At earliest morn,(13) when sleep still seem'd to close
The drowsy eye of nature in repose;

As oft some chilly breath of night would creep
The dewy shade along Snowdonia's(14) steep,

There have I climbed to watch the break of day,
Shed its first gleams along the eastern way;

As night's faint lamps went out, the morning star
In loneliness yet twinkled from afar ;

Till with the murky shadows which had dwelt
Along Moelwin's* height, it seem'd to melt

E'en like some fairy vision to the eye,

As brighter, rosier tints adorn'd the sky.
Slowly at length the sun's all glorious head

Emerg'd from ocean's smooth and glassy bed;

(13) "Every one (says a writer of the present day) should at least once in their lives see the rising or setting sun from the top of a mountain." The beauty and grandeur of such a scene I have often been witness to, and recur to it with pleasure for my here shortly attempted description.

(14) The vales to the west of Snowdon went anciently under the common name of Snowdonia; they were then almost covered with oaks, of which now few or no traces are left.

*Moelwin, a mountain in North Wales.

Rose on the distant hills, once more to break

Earth's settled stillness, and her creatures wake.

The heathy blossom'd steep, the lake, the isle
Upon its placid waters, seem'd to smile,

And man's rude dwelling hung on Snowdon's side,
From which the peat-smoke curled in graceful pride,
Bespoke some unseen hand, some guardian care,
Which gives the mountaineer contentment there;
And whether summer cheer, or wintry wind
Unwelcome entrance through the lattice find,
Or snow, or yellow stone-crop hangs the cot,
Bids him not murmur at his humble lot.
The sun had risen higher, as the sheep,
Speck'd by far distance, wander'd up the steep,
To crop each blossom hung with melting rime,
From drooping harebells or the fragrant thyme;
While far beneath, from Colwin's(15) winding stream,
The floating vapour kiss'd by many a beam,

(15) The Colwin is a small river which runs through a valley at the foot of Snowdon, to the west, through the village of Bedd Kelert, where it is joined by another stream from the vale of Groynan.

In whiteness spreading lightly up the vale,
Expanded forth before the morning gale.
Methinks I see that sun now sink to rest,
Through yon far gilded waters to the west,
As when he slowly from the sight withdrew
His radiant orb, and bade the world adieu :
Caernarvon's(16) aged turrets beam'd awhile
In mellower beauties of his parting smile;
And Menai's strait, exulting in the gleam,
Shone(17) as some river's broad and silvery stream.
On Glas-lyn's bridge,(18 or lone Bedd-Kelert's height,
Oft when the moon has lit the summer's night,

(16) This celebrated Castle was built by Edward the First, and it was here Edward the Second, first Prince of Wales, was born. Its now picturesque and beautiful ruins stand upon the Menai Straits, and form, with the town, a striking feature in the landscape, as seen from Snowdon, from which it is distant twelve or thirteen miles.

(17) The Menai Strait commences at Caernarvon Bay, passing the town nearly in a northerly direction. When viewed from Snowdon, in its channel between the main-land and the Isle of Anglesea it has very much the appearance of a river.

(18) Pont Aber Glas-lyn is a celebrated water-fall not far from the village of Bedd Kelert, surrounded by romantic mountain scenery.

Musing I've sat, as she would seem to keep

Her careful watch, while mortals sank to sleep.

No miner's axe(19) then echo'd o'er the rock,

Or blasted fragments gave their thrilling shock;
No sound of labour broke the stilly scene,

Or neighbouring city's din; 'twas all serene :
And if a sound, 'twas not of mortal pow'r,

But Nature's effort in her calmer hour;

The voice of some light breeze, which passing by,
Was heard through Glas-lyn's pendent shrubs to sigh;
Or perhaps the dashing fall from off its steep,
As down the shelving crags it sought the deep;
But that light whisp'ring wind could not awake
The surface,(20) Gwynan, of thy silvery lake,
But only fann'd the beams that on thee play'd,
Now palely bright, now cast in doubtful shade;

(19) Copper and lead mines, as well as some slate quarries, are worked in parts of Snowdon, and the neighbouring mountains, which being frequently blasted with gunpowder, the explosions are heard at a considerable distance.

(20) Llyn Gwynan is a lake at the foot of Snowdon, in a valley of the same name.

Till passing clouds across the moon would chase

Away thy form, nor leave the faintest trace.

Truly such

scenes, with thousands more we see,

Speak of Thy power, O Lord, Thy majesty,—

Raise the dull thought above the things of earth,

To Thee the cause, who first could give them birth :
Who spake the word, and from chaotic night

The world and all its beauties came to light.

We have not known Thee, Lord, and cannot trace
Thy purposes, or view Thee face to face.(21)

To none, not e'en the righteous, canst Thou give

To see Thy Godlike countenance, and live,

As when on Sinai's trembling top awoke

The trumpet's clang, and Horeb wreath'd with smoke ;
When sounding long upon the prostrate crowd

Of Israel's sons, its voice waxed yet more loud,
And from the thunder-cloud, with awful pause,
Almighty God reveal'd to man his laws.

(21) ❝ And Moses said, I beseech Thee shew my Thy glory." "And the Lord said unto him, Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see me and live."-Exodus xxxiii. 18 and 20.