O that some Minstrel's harp were near, 5 Meek loveliness is round thee spread, To utter notes of gladness, And chase this silence from the air, ΙΟ Yet why?-a silvery current flows Lake Is visibly delighted; For not a feature of those hills A blue sky bends o'er Yarrow vale, Where was it that the famous Flower Of Yarrow Vale lay bleeding? 15 20 A softness still and holy; The grace of forest charms decayed, And pastoral melancholy. That region left, the vale unfolds Rich groves of lofty stature, With Yarrow winding through the por And, rising from those lofty groves, The shattered front of Newark's Towe Fair scenes for childhood's opening bloo Yon cottage seems a bower of bliss, Of tender thoughts, that nestle there- How sweet, on this autumnal day, 25 A crest of blooming heather! And what if I enwreathed my own! His bed perchance was yon smooth mound Twere no offence to reason; The haunts of happy Lovers, The sober Hills thus deck their brows I see-but not by sight alone, A ray of fancy, still survives- The path that leads them to the grove, 35 And gladsome notes my lips can breath The leafy grove that covers: And Pity sanctifies the Verse That paints, by strength of sorrow, But thou, that didst appear so fair Dost rival in the light of day Accordant to the measure. The vapours linger round the Heights 40 One hour is theirs, nor more is mine- POEMS DEDICATED TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERTY. PART I. I. a rebuke to II. CALAIS, AUGUST, 1802. COMPOSED BY THE SEA-SIDE, NEAR CALAIS, [Composed August, 1802.—Published January 29, AUGUST, 1802. 1803 (Morning Post 1); 1807.] Is it a reed that's shaken by the wind, Men known, and men unknown, sick, lame, and blind, Post forward all, like creatures of one kind, 5 With first-fruit offerings crowd to bend the knee In France, before the new-born Majesty. 'Tis ever thus. Ye men of prostrate mind, A seemly reverence may be paid to Heaven grant that other Cities may be gag Calais is not: and I have bent my way b To the sea-coast, noting that each mat frames His business as he likes. Far other sho [Composed May 21, 1802.-Published September 6, My youth here witnessed, in a proude 1802 (Morning Post); January 29, 1803 (Ibid.); 1807.] time; L 3 By the treaty of Campo Formio, 1797.-ER Y Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid When her long life hath reached its final day: C Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade: Within thy hearing, or thy head be now Pillowed in some deep dungeon's earless den; O miserable Chieftain! where and when Wilt thou find patience! Yet die not; do thou 6 If that which once was great is passed Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful away. I fall they must. Now, whither doth it tend? [Composed September 1, 1802.-Published February 11, 1803 (Morning Post); 1807.] ind what to him and his shall be the Among the capricious acts of tyranny that dis end? That thought is one which neither can appal graced those times, was the chasing of all Negroes from France by decree of the government: we had a Fellow-passenger who was one of the expelled. for cheer him; for the illustrious Swede WE had a female Passenger who came hath done From Calais with us, spotless in array, The thing which ought to be; is raised A white-robed Negro, like a lady gay, Yet downcast as a woman fearing blame; Meek, destitute, as seemed, of hope or She sate, from notice turning not away, Was like a lake, or river bright and fair, A span of waters; yet what power i there! What mightiness for evil and for good! Even so doth God protect us if we be Virtuous and wise. Winds blow, at waters roll, Strength to the brave, and Power, at Deity; And feel, thou Earth, for this afflicted Race! Yet in themselves are nothing! One THOUGHT OF A BRITON ON THE SUBJUG TION OF SWITZERLAND. [Composed probably early in 1807.-Publish. 1807.] Two Voices are there; one is of the In white-sleeved shirts are playing; and One of the mountains; each a migh the roar Voice: In both from age to age thou didst rejoi They were thy chosen music, Liberty! There came a Tyrant, and with holy glee Thou fought'st against him; but ha vainly striven: Thou from thy Alpine holds at length. driven, Where not a torrent murmurs heard thee. 10 Of one deep bliss thine ear hath be bereft : My Country! and 'tis joy enough and pride l For one hour's perfect bliss, to tread the grass Of England once again, and hear and see, With such a dear Companion at my side. XI. SEPTEMBER, 1802. NEAR DOVER. [Composed September, 1802-Published 1807.] INLAND, within a hollow vale, I stood; And saw, while sea was calm and air was clear, The coast of France-the coast of France how near! Drawn almost into frightful neighbourhood. I shrunk; for verily the barrier flood Then cleave, O cleave to that which is left; For, high-souled Maid, what sorrow we it be That Mountain floods should thunder before, And Ocean bellow from his rocky shore And neither awful Voice be heard thee! XIII. WRITTEN IN LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 180 [Composed September, 1802.-Published 187| O FRIEND! I know not which way I mu look For comfort, being, as I am, opprest, To think that now our life is only drest |