C. Clarens! by heavenly feet thy paths are trod,— Undying Love's, who here ascends a throne To which the steps are mountains; where the god Is a pervading life and light,-so shown Not on those summits solely, nor alone In the still cave and forest; o'er the flower His eye is sparkling, and his breath hath blown, CHII. He who hath loved not, here would learn that lore, That tender mystery, will love the more, For this is Love's recess, where vain men's woes, For 'tis his nature to advance or die; He stands not still, but or decays, or grows Into a boundless blessing, which may vie With the immortal lights, in its eternity! CIV. 'Twas not for fiction chose Rousseau this spot, And wonderful, and deep, and hath a sound, And sense, and sight of sweetness; here the Rhone Hath spread himself a couch, the Alps have rear'd a throne. CV. Lausanne! and Ferney! ye have been the abodes Of names which unto you bequeath'd a name ; Mortals, who sought and found, by dangerous roads, A path to perpetuity of fame: They were gigantic minds, and their steep aim Was, Titan-like, on daring doubts to pile Thoughts which should call down thunder, and the flame Of Heaven, again assail'd, if Heaven the while On man and man's research could deign do more than smile. CVI. The one was fire and fickleness, a child, Most mutable in wishes, but in mind A wit as various, gay, grave, sage, or wild,- CVIL The other, deep and slow, exhausting thought, Which stung his foes to wrath, which grew from fear, CVIII. Yet, peace be with their ashes,-for by them, It is not ours to judge,-far less condemn; The hour must come when such things shall be made Known unto all,—or hope and dread allay'd By slumber, on one pillow,-in the dust, Which, thus much we are sure, must lie decay'd; And when it shall revive, as is our trust, "Twill be to be forgiven, or suffer what is just. CIX. But let me quit man's works, again to read To their most great and growing region, where CX. Italia! too, Italia! looking on thee, Full flashes on the soul the light of ages, Thou wert the throne and grave of empires; still, CXI. Thus far I have proceeded in a theme CXII. And for these words, thus woven into song, |