THE ROSICRUCIANS,

A POEM.

CANTO THE FIRST.

Solemn ClioThe Muse of History in Greek mythology, often depicted with a scroll or tablets., what do your annals offer me?
Long discords, rival storms,
Ambition shaking the foundations of states,
Here tears, there the song of combat;
The endless history of conquerors,
Unjust force, and laurels without glory.
From time to time, there shine within this chaos
A few good kings, the support of the weak,
A few pure days, a gift from wisdom,
Which new storms shall surely follow.
Clio, often, in the face of your tiring pride,
We prefer the grace of your rival The author likely refers to Erato (the Muse of lyric or love poetry) or Thalia (the Muse of idylls and comedy), suggesting a desire to mix historical facts with imaginative storytelling..
You are sisters; keep then your own features,
And allow her to cheer their sadness.
I shall dare it; my hand upon your cypressesThe cypress tree is a traditional symbol of mourning and death, fitting for the "sadness" of historical records mentioned by the author.