Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
IX. Hymn
For The Boatmen, As They Approach The Rapids Under The Castle Of Heidelberg


          JESU! bless our slender Boat,
            By the current swept along;
          Loud its threatenings--let them not
            Drown the music of a song
          Breathed thy mercy to implore,
          Where these troubled waters roar!

          Saviour, for our warning, seen
            Bleeding on that precious Rood;
          If, while through the meadows green
            Gently wound the peaceful flood,                          10
          We forgot Thee, do not Thou
          Disregard thy Suppliants now!

          Hither, like yon ancient Tower
            Watching o'er the River's bed,
          Fling the shadow of thy power,
            Else we sleep among the dead;
          Thou who trod'st the billowy sea,
          Shield us in our jeopardy!

          Guide our Bark among the waves;
            Through the rocks our passage smooth;                     20
          Where the whirlpool frets and raves
            Let thy love its anger soothe:
          All our hope is placed in Thee;
          'Miserere Domine!'

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
X. The Source Of The Danube


          NOT, like his great Compeers, indignantly
          Doth DANUBE spring to life! The wandering Stream
          (Who loves the Cross, yet to the Crescent's gleam
          Unfolds a willing breast) with infant glee
          Slips from his prison walls: and Fancy, free
          To follow in his track of silver light,
          Mounts on rapt wing, and with a moment's flight
          Hath reached the encincture of that gloomy sea
          Whose waves the Orphean lyre forbade to meet
          In conflict; whose rough winds forgot their jars            10
          To waft the heroic progeny of Greece;
          When the first Ship sailed for the Golden Fleece--
          ARGO--exalted for that daring feat
          To fix in heaven her shape distinct with stars.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XI. On Approaching The Staub-Bach, Lauterbrunnen


          UTTERED by whom, or how inspired--designed
          For what strange service, does this concert reach
          Our ears, and near the dwellings of mankind!
          'Mid fields familiarized to human speech?--
          No Mermaid's warble--to allay the wind
          Driving some vessel toward a dangerous beach--
          More thrilling melodies; Witch answering Witch,
          To chant a love-spell, never intertwined
          Notes shrill and wild with art more musical:
          Alas! that from the lips of abject Want                     10
          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!

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XII. The Fall Of The Aar--Handec


          FROM 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--                       10
          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.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XIII. Memorial
Near The Outlet Of The Lake Of Thun

"Dem
Andenken
Meines Freundes
Aloys Reading
MDCCCXVIII."
AROUND a wild and woody hill A gravelled pathway treading, We reached a votive Stone that bears The name of Aloys Reding. 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 10 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.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XIV. Composed In One Of The Catholic Cantons


          DOOMED 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!                     10
          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.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XV. After-Thought


          O 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?

          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,                           10
          Mercy has placed within our reach
          A portion of God's peace.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XVI. Scene On The Lake Of Brientz


          "WHAT know we of the Blest above
          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.                     10
          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!

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XVII. Engelberg, The Hill Of Angels


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

          Clouds do not name those Visitants; they were               10
          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.
          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.

Memorials Of A Tour On The Continent, 1820
XVIII. Our Lady Of The Snow


          MEEK Virgin Mother, more benign
          Than fairest Star, upon the height
          Of thy own mountain, 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 hang
          In sign of misery relieved,
          Even these, without intent of theirs,
          Report of comfortless despairs,                             10
          Of many a deep and cureless pang
          And confidence deceived.

          To Thee, in this aerial 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.

          And hence, O Virgin Mother mild!
          Though plenteous flowers around thee blow,                  20
          Not only from the dreary strife
          Of Winter, but the storms of life,
          Thee have thy Votaries aptly styled,
          OUR LADY OF THE SNOW.

          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!                                  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,                      40
          Deeming the evil of the day
          Sufficient for the wise.