24 tHE HUMBfiR WOLUS. 



He then may wander through the spreading wood. 



With tangled mazes and perplexing paths 



Where darkness dwells eternal, though the sun 



Be seated on his noon-tide throne of light. 



Here springs gush out and winding weedy brooks 



Roll their clear waters o'er smooth-pebbled beds. 



And fill the air with pleasant murraurings. 



Birds of all notes flit in the sunny air 



Or carrol woodland melodies whilst perched 



Upon the branches, or amidst the bush 



Of elder or of hawthorn. Far on high. 



Lost in the splendour of the dazzling rays. 



The lark sings joyful, and his quick sharji notes 



Fall softly on the ear. He seems a bird 



Not bom on earth, but one who oft descends 



From some far sphere, so lofty is his flight ! 



But chief the poet will delight to climb 



The breezy summits of the swelling hills. 



Whilst the far prospects daze his eye and fill 



His heart with exulation. In his breast 



Such tumult swells at the enchanting sight. 



That scarce his spirit can refrain from song. 



His voice from uttering some impassioned strain. — 



As he moves on from point to distant pointj 



The landscapes vary, and no pen can tell. 



Or painter's graphic canvass e'er display 



The scenes of crowded beauty. — From the heights 



Of upland fields of pasturage, or com. 



Whose high-heaved plain is girt ai'ound with woods. 



Above the pine-trees purple-pointed tops 



At various intervals, on every hand. 



The distant country, clad in tints of blue. 



Is faintly seen. Sometimes along a vale 



Our vision wanders, where steep winding sides 



And hills circuitous present a bold 



And noble foreground to the far-off scene. 



Where Humber's waters, placid, calm and smooth. 



