What avails the kindly shelter Parching Summer hath no warrant Thus, dishonouring not her station, 5 ΙΟ 15 XIV. V. Nor seldom, clad in radiant vest, The smoothest seas will sometimes prove, And, if she trust the stars above, The umbrageous Oak, in pomp outspread, But Thou art true, incarnate Lord, 5 ΙΟ 15 I bent before Thy gracious throne, 20 XV. FOR THE SPOT WHERE THE HERMITAGE STOOD ON ST. HERBERT'S ISLAND, DERWENT-WATER. IF thou in the dear love of some one Friend Hast been so happy that thou know'st what thoughts Will sometimes in the happiness of love Make the heart sink, then wilt thou reverence This quiet spot; and, Stranger! not unmoved 5 Wilt thou behold this shapeless heap of stones, The desolate ruins of St. Herbert's Cell. Here stood his threshold; here was spread the roof That sheltered him, a self-secluded Man, After long exercise in social cares 10 A Fellow-labourer, whom the good Man loved 15 As his own soul. And, when with eye upraised To heaven he knelt before the crucifix, While o'er the lake the cataract of Lodore 20 Though here the Hermit numbered his last day Far from St. Cuthbert his beloved Friend, 26 Those holy Men both died in the same hour. 1800. XVI. ON THE BANKS OF A ROCKY STREAM. BEHOLD an emblem of our human mind Crowded with thoughts that need a settled home, Yet, like to eddying balls of foam Stranger, if such disquietude be thine, Fall on thy knees and sue for help divine. After 1845. (?) SELECTIONS FROM CHAUCER. MODERNISED. I. THE PRIORESS' TALE. "Call up him who left half told In the following Poem no further deviation from the original has been made than was necessary for the fluent reading and instant understanding of the Author: so much, however, is the language altered since Chaucer's time, especially in pronunciation, that much was to be removed, and its place supplied with as little incongruity as possible. The ancient accent has been retained in a few conjunctions, as also and alwày, from a conviction that such sprinklings of antiquity would be admitted, by persons of taste, to have a graceful accordance with the subject. The fierce bigotry of the Prioress forms a fine back-ground for her tender-hearted sympathies with the Mother and Child; and the mode in which the story is told amply atones for the extravagance of the miracle. 66 I. O LORD, our Lord! how wondrously," (quoth she) "Thy name in this large world is spread abroad! For not alone by men of dignity Thy worship is performed and precious laud; But by the mouths of children, gracious God! 5 Thy goodness is set forth; they when they lie Upon the breast thy name do glorify. 66 II. Wherefore in praise, the worthiest that I may, Jesu! of thee, and the white Lily-flower Which did thee bear, and is a Maid for aye, 10 Not that I may increase her honour's dower, Of goodness, next her Son, our soul's best boot. III. "O Mother Maid! O Maid and Mother free! 15 O bush unburnt! burning in Moses' sight! That down didst ravish from the Deity, Through humbleness, the spirit that did alight Upon thy heart, whence, through that glory's might, Conceived was the Father's sapience, 66 IV. Lady! thy goodness, thy magnificence, Thy virtue, and thy great humility, Surpass all science and all utterance ; 20 For sometimes, Lady! ere men pray to thee 25 The light to us vouchsafing of thy prayer, V. "My knowledge is so weak, O blissful Queen! To tell abroad thy mighty worthiness, 30 |