Near The Outlet Of The Lake Of Thun

"DEM ANDENKEN MEINES FREUNDES ALOYS REDING MDCCCXVIII"

Aloys Reding, it will be remembered, was Captain-General of the Swiss forces, which, with a courage and perseverance worthy of the cause, opposed the flagitious and too successful attempt of Buonaparte to subjugate their country.--W. W. 1822.

Around a wild and woody hill A gravelled pathway treading, We reached a votive Stone that bears The name of Aloys Reding.

Well judged the Friend who placed it there For silence and protection; And haply with a finer care Of dutiful affection.

The Sun regards it from the West; And, while in summer glory He sets, his sinking yields a type Of that pathetic story:

And oft he tempts the patriot Swiss Amid the grove to linger; Till all is dim, save this bright Stone Touched by his golden finger.

"Aug. 7th. We reached this place, Thun. Walked or sate in the groves at the foot of the Lake, then crossed the river by a boat, and wandered in delightful pleasure groves on the other side. Then, passing a gravelled path, which is carried round the woody hill, we found among many interesting objects, one that was very impressive, a plain oval slab, raised upon a stone seat, directly fronting the setting sun, which at that moment was shedding his latest rays upon it. It was this inscription which spoke more than an elaborate panegyric:--

DEM ANDENKEN MEINES FREUNDES ALOYS REDING MDCCCXVIII."

(Mrs. Wordsworth's Journal.)

"Monday, 7th August. Berne.--One of the inscriptions (which I did not see) was to the memory of Aloys Reding, a Friend of the possessor of these grounds. A happy chance led my Companions to the spot; and here is the inscription copied by one of them:--

DEM ANDENKEN MEINES FREUNDES ALOYS REDING MDCCCXVIII."

The other bore away a store of interesting recollections which gave birth to the following little Poem:--