402. England and Switzerland

[1802]

TWO voices are there, one is of the Sea,

One of the Mountains, each a mighty voice:

In both from age to age thou didst rejoice,

They were thy chosen music, Liberty!

There came a tyrant, and with holy glee

Thou fought’st against him,—but hast vainly striven:

Thou from thy Alpine holds at length art driven

Where not a torrent murmurs heard by thee.

—Of one deep bliss thine ear hath been bereft;

Then cleave, O cleave to that which still is left—

For high-soul’d Maid, what sorrow would it be

That Mountain floods should thunder as before,

And Ocean bellow from his rocky shore,

And neither awful Voice be heard by Thee!