It was a cove, a huge recess, That keeps, till June, December's snow; A silent tarn * below! Far in the bosom of Helvellyn, Remote from public road or dwelling, From trace of human foot or hand. There sometimes doth a leaping fish Thither the rainbow comes-the cloud- Not free from boding thoughts, a while Nor far had gone before he found *Tarn is a small Mere or Lake, mostly high up in the mountains. From those abrupt and perilous rocks He instantly recalled the name, And who he was, and whence he came ; On which the Traveller passed this way. But hear a wonder, for whose sake A lasting monument of words This wonder merits well. The Dog, which still was hovering nigh, Repeating the same timid cry, This Dog, had been through three months' space A dweller in that savage place. Yes, proof was plain that, since the day When this ill-fated Traveller died, The Dog had watched about the spot, How nourished here through such long time 1805. XX. ODE TO DUTY. 'Jam non consilio bonus, sed more eò perductus, ut non tantum rectè facere possim, sed nisi rectè facere non possim.' STERN Daughter of the Voice of God! O Duty! if that name thou love From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do thy work, and know it not: Oh! if through confidence misplaced They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. Serene will be our days and bright, And they a blissful course may hold Even now, who, not unwisely bold, Yet find thy firm support, according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; The task, in smoother walks to stray; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, But in the quietness of thought: Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear Flowers laugh before thee on their beds Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; And the most ancient heavens, through Thee, are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! The confidence of reason give; And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live! 1805. |