THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
SACRED PORTRAITURE
AND
ILLUSTRATIONS,
WITH OTHER POEMS.
BY MRS. JOHN G. GUINNESS.
DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO
THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE VISCOUNTESS DE VESCI.
The profits arising from the sale of this Work are to be devoted to the aid of a respectable
family in reduced circumstances.
DUBLIN:
RICHARD MOORE TIMS, 85, GRAFTON-STREET,
AND W. CURRY JUN. & CO. SACKVILLE ST.
1834.
PRINTED DY P. D. HARDY, 3, CECILIA-STREET.
?R
CONTENTS.
Page
SAUL AND THE WITCH OK ENDOK 1
RUTH 16
Nebuchadnezzar's dream 32
defeat of sennacherib -u
belshazzar's feast 57
death of john the baptist 70
flight into egypt 8.5
raising of lazarus from the dead 90
christ's miracles at gennesareth 96
marriage at cana in galilee ,, 110
transfiguration 115
resurrection and ascension of our lord 120
lament of david over saul and jonathan 148
life v vapour 150
the evening meditation 152
the contrast storm and calm 15-t
SPRING 156
SUMMER 157
AUTUMN 158
WINTER 159
HYMN I
PREFACE.
It is with mingled feelings of earnestness for the glory
of the Divine Redeemer, and of deference to the public,
that this Poetical Essay is submitted to the judgment of the
latter, implicitly trusting to their candour and indulgence.
The subjects must be interesting to all who value the Sacred
Scriptures, and it has been the aim of the Writer to treat
them in a way calculated to excite the best feelings of the
heart, where these feelings have been produced by grace,
and to impress the mind of every reader with a conviction
of the great importance of the truths of the Gospel, and
thereby to lead, through the Divine Blessing, to the pos-
session of the treasures it contains.
In a poetic point of view, the composition was attended
with some difficulty from the exclusion of every fictitious
incident, the facts of Scripture alone being narrated in the
manner it might be supposed probable those facts occurred.
Some persons there are, who contending for the verbal in-
spiration of the word of God, disapprove of the least de-
viation even from its diction ; but to these it may be an-
swered, that while the subject matter of that word was un-
doubtedly communicated by the Holy Spirit influencing the
minds of those chosen instruments who exhibited it to
VI PREFACE.
mankind, there appear to be many internal proofs against
its being verba//// inspired, one of which may be here
adduced. All who are conversant with Scripture harmo-
nies, will perceive by the parallel portions which are brought
together before the reader, that the Evangelists relate the
same occurrences with many variations, and that the dis-
courses of our Lord, although in substance the same, are
recorded differently with regard to the minutia of lan^ua^e
and circumstances respecting them. To instance this, the
one all-important fact of the Resurrection of our Lord is re-
lated in these particulars variously by all the Evangelists
none of them giving a connected view of the transaction,
but each describing several appearances of the risen
Saviour and his angelic messengers, leaving the order of
the events to be gathered from their united testimony. But
indeed the supposition of the verbal inspiration would lead
into the dilemma of restricting suck inspiration to the ori-
ginal Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, since it is impossible
to transfer even a single thought literally from one language
into another. The view, therefore, which the Writer would
humbly submit is this— that while the entire subject matter
of the word of God was supernaturally conveyed to the
minds of the sacred Historians, they were left to the exer-
cise of their own judgment as to the language and imagery
in which it was to be revealed ; and for this reason we ob-
serve a great variety in the style and ornamental diction of
the several Authors, who were men of very different degrees
of intellectual endowments, acquired knowledge, and rank
in society; to exemplify this, the figurative ideas of the
Prophet Amos, who was one of the herdsmen of Tekoa,
naturally vary much from those of Isaiah, who being of the
PREFACE. vii
Royal Family, (and as since deservedly designated the
Demosthenes of the Hebrews,) evidences greater dignity of
thought, and a style suited to his more lofty associations.
The inference, therefore, which may fairly be drawn from
this position is, that if the minute circumstances, imagery,
and language, in which any Author may clothe the facts of
Scripture, neither militate against the truth of God, nor op-
pose national custom; it is admissible to adorn such facts so
as to produce additional interest.
In order to meet the possible charge of plagiarism, the
Writer can with truth assert, that not a single idea in this
Work has knowingly been borrowed from any Author
whatever.
In conclusion, if through the humble instrumentality of
these Poems any are led to the perusal of the Inspired
Volume, or are enabled to apprehend more clearly the re-
corded evidences of our Lord's Resurrection, (that import-
ant event on which the believer's eternal hopes are sus-
pended) the object for which they were written will have
been fully accomplished.
SAUL AND THE WITCH OF ENDOR.
O'er a steep mountain path, at midnight hour
Low clouds in dense and gath'ring masses hung,
The deep-toned thunder rolled with distant lour,
And through the hills in dying echoes rung.
The moon with tearful ray and clouded brow,
Glided in vapoury robe of mourning hue —
Shed a pale glance on rugged rocks below.
And sunk in dull and darkling clouds from view.
B
2 SACRED PORTRAITURE
Then roared the mountain blast — the light'ning's glare
Fell flashing on a form of giant height,
Who, wrapt in mantle dark, with frantic air
Trod the defile amid the gloom of night.
With anxious eye he viewed the threat'ning lour,
While scarce a gleam pierced the deep shades around-
Sudden in rapid drops the rushing shower
Dashed, echoing on the bare and rocky ground !
Through rolling clouds a passing lustre throws,
High o'er a frowning cave, the glimm'ring beams
That mark where pendant from its oozy brows,
Long trailing foliage in dark drapery streams.
He stops — he gazes on the lonely scene —
Returning moonlight pours her silv'ry ray —
Full on the dripping wreaths of mournful green
Whose lucid drops with pearly brightness play.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 3
Upraised to heaven — his dark and languid eye —
Where manly beauty once in lustre shone —
Seemed to express the deep-felt agony
Of one whom hope had left to weep alone.
But no — he dare not — and with writhing brow
Turned from that sacred glance he once revered,
Rushed through the wat'ry wreaths that drooped below,
And banished heaven from his conscience seared.
A moment passed — ere yet his wand'ring thought
Could mark the scene that met his anguish'd eye,
Or calmly view the wild, terrific spot,
Where nought was heard save the lone night- wind's sigh.
From the high vault of its o'erhanging dome,
A glimm'ringlamp was hung — whose feeble ray
With flick'ring light amid the sable gloom,
Tinged the dark rocks with pale and livid gray.
SACRED PORTRAITURE
An altar hewn in rough unsightly stone,
Streamed with the blood of recent victim shed,
And o'er the space full many a scatter'd bone
Marked where the jackal in his wand'rings fed.
Near an expiring Game whose embers cast,
Full on the rugged stones a crimson glare,
And flashed uncertain in the midnight blast,
The sorceress sate reclined with pensive air.
O'er her dark brows where locks of raven dye
Hung loosely wild — the lines of troubled thought
Were deep imprest — while her bewilder'd eye
Showed where contending passions fiercely fought.
On a rude stone was laid a mystic book
Of astrologic tale, and fabled spell ;
There by enchantment's art — with anxious look
She sought the influence dark of demons fell. *
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 5
The stranger's footstep sounds upon her ear —
She starts — renews the flame with rapid hand,
On his tall form its falling radiance clear
Displays his sov'reign air of high command.
" Stranger — at this unhallowed midnight hour,
When storms unusual rack the cleaving sky —
Through the red light'ning's glare and mountain shower,
What spell to this lone cavern brings thee nigh ?
" Seek'st thou deserted in a world of woes
A lone retreat, in secret there to sigh ;
Or cast a wand'rer forth — would'st thou repose
A transient hour 'till morning gilds the sky ?"
A sudden pang then pierced the stranger's soul,
And o'er his cheek the burning tear-drops fell,
" Yes — yes — the tempest wild unheard may roll,
But who the storm of deep despair can quell?
6 SACRED PORTRAITURE
" Yes — friends have fled — but that were nought — if now
Hope would her taper lend to light my way,
Her smile might then relume my sadden'd brow,
And darkness flee before her cheering ray.
" Know thou, my soul would lift the secret veil
That hides the world of spirits from our view,
To gaze on one whom death's dim shades conceal,
One who in happier hours was loved and true !"
Chill terror blanched the sorceress's pallid cheek,
" What! know'st thou not our monarch's dark decree
Against th' enchanter's art — or dost thou seek
My ruin by thy baleful treachery ?"
" Fear not," he cried, " my solemn vow expressed,
Shall be the pledge that none thy secret know ;
For — ah — this lonely — this deserted breast —
Boasts not one partner of its joy or woe !
AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
* { Search then thy page, with unknown magic rite —
The aid of thy familiar spirit crave —
Shed o'er my fate obscure — one beam of light,
And bring me Samuel from the darksome grave."
The book unclosed — where the slain victim bled
The sorceress laid a burning torch of fire,
Wide o'er the high-arched roof its glances spread,
While secret drugs inflamed the awful pyre.
Then the loud thunder burst the echoing gale,
The light'ning's blaze flashed fearful through the cave,
And threw its livid glare on phantom's pale,
That seemed to issue from the silent grave.
" What dubious forms are these ?" the stranger cried,
" That flit in vapoury clouds before my view?"
" These are the gods that on the tempest ride,
Departed shades of Israel great and true."
8 SACRED PORTRAITURE
Then wide the earth unclosed its yawning breast,
And lo ! an aged form in sable pall, b
With hue unearthly, from his silent rest,
Soft breathed as he arose — the name of Saul !
Then wild the sorceress shrieked — and o'er her frame
Convulsive writhings passed — while her dark brow
Frowned fearful, " Saul ! at midnight hour he came
To strike unseen a treacherous deadly blow."
Moveless the phantom fixed a tranquil eye
On him o'er whom his spirit once could mourn,
And if that spirit now could breathe a sigh,
Thou hapless Saul ! would bid those griefs return.
But oh, that glance so deeply fixed— so still
Of mingled censure, and of pitying woe,
Froze through his blood with agonizing chill,
And bade anew the tide of anguish flow.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 9
Dim through the cavern burned the dying flame,
But rays ethereal o'er the phantom played —
While accents soft thrilled through the monarch's frame
As low he bent before the sacred shade.
" Why from the sweet repose of spirits blest,
Where cloudless heaven beams on the raptured soul,
Where Eden's sunny joys breathe halcyon rest,
And sparkling floods of pleasure ceaseless roll :
" Why to this scene of more than death-like gloom,
This polar night of sin — which scarce a ray
Illumes — is my reluctant spirit come
From the pure blaze of bright immortal day ?"
" Oh, happy, envied shade — can'st thou forgive
The rash despair of one whom peace has fled ;
One who by sov'reign power condemned to live,
Weeps o'er each pleasure blighted, lost, and dead."
10 SACRED PORTRAITURE
Then starting from his suppliant knee, he speaks —
" Know'st thou that on Gilboa's lofty brow,
Ere the red morning's glow th' horizon streaks,
Th' embattled host its glittering front will show ?
" Yes, there the proud Philistine's muster'd throng
Will dip in deadly hate their murd'rous spear
With echoing clang of shield and helmet strong,
Will sound the warlike charge in Israel's ear.
" O, I have sought before the throne on high,
One beam of wisdom's all inspiring ray —
But ah ! that sov'reign God deigns no reply —
And in judicial clouds obscures my way ! c
" If then thy happy soul in Eden's bowers
Can'st feel — can'st pity him who now forlorn,
Once held the concmeror's and the prophet's powers-
Unfold the issue of the fearful morn."
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 1 I
Calmly the Spirit spake — " to mortal eye,
O, Saul ! how glorious were thine early days!
By power supreme — enthroned in majesty
With all th' imperial purple's gilded blaze.
" The conqueror's verdant wreath — the prophet's fire,
Th' attractive charm of youth in early bloom
Taught thee with hopes forbidden to aspire,
And shed a lustre on ambition's plume.
" But — though the ruby's glow — the emerald's light,
The peerless diamond with its varied beam
Adorn thee — yet beyond the heavenly height
A mightier monarch reigns, in power supreme.
" Oh, had'st thou to his righteous sceptre bowed,
And sought thy bliss from truth's celestial streams ;
Then would thy peace as rivers pure have flowed,
And all thy sorrows passed as summer dreams.
1^ SACRED PORTRAITURE ,
" Ah, if pale sorrow's wan and death-like form
Could enter Eden's groves — my soul would mourn,
Thou once-loved Saul ! the fearful coming storm
To which no tranquil calm can e'er return !
" For know, and tremble, that Jehovah's power
Which once installed thee prophet, conqueror, king,
In the approaching battle's awful hour,
Thy spirit to his judgment bar shall bring.
" Torn from thine eager grasp — the royal crown
Of radiant gems, shall shine on David's brow ;
For thou, rebellious monarch, dared disown
That law, to which th' archangels prostrate bow.
" To-morrow — when the clash of glittering arms
Shall wake the echoes in Gilboa's vale,
And fill the sounding hills with loud alarms,
Then sudden fear shall Israel's ranks assail.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 1.'!
" On the red field by frantic conquerors trod,
Thy warlike sons shall meet death's poisoned dart —
While thou — in bold defiance of thy God
Shalt guide the spear that wounds thy recreant heart!"
While yet the phantom spake his awful doom,
Senseless he fell — ere echo told the sound !
And through th' enchanter's cave, a sudden gloom
Of shadowy clouds, poured dark'ning horrors round.
Returning life slow warms each icy limb,
And deep drawn sighs the bosom's anguish speak,
While his dark eye with baleful sorrow dim
Beholds the early dawn's first crimson streak!
His followers now who reach the sorceress' cave,
Plead with their lord to seek a calm repose —
" What! see ye not," he cries, " the yawning grave
Waits me on Gilboa's mount, 'mid Israel's foes ?
1 1 SACRED PORTRAITURE
Then with a shudd'ring look of deep despair
Towards that dark spot where passed the fleeting shade,
Wildly he flies— the battle's front to dare —
And meet Philistia's host in dread arrayed!
The orb of day retiring, glanced with beam
Of golden light full on the mountain's head —
Where many a warrior lay, and many a stream
Of sanguine hue — flowed o'er the silent dead !
Thou too wast there, O Saul ! and by thy side
The broken spear — the plumeless helmet fell !
The glitt'ring corselet in thy life blood dyed —
The ghastly cheek— death's awful conquest tell !
Oh, had'st thou sought through faith that glorious God,
Whose love can veil the sinner's foulest stain,
Wafted by angels to his blest abode,
Thou there had'st joined the bright and ransomed train.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 15
Unhonoured now — 'neath Gilead's mountain high
He sleeps within the drear sepulchral cave —
Where the dark foliage waves with mournful sigh
And droops unheeded, o'er his lonely grave!
16 -ACRED PORTRAITURE
RUTH.
Now morn with timid blushes drew the veil
That shadowy hung o'er heaven's ethereal blue,
And gliding gradual through th' enamelled plain
Shook from her rosy wing, pure silvery drops
To deck the silken leaf of varied flowers:
Then with her pencil, dipt in orient heaven,
With purple rich, suffused the mountain chain,
And tinged the surface of the waveless lake.
Each pallid star of night, with twinkling beam
Retiring, sunk behind th' expansive vault,
AND ILLUSTRATIONS.
â–
Which soon with added brightness gradual shed
A golden ray o'er all th' awakened scene;
Now wafts the fragrant breath of orange groves
With perfumed citron through the balmy air.
And bright the rose and starry asphodel
Smiled 'neath the plane trees' high embow'ring shade ;
There, in a grove where twined th' uncultured vine
In festive garlands through the verdant boughs,
A wand'rer sad, with sunk and tearful eye,
Gazes on nature's loveliness, while deep
The pangs of memory strike their poisoned dart,
She — with the fair companions of her way,
Who, in their youth's bright bloom, deplore the loss
Each, of her mate beloved— had journeyed far
Ere twilight pierced the sable vault of night.
Here rests Naomi, and with accents soft
Of tenderness maternal — pensive speaks :
" O much loved partners of my varying yean-,,
Ye who through gloomy changes of my fate,
17
18
SACRED PORTRAITURE
With filial love have dried the frequent tear
That sprung from sorrow's fount — here must we part !
But ere o'er wide Judea's desert drear,
Your steps retracing, seek the distant land
Of pagan Moab — to that gracious God
Whose word gave being to yon vast expanse,
And bade the verdant earth cast forth her fair
And flowery treasures — yes, to Zion's God,
My soul in ardent prayer would fain commend
Each circling moment of your future years.
And may that faithful tenderness ye showed
In past lamented years of wedded bliss,
Be richly yours, when ye once more shall wear
The happy bonds of hymeneal love.
For me — alone — a pilgrim through the path
Of desert earth — I'll seek the sacred fane
Where the full glories of Jehovah shine.
Long have I shunned the sacrilegious rite,
And wept <>'or altars raised to idol gods,
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 19
While my freed soul would fain in worship bow
At that blest shrine — irradiate with the beams
Of truth — from fountains pure of holy light.
But do I part, nor weep ? I dare not trust
My tongue to tell the poignant grief which now
Bursts my swoln heart, and fills my anguish'd eye,
"When I would breathe that sorrowing word farewell !"
Orpah — with many a tear and deepfelt sigh
Turned from the vale — and soon the pendant boughs •
Of drooping foliage, veiled her less'ning form.
" Ruth, wherefore now with wan and tearful cheek,
Child of my love, say, dost thou linger here ?
Why clasp me thus ? Orpah thou seest is now-
Back to her country, and her gods returned —
Leave me— oh, leave me— add not to the pangs
That tear my suff'ring heart by this delay-
Take then my soul's fond blessing — and farewell !"
" Parent beloved of him my bosom owned
A dearer self— and can I leave thee thus ?
r fJ
go
SACRED PORTRAIT! Kl
What — in the autumn of thv (lavs alone —
Unfriended o'er the gloomy path of life
To trace thy weary steps? — that must not be-
Why may not 1 tread with thee on eacli thorn ?
And seek by anxious tenderness to chase
Each little cloud that hangs upon thy brow ?
Cease then to plead — for where thy footsteps stray —
Friend of my youth — there will I follow thee —
Thy people shall be mine — thy God my God —
And on the spot where death shall glaze thine eye
And pale thy cheek — there will thy child expire,
And in one common grave with thee repose !
Hear then my vow — that nought but death's fell power
Shall break the chain that binds thee to this heart."
Now while consoled and calmed, they onward move
Through windings soft of Rephaim's lovely vale,
Th' ascending sun, with wreath of amber rays
Rolls his red chariot o'er the deep blue vault,
While fade the vapours 'neath his burning wheel.
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. ^1
There— as if trac'd on the cerulean sky,
The verdant heights of Bethi'liem met their view ;
Its snowy dwellings where the myrtle dark
Vies with the fairer tint of lofty palm ;
From the sharp ridges of their towering site
With peaceful air, on deep and clust'ring vales
Look down, where rich the fields of mellow corn
Wave in the dazzling fervors of the air.
" How bright," Naomi cries, " does mem'ry trace
Departed joys — when on the peaceful spot
Where dwelt our vanish'd bliss, we fondly gaze !
Ah, yes ; each image in fair colours drest
Now gaily floats before my fancy's view —
Unreal forms — which melt in liquid air!
From the dread pow'r of an offended God
Here, as thou know'st, pale famine's horror frown'd,
And urged the wedded partner of my fate
To seek the distant plains of heathen Moab —
Plains— where alas ! the fabled Chemosh reigns,
22
SACRED rOHTRAlTl'HE
And altars stream to dark Baal-Peor's name !
But there — though smiling fields and vineyards lair
Yielded the fruits that feed the dying frame,
Full oft we languish'd for th' immortal bread
Which nourishes the soul, and 'mid the glare
Of tinsell'd idols sought the living God.
But more than exile's pang my bosom felt,
When the loved partner of my banish'd years
Sever'd by death" — awhile she paus'd, and wept —
" Left me on earth's drear waste — while the fair plants
I rear'd from early bud to bloom mature —
Mow'd by the awful conqu'ror's deadly scythe —
Bade me beware of sublunary joys —
But see! the blooms of nature strew these hills
With full luxuriance!— yes, my long-lost home,
I fain would greet thy well remember'd charms ;
But ah ! pale penury with icy touch
Chills — as it seeks to rise — each ardent glow,
And veils the landscape with her meagre form :
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 23
But most for thee — sweet Ruth — my bosom mourns" —
With anxious mien, her fair companion sought
To check the sudden murmur e'er it rose.
Her gentle eye upraised to heaven's bright arch
Soft glanc'd on Naomi — with smile resign'd,
" Fond — but too anxious friend — thou know'st whose hand
Clothes with a verdant robe these wavy hills,
And dyes with varied hues the glowing flowers !
Who paints the rainbow-plumage of the bird,
That with glad note darts through the ambient air,
And seeks his portion from creation's God.
And ah ! will not that gracious hand support
The being he bestows ? doubt not that now
His bounty from earth's riches will afford
Our scanty portion too ! trust in his love —
Hast thou not taught me that Jehovah (-rod
Has found salvation for a guilty world,
And that the emblems of the Jewish fane
Show as in mirror bright — that off'ring pure
^1 SACRED PORTRAITURE
Which God's long promis'd grace, in future days
Will realize for those his love will save ?
Know we by faith this truth — and can we doubt
That he who grants the greater will bestow
The meaner blessing? let us, while we mount
The steep ascent that crowns yon olive grove,
Gaze on th' expanse of nature — while our hearts
Own as our God its providential Lord !"
Far o'er the vale where aromatic flowers
Breath'd their elysian odours— while around
The dark green olive, and wild fig-tree wav'd
With gentle undulations in the breeze —
The sullen waters of th' Asphaltic lay —
Embosom'd in sharp crags, whose forms grotesque
Pil'd in rude heaps, as towers gigantic frown'd —
Or as bold amphitheatres, by hand
Of giant huge — carv'd from the solid rock :
Now 'neath the luminous meridian beam
Like a bright lake of chrysolite they shone,
AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 25
With golden hues and shades of lucid green —
" There," with a sigh, the gentle Ruth exclaim'd —
" There we behold that deep and deadly sea,
Beneath whose bitter waters lie the wreck
Of wasted cities, by the fiery stream
Of livid sulphur, heaven's dread messenger
O'erthrown, and shrouded by the silent wave,
Resting as monument of vengeance just !
But though Jehovah God, thus strikes to earth
The guilty city, and o'erwhelms the proud.
And impious sinner in its fearful fall,