VI: To A Lady

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!