A WALK AT SUNSET. WHEN insect wings are glistening in the beam Wander amid the mild and mellow light; Oh, sun! that o'er the western mountains now And blessed is thy radiance, whether thou Colourest the eastern heaven and night-mist cool, Till the bright day-star vanish, or on high Climbest, and streamest thy white splendours from mid-sky. Yet, loveliest are thy setting smiles, and fair, They who here roamed, of yore, the forest wide, Felt, by such charm, their simple bosoms won; 242. A WALK AT SUNSET. They deemed their quivered warrior, when he died, Went to bright isles beneath the setting sun; Where winds are aye at peace, and skies are fair, And purple-skirted clouds curtain the crimson air. So, with the glories of the dying day, Its thousand trembling lights and changing hues, The memory of the brave who passed away Tenderly mingled ;-fitting hour to muse On such grave theme, and sweet the dream that shed Brightness and beauty round the destiny of the dead. For ages, on the silent forests here, Thy beams did fall before the red man came To dwell beneath them; in their shade the deer Fed, and feared not the arrow's deadly aim. Nor tree was felled, in all that world of woods, Save by the beaver's tooth, or winds, or rush of floods. Then came the hunter tribes, and thou didst look, Now they are gone, gone as thy setting blaze And trophies of remembered power, are gone. A WALK AT SUNSET. Yon field that gives the harvest, where the plough I stand upon their ashes, in thy beam, The offspring of another race, I stand, Farewell! but thou shalt come again-thy light But never shalt thou see these realms again 243 Darkened by boundless groves, and roamed by savage men. L HYMN OF THE WALDENSES. HEAR, Father, hear thy faint afflicted flock Yet better were this mountain wilderness, Thou, Lord, dost hold the thunder; the firm land Oh, touch their stony hearts who hunt thy sons→→ Yet, mighty God, yet shall thy frown look forth |