Which thou hast taken to thee as thy own, 36 Making all kindness registered and known; Thou for our sakes, though Nature's child indeed, Fair in thyself and beautiful alone, Hast taken gifts which thou dost little need. 40 And O most constant, yet most fickle Place, That hast thy wayward moods, as thou dost show To them who look not daily on thy face; go!" Thou easy-hearted Thing, with thy wild race Of weeds and flowers, till we return be slow, And travel with the year at a soft pace. 45 Help us to tell Her tales of years gone by, breast 51 Glittered at evening like a starry sky; O happy Garden! whose seclusion deep flowers, 60 And wild notes warbled among leafy bowers ; Two burning months let summer overleap, And, coming back with Her who will be ours, Into thy bosom we again shall creep. May 29, 1802. V. STANZAS WRITTEN IN MY POCKET-COPY OF THOMSON'S "CASTLE OF INDOLENCE." WITHIN our happy Castle there dwelt One 5 But go to-morrow, or belike to-day, Seek for him, he is fled; and whither none can say. Thus often would he leave our peaceful home, Full many a time, upon a stormy night, height: 15 Oft could we see him driving full in view Ah! piteous sight it was to see this Man power 21 Look at the common grass from hour to hour: And oftentimes, how long I fear to say, 30 Great wonder to our gentle tribe it was him wrong; But verse was what he had been wedded to; And his own mind did like a tempest strong 35 Come to him thus, and drove the weary Wight along. With him there often walked in friendly guise, 40 Profound his forehead was, though not severe ; Yet some did think that he had little business here: 45 Sweet heaven forefend! his was a lawful right; annoy. 50 Nor lacked his calmer hours device or toy Yourself; and many did to him repair, - 55 Expedients, too, of simplest sort he tried : Long blades of grass, plucked round him as he lay, Made, to his ear attentively applied, A pipe on which the wind would deftly play; Glasses he had, that little things display, The beetle panoplied in gems and gold, 60 A mailèd angel on a battle-day : The mysteries that cups of flowers enfold, And all the gorgeous sights which fairies do behold. He would entice that other Man to hear 65 His music, and to view his imagery : dear: No livelier love in such a place could be : There did they dwell-from earthly labour free, As happy spirits as were ever seen; If but a bird, to keep them company, Or butterfly sate down, they were, I ween, 70 As pleased as if the same had been a Maiden queen. May 9-11, 1802. VI. LOUISA. AFTER ACCOMPANYING HER ON A MOUNTAIN EXCURSION. I MET Louisa in the shade, And, having seen that lovely Maid, Why should I fear to say That, nymph-like, she is fleet and strong, And down the rocks can leap along 5 Like rivulets in May? She loves her fire, her cottage-home; In weather rough and bleak; Take all that 's mine "beneath the moon," If I with her but half a noon May sit beneath the walls Of some old cave, or mossy nook, When up she winds along the brook To hunt the waterfalls. 1805. VII. STRANGE fits of passion have I known: And I will dare to tell, But in the Lover's ear alone, What once to me befell. 15 |