in their stations, lifting tow'rd the sky foliaged head in cloud-like majesty, e shadow-casting race of trees survive: in the train of Spring, arrive eet flowers;-what living eye hath viewed 65 ir myriads?-endlessly renewed, berever strikes the sun's glad ray; here'er the subtle waters stray; berever sportive breezes bend eir course, or genial showers descend! rtals, rejoice! the very Angels quit 71 eir mansions unsusceptible of change, aid your pleasant bowers to sit, d through your sweet vicissitudes to range!" IV. nursed at happy distance from the cares 75 a too-anxious world, mild pastoral Muse! Of ages coming, ages gone; (Nations from before them sweeping, 95 100 And is She brought within the power 110 it to the sparkling crown Urania How fragile! yet of ancestry wears, to her sister Clio's laurel wreath, ferr'st a garland culled from purple heath, blooming thicket moist with morning I was it granted to the simple ear rather suits it, side by side with apped in a fit of pleasing indolence, le and listen-till o'er-drowsèd sense 115 The golden years maintained a course even; While incense from the altar breathes We were not mocked with glimpse and The taper-lights, and curls in clouds shadow then, Around angelic Forms, the still Bright Seraphs mixed familiarly with Creation of the painter's skill, WHERE will they stop, those breathing The Spirits of the new-born flowers? 5 ΙΟ That on the service wait concealed Alas! the sanctities combined The priests are from their altars thrust Heaven will not tax our thoughts with Of seasons balancing their flight On the swift wings of day and night, skies Is wafted in mute harmonies; Or what a hand of flesh can give ; That every day should leave some part hou wilt salute old memories as they throng to thy heart; and fancies, running wild hrough fresh green fields, and budding groves among, ill make thee happy, happy as a child; sunshine wilt thou think, and flowers, and song, 21 nd breathe as in a world where nothing can go wrong. Of Heaven doth in such wise, from humblest springs, 35 Pour pleasure forth, and solaces that trace Streaming from founts above the starry With angels when their own untroubled home 40 They leave, and speed on nightly embassy To visit earthly chambers, and for whom? Yea, both for souls who God's forbearance try, And those that seek his help, and for his mercy sigh. XLVIII. TO THE CLOUDS. Of that tall rock, as from a hidden world, nd know-that, even for him who shuns Contend ye with each other? of the sea the day nd nightly tosses on a bed of pain; away, Children, thus post ye over vale and To Just come unhoped for, if they come again; now that, for him whose waking thoughts, severe Beheld in your impetuous march the likeness Of a wide army pressing on to meet 15 And Fancy, not less aptly pleased, compares Luminous or gloomy, welcome to the v Which they are entering, welcome mine eye That sees them, to my soul that owns them, And in the bosom of the firmament Your squadrons to an endless flight of O'er which they move, wherein they a birds Aerial, upon due migration bound 20 To milder climes; or rather do ye urge And would ye, tracking your proud lord the Sun, Be present at his setting; or the pomp 25 Of Persian mornings would ye fill, and stand Poising your splendours high above the heads Of worshippers kneeling to their up-risen God? Whence, whence, ye Clouds! this eagerness of speed? Speak, silent creatures.-They are gone, are fled, 30 Buried together in yon gloomy mass and bright contained, A type of her capacious self and all Her restless progeny. A humble walk Here is my body doomed to tread, path, A little hoary line and faintly traced, Work, shall we call it, of the shepher foot Or of his flock?-joint vestige of the both. I pace it unrepining, for my thoughts Admit no bondage and my words ha wings. Where is the Orphean lyre, or Dr harp, To accompany the verse? The mount blast Shall be our hand of music; he sh sweep The rocks, and quivering trees, and lowy lake, And search the fibres of the caves, they And vacant doth the region which they Shall answer, for our song is of thronged Clouds, And the wind loves them; and the gen gales Which by their aid re-clothe the nak lawn To vanish-fleet as days and months and With annual verdure, and revive years, Fleet as the generations of mankind, Power, glory, empire, as the world itself, The lingering world, when time hath ceased to be. 40 But the winds roar, shaking the rooted trees, And see! a bright precursor to a train Perchance as numerous, overpeers the rock That sullenly refuses to partake Of the wild impulse. From a fount of life Invisible, the long procession moves woods, And moisten the parched lips of thir flowers Love them; and every idle breeze of all Keep their most solemn vigils when Watch also, shifting peaceably their pla 45 As if some Protean art the change wrought, |