Could pierce through a temper that's soft to disease, Would be rational peace-a philosopher's ease. There's indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds, And attention full ten times as much as there needs; 10 Pride where there's no envy, there's so much of joy; And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy. There's freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she's there, There's virtue, the title it surely may claim, 15 Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name. This picture from nature may seem to depart, Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart; And I for five centuries right gladly would be Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he. 20 1800. V. TO MY SISTER. Ir is the first mild day of March: There is a blessing in the air, Which seems a sense of joy to yield 5 To the bare trees, and mountains bare, My sister! ('tis a wish of mine) Edward will come with you;-and, pray, No joyless forms shall regulate We from to-day, my Friend, will date Love, now a universal birth, From heart to heart is stealing, From earth to man, from man to earth : ΙΟ 15 20 We'll frame the measure of our souls: 35 Then come, my Sister! come, I pray, 40 1798 VI. SIMON LEE, THE OLD HUNTSMAN; With an incident in which he was concerned. In the sweet shire of Cardigan, Full five-and-thirty years he lived No man like him the horn could sound, In those proud days, he little cared To blither tasks did Simon rouse 5 ΙΟ 15 The sleepers of the village. He all the country could outrun, Could leave both man and horse behind; He reeled, and was stone-blind. And still there's something in the world 20 For when the chiming hounds are out, But, oh the heavy change!-bereft Of health, strength, friends, and kindred, see! Old Simon to the world is left In liveried poverty. His Master's dead,-and no one now Dwells in the Hall of Ivor; Men, dogs, and horses, all are dead; 25 30 Lives with him, near the waterfall, Beside their moss-grown hut of clay, This scrap of land he from the heath 40 45 Oft, working by her Husband's side, 50 For she, with scanty cause for pride, Is stouter of the two. And, though you with your utmost skill 'Tis little, very little-all That they can do between them. 55 Few months of life has he in store As he to you will tell, For still, the more he works, the more My gentle Reader, I perceive O Reader! had you in your mind Such stores as silent thought can bring, O gentle Reader! you would find What more I have to say is short, It is no tale; but, should you think, One summer-day I chanced to see The mattock tottered in his hand; That at the root of the old tree "You're overtasked, good Simon Lee, The tears into his eyes were brought, 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 |