Once in our porch whilst I was resting And I believe it fills the showers With music; and when sweeter air Than common breathes from briar-rose bowers, I hear the winds rise up to battle; And in that hour of deepest feeling, About the constellations, rolling I hear of beauteous forms and faces, And my touch unerring traces And thankful for the inventor's cunning, I glide through tales of warlike ages, Or inly pondering gospel tidings, I learn from our Redeemer's lot How light in darkness was residing, But the darkness knew it not. Sister, I make no vain pretences A day shall dawn, a day of brightness, Shall see our Maker face to face. ON A SCENE IN HUNGARY. BUDA, JULY 31, 1841. WOULD'ST OULD'ST thou survey a scene as bright Ascend the Blocksberg's craggy height, By star-eyed Science crowned.* Thence with enraptured eye skim o'er Teeming for Hungary's lords with store Then, turning towards the breezy west, With rine-clad slopes, and wilder hills, Enrobed in summer light. The observatory of Buda is erected on the summit of the Blocksberg, Below, white walls, and glittering spires Buda, and Pesth are seen, And Danube in unbroken flow Rolls deep and wide between ; But, when the haunts of men are passed, Two mighty arms, to compass round And water all the land. And northwards by those floating mills, That runs in narrowed course between- I dream of woods and meadows green Ah, happy hills! ah, pleasing shade! Where once my careless childhood strayed, * From Gray's Ode on a distant Prospect of Eton College. Return, return, inconstant thoughts; O Nature! still where'er I roam, Then let me dwell on scenes of home, He thy best worshipper shall prove By leagues of earth and sea removed, 1841. |