Fables in Song :: :: University of Virginia Library

A dweller in a city of the plain,
Bound on a journey to a mountain land,
First pray'd a famous traveller to explain
How best he might behold, and understand,
The rumour'd wonders of that lofty region,
For by report the name of them was legion.

2

“There's but one way,” the traveller replied,
“Beneath the highest mountain of them all
There lies a little town. Get there a guide:
Then, rest not till you reach its summit tall.
The ascent is difficult. I grant 'tis double—
But it is also twice well worth—the trouble.

3

“For by this means not only will you be
Rewarded with an admirable view,

But 'tis, indeed, the only means to see
At one wide eyesweep, adequately true
And comprehensive in its contemplation,
The whole of that high land's configuration.”

4

Struck by the justice of his friend's advice,
Which promised an incomparable sight,
And full of ardour, on his enterprise
The man set forth. He reach'd the inn at night
Commended by the traveller; went to bed,
Slept well, waked early, rose, dress'd, breakfasted;

5

And from the casement of his room could see
That mighty mountain clad in cloud and snow.
The guide inform'd him that, to mount it, three
Good days 'twould take him; to descend it, two.
But he before him had a fortnight's time,
Nor need begin in haste that task sublime.

6

So he resolved to make a first essay
By visiting the hills and slopes that lower,
Lapping the flanks of that high mountain, lay
Like housetops huddled round a minster tower;
This promenade was picturesque, and soon
Completed in one pleasant afternoon.

7

'Tis true the prospects it unfolded each
One corner only of the picture show'd:
But all the others he proposed to reach,
One after one, by the same easy road,
Encouragingly smooth for a beginner,
The following days 'twixt breakfast-time and dinner.

8

“For thus shall I have witness'd all,” he said,
“In course of time; and witness'd all without
Foregoing for that purpose board or bed,
And being thoroughly fatigued no doubt.”
So said, so done; and home again content,
Having climb'd all those little hills, he went.

9

Their various points of view had pleased him well;
Their slopes were wooded, and their tops were green:
From each he saw across the neighbouring dell:
But saw no further: for each crest had been
In turn commanded by some other crest,
Just high enough to overtop the rest.

10

In silence did his travell'd friend receive
The tale of those short journeys; and replied

“The charm of your excursion, I perceive,
Lay in those little slopes that, every side,
Shut out the distance; hills climb'd yesterday
Bounding to-morrow's prospect all the way.

11

“With not more trouble, and in shorter time,
You, following my counsel, would have seen
The whole horizon's airy orb sublime
Reveal'd beyond each decorated screen
Of those low mountains. For that summit tall
Of which I told you doth surmount them all.

12

“I, in man's thought, as 'twere a bird behold,
Born to disport itself in space, with wing
Unfetter'd by the wires, tho' they be gold,
Of any cage. Albeit I grant birds sing
In cages. But that, doubtless, is a merit
They from the freeborn songsters do inherit.

13

“And better, to my thinking, one high note
Dropt by the soaring skylark from the sky
Than all that's warbled from a cageling's throat.
Minds are there, too, whose natural home is high;
One word they drop in passing is worth more
Than tutor'd twitterers twitter by the score.”