IX.

IN A CARRIAGE, UPON THE BANKS OF THE RHINE.

AMID this dance of objects sadness steals
O'er the defrauded heart, while sweeping by,
As in a fit of Thespian jollity,

Beneath her vine-leaf crown the green Earth reels:
Backward, in rapid evanescence, wheels

The venerable pageantry of Time,

Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime, And what the Dell unwillingly reveals

Of lurking cloistral arch, through trees espied Near the bright River's edge. Yet why repine? To muse, to creep, to halt at will, to gaze,

Such sweet wayfaring, of life's spring the pride,

Her summer's faithful joy,- that still is mine,
And in fit measure cheers autumnal days.

X.

HYMN,

FOR THE BOATMEN, AS THEY APPROACH THE RAPIDS

UNDER THE CASTLE OF HEIDELBERG.

JESU! bless our slender Boat,

By the current swept along;

Loud its threatenings,

-

let them not

Drown the music of a song

Breathed thy mercy to implore,

Where these troubled waters roar!

Saviour, for our warning, seen
Bleeding on that precious Rood!
If, while through the meadows green
Gently wound the peaceful flood,

We forgot Thee, do not Thou
Disregard thy Suppliants now!

Hither, like yon ancient Tower
Watching o'er the River's bed,
Fling the shadow of thy power,

Else we sleep among the dead;
Thou who trod'st the billowy sea,
Shield us in our jeopardy!

Guide our Bark among the waves;

Through the rocks our passage smooth;

Where the whirlpool frets and raves,

Let thy love its anger soothe : All our hope is placed in Thee; Miserere Domine!*

* See Note.

XI.

THE SOURCE OF THE DANUBE.

Nor, like his great Compeers, indignantly
Doth DANUBE spring to life! The wandering
Stream

(Who loves the Cross, yet to the Crescent's gleam Unfolds a willing breast) with infant glee

Slips from his prison walls: and Fancy, free
To follow in his track of silver light,

Mounts on rapt wing, and with a moment's flight
Hath reached the encincture of that gloomy sea
Whose waves the Orphean lyre forbade to meet
In conflict, whose rough winds forgot their jars
To waft the heroic progeny of Greece,

When the first Ship sailed for the Golden Fleece, – ARGO, exalted for that daring feat

To fix in heaven her shape distinct with stars.

XII.

ON APPROACHING THE STAUB-BACH, LAUTERBRUNNEN.

UTTERED by whom, or how inspired, designed
For what strange service, does this concert reach
Our ears, and near the dwellings of mankind, -
'Mid fields familiarized to human speech?

-

* See Note.

Driving some vessel toward a dangerous beach, More thrilling melodies; Witch answering Witch, To chant a love-spell, never intertwined

Notes shrill and wild with art more musical:

Alas! that from the lips of abject Want

Or Idleness in tatters mendicant

The strain should flow, free Fancy to inthrall,

And with regret and useless pity haunt

This bold, this bright, this sky-born WATERFALL!*

XIII.

THE FALL OF THE AAR, HANDEC.

FROM the fierce aspect of this River, throwing
His giant body o'er the steep rock's brink,
Back in astonishment and fear we shrink:

But, gradually a calmer look bestowing,
Flowers we espy beside the torrent growing;
Flowers that peep forth from many a cleft and
chink,

And, from the whirlwind of his anger, drink

Hues ever fresh, in rocky fortress blowing:

They suck from breath that, threatening to

destroy,

Is more benignant than the dewy eve

* See Note.

VOL. III.

10

Beauty, and life, and motions as of joy:

Nor doubt but HE to whom yon pine-trees nod Their heads in sign of worship, Nature's God, These humbler adorations will receive.

XIV.

MEMORIAL,

NEAR THE OUTLET OF THE LAKE OF THUN.

"DEM

ANDENKEN

MEINES FREUNDES

ALOYS REDING

MDCCCXVIII."

Aloys Reding, it will be remembered, was Captain-General of the Swiss forces, which, with a courage and perseverance worthy of the cause, opposed the flagitious and too successful attempt of Buonaparte to subjugate their country.

AROUND a wild and woody hill,

A gravelled pathway treading,

We reached a votive Stone that bears
The name of Aloys Reding.

Well judged the Friend who placed it there

For silence and protection;

And haply with a finer care

Of dutiful affection.