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And fwinging it rudely, top rudely, alas !
I fnapp'd it-it fell to the ground.
And fuch, I exclaim'd, is the pitiless part
Some act by the delicate mind,

Regardless of wringing and breaking a heart
Already to forrow refign'd.

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,
Where art and nature shed profufely round
Their rival wonders-Italy, farewel.

Still may thy year in fulleft fplendor shine!
Its icy darts in vain may winter throw

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;
Pleas'd with a people, honeft, brave, and free,
Whilst every step conducts me nearer home.
I wander where Tefino madly flows,

From cliff to cliff in foaming eddies toft;
On the rude mountain's barren breast he rofe,
In Po's broad wave now hurries to be loft.

His fhores, neat huts and verdant pastures fill,
And hills, where woods of pine the ftorms defy;
While, fcorning vegetation, higher ftill,
Rife the bare rocks co-eval with the fky.
Upon his banks a favour'd spot I found,
Where shade and beauty tempted to repofe:
Within a grove, by mountains circled round,
By rocks o'erhung, my ruftic feat I chose.
Advancing thence, by gentle pace and flow,
Unconscious of the way my footsteps preft,
Sudden, fupported by the hills below,

St. GOTHARD's fummit rofe above the rest.
'Midft towering cliffs, and tracks of endless cold,
Th' industrious path pervades the rugged stone,
And feems-Helvetia, let thy toils be told-
A granite girdle o'er the mountain thrown.

No haunt of man the weary traveller greets,
No vegetation fmiles upon the moor,

Save where the flow'ret breathes uncultur'd fweets,
Save where the patient Monk receives the poor.

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,
And guard from snow each dwelling's jutting shed.
Sweet vale! whose bosom, wastes and cliffs furround,
Let me awhile thy friendly shelter share!
Emblem of life! where fome bright hours are found
Amidft the darkest, dreariest years of care.
Delv'd thro' the rock, the fecret paffage bends;
And beauteous horror ftrikes the dazzled fight;
Beneath the pendant bridge the ftream defcends,
Calm, till it tumbles o'er the frowning height.
We view the fearful pafs; we wind along

The path that marks the terrors of our way;
'Midft beetling rocks, and hanging woods among,
The torrent pours, and breathes its glittering (pray.
Weary at length ferener fcenes we hail-

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,
My fancy long each image fhall retain
The flock returning to its welcome home,
And the wild carol of the cowherd's ftrain.
Lucérnia's lake its glaffy furface fhews,

Whilft Nature's varied beauties deck its fide;
Here rocks and woods its narrow waves inclofe,
And there its fpreading bofom opens wide.
And hail the chapel! hail the platform wild!
Where TELL directed the avenging dart,
With well-ftrung arm, that first preferv'd his child,
Then wing'd the arrow to the tyrant's heart.

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;
Her rule was gentle and her voice was truth,
By focial order form'd, by laws restrain'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;
Where fource of ftreams, eternal glaciers reft,
And peaceful fcience gilds the plains below.

Oft on thy rocks the wond'ring eyes fhall gaze,
Thy vallies oft the raptur'd bofom seek ;
There, Nature's hand her boldeft work displays,
Here, blifs domeftic beams on every cheek.

Hope of my life! dear Children of my heart!
That anxious heart, to each fond feeling true,

To you ftill pants each pleasure to impart,

And more, ohtranfport! reach its HOME and You!

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