ORATIONS AND IMPASSIONED PIECES. 225 



Is to the inner world a thing as vague 



As the obscure and twilight line that bounds 



The dim horizon ? for the mind can make, 



By its own magic powers, worlds fairer far 



Than this one ! [He pauses.] 



Yea* it must, it must be so ! 



A beauteous land is passing now before me, 



And there are glorious Alps, whereon the sun, 



Oft, in his journey, pauses to look back 



Upon the paradise he leaves behind him ! 



And there are valleys, basking in his beams, 



Starred with white cottages, and orange-bowers, 



And vine-groves, where the light guitar is swept, 



To charm the golden fruitage. I behold 



Lakes blue as morning, where, at eve, the star 



Delights to lave its far descending rays, 



And ancient forests, giant-like, advancing 



With towering strides, up to the high hill tops. 



And ever and anon I hear the sounds, 



The mighty sounds of avalanches rolling, 



The crash of forests and the roar of waters ; 



But in the vales the maiden's free voice rings, 



And on the hills the bold-eyed mountaineer 



Looks proudly up to heaven, and children sport 



Like swallows on the lea, and ancient sires 



Within the trellised porch -serenely sit, 



And grandams read their missals in the sun, 



Which AusxRiANf banners dare not now obscure. 



I cannot be mistaken : 'tis my COUNTRY ! 



O Switzerland ! and shall it be a dream 



A wild, imaginative dream ? No,\ no ! 



Thou shalt be FREE, thy fetters rive in twain ; 



The voice of Prophecy is on me now ! 



Back roll the volumy clouds, the mighty mists 



That veil the future, roll, at my bidding, back ! 



Come forth ! It comes ! the sun of Freedom comes 



With its refulgent canopy of clouds, 



* Animation somewhat increases ; the speaker should look forward 

 during the delivery of this Vision, with a fixed countenance, as if he 

 actually saw what he is describing. 



f Disdain. J Increased energy. 



L 5 



