Thus gladdened from our own dear Vale we pass And soon approach Diana's Looking-glass! To Loughrigg-tarn, round clear and bright as heaven, 166 Half hid in native trees. Alas 'tis not, Nor ever was; I sighed, and left the spot Unconscious of its own untoward lot, 195 And thought in silence, with regret too keen, Such name Italian fancy would have Of unexperienced joys that might have given, Ere on its banks the few grey cabins rose That yet disturb not its concealed repose More than the feeblest wind that idly blows. 170 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 bield1, 175 And the smooth green of many a pendent field, And, quieted and soothed, a torrent small, A little daring would-be waterfall, One chimney smoking and its azure wreath, Associate all in the calm Pool beneath, With here and there a faint imperfect gleam 181 Of water-lilies veiled in misty steamWhat wonder at this hour of stillness deep, A shadowy link 'tween wakefulness and And vocal wishes sent of like good will 1 A word common in the country, signifying And mountain-tops, a barren ridge we shelter, as in Scotland. scale; With Young and Old warm greetings we exchange, And jocund smiles, and toward the lowly Grange Press forward by the teasing dogs unscared. More could my pen report of grave or gay Entering, we find the morning meal pre- That through our gipsy travel cheered the pared: So down we sit, though not till each had But, bursting forth above the waves, the cast 240 cheek way; Sun 271 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, 275 Nor chide the Muse that stooped to break a spell Which might have else been on me yet:FAREWELL. UPON PERUSING THE FOREGOING EPISTLE THIRTY YEARS AFTER ITS COMPOSITION. [Composed 1841.-Published: vol. of 1842.] SooN did the Almighty Giver of all rest Take those dear young Ones to a fearless nest; And in Death's arms has long reposed the Friend Of a perpetual dawn from brow and For whom this simple Register was penned. And Strangers even the slighted Scroll may prize, While Ye, in lasting durance pent, 5 For something more than dull content, Moved by the touch of kindred sym-Yet might your glassy prison seem pathies. Note.-LOUGHRIGG TARN, alluded to in the foregoing Epistle, resembles, though much smaller in compass, the Lake Nemi, or Speculum Diano 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," 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. The design was not abandoned from failure of inclination on his part, but in consequence of local untowardness which need not be particularised. II. GOLD AND SILVER FISHES IN A [Composed 1829.-Published 1835.] A place where joy is known, Where golden flash and silver gleam Have meanings of their own; While, high and low, and all about, Your motions, glittering Elves! Ye weave-no danger from without, And peace among yourselves. Type of a sunny human breast Is your transparent cell; Where Fear is but a transient guest, No sullen Humours dwell; Where, sensitive of every ray That smites this tiny sea, Your scaly panoplies repay The loan with usury. ΤΟ 15 20 How beautiful!-Yet none knows why 25 Is it that ye with conscious skill And now, in twilight dim, 30 35 When the fierce orbs abate their glare ;- Cold though your nature be, 'tis pure; Ah! not alone by colours bright Ye mingle, or divide. For day-dreams soft as e'er beguiled 40 45 50 Accept, mute Captives! thanks and Dissevered both from all the mysteries praise; And may this tribute prove That gentle admirations raise Delight resembling love. III. LIBERTY. SEQUEL TO THE PRECEDING. Addressed to a friend; the gold and silver fishes having been removed to a pool in the pleasureground 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. [Composed 1829.-Published 1835.] THOSE breathing Tokens of your kind regard, (Suspect not, Anna, that their fate is hard; And, if not so, what matters beauty gone And admiration lost, by change of place That brings to the inward creature no disgrace? 25 But if the change restore his birthright, then, Whate'er the difference, boundless is the gain. Who can divine what impulses from God Reach the caged lark, within a townabode, From his poor inch or two of daisied sod? Your independence in the fathomless Spread, tiny nautilus, the living sail; 35 Dive, at thy choice, or brave the freshening gale! If unreproved the ambitious eagle mount Not soon does aught to which mild fancies Sunward to seek the daylight in its fount, Bays, gulfs, and ocean's Indian width, cling shall be, Till the world perishes, a field for thee! 40 While musing here I sit in shadow cool, And watch these mute Companions, in the pool, (Among reflected boughs of leafy trees) By glimpses caught-disporting at their ease, Is smooth as clear, save where with dim- Enlivened, braced, by hardy luxuries, 45 ples small I ask what warrant fixed them (like a spell A fly may settle, or a blossom fall. -There swims, of blazing sun and beating Of witchcraft fixed them) in the crystal Fearless (but how obscured!) the golden To wheel with languid motion round and And whither could they dart, if seized with fear? But most the Bard is true to inborn right, No sheltering stone, no tangled root was Lark of the dawn, and Philomel of night, Exults in freedom, can with rapture vouch near. When fire or taper ceased to cheer the For the dear blessings of a lowly couch, room, They wore away the night in starless gloom; 55 85 To snatch a sprig from Chaucer's reverend Which Horace needed for his spirit's brow) Is there a brilliant fondling of the cage, Though sure of plaudits on his costly stage, Though fed with dainties from the snowwhite hand Of a kind mistress, fairest of the land, 65 But gladly would escape; and, if need were, Scatter the colours from the plumes that bear health; With garlands, cheats her into happiness; The emancipated captive through blithe Give me the humblest note of those sad air strains 100 Into strange woods, where he at large Drawn forth by pressure of his gilded may live chains, On best or worst which they and Nature As a chance-sunbeam from his memory give? 70 The beetle loves his unpretending track, The snail the house he carries on his back; The far-fetched worm with pleasure would disown The bed we give him, though of softest down; fell Upon the Sabine farm he loved so well; Or when the prattle of Bandusia's spring Haunted his ear-he only listening- 105 He proud to please, above all rivals, fit To win the palm of gaiety and wit; He, doubt not, with involuntary dread, Shrinking from each new favour to be shed, A noble instinct; in all kinds the same, 75 |