NOT those bright scenes that charm the human eyeWith rich material beauty, glowing forthIn bold relief of landscape,—beauty drawnOf earthly hills and towering mountains high,Or tangled vales, or native murmuring streams,Whose rippling music echoes from the cliffsAnd high ascents that hedge their waters in;Nor yet the flowery fields, nor meadows rare,Where, 'mid the perfumed shades and grassy slopes,The ruminating herds seek sweet repose,Or gambol sportively in frolic free!
Not those, ah, no! though e'er so fair and bright,Can fill the spirit's ken with full delight;No earthly scenes, though e'er so finely wrought,Can charm the vision of exalted thought.
Imagination dreams of realms refined,Of scenes of beauty charted on the mind,Where, in unrivalled loveliness, appearsThe spirit landscape of the inner spheres;—
Where poesy sheds upon the fields of senseSweet ideal flowers of wit and eloquence;And mountain thought looks up to genius, highEnthroned upon the clouds of virtue's sky;—
Where, softly as a summer rainbow, seemsThe blending colors of affection's beams;And, bright as stars that gem the brow of night,Resplendent aspiration sheds her light;—
And love, and truth, and holy, high resolve,Within their orbits gracefully revolve;And through the system of religion rollAround their centre the inspired soul.
These are the scenes that charm the spirit's eyeMore than terrestrial views of richest dye;And lovelier far than earth and sea combined,Is the bright spirit landscape of the mind!
