With an ascent and progress in the main; The courteous Knight, whose bones are here interred, Lived in an age conspicuous as our own For strife and ferment in the minds of men Like wild beasts without home! Their hour was come: But why no softening thought of gratitude, No just remembrance, scruple, or wise doubt? Benevolence is mild; nor borrows help, Save at worst need, from bold impetuous force, But Human-kind rejoices in the might Is the sure consequence of slow decay. Even," said the Wanderer, “as that courteous Knight, Bound by his vow to labour for redress Of all who suffer wrong, and to enact By sword and lance the law of gentleness, (If I may venture of myself to speak, Trusting that not incongruously I blend Low things with lofty) I too shall be doomed To outlive the kindly use and fair esteem Of the poor calling which my youth embraced With no unworthy prospect. But enough ; -Thoughts crowd upon me-and 'twere seemlier now To stop, and yield our gracious Teacher thanks For the pathetic records which his voice Hath here delivered; words of heartfelt truth, Tending to patience when affliction strikes; To hope and love; to confident repose In God; and reverence for the dust of Man." END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK. ARGUMENT. Page 291, Pastor's apology and apprehensions that he might have detained his Auditors too long, with the Pastor's invitation to his house-292, Solitary disinclined to comply-rallies the Wanderer-292, and playfully draws a comparison between his itinerant profession and that of the Knight-errant—294, which leads to Wanderer's giving an account of changes in the Country from the manufacturing spirit-295, Favourable effects-296, The other side of the picture, and chiefly as it has affected the humbler classes-298, Wanderer asserts the hollowness of all national grandeur if unsupported by moral worth-299, Physical science unable to support itself-300, Lamentations over an excess of manufacturing industry among the humbler Classes of Society -301, Picture of a Child employed in a Cotton-mill -303, Ignorance and degradation of Children among the agricultural Population reviewed-306, Conversation broken off by a renewed Invitation from the Pastor-307, Path leading to his House-307, Its appearance described-308, His Daughter309, His Wife-310, His Son (a Boy) enters with his Companion-311, Their happy appearance-312, The Wanderer how affected by the sight of them. BOOK EIGHTH. THE PARSONAGE. THE pensive Sceptic of the lonely vale These narratives of calm and humble life, Present themselves at once to all men's view: d; |