And, though no longer upon rapine bent, Dim memory keeping of its old intent. We started, looked again with anxious eyes, And in that griesly object recognise
The Curate's Dog-his long-tried friend, for they, As well we knew, together had grown grey. The Master died, his drooping servant's grief Found at the Widow's feet some sad relief; Yet still he lived in pining discontent, Sadness which no indulgence could prevent; Hence whole day wanderings, broken nightly sleeps And lonesome watch that out of doors he keeps ; Not oftentimes, I trust, as we, poor brute! Espied him on his legs sustained, blank, mute, And of all visible motion destitute,
So that the very heaving of his breath.
Seemed stopt, though by some other power than death. Long as we gazed upon the form and face, A mild domestic pity kept its place,
Unscared by thronging fancies of strange hue That haunted us in spite of what we knew. Even now I sometimes think of him as lost In second-sight appearances, or crost
By spectral shapes of guilt, or to the ground, On which he stood, by spells unnatural bound, Like a gaunt shaggy Porter forced to wait In days of old romance at Archimago's gate. Advancing Summer, Nature's law fulfilled, The choristers in every grove had stilled; But we, we lacked not music of our own, For lightsome Fanny had thus early thrown, Mid the gay prattle of those infant tongues, Some notes prelusive, from the round of songs
With which, more zealous than the liveliest bird That in wild Arden's brakes was ever heard, Her work and her work's partners she can cheer, The whole day long, and all days of the year. Thus gladdened from our own dear Vale we pass And soon approach Diana's Looking-glass!
To Loughrigg-tarn, round clear and bright as heaven, Such name Italian fancy would have given, Ere on its banks the few grey cabins rose That yet disturb not its concealed repose More than the feeblest wind that idly blows. Ah, Beaumont! when an opening in the road Stopped me at once by charm of what it showed, The encircling region vividly exprest
Within the mirror's depth, a world at rest- Sky streaked with purple, grove and craggy bield", And the smooth green of many a pendent field, And, quieted and soothed, a torrent small, A little daring would-be waterfall,
One chimney smoking and its azure wreath, Associate all in the calm Pool beneath, With here and there a faint imperfect gleam Of water-lilies veiled in misty steam-
What wonder at this hour of stillness deep, A shadowy link 'tween wakefulness and sleep, When Nature's self, amid such blending, seems To render visible her own soft dreams,
If, mixed with what appeared of rock, lawn, wood, Fondly embosomed in the tranquil flood,
A glimpse I caught of that Abode, by Thee Designed to rise in humble privacy,
* A word common in the country, signifying shelter, as in Scotland.
A lowly Dwelling, here to be outspread, Like a small Hamlet, with its bashful head Half hid in native trees. Alas 'tis not, Nor ever was; I sighed, and left the spot Unconscious of its own untoward lot, And thought in silence, with regret too keen, Of unexperienced joys that might have been; Of neighbourhood and intermingling arts, And golden summer days uniting cheerful hearts. But time, irrevocable time, is flown,
And let us utter thanks for blessings sown And reaped-what hath been, and what is, our own. Not far we travelled ere a shout of glee, Startling us all, dispersed my reverie ;
Such shout as many a sportive echo meeting Oft-times from Alpine chalets sends a greeting. Whence the blithe hail ? behold a Peasant stand On high, a kerchief waving in her hand! Not unexpectant that by early day
Our little Band would thrid this mountain way, Before her cottage on the bright hill side She hath advanced with hope to be descried. Right gladly answering signals we displayed, Moving along a tract of morning shade, And vocal wishes sent of like good will To our kind Friend high on the sunny hill— Luminous region, fair as if the prime
Were tempting all astir to look aloft or climb; Only the centre of the shining cot
With door left open makes a gloomy spot, Emblem of those dark corners sometimes found Within the happiest breast on earthly ground.
Rich prospect left behind of stream and vale, And mountain-tops, a barren ridge we scale; Descend, and reach, in Yewdale's depths, a plain With haycocks studded, striped with yellowing grainAn area level as a Lake and spread
Under a rock too steep for man to tread,
Where sheltered from the north and bleak northwest Aloft the Raven hangs a visible nest,
Fearless of all assaults that would her brood molest. Hot sunbeams fill the steaming vale; but hark, At our approach, a jealous watch-dog's bark, Noise that brings forth no liveried Page of state, But the whole household, that our coming wait. With Young and Old warm greetings we exchange, And jocund smiles, and toward the lowly Grange Press forward by the teasing dogs unscared. Entering, we find the morning meal prepared : So down we sit, though not till each had cast Pleased looks around the delicate repast-
Rich cream, and snow-white eggs fresh from the nest, With amber honey from the mountain's breast; Strawberries from lane or woodland, offering wild Of children's industry, in hillocks piled; Cakes for the nonce, and butter fit to lie Upon a lordly dish; frank hospitality Where simple art with bounteous nature vied, And cottage comfort shunned not seemly pride. Kind Hostess! Handmaid also of the feast, If thou be lovelier than the kindling East, Words by thy presence unrestrained may speak Of a perpetual dawn from brow and cheek Instinct with light whose sweetest promise lies, Never retiring, in thy large dark eyes,
Dark but to every gentle feeling true,
As if their lustre flowed from ether's purest blue. Let me not ask what tears may have been wept By those bright eyes, what weary vigils kept, Beside that hearth what sighs may have been heaved For wounds inflicted, nor what toil relieved
By fortitude and patience, and the grace Of heaven in pity visiting the place.
Not unadvisedly those secret springs
I leave unsearched: enough that memory clings, Here as elsewhere, to notices that make Their own significance for hearts awake, To rural incidents, whose genial powers Filled with delight three summer morning hours. More could my pen report of grave or gay That through our gipsy travel cheered the way; But, bursting forth above the waves, the Sun Laughs at my pains, and seems to say, "Be done." Yet, Beaumont, thou wilt not, I trust, reprove This humble offering made by Truth to Love, Nor chide the Muse that stooped to break a spell Which might have else been on me yet:—
UPON PERUSING THE FOREGOING EPISTLE THIRTY YEARS AFTER ITS COMPOSITION.
SOON did the Almighty Giver of all rest
Take those dear young Ones to a fearless nest; And in Death's arms has long reposed the Friend For whom this simple Register was penned. Thanks to the moth that spared it for our eyes;
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