XX.

The truth was told, the Voice was heard, the mortal oath

was sealed:

But where was he, who heard that voice, who saw the Dead revealed ?

Who ever looked beyond the grave and lived? who

ever saw

The light again, to tell he dared transgress great Na

ture's law?

XXI.

His record, and confession left, inspired by high com

mand,

Told that it was a warning traced by life's expiring

hand:

His corpse was found beside the casement laid; his

soul was flown

To seek the brother of his love, and share his doom un

known!

LVII.

Lo the Cyclopean walls of Fiesolè!

Ruins on which three thousand years have gazed!

What are Rome, Greece's olden date to ye?

Whose towers, it may be, earthquake shocks have

rased,

Then, when these hills in fires volcanic blazed:

Empires have flourished, fall'n, and, where rose high

Their domes, like yon young Florence, sheep have grazed:

And then the Stranger comes with pedant eye, Sighs his vain moral there, then-lightly passes by!

LVIII.

O Nature! mighty mother of us all :

Yea, more-sole soother, softener of the heart!
When 'scaped the oppression of the City's thrall,
How dost thou, Spirit-like, thy peace impart,

Thy own pure calm, eternal as thou art!

What holier, wiser thoughts thou dost restore,

While from our breasts thou drawest forth the dart

Of griefs, whose memories in the crowd flowed o'er; Which, lulled to rest by thee, we marvel that we bore.

LIX.

Thou glorious Image of Divinity!

How our soul's pristine innocence we see
Reflected in the face of thy pure sky:

Our mortal history in each leaf and tree:

Our birth, strength, wane, and fall: and the decree

Gently yet sadly told us, our sands run,

How soon we must again repose on thee!

How we should sport each moment in the sun :

Light insects of the hour, ere dream-like life be done!

LX.

How the Air breathes on me its life unseen!

But we love only that which we behold:

Earth and the Hosts of Heaven adored have been:

Ages, like shadows from the earth, have rolled;

Yet is our gratitude to thee untold,

Divinest Air! life's sole inspirer thou

Thou, that thyself art Space,-and dost enfold

As with a mantle the Almighty's brow :

Thou Uncreate with God-thou all eternal Now!

LXI.

First, holiest Element, ethereal Air!

Infinite Ocean! that, like feathery spray,

Isles, which are Worlds, dost on thy bosom bear; Wasting their rock-ribbed sides in slow decay,

Or sweeping them with whirlwind strength away! Thou, whose Voice calls life sleeping into birth, Soft as the sighs of infants when they pray!

Thou that giv'st health, strength, joy, all that is worth Existence, while we creep along thy nourished earth.

LXII.

Yet though invisible, we own thy power;
While we bless thee in our unconsciousness;
Art thou not with us from our natal hour?
Breath'st thou not on us in love's first caress?
Yea, like a Spirit, descending, thou dost bless,
And wing our mounting souls with thee on high
To feel the love we yearn but to express :

'Reft of thee for a moment, and we die :

Thou breath which wak'st the bud-yet fill'st infinity!

LXIII.

Thou blessed Air! thou givest welcoming

To the wan sickly martyr of decline,

Who, drinking thy sweet breath, renews the spring
Of his lost youth, yea, draws his life from thine;
O thou restorer, deemed of old divine!

Thou that dost shed the dews from thy pure breast;
Thou that giv'st health to flowerets when they pine
In sun-burnt solitudes; immortal guest!

Thou com'st to infinite life-expected-welcomedblest.

LXIV.

The agitations of our Life's brief span,
Strife where alike the fool, sage, dreamer, join:

The tempest's rage, and wilder wrath of man;
The hope, the curse, the prayer, the captives pine,

How all are lost on the horizon line

Of thy illimitable deserts!-there,

Where every atom is a starry shrine !

Fountain and Deep! ere time-life-motion-were,

Thou wert-alone with God-O thou eternal Air!