I know not this mysterious land around. Black giant trees loom up in form obscure. Odors of gardens and of woods profound Blow in from out the darkness, fresh and pure. Faint sounds of friendly voices come and go, That seem to lure us forth into the air; But whence they come perchance no ear may know, And where they go perchance no foot may dare. IV. A realm of shadowy forms out yonder lies. Beauty and Power, fair dreams pursued by Fate, Wheel in unceasing vortex; and the skies Flash with strange lights that bear no name nor date. Sweet winds are breathing that just fan the hair, And fitful gusts that howl against the bars, And harp-like songs, and groans of wild despair, And angry clouds that chase the trembling stars. And on the iron grating the hot cheek We press, and forth into the night we call, And thrust our arms, that, manacled and weak, Clutch but the empty air, and powerless fall. V. And yet, O brothers! we, who cannot share This life of lies, this stifling day in night,-- Know we not well, that, if we did but dare Break from our cell, and trust our manhood's might, When once our feet should venture on these wilds, The night would prove a sweet, still solitude,-- Not dark for eyes that, earnest as a child's, Strove in the chaos but for truth and good? And oh, sweet liberty, though wizard gleams And elfin shapes should frighten or allure, To find the pathway of our hopes and dreams,-- By toil to sweeten what we should endure,-- To journey on, though but a little way, Towards the morning and the fir-clad heights,-- To follow the sweet voices, till the day Bloomed in its flush of colors and of lights,-- To look back on the valley and the prison, The windows smouldering still with midnight fires, And know the joy and triumph to have risen Out of that falsehood into new desires! O friends! it may be hard our chains to burst, To scale the ramparts, pass the sentinels; Dark is the night; but we are not the first Who break from the enchanter's evil spells. Though they pursue us with their scoffs and darts, Though they allure us with their siren song, Trust we alone the light within our hearts! Forth to the air! Freedom will dawn ere long! FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 3: 1 Peter, iii. 19.] PUNCH.