175 



Above the clouds man's dariug engines climb, 

 Up to those bills his soul must lift its ej^es, 

 The eternal hills wherefrom life's rivers rise. 

 Above him still sounds the loud voice of God, 

 When peal on peal the thunder rolls abroad ; 

 And still the voice of God breathes soft below, 

 Where silver-lipped, melodious brooklets flow. 

 The glorious outline of yon mountain range 

 Shall bless men's eyes till the great final change. 



And oh, that beauteous vision seen last night ! 



Snatched all too soon from our enchanted sight ! 



That rosy mantle o'er the mountains flung. 



In evening's glow for one short moment hung, — 



Was that transparent veil of amethyst 



Woven of sunset hues and mountain mist, 



A fleeting show for man's illusion given? 



Was it a thing of earth, or air, or heaven? 



Upon the mountain's cheek a spirit flush. 



That held our spirits in a reverent hush? 



The farewell of the mountains to the sun. 



As in the West he sank — his day's-race run? 



I know not — but it was a spirit's power 



That touched our hearts in that transcendent hour! 



O listen, man, and hear the psalmist sing, 

 Still as of old : The mountain heights shall bring 

 Peace to the people ! Come then ye who bear 

 With troubled hearts life's daily load of care, 

 Here in the grandeur of the hills baptize 

 Your jaded souls, and as ye lift your eyes, 

 Your hearts shall be uplifted, ye shall lay 

 Your burden down and bear a song away. 



mountains ! is it your echoes that prolong 

 My endlessly reverberating soug? 



But now my harp must cease the strain to pour, 

 Though in my heart the hymn can cease no more. 

 Hail and farewell ! though mine is not the wit 

 To read the runes upon your rock leaves writ, — 

 The runic rhymes ye whisper to the heart, 

 These I may haply, dimly guess in' part. 

 Though the heart's joy the tongue in vain would tell- 

 Thrice blest, I cry ouce more : Hail and Farewell! 



Thus to the mountains having said adieu, 



1 owe, good friends, one final word to you. 



