And fwinging it rudely, top rudely, alas ! Regardless of wringing and breaking a heart This elegant Rose, had I shaken it less, Might have bloom'd with its owner awhile! And the tear that is wip'd with a little address, May be follow'd perhaps by a smile. The Duchess of Devonshire. THE PASSAGE OF MOUNT ST. GOTHARD, AN ELEGY. ADDRESSED TO HER CHILDREN. Mount St Gothard is a Mountain of the Alps, and one of the highest in Switzerland; said by some to be 17,000 Feet above the Level of the Sea, though others say it does not exceed 10,000. YE plains, where three-fold harvests prefs the ground, Ye climes, where genial gales inceffant swell, Still may thy year in fulleft fplendor shine! To thee, a parent, fifter, I confign, And wing'd with health, I woo thy gales to blow. Yet pleas'd, Helvetia's rugged brows I fee, And thro' their craggy fteeps delighted roam; From cliff to cliff in foaming eddies toft; His fhores, neat huts and verdant pastures fill, St. GOTHARD's fummit rofe above the rest. No haunt of man the weary traveller greets, Save where the flow'ret breathes uncultur'd fweets, Yet let not these rude paths be coldly trac'd, Let not these wilds with liftless steps be trod, Here fragrance fcorns not to perfume the wafte, Here Charity uplifts the mind to God, His humble board the holy man prepares, And fimple food, and wholesome lore bestows, Extols the treasures that his mountain bears, And paints the perils of impending snows. For whilft bleak winter numbs with chilling hand, Where frequent croffes mark the traveller's fate, In flow proceffion moves the merchant band, And filent bends, where tottering ruins wait. Yet 'midft thofe ridges, 'midft that drifted fnow, Can Nature deign her wonders to display; Here Adularia fhines with vivid glow, And gems of chryftal fparkle to the day. Here too, the hoary mountain's brow to grace, Five filver lakes, in tranquil ftate are feen; While from their waters, many a ftream we trace, That 'fcap'd from bondage, roll the rocks between. Here flows the Reufs to feek her wedded love, And, with the Rhine, Germanic climes explore; Her ftream I mark'd, and faw her wildly move Down the bleak mountain, thro' the craggy shore. My weary footsteps hop'd for rest in vain, For fteep on steep, in rude confufion rofe; At length I paus'd above a fertile plain That promis'd fhelter and foretold repofe. Fair runs the streamlet o'er the pasture green, Its margin gay, with flocks and cattle spread; Embowering trees the peaceful village fcreen, The path that marks the terrors of our way; More cultur'd groves o'erfhade the graffy meads, The neat, tho' wooden hamlets, deck the vale, And Altorf's fpires recall heroic deeds. But tho' no more amidst thofe fcenes I roam, Whilft Nature's varied beauties deck its fide; Across the lake, and deep embower'd in wood, Behold another hallow'd chapel stands, Where three Swifs heroes lawless force withftood, And ftamp'd the FREEDOM of their native land. Then Liberty requir'd no rites uncouth, No blood demanded, and no flaves enchain'd; We quit the lake—and cultivation's toil, With Nature's charms combin'd, adorns the way, And well-earn'd wealth improves the ready foil, And fimple manners still maintain their fway. Farewel, Helvetia! from whofe lofty breast, Proud Alps arife, and copious rivers flow; Oft on thy rocks the wond'ring eyes fhall gaze, Hope of my life! dear Children of my heart! To you ftill pants each pleasure to impart, And more, ohtranfport! reach its HOME and You! |