But I have traced thee on thy winding way XXXIX. MONUMENT OF MRS. HOWARD, (by Nollekens,) IN WETHERAL CHURCH, NEAR CORBY, ON THE BANKS OF THE EDEN. [BEFORE this monument was put up in the Church at Wetheral, I saw it in the sculptor's studio. Nollekens, who by the bye was a strange and grotesque figure that interfered much with one's admiration of his works, showed me at the same time the various models in clay which he had made, one after another, of the Mother and her Infant : the improvement on each was surprising; and how so much grace, beauty, and tenderness had come out of such a head I was sadly puzzled to conceive. Upon a windowseat in his parlour lay two casts of faces, one of the Duchess of Devonshire, so noted in her day; and the other of Mr. Pitt, taken after his death, a ghastly resemblance, as these things always are, even when taken from the living subject, and more ghastly in this instance from the peculiarity of the features. The heedless and apparently neglectful manner in which the faces of these two persons were left the one so distinguished in London society, and the other upon whose counsels and public conduct, during a most momentous period, depended the fate of this great Empire and perhaps of all Europe-afforded a lesson to which the dullest of casual visitors could scarcely be insensible. It touched me the more because I had so often seen Mr. Pitt upon his own ground at Cambridge and upon the fluor of the House of Commons.] STRETCHED on the dying Mother's lap, lies dead Of luminous faith, heavenward hath raised that head So patiently; and through one hand has spread Is less to be lamented than revered; And own that Art, triumphant over strife And pain, hath powers to Eternity endeared. XL. SUGGESTED BY THE FOREGOING. TRANQUILLITY! the sovereign aim wert thou The Tragic Muse thee served with thoughtful vow; Was fondly seized by Sculpture, to restore Peace to the Mourner. But when He who wore Then Arts which still had drawn a softening grace XLI. NUNNERY. [I BECAME acquainted with the walks of Nunnery when a boy: they are within easy reach of a day's pleasant excursion from the town of Penrith, where I used to pass my summer holidays under the roof of my maternal Grandfather. The place is well worth visiting; though, within these few years, its privacy, and therefore the pleasure which the scene is so well fitted to give, has been injuriously affected by walks cut in the rocks on that side the stream which had been left in its natural state.] THE floods are roused, and will not soon be weary; He raves, or through some moody passage creeps *The chain of Crossfell, XLII. STEAMBOATS, VIADUCTS, AND RAILWAYS. MOTIONS and Means, on land and sea at wa? Shall ye, by Poets even, be judged amiss! In spite of all that beauty may disown In your harsh features, Nature doth embrace Her lawful offspring in Man's art; and Time, Pleased with your triumphs o'er his brother Space, Accepts from your bold hands the proffered crown Of hope, and smiles on you with cheer sublime. XLIII. THE MONUMENT COMMONLY CALLED LONG MEG AND HER DAUGHTERS, NEAR THE RIVER EDEN. A WEIGHT of awe, not easy to be borne, From the dread bosom of the unknown past, Speak Thou, whose massy strength and stature scorn Speak, Giant-mother! tell it to the Morn XLIV. LOWTHER. ["CATHEDRAL pomp." It may be questioned whether this union was in the contemplation of the artist when he planned the edifice. However this might be, a poet may be excused for taking the view of the subject presented in this Sonnet.] LOWTHER! in thy majestic Pile are seen in apt accord With the baronial castle's sterner mien; Union significant of God adored, And charters won and guarded by the sword Of ancient honour; whence that goodly state * See Note. |