Chapter 10

           Ispentthefollowingdayroamingthroughthevalley.IstoodbesidethesourcesoftheArveiron,whichtaketheirriseinaglacier,thatwithslowpaceisadvancingdownfromthesummitofthehillstobarricadethevalley.Theabruptsidesofvastmountainswerebeforeme;theicywalloftheglacieroverhungme;afewshatteredpineswerescatteredaround;andthesolemnsilenceofthisgloriouspresence-chamberofimperialnaturewasbrokenonlybythebrawlingwavesorthefallofsomevastfragment,thethundersoundoftheavalancheorthecracking,reverberatedalongthemountains,oftheaccumulatedice,which,throughthesilentworkingofimmutablelaws,waseverandanonrentandtorn,asifithadbeenbutaplaythingintheirhands.ThesesublimeandmagnificentscenesaffordedmethegreatestconsolationthatIwascapableofreceiving.Theyelevatedmefromalllittlenessoffeeling,andalthoughtheydidnotremovemygrief,theysubduedandtranquillizedit.Insomedegree,also,theydivertedmymindfromthethoughtsoverwhichithadbroodedforthelastmonth.Iretiredtorestatnight;myslumbers,asitwere,waitedonandministeredtobytheassemblanceofgrandshapeswhichIhadcontemplatedduringtheday.Theycongregatedroundme;theunstainedsnowymountaintop,theglitteringpinnacle,thepinewoods,andraggedbareravine,theeagle,soaringamidsttheclouds—theyallgatheredroundmeandbademebeatpeace.

           WherehadtheyfledwhenthenextmorningIawoke?Allofsoul-inspiritingfledwithsleep,anddarkmelancholycloudedeverythought.Therainwaspouringintorrents,andthickmistshidthesummitsofthemountains,sothatIevensawnotthefacesofthosemightyfriends.StillIwouldpenetratetheirmistyveilandseekthemintheircloudyretreats.Whatwererainandstormtome?Mymulewasbroughttothedoor,andIresolvedtoascendtothesummitofMontanvert.