| |
| INMATE of a mountain dwelling, | |
| Thou hast clomb aloft, and gazed | |
| From the watch-towers of Helvellyn; | |
| Awed, delighted, and amazed! | |
| |
| Potent was the spell that bound thee, | 5 |
| Not unwilling to obey; | |
| For blue Ether’s arms, flung round thee, | |
| Stilled the pantings of dismay. | |
| |
| Lo the dwindled woods and meadows! | |
| What a vast abyss is there! | 10 |
| Lo the clouds, the solemn shadows, | |
| And the glistenings,—heavenly fair! | |
| |
| And a record of commotion | |
| Which a thousand ridges yield; | |
| Ridge and gulf and distant ocean | 15 |
| Gleaming like a silver shield! | |
| |
| Now take flight; possess, inherit | |
| Alps or Andes,—they are thine! | |
| With the morning’s roseate spirit, | |
| Sweep their length of snowy line; | 20 |
| |
| Or survey their bright dominions | |
| In the gorgeous colors drest | |
| Flung from off the purple pinions | |
| Evening spreads throughout the west! | |
| |
| Thine are all the coral fountains | 25 |
| Warbling in each sparry vault | |
| Of the untrodden lunar mountains; | |
| Listen to their songs!—or halt, | |
| |
| To Niphates’ top invited, | |
| Whither spiteful Satan steered; | 30 |
| Or descend where the ark alighted, | |
| When the green earth reappeared;— | |
| |
| For the power of hills is on thee, | |
| As was witnessed through thine eye | |
| Then, when old Helvellyn won thee | 35 |
| To confess their majesty! | |
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