’Twas night; the cheerless moon’s o’erclouded ray
    Shone dim; the breeze’s murmurs died away: 
    On his wan brow unwonted slumbers creep,
    And drench his soul in visionary sleep. 
    When lo! deep thunders on his startled ear
    Successive roll, and shadowy forms appear;
    As thro’ the misty vale at morning rise
    A row of trees before the traveller’s eyes. 
    His father’s, from the first of time, arose,
    Their country’s friends, and terror of her foes,
    Who factions quell’d, or legal justice plann’d,
    Or bade fair science brighten o’er the land. 
    They came; they stopp’d—­an angry eye they cast
    On the pale slumberer, and in silence pass’d. 
    Again the thunder roll’d; the lightning flew;
    His country’s form appear’d before his view: 
    All stain’d with gore appear’d her azure vest,
    And her dim eyes unusual grief confess’d. 
    The gloomy phantom on Ernestus frown’d,
    And with her sceptre touch’d the yawning ground: 
    A boundless space, with mourning myriads spread,
    Appear’d below, and thus the vision said: 
    “Behold th’ abode of traitors!  Sylla here,
    And guiltier Caesar, mourn their mad career;
    Here Curio gnaws his chain—­Ernestus! see
    A darker grave;—­a grave reserv’d for thee!”
    The widening chasm around him seem’d to grow. 
    His kindred spirits call’d him from below;
    When lo! it closed—­and from heaven’s opening height,
    A brilliant ray burst on his dazzled sight,
    And broke the dream.—­In deep amazement lost,
    Unnumber’d thoughts his feverish bosom cross’d;
    Hope, wonder, fear, and penitence combined,
    For many a hour oppress’d his varying mind,
    ’Till now in heaven’s blue space the lamp of day
    Was hung serene:  he hail’d the cheering ray,
    And thus began:  “Eternal beam, give ear! 
    Earth, air, and thou, all-ruling Monarch, hear! 
    Call’d forth by thee from the deep maze of ill,
    I haste, to work the mandates of thy will. 
    This hour, this moment, unappall’d by shame,
    The servitude of guilt I will disclaim;
    And, if eternal mercy deign to spare
    The forfeit life she rescued from despair,
    ’Tis mine to watch my country’s hapless cause,
    And with fix’d soul defend her injured laws. 
    Hear, Stenon, hear! from heaven’s bright arch bend down
    The sapphire glories of thy radiant crown,
    Accept th’ atonement with propitious brow,
    And thro’ the courts of heaven proclaim my vow!”

      Thus spoke Ernestus, and in silence sought
    The council hall, involved in careful thought.

      These occupied a more distinguished seat;
    A chosen train the monarch’s list complete. 
    There unsubmitting Brask’s proud genius shone,
    There Bernheim’s might, in many a contest known;