I see its truth with unreluctant eyes; Ever too heedless, as I now perceive : Who carols thinking of his Love and nest, And seems, as more incited, still more blest. Thanks; thou hast snapped a fire-side Prisoner's chain, Exulting Warbler! eased a fretted brain, And in a moment charmed my cares to rest. Yes, I will forth, bold Bird! and front the blast, That we may sing together, if thou wilt, So loud, so clear, my Partner through life's day, Mute in her nest love-chosen, if not lovebuilt Like thine, shall gladden, as in seasons past, Thrilled by loose snatches of the social Lay. Rydal Mount, 1838. Faith had her arch-her arch, when winds Swept onwards, did the vision cross your blow loud, Into the consciousness of safety thrilled; And love her towers of dread foundation laid Under the grave of things; Hope had her spire Star high, and pointing still to something higher; Trembling I gazed, but heard a voice-it said "Hell-gates are powerless Phantoms when we build." XLV. view? Yes, ye were startled;—and, in balance true, Weighing the mischief with the promised gain, Mountains, and Vales, and Floods, I call on you To share the passion of a just disdain. XLVII. AT FURNESS ABBEY. HERE, where, of havoc tired and rash undoing, Man left this Structure to become Time's prey, ON THE PROJECTED KENDAL AND WIN- A soothing Spirit follows in the way DERMERE RAILWAY. Is then no nook of English ground secure From rash assault? Schemes of retirement ing. WELL have yon Railway Laborers to THIS ground Withdrawn for noontide rest. They sit, they walk Among the Ruins, but no idle talk Is heard; to grave demeanor all are bound; And from one voice a Hymn with tuneful sound Hallows once more the long-deserted Quire And thrills the old sepulchral earth, around. Others look up, and with fixed eyes admire That wide-spanned arch, wondering how it was raised, To keep, so high in air, its strength and grace: All seem to feel the spirit of the place, June 21st, 1845. Then, when some rock or hill is overpast, Perchance without one look behind me cast, Some barrier with which Nature, from the birth Of things, has fenced this fairest spot on earth. O pleasant transit, Grasmere! to resign Such happy fields, abodes so calm as thine: Not like an outcast with himself at strife; The slave of business, time, or care for life, But moved by choice; or, if constrained in part, Yet still with Nature's freedom at the heart; To cull contentment upon wildest shores, And luxuries extract from bleakest moors; With prompt embrace all beauty to enfold, And having rights in all that we behold. Then why these lingering steps?-A bright adieu, For a brief absence, proves that love is true; Ne'er can the way be irksome or forlorn That winds into itself for sweet return. II. AT THE GRAVE OF BURNS. 1803. SEVEN YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. I SHIVER, Spirit fierce and bold, So sadness comes from out the mould And have I then thy bones so near I shrink with pain; And both my wishes and my fear Off weight-nor press on weight!-away With chastened feelings would I pay Dark thoughts !-they came, but not to stay: The tribute due To him, and aught that hides his clay From mortal view. Fresh as the flower, whose modest worth For so it seems, With matchless beams. The piercing eye, the thoughtful brow, The struggling heart, where be they now?Full soon the Aspirant of the plough, The prompt, the brave, Slept, with the obscurest, in the low I mourned with thousands, but as one How Verse may build a princely throne |