33 . Travel Song

‘COME, before the summer passes

Let us seek the mountain land:’

So they called me, happy playmates,

And we left the dawn-lit strand:

Riding on till later sunbeams slanted

On dark hills and downward-plunging streams,

And the solemn forest softly chanted

Old, old dreams.

From the pass, we saw in glory

Wave on purple wave unrolled

To the cloud-encircled summit

Floating high, alone and cold:

Like that altar-stone, by men of Athens

Dedicated to the unknown God;

Waiting for some fire to touch his holy

White abode.

Then the mellow sunset dying

Passed in rosy fire away,

And the stars and planets journeyed

On their ancient unknown way.

Riders of the illimitable heaven!

Moving on so far beyond our ken,

Do ye scorn the toiling, heavy-hearted

Sons of men?

Ere we slept we heard the torrents

Rushing from that mighty hill

Join in deep melodious singing,

While the forest-land was still.

Music of forgotten wildernesses!

Would that I could hear that song again!

Song of primal Earth’s enchanted sweetness,

Joy and pain.