THE TABLES TURNED AN EVENING SCENE ON THE SAME SUBJECT Composed 1798.-Published 1798 Included among the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.” -ED. UP! up! my Friend, and quit your books; Up! up! my Friend, and clear your looks; The sun, above the mountain's head, A freshening lustre mellow Through all the long green fields has spread, Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife: Spontaneous wisdom breathed by health, One impulse from a vernal wood Than all the sages can. * Sweet is the lore which Nature brings; Mis-shapes the beauteous forms of things :- Enough of Science and of Art ; Close up those 1 barren leaves ; Come forth, and bring with you a heart THE COMPLAINT OF A FORSAKEN INDIAN WOMAN Composed 1798.-Published 1798 When a Northern Indian, from sickness, is unable to continue his journey with his companions; he is left behind, covered over with Deer-skins, and is supplied with water, food, and fuel if the situation of the place will afford it. He is informed of the track which his companions intend to pursue, and if he is unable to follow, or overtake them, he perishes alone in the Desart; unless he should have the good fortune to fall in with 1 1837. these 1798. * A mediæval anticipation of this may be quoted in a footnote. "Believe me, as my own experience," once said St. Bernard, “you will find more in the woods than in books; the forests and rocks will teach you more than you can learn from the greatest Masters." I quote this, as sent to me by a friend; but the only passage at all approaching to it which I can verify is the following "Quidquid in Scripturis valet, quidquid in eis spiritualiter sentit, maxime in silvis et in agris meditando et orando se confitetur accepisse, et in hoc nullos aliquando se magistros habuisse nisi quercus et fagos joco illo suo gratioso inter amicos dicere solet.' See the appendix to Mabillon's edition of Bernardi Opera, ii. 1072, S. Bernardi Vitæ, et Res Gestæ, auctore Guilielmo.-ED. some other Tribes of Indians. It is unnecessary to add that the females are equally, or still more, exposed to the same fate. See that very interesting work, Hearne's Journey from Hudson's Bay to the Northern Ocean. When the Northern Lights, as the same writer informs us, vary their position in the air, they make a rustling and a crackling noise. This circumstance is alluded to in the first stanza of the following poem.-W. W. 1798. [At Alfoxden, in 1798, where I read Hearne's Journey with deep interest. It was composed for the volume of "Lyrical Ballads."-I. F.] Classed among the "Poems founded on the Affections." —Ed. I BEFORE I see another day, Oh let my body die away! In sleep I heard the northern gleams; The stars, they were among my dreams; 1 In rustling conflict through the skies,2 I heard, I saw the flashes drive,3 And yet they are upon my eyes, Before I see another day, Oh let my body die away! II My fire is dead: it knew no pain; 5 10 And they are dead, and I will die. When I was well, I wished to live, 15 For clothes, for warmth, for food, and fire ; No pleasure now, and no desire. III Alas! ye1 might have dragged me on Another day, a single one! Too soon I yielded to despair; Why did ye listen to my prayer? 2 20 When ye 3 were gone my limbs were stronger; 25 That, afterwards, a little longer, My friends, I did not follow you! For strong and without pain I lay, Dear friends, when ye 4 were gone away. IV My Child! they gave thee to another, That he might pull the sledge for me: 30 35 40 V My little joy! my little pride! O wind, that o'er my head art flying 45 Too soon, my friends, ye 1 went away; VI I'll follow you across the snow; I'll look upon your tents again. -My fire is dead, and snowy white 50 55 3 This stanza was omitted in the editions 1815 to 1832, but restored in 1836. 4 1836. My journey will be shortly run, 1798. |