No Mermaids warble-to allay the wind

Driving some vessel toward a dangerous beach-
More thrilling melodies; Witch answering Witch,
To chaunt 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 enthral,
And with regret and useless pity haunt

This bold, this bright, this sky-born, WATERFALL! 1

F

XIII

THE FALL OF THE AAR-HANDEC

1820 or 1821

ROM 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—

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.

1820 or 1821

ΙΟ

ΙΟ

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.

ROUND a wild and woody hill

AR

A gravelled pathway treading,
We reached a votive Stone that bears
The name of Aloys Reding.

1 See Note.

Well judged the Friend who placed it there
For silence and protection;

And haply with a finer care

Of dutiful affection.

The Sun regards it from the West;
And, while in summer glory

He sets, his sinking yields a type
Of that pathetic story :

And oft he tempts the patriot Swiss
Amid the grove to linger;

Till all is dim, save this bright Stone
Touched by his golden finger.

1820 or 1821

ΤΟ

XV

COMPOSED IN ONE OF THE CATHOLIC

D

CANTONS

OOMED as we are our native dust

To wet with many a bitter shower,
It ill befits us to disdain

The altar, to deride the fane,

Where simple Sufferers bend, in trust
To win a happier hour.

I love, where spreads the village lawn,
Upon some knee-worn cell to gaze:
Hail to the firm unmoving cross,

Aloft, where pines their branches toss !
And to the chapel far withdrawn,
That lurks by lonely ways!

Where'er we roam-along the brink
Of Rhine-or by the sweeping Po,
Through Alpine vale, or champain wide,
Whate'er we look on, at our side

Be Charity!-to bid us think,

And feel, if we would know.

XVI

Probably 1820

AFTER-THOUGHT

H Life! without thy chequered scene

Of right and wrong, of weal and woe,

Success and failure, could a ground
For magnanimity be found;

For faith, 'mid ruined hopes, serene?
Or whence could virtue flow?

ΤΟ

Pain entered through a ghastly breach-
Nor while sin lasts must effort cease;
Heaven upon earth's an empty boast;
But, for the bowers of Eden lost,
Mercy has placed within our reach

A portion of God's peace.

Published 1837

IO

XVII

SCENE ON THE LAKE OF BRIENTZ

HAT know we of the Blest above

WH

But that they sing and that they love?'

Yet, if they ever did inspire

A mortal hymn, or shaped the choir,
Now, where those harvest Damsels float
Homeward in their rugged Boat

(While all the ruffling winds are fled

Each slumbering on some mountain's head),
Now, surely, hath that gracious aid
Been felt, that influence is displayed.
Pupils of Heaven, in order stand
The rustic Maidens, every hand
Upon a Sister's shoulder laid,-
To chant, as glides the boat along,
A simple, but a touching, song;
To chant, as Angels do above,
The melodies of Peace in love!

XVIII

1820 or 1821

ENGELBERG, THE HILL OF ANGELS1

FOR

gentlest uses, oft-times Nature takes

The work of Fancy from her willing hands; And such a beautiful creation makes

As renders needless spells and magic wands,

And for the boldest tale belief commands.

When first mine eyes beheld that famous Hill
The sacred ENGELBERG, celestial Bands,

With intermingling motions soft and still,

ΤΟ

Hung round its top, on wings that changed their hues at will.

Clouds do not name those Visitants; they were
The very Angels whose authentic lays,
Sung from that heavenly ground in middle air,
Made known the spot where piety should raise
A holy Structure to the Almighty's praise.

1 See Note.

10

Resplendent Apparition! if in vain

My ears did listen, 'twas enough to gaze;
And watch the slow departure of the train,
Whose skirts the glowing Mountain thirsted to
detain.

XIX

1820 or 1821

OUR LADY OF THE SNOW

M

EEK Virgin Mother, more benign
Than fairest Star, upon the height
Of thy own mountain,1 set to keep
Lone vigils through the hours of sleep,
What eye can look upon thy shrine
Untroubled at the sight?

These crowded offerings as they nang
In sign of misery relieved,
Even these, without intent of theirs,
Report of comfortless despairs,
Of many a deep and cureless pang
And confidence deceived.

To Thee, in this aërial cleft,
As to a common centre, tend
All sufferers that no more rely
On mortal succour-all who sigh
And pine, of human hope bereft,
Nor wish for earthly friend.

ΙΟ

Even for the Man who stops not here,
But down the irriguous valley hies,

Thy very name, O Lady! flings,

O'er blooming fields and gushing springs,
A tender sense of shadowy fear,
And chastening sympathies!

1 Mount Righi.

30

Nor falls that intermingling shade
To summer-gladsomeness unkind:
It chastens only to requite

With gleams of fresher, purer, light;
While, o'er the flower-enamelled glade,
More sweetly breathes the wind.

But on!-a tempting downward way,
A verdant path before us lies;
Clear shines the glorious sun above;
Then give free course to joy and love,
Deeming the evil of the day

Sufficient for the wise.

1820 or 1821

40

XX

EFFUSION

IN PRESENCE OF THE PAINTED TOWER of tell, AT ALTORF

THIS Tower stands upon the spot where grew the Linden Tree against which his Son is said to have been placed, when the Father's archery was put to proof under circumstances so famous in Swiss Story.

HAT though the Italian pencil wrought not here,

WHAT

Nor such fine skill as did the meed bestow

On Marathonian valour, yet the tear

Springs forth in presence of this gaudy show,
While narrow cares their limits overflow.
Thrice happy, burghers, peasants, warriors old,
Infants in arms, and ye, that as ye go
Homeward or schoolward, ape what
ye behold;
Heroes before your time, in frolic fancy bold!

And when that calm Spectatress from on high
Looks down the bright and solitary Moon,
Who never gazes but to beautify;

And snow-fed torrents, which the blaze of noon
Roused into fury, murmur a soft tune
That fosters peace, and gentleness recalls;
Then might the passing Monk receive a boon
Of saintly pleasure from these pictured walls,

ΤΟ

While on the warlike groups the mellowing lustre falls.

How blest the souls who when their trials come
Yield not to terror or despondency,

But face like that sweet Boy their mortal doom,
Whose head the ruddy apple tops, while he
Expectant stands beneath the linden tree :

20