There are the naked clothed, the hungry It charms a feast-day throng of all de While in Judea Fancy loves to roam, rights; onscience, the timid being's inmost light, ope of the dawn and solace of the night, To sound the crystal depth of maiden heers these Recluses with a steady ray many an hour when judgment goes astray. 85 h! scorn not hastily their rule who try arth to despise, and flesh to mortify; onsume with zeal, in winged ecstasies prayer and praise forget their rosaries, or hear the loudest surges of St. Bees. 90 et none so prompt to succour and protect forlorn traveller, or sailor wrecked the bare coast; nor do they grudge the boon And wedded Life, through scriptural mysteries, 115 ich staff and cockle hat and sandal Peasant and mail-clad Chief with pious shoon awe; im for the pilgrim: and, though chid- As at this day men seeing what they ings sharp 95 y sometimes greet the strolling minstrel's harp, saw, Or the bare wreck of faith's solemnities, Aspire to more than earthly destinies; 125 s not then when, swept with sportive Witness yon Pile that greets us from Yet more; around those Churches, To Prowess guided by her insight keen gathered Towns Matter and Spirit are as one Machine; Safe from the feudal Castle's haughty Boastful Idolatress of formal skill She in her own would merge the etera will: frowns; Peaceful abodes, where Justice might uphold Her scales with even hand, and culture mould 130 The heart to pity, train the mind in care Nor dost thou fail, thro' abject love of ease, 135 Forth from their cells; their ancient In Reformation's sweeping overthrow. The inextinguishable Spirit strives. 150 And doubts and scruples seldom teas the brain, Oh may that Power who hushed the That no adventurer's bark had power stormy seas, And cleared a way for the first Votaries, Alas! the Genius of our age, from Schools gain These shores if he approached them be on wrong; 1 See "Excursion," seventh part; and “Fa siastical Sketches," second part, near the ginning. For, suddenly up-conjured from the Just limits; but yon Tower, whose smiles Main, Mists rose to hide the Land-that search, though long 5 adorn Year after year I strove, but strove in var And hardships manifold did I endure, For Fortune on me never deigned smile; Yet I at last a resting-place have found, With just enough life's comforts to procure, In a snug Cove on this our favoured Isla A peaceful spot where Nature's gift abound; Then sure I have no reason to complain, Though poor to Sea I went, and por I still remain. XX. AT BALA-SALA, ISLE OF MAN. Supposed to be written by a Friend. BROKEN in fortune, but in mind entire And sound in principle, I seek repose Where ancient trees this convent-pr enclose1, In ruin beautiful. When vain desire Intrudes on peace, I pray the eternal Se To cast a soul-subduing shade on me, A grey-haired, pensive, thankful Refuge A shade-but with some sparks of bes venly fire Once to these cells vouchsafed. And when I note The old Tower's brow yellowed as with the beams Of sunset ever there, albeit streams Of stormy weather-stains that semblan wrought, I thank the silent Monitor, and say "Shine so, my aged brow, at all hours the day!" XXI. TYNWALD HILL. ONCE on the top of Tynwald's form mound (Still marked with green turf circle narrowing Stage above stage) would sit this Island King, 1 Rushen Abbey. The laws to promulgate, enrobed and crowned; XXIII. While, compassing the little mound IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE, AILSA CRAG. The cloud is; but brings that a day of Built for the air, or winged Hippogriff? 5 doom o Liberty? Her sun is up the while, 10 hat orb whose beams round Saxon Alfred shone: That he might fly, where no one could pursue, From this dull Monster and her sooty crew; hen laugh, ye innocent Vales! ye And, as a God, light on thy topmost cliff. Streams, sweep on, or let one billow of our heaven-blest Isle Impotent wish! which reason would despise If the mind knew no union of extremes, Dss in the fanning wind a humbler No natural bond between the boldest plume." schemes II |