The infection of the ground partakes, Then why should conscious Spirits fear The ancient faith disclaim? The local Genius ne'er befriends Smile if thou wilt, but not in scorn, If some have thirsted to renew A broken vow, or bind a true, With firmer, holier knot. And not in vain, when thoughts are cast Some Penitent sincere May for a worthier future sigh, While trickles from his downcast eye No unavailing tear. The Worldling, pining to be freed From turmoil, who would turn or speed The current of his fate, Might stop before this favored scene, Upon the Wishing-gate. 60 50 40 The Sage, who feels how blind, how weak And thirst for insight to allay In quietness withdraws; Or when the church-clock's knell profound Time pressing on with starry crest, Of dread eternity. 70 THE WISHING-GATE DESTROYED. 'TIS gone, 1828. - 1842. with old belief and dream That round it clung, and tempting scheme Released from fear and doubt; And the bright landscape too must lie, Bear witness, ye who seldom passed That opening but a look ye cast Upon the lake below, What spirit-stirring power it gained Though reason might say no. IO Blest is that ground, where, o'er the springs Fame sheds the exulting tear; It was in sooth a happy thought So confident a token Of coming good; - the charm is fled; Which one harsh day has broken. Alas for him who gave the word! Derived from earth or heaven, Which here was freely given? Where, for the love-lorn maiden's wound, Will now so readily be found A balm of expectation? Anxious for far-off children, where Shall mothers breathe a like sweet air Of home-felt consolation? And not unfelt will prove the loss 'Mid trivial care and petty cross And each day's shallow grief; 30 20 Though the most easily beguiled If still the reckless change we mourn, To harm that might lurk here, Not Fortune's slave is Man: our state So taught, so trained, we boldly face Whatever props may fail, Trust in that sovereign law can spread That truth informing mind and heart, Ungrieved, with charm and spell; Shall bid a kind farewell! 40 50 60 "IN THESE FAIR VALES HATH MANY A TREE.” 1830.-1835. In these fair vales hath many a Tree At Wordsworth's suit been spared; THE PRIMROSE OF THE ROCK. 1831. 1835. A Rock there is whose homely front Yet there the glow-worms hang their lamps, And one coy Primrose to that Rock The vernal breeze invites. What hideous warfare hath been waged, What kingdoms overthrown, Since first I spied that Primrose-tuft 10 |