Dark but to every gentle feeling true, As if their lustre flowed from ether's purest blue. By fortitude and patience, and the grace Not unadvisedly those secret springs I leave unsearched: enough that memory clings, FAREWELL. UPON PERUSING THE FOREGOING EPISTLE THIRTY YEARS AFTER ITS COMPOSITION. SOON did the Almighty Giver of all rest Take those dear young Ones to a fearless nest; And Strangers even the slighted Scroll may prize, As blameless pleasure, not without some tears, 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 form, and the beauty immediately surrounding it, but also as being overlooked by the eminence of Langdale Pikes as Lake Nemi is by that of Monte Calvo. Since this Epistle was written Loughrigg Tarn has lost much of its beauty by the felling of many natural clumps of wood, relics of the old forest, particularly upon the farm called "The Oaks," so called from the abundance of that tree which grew there. It is to be regretted, upon public grounds, that Sir George Beaumont did not carry into effect his intention of constructing here a Summer Retreat in the style I have described; as his taste would have set an example how buildings, with all the accommodations modern society requires, might be introduced even into the most secluded parts of this country without injuring their native character. II. GOLD AND SILVER FISHES IN A VASE. [THEY were a present from Miss Jewsbury, of whom mention is made in the note at the end of the next poem. The fish were healthy to all appearance in their confinement for a long time, but at last, for some cause we could not make out, they languished, and, one of them being all but dead, they were taken to the pool under the old Pollard-oak. The apparently dying one lay on its side unable to move. I used to watch it, and about the tenth day it began to right itself, and in a few days more was able to swim about with its companions. For many months they continued to prosper in their new place of abode; but one night by an unusually great flood they were swept out of the pool, and perished to our great regret.] THE soaring lark is blest as proud For something more than dull content, Yet might your glassy prison seem Type of a sunny human breast No sullen Humours dwell; Where, sensitive of every ray That smites this tiny sea, Your scaly panoplies repay How beautiful!-Yet none knows why Is it that ye with conscious skill And sometimes, not without your will, Fays, Genii of gigantic size! When the fierce orbs abate their glare ;- Cold though your nature be, 'tis pure; Ah! not alone by colours bright When, like essential Forms of light, For day-dreams soft as e'er beguiled Accept, mute Captives! thanks and praise; That gentle admirations raise 321 III. LIBERTY. (SEQUEL TO THE ABOVE.) [ADDRESSED TO A FRIEND; THE GOLD AND SILVER FISHES HAVING BEEN REMOVED TO A POOL IN THE PLEASURE-GROUND OF RYDAL MOUNT.] The liberty of a people consists in being governed by laws which they have made for themselves, under whatever form it be of government. The liberty of a private man, in being master of his own time and actions, as far as may consist with the laws of God and of his country, Of this latter we are here to discourse.'-COWLEY. THOSE breathing Tokens of your kind regard, No winds disturb; the mirror of whose breast -There swims, of blazing sun and beating shower VOL. IV. Y |