text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"Forty succeeding days had now revolv'd,
Since the appointed twelve from Israel's camp
Adventur'd forth to search the promis'd land,
And still, unvisited by Heav'n's blest light,
Dark in his tent apostate Korah dwelt,
Outcast of God and man. Wretch more forlorn
Earth did not own; for day and night to him,
Irksome and drear and comfortless alike,
No grateful changes brought, that might induce
Or rest or pause from memory, but still
Th' imprison'd horror rankled in the depth
Of his relentless undiverted thought.
Sleep, that at times with silent step will come
To the sick couch, and soft oblivion bring,
Blest visitant! to sorrow-wounded souls,
Came not to him: alien from God was he;
And Heav'n's bright messengers will not consort
With hell's dark agents: for it is not sleep
To herd with nightly spectres; 'tis not rest
To wander and be tossing on the flood
Of wild imagination, till the soul
Feels anguish more intolerably fierce
Than all its waking torments.--Such the rest
Of Korah, such his dreams. When, at the hour
Of morn or ev'ning pray'r, the choral hymn
Hallow'd Jehovah's name, then through the cells
And channels of his phrensy-stricken brain
Rage and confusion rush'd; the solemn peal
Broke on his ear like his salvation's knell,
Whilst his vext conscience struggled, but too late,
To rend th' insatiate demon from his heart:
Hopeless attempt! The adamantine chain,
Temper'd by fiends, and to the centre knit
Of hell's tremendous furnace, held him fast.
Dathan, who, busied in rebellion's cause,
Of all authorities the foe, had spread
Contagious discontent throughout the camp,
Now at the close of day approach'd the tent
Of Korah, who, from the disastrous night,
That pledg'd him to perdition, had refus'd
Access to all the league, with whom prevail'd
Gloomy suspicions, that or death had quench'd,
Or melancholy damp'd his flaming zeal
For vengeance against Moses, which of late
Had rag'd so fiercely. Him the factious chief
Of Reuben found no longer now immur'd
Repulsive to enquiry, but pass'd on,
Led by the glimmering lamp to where he lay
In curtain'd privacy: before his couch
The kindred traitor stood, pond'ring the change,
Which in his ghastly visage had been wrought,
Since with that fiend infernal he had held
Impious communion, and allegiance pledg'd
To his soul's loss. ""What agony is this,
That weighs so heavy upon Korah's health,
Dathan exclaim'd, and how hath it occurr'd,
When Sinai's fires are out, and Moses sinks,
Like an extinguisht meteor, into shade,
That thou, the day-star of our rising hope,
The chosen of our Israel above all
The sons of Levi, buried in this gloom
Art to be sought of me, when thou thyself
Should'st be the first to welcome and enjoy
The triumphs, that await thy coming forth?""",2009-09-14 19:45:44 UTC,"""[T]hrough the cells / And channels of his phrensy-stricken brain / Rage and confusion rush'd; the solemn peal / Broke on his ear like his salvation's knell, / Whilst his vext conscience struggled, but too late, / To rend th' insatiate demon from his heart""",2005-08-29 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,Rooms,•Literal? Cells and channels. Be careful not to fall into semantic dualism.
•I've included twice: Cells and Channel,"Searching ""brain"" and ""cell"" in HDIS (Poetry)",16099,6083
"He said, and forth the brave advent'rers went.
Deep in their gloomy cave the ten remain'd,
Hungry and chill and overcome with toil,
Yet fear forbad their heavy eyes to close,
And none propos'd to watch whilst others slept;
For by no ties of friendship were they bound
Each to the other, nor had common cause,
Save in the joint resolve to throw contempt
And absolute discredit on the hope,
Cherish'd by Joshua, to excite the war
With nations, which invincible they deem'd.
The shepherd's words weigh'd heavy on their hearts,
And what that false deceiver would have said,
Had Joshua not oppos'd, their fears supplied.
Some in the baseness of their souls propos'd
Instant escape; but even that t'attempt
Presented perils, which they dar'd not face,
But under guidance of their gallant chiefs;
For though they held them in their bitt'rest hate,
Still they rever'd their courage. Some there were
In treason so deep-sighted, as to spy
A project to desert them in their need,
And let them die by famine in their cave:
So minds debas'd can torture gen'rous acts:
And thus, by terrors haunted, hunger-pinch'd,
Hag-ridden by the demon at their hearts,
Suspicious, tost from thought to thought, they watch'd
The lagging hours of night, nor other food
Had they, save that, on which the viper feeds.",2009-09-14 19:45:44 UTC,"""So minds debas'd can torture gen'rous acts: / And thus, by terrors haunted, hunger-pinch'd, / Hag-ridden by the demon at their hearts, / Suspicious, tost from thought to thought, they watch'd / The lagging hours of night""",2006-01-17 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,"","•I've included thrice: Haunting, Demon, Wave",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),16101,6083
"""At length my fate more calmly I survey'd.
""If to propitiate the obdurate maid
""Were still by heav'n allow'd, my longer stay
""Would only the transporting bliss delay;
""If still relentless she should prove, my soul
""Might gain remission from her stern controul.
""By hope and fear thus torn, with eager haste
""Th' impression on my buckler I effac'd,
""Resolv'd that, till my fate should milder grow,
""Me as its once-fam'd bearer none should know.
""Arm'd at all points, and vaulting on my steed,
""To the Larissan court I urg'd his speed.
""In phrase the most respectful I essay'd
""To move the justice of the royal maid;
""I told my suff'rings, call'd on heav'n above
""To vouch my tender, my eternal love,
""And her permission humbly sought once more
""To claim her pity and her grace implore.
""The scroll I sent; her answer quickly came--
""By Heav'n! my madd'ning soul is in a flame
""When I reflect--Oh! may'st thou never know
""The tort'ring pangs, th' inexplicable woe,
""Which like a torrent overwhelm'd my soul,
""When I unopen'd saw again my scroll,
""Which from her cruel hand this sentence bore--
""'Never, oh prince, these eyes may see thee more.
""'This further proof of my resolve receive,
""'And, if my wish avail, Larissa leave.'--
""Yes too obdurate maid! Thou know'st too well
""The potency of that o'erpow'ring spell,
""Which spite of all that reason can suggest,
""Maintains despotic empire o'er my breast.
""Yes, yes! In all thy cruelty exult,
""Mock at my pangs, my constancy insult,
""To enhance my woes exert thine ev'ry art,
""Probe to its inmost core my tortur'd heart!
""That heart may break--But, while its pulses beat,
""There my immortal love shall hold its seat;
""And when, releas'd from sublunary ties,
""My soul to regions yet unknown shall rise,
""E'en in the trance and agony of death,
""Thy still dear name shall linger on my breath,
""With ev'ry pray'r for sacred mercy blend,
""And with my spirit to high heav'n ascend.--
""Forgive, forgive me, friend! My weakness needs
""The sympathy from friendship which proceeds.
""Methinks, already thy consoling sigh,
""The pitying tear which trembles in thine eye,
""Calm to repose my agitated soul:
""As if some opiate o'er my senses stole,
""The tempest of my heart subsides, again
""Reason asserts her interrupted reign.
""Let me then cherish her reviving beam,
""And quit, while yet I can, my painful theme:
""A few brief words, and those succinctly told,
""The sequel of my fortunes will unfold.
""With burning brain and agonizing breast,
""I paid obedience to the stern behest:
""My soul with wonder, as with passion, fraught,
""The town I quitted, and the forest sought.
""To thee I need not what ensued repeat,
""The story of my suff'rings is complete.""
",2009-09-14 19:46:36 UTC,"""[T]ort'ring pangs"" and inexplicable woe may ""like a torrent"" overwhelm the soul",2004-08-16 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,"","",HDIS,16351,6177