Following its fortunes like the beasts or trees Into all hearts. Throughout the world of sense, Which it sustained. But no one takes Even as an object is sublime or fair, 215 delight In this oppression; none are proud of it; It bears no sounding name, nor ever bore; A standing grievance, an indigenous vice Of every country under heaven. My thoughts 186 Were turned to evils that are new and chosen, A bondage lurking under shape of good,-Arts, in themselves beneficent and kind, But all too fondly followed and too far;To victims, which the merciful can see Nor think that they are victims-turned to wrongs, That object is laid open to the view 220 Gifts nobler are vouchsafed alike to all; Reason, and, with that reason, smiles and tears; Imagination, freedom in the will; Conscience to guide and check; and death to be Foretasted, immortality conceived By all, a blissful immortality, 225 By women, who have children of their To them whose holiness on earth shall Alas! what differs more than man from man! make The Spirit capable of heaven, assured. Strange, then, nor less than monstrous, might be deemed The failure, if the Almighty, to this point 230 Liberal and undistinguishing, should hide The excellence of moral qualities From common understanding; leaving truth And virtue, difficult, abstruse, and dark; Hard to be won, and only by a few; 235 Strange, should He deal herein with nice respects, And frustrate all the rest! Believe it not: The primal duties shine aloft-like stars; The charities that soothe, and heal, and The generous inclination, the just rule, Kind wishes, and good actions, and pure thoughts- No mystery is here! Here is no boon nd whence that difference? Whence but For high-yet not for low; for proudly graced Yet not for meek of heart. The smoke ascends 245 209 To heaven as lightly from the cottagehearth nd the infinite magnificence of heaven xed, within reach of every human eye; e sleepless ocean murmurs for all ears; e vernal field infuses fresh delight As from the haughtiest palace. He, whose soul Ponders this true equality, may walk The fields of earth with gratitude and Within the bosom of his native vale. hope; 250 Yet, in that meditation, will he find Motive to sadder grief, as we have found; Lamenting ancient virtues overthrown, And for the injustice grieving, that hath made At least, whatever fate the noon of life Reserves for either, sure it is that both Have been permitted to enjoy the dawn; Whether regarded as a jocund time, That in itself may terminate, or lead 253 In course of nature to a sober eve. So wide a difference between man and Both have been fairly dealt with; looking man. "Then let us rather fix our gladdened thoughts 255 Upon the brighter scene. How blest that pair Of blooming Boys (whom we beheld even now) Blest in their several and their common lot! A few short hours of each returning day The thriving prisoners of their villageschool: 260 And thence let loose, to seek their pleasant homes Or range the grassy lawn in vacancy; To breathe and to be happy, run and shout Idle, but no delay, no harm, no loss; For every genial power of heaven and earth, 265 Through all the seasons of the changeful year, Obsequiously doth take upon herself Beauty, or strength! Such privilege is theirs, 270 Granted alike in the outset of their course Of intellectual implements and tools; To both; and, if that partnership must A savage horde among the civilised, cease, A servile band among the lordly free! I grieve not," to the Pastor here he This sacred right, the lisping babe pe joy. hat what in wisdom for herself she doth,For, as the element of air affords thers shall e'er be able to undo. An easy passage to the industrious 335 Fraught with their burthens; and a way as smooth For those ordained to take their sounding flight From the thronged hive, and settle where they list In fresh abodes-their labour to renew; So the wide waters, open to the power, 375 The will, the instincts, and appointed needs Of Britain, do invite her to cast off Her swarms, and in succession send them forth; Bound to establish new communities On every shore whose aspect favours hope 380 Or bold adventure; promising to skill And perseverance their deserved reward. "Yes," he continued, kindling as he spake, 'Change wide, and deep, and silently performed, And faithful care of unambitious schools Instructing simple childhood's ready ear: Thence look for these magnificent results! -Vast the circumference of hope-and ye Are at its centre, British Lawgivers; Upon this flowery slope; and see-beyond The silvery lake is streaked with placid blue; As if preparing for the peace of evening. How temptingly the landscape shines! The air Breathes invitation; easy is the walk To the lake's margin, where a boat lies moored Under a sheltering tree."-Upon this hint We rose together: all were pleased; but most The beauteous girl, whose cheek was flushed with joy. Light as a sunbeam glides along the his She vanished-eager to impart the scheme To her loved brother and his shy com peer. 431 Ah! sleep not there in shame! Shall Wis--Now was there bustle in the Vicars dom's voice 400 From out the bosom of these troubled vests house And earnest preparation.-Forth we went, And down the vale along the streamlet's edge Pursued our way, a broken company, 435) Mute or conversing, single or in pairs. Thus having reached a bridge, that over arched The hasty rivulet where it lay becalmed Another and the same! Most beautiful The happy Island where ye think and The breathing creature stood; as beat ful, Beneath him, showed his shadowy comm terpart. Each had his glowing mountains, his sky, And each seemed centre of his own f world: Antipodes unconscious of each other, Yet, in partition, with their seres spheres, Blended in perfect stillness, to our s "Ah! what a pity were it to disperse ho, bearing each a basket on his arm, own the green field came tripping after us. In this delicious region."-Cultured slopes, Wild tracts of forest-ground, and scattered groves, 505 mountains bare, or clothed with ancient woods, And Surrounded us; and, as we held our way ith caution we embarked; and now the Along the level of the glassy flood, pair or prouder service were addrest; but each, ishful to leave an opening for my choice, They ceased not to surround us; change of place, 510 From kindred features diversely combined, Producing change of beauty ever new. ropped the light oar his eager hand had-Ah! that such beauty, varying in the seized. 480 anks given for that becoming courtesy, eir place I took-and for a grateful office egnant with recollections of the time light |