As if but yesterday departed, Mourn rather for that holy Spirit, Sweet as the spring, as ocean deep; For her who, ere her summer faded, 40 Has sunk into a breathless sleep. No more of old romantic sorrows, RESOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE. THERE was a roaring in the wind all night; The rain came heavily and fell in floods; But now the sun is rising calm and bright; The birds are singing in the distant woods; 5 Over his own sweet voice the stock-dove broods; The jay makes answer as the magpie chatters; And all the air is filled with pleasant noise of waters. All things that love the sun are out of doors; 10 The grass is bright with rain-drops; on the moors The hare is running races in her mirth; And with her feet she from the plashy earth Runs with her all the way, wherever she doth run. 39. Felicia Hemans. 15 I was a Traveller then upon the moor; But, as it sometimes chanceth, from the might To me that morning did it happen so ; I heard the skylark warbling in the sky; My whole life I have lived in pleasant thought, Love him, who for himself will take no heed at all? I thought of Chatterton, the marvellous Boy, We Poets in our youth begin in gladness; So Now, whether it were by peculiar grace, When I with these untoward thoughts had striven, 55 I saw a man before me unawares: The oldest man he seemed that ever wore gray hairs. As a huge stone is sometimes seen to lie 60 By what means it could thither come, and whence: Such seemed this man, not all alive nor dead, A more than human weight upon his frame had cast. 45. Robert Burns. Himself he propped, limbs, body, and pale face, At length, himself unsettling, he the pond Stirred with his staff, and fixedly did look 80 Upon that muddy water, which he conned, As if he had been reading in a book: And now a stranger's privilege I took; And, drawing to his side, to him did say, "This morning gives us promise of a glorious day." 85 A gentle answer did the old man make, In courteous speech which forth he slowly drew; And him with further words I thus bespake : "What occupation do you there pursue? This is a lonesome place for one like you." 20 Ere he replied, a flash of mild surprise Broke from the sable orbs of his yet vivid eyes. His words came feebly, from a feeble chest, 5 Choice word and measured phrase, above the reach Of ordinary men; a stately speech; Such as grave livers do in Scotland use, He told, that to these waters he had come 100 To gather leeches, being old and poor: Employment hazardous and wearisome! From pond to pond he roamed, from moor to moor; Housing, with God's good help, by choice or chance; 105 And in this way he gained an honest maintenance. The old man still stood talking by my side; But now his voice to me was like a stream Scarce heard; nor word from word could I divide; And the whole body of the man did seem 110 Like one whom I had met with in a dream; Or like a man from some far region sent, To give me human strength, by apt admonishment. My former thoughts returned: the fear that kills And hope that is unwilling to be fed ; 115 Cold, pain, and labor, and all fleshly ills; And mighty poets in their misery dead. Perplexed, and longing to be comforted, My question eagerly did I renew, "How is it that you live, and what is it you do?" 120 He with a smile did then his words repeat; And said, that, gathering leeches, far and wide He travelled; stirring thus about his feet The waters of the pools where they abide. "Once I could meet with them on every 125 But they have dwindled long by slow decay; Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may." side; While he was talking thus, the lonely place, me: In my mind's eye I seemed to see him pace |