“I will omit about a dozen rather blind lines about man and his puniness and begin:—

“‘Below, vast caves

Shine in the rushing torrents’ restless gleam,

Which from those secret chasms a tumult welling

Meet in the vale, and one majestic River

The breath and blood of distant lands, forever

Rolls its loud waters to the ocean waves,

Breathes its swift vapors to the circling air.’

“Now he comes to Mont Blanc itself:—