The happy Island where ye think and act:
Now, when destruction is a prime pursuit,
Shew to the wretched Nations for what end
The Powers of civil Polity were given!"
Abruptly here, but with a graceful air
The Sage broke off. No sooner had he ceased
Than, looking forth, the gentle Lady said,
"Behold, the shades of afternoon have fallen
Upon this flowery slope; and see-beyond-
The Lake, though bright, is of a placid blue;
As if preparing for the peace of evening.
How temptingly the landscape shines!—The air
Breathes invitation; easy is the walk
To the Lake's margin, where a Boat lies moored
Beneath her sheltering tree."-Upon this hint
We rose together: all were pleased—but most
The beauteous Girl, whose cheek was flushed with joy.
Light as a sun-beam glides along the hills
She vanished-eager to impart the scheme
To her loved Brother and his shy Compeer.
Now was there bustle in the Vicar's house
And earnest preparation.-Forth we went,
And down the Valley on the Streamlet's bank Pursued our way, a broken Company,
Mute or conversing, single or in pairs.
Thus having reached a bridge, that overarched
The hasty rivulet where it lay becalmed
In a deep pool, by happy chance we saw
A two-fold Image; on a grassy bank
A snow-white Ram, and in the crystal flood
Another and the same! Most beautiful,
On the green turf, with his imperial front
Shaggy and bold, and wreathed horns superb,
The breathing Creature stood; as beautiful,
Beneath him, shewed his shadowy Counterpart.
Each had his glowing mountains, each his sky,
And each seemed centre of his own fair world:
Antipodes unconscious of each other,
Yet, in partition, with their several spheres,
Blended in perfect stillness, to our sight!
"Ah! what a pity were it to disperse,
Or to disturb, so fair a spectacle,
And yet a breath can do it!"
The Lady whispered, while we stood and gazed
Gathered together, all, in still delight,
Not without awe. Thence passing on, she said
In like low voice to my particular ear,
"I love to hear that eloquent Old Man
Pour forth his meditations, and descant
On human life from infancy to age.
How pure his spirit! in what vivid hues.
His mind gives back the various forms of things,
Caught in their fairest, happiest attitude!
While he is speaking I have power to see
Even as he sees; but when his voice hath ceased,
Then, with a sigh I sometimes feel, as now,
That combinations so serene and bright,
Like those reflected in yon quiet Pool,
Cannot be lasting in a world like ours,
To great and small disturbances exposed."
More had she said—but sportive shouts were heard ; Sent from the jocund hearts of those two Boys,
Who, bearing each a basket on his arm,
Down the green field came tripping after us.
-When we had cautiously embarked, the Pair
Now for a prouder service were addrest;
But an inexorable law forbade,
And each resigned the oar which he had seized.
Whereat, with willing hand I undertook
The needful labour; grateful task!—to me
Pregnant with recollections of the time
When, on thy bosom, spacious Windermere!
A Youth, I practised this delightful art;
Tossed on the waves alone, or mid a crew
Of joyous Comrades.-Now the reedy marge
Cleared, with a strenuous arm I dipped the oar,
Free from obstruction; and the Boat advanced
Through crystal water, smoothly as a Hawk,
That, disentangled from the shady boughs
Of some thick wood, her place of covert, cleaves
With correspondent wings the abyss of air.
-"Observe," the Vicar said, "yon rocky Isle
With birch-trees fringed; my hand shall guide the helm,
While thitherward we bend our course; or while
We seek that other, on the western shore,—
Where the bare Columns of those lofty Firs,
Supporting gracefully a massy Dome
Of sombre foliage, seem to imitate
A Grecian Temple rising from the Deep."
"Turn where we may," said I, we cannot err
In this delicious Region."-Cultured slopes,
Wild tracts of forest-ground, and scattered groves,
And mountains bare-or clothed with ancient woods, Surrounded us; and, as we held our way
Along the level of the glassy flood,
They ceased not to surround us; change of place,
From kindred features diversly combined,
Producing change of beauty ever new.
-Ah! that such beauty, varying in the light
Of living nature, cannot be pourtrayed
By words, nor by the pencil's silent skill;
But is the property of him alone
Who hath beheld it, noted it with care,
And in his mind recorded it with love!
Suffice it, therefore, if the rural Muse
Vouchsafe sweet influence, while her Poet speaks
Of trivial occupations well devised,
And unsought pleasures springing up by chance;
As if some friendly Genius had ordained
That, as the day thus far had been enriched
By acquisition of sincere delight,
The same should be continued to its close.
|