1. How sweet it is, when mother Fancy rocks The wayward brain, to saunter through a wood! An old place, full of many a lovely brood, Tall trees, green arbours, and ground flowers in flocks; And Wild rose tip-toe upon hawthorn stocks, Like to a bonny Lass, who plays her pranks At Wakes and Fairs with wandering Mountebanks, When she stands cresting the Clown's head, and mocks The crowd beneath her. Verily I think, Such place to me is sometimes like a dream Or map of the whole world: thoughts, link by link, Enter through ears and eyesight, with such gleam Of all things, that at last in fear I shrink, And leap at once from the delicious stream. 2. Where lies the Land to which yon Ship must go? Is she for tropic suns, or polar snow? What boots the enquiry? Neither friend nor foe Ever before her, and a wind to blow. Yet still I ask, what Haven is her mark? And, almost as it was when ships were rare, From time to time, like Pilgrims, here and there Crossing the waters; doubt, and something dark, Of the old Sea some reverential fear, Is with me at thy farewell, joyous Bark! 3. COMPOSED after a Journey, across THE HAMILTON HILLS, YORKSHIRE. Ere we had reach'd the wish'd-for place, night fell: Or Clock to toll from. Many a glorious pile And from our earthly memory fade away. These words were utter'd in a pensive mood, The immortal Mind craves objects that endure: Nor they from it: their fellowship is secure. |