ARGUMENT. Farewell to the Valley.-Reflections.-A large and popu lous Vale described. - The Pastor's Dwelling, and some ac count 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 inquirers may be most free from error. - The Pas tor 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 interred in the Churchyard. Graves of unbaptized Infants. Funeral and sepulchral observances, whence. · Ecclesiastical Establishments, whence derived. — Profession of belief in the doctrine of Immortality. THE PASTOR. "FAREWELL, deep Valley, with thy one rude House, And its small lot of life-supporting fields, And guardian rocks! — Farewell, attractive seat! Open, and day's pure cheerfulness, but veiled Primeval forests wrapped thee round with dark, Majestic circuit, beautiful abyss, By Nature destined from the birth of things Upon the side Of that brown ridge, sole outlet of the vale Like the fixed centre of a troubled world. The chain that would not slacken was at length Snapped, and, pursuing leisurely my way, How vain, thought I, is it by change of place Knowledge, methinks, in these disordered times, Men, who, from faction sacred, and unstained Is run, some faithful eulogist may say, He sought not praise, and praise did overlook Sweet to himself, was exercised in good That shall survive his name and memory. Acknowledgments of gratitude sincere Accompanied these musings; fervent thanks For my own peaceful lot and happy choice; A choice that from the passions of the world Withdrew, and fixed me in a still retreat; Sheltered, but not to social duties lost, Secluded, but not buried; and with song Cheering my days, and with industrious thought; With the ever-welcome company of books; With virtuous friendship's soul-sustaining aid, And with the blessings of domestic love. Thus occupied in mind I paced along, Whence the bare road descended rapidly 66 Here did our pensive Host put forth his hand In sign of farewell. Nay," the old Man said, "The fragrant air its coolness still retains; The herds and flocks are yet abroad to crop The dewy grass; you cannot leave us now, We must not part at this inviting hour." He yielded, though reluctant; for his mind Instinctively disposed him to retire To his own covert; as a billow, heaved Upon the beach, rolls back into the sea. So we descend: and, winding round a rock, Attain a point that showed the valley, stretched In length before us; and, not distant far, Upon a rising ground a gray church-tower Whose battlements were screened by tufted trees. And towards a crystal Mere, that lay beyond Among steep hills and woods embosomed, flowed A copious stream with boldly-winding course; Here traceable, there hidden, there again To sight restored, and glittering in the sun. "As 'mid some happy valley of the Alps," Save for yon stately House beneath whose roof And rich and poor, and young and old, rejcice |