 | Poems |  |
27
RYDAL-BECK, WESTMORELAND.
[_]
A mountain stream that descends through Lady Fleming's park, forming two waterfalls on the mountain side, and then flows leisurely through the lower grounds into the Rotha.
Foal of the well-spring and the cloud,
The young white horse, so fierce and proud,
Has broken forth from home!
What turf-train'd courser but would shun
With such a Colt a race to run
On such a Hippodrome?
The young white horse, so fierce and proud,
Has broken forth from home!
What turf-train'd courser but would shun
With such a Colt a race to run
On such a Hippodrome?
O'er shelving reef, down craggy wall,
Full gallop comes the waterfall,
Then lights on glass-like ground;
The beauteous pool beneath him quakes,
But thence away—away—he breaks,
With a disdainful bound.
Full gallop comes the waterfall,
Then lights on glass-like ground;
The beauteous pool beneath him quakes,
But thence away—away—he breaks,
With a disdainful bound.
28
Fresh ferns, soft mosses, wild buds gay,
In vain are waiting by his way,
To tempt him to a check;
The trees' lithe arms are stretch'd in vain
To stop him, till he reach the plain;
No lasso for his neck!
In vain are waiting by his way,
To tempt him to a check;
The trees' lithe arms are stretch'd in vain
To stop him, till he reach the plain;
No lasso for his neck!
The Dryad echo, hid aloof,
Lurks list'ning, till his sonorous hoof
Approaches her retreat;
Then forth, and leaps upon his back!
A rash equestrian, if she lack
The skill to keep her seat.
Lurks list'ning, till his sonorous hoof
Approaches her retreat;
Then forth, and leaps upon his back!
A rash equestrian, if she lack
The skill to keep her seat.
And hark! already she is off,
Sent shrieking, to the mimic scoff
Of lordly mountains round!
From that light weight the insulted steed
A single vigorous plunge has freed,
A headlong plunge profound.
Sent shrieking, to the mimic scoff
Of lordly mountains round!
From that light weight the insulted steed
A single vigorous plunge has freed,
A headlong plunge profound.
But where is now that steed of force?
Or was it but a spectral horse?
Or whither did he pass?
I see a narrow streamlet take
Its course through Rydal Park—a snake
Of silver in the grass.
Or was it but a spectral horse?
29
I see a narrow streamlet take
Its course through Rydal Park—a snake
Of silver in the grass.
Strange transformation! oft we see
Blind Passion fall from high degree,
With headlong noisy pride;
Then, changed in nature as in place,
Through life's low vale, with sinuous grace,
In quiet meekness glide.
Blind Passion fall from high degree,
With headlong noisy pride;
Then, changed in nature as in place,
Through life's low vale, with sinuous grace,
In quiet meekness glide.
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