Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:

Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
Whate'er the theme, the maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o'er the sickle bending; -
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.

ΙΟ

Both lying right before us;

And Dryborough, where with chiming Tweed
The lintwhites sing in chorus;

There's pleasant Tiviot-dale, a land
Made blithe with plough and harrow:
Why throw away a needful day
To go in search of Yarrow?

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"What's Yarrow but a river bare,

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That glides the dark hills under?

There are a thousand such elsewhere

As worthy of your wonder."

Strange words they seemed of slight and scorn My True-love sighed for sorrow;

30

And looked me in the face, to think

I thus could speak of Yarrow!

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30

"Oh! green," said I, "are Yarrow's holms,

And sweet is Yarrow flowing!

Fair hangs the apple frae the rock,

But we will leave it growing.

O'er hilly path, and open Strath,

We'll wander Scotland thorough;

But, though so near, we will not turn
Into the dale of Yarrow.

"Let beeves and home-bred kine partake
The sweets of Burn-mill meadow;
The swan on still St. Mary's Lake
Float double, swan and shadow!

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40

a natural pettei

chuman bein

wark Dart finer thoughts Not just a hard without

5

Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin-liberty;

A countenance in which did meet

Sweet records, promises as sweet;

A creature not too bright or good
For human nature's daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,

Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,

A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect woman, nobly planned,

To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

ΙΟ

15

5

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

gives himself upt

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20

Dateible

"Jam non consilio bonus, sed more eo perductus, ut non tantum recte facere possim, sed nisi recte facere non possim."

Stern Daughter of the Voice of God!
O Duty! if that name thou love

Who art a light to guide, a rod
To check the erring, and reprove;
Thou, who art victory and law

When empty terrors overawe;

From vain temptations dost set free;

duty

does
All these

things.

And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity!

"Yet life," you say, "is life; we have seen and

see,

And with a living pleasure we describe;

And fits of sprightly malice do but bribe The languid mind into activity.

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20

Sound sense, and love itself, and mirth and glee
Are fostered by the comment and the gibe."
Even be it so; yet still among your tribe,
Our daily world's true worldings, rank not me!
Children are blest, and powerful; their world lies
More justly balanced; partly at their feet,
And part far from them: sweetest melodies
Are those that are by distance made more sweet;
Whose mind is but the mind of his own eyes, -
He is a slave; the meanest we can meet!

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III

Wings have we,
We may find pleasure: wilderness and wood, 30
Blank ocean and mere sky, support that mood
Which with the lofty sanctifies the low.
Dreams, books, are each a world; and books, we
know,

and as far as we can go,

Are a substantial world, both pure and good: Round these, with tendrils strong as flesh and blood,

Our pastime and our happiness will grow. There find I personal themes, a plenteous store, Matter wherein right voluble I am,

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The spirit of self-sacrifice;
The confidence of reason give;

And in the light of truth thy bondman let me live!

PERSONAL TALK

To which I listen with a ready ear;

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