Perplexed her fingers seem, What means the Spectre? Why intent Thought Eglamore, by which I swore, Here am I, and to-morrow's sun, That bliss is ne'er so surely won As when a circuit has been run So from the spot whereon he stood, He recognised the face; And whispers caught, and speeches small, Some muttered to the torrent-fall ;- Soul-shattered was the Knight, nor knew Or boding Shade, or if the Maid Her very self stood there. He touched; what followed who shall tell? Of slumber-shrieking back she fell, In plunged the Knight!—when on firm ground The rescued Maiden lay, Her eyes grew bright with blissful light, Confusion passed away; She heard, ere to the throne of grace Her faithful Spirit flew, His voice-beheld his speaking face; So was he reconciled to life: Brief words may speak the rest; Within the dell he built a cell, And there was Sorrow's guest; he found, In hermits' weeds repose From vain temptations free; Beside the torrent dwelling-bound By one deep heart-controlling sound, Wild stream of Aira, hold thy course, Nor fear memorial lays, Where clouds that spread in solemn shade, Dear art thou to the light of heaven, Though minister of sorrow; Sweet is thy voice at pensive even; 1833. XLVII. TO CORDELIA M HALLSTEADS, ULLSWATER. Nor in the mines beyond the western main, Nor is it silver of romantic Spain But from our loved Helvellyn's depths was brought, XLVIII, MOST sweet it is with unuplifted eyes Pleased rather with some soft ideal scene, The beauty coming and the beauty gone. If Thought and Love desert us, from that day The Mind's internal heaven shall shed her dews VOL. IV. POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION. I. EXPOSTULATION AND REPLY. [THIS poem is a favorite among the Quakers, as I have learnt on many occasions. It was composed in front of the house at Alfoxden, in the spring of 1798.] "WHY, William, on that old grey stone, Thus for the length of half a day, Why, William, sit you thus alone, And dream your time away? Where are your books ?-that light bequeathed To Beings else forlorn and blind! Up! up! and drink the spirit breathed You look round on your Mother Earth, |