Among the foremost in that glorious field; From Good to Better. Great thy recompense, When in their eyes thou read'st what thou hast done; And may'st thou long enjoy it; may'st thou long WRITTEN IN 1834. ELL, when her day is over, be it said That, though a speck on the terrestrial globe, Found with long search and in a mo- She made herself a name-a name to live [ to be (MS. corr.) ] Every sea Was covered with her sails; in every port Even to the rising or the setting day, Her arts and laws and institutes were there, Onward and onward, where no path-way was; Wondrous was her wealth, The world itself her willing tributary; Yet, to accomplish what her soul desired, Yet ere long 'twas hers, 1 North America speaks for itself; and so indeed may we say of India, when such a territory is ours in a region so remote; when s company of merchants, from such small beginnings, have established a dominion so absolute-a dominion over a people for ages civilized and cultivated, while we were yet in the woods. 2 Alluding to the battle of Waterloo. The illustrious man who commanded there on our side, and who, in his anxiety to do justice to others, never fails to forget himself, said to me many years afterwards with some agitation, when relating an occurrence of that day, "It was a battle of giants! a battle of giants!" To toil and toil, alas, how hopelessly, As with a god-like energy she sprung, All else forgot, and, burdened as she was, 1 Parliament had only to register the edict of the people. CHANNING. [THE first part of this Poem was published in 1822. A few years later the second part was added. It was revised throughout and further additions were made from time to time; and in its Author's opinion the first complete Edition was that of 1834.] PREFACE. IN this Poem the Author has endeavoured to describe his Journey through a beautiful country; and it may not perhaps be uninteresting to those who have learnt to live in Past Times as well as Present, and whose minds are familiar with the Events and the People that have rendered Italy so illustrious; for, wherever he came, he could not but remember; nor is he conscious of having slept over any ground that has been "dignified by wisdom, bravery, or virtue." Much of it was originally published as it was written on the spot, He has since, on a second visit, revised it throughout, and added many stories from the old Chroniclers and many Notes illustrative of the manners, customs, and superstitions there. AY glimmered in the east, and the white Moon Hung like a vapour in the cloudless sky, Yet visible, when on my way I went, Glad to be gone; a pilgrim from the North, drew Nearer and nearer. Ere the artizan Had from his window leant, drowsy, half-clad, vent, With transport quivering) on my way I went, He flung him down to weep, and wept till dawn; 'Tis not a tale that every hour brings with it. Yet at a City-gate, from time to time, Much may be learnt; nor, London, least at thine, Thy hive the busiest, greatest of them all, Gathering, enlarging still. Let us stand by, And note who passes. Here comes one, a Youth, Glowing with pride, the pride of conscious power, A Chatterton-in thought admired, caressed, And crowned like Petrarch in the Capitol; Ere long to die, to fall by his own hand, And fester with the vilest. Here come two, Less feverish, less exalted-s —soon to part, A Garrick and a Johnson; Wealth and Fame Awaiting one, even at the gate; Neglect And Want the other. But what multitudes, Urged by the love of change, and, like myself, Adventurous, careless of to-morrow's fare, Press on-though but a rill entering the sea, Entering and lost! Our task would never end. Day glimmered and I went, a gentle breeze Ruffling the Leman Lake. Wave after wave, If such they might be called, dashed as in sport, 1 J.-J. ROUSSEAU. "J'arrive essoufflé, tout en nage; le cœur me bat; je vois de loin les soldats à leur poste; j'accours, je crie d'une voix étouffée. Il étoit trop tard."-Les Confessions, 1. i. |