DREAD hour! when, upheaved by war's sulphurous blast, This sweet-visaged Cherub of Parian stone So far from the holy enclosure was cast, To couch in this thicket of brambles alone, To rest where the lizard may bask in the palm Of his half-open hand pure from blemish or speck; 6 And the green, gilded snake, without troubling the calm Of the beautiful countenance, twine round his neck; Where haply (kind service to Piety due!) When winter the grove of its mantle bereaves, Some bird (like our own honoured redbreast) may strew II The desolate Slumberer with moss and with leaves. FUENTES Once harboured the good and the brave, Nor to her was the dance of soft pleasure unknown; 15 Her banners for festal enjoyment did wave While the thrill of her fifes thro' the moun tains was blown : Now gads the wild vine o'er the pathless ascent; O silence of Nature, how deep is thy sway, When the whirlwind of human destruction is spent, Our tumults appeased, and our strifes passed away! 20 XXIV. THE CHURCH OF SAN SALVADOR. SEEN FROM THE LAKE OF LUGANO. This Church was almost destroyed by lightning a few years ago, but the altar and the image of the Patron Saint were untouched. The Mount, upon the summit of which the Church is built, stands amid the intricacies of the Lake of Lugano; and is, from a hundred points of view, its principal ornament, rising to the height of 2,000 feet, and, on one side, nearly perpendicular. The ascent is toilsome; but the traveller who performs it will be amply rewarded. Splendid fertility, rich woods and dazzling waters, seclusion and confinement of view contrasted with sea-like extent of plain fading into the sky; and this again, in an opposite quarter, with an horizon of the loftiest and boldest Alpsunite in composing a prospect more diversified by magnificence, beauty, and sublimity, than perhaps any other point in Europe, of so inconsiderable an elevation, commands. THOU sacred Pile! whose turrets rise Sink (if thou must) as heretofore, On Horeb's top, on Sinai, deigned Why leap the fountains from their cells Cliffs, fountains, rivers, seasons, times— Our slack devotion needs them all; 5 10 15 And Faith-so oft of sense the thrall, Glory, and patriotic Love, And all the Pomps of this frail "spot 20 Which men call Earth," have yearned to seek, Associate with the simply meek, Religion in the sainted grove, And in the hallowed grot. Thither, in time of adverse shocks, 25 Of fainting hopes and backward wills, Did mighty Tell repair of old A Hero cast in Nature's mould, He, too, of battle-martyrs chief! XXV.. 30 35 THE ITALIAN ITINERANT, AND THE SWISS GOATHERD. PART I. I. Now that the farewell tear is dried, Heaven prosper thee, be hope thy guide! 1 Arnold Winkelried, at the battle of Sempach, broke an Austrian phalanx in this manner. The event is one of the most famous in the annals of Swiss heroism; and pictures and prints of it are frequent throughout the country. Hope be thy guide, adventurous Boy; Whether for London bound-to trill The graceful form of milk-white Steed, 5 10 If clay could think and mind were weight, 15 Hope be thy guide, adventurous Boy; II. But thou, perhaps, (alert as free Whether thou choose this useful part, Though robbed of many a cherished dream, Yet will the Wanderer sometimes pine With thoughts which no delights can chase, His Mother's neck entwine; Nor shall forget the Maiden coy 20 25 30 35 That would have loved the bright-haired Boy! III. My Song, encouraged by the grace Due recompense, and safe return Shall tend, with his own dark-eyed Maid, That through the jealous leaves escapes As with a rapture caught from heaven- 40 45 50 55 PART II. I. WITH nodding plumes, and lightly drest 60 65 |