VISITING CHAMOUNI, FOR THE FIRST TIME, FROM GENEVA

May Nature's stateliest palace to your gaze
Expand in happiest lustre! May the sun
Light into radiant joy the streams that run
Aslant the herbage of the rock-bound ways
Down which the strong Arve thunders; may his rays
Spread myriad colours o'er the fount that springs
Aloft in watery dust, and leaping flings
A shadow scarce less earthly! May no cloud
At eve on Europe's stainless summit rest
When roseate beauty lingering should attest
Its lone supremacy, which noon will fail
To vindicate,-or hint of cares to shroud
In after time that mirror in the breast
Which shall reflect the Mountain and the Vale!