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Some close behind, some side by side, 45
Like clouds in stormy weather;
They run, and cry, "Nay, let us die,
And let us die together."

A lake was near; the shore was steep;
There never foot had been;
They ran, and with a desperate leap
Together plunged into the deep,
Nor ever more were seen.
Sing, mournfully, oh! mournfully,
The solitude of Binnorie.

VI.

The stream that flows out of the lake,
As through the glen it rambles,
Repeats a moan o'er moss and stone,
For those seven lovely Campbells.
Seven little Islands, green and bare,
Have risen from out the deep:
The fishers say, those sisters fair
By faeries all are buried there,

50

I asked 'twas whispered; The device
To each and all might well belong :
It is the Spirit of Paradise
That prompts such work, a Spirit stro
That gives to all the self-same bent
Where life is wise and innocent.

XV.

THE REDBREAST CHASING TH

BUTTERFLY.

[Composed April 18, 1802.--Published 1807.
ART thou the bird whom Man loves be
The pious bird with the scarlet breast,
Our little English Robin;

The bird that comes about our doors
When Autumn-winds are sobbing?
Art thou the Peter of Norway Boors!
Their Thomas in Finland,

And Russia far inland?
55 The bird that by some name or other
All men who know thee call their brother
The darling of children and men?
Could Father Adam1 open his eyes
And see this sight beneath the skies,
He'd wish to close them again.
-If the Butterfly knew but his friend,
Hither his flight he would bend;

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And find his way to me,

Under the branches of the tree:

In and out, he darts about;

Can this be the bird, to man so good,
That, after their bewildering,
Covered with leaves the little children

So painfully in the wood?

What ailed thee, Robin, that thou coul

pursue

A beautiful creature,
That is gentle by nature?

1 See "Paradise Lost," Book XI., where Ad points out to Eve the ominous sign of the E 5 chasing "two Birds of gayest plume," and gentle Hart and Hind pursued by their enemj

Beneath the summer sky

From flower to flower let him fly;
Ts all that he wishes to do.

The cheerer Thou of our in-door sadness, 30
He is the friend of our summer gladness:
What hinders, then, that ye should be
Phymates in the sunny weather,

And fly about in the air together!

But in man was ne'er such daring
As yon Hawk exhibits, pairing
His brave spirit with the war in

The stormy skies!

"Mark him, how his power he uses, Lays it by, at will resumes!

Mark, ere for his haunt he chooses Clouds and utter glooms!

His beautiful wings in crimson are drest, 35 There he wheels in downward mazes;

A crimson as bright as thine own:

Wouldst thou be happy in thy nest,

pious Bird! whom man loves best, Love him, or leave him alone!

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Sunward now his flight he raises, Catches fire, as seems, and blazes With uninjured plumes!"

ANSWER.

"Stranger, 'tis no act of courage
Which aloft thou dost discern;
No bold bird gone forth to forage
'Mid the tempest stern;
But such mockery as the nations
See, when public perturbations
Lift men from their native stations,
Like yon TUFT OF FERN;

"Such it is; the aspiring creature
Soaring on undaunted wing,
(So you fancied) is by nature

A dull helpless thing,

Dry and withered, light and yellow ;-
That to be the tempest's fellow !
Wait-and you shall see how hollow
Its endeavouring!"

XVIII.

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And this too from the Laureate's Child,
A living lord of melody!
How will her Sire be reconciled
To the refined indignity?

I spake, when whispered a low voice,
"Bard! moderate your ire;
Spirits of all degrees rejoice
In presence of the lyre.

"The Minstrels of Pygmean bands,
Dwarf Genii, moonlight-loving Fays,
Have shells to fit their tiny hands
And suit their slender lays.

"Some, still more delicate of ear,
Have lutes (believe my words)
Whose framework is of gossamer,
While sunbeams are the chords.

Yet tho' to me the pencil's art

No like remembrances can give,

15 Your portraits still may reach the heart
And there for gentle pleasure live;
While Fancy ranging with free scope
Shall on some lovely Alien set
A name with us endeared to hope,
To peace, or fond regret.

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25

"Gay Sylphs this miniature will court, Made vocal by their brushing wings, 30 And sullen Gnomes will learn to sport Around its polished strings;

"Whence strains to love-sick maiden dear, While in her lonely bower she tries

Still as we look with nicer care,

Some new resemblance we may trace A Heart's-case will perhaps be there, A Speedwell may not want its place. And so may we, with charmed mind Beholding what your skill has wroug Another Star-of-Bethlehem find,

A new Forget-me-not.

From earth to heaven with motion fleet From heaven to earth our thoughts w pass,

A Holy-thistle here we meet

And there a Shepherd's weather-glass, And haply some familiar name

Shall grace the fairest, sweetest, plant

To cheat the thought she cannot cheer, 35 Whose presence cheers the drooping fra

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Of English Emigrant.

Gazing she feels its power beguile

Sad thoughts, and breathes with eas breath;

Alas! that meek that tender smile
Is but a harbinger of death:
And pointing with a feeble hand
She says, in faint words by sighs broke
Bear for me to my native land
This precious Flower, true love's l
token.

XX.

[Composed 1845 (?).-Published 1845.] GLAD Sight wherever new with old Is joined through some dear homeba tie;

The life of all that we behold
Depends upon that mystery.
Vain is the glory of the sky,

The beauty vain of field and grove,
Unless, while with admiring eye
We gaze, we also learn to love.

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