XX.

There was at times a wildness in the light Of his quick-flashing eye; a something born Of the free Alps, and beautifully bright, And proud, and tameless, laughing fear to scorn! It well might be!--Young Erni’s step had worn[232] The mantling snows on their most regal steeps, And track’d the lynx above the clouds of morn, And follow’d where the flying chamois leaps Across the dark blue rifts, th’ unfathom’d glacier deeps.