And to the solitary fawn
Vouchsafes her lessons, bounteous Nymph That wakes the breeze, the sparkling lymph Doth hurry to the lawn;
She, who inspires that strain of joyance holy Which the sweet Bird, misnamed the melancholy, Pours forth in shady groves, shall plead for me; And vernal mornings opening bright With views of undefined delight, And cheerful songs, and suns that shine
On busy days, with thankful nights, be mine.
But thou, O Goddess! in thy favourite Isle (Freedom's impregnable redoubt, The wide earth's store-house fenced about With breakers roaring to the gales That stretch a thousand thousand sails) Quicken the slothful, and exalt the vile!- Thy impulse is the life of Fame; Glad Hope would almost cease to be If torn from thy society; And Love, when worthiest of his name, Is proud to walk the earth with Thee!
ON HER FIRST ASCENT TO THE SUMMIT OF HELVELLYN.
[WRITTEN at Rydal Mount. The lady was Miss Blackett, then residing with Mr. Montagu Burgoyne at Fox-Ghyll. We were tempted to remain too long upon the mountain; and I, imprudently, with the hope of shortening the way, led her among the crags and down a steep slope which entangled us in difficulties that were met by her with much spirit and courage.]
INMATE of a mountain-dwelling, Thou hast clomb aloft, and gazed From the watch-towers of Helvellyn; Awed, delighted, and amazed!
Potent was the spell that bound thee Not unwilling to obey; For blue Ether's arms, flung round thee, Stilled the pantings of dismay.
Lo! the dwindled woods and meadows; What a vast abyss is there! Lo! the clouds, the solemn shadows, And the glistenings-heavenly fair!
And a record of commotion Which a thousand ridges yield; Ridge, and gulf, and distant ocean Gleaming like a silver shield!
Maiden! now take flight; -inherit Alps or Andes-they are thine! With the morning's roseate Spirit, Sweep their length of snowy lino,
Or survey their bright dominions In the gorgeous colours drest Flung from off the purple pinions, Evening spreads throughout the west!
Thine are all the coral fountains Warbling in each sparry vault Of the untrodden lunar mountains; Listen to their songs!-or halt,
To Niphates' top invited, Whither spiteful Satan steered; Or descend where the ark alighted, When the green earth re-appeared;
For the power of hills is on thee, As was witnessed through thine eye Then, when old Helvellyn won thee To confess their majesty!
WHO HAD BEEN REPROACHED FOR TAKING LONG WALKS IN THE COUNTRY.
[COMPOSED at the same time and on the same view as "I met Louisa in the shade:" indeed they were designed to make one piece.]
DEAR Child of Nature, let them rail! -There is a nest in a green dale,
A harbour and a hold;
Where thou, a Wife and Friend, shalt see Thy own heart-stirring days, and be
A light to young and old.
There, healthy as a shepherd boy, And treading among flowers of joy Which at no season fade,
Thou, while thy babes around thee cling, Shalt show us how divine a thing
A Woman may be made.
Thy thoughts and feelings shall not die, Nor leave thee, when grey hairs are nigh, A melancholy slave;
But an old age serene and bright, And lovely as a Lapland night, Shall lead thee to thy grave.
[OBSERVED frequently over the lakes of Rydal and Grasmere.]
'Let me be allowed the aid of verse to describe the evolutions which these visitants sometimes perform, on a fine day towards the close of winter.'-Extract from the Author's Book on the Lakes.
MARK how the feathered tenants of the flood, With grace of motion that might scarcely seem Inferior to angelical, prolong
Their curious pastime! shaping in mid air (And sometimes with ambitious wing that soars High as the level of the mountain-tops) A circuit ampler than the lake beneath- Their own domain; but ever, while intent On tracing and retracing that large round, Their jubilant activity evolves Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro, Upward and downward, progress intricate Yet unperplexed, as if one spirit swayed Their indefatigable flight. 'Tis done- Ten times, or more, I fancied it had ceased; But lo! the vanished company again Ascending; they approach-I hear their wings, Faint, faint at first; and then an eager sound, Past in a moment and as faint again! They tempt the sun to sport amid their plumes; They tempt the water, or the gleaming ice,
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