 | New Poems by George Crabbe |  |
Eastward & Westward, as she turned, the Moon,
As parting Clouds admitted, now appear'd
Refulgent, riding in her cloudless Way!
Smiling at Horror! in [the] Storm beneath.
There was a Strong Enchantment in the Scene!
It gave the Maiden-Mind a strange Delight,
Made up by Terror & Astonishment!
And Admiration & religious Awe!
That strove with Fear, and made Divine ye event.
Unsated by the Views, not unalarmed,
From East to West still turning! the Mid space
Seem'd Ever less'ning to Elizabeth.
She had observed, beside the Path that led
To the low Water's Mark, the River made,
But distant more than half that pebbly Way,
And near the House, a chalky, hilly Heap,
By none regarded till the Damsel now,
Trac'd the broad Stream encroaching! till it reach'd
The scatter'd Stones, then washed ye Hillock's Base!
Then turning to the Sea, awhile she staid
Watching the Froathy Foam that from ye Sea
Arose & Fell upon the river's Tide!
The Tide, that since her last alarming Look
Had covered all the Heap! “And what is there
“Bourne by the flood along?—it has a form,
“And struggles as it rolls! Good Heaven, it lives,
“And feels its fate!—'tis of my Father's flock!
“And where my Father?”—
As parting Clouds admitted, now appear'd
Refulgent, riding in her cloudless Way!
Smiling at Horror! in [the] Storm beneath.
There was a Strong Enchantment in the Scene!
It gave the Maiden-Mind a strange Delight,
Made up by Terror & Astonishment!
And Admiration & religious Awe!
That strove with Fear, and made Divine ye event.
63
From East to West still turning! the Mid space
Seem'd Ever less'ning to Elizabeth.
She had observed, beside the Path that led
To the low Water's Mark, the River made,
But distant more than half that pebbly Way,
And near the House, a chalky, hilly Heap,
By none regarded till the Damsel now,
Trac'd the broad Stream encroaching! till it reach'd
The scatter'd Stones, then washed ye Hillock's Base!
Then turning to the Sea, awhile she staid
Watching the Froathy Foam that from ye Sea
Arose & Fell upon the river's Tide!
The Tide, that since her last alarming Look
Had covered all the Heap! “And what is there
“Bourne by the flood along?—it has a form,
“And struggles as it rolls! Good Heaven, it lives,
“And feels its fate!—'tis of my Father's flock!
“And where my Father?”—
Here the Maiden joined
Her two domestic Damsels, for the Men
Were all abroad! to pen the fright'n'd flocks,
Save the poor Strays! that, like to Men astray,
Disdain'd the power that saved them! & so fled,
And perished in their Search for Liberty!
For not the Tygar nor the Pard can share
Freedom & Safety both! nor Sheep nor Men!
Her two domestic Damsels, for the Men
Were all abroad! to pen the fright'n'd flocks,
Save the poor Strays! that, like to Men astray,
Disdain'd the power that saved them! & so fled,
And perished in their Search for Liberty!
For not the Tygar nor the Pard can share
Freedom & Safety both! nor Sheep nor Men!
| New Poems by George Crabbe | |