Of change, congratulation or regret, The trees, the mountains shared it, and Shapes fairer or less doubtfully discerned The stars of Heaven, now seen in their Than these to which the Tale, indulgent Friend! old haunts275 White Sirius glittering o'er the southern Would now direct thy notice. Yet in crags, 246 spite withheld, Orion with his belt, and those fair Seven, Of pleasure won, and knowledge not Had come among these objects here- 250 Were, in the main, of mood less tender: strong, There was an inner falling off-I loved, before. More deeply even than ever: but swarm Of heady schemes jostling each other, gawds, parties And feast and dance, and public revelry, Deep, gloomy were they, and severe; And sports and games (too grateful the scatterings themselves, Of awe or tremulous dread, that had Yet in themselves less grateful, I believe, Than as they were a badge glossy and given way It seemed the very garments that I wore (Grain-tinctured, drenched in empyrean Preyed on my strength, and stopped the A medley of all tempers, I had passed And glancing forms, and tapers glittering, light; And in the meadows and the lower grounds Was all the sweetness of a common dawn 330 Dews, vapours, and the melody of birds, And labourers going forth to till the fields. Ah! need I say, dear Friend! that to the brim My heart was full; I made no vows, but Of inconsiderate habits and sedate, Though slighted and too oft misused. 345 That summer, swarming as it did with thoughts Whose transient pleasure mounted to the Transient and idle, lacked not intervals Was kindling, not unseen, from humble copse When Folly from the frown of fleeting Time herself Conformity as just as that of old 350 To the end and written spirit of God's works, Whether held forth in Nature or in Man, And open field, through which the path- Through pregnant vision, separate or way wound, And homeward led my steps. Magnificent The morning rose, in memorable pomp, Glorious as e'er I had beheld-in front, The sea lay laughing at a distance; near, The solid mountains shone, bright as the clouds, 327 months Once, when those summer 370 That he was clothed in military garb, Though faded, yet entire. Companionless, 309 No dog attending, by no staff sustained. Were flown, and autumn brought its Make a strange back-ground. From his lips, ere long, Issued low muttered sounds, as if of pain Or some uneasy thought; yet still his That in the Tropic Islands he had served. Whence he had landed scarcely th weeks past; That on his landing he had been dis missed, And now 390 was travelling towards h native home. 1 This heard, I said, in pity, "Come with Up-turning, then, along an open field, me." We reached a cottage. At the door I He stooped, and straightway from the There was a strange half-absence, as of Whose tone bespake reviving interests Till then unfelt, he thanked me; I returned one Knowing too well the importance of his theme, 444 But feeling it no longer. Our discourse 465 The farewell blessing of the patient man, And so we parted. Back I cast a look, And lingered near the door a little space, Then sought with quiet heart my distant home. BOOK FIFTH. BOOKS. VHEN Contemplation, like the night- That thou endurest; heavy though that calm felt weight be, hrough earth and sky, spreads widely, Cloud-like it mounts, or touched with That sadness finds its fuel. Hitherto, In progress through this Verse, my mind hath looked Where would they be? Oh! why hath not the Mind 45 Some element to stamp her image on Upon the speaking face of earth and In nature somewhat nearer to her own? Why, gifted with such powers to send heaven As her prime teacher, intercourse with abroad |