SEPTEMBER. 277 



up Italy from the Gallic and Teutonic hordes till 

 the power and spirit of Rome had reached their 

 maturity, and she had opened the wide forest of 

 Europe to the light, spread far her laws and lan- 

 guage, and planted the seeds of many mighty 

 nations ! 



Thanks to God for mountains ! Their colossal 

 firmness seems almost to break the current of time 

 itself; the geologist in them searches for traces of 

 the earlier world, and it is there too that man, 

 resisting the revolutions of lower regions, retains 

 through innumerable years his habits and his rights. 

 While a multitude of changes has remoulded the 

 people of Europe, while languages, and laws, and 

 dynasties, and creeds, have passed over it like 

 shadows over the landscape, the children of the 

 Celt and the Goth, who fled to the mountains a 

 thousand years ago, are found there now, and show 

 us in face and figure, in language and garb, what 

 their fathers were; show us a fine contrast with 

 the modern tribes dwelling below and around them;, 

 and show us, moreover, how adverse is the spirit of 

 the mountain to mutability, and that there the fiery 

 heart of Freedom is found for ever. 



And woods too ! Pleasant is it at all times to 

 wander in woods, 



Where there's neither suit nor plea, 

 But only the wild creatures and many a spreading tree : 



especially pleasant is it at this season, their tenv 

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