Lo![532] while I speak, the labouring Sun His glad deliverance has begun: The cypress waves her[533] sombre plume More cheerily; and town and tower, The vineyard and the olive-bower, 65 Their lustre re-assume! O Ye, who guard and grace my home While in far-distant lands we roam, What countenance hath this Day put on for you? While we looked round with favoured eyes, 70 Did sullen mists hide lake and skies And mountains from your view?[534] Or was it given you to behold Like vision, pensive though not cold, From the smooth breast of gay Winandermere?[535] Saw ye the soft yet awful veil 76 Spread over Grasmere's lovely dale, Helvellyn's brow severe?[IL] I ask in vain--and know far less If sickness, sorrow, or distress 80 Have spared my Dwelling to this hour; Sad blindness! but ordained to prove Our faith in Heaven's unfailing love And all-controlling power. _Of Figures human and Divine._ The Statues ranged round the Spire and along the roof of the Cathedral of Milan, have been found fault with by Persons whose exclusive taste is unfortunate for themselves. It is true that the same expense and labour judiciously directed to purposes more strictly architectural, might have much heightened the general effect of the building; for, seen from the ground, the Statues appear diminutive. But the _coup-d'œil_, from the best point of view, which is half way up the Spire, must strike an unprejudiced Person with admiration; and surely the selection and arrangement of the Figures is exquisitely fitted to support the religion of the Country in the imaginations and feelings of the Spectator. It was with great pleasure that I saw, during the two ascents which we made, several Children, of different ages, tripping up and down the slender spire, and pausing to look around them, with feelings much more animated than could have been derived from these, or the finest works of art, if placed within easy reach.--Remember also that you have the Alps on one side, and on the other the Apennines, with the Plain of Lombardy between!--W. W. 1822. _The starry zone of sovereign height._ Above the highest circle of figures is a zone of metallic stars.--W. W. 1837.