258 The River Duddon. A SERIES OF SONNETS. ADVERTISEMENT. THE RIVER DUDDON rises upon Wrynose Fell, on the confines of Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Lancashire; and, serving as a boundary to the two last counties, for the space of about twenty-five miles, enters the Irish Sea, between the Isle of Walney and the Lordship of Millum. Yes, they can make, who fail to find, That through the clouds do sometimes steal, Hence, while the imperial city's din I. I seek the birthplace of a native stream. Better to breathe upon this aery height III. How shall I paint thee?--Be this naked stone ment, Pleased could my verse, a speaking monu care; Pure flow the verse, pure, vigorous, free, Prompt offering to thy foster-mother, For Duddon, long-loved Duddon is my SOLE listener, Duddon! to the breeze that played [sound With thy clear voice, I caught the fitful Unfruitful solitudes, that seemed to upbraid *The deer alluded to is the Leigh, a gigantic Wafted o'er sullen moss and craggy mound, species long since extinct. The sun in heaven !-but now, to form a shade VIII. for thee, green alders have together wound WHAT aspect bore the man who roved or Their foliage; ashes flung their arms around; And birch-trees risen in silver colonnade. And thou hast also tempted here to rise, 'Mid sheltering pines, this cottage rude and grey; Whose ruddy children, by the mother's eyes Carelessly watched, sport through the summer day, [May Thy pleased associates-light as endless On infant bosoms lonely nature lies. trees VI. FLOWERS. ERE yet our course was graced with social [bowers, It lacked not old remains of hawthorn Where small birds warbled to their para[bees; mours; And, earlier still, was heard the hum of I saw them ply their harmless robberies, And caught the fragrance which the sundry flowers, [showers, Fed by the stream with soft perpetual Plenteously yielded to the vagrant breeze. There bloomed the strawberry of the [sapphire blue, (1) The trembling eyebright showed her The thyme her purple, like the blush of wilderness; even; And, if the breath of some to no caress Invited, forth they peeped so fair to view, All kinds alike seemed favourites of Heaven. fled, Along his path? His unprotected bed intruder nursed [stone Chosen for ornament: stone matched with In studied symmetry, with interspace For the clear waters to pursue their race Without restraint.-How swiftly have they 'flown, [child Succeeding - still succeeding! Here the Puts, when the high-swoln flood runs fierce and wild, [here His budding courage to the proof;—and Declining manhood learns to note the sly And sure encroachments of infirmity, Thinking how fast time runs, life's end how near ! X. THE SAME SUBJECT. NOT so that pair whose youthful spirits dance With prompt emotion, urging them to pass; A sweet confusion checks the shepherd-lass; Blushing she eyes the dizzy flood askance,To stop ashamed-too timid to advance; She ventures once again-another pause! His outstretched hand he tauntingly with draws She sues for help with piteous utterance! No fiction was it of the antique age; Dancing with all their brilliant equipage Of some sweet babe, flower stolen, and coarse weed left For the distracted mother to assuage Is traceable a vestige of the notes O'er twilight fields the autumnal gossamer? XII. HINTS FOR THE FANCY. ON, loitering muse. the swift stream chides us-on! And the solidities of mortal pride, Shall find such toys of fancy thickly set ;- must; And, if thou canst, leave them without regret ! |