a Spanish Captain, lands with his forces - his meeting with Ataliba - its unhappy consequences - Zorai dies - Ataliba imprisoned, and strangled - Alzira's despair, and madness. PERU.

THE ARGUMENT. The troops of Almagro and Alphonso meet on the plains of Cuzco -    Manco-Capac attacks them by night - his army is defeated, and he is forced to fly with its scattered remains - Cora goes in search of him -    her infant in her arms - overcome with fatigue, she rests at the foot of a mountain - an earthquake - a band of Indians fly to the mountains for shelter - Cora discovers her husband - their interview - her death - he escapes with his infant - Almagro claims a share of the spoils of Cuzco - his contention with Pizarro - the Spaniards destroy each other    - Almagro is taken prisoner, and put to death - his soldiers, in revenge, assassinate Pizarro in his palace - Las Casas dies - Gasca, a Spanish ecclesiastic, arrives in Peru - invested with great power - his virtuous conduct - the annual festival of the Peruvians - their late victories over the Spaniards in Chili - a wish for the restoration of their liberty - the Poem concludes. PERU. CANTO THE SIXTH.

THE ARGUMENT. Pizarro takes possession of Cuzco - the fanaticism of Valverde, a Spanish priest - its dreadful effects - A Peruvian priest put to the torture - his daughter's distress - he is rescued by Las Casas, an amiable Spanish ecclesiastic, and led to a place of safety, where he dies - his daughter's narration of her sufferings - her death. PERU.

I. Pale moon! thy mild benignant light May glad some other captive's sight;

Meek Twilight! soften the declining day, And bring the hour my pensive spirit loves; When, o'er the mountain flow descends the ray

Expression, child of soul! I fondly trace Thy strong enchantments, when the poet's lyre, The painter's pencil catch thy sacred fire,

Oh, thou whose melody the heart obeys, Thou who can'st all its subject passions move, Whose notes to heav'n the list'ning soul can raise,

Siddons! the Muse, for many a joy refin'd, Feelings which ever seem too swiftly fled - For those delicious tears she loves to shed,

While, bending at thy honour'd shrine, the Muse Pours, MONTAGU, to thee her votive strain, Thy heart will not her simple notes refuse,

In Sensibility's lov'd praise I tune my trembling reed; And seek to deck her shrine with bays,