Part 47 (2/2)
ON THE MOUNTAINS.
Written after a visit to Rawley Springs, in the mountains of Virginia.
On the mountains! Oh, how sweet!
The busy world beneath my feet!
Outspread before my raptur'd eyes The wide unbounded prospect lies; The panoramic vision glows In beauty, grandeur and repose.
I gaze into the vaulted blue And on the em'rald fields below; The genial sunlight s.h.i.+mmers down Upon the mountain's rugged crown, The eye sweeps round the horizon Until its utmost verge is won.
The h.o.a.ry peaks, with forests crown'd, Spread their vast solitudes around, And intervening rocks and rills The eye with very transport fills.
The bosom wells with joy serene While viewing all the lovely scene, The spirit soars on airy wings Above all sublunary things.
I peer into the depths profound Of the cerulean around, And ether's far-off heights I scan, As if, to feeble finite man, The power of vision here were given To view the battlements of heaven.
But, though I gaze and gaze intent, Close scanning all the firmament, No Mount of Vision unto me Does this bold summit prove to be.
Though in elysian wrapt the while, Where sublimated thoughts beguile, Icarian pinions, all too frail, Were sure my fancy's flight to fail.
Confined within this mortal clod, Vain man would yet ascend to G.o.d, Presumptuous, as of yore, to be The heir of immortality.
But, from those fair, celestial heights Of fervid fancy's loftiest flights, My airy visions topple down To where cool reason's realm is found, And fancy folds her weary wings, Content, the while, with earthly things.
PROGRESS.
”Man hath sought out many inventions.”
The planets, forced by Nature's law, Within their orbits ceaseless roll, And man the lesson thence may draw-- By industry to reach his goal.
Hail! industry's all-conquering might!
Hail! engineering's giant skill!
That clambers up the mountain height, And intervening valleys fill.
The enterprise of man shall know No bounds upon this mundane sphere, Whate'er his hands may find to do He executes with skill and care.
His genius Nature's self subdues, And all her powers subservient lie At his command, and pleas'd he views His great resources multiply.
He mines the earth and skims the air, He plows the main, descends the deep, And through its silent chambers there, Electric forces flash and leap.
He flies, upon the wings of steam, Mounts up with aerostatic pow'r, He paints with every solar beam-- Unfolds new wonders ev'ry hour!
Not in material things alone Does Progress mark its high career, Fair science builds her regal throne, And morals her triumphal car.
Man stands erect--his image fair In G.o.d's own likeness first was cast, His high prerogatives appear, He seeks his destiny at last.
Upward and onward is his course, In mental and in moral life, With higher purpose, now, perforce, With loftier aspirations rife.
In matters both of Church and State, A high ambition spurs him on, With buoyancy and hope elate, He plies his task till it be done.
WINTER.
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