Kindly emotion tending to console
And reconcile; and both with young and old Exalt the sense of thoughtful gratitude For benefits that still survive, by faith In progress, under laws divine, maintained. Rydal Mount, March, 26, 1842.
WRITTEN IN HER ALBUM.
SMALL service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest Friends, bright Creature! scorn
The Daisy, by the shadow that it casts, Protects the lingering dew-drop from the Sun. 1834.
WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM OF THE COUNTESS OF LONSDALE, NOV. 5, 1834.
LADY! a Pen (perhaps with thy regard, Among the Favoured, favoured not the least) Left, 'mid the Records of this Book inscribed, Deliberate traces, registers of thought And feeling, suited to the place and time That gave them birth :-months passed, and still this hand,
That had not been too timid to imprint Words which the virtues of thy Lord inspired, Was yet not bold enough to write of Thee. And why that scrupulous reserve? In sooth The blameless cause lay in the Theme itself. Flowers are there many that delight to strive With the sharp wind, and seem to court the shower,
Yet are by nature careless of the sun
Whether he shine on them or not; and some, Where'er he moves along the unclouded sky, Turn a broad front full on his flattering beams: Others do rather from their notice shrink, Loving the dewy shade,-a humble band, Modest and sweet, a progeny of earth, Congenial with thy mind and character, High-born Augusta! Witness Towers, and Groves! And Thou, wild Stream, that giv'st the
Of Lowther to this ancient Line, bear witness From thy most secret haunts; and ye Parterres,
Which She is pleased and proud to call her
Witness how oft upon my noble Friend Mute offerings, tribute from an inward sense Of admiration and respectful love,
Have waited-till the affections could no more Endure that silence, and broke out in song, Snatches of music taken up and dropt Like those self-solacing, those under, notes Trilled by the red breast, when autumnal leaves Are thin upon the bough. Mine, only mine, The pleasure was, and no one heard the praise, Checked, in the moment of its issue, checked And reprehended, by a fancied blush From the pure qualities that called it forth. Thus Virtue lives debarred from Virtue's meed;
Thus, Lady, is retiredness a veil
That, while it only spreads a softening charm O'er features looked at by discerning eyes, Hides half their beauty from the common gaze; And thus, even on the exposed and breezy hill Of lofty station, female goodness walks, When side by side with lunar gentleness, As in a cloister. Yet the grateful Poor (Such the immunities of low estate, Plain Nature's enviable privilege,
Her sacred recompence for many wants) Open their hearts before Thee, pouring out All that they think and feel, with tears of joy, And benedictions not unheard in heaven: And friend in the ear of friend, where speech is free
To follow truth, is eloquent as they.
Then let the Book receive in these prompt
A just memorial; and thine eyes consent To read that they who mark thy course behold A life declining with the golden light
Of summer, in the season of sere leaves; See cheerfulness undamped by stealing Time; See studied kindness flow with easy stream. Illustrated with inborn courtesy: And an habitual disregard of self Balanced by vigilance for others' weal.
And shall the Verse not tell of lighter gifts With these ennobling attributes conjoined And blended, in peculiar harmony, By Youth's surviving spirit? What agile grace! A nymph-like liberty, in nymph-like form, Beheld with wonder; whether floor or path Thou tread; or sweep-borne on the managed steed-
Fleet as the shadows, over down or field, Driven by strong winds at play among the clouds.
Yet one word more-one farewell word-a wish
Which came, but it has passed into a prayer— That, as thy sun in brightness is declining, So at an hour yet distant for their sakes Whose tender love, here faltering on the way Of a diviner love, will be forgiven- So may it set in peace, to rise again For everlasting glory won by faith.
GRACE DARLING. AMONG the dwellers in the silent fields The natural heart is touched, and public way And crowded street resound with ballad strains, Inspired by ONE whose very name bespeaks Favour divine, exalting human love; Whom, since her birth on bleak Northumbria's coast,
Known unto few but prized as far as known, A single Act endears to high and low Through the whole land—to Manhood, moved in spite
Of the world's freezing cares-to generous Youth-
To Infancy, that lisps her praise-to Age Whose eve reflects it. glistening through a tear Of tremulous admiration. Such true fame Awaits her now; but, verily, good deeds Do no imperishable record find
Save in the rolls of heaven, where hers may live A theme for angels, when they celebrate The high-souled virtues which forgetful earth Has witness'd. Oh! that winds and waves could speak
Of things which their united power called forth From the pure depths of her humanity! A Maiden gentle, yet, at duty's call, Firm and unflinching, as the Lighthouse reared On the Island-rock, her lonely dwelling-place; Or like the invincible Rock itself that braves, Age aiter age, the hostile elements, As when it guarded holy Cuthbert's cell.
All night the storm had raged, nor ceased,
When, as day broke, the Maid, through misty
Espies far off a Wreck, amid the surf, Beating on one of those disastrous isles- Half of a Vessel, half-no more; the rest Had vanished, swallowed up with all that there Had for the common safety striven in vain,
Or thither thronged for refuge. With quick glance
Daughter and Sire through optic-glass discern, Clinging about the remnant of this Ship, Creatures-how precious in the Maiden's sight! For whom, belike, the old Man grieves still more Than for their fellow-sufferers engulfed Where every parting agony is hushed, And hope and fear mix not in further strife. But courage, Father! let us out to sea- A few may yet be saved." The Daughter's words,
Her earnest tone, and look beaming with faith, Dispel the Father's doubts: nor do they lack The noble-minded Mother's helping hand To launch the boat; and with her blessing cheered,
And inwardly sustained by silent prayer Together they put forth, Father and Child! Each grasps an oar, and struggling on they go- Rivals in effort; and, alike intent
Here to elude and there surmount, they watch The billows lengthening, mutually crossed And shattered, and re-gathering their might; As if the tumult, by the Almighty's will Were, in the conscious sea, roused and pro- longed,
That woman's fortitude-so tried, so proved- May brighten more and more!
True to the mark, They stem the current of that perilous gorge, Their arms still strengthening with the
Though danger, as the Wreck is near'd, be
Not unseen do they ap
And rapture, with varieties of fear Incessantly conflicting, thrills the frames Of those who, in that dauntless energy, Foretaste deliverance; but the least perturbed Can scarcely trust his eyes, when he perceives That of the pair-tossed on the waves to bring Hope to the hopeless, to the dving, life- One is a Woman, a poor earthly sister, Or, be the Visitant other than she seems, A guardian Spirit sent from pitving Heaven. In woman's shape. But why prolong the tale,
Casting weak words amid a host of thoughts Armed to repel them? Every hazard faced And difficulty mastered, with resolve That no one breathing should be left to perish, This last remainder of the crew are all Placed in the little boat, then o'er the deep Are safely borne, landed upon the beach, And, in fulfilment of God's mercy, lodged Within the sheltering Lighthouse. -Snout, ye Waves!
Send forth a song of triumph. Waves and Winds,
Exult in this deliverance wrought through In Him whose Providence your rage hath faith
Ye screaming Sea-mews, in the concert join!
And would that some immortal Voice--a Voice Fitly attuned to all that gratitude
Breathes out from floor or couch, through pallid lips
Of the survivors-to the clouds might bear
Blended with praise of that parental love, Beneath whose watchful eye the Maiden grew Pious and pure, modest and yet so brave, Though young so wise, though meek so resolute
Might carry to the clouds and to the stars,
Yea, to celestial Choirs, GRACE DARLING'S name!
ENOUGH of rose-bud lips, and eyes Like harebells bathed in dew, Of cheek that with carnation vies And veins of violet hue;
Earth wants not beauty that may scorn A likening to frail flowers;
Yea, to the stars, if they were born For seasons and for hours.
Through Moscow's gates, with gold unbarred, Stepped One at dead of night,
Whom such high beauty could not guard From meditated blight;
By stealth she passed, and fled as fast As doth the hunted fawn,
Nor stopped, till in the dappling east Appeared unwelcome dawn.
Seven days she lurked in brake and field, Seven nights her course renewed, Sustained by what her scrip might yield, Or berries of the wood;
At length, in darkness travelling on, When lowly doors were shut, The haven of her hope she won,
Her Foster-mother's hut. "To put your love to dangerous proof I come, said she, "from far; For I have left my Father's roof,
In terror of the Czar." No answer did the Matron give, No second look she cast, But hung upon the Fugitive,
Embracing and embraced. She led the Lady to a seat
Beside the glimmering fire,
Bathed duteously her wayworn feet, Prevented each desire :-
The cricket chirped, the house-dog dozed, And on that simple bed,
Where she in childhood had reposed, Now rests her weary head.
When she, whose couch had been the sod, Whose curtain, pine or thorn, Had breathed a sigh of thanks to God, Who comforts the forlorn ; While over her the Matron bent
Sleep sealed her eyes, and stole Feeling from limbs with travel spent, And trouble from the soul. Refreshed, the Wanderer rose at morn, And soon again was dight In those unworthy vestments worn Through long and perilous flight; And "O beloved Nurse," she said, "My thanks with silent tears
Have unto Heaven and You been paid: Now listen to my fears!
"Have you forgot"-and here she smiled"The babbling flatteries
You lavished on me when a child Disporting round your knees? I was your lambkin, and your bird, Your star, your gem, your flower;
Light words, that were more lightly heard In many a cloudless hour!
"The blossom you so fondly praised Is come to bitter fruit;
A mighty One upon me gazed; I spurned his lawless suit,
And must be hidden from his wrath: You, Foster-father dear,
Will guide me in my forward path; I may not tarry here!
"I cannot bring to utter woe Your proved fidelity."
"Dear Child, sweet Mistress, say not so! For you we both would die.'
"Nay, nay, I come with semblance feigned And cheek embrowned by art; Yet, being inwardly unstained, With courage will depart."
But whither would you,
A poor Man's counsel take; The Holy Virgin gives to me A thought for your dear sake;
Rest, shielded by our Lady's grace, And soon shall you be led
Forth to a safe abiding-place, Where never foot doth tread.'
THE dwelling of this faithful pair In a straggling village stood, For One who breathed unquiet air A dangerous neighbourhood; But wide around lay forest ground With thickets rough and blind; And pine-trees made a heavy shade Impervious to the wind.
And there, sequestered from the sight, Was spread a treacherous swamp, On which the noonday sun shed light As from a lonely lamp;
And midway in the unsafe morass,
A single Island rose
Of firm dry ground, with healthful grass Adorned, and shady boughs.
The Woodman knew, for such the craft This Russian vassal plied,
That never fowler's gun, nor shaf Of archer, there was tried ; A sanctuary seemed the spot From all intrusion free; And there he planned an artful Cot For perfect secrecy.
With earnest pains unchecked by dread Of Power's far-stretching hand, The bold good Man his labour sped, At nature's pure command; Heart-soothed, and busy as a wren, While, in a hollow nook,
She moulds her sight-eluding den Above a murmuring brook.
His task accomplished to his mind, The twain ere break of day
Creep forth, and through the forest wind Their solitary way;
Few words they speak, nor dare to slack Their pace from mile to mile,
Till they have crossed the quaking marsh, And reached the lonely Isle.
The sun above the pine-trees showed A bright and cheerful face; And Ina looked for her abode,
The promised hiding-place;
She sought in vain, the Woodman smiled; No threshold could be seen,
Nor roof, nor window ;-all seemed wild As it had ever been.
Advancing, you might guess an hour, The front with such nice care Is masked, "if house it be or bower," But in they entered are;
As shaggy as were wall and roof With branches intertwined,
So smooth was all within, air-proof, And delicately lined:
And hearth was there, and maple dish, And cups in seemly rows,
And couch-all ready to a wish
For nurture or repose;
And Heaven doth to her virtue grant That here she may abide
In solitude, with every want
By cautious love supplied.
No queen, before a shouting crowd, Led on in bridal state,
E'er struggled with a heart so proud, Entering her palace gate;
Rejoiced to bid the world farewell, No saintly anchoress
E'er took possession of her cell With deeper thankfulness. "Father of all, upon thy care
And mercy am I thrown; Be thou my safeguard !"-such her When she was left alone, Kneeling amid the wilderness
When joy had passed away, And smiles, fond efforts of distress To hide what they betray!
The prayer is heard, the Saints have seen, Diffused through form and face, Resolves devotedly serene;
That monumental grace
Of Faith, which doth all passions tame That Reason should control;
And shows in the untrembling frame A statue of the soul.
'Tis sung in ancient minstrelsy That Phoebus wont to wear The leaves of any pleasant tree Around his golden hair;
Till Daphne, desperate with pursuit
Of his imperious love,
At her own prayer transformed, took root,
A laurel in the grove.
Then did the Penitent adorn
His brow with laurel green;
And 'mid his bright locks never shorn No meaner leaf was seen
And poets sage, through every age, About their temples wound
The bay; and conquerors thanked the Gods, With laurel chaplets crowned.
Into the mists of fabling Time
So far runs back the praise
Of Beauty, that disdains to climb Along forbidden ways;
That scorns temptation; power defies Where mutual love is not;
And to the tomb for rescue flies When life would be a blot.
To this fair Votaress, a fate
More mild doth Heaven ordain
Upon her Island desolate;
And words, not breathed in vain, Might tell what intercourse she found, Her silence to endear;
What birds she tamed, what flowers the ground Sent forth her peace to cheer.
To one mute Presence, above all, Her soothed affections clung,
A picture on the cabin wall
By Russian usage hung
The Mother-maid, whose countenance bright With love abridged the day; And, communed with by taper light, Chased spectral fears away.
And oft, as either Guardian came, The joy in that retreat
Might any common friendship shame, So high their hearts would beat; And to the lone Recluse, whate'er They brought, each visiting Was like the crowding of the year With a new burst of spring.
But, when she of her Parents thought, The pang was hard to bear; And, if with all things not enwrought, That trouble still is near.
Before her flight she had not dared
Their constancy to prove,
Too much the heroic Daughter feared The weakness of their love.
Dark is the past to them, and dark The future still must be,
Till pitying Saints conduct her bark Into a safer sea-
Or gentle Nature close her eyes And set her Spirit free From the altar of this sacrifice, In vestal purity.
Yet, when above the forest-glooms The white swans southward passed, High as the pitch of their swift plumes Her fancy rode the blast;
And bore her toward the fields of France Her Father's native land, To mingle in the rustic dance, The happiest of the band!
Of those beloved fields she oft
Had heard her Father tell
In phrase that now with echoes soft Haunted her lonely cell;
She saw the hereditary bowers,
She heard the ancestral stream; The Kremlin and its haughty towers Forgotten like a dream!
THE ever-changing moon had traced Twelve times her monthly round, When through the unfrequented Waste Was heard a startling sound;
A shout thrice sent from one who chased At speed a wounded deer,
Bounding through branches interlaced, And where the wood was clear.
The fainting creature took the marsh, And toward the Island fled,
While plovers screamed with tumult harsh Above his antlered head;
This, Ina saw; and, pale with fear, Shrunk to her citadel;
The desperate deer rushed on, and near The tangled covert fell.
Across the marsh, the game in view,
The Hunter followed fast, For paused, till o'er the stag he blew A death-proclaiming blast; Then, resting on her upright mind, Came forth the Maid-"In me Behold," she said, "a stricken Hind Pursued by destiny!
your deportment, Sir! I deem That you have worn a sword, And will not hold in light esteem A suffering woman's word; There is my covert, there perchance I might have lain concealed, My fortunes hid, my countenance Not even to you revealed.
"Tears might be shed, and I might pray, Crouching and terrified,
That what has been unveiled to-day, You would in mystery hide;
But I will not defile with dust The knee that bends to adore The God in heaven;-attend, be just; This ask I, and no more!
"I speak not of the winter's cold, For summer's heat exchanged, While I have lodged in this rough hold, From social life estranged;
Nor yet of trouble and alarms: High Heaven is my defence; And every season has soft arms For injured Innocence.
"From Moscow to the Wilderness It was my choice to come, Lest virtue should be harbourless, And honour want a home; And happy were I, if the Czar Retain his lawless will,
To end life here like this poor deer, Or a lamb on a green hill."
" Are you the Maid," the Stranger cried, "From Gallic parents sprung, Whose vanishing was rumoured wide Sad theme for every tongue; Who foiled an Emperor's eager quest? You, Lady, forced to wear These rude habiliments, and rest Your head in this dark lair!" But wonder, pity, soon were quelled; And in her face and mien The soul's pure brightness he beheld Without a veil between : He loved, he hoped,-a holy flame Kindled 'mid rapturous tears; The passion of a moment came As on the wings of years. "Such bounty is no gift of chance," Exclaimed he ; righteous Heaven, Preparing your deliverance,
To me the charge hath given. The Czar full oft in words and deeds Is stormy and self-willed;
But, when the Lady Catherine pleads, His violence is stilled.
"Leave open to my wish the course, And I to her will go;
From that humane and heavenly source, Good, only good, can flow."
Faint sanction given, the Cavalier Was eager to depart
Though question followed question, dear To the Maiden's filial heart.
Light was his step,-his hopes, more light Kept pace with his desires;
And the fifth morning gave him sight Of Moscow's glittering spires. He sued:-heart-smitten by the wrong, To the lorn Fugitive
The Emperor sent a pledge as strong As sovereign power could give.
O more than mighty change! If e'er Amazement rose to pain,
And joy's excess produced a fear Of something void and vain ;
'Twas when the Parents, who had mourned So long the lost as dead, Beheld their only Child returned,
The household floor to tread. Soon gratitude gave way to love Within the Maiden's breast: Delivered and Deliverer move In bridal garments drest
Meek Catherine had her own reward; The Czar bestowed a dower :
And universal Moscow shared
The triumph of that hour.
Flowers strewed the ground; the nuptial feast Was held with costly state;
And there, 'mid many a noble guest, The Foster-parents sate; Encouraged by the imperial eye, They shrank not into shade; Great was their bliss, the honour high To them and nature paid! 1830.
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