II. AN EVENING WALK, ADDRESSED TO A YOUNG LADY. General Sketch of the Lakes-Author's Regret of his Youth passed amongst them- · Short Description of Noon-Cascade Scene - Noon-tide Retreat - Precipice and sloping Lights— Face of Nature as the Sun declines - Mountain Farm, and the Cock-Slate Quarry - Sunset - Superstition of the Country, connected with that Moment - Swans - Female Beggar Twilight Sounds - Western Lights - Spirits - Night Moonlight-Hope-Night Sounds - Conclusion. FAR from my dearest Friend, 'tis mine to rove Where peace to Grasmere's lonely island leads, Fair scenes! with other eyes, than once, I gaze Upon the varying charm your round displays, Than when, ere-while, I taught, " a happy child," The echoes of your rocks my carols wild :` Then did no ebb of cheerfulness demand Sad tides of joy from Melancholy's hand; In youth's keen eye the livelong day was bright, The sun at morning, and the stars of night, Alike, when heard the bittern's hollow bill, Or the first woodcocks roam'd the moonlight hill. * These lines are only applicable to the middle part of that lake. + In the beginning of winter, these mountains are frequented by woodcocks, which in dark nights retire into the woods. In thoughtless gaiety I coursed the plain, For then, ev'n then, the little heart would beat Depicted in the dial's moral round; With Hope Reflection blends her social rays Yet still, the sport of some malignant Pow'r, But why, ungrateful, dwell on idle pain? To show what pleasures yet to me remain, Say, will my Friend, with unreluctant ear, The history of a poet's ev'ning hear? When, in the south, the wan noon, brooding still, Breathed a pale steam around the glaring hill, And shades of deep-embattled clouds were seen, Spotting the northern cliffs with lights between ; When, at the barren wall's unshelter'd end, Where long rails far into the lake extend, Crowded the shorten'd herds, and beat the tides Inverted shrubs, and moss of gloomy green, Cling from the rocks, with pale wood-weeds between; * The word intake is local, and signifies a mountain inclosure. + Ghyll is also, I believe, a term confined to this country, Glen, ghyll, and dingle, have the same meaning. Save that aloft the subtle sunbeams shine On wither'd briars that o'er the crags recline, Where antique roots its bustling course o'erlook, Half grey, half shagg'd with ivy to its ridge; -Did Sabine grace adorn my living line, Bandusia's praise, wild Stream, should yield to thine! 'Mid thy soft glooms the glittering steel unsheath; A Mind, that, in a calm angelic mood Of happy wisdom, meditating good, *The reader who has made the tour of this country, will recognize, in this description, the features which characterize the lower waterfall in the grounds of Rydale. |