By spectral shapes of guilt, or to the ground, 150 Advancing Summer, Nature's law fulfilled, 160 That in wild Arden's brakes was ever heard, Her work and her work's partners she can cheer, The whole day long, and all days of the year. Thus gladdened from our own dear Vale we pass And soon approach Diana's Looking-glass! 165 To Loughrigg-tarn, round clear and bright as heaven, Such name Italian fancy would have given, Ah, Beaumont! when an opening in the road Stopped me at once by charm of what it showed, The encircling region vividly exprest Within the mirror's depth a world at rest— Sky streaked with purple, grove and craggy 175 bield,1 And the smooth green of many a pendent field, And, quieted and soothed, a torrent small, A word common in the country, signifying shelter, as in Scotland. A little daring would-be waterfall, 180 What wonder at this hour of stillness deep, 186 If, mixed with what appeared of rock, lawn, wood, 190 Fondly embosomed in the tranquil flood, But time, irrevocable time, is flown, 195 200 And let us utter thanks for blessings sown And reaped-what hath been, and what is, our own. Not far we travelled ere a shout of glee, Startling us all, dispersed my reverie; Such shout as many a sportive echo meeting 205 Oft-times from Alpine chalets sends a greeting. Whence the blithe hail? behold a Peasant stand On high, a kerchief waving in her hand! Not unexpectant that by early day Our little Band would thrid this mountain way, 21 I Before her cottage on the bright hill side 215 With door left open makes a gloomy spot, 220 Emblem of those dark corners sometimes found Within the happiest breast on earthly ground. Rich prospect left behind of stream and vale, And mountain-tops, a barren ridge we scale; Descend and reach, in Yewdale's depths, a plain With haycocks studded, striped with yellowing grain An area level as a Lake and spread 226 Under a rock too steep for man to tread, Where sheltered from the north and bleak north-west Aloft the Raven hangs a visible nest, 230 Fearless of all assaults that would her brood molest. Hot sunbeams fill the steaming vale; but hark, At our approach, a jealous watch-dog's bark, Noise that brings forth no liveried Page of state, But the whole household, that our coming wait. 235 With Young and Old warm greetings we exchange, And jocund smiles, and toward the lowly Grange Press forward by the teasing dogs unscared. Entering, we find the morning meal prepared: So down we sit, though not till each had cast 240 Pleased looks around the delicate repast— Rich cream, and snow-white eggs fresh from the nest, With amber honey from the mountain's breast; Strawberries from lane or woodland, offering wild 245 Of children's industry, in hillocks piled; Kind Hostess! Handmaid also of the feast, 255 Let me not ask what tears may have been wept By those bright eyes, what weary vigils kept, Beside that hearth what sighs may have been heaved For wounds inflicted, nor what toil relieved 260 266 I leave unsearched : enough that memory clings, More could my pen report of grave or gay 270 That through our gipsy travel cheered the way; But, bursting forth above the waves, the Sun Laughs at my pains, and seems to say, "Be done." Yet, Beaumont, thou wilt not, I trust, reprove This humble offering made by Truth to Love, Nor chide the Muse that stooped to break a spell 276 Which might have else been on me yet:FAREWELL. UPON PERUSING THE FOREGOING SooN did the Almighty Giver of all rest 6 Moved by the touch of kindred sympathies. The joys of the Departed-what so fair 1841. 15 Note.-LOUGHRIGG TARN, alluded to in the foregoing Epistle, resembles, though much smaller in compass, the Lake Nemi, or Speculum Dianæ as it is often called, not only in its clear waters and circular |