And full of hope. Not many suns had worn Their setting glory, ere from slumber started Ten thousand voices, of the mountains bornSo far was heard the blast of freedom's echoing horn!

XXVI.

The ice-vaults trembled, when that peal came rending

The frozen stillness which around them hung; From cliff to cliff the avalanche descending, Gave answer, till the sky's blue hollow rung; And the flame-signals through the midnight sprung From the Surennen rocks, like banners streaming To the far Seelisberg; whence light was flung On Grutli's field, till all the red lake gleaming, Shone out, a meteor-heaven in its wild splendour seeming.

XXVII.

And the winds toss'd each summit's blazing crest, As a host's plumage; and the giant pines,

Fell'd where they waved o'er crag and eagle's nest, Heap'd up the flames. The clouds grew fiery signs, As o'er a city's burning towers and shrines, Reddening the distance. Wine-cups, crown'd and bright,

In Werner's dwelling flow'd; through leafless vines From Walter's hearth stream'd forth the festive

light,

And Erni's blind old sire gave thanks to heaven that

XXVIII.

Then on the silence of the snows there lay
A Sabbath's quiet sunshine—and its bell
Fill'd the hush'd air awhile, with lonely sway;
For the stream's voice was chain'd by Winter's spell,
The deep wood-sounds had ceased. But rock and
dell

Rung forth, erelong, when strains of jubilee
Peal'd from the mountain-churches, with a swell
Of praise to Him who stills the raging sea-
For now the strife was closed, the glorious Alps
were free!

NOTES.

Note 1, page 103, line 1.

The Senn's wild horn.

Senn, the name given to a herdsman among the Swiss

Alps.

Note 2, page 106, line 21.

Against the Fohnwind's blast.

Fohnwind, the south-east wind, which frequently lays waste the country before it.

Note 3, page 108, line 21.

A father of the land.

Walter Furst, the father-in-law of Tell.

Note 4, page 109, line 18.

Werner, the brave and true, &c.

Werner Stauffacher, who had been urged by his wife to rouse and unite his countrymen for the deliverance of Switzerland.

Note 5, page 111, line 3.

Young Erni's step had worn, &c.

Erni, Arnold Melchthal.

Note 6, page 111, line 14.

The Lammer-Geyer had spread, &c.

The Lammer-Geyer, the largest kind of Alpine eagle.

Note 7, page 111, line 19.

Of wrongs to call down Heaven, &c.

The eyes of his aged father had been put out by the orders of the Austrian Governor.

Note 8, page 112, line 9.

Beside the Forest-Sea.

Forest-Sca-the Lake of the Four Cantons is frequently

so called.

SCENES AND HYMNS OF LIFE;

WITH OTHER

RELIGIOUS POEMS.