Stripped to their depths by the awakening north; And, from the waves, sound like delight broke forth Harmonizing with solitude, and sent Into our hearts aërial merriment. So, as we rode, we talked; and the swift thought, Winging itself with laughter, lingered not, ours, 30 Charged with light memories of remembered hours, None slow enough for sadness: till we came Homeward, which always makes the spirit tame. This day had been cheerful but cold, and now Yet pleasing, such as once, so poets tell, 40 Is it not wise to make the best of ill?) 1 Milton said vales; but Shelley unquestionably wrote dales.-ED. Meanwhile the sun paused ere it should alight, Thy mountains, seas and vineyards and the towers Of cities they encircle!—it was ours 60 To stand on thee, beholding it; and then, reared the hoar 69 Between the East and West; and half the sky Around the vaporous sun, from which there came The inmost purple spirit of light, and made 66 Ere it fade," Said my companion, "I will show you soon 66 'Look Julian on the west, and listen well "If you hear not a deep and heavy bell." I looked, and saw between us and the sun A building on an island; such a one As 91 100 age to age might add, for uses vile, A windowless, deformed and dreary pile; And on the top an open tower, where hung A bell, which in the radiance swayed and swung; We could just hear its hoarse and iron tongue : "Those who may cross the water hear that bell, Which calls the maniacs each one from his 66 cell "To vespers.' 66 “As much skill as need to pray In thanks or hope for their dark lot have they "To their stern maker," I replied. 66 'O ho! "You talk as in years past," said Maddalo. ""Tis strange men change not. You were ever 66 still Among Christ's flock a perilous infidel, "A wolf for the meek lambs-if you can't swim “Beware of Providence." I looked on him, But the gay smile had faded in his eye, "And such," he cried, "is our mortality, 120/ And this must be the emblem and the sign "Of what should be eternal and divine!— 66 "And like that black and dreary bell, the soul 66 Hung in a heaven-illumined tower, must toll "Our thoughts and our desires to meet below "Round the rent heart and pray--as madmen do "For what? they know not, till the night of death, "As sunset that strange vision, severeth And the red tower looked grey, and all between 140 The following morn was rainy, cold and dim; Ere Maddalo arose, I called on him, And whilst I waited with his child I played; A lovelier toy sweet Nature never made, A serious, subtle, wild, yet gentle being, Graceful without design and unforeseeing, With eyes-Oh speak not of her eyes!—which seem Twin mirrors of Italian Heaven, yet gleam 150 Her fine and feeble limbs when she came first To this bleak world; and she yet seemed to know On second sight her ancient playfellow, Less changed than she was by six months or so; 66 "A darkness on my spirit-if man be 66 160 The passive thing you say, I should not see "Much harm in the religions and old saws 66 (Though I may never own such leaden laws) "Which break a teachless nature to the yoke: "Mine is another faith "-thus much I spoke, And noting he replied not, added: "See "This lovely child, blithe, innocent and free, She spends a happy time with little care 66 66 While we to such sick thoughts subjected are "As came on you last night-it is our will 170 That thus enchains us to permitted ill-"We might be otherwise-we might be all 66 We dream of happy, high, majestical. "Where is the love, beauty and truth we seek "But in our mind? and if we were not weak "Should we be less in deed than in desire? 66 66 Aye, if we were not weak-and we aspire "How vainly to be strong!" said Maddalo: "You talk Utopia." It remains to know," I then rejoined, "and those who try may find "How strong the chains are which our spirit bind; 181 Brittle perchance as straw... We are assured "Much may be conquered, much may be endured "Of what degrades and crushes us. We know |