Before his time into a quiet grave,
Had done to her humanity no wrong:
But we are kindly welcomed-promptly served
With ostentatious zeal.-Along the floor
Of the small Cottage in the lonely Dell
A grateful couch was spread for our repose;
Where, in the guise of mountaineers, we lay,
Stretched upon fragrant heath, and lulled by sound
Of far-off torrents charming the still night,
And, to tired limbs and over-busy thoughts,
Inviting sleep and soft forgetfulness.

BOOK FIFTH.

THE PASTOR.

ARGUMENT.

Farewell to the Valley.-Reflections.-A large and populous Vale described.-The Pastor's Dwelling, and some account of him. Church and Monuments.-The Solitary musing, and where.-Roused.-In the Churchyard the Solitary communicates the thoughts which had recently passed through his mind.— Lofty tone of the Wanderer's discourse of yesterday adverted to.-Rite of Baptism, and the professions accompanying it, contrasted with the real state of human life.-Apology for the Rite.-Inconsistency of the best men.-Acknowledgment that practice falls far below the injunctions of duty as existing in the mind.-General complaint of a falling off in the value of life after the time of youth.-Outward appearances of content and happiness in degree illusive.-Pastor approaches.-Appeal made to him. His answer.-Wanderer in sympathy with him. -Suggestion that the least ambitious enquirers may be most free from error.-The Pastor is desired to give some portraits of the living or dead from his own observation of life among these Mountains-and for what purpose.-Pastor consents.-Mountain cottage. Excellent qualities of its Inhabitants.-Solitary expresses his pleasure; but denies the praise of virtue to worth of this kind.-Feelings of the Priest before he enters upon his account of persons interred in the Churchyard.-Graves of unbaptised Infants.-Funeral and sepulchral observances, whence. -Ecclesiastical Establishments, whence derived.-Profession of belief in the doctrine of Immortality.

THE PASTOR.

"FAREWELL, deep Valley, with thy one rude House, And its small lot of life-supporting fields,

And guardian rocks!-Farewell, attractive seat!
To the still influx of the morning light

Open, and day's pure cheerfulness, but veiled
From human observation, as if yet

Primeval forests wrapped thee round with dark
Impenetrable shade; once more farewell,
Majestic circuit, beautiful abyss,

By Nature destined from the birth of things
For quietness profound!"

Upon the side

Of that brown ridge, sole outlet of the vale
Which foot of boldest stranger would attempt,
Lingering behind my comrades, thus I breathed
A parting tribute to a spot that seemed

Like the fixed centre of a troubled world.
Again I halted with reverted eyes;

The chain that would not slacken, was at length
Snapt, and, pursuing leisurely my way,
How vain, thought I, is it by change of place
To seek that comfort which the mind denies ;
Yet trial and temptation oft are shunned
Wisely; and by such tenure do we hold,
Frail life's possessions, that even they whose fate
Yields no peculiar reason of complaint
Might, by the promise that is here, be won
To steal from active duties, and embrace