“Hither, ye wandering mortals, hither led” (So spake the minstrel and devoted seer), “From this high spot, and glacier’s dizzy head” Behold the mountain wave in tumult near, Wild in pursuit, like hunted, foaming deer, Before your sight th’ Atlantic billows roll; Doth it not blanch the cheek with awe and fear, To think how great the power that can control And curb yon tempest’s flood, o’erwhelming to the soul? LXVII. “See yonder fragile bark, like cockle-shell, So small it seems, belab’ring o’er the deep, Down to the depths engulfed ’mid ocean’s swell, Then on the wave it rises high and steep; Poised, flutt’ring, hurled again with dang’rous leap, While through the shrouds the piping winds are borne, In hollow fitful blasts heard loud to sweep; The ship’s wet canvass loosed, all rent and torn, That cause the seamen gaze with upward look forlorn. LXVIII. “Lo! the wind lulls, the storm has passed away, The sun breaks out, the ruffled waves subside; The vessel rights that late on beam-ends lay, Her sails unfurled, in gallant trim doth ride, With freshened breeze she treads the waters wide, The boatswain’s whistle heard, and crew’s voice shrill, Jocund and blithe, as they propitious glide, Their spirits light from threatened dangers ill, So late escaped; whose thought makes messmate’s bosom thrill. LXIX. “Ere we descend this Alpine dizzy height, I fain one other scene would first unfold, But skirt we must this base to gain the sight Of yon dread gorge, magnificent and bold.” So spake their ardent guide, and bade behold The vapo’ry mist that veil’d the depth below, And up the ravine’s sides all hideous roll’d, That through the tossing mist did faintly show A goodly prospect fair, that to the eye did glow. LXX. Showing far hamlet spread embower’d in wood, Where hence did curling smoke seen upward shoot; And sweet was heard the music brawling flood, That tumbling headlong over craggy foot Of rock precipitous, with oak-fixed root O’ergrown, sinuous around the mountain’s base To wend its way, or cadence speak its route; While blue-capp’d mountain ridge far off could trace-- Wood, water, hill, and dale, the view it doth embrace. LXXI. Which turning from, they climbed down the steep To follow him who joy’d to lead the way, Who down the slipp’ry marge did bound and leap, As he were wont the Apennine to stray; Right firm of step, withouten fear, dismay, He did descend from Jungfrau’s dizzy height, And urged their speed, and that without delay, To leave the spot that ravished the sight; Their senses all enwrapped, in visions steeped quite. LXXII.