The poetical works of James Montgomery collected by himself |
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| THE WANDERER OF SWITZERLAND:
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 | The poetical works of James Montgomery |  |
1
THE WANDERER OF SWITZERLAND:
A POEM, IN SIX PARTS.
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I. PART I.
A Wanderer of Switzerland and his Family, consisting of his Wife, his Daughter, and her young Children, emigrating from their Country, in consequence of its Subjugation by the French, in 1798, arrive at the Cottage of a Shepherd, beyond the Frontiers, where they are hospitably entertained.
“Wanderer, whither dost thou roam?
Weary wanderer, old and grey;
Wherefore hast thou left thine home
In the sunset of thy day?”
Wanderer.
“In the sunset of my day,
Stranger, I have lost my home:
Weary, wandering, old and grey,
Therefore, therefore do I roam.
Stranger, I have lost my home:
Weary, wandering, old and grey,
Therefore, therefore do I roam.
Here mine arms a wife enfold,
Fainting in their weak embrace;
There my daughter's charms behold,
Withering in that widow'd face.
Fainting in their weak embrace;
There my daughter's charms behold,
Withering in that widow'd face.
These her infants—O their Sire,
Worthy of the race of TELL,
In the battle's fiercest fire,
—In his country's battle fell!”
Worthy of the race of TELL,
In the battle's fiercest fire,
—In his country's battle fell!”
Shep.
“Switzerland then gave thee birth?”
Wand.
“Ay—'twas Switzerland of yore;
But, degraded spot of earth!
Thou art Switzerland no more:
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O'er thy mountains, sunk in blood,
Are the waves of ruin hurl'd;
Like the waters of the flood
Rolling round a buried world.”
Are the waves of ruin hurl'd;
Like the waters of the flood
Rolling round a buried world.”
Shep.
“Yet will Time the deluge stop:
Then may Switzerland be blest:
On St. Gothard's hoary top
Shall the Ark of Freedom rest.”
Wand.
“No!—Irreparably lost,
On the day that made us slaves,
Freedom's Ark, by tempest tost,
Founder'd in the swallowing waves.”
Shep.
“Welcome, Wanderer as thou art,
All my blessings to partake;
Yet thrice welcome to my heart,
For thine injured country's sake.
All my blessings to partake;
Yet thrice welcome to my heart,
For thine injured country's sake.
On the western hills afar
Evening lingers with delight,
While she views her favourite star
Brightening on the brow of night.
Evening lingers with delight,
While she views her favourite star
Brightening on the brow of night.
Here, though lowly be my lot,
Enter freely, freely share
All the comforts of my cot,
Humble shelter, homely fare.
Enter freely, freely share
All the comforts of my cot,
Humble shelter, homely fare.
Spouse! I bring a suffering guest,
With his family of grief;
Give the weary pilgrims rest,
Yield the Exiles sweet relief.”
With his family of grief;
Give the weary pilgrims rest,
Yield the Exiles sweet relief.”
Shep.'s Wife.
“I will yield them sweet relief:
Weary pilgrims! welcome here;
Welcome, family of grief!
Welcome to my warmest cheer.”
Wand.
“When in prayer the broken heart
Asks a blessing from above,
Heaven shall take the Wanderer's part.
Heaven reward the stranger's love.”
Shep.
“Haste, recruit the failing fire,
High the winter-faggots raise:
See the crackling flames aspire;
O how cheerfully they blaze!
High the winter-faggots raise:
See the crackling flames aspire;
O how cheerfully they blaze!
Mourners! now forget your cares,
And, till supper-board be crown'd,
Closely draw your fireside chairs;
Form the dear domestic round.”
And, till supper-board be crown'd,
Closely draw your fireside chairs;
Form the dear domestic round.”
Wand.
“Host! thy smiling daughters bring,
Bring those rosy lads of thine:
Let them mingle in the ring
With these poor lost babes of mine.”
Shep.
“Join the ring, my girls and boys;
This enchanting circle, this
Binds the social loves and joys;
'Tis the fairy ring of bliss!”
Wand.
“O ye loves and joys! that sport
In the fairy ring of bliss,
Oft with me ye held your court;
I had once a home like this!
In the fairy ring of bliss,
Oft with me ye held your court;
I had once a home like this!
Bountiful my former lot
As my native country's rills;
The foundations of my cot
Were her everlasting hills.
As my native country's rills;
The foundations of my cot
Were her everlasting hills.
But those streams no longer pour
Rich abundance round my lands;
And my father's cot no more
On my father's mountain stands.
Rich abundance round my lands;
And my father's cot no more
On my father's mountain stands.
By an hundred winters piled,
When the Glaciers, dark with death,
Hang o'er precipices wild,
Hang—suspended by a breath:
When the Glaciers, dark with death,
Hang o'er precipices wild,
Hang—suspended by a breath:
If a pulse but throb alarm,
Headlong down the steeps they fall;
—For a pulse will break the charm,—
Bounding, bursting, burying all.
Headlong down the steeps they fall;
—For a pulse will break the charm,—
Bounding, bursting, burying all.
Struck with horror, stiff and pale,
When the chaos breaks on high,
All that view it from the vale,
All that hear it coming, die:—
When the chaos breaks on high,
All that view it from the vale,
All that hear it coming, die:—
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In a day and hour accurst,
O'er the wretched land of TELL,
Thus the Gallic ruin burst,
Thus the Gallic glacier fell!”
O'er the wretched land of TELL,
Thus the Gallic ruin burst,
Thus the Gallic glacier fell!”
Shep.
“Hush that melancholy strain;
Wipe those unavailing tears:”
Wand.
“Nay—I must, I will complain;
'Tis the privilege of years:
'Tis the privilege of Woe,
Thus her anguish to impart:
And the tears that freely flow
Ease the agonising heart.”
Thus her anguish to impart:
And the tears that freely flow
Ease the agonising heart.”
Shep.
“Yet suspend thy griefs awhile:
See the plenteous table crown'd;
And my wife's endearing smile
Beams a rosy welcome round.
See the plenteous table crown'd;
And my wife's endearing smile
Beams a rosy welcome round.
Cheese from mountain-dairies prest,
Wholesome herbs, nutritious roots,
Honey from the wild-bee's nest,
Cheering wine and ripen'd fruits:
Wholesome herbs, nutritious roots,
Honey from the wild-bee's nest,
Cheering wine and ripen'd fruits:
These, with soul-sustaining bread,
My paternal fields afford:—
On such fare our fathers fed;
Hoary pilgrim! bless the board.”
My paternal fields afford:—
On such fare our fathers fed;
Hoary pilgrim! bless the board.”
II. PART II.
After supper, the Wanderer, at the desire of his host, relates the sorrows and sufferings of his Country, during the Invasion and Conquest of it by the French, in connection with his own Story.
“Wanderer! bow'd with griefs and years,
Wanderer, with the cheek so pale,
O give language to those tears!
Tell their melancholy tale.”
Wand.
“Stranger-friend, the tears that flow
Down the channels of this cheek
Tell a mystery of woe
Which no human tongue can speak.
Down the channels of this cheek
Tell a mystery of woe
Which no human tongue can speak.
Not the pangs of ‘Hope deferr'd’
My tormented bosom tear:—
On the tomb of hope interr'd
Scowls the spectre of Despair.
My tormented bosom tear:—
On the tomb of hope interr'd
Scowls the spectre of Despair.
Where the Alpine summits rise,
Height o'er height stupendous hurl'd;
Like the pillars of the skies,
Like the ramparts of the world:
Height o'er height stupendous hurl'd;
Like the pillars of the skies,
Like the ramparts of the world:
Born in Freedom's eagle nest,
Rock'd by whirlwinds in their rage,
Nursed at Freedom's stormy breast,
Lived my sires from age to age.
Rock'd by whirlwinds in their rage,
Nursed at Freedom's stormy breast,
Lived my sires from age to age.
High o'er Underwalden's vale,
Where the forest fronts the morn;
Whence the boundless eye might sail
O'er a sea of mountains borne;
Where the forest fronts the morn;
Whence the boundless eye might sail
O'er a sea of mountains borne;
There my little native cot
Peep'd upon my father's farm:—
Oh! it was a happy spot,
Rich in every rural charm!
Peep'd upon my father's farm:—
Oh! it was a happy spot,
Rich in every rural charm!
There my life, a silent stream,
Glid along, yet seem'd at rest;
Lovely as an infant's dream
On the waking mother's breast.
Glid along, yet seem'd at rest;
Lovely as an infant's dream
On the waking mother's breast.
Till the storm that wreck'd the world,
In its horrible career,
Into hopeless ruin hurl'd
All this aching heart held dear.
In its horrible career,
Into hopeless ruin hurl'd
All this aching heart held dear.
On the princely towers of Berne
Fell the Gallic thunder-stroke:
To the Lake of poor Lucerne,
All submitted to the yoke.
Fell the Gallic thunder-stroke:
To the Lake of poor Lucerne,
All submitted to the yoke.
Reding then his standard raised,
Drew his sword on Brunnen's plain;
But in vain his banner blazed,
Reding drew his sword in vain.
Drew his sword on Brunnen's plain;
But in vain his banner blazed,
Reding drew his sword in vain.
Where our conquering fathers died;
Where their awful bones repose;
Thrice the battle's fate he tried,
Thrice o'erthrew his country's foes.
Where their awful bones repose;
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Thrice o'erthrew his country's foes.
Happy then were those who fell
Fighting on their fathers' graves!
Wretched those who lived to tell,
Treason made the victors slaves!
Fighting on their fathers' graves!
Wretched those who lived to tell,
Treason made the victors slaves!
Thus my country's life retired,
Slowly driven from part to part,
Underwalden last expired,
Underwalden was the heart.
Slowly driven from part to part,
Underwalden last expired,
Underwalden was the heart.
In the valley of their birth,
Where our guardian mountains stand;
In the eye of heaven and earth,
Met the warriors of our land.
Where our guardian mountains stand;
In the eye of heaven and earth,
Met the warriors of our land.
Like their Sires in olden time,
Arm'd they met in stern debate;
While in every breast sublime
Glow'd the Spirit of the State.
Arm'd they met in stern debate;
While in every breast sublime
Glow'd the Spirit of the State.
Gallia's menace fired their blood;
With one heart and voice they rose:
Hand in hand the heroes stood,
And defied their faithless foes.
With one heart and voice they rose:
Hand in hand the heroes stood,
And defied their faithless foes.
Then to heaven, in calm despair,
As they turn'd the tearless eye,
By their country's wrongs they sware
With their country's rights to die.
As they turn'd the tearless eye,
By their country's wrongs they sware
With their country's rights to die.
Albert from the council came:
(My poor daughter was his wife;
All the valley lov'd his name;
Albert was my staff of life.)
(My poor daughter was his wife;
All the valley lov'd his name;
Albert was my staff of life.)
From the council-field he came;
All his noble visage burn'd;
At his look I caught the flame,
At his voice my youth return'd.
All his noble visage burn'd;
At his look I caught the flame,
At his voice my youth return'd.
Fire from heaven my heart renew'd;
Vigour beat through every vein;
All the powers that age had hew'd,
Started into strength again.
Vigour beat through every vein;
All the powers that age had hew'd,
Started into strength again.
Sudden from my couch I sprang,
Every limb to life restored;
With the bound my cottage rang,
As I snatch'd my father's sword.
Every limb to life restored;
With the bound my cottage rang,
As I snatch'd my father's sword.
This the weapon they did wield,
On Morgarthen's dreadful day;
And through Sempach's iron field
This the ploughshare of their way.
On Morgarthen's dreadful day;
And through Sempach's iron field
This the ploughshare of their way.
Then, my Spouse! in vain thy fears
Strove my fury to restrain;
O my daughter! all thy tears,
All thy children's, were in vain.
Strove my fury to restrain;
O my daughter! all thy tears,
All thy children's, were in vain.
Quickly from our hastening foes,
Albert's active care removed,
Far amidst the eternal snows,
These who loved us,—these beloved.
Albert's active care removed,
Far amidst the eternal snows,
These who loved us,—these beloved.
Then our cottage we forsook;
Yet, as down the steeps we pass'd,
Many an agonising look
Homeward o'er the hills we cast.
Yet, as down the steeps we pass'd,
Many an agonising look
Homeward o'er the hills we cast.
Now we reach'd the nether glen,
Where in arms our brethren lay;
Thrice five hundred fearless men,
Men of adamant were they!
Where in arms our brethren lay;
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Men of adamant were they!
Nature's bulwarks, built by Time,
'Gainst Eternity to stand,
Mountains terribly sublime,
Girt the camp on either hand.
'Gainst Eternity to stand,
Mountains terribly sublime,
Girt the camp on either hand.
Dim, behind, the valley brake
Into rocks that fled from view;
Fair in front the gleaming Lake
Roll'd its waters bright and blue.
Into rocks that fled from view;
Fair in front the gleaming Lake
Roll'd its waters bright and blue.
'Midst the hamlets of the dale,
Stantz, with simple grandeur crown'd,
Seem'd the Mother of the vale,
With her children scatter'd round.
Stantz, with simple grandeur crown'd,
Seem'd the Mother of the vale,
With her children scatter'd round.
'Midst the ruins of the dale,
Now she bows her hoary head,
Like the Widow of the vale
Weeping o'er her offspring dead.
Now she bows her hoary head,
Like the Widow of the vale
Weeping o'er her offspring dead.
Happier then had been her fate,
Ere she fell by such a foe,
Had an earthquake sunk her state,
Or the lightning laid her low!”
Ere she fell by such a foe,
Had an earthquake sunk her state,
Or the lightning laid her low!”
Shep.
“By the lightning's deadly flash
Would her foes had been consumed!
Or amidst the earthquake's crash
Suddenly, alive, entomb'd!
Why did justice not prevail?”
Wand.
“Ah! it was not thus to be!”
Shep.
—“Man of grief, pursue thy tale
To the death of Liberty.”
III. PART III.
The Wanderer continues his Narrative, and describes the Battle and Massacre of Underwalden.
“From the valley we descried,
As the Gauls approach'd our shores,
Keels that darken'd all the tide,
Tempesting the Lake with oars.
As the Gauls approach'd our shores,
Keels that darken'd all the tide,
Tempesting the Lake with oars.
Then the mountain-echoes rang
With the clangour of alarms:
Shrill the signal-trumpet sang;
All our warriors leap'd to arms.
With the clangour of alarms:
Shrill the signal-trumpet sang;
All our warriors leap'd to arms.
On the margin of the flood,
While the frantic foe drew nigh;
Grim as watching wolves we stood,
Prompt as eagles stretch'd to fly.
While the frantic foe drew nigh;
Grim as watching wolves we stood,
Prompt as eagles stretch'd to fly.
In a deluge upon land
Burst their overwhelming might;
Back we hurl'd them from the strand,
Oft returning to the fight.
Burst their overwhelming might;
Back we hurl'd them from the strand,
Oft returning to the fight.
Fierce and long the combat held;
—Till the waves were warm with blood,
Till the booming waters swell'd
As they sank beneath the flood.
—Till the waves were warm with blood,
Till the booming waters swell'd
As they sank beneath the flood.
For, on that triumphant day,
Underwalden's arms once more
Broke Oppression's black array,
Dash'd invasion from her shore.
Underwalden's arms once more
Broke Oppression's black array,
Dash'd invasion from her shore.
Gaul's surviving barks retired,
Muttering vengeance as they fled:
Hope in us, by Conquest fired,
Raised our spirits from the dead.
Muttering vengeance as they fled:
Hope in us, by Conquest fired,
Raised our spirits from the dead.
From the dead our spirits rose,
To the dead they soon return'd;
Bright, on its eternal close,
Underwalden's glory burn'd.
To the dead they soon return'd;
Bright, on its eternal close,
Underwalden's glory burn'd.
Star of Switzerland! whose rays
Shed such sweet expiring light,
Ere the Gallic comet's blaze
Swept thy beauty into night:—
Shed such sweet expiring light,
Ere the Gallic comet's blaze
Swept thy beauty into night:—
Star of Switzerland! thy fame
No recording Bard hath sung;
Yet be thine immortal name
Inspiration to my tongue!
No recording Bard hath sung;
Yet be thine immortal name
Inspiration to my tongue!
While the lingering moon delay'd
In the wilderness of night,
Ere the morn awoke the shade
Into loveliness and light;—
In the wilderness of night,
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Into loveliness and light;—
Gallia's tigers, wild for blood,
Darted on our sleeping fold;
Down the mountains, o'er the flood,
Dark as thunder-clouds they roll'd.
Darted on our sleeping fold;
Down the mountains, o'er the flood,
Dark as thunder-clouds they roll'd.
By the trumpet's voice alarm'd,
All the valley burst awake;
All were in a moment arm'd,
From the barriers to the lake.
All the valley burst awake;
All were in a moment arm'd,
From the barriers to the lake.
—In that valley, on that shore,
When the graves give up their dead,
At the trumpet's voice once more
Shall those slumberers quit their bed.
When the graves give up their dead,
At the trumpet's voice once more
Shall those slumberers quit their bed.
For the glen that gave them birth
Hides their ashes in its womb:
O! 'tis venerable earth,
Freedom's cradle, Freedom's tomb.
Hides their ashes in its womb:
O! 'tis venerable earth,
Freedom's cradle, Freedom's tomb.
Then on every side begun
That unutterable fight;
Never rose the astonish'd sun
On so horrible a sight.
That unutterable fight;
Never rose the astonish'd sun
On so horrible a sight.
Once an eagle of the rock
('Twas an omen of our fate)
Stoop'd, and from my scatter'd flock
Bore a lambkin to his mate.
('Twas an omen of our fate)
Stoop'd, and from my scatter'd flock
Bore a lambkin to his mate.
While the Parents fed their young,
Lo! a cloud of vultures lean,
By voracious famine stung,
Wildly screaming rush'd between.
Lo! a cloud of vultures lean,
By voracious famine stung,
Wildly screaming rush'd between.
Fiercely fought the eagle-twain,
Though by multitudes opprest,
Till their little ones were slain,
Till they perish'd on their nest.
Though by multitudes opprest,
Till their little ones were slain,
Till they perish'd on their nest.
More unequal was the fray
Which our band of brethren waged;
More insatiate o'er their prey
Gaul's remorseless vultures raged.
Which our band of brethren waged;
More insatiate o'er their prey
Gaul's remorseless vultures raged.
In innumerable waves,
Swoln with fury, grim with blood,
Headlong roll'd the hordes of slaves,
And ingulph'd us with a flood.
Swoln with fury, grim with blood,
Headlong roll'd the hordes of slaves,
And ingulph'd us with a flood.
In the whirlpool of that flood,
Firm in fortitude divine,
Like the eternal rocks we stood
In the cataract of the Rhine.
Firm in fortitude divine,
Like the eternal rocks we stood
In the cataract of the Rhine.
Till by tenfold force assail'd,
In a hurricane of fire,
When at length our phalanx fail'd,
Then our courage blazed the higher.
In a hurricane of fire,
When at length our phalanx fail'd,
Then our courage blazed the higher.
Broken into feeble bands,
Fighting in dissever'd parts,
Weak and weaker grew our hands,
Strong and stronger still our hearts.
Fighting in dissever'd parts,
Weak and weaker grew our hands,
Strong and stronger still our hearts.
Fierce amid the loud alarms,
Shouting in the foremost fray,
Children raised their little arms
In their country's evil day.
Shouting in the foremost fray,
Children raised their little arms
In their country's evil day.
On their country's dying bed,
Wives and husbands pour'd their breath;
Many a Youth and Maiden bled,
Married at thine altar, Death.
Wives and husbands pour'd their breath;
Many a Youth and Maiden bled,
Married at thine altar, Death.
Wildly scatter'd o'er the plain,
Bloodier still the battle grew:—
O ye Spirits of the slain,
Slain on those your prowess slew!
Bloodier still the battle grew:—
O ye Spirits of the slain,
Slain on those your prowess slew!
Who shall now your deeds relate?
Ye that fell unwept, unknown;
Mourning for your country's fate,
But rejoicing in your own!
Ye that fell unwept, unknown;
Mourning for your country's fate,
But rejoicing in your own!
Virtue, valour, nought avail'd
With so merciless a foe;
When the nerves of heroes fail'd,
Cowards then could strike a blow.
With so merciless a foe;
When the nerves of heroes fail'd,
Cowards then could strike a blow.
Cold and keen the assassin's blade
Smote the Father to the ground;
Through the infant's breast convey'd
To the mother's heart a wound.
Smote the Father to the ground;
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To the mother's heart a wound.
Underwalden thus expired;
But at her expiring flame,
With fraternal feeling fired,
Lo! a band of Switzers came.
But at her expiring flame,
With fraternal feeling fired,
Lo! a band of Switzers came.
From the steeps beyond the lake,
Like a Winter's weight of snow,
When the huge Lavanges break,
Devastating all below;
Like a Winter's weight of snow,
When the huge Lavanges break,
Devastating all below;
Down they rush'd with headlong might,
Swifter than the panting wind;
All before them fear and flight;
Death and silence all behind.
Swifter than the panting wind;
All before them fear and flight;
Death and silence all behind.
How the forest of the foe
Bow'd before their thunder strokes,
When they laid the cedars low,
When they overwhelm'd the oaks!
Bow'd before their thunder strokes,
When they laid the cedars low,
When they overwhelm'd the oaks!
Thus they hew'd their dreadful way;
Till, by numbers forced to yield,
Terrible in death they lay,
The Avengers of the Field.”
Till, by numbers forced to yield,
Terrible in death they lay,
The Avengers of the Field.”
IV. PART IV.
The Wanderer relates the Circumstances attending the Death of Albert.
“Pledge the memory of the Brave,
And the Spirits of the dead;
Pledge the venerable Grave,
Valour's consecrated bed.
And the Spirits of the dead;
Pledge the venerable Grave,
Valour's consecrated bed.
Wanderer! cheer thy drooping soul;
This inspiring goblet take;
Drain the deep delicious bowl,
For thy martyr'd brethren's sake.”
This inspiring goblet take;
Drain the deep delicious bowl,
For thy martyr'd brethren's sake.”
Wand.
“Hail!—all hail! the Patriot's grave,
Valour's venerable bed:
Hail! the memory of the Brave;
Hail! the Spirits of the dead.
Valour's venerable bed:
Hail! the memory of the Brave;
Hail! the Spirits of the dead.
Time their triumphs shall proclaim,
And their rich reward be this,—
Immortality of fame,
Immortality of bliss.”
And their rich reward be this,—
Immortality of fame,
Immortality of bliss.”
Shep.
“On that melancholy plain,
In that conflict of despair,
How was noble Albert slain?
How didst thou, old Warrior, fare?”
Wand.
“In the agony of strife,
Where the heart of battle bled,
Where his country lost her life,
Glorious Albert bow'd his head.
Where the heart of battle bled,
Where his country lost her life,
Glorious Albert bow'd his head.
When our phalanx broke away,
And our stoutest soldiers fell,
—Where the dark rocks dimm'd the day,
Scowling o'er the deepest dell;
And our stoutest soldiers fell,
—Where the dark rocks dimm'd the day,
Scowling o'er the deepest dell;
There, like lions old in blood,
Lions rallying round their den,
Albert and his warriors stood:
We were few, but we were men.
Lions rallying round their den,
Albert and his warriors stood:
We were few, but we were men.
Breast to breast we fought the ground,
Arm to arm repell'd the foe:
Every motion was a wound,
And a death was every blow.
Arm to arm repell'd the foe:
Every motion was a wound,
And a death was every blow.
Thus the clouds of sunset beam
Warmer with expiring light;
Thus autumnal meteors stream
Redder through the darkening night.
Warmer with expiring light;
Thus autumnal meteors stream
Redder through the darkening night.
Miracles our champions wrought—
Who their dying deeds shall tell?
O, how gloriously they fought!
How triumphantly they fell!
Who their dying deeds shall tell?
O, how gloriously they fought!
How triumphantly they fell!
One by one gave up the ghost,
Slain, not conquer'd,—they died free.
Albert stood,—himself an host:
Last of all the Swiss was he.
Slain, not conquer'd,—they died free.
Albert stood,—himself an host:
Last of all the Swiss was he.
So, when night, with rising shade,
Climbs the Alps from steep to steep,
Till in hoary gloom array'd
All the giant-mountains sleep—
Climbs the Alps from steep to steep,
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All the giant-mountains sleep—
High in heaven their monarch stands
Bright and beauteous from afar,
Shining into distant lands
Like a new-created star.
Bright and beauteous from afar,
Shining into distant lands
Like a new-created star.
While I struggled through the fight,
Albert was my sword and shield;
Till strange horror quench'd my sight,
And I fainted on the field.
Albert was my sword and shield;
Till strange horror quench'd my sight,
And I fainted on the field.
Slow awakening from that trance,
When my soul return'd to day,
Vanish'd were the fiends of France,
—But in Albert's blood I lay.
When my soul return'd to day,
Vanish'd were the fiends of France,
—But in Albert's blood I lay.
Slain for me, his dearest breath
On my lips he did resign;
Slain for me, he snatch'd his death
From the blow that menaced mine.
On my lips he did resign;
Slain for me, he snatch'd his death
From the blow that menaced mine.
He had raised his dying head,
And was gazing on my face;
As I woke,—the spirit fled,
But I felt his last embrace.”
And was gazing on my face;
As I woke,—the spirit fled,
But I felt his last embrace.”
Shep.
“Man of suffering! such a tale
Would wring tears from marble eyes!”
Wand.
“Ha! my daughter's cheek grows pale!”
W.'s Wife.
“Help, O help! my daughter dies!”
Wand.
“Calm thy transports, O my wife!
Peace for these dear orphans' sake!”
W.'s Wife.
“O my joy, my hope, my life,
O my child, my child awake!”
Wand.
“God! O God, whose goodness gives;
God! whose wisdom takes away;
Spare my child!”
Shep.
—‘She lives, she lives!”
Wand.
“Lives?—my daughter, didst thou say?
God Almighty, on my knees,
In the dust will I adore
Thine unsearchable decrees;
—She was dead:—she lives once more!”
In the dust will I adore
Thine unsearchable decrees;
—She was dead:—she lives once more!”
W.'s Dtr.
“When poor Albert died, no prayer
Call'd him back to hated life:
O that I had perish'd there,
Not his widow, but his wife!”
Wand.
“Dare my daughter thus repine?
Albert! answer from above;
Tell me,—are these infants thine,
Whom their mother does not love?”
W.'s Dtr.
“Does not love!—my father, hear!
Hear me, or my heart will break:
Dear is life, but only dear
For my parents', children's sake.
Hear me, or my heart will break:
Dear is life, but only dear
For my parents', children's sake.
Bow'd to Heaven's mysterious will,
I am worthy yet of you;
Yes!—I am a mother still,
Though I feel a widow too.”
I am worthy yet of you;
Yes!—I am a mother still,
Though I feel a widow too.”
Wand.
“Mother, Widow, Mourner, all,
All kind names in one,—my child;
On thy faithful neck I fall;
Kiss me,—are we reconciled?”
W.'s Dtr.
“Yes, to Albert I appeal:—
Albert, answer from above,
That my father's breast may feel
All his daughter's heart of love.”
Shep.'s Wife.
“Faint and way-worn as they be
With the day's long journey, Sire,
Let thy pilgrim family
Now with me to rest retire.”
Wand.
“Yes, the hour invites to sleep;
Till the morrow we must part:
—Nay, my daughter, do not weep,
Do not weep and break my heart.
Till the morrow we must part:
—Nay, my daughter, do not weep,
Do not weep and break my heart.
Sorrow-soothing sweet repose
On your peaceful pillows light;
Angel-hands your eyelids close;
Dream of Paradise to-night.”
On your peaceful pillows light;
Angel-hands your eyelids close;
Dream of Paradise to-night.”
11
V. PART V.
The Wanderer, being left alone with the Shepherd, relates his Adventures after the Battle of Underwalden.
“When the good man yields his breath
(For the good man never dies),
Bright beyond the gulf of death,
Lo! the land of promise lies.
(For the good man never dies),
Bright beyond the gulf of death,
Lo! the land of promise lies.
Peace to Albert's awful shade,
In that land where sorrows cease;
And to Albert's ashes, laid
In the earth's cold bosom, peace.”
In that land where sorrows cease;
And to Albert's ashes, laid
In the earth's cold bosom, peace.”
Wand.
“On the fatal field I lay
Till the hour when twilight pale,
Like the ghost of dying day,
Wander'd down the darkening vale.
Till the hour when twilight pale,
Like the ghost of dying day,
Wander'd down the darkening vale.
Then in agony I rose,
And with horror look'd around,
Where embracing, friends and foes,
Dead and dying, strew'd the ground.
And with horror look'd around,
Where embracing, friends and foes,
Dead and dying, strew'd the ground.
Many a widow fix'd her eye,
Weeping where her husband bled,
Heedless though her babe was by,
Prattling to his father dead.
Weeping where her husband bled,
Heedless though her babe was by,
Prattling to his father dead.
Many a mother, in despair
Turning up the ghastly slain,
Sought her son, her hero, there,
Whom she long'd to seek in vain.
Turning up the ghastly slain,
Sought her son, her hero, there,
Whom she long'd to seek in vain.
Dark the evening-shadows roll'd
On the eye that gleam'd in death;
And the evening-dews fell cold
On the lip that gasp'd for breath.
On the eye that gleam'd in death;
And the evening-dews fell cold
On the lip that gasp'd for breath.
As I gazed, an ancient dame,
—She was childless by her look,—
With refreshing cordials came;
Of her bounty I partook.
—She was childless by her look,—
With refreshing cordials came;
Of her bounty I partook.
Then, with desperation bold,
Albert's precious corpse I bore
On these shoulders weak and old,
Bow'd with misery before.
Albert's precious corpse I bore
On these shoulders weak and old,
Bow'd with misery before.
Albert's angel gave me strength,
As I stagger'd down the glen;
And I hid my charge at length
In its wildest, deepest den.
As I stagger'd down the glen;
And I hid my charge at length
In its wildest, deepest den.
Then returning through the shade
To the battle-scene, I sought,
'Mongst the slain, an axe and spade;—
With such weapons Freemen fought.
To the battle-scene, I sought,
'Mongst the slain, an axe and spade;—
With such weapons Freemen fought.
Scythes for swords our youth did wield
In that execrable strife;
Ploughshares in that horrid field
Bled with slaughter, breathed with life.
In that execrable strife;
Ploughshares in that horrid field
Bled with slaughter, breathed with life.
In a dark and lonely cave,
While the glimmering moon arose,
Thus I dug my Albert's grave;
There his hallow'd limbs repose.
While the glimmering moon arose,
Thus I dug my Albert's grave;
There his hallow'd limbs repose.
Tears then, tears too long represt,
Gush'd:—they fell like healing balm,
Till the whirlwind in my breast
Died into a dreary calm.
Gush'd:—they fell like healing balm,
Till the whirlwind in my breast
Died into a dreary calm.
On the fresh earth's humid bed,
Where my martyr lay enshrined,
This forlorn, unhappy head,
Crazed with anguish, I reclined.
Where my martyr lay enshrined,
This forlorn, unhappy head,
Crazed with anguish, I reclined.
But while o'er my weary eyes
Soothing slumbers seem'd to creep,
Forth I sprang, with strange surprise,
From the clasping arms of sleep.
Soothing slumbers seem'd to creep,
Forth I sprang, with strange surprise,
From the clasping arms of sleep.
For the bones of Albert dead
Heaved the turf with horrid throes,
And his grave beneath my head
Burst asunder;—Albert rose!
Heaved the turf with horrid throes,
And his grave beneath my head
Burst asunder;—Albert rose!
‘Ha! my Son—my Son,’ I cried,
‘Wherefore hast thou left thy grave?’
—‘Fly, my father,’—he replied;
‘Save my wife—my children save.’—
‘Wherefore hast thou left thy grave?’
—‘Fly, my father,’—he replied;
‘Save my wife—my children save.’—
In the passing of a breath
This tremendous scene was o'er.
Darkness shut the gates of Death,
Silence seal'd them as before.
This tremendous scene was o'er.
Darkness shut the gates of Death,
Silence seal'd them as before.
12
One pale moment fix'd I stood
In astonishment severe;
Horror petrified my blood,—
I was wither'd up with fear.
In astonishment severe;
Horror petrified my blood,—
I was wither'd up with fear.
Then a sudden trembling came
O'er my limbs; I felt on fire,
Burning, quivering like a flame
In the instant to expire.”
O'er my limbs; I felt on fire,
Burning, quivering like a flame
In the instant to expire.”
Shep.
“Rather like the mountain-oak,
Tempest-shaken, rooted fast,
Grasping strength from every stroke,
While it wrestles with the blast.”
Wand.
“Ay!—my heart, unwont to yield,
Quickly quell'd the strange affright,
And undaunted o'er the field
I began my lonely flight.
Quickly quell'd the strange affright,
And undaunted o'er the field
I began my lonely flight.
Loud the gusty night-wind blew;—
Many an awful pause between,
Fits of light and darkness flew,
Wild and sudden o'er the scene.
Many an awful pause between,
Fits of light and darkness flew,
Wild and sudden o'er the scene.
For the moon's resplendent eye
Gleams of transient glory shed;
And the clouds, athwart the sky,
Like a routed army fled.
Gleams of transient glory shed;
And the clouds, athwart the sky,
Like a routed army fled.
Sounds and voices fill'd the vale,
Heard alternate loud and low;
Shouts of victory swell'd the gale,
But the breezes murmur'd woe.
Heard alternate loud and low;
Shouts of victory swell'd the gale,
But the breezes murmur'd woe.
As I climb'd the mountain's side,
Where the Lake and Valley meet,
All my country's power and pride
Lay in ruins at my feet.
Where the Lake and Valley meet,
All my country's power and pride
Lay in ruins at my feet.
On that grim and ghastly plain,
Underwalden's heart-strings broke.
When she saw her heroes slain,
And her rocks receive the yoke.
Underwalden's heart-strings broke.
When she saw her heroes slain,
And her rocks receive the yoke.
On that plain, in childhood's hours,
From their mothers' arms set free,
Oft those heroes gather'd flowers,
Often chased the wandering bee.
From their mothers' arms set free,
Oft those heroes gather'd flowers,
Often chased the wandering bee.
On that plain, in rosy youth,
They had fed their fathers' flocks,
Told their love, and pledged their truth,
In the shadow of those rocks.
They had fed their fathers' flocks,
Told their love, and pledged their truth,
In the shadow of those rocks.
There, with shepherd's pipe and song,
In the merry mingling dance,
Once they led their brides along,
Now!—Perdition seize thee, France!”
In the merry mingling dance,
Once they led their brides along,
Now!—Perdition seize thee, France!”
Shep.
“Heard not Heaven the accusing cries
Of the blood that smoked around,
While the life-warm sacrifice
Palpitated on the ground?”
Wand.
“Wrath in silence heaps his store,
To confound the guilty foe;
But the thunder will not roar
Till the flash has struck the blow.
To confound the guilty foe;
But the thunder will not roar
Till the flash has struck the blow.
Vengeance, Vengeance will not stay;
It shall burst on Gallia's head,
Sudden as the judgment-day
To the unexpecting dead.
It shall burst on Gallia's head,
Sudden as the judgment-day
To the unexpecting dead.
From the Revolution's flood
Shall a fiery dragon start;
He shall drink his mother's blood,
He shall eat his father's heart.
Shall a fiery dragon start;
He shall drink his mother's blood,
He shall eat his father's heart.
Nurst by Anarchy and Crime,
He—but distance mocks my sight,
O thou great avenger, TIME!
Bring thy strangest birth to light.”
He—but distance mocks my sight,
O thou great avenger, TIME!
Bring thy strangest birth to light.”
Shep.
“Prophet, thou hast spoken well,
And I deem thy words divine:
Now the mournful sequel tell
Of thy country's woes and thine.”
Wand.
“Though the moon's bewilder'd bark,
By the midnight tempest tost,
In a sea of vapours dark,
In a gulf of clouds was lost;
By the midnight tempest tost,
In a sea of vapours dark,
In a gulf of clouds was lost;
Still my journey I pursued,
Climbing many a weary steep,
Whence the closing scene I view'd
With an eye that would not weep.
Climbing many a weary steep,
Whence the closing scene I view'd
With an eye that would not weep.
13
Stantz—a melancholy pyre—
And her hamlets blazed behind,
With ten thousand tongues of fire,
Writhing, raging in the wind.
And her hamlets blazed behind,
With ten thousand tongues of fire,
Writhing, raging in the wind.
Flaming piles, where'er I turn'd,
Cast a grim and dreadful light;
Like funereal lamps they burn'd
In the sepulchre of night;
Cast a grim and dreadful light;
Like funereal lamps they burn'd
In the sepulchre of night;
While the red illumined flood,
With a hoarse and hollow roar,
Seem'd a lake of living blood,
Wildly weltering on the shore.
With a hoarse and hollow roar,
Seem'd a lake of living blood,
Wildly weltering on the shore.
'Midst the mountains far away,
Soon I spied the sacred spot,
Whence a slow consuming ray
Glimmer'd from my native cot.
Soon I spied the sacred spot,
Whence a slow consuming ray
Glimmer'd from my native cot.
At the sight my brain was fired,
And afresh my heart's wounds bled;
Still I gazed:—the spark expired—
Nature seem'd extinct:—I fled.—
And afresh my heart's wounds bled;
Still I gazed:—the spark expired—
Nature seem'd extinct:—I fled.—
Fled; and, ere the noon of day,
Reach'd the lonely goat-herd's nest,
Where my wife, my children, lay—
Husband—Father—think the rest.”
Reach'd the lonely goat-herd's nest,
Where my wife, my children, lay—
Husband—Father—think the rest.”
VI. PART VI.
The Wanderer informs the Shepherd, that, after the example of many of his Countrymen flying from the Tyranny of France, it is his intention to settle in some remote province of America.
“Wanderer, whiter wouldst thou roam;
To what region far away
Bend thy steps to find a home,
In the twilight of thy day?”
Wand.
“In the twilight of my day
I am hastening to the West;
There my weary limbs to lay
Where the sun retires to rest.
I am hastening to the West;
There my weary limbs to lay
Where the sun retires to rest.
Far beyond the Atlantic floods,
Stretch'd beneath the evening sky,
Realms of mountains, dark with woods,
In Columbia's bosom lie.
Stretch'd beneath the evening sky,
Realms of mountains, dark with woods,
In Columbia's bosom lie.
There, in glens and caverns rude,
Silent since the world began,
Dwells the virgin Solitude,
Unbetray'd by faithless man;
Silent since the world began,
Dwells the virgin Solitude,
Unbetray'd by faithless man;
Where a tyrant never trod,
Where a slave was never known,
But where Nature worships God
In the wilderness alone;
Where a slave was never known,
But where Nature worships God
In the wilderness alone;
—Thither, thither would I roam;
There my children may be free:
I for them will find a home,
They shall find a grave for me.
There my children may be free:
I for them will find a home,
They shall find a grave for me.
Though my fathers' bones afar
In their native land repose,
Yet beneath the twilight star
Soft on mine the turf shall close.
In their native land repose,
Yet beneath the twilight star
Soft on mine the turf shall close.
Though the mould that wraps my clay
When this storm of life is o'er,
Never since creation lay
On a human breast before;—
When this storm of life is o'er,
Never since creation lay
On a human breast before;—
Yet in sweet communion there,
When she follows to the dead,
Shall my bosom's partner share
Her poor husband's lowly bed.
When she follows to the dead,
Shall my bosom's partner share
Her poor husband's lowly bed.
Albert's babes shall deck our grave,
And my daughter's duteous tears
Bid the flowery verdure wave
Through the winter-waste of years.”
And my daughter's duteous tears
Bid the flowery verdure wave
Through the winter-waste of years.”
Shep.
“Long before thy sun descend,
May thy woes and wanderings cease;
Late and lovely be thine end;
Hope and triumph, joy and peace!
May thy woes and wanderings cease;
Late and lovely be thine end;
Hope and triumph, joy and peace!
As our lakes, at day's decline,
Brighten through the gathering gloom,
May thy latest moments shine
Through the night-fall of the tomb.”
Brighten through the gathering gloom,
May thy latest moments shine
Through the night-fall of the tomb.”
14
“Though our Parent perish'd here,
Like the Phœnix on her nest,
Lo! new-fledg'd her wings appear,
Hovering in the golden West.
Like the Phœnix on her nest,
Lo! new-fledg'd her wings appear,
Hovering in the golden West.
Thither shall her sons repair,
And beyond the roaring main
Find their native country there,
Find their Switzerland again.
And beyond the roaring main
Find their native country there,
Find their Switzerland again.
Mountains, can ye chain the will?
Ocean, canst thou quench the heart?
No; I feel my country still,
LIBERTY! where'er thou art.
Ocean, canst thou quench the heart?
No; I feel my country still,
LIBERTY! where'er thou art.
Thus it was in hoary time,
When our fathers sallied forth,
Full of confidence sublime,
From the famine-wasted North.
When our fathers sallied forth,
Full of confidence sublime,
From the famine-wasted North.
‘Freedom, in a land of rocks
‘Wild as Scandinavia, give,
‘Power Eternal!—where our flocks
‘And our little ones may live.’
‘Wild as Scandinavia, give,
‘Power Eternal!—where our flocks
‘And our little ones may live.’
Thus they pray'd;—a secret hand
Led them, by a path unknown,
To that dear delightful land
Which I yet must call my own.
Led them, by a path unknown,
To that dear delightful land
Which I yet must call my own.
To the vale of Switz they came:
Soon their meliorating toil
Gave the forests to the flame,
And their ashes to the soil.
Soon their meliorating toil
Gave the forests to the flame,
And their ashes to the soil.
Thence their ardent labours spread,
Till above the mountain-snows
Towering beauty show'd her head,
And a new creation rose!
Till above the mountain-snows
Towering beauty show'd her head,
And a new creation rose!
—So, in regions wild and wide,
We will pierce the savage woods,
Clothe the rocks in purple pride,
Plough the valleys, tame the floods;—
We will pierce the savage woods,
Clothe the rocks in purple pride,
Plough the valleys, tame the floods;—
Till a beauteous inland isle,
By a forest-sea embraced,
Shall make Desolation smile
In the depth of his own waste.
By a forest-sea embraced,
Shall make Desolation smile
In the depth of his own waste.
There, unenvied, and unknown,
We shall dwell secure and free,
In a country all our own,
In a land of Liberty.”
We shall dwell secure and free,
In a country all our own,
In a land of Liberty.”
Shep.
“Yet the woods, the rocks, the streams,
Unbeloved, shall bring to mind,
Warm with Evening's purple beams,
Dearer objects left behind;—
Unbeloved, shall bring to mind,
Warm with Evening's purple beams,
Dearer objects left behind;—
And thy native country's song,
Caroll'd in a foreign clime,
When new echoes shall prolong,
—Simple, tender, and sublime;—
Caroll'd in a foreign clime,
When new echoes shall prolong,
—Simple, tender, and sublime;—
How will thy poor cheek turn pale,
And, before thy banish'd eyes,
Underwalden's charming vale,
And thine own sweet cottage, rise!”
And, before thy banish'd eyes,
Underwalden's charming vale,
And thine own sweet cottage, rise!”
Wand.
“By the glorious ghost of TELL;
By Morgarthen's awful fray;
By the field where Albert fell
In thy last and bitter day;
By Morgarthen's awful fray;
By the field where Albert fell
In thy last and bitter day;
Soul of Switzerland, arise!
—Ha! the spell has waked the dead:
From her ashes to the skies
Switzerland exalts her head.
—Ha! the spell has waked the dead:
From her ashes to the skies
Switzerland exalts her head.
See the Queen of Mountains stand,
In immortal mail complete,
With the lightning in her hand,
And the Alps beneath her feet.
In immortal mail complete,
With the lightning in her hand,
And the Alps beneath her feet.
Hark! her voice:—‘My sons, awake:
‘Freedom dawns, behold the day:
‘From the bed of bondage break,
‘'Tis your Mother calls,—obey.’
‘Freedom dawns, behold the day:
‘From the bed of bondage break,
‘'Tis your Mother calls,—obey.’
15
At the sound, our Fathers' graves,
On each ancient battle-plain,
Utter groans, and toss like waves
When the wild blast sweeps the main.
On each ancient battle-plain,
Utter groans, and toss like waves
When the wild blast sweeps the main.
Rise, my Brethren: cast away
All the chains that bind you slaves:
Rise,—your Mother's voice obey,
And appease your Fathers' graves.
All the chains that bind you slaves:
Rise,—your Mother's voice obey,
And appease your Fathers' graves.
Strike!—the conflict is begun;
Freemen, Soldiers, follow me.
Shout!—the victory is won,—
Switzerland and Liberty!”
Freemen, Soldiers, follow me.
Shout!—the victory is won,—
Switzerland and Liberty!”
Shep.
“Warrior, Warrior, stay thine arm!
Sheathe, oh sheathe, thy frantic sword!”
Wand.
“Ah! I rave—I faint:—the charm
Flies,—and memory is restored.
Yes, to agony restored,
From the too transporting charm:—
Sleep for ever, O my sword!
Be thou wither'd, O mine arm!
From the too transporting charm:—
Sleep for ever, O my sword!
Be thou wither'd, O mine arm!
Switzerland is but a name:
—Yet I feel, where'er I roam,
That my heart is still the same,
Switzerland is still my home.”
—Yet I feel, where'er I roam,
That my heart is still the same,
Switzerland is still my home.”
| The poetical works of James Montgomery | |