14 THE FORESTERS. 



Our pondrous knapsacks cautiously we stowed^ 



The mountain's top determined to explore, 



And view the tracks already travelled o'er; 



As nimble tars the hanging shrouds ascend, 



While hands and feet their joint assistance lend 5 



So we, from rock to reck, from steep to steep, 



Scaled the rude piles, suspended o'er the deep, 



Through low dwarf underwood with chestnuts crowned.. 



Whose crooked limbs with trailing moss were bound* 



Eager we brush the impending bushes through, 



Panting fcr breath and wet with dashing dewj 



Cliff after cliff triumphant we attain, 



And high at last its loftiest summit gain ; 



But such a prospect! — such a glorious show! 



The world, in boundless landscape, lay below? 



Vast colored forests, to our wandering eyes, 



Keemed softened gardens of a thousand dyes. 



Long lakes appeared ; but at th' increase of day 



Assumed new forms, and rolled in mist away. (9) 



6cooped from the woods unnumbered spots were see* 



Embrowned with culture, or with pasture oreen; 



Some cottage smoke moved slow, and dimly white; 



But every hut had dwindled from the sio-ht. 



la long trailed fogs, that all its windings showed. 



For many a league the distant Delaware flowed * 



And all beyond seemed to the ravished eye, 



One waste of woods, encircling earth and sky ! 



We gazed delighted — then, with short delay, 



Descending fixed our loads and marched away. 



From this rough mountain, northward as we bead, 



