THE CHILDLESS FATHER Written at Town-end, Grasmere. When I was a child at Cockermouth, no funeral took place without a basin filled with sprigs of boxwood being placed upon a table covered with a white cloth in front of the house. The huntings on foot, in which the old man is supposed to join as here described, were of common, almost habitual, occurrence in our vales when I was a boy; and the people took much delight in them. They are now less frequent. "UP, Timothy, up with your staff and away! Not a soul in the village this morning will stay; The hare has just started from Hamilton's grounds, And Skiddaw is glad with the cry of the THOUGH the torrents from their fountains Clouds that love through air to hasten, What, if through the frozen centre And the Sea-horse, though the ocean If on windy days the Raven The fleet Ostrich, till day closes, Day and night my toils redouble, RURAL ARCHITECTURE 1800. 1800 Written at Town-end, Grasmere. These structures, as every one knows, are common amongst our hills, being built by shepherds, as conspicuous marks, and occasionally by boys in sport. third lines do not, in my stanzas, rhyme. At the outset I threw out a classical image to prepare the reader for the style in which I meant to treat the story, and so to preclude all comparison. FAIR Ellen Irwin, when she sate From many knights and many squires Sad tidings to that noble Youth! But what are Gordon's form and face, ΤΟ Proud Gordon, maddened by the thoughts The Youth, her chosen lover. And, falling into Bruce's arms, Thus, from the heart of her True-love, But many days, and many months, And hence I said, that Andrew's boys THE TWO THIEVES OR, THE LAST STAGE OF AVARICE 1800. 1800 This is described from the life, as I was in the habit of observing when a boy at Hawkshead School. Daniel was more than eighty years older than myself when he was daily, thus occupied, under my notice. No book could have so early taught me to think of the changes to which human life is subject; and while looking at him I could not but say to myself we may, one of us, I or the happiest of my playmates, live to become still more the object of pity than this old man, this half-doating pilferer! WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL UPON A STONE IN THE WALL OF THE HOUSE (AN OUTHOUSE), ON THE ISLAND AT GRASMERE 1800. 1800 RUDE is this Edifice, and Thou hast seen To closer fellowship with ideal grace. 9 Thou see'st a homely Pile, yet to these walls The heifer comes in the snow-storm, and here The new-dropped lamb finds shelter from the wind. And hither does one Poet sometimes row His pinnace, a small vagrant barge, up-piled With plenteous store of heath and withered |