Measuring the periods of his lonely doom, perch II To rouse the dawn, soft gales shall speed thy wing, And thy erratic voice be faithful to the Spring! 1827. (?) 66 "Miss not the occasion: by the forelock take 'WAIT, prithee, wait!" this answer Lesbia threw Forth to her Dove, and took no further heed. Her eye was busy, while her fingers flew Across the harp, with soul-engrossing speed; But from that bondage when her thoughts were freed 5 She rose, and toward the close-shut casement drew, Whence the poor unregarded Favourite, true To old affections, had been heard to plead With flapping wing for entrance. What a shriek Forced from that voice so lately tuned to a strain Of harmony!-a shriek of terror, pain, And self-reproach! for, from aloft, a Kite and the Dove, which from its ruthless beak Pounced, She could not rescue, perished in her sight! 1835. (?) XVI. THE INFANT M-M——. UNQUIET Childhood here by special grace trace 5 Of fretful temper sullies her pure cheek; Prompt, lively, self sufficing, yet so meek That one enrapt with gazing on her face (Which even the placid innocence of death Could scarcely make more placid, heaven more bright) Might learn to picture, for the eye of faith, The Virgin, as she shone with kindred light; A nursling couched upon her mother's knee, Beneath some shady palm of Galilee. 1827. (?) ΤΟ XVII. ΤΟ IN HER SEVENTIETH YEAR. SUCH age how beautiful! O Lady bright, my sight, 5 When I behold thy blanched unwithered cheek, Thy temples fringed with locks of gleaming white, And head that droops because the soul is meek, Thee with the welcome Snowdrop I compare ; That child of winter, prompting thoughts that climb From desolation toward the genial prime; 1827. (?) XVIII. TO ROTHA Q- ROTHA, my Spiritual Child! this head was grey Breathed forth beside the peaceful mountain Whose murmur soothed thy languid Mother's ear 10 After her throes, this Stream of name more dear Since thou dost bear it,-a memorial theme 1827. (?) The river Rotha, that flows into Windermere from the Lakes of Grasmere and Rydal. XIX. A GRAVE-STONE UPON THE FLOOR IN THE CLOISTERS OF WORCESTER CATHEDRAL. "MISERRIMUS!" and neither name nor date, Prayer, text, or symbol, graven upon the stone; Nought but that word assigned to the unknown, That solitary word-to separate 5 From all, and cast a cloud around the fate XX. ROMAN ANTIQUITIES DISCOVERED AT BISHOPSTONE, WHILE poring Antiquarians search the ground Hoards may come forth of Trajans, Maximins, 1835. (?) XXI. 1830. CHATSWORTH! thy stately mansion, and the pride Of thy domain, strange contrast do present Through fields whose thrifty occupants abide 5 Yet He whose heart in childhood gave her troth That, not for Fancy only, pomp hath charms; And, strenuous to protect from lawless harms The extremes of favoured life, may honour both. XXII. A TRADITION OF OKER HILL IN DARLEY DALE, DERBYSHIRE. 'TIS said that to the brow of yon fair hill Nor one look more exchanging, grief to still might kill 5 No blast |