A TERROR OF THE TWILIGHT. FAR in Norwegian solitudes we strayed: Of river, cliff, and cloud, and the weird play Against the sky, above the cliff's black line, That seemed a bastion by Harfager built, A solitary thunder-blasted pine; On the dark flood below, the sunset spilt What now was blood and now was wassail. wine. IV. THE CLIMB FROM VALLE. STEEP was the climb from Valle: far below Beyond the ravings of the Otteraa.f And now the bispevei ‡ to turn and twist, Here round a tjern § no summer ever kissed, And there behind a hide of hoarded snow. The stars dissolved anon; and airy trills Of wavering music showed the day begun : We toiled to meet the morn-o'er rocks, o'er rills; And, breathless but at last, our wish we won The top! and, lo, a countless herd of hills Tossing their shining muzzles in the sun! V. "PAA HEJA:" Life on the Heights. Is there a pleasure can with this compare? To leap at sunrise from your mountain bed, Roused by a skylark revelling overhead, And drink great draughts of golden morning air; A plunge, and breakfast - simple rural fare; Then forth with vigorous brain, elastic tread, Hope singing at your heart o'er sorrow dead, And strength for fifty miles, and still to spare! That joy was ours! Omemory! oft restore us Those autumn runs, here in the smoky town, When through the woods our mad nomadic chorus Rang freedom up and civilization down! Io! my hearts! the world was all before us, And we nor owned nor envied king nor crown! VI. THE MOUNTAIN LAUREATE. What life his music gives them! They are free Of poetry that fills all heaven, they sing ; Blackwood's Magazine. Mountain farm. † Pronounced Ottero. Bridle-path. § Mountain lake, tarn. |