A doleful bower for penitential song, 115 Where Man and Muse complained of mutual wrong; While Cam's ideal current glided by, And antique towers nodded their foreheads high, Citadels dear to studious privacy. 120 IV. POOR ROBIN 2. [Composed March, 1840.-Published: vol. of 1842.] Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, But Fortune, who had long been used to And lilies face the March-winds in full sport With this tried Servant of a thankless And humbler growths as moved with one Court, blow, desire fast; and her great talents would have enabled her to be eminently useful in the difficult path of life to which she had been called. The opinion she entertained of her own performances, given to the world under her maiden name, Jewsbury, was modest and humble, and, indeed, far below their merits; as is often the case with those who are making trial of their powers, with a hope to discover what they are best fitted for. In one quality, viz. quickness in the motions of her mind, she had, within the range of the Author's acquaintance, no equal. 2 The small wild Geranium known by that term. Or does it suit our humour to commend 20 What mortal form, what earthly face Nay, we would simply praise the free To truth and sober reason blind, given, 35 [Composed ?.- Published: vol. of 1842.] How just, how bountiful, the hand of STAY, little cheerful Robin ! stay, Heaven. V. THE GLEANER. SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE. [Composed 1828.-Published, as "The Country That cheek-a kindling of the morn, And at my casement sing, Though it should prove a farewell lay And this our parting spring. Though I, alas! may ne'er enjoy The promise in thy song; A charm, that thought can not destroy, Methinks that in my dying hour Thy song would still be dear, 30 5 ΙΟ And with a more than earthly power 5 A Redbreast, one that to his cottage door There, at the root of one particular tree, An easy seat this worn-out Labourer found ΙΟ While Robin pecked the crumbs upon his knee Laid one by one, or scattered on the ground. Dear intercourse was theirs, day after day; What signs of mutual gladness when they met! Think of their common peace, their simple play, 15 The parting moment and its fond regret. VIII. SONNET. TO AN OCTOGENARIAN. [Composed 1846.-Published 1850.] AFFECTIONS lose their object; Time brings forth No successors; and, lodged in memory, Or never hope to reach a second birth. 5 Scorned, or neglected, fear not such a Though poor and destitute of friends thou Months passed in love that failed not to The utmost solitude of age to face, fulfil, In spite of season's change, its own By fluttering pinions here and busy bill; Thus in the chosen spot a tie so strong 21 The Captive shunned all converse prof- ΙΟ Still shall be left some corner of the heart Where Love for living Thing can find a place. IX. FLOATING ISLAND. These lines are by the Author of the Address to the Wind, &c., published heretofore along with my poems. Those to a Redbreast are by a deceased female Relative. [Composed ?.-Published: vol. of 1842.] HARMONIOUS Powers with Nature work Wife, children, kindred, they were dead On sky, earth, river, lake and sea ; and gone; 25 But, if no evil hap his wishes crossed, One living Stay was left, and on that one Some recompense for all that he had lost. O that the good old Man had power to prove, Might see it, from the mossy shore. Dissevered, float upon the Lake, Float with its crest of trees adorned That friendship lasts though fellowship On which the warbling birds their pas "Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone Ballad of Sir Patrick Spence, [Composed 1826.-Published 1827.] The Moon re-entering her monthly round, To see or not to see, as best may please Now, dazzling Stranger! when thou The dusky Shape within her arms im- Thy dark Associate ever I discern; bound, Emblem of thoughts too eager to advance |