Above the gloomy valley flings her light, Far to the western slopes with hamlets white; And gives, where woods the chequered upland strew, To the green corn of summer, autumn's hue. Thus Hope, first pouring from her blessed horn Her dawn, far lovelier than the moon's own morn, Till higher mounted, strives in vain to cheer The weary hills, impervious, blackening near; Yet does she still, undaunted, throw the while On darling spots remote her tempting smile. Even now she decks for me a distant scene, (For dark and broad the gulf of time between,) Gilding that cottage with her fondest ray, (Sole bourn, sole wish, sole object of my way; How fair its lawns and sheltering woods appear! How sweet its streamlet murmurs in mine ear!) Where we, my Friend, to happy days shall rise, Till our small share of hardly-paining sighs (For sighs will ever trouble human breath) Creep hushed into the tranquil breast of death. But now the clear bright Moon her zenith gains, And, rimy without speck, extend the plains: The deepest cleft the mountain's front displays Scarce hides a shadow from her searching rays; From the dark-blue faint silvery threads divide The hills, while gleams below the azure tide; The scene is wakened, yet its peace unbroke By the slow wreaths of quiet charcoal smoke, That o'er the ruins of the fallen wood Steal down the hill, and spread along the flood. The song of mountain streams, unheard by day, List'ning the aërial music of the hill, As lovely visions by thy side As now, fair river! come to me. O glide, fair stream! for ever so, Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, Till all our minds for ever flow As thy deep waters now are flowing. Vain thought!-Yet be as now thou art, How bright, how solemn, how serene! Such as did once the Poet bless, Who, murmuring here a later ditty, Could find no refuge from distress But in the milder grief of pity. Now let us, as we float along, For him suspend the dashing oar; And pray that never child of song May know that Poet's sorrows more. How calm! how still! the only sound, The dripping of the oar suspended! -The evening darkness gathers round By virtue's holiest Powers attended. DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES; TAKEN DURING A PEDESTRIAN TOUR AMONG THE ALPS. No sad vacuities his heart annoy ;- For him lost flowers their idle sweets exhale ; He tastes "the meanest note that swells the gale;' For him sod-seats the cottage-door adorn, " Whilst chast'ning thoughts of sweetest use, bestow'd By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road. Host of his welcome inn, the noontide bower, To his spare meal he calls the passing poor; He views the sun uplift his golden fire, 8 Or sink, with heart alive, like Memnon's lyre; |