The chair is filled! a stranger sat
Upon the honoured seat;
Nor deigned he to doff his hat,
Though more than one had hinted that
Respect was always meet.
But he was heedless of them all,
And thrice he gazed round the hall,
But ne’er a word did he let fall:
Whilst thus he sat, whilst thus he gazed,
The goodly throng were all amazed.--
The subject of superstition, as connected with the history of man,
whether it be considered as influencing his character, or as affecting
his conduct in society, seems sufficiently important to occupy the
serious attention of the most learned investigator. It has been treated,
however, with so much ability by an elegant author of our own
times,[15] that, if not altogether exhausted, little more seems left to
the ingenuity of any succeeding writer, than to avail himself, as his
occasions may require, of the store of information thus amply afforded
him. No maxim being more certainly founded on truth, than that early
impressions are generally the most lasting. Would it not be highly
meritorious in any one equal to the task, to favour the public with new
editions of these invaluable productions, Satan’s Invisible World, and
Glanvil’s History of Witchcraft, rendered, on the modern and improved
plan of juvenile education, into easy ditties, to be sung or said by
nurse or child? Might we not then expect to see the pure principles of
poetic taste reared on the solid basis of useful knowledge?
The following marvellous occurrence, recorded in the letter of a noble
peer, and said to be founded in fact, may appear to the reader of
prosaic fancy, as extremely dull and uninteresting; but as it has been
the ground-work of the present poem, the author cannot think of
refusing it insertion. It will likewise help to increase the volume to
that respectable size which may entitle it to the honours of Russia or
Morocco, and to a distinguished situation on the well arranged shelves
of a modern library.
“MY DEAR SIR,
“I obey your commands with some reluctance, in relating the story
of which you have heard so much, and to which your curiosity
appears to be so broad awake. I do it unwillingly, because such
histories depend so much upon the manner in which they are related;
and this, which I have told with such success, and to the midnight
terrors of so many simple souls, will make but a sorry figure in a
written narration.--However, you shall have it.
“It was in the early part of-- -- --’s life, that he attended an
hunting club at their sport, when a stranger, of a genteel
appearance, and well mounted, joined the chace, and was observed
to ride with a degree of courage and address that called forth the
utmost astonishment of every one present. The beast he rode was of
amazing powers; nothing stopped them; the hounds could never escape
them; and the huntsman, who was left far behind, swore that the man
and his horse were devils from hell. When the sport was over, the
company invited this extraordinary person to dinner; he accepted
the invitation, and astonished the company as much by the powers of
his conversation, and the elegance of his manners, as by his
equestrian prowess. He was an orator, a poet, a painter, a
musician, a lawyer, a divine; in short, he was every thing, and the
magic of his discourse kept the drowsy sportsmen awake long after
their usual hour. At length, however, wearied nature could be
charmed no more, and the company began to steal away by degrees to
their repose. On his observing the society diminish, he discovered
manifest signs of uneasiness: he therefore gave new force to his
spirits, and new charms to his conversation, in order to detain the
remaining few some time longer. This had some little effect; but
the period could not be long delayed when he was to be conducted to
his chamber. The remains of the company retired also; but they had
scarce closed their eyes, when the house was alarmed by the most
terrible shrieks that were ever heard: several persons were
awakened by the noise; but, its continuance being short, they
concluded it to proceed from a dog who might be accidentally
confined in some part of the house: they very soon, therefore,
composed themselves to sleep, and were very soon awakened by
shrieks and cries of still greater terror than the former. Alarmed
at what they heard, several of them rung their bells, and, when the
servants came, they declared that the horrid sounds proceeded from
the stranger’s chamber. Some of the gentlemen immediately arose, to
inquire into this extraordinary disturbance; and, while they were
dressing themselves for that purpose, deeper groans of despair, and
shriller shrieks of agony, again astonished and terrified them.
After knocking sometime at the stranger’s chamber-door, he answered
them as one awakened from sleep, declared he had heard no noise,
and, rather in an angry tone, desired he might not be again
disturbed. Upon this they returned to one of their chambers, and
had scarce begun to communicate their sentiments to each other,
when their conversation was interrupted by a renewal of yells,
screams, and shrieks, which, from the horror of them, seemed to
issue from the throats of damned and tortured spirits. They
immediately followed the sounds, and traced them to the stranger’s
chamber, the door of which they instantly burst open, and found him
upon his knees in bed, in the act of scourging himself with the
most unrelenting severity, his body streaming with blood. On their
seizing his hand to stop the strokes, he begged them, in the most
wringing tone of voice, as an act of mercy, that they would retire,
assuring them that the cause of their disturbance was over, and
that in the morning he would acquaint them with the reasons of the
terrible cries they had heard, and the melancholy sight they saw.
After a repetition of his entreaties, they retired; and in the
morning some of them went to his chamber, but he was not there;
and, on examining the bed, they found it to be one gore of blood.
Upon further inquiry, the groom said, that, as soon as it was
light, the gentleman came to the stable booted and spurred, desired
his horse might be immediately saddled, and appeared to be
extremely impatient till it was done, when he vaulted instantly
into his saddle, and rode out of the yard on full speed.--Servants
were immediately dispatched into every part of the surrounding
country, but not a single trace of him could be found; such a
person had not been seen by any one, nor has he been since heard
of.
“The circumstances of this strange story were immediately committed
to writing, and signed by every one who were witnesses to them,
that the future credibility of any one, who should think proper to
relate them, might be duly supported. Among the subscribers to the
truth of this history are some of the first names of this
century.--It would now, I believe, be impertinent to add any thing
more, than that I am, yours, &c.”
If farther proof were necessary to shew, that the dominion of
superstition is not altogether confined, as has been erroneously
supposed, to the heroes of romance, it might be found in the learned
support afforded, but a few years ago, to the predictions of the
unfortunate Prophet Brothers: And although the sublime and simple truths
of the Christian faith have given a fatal blow to the superstitious
absurdities of more early creeds, our propensity to the marvellous, has
still retained sufficient influence, to screen from detection the
grossest impositions of the Roman Church. Among the numberless
deceptions, which Popish craft has successfully practised upon the
credulity of its votaries, one has been handed down by a venerable
historian, the insertion of which cannot fail to gratify the enlightened
commentators and note-compilers of the present age.--
“Qui, cum die quadam tale aliquid foris ageret, digressis ad
ecclesiam sociis, ut dicere cœperam, et episcopus solus in oratorio
loci, lectioni vel orationi operam daret; audivit repente, ut
postea referebat, vocem suavissimam cantantium atque lætantium de
cœlo ad terras usque descendere: quam videlicet vocem ab Euro
austro, id est, ab alto brumalis, exortam, primo se audisse
dicebat, ac deinde paulatim eam sibi appropiare, donec ad tectum
usque oratorii, in quo erat Episcopus, perveniret; quod ingressa
totum implevit, atque in gyro circundedit. At ille, dum solicitus
in ea quæ audiebat, animum intenderet, audivit denuo transacto
quasi dimidiæ horæ spatio, ascendere de tecto ejusdem oratorii idem
lætitiæ canticum; et ipsa qua venerat via, ad cœlos usque cum
ineffabili dulcedine, reverti. Qui cum aliquantulum horæ quasi
attonitus maneret, et quid hæc essent solerti animo scrutaretur,
aperuit Episcopus fenestram oratorii, et sonitum manu faciens, ut
sæpius consuevit, siquis foris esset, ad se intrare præcepit.
Introivit ille concitus; cui dixit antistes: vade cito ad
ecclesiam, et hos septem fratres huc venire facito; tu quoque simul
adesto. Qui cum venissent, primo admonuit eos, ut virtutem
dilectionis et pacis, ad invicem et ad omnes fideles servarent.
Instituta quoque disciplinæ regularis, quæ vel ab ipso
didicissent, vel in ipso vidissent, vel in patrum præcedentium
factis sive dictis invenissent, indefessa instantia sequerentur.
Deinde subjunxit, diem sui obitus jam proxime instare. Namque
hospes, inquit, ille amabilis, qui fratres nostros visitare
solebat, ad me quoque hodie venire, meque de seculo evocare
dignatus est. Propter quod revertentes ad ecclesiam, dicite
fratribus, ut et meum exitum Domino precibus commendent, et suum
quoque exitum, (cujus hora incerta est), vigiliis, orationibus,
bonis operibus, prævenire meminerint. Cumque hæc et hujusmodi plura
loqueretur, atque illi, percepta ejus benedictione, jam multum
tristes exiissent, rediit ipse solus, qui carmen cœleste audierat,
et prosternens se in terram, Obsecro, inquit pater, licetne aliquid
interrogare? Interroga, inquit, quod vis. At ille, Obsecro, inquit,
ut dicas, quod erat canticum illud lætantium, quod audivi,
venientium de cœlis super oratorium hoc, et post tempus redeuntium
ad cœlos. Respondit ille; Si vocem carminis audivisti, et cœlestes
supervenire cœtus cognovisti, præcipio tibi in nomine Domini, ne
hoc cuiquam, ante meum obitum, dicas. Revera autem Angelorum fuere
spiritus, qui me ad cœlestia, quæ semper amabam ac desiderabam,
præmia vocare venerunt; et post dies septem se redituros, ac me
secum adducturos esse promiserunt. Quod quidem ita ut dictum ei
erat opere completum est. Nam confestim languore corporis tactus
est, et hoc per dies ingravescente, septimo (ut promissum ei
fuerat) die, postquam obitum suum dominici corporis, et sanguinis
perceptione munivit, soluta ab ergastulo corporis anima sancta,
ducentibus (ut credi fas est), angelis comitibus, æterna gaudia
petivit.”