- "It will not, will not rest! Poor Creature, can it be That 'tis thy mother's heart which is working so in thee? Things that I know not of belike to thee are dear, And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear. 66 Alas, the mountain tops that look so green and fair! I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there; The little brooks that seem all pastime and all play, When they are angry, roar like Lions for their prey. "Here thou needest not dread the raven in the sky; Night and day thou art safe, our cottage is hard by. Why bleat so after me? Why pull so at thy chain ? Sleep and at break of day I will come to thee again!' !” As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet, This song to myself did I oftentimes repeat; And it seemed, as I retraced the ballad line by line, Again, and once again, did I repeat the song; 66 Nay,” said I, “more than half to the Damsel must belong, For she looked with such a look, and she spake with such a tone, That I almost received her heart into my own." THE valley rings with mirth and joy ; The Magpie chatters with delight; Or through the glittering Vapours dart II. Beneath a rock, upon the grass, On pipes of sycamore they play * Ghyll, in the dialect of Cumberland and Westmoreland, is a short, and, for the most part, a steep narrow valley, with a stream running through it. Force is the word universally employed in these dialects for Waterfall. And thus, as happy as the Day, III. Along the river's stony marge The Sand-lark chants a joyous song; A thousand Lambs are on the rocks, That plaintive cry! which up the hill IV. Said Walter, leaping from the ground They leapt they ran and when they came Said Walter then, "Your task is here, V. "Cross, if you dare, where I shall cross — Come on, and in my footsteps tread!" The other took him at his word, And followed as he led. It was a spot which you may see If ever you to Langdale go; Into a chasm a mighty Block Hath fallen, and made a Bridge of rock: The gulf is deep below; And in a basin black and small Receives a lofty Waterfall. VI. With staff in hand across the cleft When list! he hears a piteous moan A Lamb, that in the pool is pent VII. The Lamb had slipped into the stream, His Dam had seen him when he fell, She saw him down the torrent borne ; She from the lofty rocks above Sent forth a cry forlorn, The Lamb, still swimming round and round, Made answer to that plaintive sound. VIII. When he had learnt what thing it was, And there the helpless Lamb he found IX. He drew it gently from the pool, And brought it forth into the light: The Shepherds met him with his charge, An unexpected sight! Into their arms the Lamb they took, Said they, "He's neither maimed nor scarred." Then up the steep ascent they hied, And placed him at his Mother's side; Those idle Shepherd-boys upbraid, And bade them better mind their trade. XIII. To H. C. SIX YEARS OLD. O THOU! whose fancies from afar are brought; |