The glimmering fires of Virtue to enlarge, So shall thy sire, whilst hope his breast inspires, Awake, awake! and snatch the slumbering lyre, "I look'd obedience: the celestial Fair Translated from some French stanzas by Francis Wrangham, and Printed in "Poems by Francis Wrangham, M.A., Member of Trinity College, Cambridge, London (1795), Sold by J. Mawman, 22 Poultry," pp. 106-111. The original French lines are printed side by side with Wordsworth's translation, which closes the volume.—ED. WHEN Love was born of heavenly line, What dire intrigues disturb'd Cythera's joy! But, infant as he was, the child In that divine embrace enchanted lay; And, by the beauty of the vase beguiled, Forgot the beverage-and pined away. "And must my offspring languish in my sight?" (Alive to all a mother's pain, The Queen of Beauty thus her court address'd) "No: Let the most discreet of all my train Receive him to her breast: Think all, he is the God of young delight." Then TENDERNESS with CANDOUR join'd, But none of those fair Graces brought And sad experience forbade a thought On the wild Goddess of VOLUPTUOUS JOY. Long undecided lay th' important choice, "Tis said ENJOYMENT (who averr'd Of INNOCENCE the garb she took, The blushing mien and downcast look ; It happen'd that, to sleep inclined, The Goddess then her lap with sweetmeats fill'd And gave, in handfuls gave, the treacherous store : A wild delirium first the infant thrill'd; But soon upon her breast he sunk—to wake no more. DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES. Comp. 1791-2. Pub. 1793. DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES, IN VERSE, TAKEN DURING A PEDESTRIAN TOUR LONGE SALTUS LATEQUE VACANTES."- Virgil. LONDON: PRINTED TO THE REV. ROBERT JONES, FELLOW OF ST JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. DEAR SIR, However desirous I might have been of giving you proofs of the high place you hold in my esteem, I should have been cautious of wounding your delicacy by thus publicly addressing you, had not the circumstance of my having accompanied you amongst the Alps, seemed to give this dedication a propriety sufficient to do away any scruples which your modesty might otherwise have suggested. In inscribing this little work to you, I consult my heart. You know well how great is the difference between two companions lolling in a post chaise, and two travellers plodding slowly along the road, side by side, each with his little knapsack of necessaries upon his shoulders. How much more of heart between the two latter ! I am happy in being conscious I shall have one reader who will approach the conclusion of these few pages with regret. You they must certainly interest, in reminding you of moments to which you can hardly look back without a pleasure not the less dear from a shade of melancholy. You will meet with few images without recollecting the spot where we observed them together, consequently, whatever is feeble in my design, or spiritless in my colouring, will be amply supplied by your own memory. With still greater propriety I might have inscribed to you a description of some of the features of your native mountains, through which we have wandered together, in the same manner, with so much pleasure. But the sea-sunsets which give such splendour to the vale of Clwyd, Snowdon, the chair of Idris, the quiet village of Bethgelert, Menai and her druids, the Alpine steeps of the Conway, and the still more interesting windings of the wizard stream of the Dee. remain yet untouched. Apprehensive that my pencil may never be exercised on these subjects, I cannot let slip this opportunity of thus publicly assuring you with how much affection and esteem. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient very humble Servant, W. WORDSWORTH. ARGUMENT. Happiness (if she had been to be found on Earth) amongst the Charms of Nature— Pleasures of the Pedestrian Traveller-Author crosses France to the Alps-Present state of the Grand Chartreuse-Lake of Como-Time, Sunset-Same Scene, Twilight— Same Scene, Morning, its Voluptuous Character; Old Man and Forest Cottage Music -River Tusa-Via Mala and Grison Gypsey-Valley of Sckellenenthal-Lake of Uri-Stormy Sunset-Chapel of William Tell-Force of Local Emotion-Chamois Chaser-View of the Higher Alps-Manner of Life of a Swiss Mountaineer, interspersed with views of the higher Alps-Golden Age of the Alps—Life and views continued— Kanz des Vaches, famous Swiss Air-Abbey of Einsiedlen and its Pilgrims – Valley of Chamouny-Mont Blanc-Slavery of Savoy-Influence of Liberty on Cottage Happiness-France-Wish for the Extirpation of Slavery—Conclusion. WERE there, below, a spot of holy ground, Sure, Nature's God that spot to man had giv'n, Where rocks and groves the power of waters shakes But doubly pitying Nature loves to show'r Blows not a Zephyr but it whispers joy; For him lost flowers their idle sweets exhale ; While chast'ning thoughts of sweetest use, bestow'd By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road. Host of his welcome inn, the noon-tide bower, To his spare meal he calls the passing poor; He views the Sun uprear his golden fire, Or sink, with heart alive like * Memnon's lyre; *The lyre of Memnon is reported to have emitted melancholy or cheerful tones, as it was touched by the Sun's evening or morning rays. Blesses the Moon that comes with kindest ray * Her road elms rustling thin above my head, To where the Alps, ascending white in air, Even now I sigh at hoary Chartreuse' doom, And Blasphemy the shuddering fane alarms; Portentous, thro' her old woods' trackless bounds, There are few people whom it may be necessary to inform, that the sides of many of the post-roads in France are planted with a row of trees. + Alluding to crosses seen on the tops of the spiry Rocks of the Chartreuse, which have every appearance of being inaccessible. Names of rivers at the Chartreuse. |