Meanwhile untroubled I admire [4] The pointed horns of my canoe; And, did not pity touch my breast, To see how ye are all distrest, Till my ribs ached, I'd laugh at you! 20 Away we go, my Boat and I-- Frail man ne'er sate in such another; Whether among the winds we strive, Or deep into the clouds [5] we dive, Each is contented with the other. 25 Away we go--and what care we For treasons, tumults, and for wars? We are as calm in our delight As is the crescent-moon so bright Among the scattered stars. 30 Up goes my Boat among [6] the stars Through many a breathless field of light, Through many a long blue field of ether, Leaving ten thousand stars beneath her: Up goes my little Boat so bright! 35 The Crab, the Scorpion, and the Bull-- We pry among them all; have shot High o'er the red-haired race of Mars, Covered from top to toe with scars; Such company I like it not! 40 The towns in Saturn are decayed, And melancholy Spectres throng them;--[7] The Pleiads, that appear to kiss Each other in the vast abyss, With joy I sail among [8] them, 45 Swift Mercury resounds with mirth, Great Jove is full of stately bowers; But these, and all that they contain, What are they to that tiny grain, That little Earth [9] of ours? 50 Then back to Earth, the dear green Earth:-- Whole ages if I here should roam, The world for my remarks and me Would not a whit the better be; I've left my heart at home. 55 See! there she is, [10] the matchless Earth! There spreads the famed Pacific Ocean! Old Andes thrusts yon craggy spear Through the grey clouds; the Alps are here, Like waters in commotion! 60 Yon tawny slip is Libya's sands That silver thread the river Dnieper; And look, where clothed in brightest green Is a sweet Isle, of isles the Queen; Ye fairies, from all evil keep her! 65 And see the town where I was born! Around those happy fields we span In boyish gambols;--I was lost Where I have been, but on this coast I feel I am a man. 70 Never did fifty things at once Appear so lovely, never, never;-- How tunefully the forests ring! To hear the earth's soft murmuring Thus could I hang for ever! 75 "Shame on you!" cried my little Boat, "Was ever such a homesick [11] Loon, Within a living Boat to sit, And make no better use of it; A Boat twin-sister of the crescent-moon! 80 [12]