NOTE.

In the following Poem, S. at the beginning of a line stands for Shepherd.....W. for Wandere r.....S's W. for Shepherd's Wife.....W's W. for Wanderer's Wife.... and W's D. for Wanderer's Daughter.

THE

WANDERER

OF

SWITZERLAND.

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.

SHEPHERD.

"WANDERER! whither dost thou roam? Weary Wanderer, old and grey !

Wherefore hast thou left thine home,

In the sunset of thy day?"

W. "In the sunset of my day,
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 widowed face.

These her infants-Oh! their sire,
Worthy of the race of TELL,
In the battle's fiercest fire,
In his country's battle-fell !"

S. "SWITZERLAND then gave thee birth ?" W. "Aye-'twas SWITZERLAND of yore ; But, degraded spot of earth!

Thou art SWITZERLAND no more.

O'er thy mountains, sunk in blood,
Are the waves of ruin hurled;
Like the waters of the flood,
Rolling round a buried world."

S. "Yet will time the deluge stop;
Then may Switzerland be blest :
On St. Gothard's hoary top, ɑ
Shall the Ark of Freedom rest."

W. "No!-Irreparably lost,

On the day that made us slaves, Freedom's Ark, by tempests tost, Foundered on the swallowing waves."

S. "Welcome, Wanderer as thou art,
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.

Here, though lowly be my lot,
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;

Bid the weary pilgrims rest,
Yield, O yield them sweet relief."

S's W. "I will yield them sweet relief : Weary pilgrims! welcome here; Welcome, family of grief!

Welcome to my warmest cheer."

W. "If the prayers of broken hearts
Rise acceptably above,

Pitying Heaven will take our parts;
Helping Heaven reward your love."

3*

In the valley of their birth,

Where our guardian mountains stand ; In the eye of heaven and earth,

Met the warriors of our land.

Like the sires in olden time,
Armed they met in stern debate ;
While in every breast sublime
Glowed 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.

Then to Heaven, in calm despair,
As they turned the tearless eye,
By their country's wrongs they swear,
With their country's rights to die.

Albert from the council came ;
(My poor daughter was his wife;
All the valley loved his name ;
Albert was my staff of life!)

From the council field he came ;
All his noble visage burned;
At his look I caught the flame;
At his voice my youth returned.