2. At the fierce rushing of the hurricaneAt the near bursting of the thunderbolt
I have been touched with joy; and, when the sea,
Lashed by the wind, hath rocked my bark, and showed
Its yawning caves beneath me, I have loved
Its dangers and the wrath of elements. .
But never yet the madness of the sea
Hath moved me, as thy grandeur moves me now.
3. Thou flowest on in quiet, till thy waves
Grow broken 'midst the rocks; thy current then
Shoots onward, like the irresistible course
Of destiny. Ah! terrible thy rage!
The hoarse and rapid whirlpools there! My brain
Grows wild, my senses wander, as I gaze
Upon the hurrying waters; and my sight
Vainly would follow, as toward the verge
Sweeps the wide torrent-waves innumerable
Meet there and madden-waves innumerable
Urge on and overtake the waves before,
And disappear in thunder and in foam.
4. They reach-they leap the barrier: the aby
Swallows, insatiable, the sinking waves.
A thousand rainbows arch them, and the woods
Are deafened with the roar. The violent shock
Shatters to vapor the descending sheets ;
A cloudy whirlwind fills the gulf, and heaves
The mighty pyramid of circling mist
To heaven. The solitary hunter, near,
Pauses with terror in the forest shades.
5. God of all truth! in other lands I've seen
Lying philosophers, blaspheming men,
Questioners of thy mysteries, that draw
Their fellows deep into impiety;
And therefore doth my spirit seek thy face
In earth's majestic solitudes. Even here
My heart doth open all itself to thee.
In this immensity of loneliness
I feel thy hand upon me.
The eternal thunder of the cataract brings
Thy voice, and I am humbled as I hear.
6. Dread torrent! that with wonder and with fear
Dost overwhelm the soul of him that looks
Upon thee, and dost bear it from itself
Whence hast thou thy beginning? Who applies Age after age, thy unexhausted springs?
What power hath ordered, that, when all thy weight
Descends into the deep, the swollen waves
Rise not, and tell to overwhelm the carth?
7. The Lord hath opened his omnipotent hand,
Covered thy face with clouds, and given his voice
To thy down-rushing waters; he hath girt
Thy terrible forehead with his radiant bow.
I see thy never-resting waters run,
And I bethink me how the tide of time
Sweeps to eternity. So pass off man-
Pass-like a noon-day dream-the blossoming days,
And he awakes to sorrow.
8. Hear, dread Niagara! my latest voice. Yet a few years, and the cold earth shall close Over the bones of him who sings thee now
Thus feelingly. Would that this, my humble verse,
Might be, like thee, immortal. I, meanwhile,
Cheerfully passing to the appointed rest,
Might rise my radiant forehead in the clouds,
To listen to the echoes of my fame.
1. ON Linden, when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay th' untrodden snow,
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.
2. But Linden saw another sight,
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.
3. By torch and trumpet fast array'd,
Each horseman drew his battle blade,
And furious every charger neigh'd,
To join the dreadful revelry.
4. Then shook the hills with thunder riven.
Then rush'd the steed to battle driven,
And louder than the bolts of heaven,
Far flash'd the red artillery.
5. And redder yet those fires shall glow,
On Linden's hills of blood-stained snow.
And darker yet shall be the flow
Of Iser, rolling rapidly.
6. 'Tis morn, but scarce yon lurid sun
Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun,
Where furious Frank, and fiery Hun,
Shout in their sulphurous canopy.
7. The combat deepens. On, ye brave,
Who rush to glory, or the grave!
Wave, Munich, all thy banners wave!
And charge with all thy chivalry!
8. Ah! few shall part where many meet.
The snow shall be their winding sheet,
And every turf beneath their feet,
Shall be a soldier's sepulcher.
SECTION VI.
Summer Morning.
1. SWEET the beams of rosy morning,
Silent chasing gloom away;
Lovely tints the sky adorning,
Harbingers of opening day!
See the king of day appearing,
Slow his progress and serene;
Soon I feel the influence, cheering,
Of this grand and lovely scene!
2. Lovely songsters join their voices,
Harmony the grove pervades ;
All in nature now rejoices,
Light and joy succeed the shades.
Stars withdraw, and man arises,
To his labor cheerful goes;
Day's returning blessings prizes,
And in praise his pleasure shows!
3. May each morn that in succession,
Adds new mercies ever flowing,
Leave a strong and deep impression
Of my debt, for ever growing!
Debt of love, ah! how increasing!
Days and years fresh blessings bring,
But my praise shall flow unceasing,
And my Maker's love I'll sing!
SECTION VII.
The envious Man.
1. MUCH was removed that tempted once to sin, Avarice no gold, no wine the drunkard saw :
But envy nad enough, as heretofore,
To fill his heart with gall and bitterness.
What made the man of envy what he was,
Was worth in others, vileness in himself,
A lust of praise, with undeserving deeds,
And conscious poverty of soul: and still
It was his earnest work and daily toil
With lying tongue, to make the noble seem
Mean as himself.
On fame's high hill he saw
The laurel spread its everlasting green,
And wished to climb; but felt his knees too weak; And stood below unhappy, laying hands
Upon the strong ascending gloriously
The steps of honor, bent to draw them back;
Involving oft the brightness of their path
In mists his breath had raised.
As oft he did, of joy and happiness,
And great prosperity, and rising worth,
'Twas like a wave of wormwood o'er his soul
Rolling its bitterness. His joy was wo-
The wo of others: when from wealth to want,
From praises to reproach, from peace to strife,
From mirth to tears, he saw a brother fall,
Or virtue make a slip-his dreams were sweet.
4. But chief with slander, daughter of his own, He took unhallowed pleasure; when she talked, And with her filthy lips defiled the best,
His ear drew near; with wide attention gaped
His mouth; his eye, well pleased, as eager gazed
As glutton when the dish he most desired
Was placed before him; and a horrid mirth,
At intervals, with laughter shook his sides.
SECTION VIII.
Cheerfulness.
1. FAIR as the dawning light! auspicious guest! Source of all comfort to the human breast! Deprived of thee, in sad despair we moan And tedious roll the heavy moments on. Though beauteous objects all around us rise, To charm the fancy and delight the eyes;
Tho' art's fair works and nature's gifts conspire
To please each sense, and satiate each desire,-
'Tis joyless all, till thy enliv'ning ray
Scatters the melancholy gloom away,
Then opens to the soul a heavenly scene,
Gladness and peace, all sprightly, all serene.
2. Where dost thou deign, say, in what blest retreat, To choose thy mansion, and to fix thy seat? Thy sacred presence how shall we explore? Can avarice gain thee with her golden store? Can vain ambition with her boasted charms, Tempt thee with her wide extended arms? No, with Content alone canst thou abide Thy sister, ever smiling by thy side.
3. When boon companions, void of ev'ry care,
Crown the full bowl, and the rich banquet share,
And give a loose to pleasure-art thou there?
Or when the assembled great and fair advance
To celebrate the mask, the play, the dance,—
While beauty spreads its sweetest charms around,
And airs ecstatic swell their tuneful sound,
Art thou within the pompous circle found?
Does not thy influence more sedately shine?
Can such tumultuous joys as these be thine?
4. Surely more mild, more constant in their course, Thy pleasures issue from a nobler source,From sweet discretion ruling in the breast,
From passions temper'd, and from lusts represt ;
From thoughts unconscious of a guilty smart,
And the calm transports of an honest heart.
5. Thy aid, O ever faithful, ever kind! Through life, through death, attends the virtuous mind. Of angry fate wards from us ev'ry blow. Cures ev'ry ill, and softens ev'ry wo. Whatever good our mortal state desires, What wisdom finds, or innocence inspires; From nature's bounteous hand whatever flows Whate'er our Maker's providence bestowsBy thee mankind enjoys,-by thee repays A grateful tribute of perpetual praise.
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