THEY dreamt not of a perishable home Who thus could build. Be mine, in hours of fear Or grovelling thought, to seek a refuge here; Or through the aisles of Westminster to roam: Where bubbles burst, and folly's dancing foam Melts, if it cross the threshold; where the wreath Of awe-struck wisdom droops: or let my path Lead to that younger Pile, whose sky-like dome Hath typified by reach of daring art Infinity's embrace; whose guardian crest, The silent Cross, among the stars shall spread As now, when She hath also seen her breast Filled with mementos, satiate with its part Of grateful England's overflowing Dead. XLVI EJACULATION GLORY to God! and to the Power who came In filial duty, clothed with love divine, That made his human tabernacle shine Like Ocean burning with purpureal flame; Or like the Alpine Mount, that takes its name XLVII CONCLUSION WHY sleeps the future, as a snake enrolled, Coil within coil, at noon-tide? For the WORD Yields, if with unpresumptuous faith explored, Power at whose touch the sluggard shall unfold His drowsy rings. Look forth!-that Stream behold, THAT STREAM upon whose bosom we have passed Floating at ease while nations have effaced Nations, and Death has gathered to his fold Long lines of mighty Kings-look forth, my Soul ! (Nor in this vision be thou slow to trust) The living Waters, less and less by guilt Stained and polluted, brighten as they roll, Till they have reached the eternal Citybuilt For the perfected Spirit of the just! MEMORY A PEN to register; a key- As aptly, also, might be given That, softening objects, sometimes even From roseate hues, far kenned at morn and Outstrips the heart's demand; even In hours of peace, or when the storm is driven Along the nether region's rugged frame!1 1 See Note. That smooths foregone distress, the lines Yet, like a tool of Fancy, works That startle Conscience, as she lurks Oh! that our lives, which flee so fast, That not an image of the past Retirement then might hourly look Age steal to his allotted nook With heart as calm as lakes that sleep, 1823. TO THE LADY FLEMING ON SEEING THE FOUNDATION PREPARING FOR THE ERECTION OF RYDAL CHAPEL, WESTMORELAND After thanking Lady Fleming in prose for the service she had done to her neighbourhood by erecting this Chapel, I have nothing to say beyond the expression of regret that the architect did not furnish an elevation better suited to the site in a narrow mountain-pass, and, what is of more consequence, better constructed in the interior for the purposes of worship. It has no chancel; the altar is unbecomingly confined; the pews are so narrow as to preclude the possibility of kneeling with comfort; there is no vestry; and what ought to have been first mentioned, the font, instead of standing at its proper place at the entrance, is thrust into the farther end of a When these pew. defects shall be pointed out to the munificent Patroness, they will, it is hoped, be corrected. I BLEST is this Isle-our native Land; II O Lady! from a noble line Of chieftains sprung, who stoutly bore III How fondly will the woods embrace IV Well may the villagers rejoice! Shall tottering Age, bent earthward, hear V Nor deem the Poet's hope misplaced, 1 Bekangs Ghyll-or the dell of Nightshadein which stands St. Mary's Abbey in Low Furness. VI Lives there a man whose sole delights X Heaven prosper it! may peace, and love, To kneel together, and adore their God! 1823. VII ON THE SAME OCCASION Oh! gather whencesoe'er ye safely may Our churches, invariably perhaps, stand east and west, but why is by few persons exactly known; nor, that the degree of deviation from due east often noticeable in the ancient ones was determined, in each particular case, by the point in the horizon, at which the sun rose upon the day of the saint to whom the church was dedicated. These observances of our ancestors, and the causes of them, are the subject of the following stanzas. WHEN in the antique age of bow and spear Then, to her Patron Saint a previous rite Resounded with deep swell and solemn close, Through unremitting vigils of the night, Till from his couch the wished-for Sun up rose. He rose, and straight-as by divine command, They, who had waited for that sign to trace Their work's foundation, gave with careful hand To the high altar its determined place; Mindful of Him who in the Orient born There lived, and on the cross his life resigned, Misgivings, hard to vanquish or control, Mix with the day, and cross the hour of rest; While all the future, for thy purer soul, With sober certainties" of love is blest. That sigh of thine, not meant for human ear, Tells that these words thy humbleness offend; Yet bear me up-else faltering in the rear Of a steep march: support me to the end. Peace settles where the intellect is meek, And Love is dutiful in thought and deed; Through Thee communion with that Love I seek: The faith Heaven strengthens where he moulds the Creed, 1824. "HOW RICH THAT FOREHEAD'S CALM EXPANSE" Written at Rydal Mount. Mrs. Wordsworth's impression is that the Poem was written at Coleorton: it was certainly suggested by a Print at Coleorton Hall. How rich that forehead's calm expanse ! And intercourse with mortal hours Bring back a humbler mood! So looked Cecilia when she drew An Angel from his station; So looked; not ceasing to pursue But hand and voice alike are still; Mute strains from worlds beyond the |