Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ARGUMENT.

Impression of these Narratives upon the Author's mind.-Pastor invited to give account of certain Graves that lie apart.-Clergyman and his Family.Fortunate influence of change of situation.-Activity in extreme old age.-Another Clergyman, a character of resolute Virtue.-Lamentations over mis-directed applause.Instance of less exalted excellence in a deaf man.-Elevated character of a blind man.— Reflection upon Blindness.-Interrupted by a Peasant who passes-his animal cheerfulness and careless vivacity. He occasions a digression on the fall of beautiful and interesting Trees.-A female Infant's Grave.-Joy at her Birth.-Sorrow at her Departure. -A youthful Peasant-his patriotic enthusiasm and distinguished qualities-his untimely death.-Exultation of the Wanderer, as a patriot, in this Picture. -Solitary how affected.-Monument of a Knight. Traditions concerning him.-Peroration of the Wanderer on the transitoriness of things and the revolutions of society.-Hints at his own past Calling.— Thanks the Pastor.

THE CHURCH-YARD AMONG THE

MOUNTAINS.—(CONTINUED.)

WHILE thus from theme to theme the Historian passed,

The words he uttered, and the scene that lay
Before our eyes, awakened in my mind
Vivid remembrance of those long-past hours;
When, in the hollow of some shadowy vale, 5
(What time the splendour of the setting sun
Lay beautiful on Snowdon's sovereign brow,
On Cader Idris, or huge Penmanmaur)
A wandering Youth, I listened with delight
To pastoral melody or warlike air,

ΙΟ

Drawn from the chords of the ancient British harp

15

By some accomplished Master, while he sate
Amid the quiet of the green recess,
And there did inexhaustibly dispense
An interchange of soft or solemn tunes,
Tender or blithe; now, as the varying mood
Of his own spirit urged,—now, as a voice
From youth or maiden, or some honoured
chief

Of his compatriot villagers (that hung
Around him, drinking in the impassioned

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

For their heart's ease or pleasure. Strains of power

Were they, to seize and occupy the sense;
But to a higher mark than song can reach
Rose this pure eloquence. And, when the

stream

Which overflowed the soul was passed away, A consciousness remained that it had left, Deposited upon the silent shore

25

Of memory, images and precious thoughts, That shall not die, and cannot be destroyed. 3c

These grassy heaps lie amicably close," Said I, "like surges heaving in the wind Along the surface of a mountain pool: Whence comes it, then, that yonder we behold Five graves, and only five, that rise together 35 Unsociably sequestered, and encroaching On the smooth play-ground of the villageschool?"

The Vicar answered, "No disdainful pride In them who rest beneath, nor any course Of strange or tragic accident, hath helped To place those hillocks in that lonely guise. Once more look forth, and follow with your

sight

40

The length of road that from yon mountain's base

45

Through bare enclosures stretches, 'till its line
Is lost within a little tuft of trees;
Then, reappearing in a moment, quits
The cultured fields; and up the heathy waste,
Mounts, as you see, in mazes serpentine,
Led towards an easy outlet of the vale.
That little shady spot, that sylvan tuft,
By which the road is hidden, also hides

50

A cottage from our view; though I discern (Ye scarcely can) amid its sheltering trees The smokeless chimney-top.—

All unembowered

55

And naked stood that lowly Parsonage (For such in truth it is, and appertains To a small Chapel in the vale beyond) When hither came its last Inhabitant. Rough and forbidding were the choicest roads By which our northern wilds could then be crossed;

And into most of these secluded vales

60

Was no access for wain, heavy or light.
So, at his dwelling-place the Priest arrived
With store of household goods, in panniers
slung

On sturdy horses graced with jingling bells, 65
And on the back of more ignoble beast;

That, with like burthen of effects most prized Or easiest carried, closed the motley train. Young was I then, a school-boy of eight years;

But still, methinks, I see them as they passed In order, drawing toward their wished-for home.

71

-Rocked by the motion of a trusty ass Two ruddy children hung, a well-poised freight, Each in his basket nodding drowsily; Their bonnets, I remember, wreathed with flowers,

75

e;

Which told it was the pleasant month of June
And, close behind, the comely Matron rode,
A woman of soft speech and gracious smile,
And with a lady's mien.-From far they came,
Even from Northumbrian hills; yet theirs
had been

A merry journey, rich in pastime, cheered

80

By music, prank, and laughter-stirring jest ; And freak put on, and arch word droppedto swell

The cloud of fancy and uncouth surmise
That gathered round the slowly-moving train.
Whence do they come? and with what
errand charged?

86

Belong they to the fortune-telling tribe
Who pitch their tents under the green-wood
tree?

Or Strollers are they, furnished to enact
Fair Rosamond, and the Children of the

Wood,

And, by that whiskered tabby's aid, set forth The lucky venture of sage Whittington,

When

90

the next village hears the show announced

By blast of trumpet?'

growth

Plenteous was the

95

Of such conjectures, overheard, or seen
On many a staring countenance portrayed
Of boor or burgher, as they marched along.
And more than once their steadiness of face
Was put to proof, and exercise supplied
To their inventive humour, by stern looks, 100
And questions in authoritative tone,
From some staid guardian of the public peace,
Checking the sober steed on which he rode,
In his suspicious wisdom; oftener still,
By notice indirect, or blunt demand
From traveller halting in his own despite,
A simple curiosity to ease:

105

Of which adventures, that beguiled and cheered Their grave migration, the good pair would tell, With undiminished glee, in hoary age.

110

"A Priest he was by function; but his course

« AnteriorContinuar »