While far below, and on every side,

Were endless mountains, and forests wide,

And scattered villages here and there,

That all looked near in the clear, dry air.

And here a church, with its belfry tall;

And there a convent, whose massive wall

Rose grave and stately above the trees.

The hermit willingly looked at these;

For hope they gave him that now, at least,

Some praying brother or toiling priest

Might be his mate; but it was not so!

The angel showed him, away below,

A slope where a little mountain-farm

Lay, all spread out in the sunshine warm,

Along the side of a wooded hill.

It looked so peaceful and far and still!

And when his eye on the farmhouse fell,

The angel said: "It is there they dwell!

Two women in heart and soul like thee.

Go, find them, Brother, and thou shalt see

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