THE VALE OF LANHERNE. 



Now up the steep — O for that sea-bird's wing, 

 To bear me to yon wild fantastic crag : 

 See — see my friend like Alpine hunter spring, 

 While I with town-worn iimbs ignoble lag 

 Far, far behind, and by the heather drag 

 My sluggish frame, or stay my giddy head. 

 Ah me ! how soon youth's ardent forces flag 

 Beneath the bane which reeking cities shed, 

 What ghastly imps attend the civic sluggard's bed ! 



At length, firm planted on the height we stand 

 And gaze — oh, scene of sterne magnificence! 

 The God-built ramparts of a happy land. 

 Rock crowds on rock, bluff, jagged, dark, immense, 

 Here mightiest art would seem mere impotence : 

 Such are the outworks of the freeman's home. 

 These and our hearts are liberty's defence; 

 We ask no shelter but the sky's blue dome, 

 No warders but the waves, with their bright plumes of foam. 



This is a scene to brace the patriot's nerves, 

 His bosom swelling to the ocean gale; 

 Who does not love his country here deserves 

 No more the freshening West-wind to inhale. 

 But pant a slave to Eastern tyrant pale; 

 Nor ever the bleak heights of Salamis, 

 Methinks, more proudly did the Athenian scale. 

 Than eagle-hearted o'er the deep abyss 

 Of the wild waves we climb Trevarrion's precipice. 



Tregurrion's hamlet 'mong the cliffs shines whitf». 

 And further on the fisher-cots are seen 

 Like straggling gulls upon the dusky height; 

 While underneath, a long wide belt of sheen. 

 Saint Mawgan's Forth girds round the waters green; 

 And in yon lovv-brow'd cave Dirk Hatterick might, 

 Amid his kegs, have puffed his shag serene : 

 The sea-fowl builds beneath the beetling height, 

 And fearless wings afar in her purveyant flight. 



Once on a sunshine holiday of Spring, 

 When sea-birds shrieking told their parent joys, 

 Nor yet the callow brood essay 'd the wing. 

 Hither came three adventurous blooming boys — 



