174 



Down the rock-cavern roar — to plunge unseen 



With muffled thunder through the dark ravine. 



The murmuring music of a thousand rills 



That gush unseen among these winding hills, 



Fills all the region with a spirit's voice, 



That makes the reverent listener's heart rejoice. 



"Ye hills, near neighbors of the stars!" I, too, 



With these a filial homage pay to you ! 



As these, in clouds, back from the ocean come. 



And fondly cling around their mountain home, 



So to your wooded heights and gushing springs 



My heart a child's warm benediction brings, 



And owns a blessing in the balmy breeze 



That still breathes on me from your ancient trees. 



O, brother giants of an elder world, 



Whose mighty fragments round your feet are hurled, 



With foreheads scathed by lightning and by blast, 



With clouds for mantles round your shouldei-s cast; 



Mute witnesses of immemorial time. 



Ye look upon us from your heights sublime ; 



Shoulder to shoulder, evermore ye stand. 



Kings, priests, and benefactors of the land ! 



Old friends ! as I return at this late day, 



My filial tribute at your feet to lay. 



Though many a change has come and much is gone. 



To memory's world forever more withdrawn. 



Though the great world, with all its whirl and din, 



On these, your holy haunts, comes thronging in ; 



Though this our driving, levelling age invades 



All sylvan solitudes and sacred shades. 



Though fire and axe have marred the virgin woods. 



Shattered the rocks, and cramped and choked the floods 



(And though the peddler's paint-pot dare aflVont 



The nymphs of wood and stream with " Sozodont !"), 



Though often Echo's self, aflVighted grown. 



Has held her breath, or from man's presence flown. 



Yet oh, how much remains and will remain. 



Which hand of ruthless man can ne'er profane. 



Old battle scars on many a tall clifl"s face 



Still show as lines of majesty and grace. 



Untamed, the winds through mountain hollows sweep — 



Untamed, the cataract makes its mountain leap ; 



And though unawed by your dread heights sublime, 



