Climbing slow hour by hour to Rigi's crest,
At last beneath our widened vision lay
How many a village, farm, and lone chalet,
One sunshine mile below—in silent rest!
The hawk in spirals rising to his nest
I saw beneath me! … Then, I drew away;
My throat choked, and wild tears I could not stay,
My mortal with immortal there possessed!

It seemed that I for this alone had climbed
To meet strange exaltation on a height,
In thin air giddy, drunken with great light—
Mere creature of a moment, but sublimed!
How often have I sought to live again
That moment out of Time: but sought in vain.