As the wain fronted her,—wherein lay one, Though even to die near one she most had loved 545 She could not of herself those wasted limbs have moved. LXII The Soldier's Widow learned with honest pain LXIII While to the door with eager speed they ran, 550 555 560 Then sank upon her straw with feeble moan. Fervently cried the housewife—“ God be praised, LXIV So in they bear her to the chimney seat, 565 570 575 LXV "Barred every comfort labour could procure, LXVI 580 585 "My life, Heaven knows, hath long been burthensome; But, if I have not meekly suffered, meek May my end be! Soon will this voice be dumb: 590 On shipboard, bound till peace or death should set him free. LXVII "A sailor's wife I knew a widow's cares, Yet two sweet little ones partook my bed; Hope cheered my dreams, and to my daily prayers Nor could we live together those poor boys and I ; LXVIII "For evil tongues made oath how on that day 595 600 605 Near his own home!—but he was mild and good; He'd not have robbed the raven of its food. My husband's loving kindness stood between Me and all worldly harms and wrongs however keen.” LXIX Alas! the thing she told with labouring breath 610 616 His hand had wrought; and when, in the hour of death, His anguish, with his heart he ceased to strive ; He cried" Do pity me! That thou shouldst live 620 LXX To tell the change that Voice within her wrought LXXI She slept in peace,-his pulses throbbed and stopped, The floor as he lay shuddering on his bed; 625 630 635 And oft he groaned aloud, "O God, that I were dead!" LXXII The Soldier's Widow lingered in the cot; And, when he rose, he thanked her pious care He breathed for her, and for that merciful pair. A burthen, now with fortitude sustained, He bore within a breast where dreadful quiet reigned. LXXIII Confirmed of purpose, fearlessly prepared For act and suffering, to the city straight He journeyed, and forthwith his crime declared: 640 645 650 "And from your doom," he added, "now I wait, 655 "O welcome sentence which will end though late," He said, "the pangs that to my conscience came Out of that deed. His fate was pitied. My trust, Saviour! is in thy name!" LXXIV Him in iron case (Reader, forgive the intolerable thought) 660 When into storm the evening sky is wrought, 665 And drop, as he once dropped, in miserable trance. LINES LEFT UPON A SEAT IN A YEW-TREE, WHICH STANDS * NEAR THE LAKE OF ESTHWAITE, ON A DESOLATE Composed 1795.--Published 1798 The tree has [Composed in part at school at Hawkshead. disappeared, and the slip of Common on which it stood, that ran parallel to the lake, and lay open to it, has long been enclosed; so that the road has lost much of its attraction. This spot was my favourite walk in the evenings during the latter part of my school-time. The individual whose habits and character are here given, was a gentleman of the neighbourhood, a man of talent and learning, who had been educated at one of our Universities, and returned to pass his time in seclusion on his own estate. He died a bachelor in middle age. Induced by the beauty of the prospect, he built a small summer-house, on the rocks above the peninsula on which the Ferry House + stands. This property afterwards passed into the hands of the late Mr. Curwen. The site was long ago pointed out by Mr. West, in his Guide, as the pride of the Lakes, and now goes by the name of "The Station." So much used I to be delighted with the view from it, while a little boy, that some years before the first pleasure house was built, I led thither from Hawkshead a youngster about my own age, an Irish boy, who was a servant to an itinerant conjurer. My notion was to witness the pleasure I expected the boy would receive from the prospect of the islands below and the intermingling water. I was not disappointed; and I hope the fact, insignificant as it may appear to some, may be thought worthy of note by others who may cast their eye over these notes.-I. F.1 From 1815 to 1843 these Lines were placed by Wordsworth among his "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection." In 1845, "Poems written in Youth."-ED. they were classed among |