And ever, as we fondly muse, we find The bird, who ceased, with fading light, to thread Above yon eastern hill, where darkness broods Thus Hope, first pouring from her blessed horn Even now she decks for me a distant scene, But now the clear bright Moon her zenith gains, 320 330 340 350 From the dark-blue faint silvery threads divide The song of mountain-streams, unheard by day, 1787-1789 360 370 IV WRITTEN WHILE SAILING IN A BOAT AT EVENING H OW richly glows the water's breast Such views the youthful Bard allure; ΤΟ Who would not cherish dreams so sweet, V REMEMBRANCE OF COLLINS COMPOSED UPON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND LIDE gently, thus for ever glide, GL O Thames! that other bards may see As now, fair river! come to me. As thy deep waters now are flowing. Vain thought!-Yet be as now thou art, 1 How bright, how solemn, how serene! Now let us, as we float along, 1789 ΤΟ 20 VI DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES TAKEN DURING A PEDESTRIAN TOUR AMONG THE ALPS TO THE REV. ROBERT JONES FELLOW OF ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE DEAR SIR,-However desirous I might have been of giving you proofs of the high place you hold in my esteem, I should have been cautious of wounding your delicacy by thus publicly addressing you, had not the circumstance of our having been companions 1 Collins's Ode on the death of Thomson, the last written, I believe, of the poems which were published during his life-time. This Ode is also alluded to in the next stanza. among the Alps seemed to give this dedication a propriety sufficient to do away any scruples which your modesty might otherwise have suggested. In inscribing this little work to you, I consult my heart. You know well how great is the difference between two companions lolling in a post-chaise and two travellers plodding slowly along the road, side by side, each with his little knapsack of necessaries upon his shoulders. How much more of heart between the two latter! I am happy in being conscious that I shall have one reader who will approach the conclusion of these few pages with regret. You they must certainly interest, in reminding you of moments to which you can hardly look back without a pleasure not the less dear from a shade of melancholy. You will meet with few images without recollecting the spot where we observed them together; consequently, whatever is feeble in my design, or spiritless in my colouring, will be amply supplied by your own memory. With still greater propriety I might have inscribed to you a description of some of the features of your native mountains, through which we have wandered together, in the same manner, with so much pleasure. But the sea-sunsets, which give such splendour to the vale of Clwyd, Snowdon, the chair of Idris, the quiet village of Bethgelert, Menai and her Druids, the Alpine steeps of the Conway, and the still more interesting windings of the wizard stream of the Dee, remain yet untouched. Apprehensive that my pencil may never be exercised on these subjects, I cannot let slip this opportunity of thus publicly assuring you with how much affection and esteem I am, dear Sir, Most sincerely yours, London, 1793 W. WORDSWORTH Happiness (if she had been to be found on earth) among the charms of Nature-Pleasures of the pedestrian traveller-Author crosses France to the Alps-Present state of the Grande Chartreuse-Lake of Como-Time, Sunset-Same Scene, Twilight-Same Scene, Morning; its voluptuous Character; Old man and forest-cottage music-River Tusa-Via Mala and Grison Gipsy-Sckellenen-thal-Lake of Uri-Stormy sunsetChapel of William Tell-Force of local emotion-Chamois-chaserView of the higher Alps-Manner of life of a Swiss mountaineer, interspersed with views of the higher Alps-Golden age of the Alps-Life and views continued-Ranz des Vaches, famous Swiss Air-Abbey of Einsiedlen and its pilgrims-Valley of Chamouny-Mont BlancSlavery of Savoy-Influence of liberty on cottage-happiness-FranceWish for the Extirpation of Slavery-Conclusion. 7ERE there, below, a spot of holy ground W Where from distress a refuge might be found, And solitude prepare the soul for heaven; Sure, nature's God that spot to man had given Where falls the purple morning far and wide In flakes of light upon the mountain-side; Where with loud voice the power of water shakes The leafy wood, or sleeps in quiet lakes. Yet not unrecompensed the man shall roam, Who at the call of summer quits his home, ΤΟ And plods through some wide realm o'er vale and height, Though seeking only holiday delight; At least, not owning to himself an aim To which the sage would give a prouder name. While chastening thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed Host of his welcome inn, the noon-tide bower, A hope, that prudence could not then approve, But lo! the Alps, ascending white in air, 20 3309 40 50 1 The lyre of Memnon is reported to have emitted melancholy or cheerful tones, as it was touched by the sun's evening or morning rays. |