. YOUTH AND AGE. VERSE, a breeze mid blossoms straying, With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young?—Ah, woful when ! O'er aery cliffs and glittering sands, How lightly then it flashed along : Like those trim skiffs, unknown of yore, On winding lakes and rivers wide, That ask no aid of sail or oar, 5 10 That fear no spite of wind or tide! 15 Nought cared this body for wind or weather When Youth and I liv'd in't together. Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like; O! the joys, that came down shower-like, Ere I was old! Ere I was old? Ah woful ere, Which tells me, Youth's no longer here! O Youth! for years so many and sweet, "Tis known, that thou and I were one; I'll think it but a fond conceit : It cannot be, that thou art gone! I see these locks in silvery slips, Dew-drops are the gems of morning, That only serves to makes us grieve That may not rudely be dismist, Yet hath outstay'd his welcome while, And tells the jest without the smile. WORDSWORTH. THREE YEARS SHE GREW IN SUN AND SHOWER. [THE EDUCATION OF NATURE.] THREE years she grew in sun and shower, Then Nature said, "A lovelier flower On earth was never sown; This Child I to myself will take, In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, 10 The floating clouds their state shall lend To her; for her the willow bend; Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motion of the Storm Grace that shall mould the Maiden's form By silent sympathy. The stars of midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound Shall pass into her face. And vital feelings of delight Shall rear her form to stately height, Her virgin bosom swell; Such thoughts to Lucy I will give While she and I together live Here in this happy dell." Thus Nature spake-The work was done— She died, and left to me 20 25 30 35 This heath, this calm, and quiet scene; 40 The memory of what has been, And never more will be. WRITTEN IN LONDON, SEPTEMBER, 1802. O FRIEND! I know not which way I must look To think that now our life is only drest For show; mean handy-work of craftsman, cook, Or groom!-We must run glittering like a brook 5 In the open sunshine, or we are unblest: The wealthiest man among us is the best: No grandeur now in nature or in book Delights us. Rapine, avarice, expense, The homely beauty of the good old cause 10 |