And on the mountains; else I think that thou He sobbed aloud. The old Man grasped his hand, 360 That these are things of which I need not speak. Even to the utmost I have been to thee A kind and a good Father: And herein I but repay a gift which I myself Received at others' hands; for, though now old 365 Beyond the common life of man, I still Remember them who loved me in my youth. Both of them sleep together: here they lived, As all their Forefathers had done; and when At length their time was come, they were not loth 370 To give their bodies to the family mould. I wished that thou shouldst live the life they lived: But, 'tis a long time to look back, my Son, And see so little gain from threescore years. to me; 375 Till I was forty years of age, not more Than half of my inheritance was mine. I toiled and toiled; God blessed me in my work, 380 Another Master. Heaven forgive me, Luke, At this the old man paused. Then, pointing to the stones near which they stood Thus, after a short silence, he resumed: 385"This was a work for us; and now, my Son, It is a work for me. But, lay one stone Here, lay it for me, Luke, with thine own hands. 390 I am strong and hale;-Do thou thy part; With many tasks that were resigned to thee: 395 All works which I was wont to do alone, Before I knew thy face.-Heaven bless thee, Boy! Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast With many hopes; it should be so-yes-yes— I knew that thou couldst never have a wish 400 To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound to me Only by links of love: When thou art gone, What will be left to us!-But, I forget My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone, As I requested; and hereafter, Luke, 405 When thou art gone away, should evil men Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment: hither turn thy thoughts, And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou 410 Mayst bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived, Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee wellWhen thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see A work which is not here—a covenant 415 'Twill be between us; but, whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down, And, as his Father had requested, laid 420 The first stone of the Sheep-fold. At the sight Hushed was that House in peace, or seeming peace, 425 Ere the night fell:—with morrow's dawn the Boy Began his journey, and when he had reached The public way, he put on a bold face; And all the neighbors, as he passed their doors, Came forth with wishes and with farewell prayers, 430 That followed him till he was out of sight. A good report did from their Kinsman come, 435 "The prettiest letters that were ever seen." began To slacken in his duty; and, at length, There is a comfort in the strength of love; 'Twill make a thing endurable, which else 450 Would overset the brain, or break the heart: I have conversed with more than one who well Remember the old Man, and what he was Years after he had heard this heavy news. His bodily frame had been from youth to age 455 Of an unusual strength. Among the rocks He went, and still looked up to sun and cloud, And listened to the wind; and, as before, Performed all kinds of labor for his sheep, And for the land, his small inheritance. 460 And to that hollow dell from time to time Did he repair, to build the Fold of which His flock had need. 'Tis not forgotten yet The pity which was then in every heart For the old Man-and 'tis believed by all 465 That many and many a day he thither went, And never lifted up a single stone. There, by the Sheep-fold, sometimes was he seen, Sitting alone, or with his faithful Dog, 470 The length of full seven years, from time to time, Survive her husband: at her death the estate 475 Was sold, and went into a stranger's hand. The Cottage which was named The Evening Star Is gone the plowshare has been through the ground On which it stood; great changes have been wrought In all the neighborhood:-yet the oak is left 480 That grew beside their door; and the remains Of the unfinished Sheep-fold may be seen Beside the boisterous brook of Green-head Ghyll. MY HEART LEAPS UP (1807) My heart leaps up when I behold So was it when my life began; 5 So be it when I shall grow old, The Child is father of the Man; THE SOLITARY REAPER (1807) Behold her, single in the field, 5 Alone she cuts and binds the grain, No nightingale did ever chaunt A voice so thrilling ne'er was heard In spring-time from the cuckoo-bird, 15 Breaking the silence of the seas Among the farthest Hebrides. Will no one tell me what she sings?— Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old, unhappy, far-off things, 20 And battles long ago: |