Only by links of love: when thou art gone, What will be left to us! But, I forget My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone, As I requested; and hereafter, Luke, When thou art gone away, should evil men Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment; hither turn thy thoughts, And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou May'st bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived, 410 Sometimes when he could find a leisure hour To slacken in his duty; and, at length, There is a comfort in the strength of love; 'T will make a thing endurable, which else Would overset the brain, or break the heart: I have conversed with more than one who well 451 Remember the old Man, and what he was Years after he had heard this heavy news. His bodily frame had been from youth to age Of an unusual strength. Among the rocks He went, and still looked up to sun and cloud, And listened to the wind; and, as before, Performed all kinds of labour for his sheep, And for the land, his small inheritance. 459 And to that hollow dell from time to time Did he repair, to build the Fold of which His flock had need. "T is not forgotten yet The pity which was then in every heart For the old Man and 't is believed by all That many and many a day he thither went, And never lifted up a single stone. There, by the Sheepfold, sometimes was he seen Sitting alone, or with his faithful Dog, Then old, beside him, lying at his feet. My whole life I have lived in pleasant thought, As if life's business were a summer mood; As if all needful things would come unsought THERE was a roaring in the wind all night; COMPOSED BY THE SEASIDE, NEAR CALAIS, AUGUST 1802 [Publ. 1807] FAIR Star of evening, Splendour of the west, Star of my Country! - on the horizon's brink Thou hangest, stooping, as might seem, to sink On England's bosom; yet well pleased to rest, Meanwhile, and be to her a glorious crest Conspicuous to the Nations. Thon, I think, Should'st be my Country's emblem; and should'st wink, Bright Star! with laughter on her banners, drest In thy fresh beauty. There! that dusky spot Beneath thee, that is England; there she lies. Blessings be on you both! one hope, one lot, One life, one glory!-I, with many a fear For my dear Country, many heartfelt sighs, Among men who do not love her, linger here. "IT IS A BEAUTEOUS EVENING, CALM AND FREE" [Publ. 1807] It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, The holy time is quiet as a Nun Breathless with adoration; the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquillity; |