TURNER, thy pencil brings to mind a day | |
| When from Laveno and the Beuscer Hill | |
| I over Lake Verbanus held my way | |
| In pleasant fellowship, with wind at will; | |
| Smooth were the waters wide, the sky serene, | 5 |
| And our hearts gladdened with the joyful scene;— | |
| |
| Joyful, for all things ministered delight,— | |
| The lake and land, the mountains and the vales; | |
| The Alps their snowy summits reared in light, | |
| Tempering with gelid breath the summer gales; | 10 |
| And verdant shores and woods refreshed the eye, | |
| That else had ached beneath that brilliant sky. | |
| |
| To that elaborate island were we bound, | |
| Of yore the scene of Borromean pride,— | |
| Folly’s prodigious work; where all around, | 15 |
| Under its coronet, and self-belied, | |
| Look where you will, you cannot choose but see | |
| The obtrusive motto’s proud “Humility!” | |
| |
| Far off the Borromean saint was seen, | |
| Distinct, though distant, o’er his native town, | 20 |
| Where his Colossus with benignant mien | |
| Looks from its station on Arona down; | |
| To it the inland sailor lifts his eyes, | |
| From the wide lake, when perilous storms arise. | |
| |
| But no storm threatened on that summer day; | 25 |
| The whole rich scene appeared for joyance made; | |
| With many a gliding bark the mere was gay, | |
| The fields and groves in all their wealth arrayed: | |
| I could have thought the sun beheld with smiles | |
| Those towns and palaces and populous isles. | 30 |
| |
| From fair Arona, even on such a day, | |
| When gladness was descending like a shower, | |
| Great painter, did thy gifted eye survey | |
| The splendid scene; and, conscious of its power, | |
| Well hath thine hand inimitable given | 35 |
| The glories of the lake and land and heaven. | |
| |
