THE SIMPLON PASS. BROOK and road Were fellow-travellers in this gloomy Pass, The types and symbols of Eternity, Of first, and last, and midst, and without end. 5 IO 15 20 1804. MIST OPENING IN THE HILLS. (FROM THE EXCURSION," BOOK II.) So was he lifted gently from the ground, And with their freight homeward the shepherds moved Through the dull mist, I following — when a step, A single step, that freed me from the skirts Of the blind vapour, opened to my view 5 Glory beyond all glory ever seen By waking sense or by the dreaming soul ! 10 15 By earthly nature had the effect been wrought 20 Now pacified; on them, and on the coves And mountain-steeps and summits, whereunto The vapours had receded, taking there Their station under a cerulean sky. 25 Oh, 't was an unimaginable sight! Clouds, mists, streams, watery rocks and emerald turf, Clouds of all tincture, rocks and sapphire sky, Confused, commingled, mutually inflamed, 30 Each lost in each, that marvellous array Right in the midst, where interspace appeared Stood fixed; and fixed resemblances were seen 35 But vast in size, in substance glorified; That which I saw was the revealed abode Of Spirits in beatitude: my heart Swelled in my breast "I have been dead," I cried, ee And now I live! Oh! wherefore do I live?" And with that pang I prayed to be no more! I then forgot him : — there I stood and gazed : And I descended. FRENCH REVOLUTION, AS IT APPEARED TO ENTHUSIASTS AT ITS COMMENCEMENT. (REPRINTED FROM 'THE FRIEND.") OH! pleasant exercise of hope and joy! For mighty were the auxiliars which then stood 40 45 50 55 Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven ! -Oh! times, 5 In which the meagre, stale, forbidding ways Of custom, law, and statute, took at once The attraction of a country in romance! When Reason seemed the most to assert her rights, Which then was going forward in her name! All powers of swiftness, subtilty, and strength Among the grandest objects of the sense, 15 20 25 And dealt with whatsoever they found there To wield it; they, too, who, of gentle mood, 30 35 Or some secreted island, Heaven knows where ! But in the very world, which is the world 40 ODE TO DUTY. "Jam non consilio bonus, sed more eò perductus, ut non tantum rectè facere possim, sed nisi rectè facere non possim." STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, Upon the genial sense of youth : Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot Who do thy work, and know it not Oh! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, 5 IO 15 When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. 20 And they a blissful course may hold Even now, who, not unwisely bold, Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; 25 |