30 Now peaceful as the morning,

The water-wraith' ascended thrice-
And gave his doleful warning.

Delicious is the lay that sings
The haunts of happy lovers,

35 The path that leads them to the grove,
The leafy grove that covers:
And Pity sanctifies the verse

That paints, by strength of sorrow, The unconquerable strength of love; 40 Bear witness, rueful Yarrow!

But thou, that didst appear so fair
To fond imagination,

Dost rival in the light of day

Her delicate creation:

45 Meek loveliness is round thee spread,
A softness still and holy;

The grace of forest charms decayed,
And pastoral melancholy.

That region left, the vale unfolds

50 Rich groves of lofty stature,
With Yarrow winding through the pomp
Of cultivated nature;

And, rising from those lofty groves,
Behold a Ruin hoary!

55 The shattered front of Newark's Towers, Renowned in Border story.

Fair scenes for childhood's opening bloom. For sportive youth to stray in

For manhood to enjoy his strength;

60 And age to wear away in!

Yon cottage seems a bower of bliss,

A covert for protection

Of tender thoughts, that nestle there-
The brood of chaste affection.

65 How sweet, on this autumnal day.
The wild-wood fruits to gather,
And on my True-love's forehead plant
A crest of blooming heather!

And what if I enwreathed my own!
70 'Twere no offence to reason;
The sober Hills thus deck their brows
To meet the wintry season.

I see-but not by sight alone, Loved Yarrow, have I won thee; 75 A ray of fancy still survivesHer sunshine plays upon thee! Thy ever-youthful waters keep A course of lively pleasure;

Had this effulgence disappeared
With flying haste, I might have sent,
Among the speechless clouds, a look
Of blank astonishment;

5 But 'tis endued with power to stay,
And sanctify one closing day,
That frail Mortality may see-
What is?-ah no, but what can be!
Time was when field and watery cove

10 With modulated echoes rang,

While choirs of fervent angels sang
Their vespers in the grove;

Or, crowning, star-like, each some sov-
ereign height,

Warbled, from heaven above and earth
below.

15 Strains suitable to both.-Such holy rite,
Methinks, if audibly repeated now
From hill or valley, could not move
Sublimer transport, purer love,
Than doth this silent spectacle-the

gleam

20 The shadow-and the peace supreme!

No sound is uttered,-but a deep
And solemn harmony pervades
The hollow vale from steep to steep,
And penetrates the glades.

80 Accordant to the measure.

Called forth by wondrous potency
Of beamy radiance, that imbues
Whate'er it strikes with gem-like hues!

In vision exquisitely clear,

30 Herds range along the mountain side; And glistening antlers are descried; And gilded flocks appear.

Thine is the tranquil hour, purpureal eve! But long as god-like wish, or hope divine, 35 Informs my spirit, ne'er can I believe That this magnificence is wholly thine! -From worlds not quickened by the sun A portion of the gift is won;

An intermingling of Heaven's pomp is spread

40 On ground which British shepherds tread!

And if there be whom broken ties
Afflict, or injuries assail,
Yon hazy ridges to their eyes
Present a glorious scale,

45 Climbing suffused with sunny air,
To stop-no record hath told where!
And tempting Fancy to ascend,
And with immortal spirits blend!
-Wings at my shoulders seem to play;
50 But, rooted here, I stand and gaze

On those bright steps that heavenward raise Their practicable way.1

Come forth, ye drooping old men, look abroad,

And see to what fair countries ye are bound!

55 And if some traveller, weary of his road, Hath slept since noon-tide on the grassy ground,

Ye Genii! to his covert speed; And wake him with such gentle heed As may attune his soul to meet the dower 60 Bestowed on this transcendent hour!

Such hues from their celestial urn
Were wont to stream before mine eye,
Where'er it wandered in the morn
Of blissful infancy.

65 This glimpse of glory, why renewed?
Nay, rather speak with gratitude;
For, if a vestige of those gleams
Survived, 'twas only in my dreams.
Dread Power! whom peace and calmness

serve

70 No less than Nature's threatening voice, If aught unworthy be my choice, From thee if I would swerve;

Oh, let thy grace remind me of the light Full early lost, and fruitlessly deplored; 75 Which, at this moment, on my waking sight Appears to shine, by miracle restored; My soul, though yet confined to earth, Rejoices in a second birth!

-Tis past, the visionary splendor fades; 80 And night approaches with her shades.

1 A ladder that may be climbed.