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(From Rhymes on the Road)
’T WAS late,—the sun had almost shone | |
| His last and best, when I ran on, | |
| Anxious to reach that splendid view | |
| Before the daybeams quite withdrew; | |
| And feeling as all feel, on first | 5 |
| Approaching scenes where, they are told, | |
| Such glories on their eyes shall burst | |
| As youthful bards in dreams behold. | |
| ’T was distant yet, and, as I ran, | |
| Full often was my wistful gaze | 10 |
| Turned to the sun, who now began | |
| To call in all his outpost rays, | |
| And form a denser march of light, | |
| Such as beseems a hero’s flight. | |
| O, how I wished for Joshua’s power | 15 |
| To stay the brightness of that hour! | |
| But no,—the sun still less became, | |
| Diminished to a speck, as splendid | |
| And small as were those tongues of flame | |
| That on the Apostles’ heads descended! | 20 |
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| ’T was at this instant—while there glowed | |
| This last, intensest gleam of light— | |
| Suddenly, through the opening road, | |
| The valley burst upon my sight! | |
| That glorious valley, with its lake, | 25 |
| And Alps on Alps in clusters swelling, | |
| Mighty, and pure, and fit to make | |
| The ramparts of a Godhead’s dwelling! | |
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| I stood entranced and mute,—as they | |
| Of Israel think the assembled world | 30 |
| Will stand upon that awful day | |
| When the ark’s light, aloft unfurled, | |
| Among the opening clouds shall shine, | |
| Divinity’s own radiant sign! | |
| Highly Mont Blanc! thou wert to me, | 35 |
| That minute, with thy brow in heaven, | |
| As sure a sign of Deity | |
| As e’er to mortal gaze was given. | |
| Nor ever, were I destined yet | |
| To live my life twice o’er again, | 40 |
| Can I the deep-felt awe forget,— | |
| The ecstasy that thrilled me then! | |
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| ’T was all that consciousness of power, | |
| And life beyond this mortal hour,— | |
| Those mountings of the soul within | 45 |
| At thoughts of Heaven,—as birds begin | |
| By instinct in the cage to rise, | |
| When near their time for change of skies,— | |
| That proud assurance of our claim | |
| To rank among the Sons of Light, | 50 |
| Mingled with shame—O, bitter shame!— | |
| At having risked that splendid right | |
| For aught that earth, through all its range | |
| Of glories, offers in exchange!— | |
| ’T was all this, at the instant brought, | 55 |
| Like breaking sunshine, o’er my thought,— | |
| ’T was all this, kindled to a glow | |
| Of sacred zeal, which, could it shine | |
| Thus purely ever, man might grow, | |
| Even upon earth, a thing divine, | 60 |
| And be once more the creature made | |
| To walk unstained the Elysian shade! | |
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