Farewell to the Valley Sight of a large and populous Vale Solitary consents to go forward- Vale described - The Pastor's dwelling, and some account of him- The Churchyard — Church and Monuments - The Solitary musing, and whereRoused 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 profession accompanying it, contrasted with the real state of human life - Inconsistency of the best men - Acknowledgment that practice falls far below the injuntions 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 Inquirers may be most free from error The Pastor is desired to give some Portraits of the living or dead from his own observations 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 unbaptized Infants - What sensations they excite Funeral and sepulchral Observances, whence Ecclesiastical Establishments, whence derived - Profession of Belief in the doctrine of Immortality.
FAREWELL, deep Valley, with thy one rude House, And its small lot of life-supporting fields,
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!
Of that brown Slope, the outlet of the Vale,
Lingering behind my Comrades, thus I breathed,
A parting tribute to a spot that seemed
Like the fixed centre of a troubled World.
And now, pursuing leisurely my way,
How vain, thought I, it is 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
Obscurity, and calm forgetfulness.
Knowledge, methinks, in these disordered times
Should be allowed a privilege to have
Her Anchorites, like Piety of old;
Men, who, from faction sacred, and unstained
By war, might, if so minded, turn aside
Uncensured, and subsist, a scattered few
Living to God and Nature, and content
With that communion. Consecrated be
The Spots where such abide! But happier still
The Man, whom, furthermore, a hope attends
That meditation and research may guide
His privacy to principles and powers
Discovered or invented; or set forth,
Through his acquaintance with the ways of truth,
In lucid order; so that, when his course
Is run, some faithful Eulogist may say,
He sought not praise, and praise did overlook
His unobtrusive merit; but his life,
Sweet to himself, was exercised in good
That shall survive his name and memory.
Acknowledgments of gratitude sincere
Accompanied these musings; - fervent thanks
For my own peaceful lot and happy choice;
A choice that from the passions of the world
Withdrew, and fixed me in a still retreat,
Sheltered, but not to social duties lost,
Secluded, but not buried; and with song
Cheering my days, and with industrious thought,
With ever-welcome company of books,
By virtuous freiendship's soul-sustaining aid,
And with the blessings of domestic love.
Thus occupied in mind I paced along,
Following the rugged road, by sledge or wheel
Worn in the moorland, till I overtook
My two Associates, in the morning sunshine
Halting together on a rocky knoll,
From which the road descended rapidly
To the green meadows of another Vale.
Here did our pensive Host put forth his hand
In sign of farewell. "Nay," the Old Man said,
"The fragrant Air its coolness still retains;
The Herds and Flocks are yet abroad to crop
The dewy grass; you cannot leave us now,
We must not part at this inviting hour."
He yielded, though reluctant; for his Mind
Instinctively disposed him to retire
To his own Covert; as a billow, heaved
Upon the beach, rolls back into the Sea.
- So we descend; and winding round a rock
Attain a point that showed the Valley
In length before us; and, not distant far,
Upon a rising ground a gray Church-tower,
Whose battlements were screened by tufted trees.
And, towards a crystal Mere, that lay beyond,
Among steep hills and woods embosomed, flowed
A copious Stream with boldly-winding course;
Here traceable, there hidden there again
To sight restored, and glittering in the Sun.
On the Stream's bank, and every where, appeared
Fair Dwellings, single, or in social knots;
Some scattered o'er the level, others perched
On the hill sides, a cheerful quiet scene,
Now in its morning purity arrayed.
"As, 'mid some happy Valley of the Alps,"
Said I, "once happy, ere tyrannic Power,
Wantonly breaking in upon the Swiss,
Destroyed their unoffending Commonwealth,
A popular equality reigns here,
Save for one House of State beneath whose roof
A rural Lord might dwell."-"No feudal pomp,"
Replied our Friend, a Chronicler who stood
Where'er he moved upon familiar ground,
"Nor feudal power is there; but there abides,
In his allotted Home, a genuine Priest,
The Shepherd of his Flock; or, as a King
Is styled, when most affectionately praised,
The Father of his People. Such is he;
And rich and poor, and young and old, rejoice
Under his spiritual sway. He hath vouchsafed
To me some portion of a kind regard;
And something also of his inner mind
Hath he imparted but I speak of him
As he is known to all. The calm delights
Of unambitious piety he chose,
And learning's solid dignity; though born
Of knightly race, nor wanting powerful friends.
Hither, in prime of manhood, he withdrew
From academic bowers. He loved the spot,
Who does not love his native soil? he prized
The ancient rural character, composed
Of simple manners, feelings unsuppressed
And undisguised, and strong and serious thought;
A character reflected in himself,
With such embellishment as well beseems
His rank and sacred function. This deep vale
Winds far in reaches hidden from our eyes,
And one, a turreted manorial Hall
Adorns, in which the good's Man's Ancestors
Have dwelt through ages - Patrons of this Cure.
To them, and to his own judicious pains,
The Vicar's Dwelling, and the whole Domain,
Owes that presiding aspect which might well
Attract your notice; statelier than could else
Have been bestowed, through course of common chance, On an unwealthy mountain Benefice."
This said, oft halting we pursued our way;
Nor reached the Village Churchyard till the sun,
Travelling at steadier pace than ours, had risen
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