SELMO, whose restless mind and wavering breast
No strength from calm philosophy possess'd,
Nor from religion resignation drew,
Desponding, wild, with fierce distraction flew:
The hoary sire beheld her dragg'd along,
While direful horror froze his speechless tongue;
With trembling hands he smote his hopeless breast;
His rolling eyes departing sense express'd;
Aghast he stood, his feeble brain turn'd round,
High swell'd his heart, his thoughts no utterance found; —
Then sudden flew, like one possess'd and blind,
Or wither'd leaves of aspin driv'n by wind;
Felt not his age, with transient fury strong;
Loud cries broke forth, with which the mountains rung:
He climbs a clift, on his IANTHE calls,
And, starting backward, from its summit falls.