Such as, remote, 'mid savage wilderness,
An Indian Chief discharges from his breast
Into the hearing of assembled tribes,
In open circle seated round, and hushed
As the unbreathing air, when not a leaf
Stirs in the mighty woods. So did he speak:
The words he uttered shall not pass away
Dispersed, like music that the wind takes up
By snatches, and lets fall, to be forgotten; 1285
No-they sank into me, the bounteous gift
Of one whom time and nature had made wise,
Gracing his doctrine with authority
Which hostile spirits silently allow;
Of one accustomed to desires that feed
On fruitage gathered from the tree of life;
To hopes on knowledge and experience built;
Of one in whom persuasion and belief
Had ripened into faith, and faith become
A passionate intuition; whence the Soul, 1295
Though bound to earth by ties of pity and love,
From all injurious servitude was free.

1280

1290

The Sun, before his place of rest were reached, Had yet to travel far, but unto us, To us who stood low in that hollow dell, He had become invisible, -a pomp Leaving behind of yellow radiance spread Over the mountain sides, in contrast bold With ample shadows, seemingly, no less Than those resplendent lights, his rich bequest; A dispensation of his evening power. 1306

-Adown the path that from the glen had led The funeral train, the Shepherd and his Mate Were seen descending :-forth to greet them

ran

1300

Our little Page: the rustic pair approach; 1310 And in the Matron's countenance may be read

1315

Plain indication that the words, which told
How that neglected Pensioner was sent
Before his time into a quiet grave,
Had done to her humanity no wrong:
But we are kindly welcomed-promptly served
With ostentatious zeal.-Along the floor
Of the small Cottage in the lonely Dell
A grateful couch was spread for our repose;
Where, in the guise of mountaineers, we lay,
Stretched upon fragrant heath, and lulled by
sound

1321

Of far-off torrents charming the still night, And, to tired limbs and over-busy thoughts, Inviting sleep and soft forgetfulness.

BOOK FIFTH.

THE PASTOR.

ARGUMENT.

Farewell to the Valley.-Reflections.-A large and populous Vale described.-The Pastor's Dwelling, and some account of him.—Church and Monuments. -The Solitary musing, and where.-Roused.—In the Churchyard the Solitary communicates the thoughts which had recently passed through his mind.-Lofty tone of the Wanderer's discourse of yesterday adverted to.-Rite of Baptism, and the professions accompanying it, contrasted with the real state of human life.-Apology for the Rite.-Inconsistency of the best men.-Acknowledgment that practice falls far below the injunctions of duty as existing in the mind.-General complaint of a falling off in the value of life after the time of youth.-Outward appearances of content and happiness in degree illusive.Pastor approaches. -Appeal made to him. His answer. Wanderer in sympathy with him.-Suggestion that the least ambitious enquirers may be most free from error.-The Pastor is desired to give some portraits of the living or dead from his own observation of life among these Mountains--and for what purpose.-Pastor consents.-Mountain cottage. -Excellent qualities of its Inhabitants.-Solitary expresses his pleasure; but denies the praise of virtue to worth of this kind.-Feelings of the Priest before he enters upon his account of persons interre in the Churchyard.-Graves of unbaptised Infan Funeral and sepulchral observances, whence.-Eesiastical Establishments, whence derived.-Profesn of belief in the doctrine of Immortality.