13 

 ON THE HOT SPRINGS OF CHARLES IV. 



Fountain of health , the poets honoured theme, 

 Say whence th>f fervid waters fln\v\ 

 Hush they in subterraneous stream 

 From where sulphureous tides in Aetna, glow, 

 Or fraught with healing elements ,? J, 

 Sent, when the Stygian God in snflened mind. 

 Had bid his fires their genial influences lend, 

 In mercy to mankind? 



To thee the palm must classic Ba'iae yield 

 And^Brcntus baths by old Antenor sought.. 

 And e'en the Rhenish springs, historic field, 



fWiere Charlemagne victorious f.ivght, 



And where they wept him dead, 



To. thee must bow the head. 

 See how the bubbling water steam on high. 



Impatient of restraint, 

 The rock, the marble, owns a brighter dye 



lhan Iris itself could paint 1 . 



To suffering man from nature's genial breast 

 A boon transcendant ever may'st thou flow, 

 Blest holy fount , still bid old age to know 

 Reviinng vigour, and if health repressed 

 Fade in the virgins cheek, renew its glow 

 For love and joy, and they that in thy wave 



Confiding trust and thankful lave 

 Propitious aid, and speed the stranger band, 

 With health and life renewed to the native land. 



Carlsbad, 16th September 1834. 



ALVANLEY. 



