The hollow murmur of the ocean-tide; XXXIX. The cottage-curs at early pilgrim bark; Crown'd with her pale the tripping milk-maid fings; The whistling plowman ftalks afield; and, hark! Down the ruff flope the ponderous waggon rings; Through rustling corn the hare aftonish'd fprings; Slow tolls the village-clock the drowsy hour; The partridge burfts away on wherring wings; Deep mourns the turtle in fequefter'd bower, And fhrill lark carols clear from her aerial tour. XL. O Nature, how in every charm fupreme! And held high converfe with the godlike few, XLI. Hence! ye, who fnare and ftupify the mind, Hence to dark Error's den, whofe wrankling flime Firft gave you form! hence! left the Mufe fhould deign, (Though loath on theme fo mean to waste a rhyme) With vengeance to purfae your facrilegious crime. XLII. But hail, ye mighty mafters of the lay, Nature's true fons, the friends of man and truth! Whose fong, fublimely fweet, ferenely gay, Infpire my dreams, and my wild wanderings guide! There harmony, and peace, and innocence, abide. XLIII. Ah me! abandon'd on the lonesome plain, Wonder and joy ran thrilling to his heart; XLIV. Various and ftrange was the long-winded tale; Midft fiends and fpectres, quench the moon in blood, Yell in the midnight storm, or ride th' infuriate flood. XLV. But when to horror his amazement rofe, Allufion to SHAKESPEAR. Macbeth. How now, ye fecret, black, and midnight hags, What is't you do? Witches. A deed without a Name, C A tale of rural life, a tale of woes, The orphan-babes, and guardian uncle fierce. O cruel! will no pang of pity pierce That heart by luft of lucre fear'd to stone! For fure, if aught of virtue laft, or verfe, To latest times fhall tender fouls bemoan, Thofe helpless orphan-babes by thy fell arts undone. XLVI. Behold, with berries fmear'd, with brambles torn Nor friend, nor ftranger, hears their dying cry: XLVII. A ftifled fimile of ftern vindictive joy Brighten'd one moment Edwin's starting tear.- XLVIII. Nor be thy generous indignation check'd, See the fine old ballad, called, The Children in the But dreadful is their doom, whom doubt hath driven To cenfure Fate, and pious Hope forego: Like yonder blafted boughs by lightening riven, Perfection, beauty, life, they never know, But frown on all that pafs, a monument of wo. XLIX. Shall he, whofe birth, maturity, and age, Wide through unnumber'd worlds, and ages without end! L. One part, one little part, we dimly fean Through the dark medium of life's feverish dream; Yet dare arraign the whole ftupendous plan,.. If but that little part incongruous feem. Nor is that part perhaps what mortals deem ; Oft from apparent ill our bleffings rife. O then renounce that impious felf-esteem, That aims to trace the fecrets of the skies; For thou art but of duft; be humble, and be wife. LI. Thus Heaven enlarged his foul in riper years. Yet deem they darkness light, and their vain blunders wit. C 2 LIL Nor was this ancient dame a foe to mirth. Her ballad, jeft, and riddle's quaint device Oft chear'd the fhepherds round her focial hearth; Whom levity or fpleen could ne'er entice To purchase chat or laughter at the price Of decency. Nor let it faith exceed, That Nature forms a ruftic tafte fo nice.Ah! had they been of court or city breed, Such delicacy were right marvellous indeed. LIII. Oft when the winter florm had ceas'd to rave, He roam'd the fnowy wafte at even, to view The cloud ftupendous, from th' Atlantic wave High-towering, fail along the horizon blue: Where 'midft the changeful feenery ever new Fancy a thoufand wondrous forms defcries More wildly great than ever pencil drew, Rocks, torrents, gulfs, and fhapes of giant fize; And glittering cliffs on cliffs, and fiery ramparts rife. LIV. Thence mufing onward to the founding fhore, The lone enthusiast oft would take his way, Liftening with pleafing dread to the deep roar Of the wild-weltering waves. In black array When fulphurous clouds roll'd on the vernal day, Even then he hafted from the haunt of man, Along the darkening wilderness to ftray, What time the lightening's fierce career began, And o'er heaven's rending arch the rattling thunder ran. LV. Refponfive to the fprightly pipe when all In fprightly dance the village-youth were join'd, From the rude gambol far remote reclined, |