And ensure those palms of honour Which selected spirits wear, Bending low before the Donor, 75 Lord of heaven's unchanging year! VARIANTS: [Footnote 257: 1849. Addressed to ----, On the longest day. 1820. ] [Footnote 258: 1845. Sol has dropped into his harbour, MS. and 1820. ] [Footnote 259: 1845. Laura! ... MS. and 1820. ] [Footnote 260: 1820. Fix thy thoughts ... MS. ] [Footnote 261: 1836. Look towards Eternity! ... MS. and 1820. ] [Footnote 262: 1820. ... her ... MS. ] [Footnote 263: 1832. Tow'rds ... 1820. ] [Footnote 264: 1820. From mysterious springs ... And his mazes has unravelled MS. ] [Footnote 265: This stanza is an interpolation by the poet in the MS.] [Footnote 266: 1820. ... true ... MS. ] HINT FROM THE MOUNTAINS, FOR CERTAIN POLITICAL PRETENDERS[268] Composed 1817.--Published 1820 [Bunches of fern may often be seen wheeling about in the wind as here described. The particular bunch that suggested these verses was noticed in the Pass of Dunmail Raise. The verses were composed in 1817, but the application is for all times and places.--I. F.] Included among the "Poems of the Fancy."--ED. "Who but hails the sight with pleasure[269] When the wings of genius rise, Their ability to measure With great enterprise; But in man was ne'er such daring 5 As yon Hawk exhibits, pairing His brave spirit with the war in The stormy skies! "Mark him, how his power he uses, Lays it by, at will resumes! 10 Mark, ere for his haunt he chooses Clouds and utter glooms! There, he wheels in downward mazes; Sunward now his flight he raises, Catches fire, as seems, and blazes 15 With uninjured plumes!"-- ANSWER "Stranger,[270] 'tis no act of courage Which aloft thou dost discern; No bold _bird_ gone forth to forage 'Mid the tempest stern; 20 But such mockery as the nations See, when public perturbations[271] Lift men from their native stations, Like yon TUFT OF FERN; "Such it is; the aspiring creature[272] 25 Soaring on undaunted wing, (So you fancied) is by nature A dull helpless thing,[273] Dry and withered, light and yellow;-- _That_ to be the tempest's fellow! 30 Wait--and you shall see how hollow Its endeavouring!" VARIANTS: [Footnote 267: 1845.