Shall lack not their enjoyment:—but how faint Compared with ours! who, pacing side by side, Could, with an eye of leisure, look on all That we beheld; and lend the listening sense To every grateful sound of earth and air; Pausing at will-our spirits braced, our thoughts Pleasant as roses in the thickets blown,
pure as dew bathing their crimson leaves.
Mount slowly, sun! that we may journey long, By this dark hill protected from thy beams! Such is the summer pilgrim's frequent wish; But quickly from among our morning thoughts 'Twas chased away: for, toward the western side Of the broad vale, casting a casual glance, We saw a throng of people ;—wherefore met? Blithe notes of music, suddenly let loose On the thrilled ear, and flags uprising, yield Prompt answer; they proclaim the annual Wake, Which the bright season favours.-Tabor and pipe In purpose join to hasten or reprove
The laggard Rustic; and repay with boons Of merriment a party-coloured knot, Already formed upon the village green. -Beyond the limits of the shadow cast By the broad hill, glistened upon our sight That gay assemblage. Round them and above, Glitter, with dark recesses interposed, Casement, and cottage-roof, and stems of trees
Half-veiled in vapoury cloud, the silver steam Of dews fast melting on their leafy boughs By the strong sunbeams smitten. Like a mast Of gold, the Maypole shines; as if the rays Of morning, aided by exhaling dew, With gladsome influence could re-animate The faded garlands dangling from its sides.
Said I, "The music and the sprightly scene Invite us; shall we quit our road, and join These festive matins ?"—He replied, “Not loth Here would I linger, and with you partake, Not one hour merely, but till evening's close, The simple pastimes of the day and place. By the fleet Racers, ere the sun be set, The turf of yon large pasture will be skimmed ; There, too, the lusty Wrestlers shall contend: But know we not that he, who intermits The appointed task and duties of the day, Untunes full oft the pleasures of the day; Checking the finer spirits that refuse To flow, when purposes are lightly changed? We must proceed—a length of journey yet Remains untraced." Then, pointing with his staff Raised toward those craggy summits, his intent He thus imparted:—
Among yon mountain fastnesses concealed, You will receive, before the hour of noon,
Good recompense, I hope, for this day's toil, From sight of One who lives secluded there,
Lonesome and lost of whom, and whose past life, (Not to forestall such knowledge as may be More faithfully collected from himself)
This brief communication shall suffice.
Though now sojourning there, he, like myself, Sprang from a stock of lowly parentage Among the wilds of Scotland, in a tract Where many a sheltered and well-tended plant, Bears, on the humblest ground of social life, Blossoms of piety and innocence.
Such grateful promises his youth displayed: And, having shown in study forward zeal, He to the Ministry was duly called;
And straight, incited by a curious mind
Filled with vague hopes, he undertook the charge Of Chaplain to a military troop
Cheered by the Highland bagpipe, as they marched In plaided vest,-his fellow-countrymen.
This office filling, yet by native power And force of native inclination made
An intellectual ruler in the haunts Of social vanity, he walked the world, Gay, and affecting graceful gaiety;
Lax, buoyant-less a pastor with his flock.
Than a soldier among soldiers-lived and roamed Where Fortune led :-and Fortune, who oft proves
The careless wanderer's friend, to him made known A blooming Lady-a conspicuous flower, Admired for beauty, for her sweetness praised; Whom he had sensibility to love,
Ambition to attempt, and skill to win!
For this fair Bride, most rich in gifts of mind, Nor sparingly endowed with worldly wealth, His office he relinquished; and retired From the world's notice to a rural home.
Youth's season yet with him was scarcely past, And she was in youth's prime. How full their joy, How free their love! nor did that love decay, Nor joy abate; 'till, pitiable doom!
In the short course of one undreaded year, Death blasted all. Death suddenly o'erthrew Two lovely Children-all that they possessed! The Mother followed :-miserably bare The one Survivor stood; he wept, he prayed For his dismissal; day and night, compelled By pain to turn his thoughts towards the grave, And face the régions of eternity.
An uncomplaining apathy displaced This anguish; and, indifferent to delight, To aim and purpose, he consumed his days, To private interest dead, and public care. So lived he; so he might have died.
To the wide world's astonishment, appeared
A glorious opening, the unlooked-for dawn, That promised everlasting joy to France! Her voice of social transport reached even him! He broke from his contracted bounds, repaired To the great City, an emporium then Of golden expectations, and receiving Freights every day from a new world of hope. Thither his popular talents he transferred; And, from the pulpit, zealously maintained The cause of Christ and civil liberty, As one, and moving to one glorious end. Intoxicating service! I might say
A happy service; for he was sincere
As vanity and fondness for applause,
And new and shapeless wishes, would allow.
That righteous cause (such power hath freedom) bound,
For one hostility, in friendly league
Ethereal natures and the worst of slaves; Was served by rival advocates that came From regions opposite as heaven and hell. One courage seemed to animate them all: And, from the dazzling conquests daily gained By their united efforts, there arose
A proud and most presumptuous confidence In the transcendent wisdom of the age, And her discernment; not alone in rights, And in the origin and bounds of power Social and temporal; but in laws divine,
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