As the Moon brightens round her the clouds of the

night,

So he, where he stands, is a centre of light;

It gleams on the face, there, of dusky-browed Jack, And the pale-visaged Baker's, with basket on back.

That errand-bound 'Prentice was passing in haste What matter! he's caught—and his time runs to

waste

The Newsman is stopped, though he stops on the fret,

And the half-breathless Lamplighter-he's in the net!

The Porter sits down on the weight which he bore ; The Lass with her barrow wheels hither her store; If a Thief could be here he might pilfer at ease; She sees the Musician, 'tis all that she sees!

He stands, backed by the Wall;—he abates not his din;

His hat gives him vigour, with boons dropping in, From the Old and the Young, from the Poorest; and there!

The one-pennied Boy has his penny to spare.

O blest are the Hearers, and proud be the Hand

Of the pleasure it spreads through so thankful a

Band;

I am glad for him, blind as he is! all the while

If they speak 'tis to praise, and they praise with a smile.

That tall Man, a Giant in bulk and in height,
Not an inch of his body is free from delight;
Can he keep himself still, if he would? oh, not he!
The music stirs in him like wind through a tree.

Mark that Cripple who leans on his Crutch; like a Tower

That long has leaned forward, leans hour after hour!That Mother, whose Spirit in fetters is bound, While she dandles the babe in her arms to the sound.

Now, Coaches and Chariots! roar on like a stream; Here are twenty souls happy as Souls in a dream : They are deaf to your murmurs—they care not for

you,

Nor what ye are flying, nor what ye pursue!

XVIIL

STAR-GAZERS.

WHAT crowd is this? what have we here! we must

A Telescope upon its frame, and pointed to the sky: Long is it as a Barber's Pole, or Mast of little Boat, Some little Pleasure-skiff, that doth on Thames's waters float.

The Show-man chooses well his place, 'tis Leicester's busy Square;

And is as happy in his night, for the heavens are blue and fair;

Calm, though impatient, is the Crowd; each stands

ready with the fee,

Impatient till his moment comes

what an insight

must it be !

Yet, Showman, where can lie the cause? Shall

thy Implement have blame,

A Boaster, that when he is tried, fails, and is put to shame ?

Or is it good as others are, and be their eyes in fault? Their eyes, or minds? or, finally, is this resplendent Vault?

Is nothing of that radiant pomp so good as we have here?

Or gives a thing but small delight that never can be

dear?

The silver Moon with all her Vales, and Hills of mightiest fame,

Doth she betray us when they're seen? or are they but a name ?

Or is it rather that Conceit rapacious is and strong, And bounty never yields so much but it seems to do her wrong?

Or is it, that when human Souls a journey long have had,

And are returned into themselves, they cannot but be sad?

Or must we be constrained to think that these Spec

tators rude,

Poor in estate, of manners base, men of the mul

titude,

Have souls which never yet have risen, and therefore prostrate lie?

No, no, this cannot be - Men thirst for

power and

majesty !

Does, then, a deep and earnest thought the blissful

mind employ

Of him who gazes, or has gazed? a grave and steady joy,

That doth reject all shew of pride, admits no outward sign,

Because not of this noisy world, but silent and divine!

Whatever be the cause, 'tis sure that they who pry and pore

Seem to meet with little gain, seem less happy than before:

One after One they take their turns, nor have I one

espied

That doth not slackly go away, as if dissatisfied.