  April 23, 1798. THE LOVES OF THE TRIANGLES.
A Mathematical and Philosophical Poem. ( Continued.) CANTO I. Alas! that partial Science should approve 75 The sly Rectangle’s[218] too licentious love! For three bright nymphs the wily wizard burns;— Three bright-eyed nymphs requite his flame by turns. Strange force of magic skill! combined of yore With Plato’s science and Menecmus’ lore. [219] 80 In Afric’s school, amid those sultry sands High on its base where Pompey’s pillar stands, This learnt the Seer; and learnt, alas! too well, Each scribbled talisman, and smoky spell: What muttered charms, what soul-subduing arts, 85 Fell Zatanai [220] to his sons imparts. Gins[221]—black and huge! who in Dom-Daniel’s [222] cave Writhe your scorched limbs on sulphur’s [223] azure wave; Or, shivering, yell amidst eternal snows, Where cloud-capp’d Caf [224] protrudes his granite toes; 90 (Bound by his will, JudÆa’s fabled king, [225] Lord of Aladdin’s lamp and mystic ring.) Gins! ye remember!—for your toil conveyed Whate’er of drugs the powerful charm could aid; Air, earth, and sea ye searched, and where below 95 Flame embryo lavas, young volcanoes [226] glow,— Gins! ye beheld appall’d th’ enchanter’s hand Wave in dark air th’ Hypothenusal wand; Saw him the mystic Circle trace, and wheel With head erect, and far-extended heel; [227] 100 Saw him, with speed that mocked the dazzled eye, Self-whirled, in quick gyrations eddying fly: Till done the potent spell—behold him grown Fair Venus’ emblem—the Phoenician Cone. [228] Triumphs the Seer, and now secure observes 105 The kindling passions of the rival Curves. And first, the fair Parabola[229] behold, Her timid arms, with virgin blush, unfold! Though, on one focus fixed, her eyes betray A heart that glows with love’s resistless sway; 110 Though, climbing oft, she strives with bolder grace Round his tall neck to clasp her fond embrace, Still ere she reach it, from his polished side Her trembling hands in devious Tangents glide. Not thus Hyperbola; [230]—with subtlest art 115 The blue-eyed wanton plays her changeful part; Quick as her conjugated axes move Through every posture of luxurious love, Her sportive limbs with easiest grace expand; Her charms unveiled provoke the lover’s hand; 120 Unveiled, except in many a filmy ray, Where light Asymptotes[231] o’er her bosom play, Nor touch her glowing skin, nor intercept the day. Yet why, Ellipsis, [232] at thy fate repine? More lasting bliss, securer joys are thine. 125 Though to each fair his treacherous wish may stray, Though each, in turn, may seize a transient sway, ’Tis thine with mild coercion to restrain, Twine round his struggling heart, and bind with endless chain. Thus, happy France! in thy regenerate land, 130 Where Taste with Rapine saunters hand in hand; Where, nursed in seats of innocence and bliss, Reform greets Terror with fraternal kiss; Where mild Philosophy first taught to scan The wrongs of Providence, and rights of Man; 135 Where Memory broods o’er Freedom’s earlier scene, The Lantern bright, and brighter Guillotine; Three gentle swains evolve their longing arms, And woo the young Republic’s virgin charms; And though proud Barras with the fair succeed, 140 Though not in vain th’ Attorney Rewbell plead, Oft doth th’ impartial nymph their love forego, To clasp thy crooked shoulders, blest Lepaux! So, with dark dirge athwart the blasted heath, Three Sister Witches hailed the appalled Macbeth. 145 So, the Three Fates beneath grim Pluto’s roof, Strain the dun warp, and weave the murky woof; ’Till deadly Atropos with fatal shears Slits the thin promise of the expected years, While ’midst the dungeon’s gloom or battle’s din, |
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