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every hue and tint；
Purple and crimson； orange and bright gold； The sunny smile with
which Morn hails the world。 Beneath me all is quiet yet and calm； For
the dim shadow of the silent night Still rests upon the valley； still the flock
Sleeps undisturbed within the guarded fold； The lark yet slumbers in her
lowly nest； The dew hangs heavy upon leaf and blade； The gray mist still
o'erveils the unruffled lake； And all is tranquil as an infant's sleep；
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Tranquil around me； but not so within； For in my breast a thousand restless
thoughts Conflict in wild； chaotical confusion。 Thoughts of long bygone
years； and things that were But are no more； and thoughts that sternly
strive To grapple with the mysteries I late Have looked upon； for I； since
yesternight； Have traversed the wide sea of space that rolls Between the
shores of this and other worlds； Have gazed upon and scanned those
worlds； or shades That wear the lineaments of such； have seen The
damned in their own place； and marked the deep； Terrific retribution Error
brings To such as are her votaries in life。 And now I feel how baseless
was my hope That Peace； the solitary boon I crave； Might spring from
knowledge。 Tis a fatal tree； Which ever hath borne bitter fruit； since first
'Twas set in Paradise。 But I must seek The cottage of some honest
mountaineer； Who may afford me nurture and repose； For I am weary；
both in mind and frame。 ＇Exit。
Scene II。 A chamber in the cottage of Manuel。 Albert asleep。 Rebecca
standing by his couch。
Rebecca。
My boy！ my beautiful； my dearest hope！ The garner where my trust
of future joy Is treasured。 Heaven bless thee！ May thy life； If it seem good
to Him who gave it； be Blest to the fulness of a mother's prayer！
＇She stoops to kiss him； and continues。
How well his sleep portrays a quiet mind； The embodied image of a
sunny day； A day without a cloud； whose only voices Arise from sighing
airs； and whispering leaves； And tell…tale brooks that of their banks
beseech A gift； a wreath of their sweet flowers； wherewith To soothe the
angry Geni of the deep！ And free； glad birds that flit from bough to bough；
And ring their songs of love in the clear air； Till heaven is filled with
gushing melody； And the all…glowing horizon becomes A thing of life；
whose breath is sweetest music！
＇Kisses him again； and continues。
His brow to me is as a spotless page； Whereon is traced the story of
my first And only love； the bright and holy dream That stole into my
bosom； when beside The crystal stream that threads a neighbouring vale； I
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and his father watched our fathers' flocks； And he would lay aside his
shepherd's pipe； And in low words； far sweeter than its music； Talk of the
sun and stars and gentle moon； The earth and all its loveliness； the trees
And shrubs and flowers； how these were all pervaded And quickened by
the spirit of deep love； Till； by the frequent blush that tinged my cheek；
The light that would break from my downcast eyes； And the quick beat of
my too happy heart； Emboldened； he poured out his own pure passion； On
my enchanted ear！ Since then my life Has had no eras；days； and months；
and years； Have all gone by uncounted； in the full； Deep； fervent； soul…
sufficing happiness； Of all I prayed for； panted for； obtained！ But I must
rouse him； it is time his flock Should leave the fold； and
＇The boy starts and murmurs in his sleep。
Down by yonder stream； Where the green willows cluster thickest；
there They dwell。 'Tis scarce so far as I could cast A pebble from my sling。
Seek it； and they Will minister to thee what thou mayest need。
＇He awakes； and recognising his mother； exclaims
Ah； mother！ I have dreamed so strange a dream； So strange； and yet so
palpable； that I Believed it a reality。 Methought As closely followed by my
bleating flock； I climbed the rugged mountain side where spring Our
greenest pastures； singing as I went； I met a lonely wanderer in my way；
Of brow so pale； and eye so darkly sad； That my own heart； to sadness
little used； Grew heavy at the sight； and he seemed worn And very weary；
not so much with toil As by some hidden； inward strife of soul； Which
even then seemed raging in his breast。 He stayed to question me where
he might find The cottage of some honest mountaineer； Where he might
crave the boons of rest and food； And mindful of the lesson taught by
thee； To give the hungry bread； the weary rest； I pointed him to where our
cottage stands； Assuring him that thou and my sweet sister； Fair as aught
earthly； and as pure as fair； Would entertain him as a welcome guest： And
so we parted。
Rebecca。 Thou didst well to mind The lesson I so often have
repeated。 It is our first of duties to give aid To those who beg for succour
at our hands； For we ourselves； whatever we possess； Are but the stewards
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of the bounteous Lord Who giveth to his creatures all good gifts。 But it is
time that thou shouldst seek the hills； So take thy crook and pipe and hie
away。
＇Exeunt。
Scene III。 The side of a mountain。 Werner descending。 Enter a
shepherd boy； followed by his flock； singing。
I。
When the Morning starts up from her couch on the deep； Where
through the dim night hours； she pillows her sleep； I start from my
slumbers； and hie me away Where the white torrent dashes its feathery
spray； I quaff the fresh stream as it bursts from the hill； I pluck the
fresh flowers that spring by the rill； I watch the gray clouds as they curl
round the peak That rises high over them； barren and bleak； And I think
how the worldling who courts fortune's smile； In his heart； like that peak；
may be lonely the while； And then my own heart sings aloud in its joy；
That Heaven has made me a free shepherd boy！
II。
When the horn of the hunter resounds from on high； Where the tall
giant ice…cliffs ire piled to the sky； Where； shunning the verdure of valleys
and dells； The brave eagle builds； and the shy chamois dwells； I list to its
gay tones； as by me they float； And I echo them merrily back； note for note；
With the wild bird a song full as gladsome I sing； I crown me with flowers；
and sit a crowned king； My flock are my subjects； my dog my vizier；
And my sceptrea mild onethe crook that I bear； No wants to perplex
me； no cares to annoy； I live an unenvying； free shepherdhoy！
Werner （meets and addresses him）。
Thou'rt merry； lad。
Albert。
Ay； I have cause to be so。 （Aside。） It is the wanderer of my last night's
dream； The same pale brow； and darkly mournful eye； And weary gait； and
melancholy voice； If he seeks friendly guidance； food； or shelter； He
shall not want them long。
Werner。
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So thou hast cause For merriment；then thou perchance hast wealth；
Broad； fruitful lands； and tenements； and all Which wealth confers。
Albert。
Nay； I have none of these； And yet have more than all which thou hast
named。 I have a father； whose unsullied name No tongue has ever spoken
with reproach； A mother； whose idea is with me A holy thing； and a dear
sister； who Is fair as pure； and pure as is the snow Upon the summit of the
tallest peak Of these my native mountains。 I have health； And strength；
and food； and raiment； and employ； And should I not then have a joyous
heart？
Werner。
Yea； verily thou shouldst。
Albert。
And there is yet； Among the blessings Heaven has given to me； One
which I have not named to thee； it is An humble home； whose