Page:Modern poets and poetry of Spain.djvu/155

Rh Nor distance, nor the mountains us between,

Nor stormy seas hoarse roaring, separate

Remembrance of thee from my memory.

The sound of Mars, that now sweet peace awhile

Suspends, has long unhappy silence placed

On my affection. Thou I know content

Livest in obscure delicious quietude,

For ever with untiring zeal inspired

To aid the public weal; of virtue e'er,

And talent, the protector and the friend.

These verses which I frame unpolish'd, free,

Though not corrected with thy learned taste,

In truth announce to thee my constant faith.

And so may Heaven but soon to me return

The hour again to see thee, and relate

Familiarly discoursing, to my view

Whatever of its varied scenes the world

Presented. From my native shores to those

Which bathes the Seine, blood-stained and turbulent;

The daring Briton's, master of the sea,

To the bold Belgian's; from the deep-flowing Rhine

To the high tops of Apennine snow-crown'd,

And that height further, which in burning smoke

Covers and ashes over Naples wide,

The different nations I have visited,