To lift thee high above the misty air To which thou may'st resort for holier From whose calm centre thou, through height or depth, 'Behold a cabinet for sages built, Thich kings might envy!"-Praise to May'st penetrate, wherever truth shall scale roke from the happy old Man's reverend Measuring through all degrees, until the 晶 lip; 110 Of Pompey's pillar; that I gravely style Eddying within its vast circumference, To an exalted pitch (the self-same cause Though shame it were, could I not look around, By the reflection of your pleasure, pleased. Yet happier in my judgment, even than you With your bright transports fairly may And change, and emptiness, these freaks Nor is that Fellow-wanderer, so deem I. A chip or splinter-to resolve his doubts; Through time or space-if neither in the name, His specimen, if but haply interveined With sparkling mineral, or should crystal cube one, Nor in the other region, nor in aught things, Hath placed beyond these penetrable bounds, Words of assurance can be heard; if nowhere Lurk in its cells and thinks himself A habitation, for consummate good, 220 Or for progressive virtue, by the search enriched, Wealthier, and doubtless wiser, than be- Can be attained,-a better sanctuary From doubt and sorrow, than the senseless grave?" fore! 190 "Is this," the grey-haired Wanderer mildly said, Intrusted safely each to his pursuit, "Then," said I, interposing, "One is "His body is at rest, his soul in heaven.' near, 225 These were your words; and, verily, methinks 230 Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we The Other, not displeased, same. And I, without reluctance, could decline Here are we, in a bright and breathing Our origin, what matters it? In lack suits 240 "Far happiest," answered the despond- The place where now we stand) that As sound-blithe race! whose mantles To explore the destiny of human kind That our existence winds her stately In discontented wedlock; nor did e'er, Upon the region whither we are bound. Exclude a power to enjoy the vital bears Of present sunshine.-Deities that flost On wings, angelic Spirits! I could muse O'er what from eldest time we have been told ન Of your bright forms and glorious facul ties, And with the imagination rest content. Not wishing more; repining not to tread The little sinuous path of earthly care, By flowers embellished, and by spring refreshed. -'Blow winds of autumn!-let your chill ing breath Take the live herbage from the mead and strip The shady forest of its green attire, That scarcely seem to have belonged to And let the bursting clouds to fury roas me) The gentle brooks!-Your desolati Night hushed as night, and day serene as day!' -But why this tedious record?-Age, we know, 325 I ceased, and he resumed.-"Ah! gentle Sir, Slight, if you will, the means; but spare to slight 360 Is garrulous; and solitude is apt The end of those, who did, by system, rank, hope To be diverted from our present theme, I said, "My thoughts, agreeing, Sir, with yours, Release from fear; and cherished peace What motive drew, what impulse, I would ask, Through a long course of later ages, drove, Would push this censure farther;-for, if The hermit to his cell in forest wide; smiles Of scornful pity be the just reward Of Poesy thus courteously employed 335 Herself, a dreamer of a kindred stock, or her, who (all too timid and reserved or onset, for resistance too inert, oo weak for suffering, and for hope too tame) 345 'laced, among flowery gardens curtained round Or what detained him, till his closing With world-excluding groves, the brother- The central feeling of all happiness, |