Yet many a sheltered glade, with blossoms

gay,

Beneath the showery sky and sunshine mild, Within the shaggy arms of that dark forest smiled.

XXX.

There stood the Indian hamlet, there the lake Spread its blue sheet that flashed with many

an oar,

Where the brown otter plunged him from the

brake,

And the deer drank: as the light gale flew

o'er,

The twinkling maize-field rustled on the

shore ;

And while that spot, so wild, and lone, and

fair,

A look of glad and innocent beauty wore,

And peace was on the earth and in the air,

The warrior lit the pile, and bound his captive there :

XXXI.

Not unavenged- the foeman, from the wood, Beheld the deed, and when the midnight

shade

Was stillest, gorged his battle-axe with blood;

All died the wailing babe- the shrieking died-the

maid

And in the flood of fire that scathed the glade, The roofs went down; but deep the silence

grew,

When on the dewy woods the day-beam played;

No more the cabin smokes rose wreathed and

blue,

And ever, by their lake, lay moored the light

canoe.

XXXII.

Look now abroad — another race has filled These populous borders-wide the wood recedes,

And towns shoot up, and fertile realms are

tilled;

The land is full of harvests and green meads; Streams numberless, that many a fountain

feeds,

Shine, disembowered, and give to sun and

breeze

Their virgin waters; the full region leads

New colonies forth, that toward the western

seas

Spread, like a rapid flame among the autumnal

trees.

XXXIII.

Here the free spirit of mankind, at length,

Throws its last fetters off; and who shall

place

A limit to the giant's unchained strength,

Or curb his swiftness in the forward race?

Far, like the comet's way through infinite

space,

Stretches the long untravelled path of light Into the depths of ages: we may trace, Distant, the brightening glory of its light, Till the receding rays are lost to human sight.

XXXIV.

Europe is given a prey to sterner fates,

And writhes in shackles ; strong the arms that chain

To earth her struggling multitude of states; She too is strong, and might not chafe in vain Against them, but shake off the vampyre train That batten on her blood, and break their net.

Yes, she shall look on brighter days, and gain The meed of worthier deeds; the moment set To rescue and raise up, draws near - but is not

yet.

XXXV.

But thou, my country, thou shalt never fall,
But with thy children - thy maternal care,

Thy lavish love, thy blessings showered on

all

These are thy fetters

seas and stormy air Are the wide barrier of thy borders, where, Among thy gallant sons that guard thee well, Thou laugh'st at enemies who shall then de

clare

The date of thy deep-founded strength, or tell How happy, in thy lap, the sons of men shall dwell?

TO THE PAST.

THOU unrelenting Past!

Strong are the barriers round thy dark domain, And fetters, sure and fast,

Hold all that enter thy unbreathing reign.

Far in thy realm withdrawn

Old empires sit in sullenness and gloom,
And glorious ages gone

Lie deep within the shadow of thy womb.

Childhood, with all its mirth,

Youth, Manhood, Age, that draws us to the ground,

And last, Man's Life on earth,

Glide to thy dim dominions, and are bound.