 | Poems, original and translated |  |
132
TO SAMUEL G. HOWE.
At evening, in an Alpine vale,
I watched the mountain-summits white
Flame rosy-red, then slowly pale
Before the deepening shades of night.
I watched the mountain-summits white
Flame rosy-red, then slowly pale
Before the deepening shades of night.
When, from the waning face of day,
The last faint shadow of a flush
Behind the mountains died away,
There fell a momentary hush.
The last faint shadow of a flush
Behind the mountains died away,
There fell a momentary hush.
Then suddenly a thrill of awe
Rang through the silent vale: for, lo!
That spectral mountain-chain I saw
Lit with a preternatural glow;
Rang through the silent vale: for, lo!
That spectral mountain-chain I saw
Lit with a preternatural glow;
As if behind that wall of snow
The sunken sun were shining through,
And smiling to the world below
One more last heavenly adieu!
The sunken sun were shining through,
And smiling to the world below
One more last heavenly adieu!
Who that has seen those evening shows
Their look and voice can e'er forget?
Can the pure world that then arose
On the soul's vision ever set?
Their look and voice can e'er forget?
Can the pure world that then arose
On the soul's vision ever set?
Though death's pale mountains hide the sun
Of noble lives from mortal eyes,
Oh, deem not then their day is done!
They sank, in higher heavens to rise.
Of noble lives from mortal eyes,
Oh, deem not then their day is done!
They sank, in higher heavens to rise.
133
As through life's twilight vale we go,
Time's pilgrims in this earthly land,
Transpierced by that undying glow,
How bright those shadowy mountains stand!
Time's pilgrims in this earthly land,
Transpierced by that undying glow,
How bright those shadowy mountains stand!
The boundary hills are they that rise
And, looking on our earthly night,
Veil and reveal to mortal eyes
The land of everlasting light.
And, looking on our earthly night,
Veil and reveal to mortal eyes
The land of everlasting light.
Peace from the soul's bright track comes down
Like evening starlight on the vale:
We see the victor's starry crown,
And say: Farewell! farewell and Hail!
Like evening starlight on the vale:
We see the victor's starry crown,
And say: Farewell! farewell and Hail!
| Poems, original and translated | |