Free from obstruction; and the boat advanced
Through crystal water, smoothly as a hawk,
That, disentangled from the shady boughs
Of some thick wood, her place of covert, cleaves
With correspondent wings the abyss of air.

490

495

“Observe,” the Vicar said, "yon rocky isle With birch-trees fringed; * my hand shall guide the helm, While thitherward we shape1 our course; or while We seek that other, on the western shore; Where the bare columns of those lofty firs,* Supporting gracefully a massy dome Of sombre 2 foliage, seem to imitate

500

A Grecian temple rising from the Deep."

"Turn where we may," said I, "we cannot err

In this delicious region."-Cultured slopes,
Wild tracts of forest-ground, and scattered groves,
And mountains bare, or clothed with ancient woods,
Surrounded us; and, as we held our way

Along the level of the glassy flood,

They ceased not to surround us; change of place,

505

* Dr. Cradock, the Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford, wrote to me in 1878 "The Lake is of course, in the main, that of Grasmere, 'the grassy mountain's open side' being avowedly Loughrigg Terrace. But, according to Wordsworth's habit, he has drawn his imagery from various other placesas the island of Grasmere is not with birch-trees fringed.' (This may well refer to Rydal.) Again, I know of no 'lilies of the vale' at Grasmere, but they are found, I believe, on one of the islands of Windermere, certainly in woods near the river Leven, below that lake. Again, the vicar refers to 'two islands' on the lake, but Grasmere has only one. I never saw a goat 'browsing by dashing waterfalls,' still less 'spotted deer' on or near Grasmere.'

It seems to me that the description refers, first to Rydal lake, and then to Grasmere. The company descend, as will be seen, along a streamlet to a bridge, where they see a ram reflected in the water. They then go into a boat, and sail to the 'rocky isle with birch-trees fringed.' This cannot refer to the island in Grasmere, but it may refer to the larger one in Rydal. Even the 'dashing waterfall' may be the small one in the beck that descends between Nab Scar and White Moss Common. But if this be correct, and if the whole party are supposed to ascend Loughrigg Terrace later on, proceeding to a point whence they can view the vale of Grasmere, there are still some difficulties in localising the details.—ED.

*

From kindred features diversely combined,
Producing change of beauty ever new.
-Ah! that such beauty, varying in the light
Of living nature, cannot be portrayed
By words, nor by the pencil's silent skill;
But is the property of him alone
Who hath beheld it, noted it with care,

And in his mind recorded it with love!
Suffice it, therefore, if the rural Muse
Vouchsafe sweet influence, while her Poet speaks
Of trivial occupations well devised,

And unsought pleasures springing up by chance;
As if some friendly Genius had ordained
That, as the day thus far had been enriched
By acquisition of sincere delight,

510

515

520

The same should be continued to its close.

525

One spirit animating old and young,

A gipsy-fire we kindled on the shore

Of the fair Isle with birch-trees fringed-and there,
Merrily seated in a ring, partook

A choice repast-served by our young companions1
With rival earnestness and kindred glee.2

530

Launched from our hands the smooth stone skimmed

the lake;

With shouts we raised 3 the echoes ;-stiller sounds The lovely Girl supplied—a simple song,

Whose low tones reached not to the distant rocks 535 To be repeated thence, but gently sank

4

* Probably the terrace walks on Loughrigg are here referred to.-ED.

Into our hearts; and charmed the peaceful flood.
Rapaciously we gathered flowery spoils
From land and water; lilies of each hue-
Golden and white, that float upon the waves,
And court the wind; and leaves of that shy plant,
(Her flowers were shed) the lily of the vale,*
That loves the ground, and from the sun withholds
Her pensive beauty; from the breeze her sweets.

Such product, and such pastime, did the place
And season yield; but, as we re-embarked,
Leaving, in quest of other scenes, the shore
Of that wild spot, the Solitary said

In a low voice, yet careless who might hear,
"The fire, that burned so brightly to our wish,
Where is it now?-Deserted on the beach-
Dying, or dead! 1 Nor shall the fanning breeze
What care we for this,

Revive its ashes.

Whose ends are gained? Behold an emblem here

Of one day's pleasure, and all mortal joys!

And, in this unpremeditated slight

Of that which is no longer needed, see

The common course of human gratitude!"

540

545

550

555

This plaintive note disturbed not the repose

Of the still evening. Right across the lake
Our pinnace moves; then, coasting creek and bay,
Glades we behold, and into thickets peep,
Where couch the spotted deer; † or raised our eyes
To shaggy steeps on which the careless goat

1 1836.

560

It seems extinct; nor shall

beach

1814.

Compare The Prelude, book ii. ll. 59-61 (vol. iii. p. 155)—

a Sister Isle

Beneath the oaks' umbrageous covert, sown
With lilies of the valley like a field.

See note, p. 371.-ED.

ED.

*

565

Browsed by the side of dashing waterfalls ;
And thus the bark, meandering with the shore,
Pursued her voyage, till a natural pier

Of jutting rock invited us to land.1

Alert to follow as the Pastor led,

We clomb a green hill's side; † and, as we clomb, 570
The Valley, opening out her bosom, gave

Fair prospect, intercepted less and less,2

O'er the flat meadows and indented coast

Of the smooth lake,4 in compass seen :-far off,
And yet conspicuous, stood the old Church-tower,‡ 575
In majesty presiding over fields

And habitations seemingly preserved 5
From all intrusion of the restless world 6
By rocks impassable and mountains huge.

1 1836.

Thus did the Bark, meandering with the shore,
Pursue her voyage, till a point was gained
Where a projecting line of rock, that framed
A natural pier, invited us to land.

1814.

Thus did the Bark, meandering with the shore,
Pursue her voyage, till a natural pier

Soft heath this elevated spot supplied,

580

And choice of moss-clad stones, whereon we couched
Or sate reclined; admiring quietly

The general aspect of the scene; but each
Not seldom over anxious to make known 1
His own discoveries; or to favourite points
Directing notice, merely from a wish
To impart a joy, imperfect while unshared.
That rapturous moment never 2 shall I forget
When these particular interests were effaced
From every mind !—Already had the sun,
Sinking with less than ordinary state,
Attained his western bound; but rays of light-
Now suddenly diverging from the orb
Retired behind the mountain tops or veiled

585

590

By the dense air-shot upwards to the crown

595

Of the blue firmament-aloft, and wide:
And multitudes of little floating clouds,

Through their ethereal texture pierced-ere we,
Who saw, of change were conscious-had become 3
Vivid as fire; clouds separately poised,—
Innumerable multitude of forms

Scattered through half the circle of the sky;
And giving back, and shedding each on each,
With prodigal communion, the bright hues
Which from the unapparent fount of glory
They had imbibed, and ceased not to receive.

With resting-place of mossy stone;-and there
We sate reclined-admiring quietly

600

605

The frame and general aspect of the scene;
And each not seldom eager to make known

1814.

2 1836.

1814.

ne'er

3

1836.

Pierced through their thin etherial mould, ere we,
Who saw, of change were conscious, had become 1814.
Ere we, who saw, of change were conscious, pierced
Through their ethereal texture, had become

1827.