Rhymes On The Road. Extract I. Geneva.

View of the Lake of Geneva from the Jura.[1]--Anxious to reach it before the Sun went down.--Obliged to proceed on Foot.--Alps.--Mont Blanc.--Effect of the Scene.     'Twas late--the sun had almost shone     His last and best when I ran on     Anxious to reach that splendid view     Before the daybeams quite withdrew     And feeling as all feel on first         Approaching scenes where, they are told,     Such glories on their eyes will burst         As youthful bards in dreams behold.     'Twas distant yet and as I ran         Full often was my wistful gaze     Turned to the sun who now began         To call in all his out-posts rays,     And form a denser march of light,     Such as beseems a hero's flight.     Oh, how I wisht for JOSHUA'S power,     To stay the brightness of that hour?     But no--the sun still less became,         Diminisht to a speck as splendid     And small as were those tongues of flame,         That on the Apostles' heads descended!     'Twas at this instant--while there glowed         This last, intensest gleam of light--     Suddenly thro' the opening road         The valley burst upon my sight!     That glorious valley with its Lake         And Alps on Alps in clusters swelling,     Mighty and pure and fit to make         The ramparts of a Godhead's dwelling.     I stood entranced--as Rabbins say         This whole assembled, gazing world     Will stand, upon that awful day,         When the Ark's Light aloft unfurled     Among the opening clouds shall shine,     Divinity's own radiant sign!     Mighty MONT BLANC, thou wert to me         That minute, with thy brow in heaven,     As sure a sign of Deity         As e'er to mortal gaze was given.     Nor ever, were I destined yet         To live my life twice o'er again,     Can I the deep-felt awe forget,         The dream, the trance that rapt me then!     'Twas all that consciousness of power     And life, beyond this mortal hour;--     Those mountings of the soul within     At thoughts of Heaven--as birds begin     By instinct in the cage to rise,     When near their time for change of skies;--     That proud assurance of our claim         To rank among the Sons of Light,     Mingled with shame--oh bitter shame!--         At having riskt that splendid right,     For aught that earth thro' all its range     Of glories offers in exchange!     'Twas all this, at that instant brought     Like breaking sunshine o'er my thought--     'Twas all this, kindled to a glow         Of sacred zeal which could it shine     Thus purely ever man might grow,         Even upon earth a thing divine,     And be once more the creature made     To walk unstained the Elysian shade!     No, never shall I lose the trace     Of what I've felt in this bright place.     And should my spirit's hope grow weak,         Should I, oh God! e'er doubt thy power,     This mighty scene again I'll seek,         At the same calm and glowing hour,     And here at the sublimest shrine         That Nature ever reared to Thee     Rekindle all that hope divine         And feel my immortality!