34. 
A scene of joy and wonder to behold
That river’s shapes and shadows changing ever,
Where the broad sunrise filled with deepening gold
Its whirlpools, where all hues did spread and quiver; 4750
And where melodious falls did burst and shiver
Among rocks clad with flowers, the foam and spray
Sparkled like stars upon the sunny river,
Or when the moonlight poured a holier day,
One vast and glittering lake around green islands lay. 4755

35. 
Morn, noon, and even, that boat of pearl outran
The streams which bore it, like the arrowy cloud
Of tempest, or the speedier thought of man,
Which flieth forth and cannot make abode;
Sometimes through forests, deep like night, we glode, 4760
Between the walls of mighty mountains crowned
With Cyclopean piles, whose turrets proud,
The homes of the departed, dimly frowned
O’er the bright waves which girt their dark foundations round.

36. 
Sometimes between the wide and flowering meadows, 4765
Mile after mile we sailed, and ’twas delight
To see far off the sunbeams chase the shadows
Over the grass; sometimes beneath the night
Of wide and vaulted caves, whose roofs were bright
With starry gems, we fled, whilst from their deep 4770
And dark-green chasms, shades beautiful and white,
Amid sweet sounds across our path would sweep,
Like swift and lovely dreams that walk the waves of sleep.

37. 
And ever as we sailed, our minds were full
Of love and wisdom, which would overflow 4775
In converse wild, and sweet, and wonderful,
And in quick smiles whose light would come and go
Like music o’er wide waves, and in the flow
Of sudden tears, and in the mute caress—­
For a deep shade was cleft, and we did know, 4780
That virtue, though obscured on Earth, not less
Survives all mortal change in lasting loveliness.

38. 
Three days and nights we sailed, as thought and feeling
Number delightful hours—­for through the sky
The sphered lamps of day and night, revealing 4785
New changes and new glories, rolled on high,
Sun, Moon and moonlike lamps, the progeny
Of a diviner Heaven, serene and fair: 
On the fourth day, wild as a windwrought sea
The stream became, and fast and faster bare 4790
The spirit-winged boat, steadily speeding there.

39. 
Steady and swift, where the waves rolled like mountains
Within the vast ravine, whose rifts did pour
Tumultuous floods from their ten thousand fountains,
The thunder of whose earth-uplifting roar 4795
Made the air sweep in whirlwinds from the shore,
Calm as a shade, the boat of that fair child
Securely fled, that rapid stress before,
Amid the topmost spray, and sunbows wild,
Wreathed in the silver mist:  in joy and pride we smiled. 4800