MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT. 1820. DEDICATION. (SENT WITH THESE POEMS, IN MS., TO -.) DEAR Fellow-travellers! think not that the Muse, W. WORDSWORTH. RYDAL MOUNT, Nov., 1821. I. FISH-WOMEN.-ON LANDING AT CALAIS. "TIS said, fantastic ocean doth enfold But if the Nereid Sisters and their Queen, Above whose heads the tide so long hath rolled, The Dames resemble whom we here behold, 5 How fearful were it down through opening waves To sink, and meet them in their fretted caves, Withered, grotesque, immeasurably old, And shrill and fierce in accent!-Fear it not: Their voices into liquid music swell, II. BRUGES. BRUGES I saw attired with golden light (Streamed from the west) as with a robe of power: The splendour fled; and now the sunless hour, And sober graces, left her for defence Of future war. Advance not-spare to hide, 10 Of stateliest architecture, where the Forms Of nun-like females, with soft motion, glide! III. BRUGES. THE Spirit of Antiquity-enshrined In sumptuous buildings, vocal in sweet song, In picture, speaking with heroic tongue, Mounts to the seat of grace within the mind: 5 Hence Forms that glide with swan-like ease along, Hence motions, even amid the vulgar throng, To social cares from jarring passions freed; IV. INCIDENT AT BRUGES. IN Brugès town is many a street The measure, simple truth to tell, Though from the same grim turret fell When silent were both voice and chords, 5 IO Yet sad as sweet,—for English words 15 It was a breezy hour of eve; Quivered and seemed almost to heave, And, if the glory reached the Nun, Not always is the heart unwise, If even a passing Stranger sighs Such feeling pressed upon my soul, By one soft trickling tear that stole Fresh from the beauty and the bliss 20 25 30 35 40 1828. (?) V. AFTER VISITING THE FIELD OF WATERLOO. A WINGED Goddess-clothed in vesture wrought Of rainbow colours; One whose port was bold, Whose overburthened hand could scarcely hold The glittering crowns and garlands which it brought 5 Hovered in air above the far-famed Spot. Of wind-swept corn that wide around us roed VI. BETWEEN NAMUR AND LIEGE WHAT lovelier home could gentle Fany choose? Is this the stream, whose cities, heights, and plains, War's favourite playground, are with crimson stains Familiar, as the Morn with pearly dews? The Morn, that now, along the silver METER, S Spreading her peaceful ensigns, calls the swains To tend their silent boats and ringing waine, Or strip the bough whose mellow fruit bestrews The ripening corn beneath it. As mine eres Turn from the fortified and threatening Lil, is How sweet the prospect of yon watery glade, With its grey rocks clustering in pensive shade That, shaped like old monastic turrets, rise From the smooth meadow-ground, serene and still! VII. AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. WAS it to disenchant, and to undo, That we approached the Seat of Charlemaine? |