University of Virginia Library

Musing, the Pauper stood alone,
In silence, yet not sullenly,
But smiling tremulously, like one
Not heedless of another's glee,
Though his own heart hath lost its tone;
Till now, their morning service done,
They care to break their fast. Their board
A little daisied knoll, the sward
Their pleasant couch, where each one takes
An equal place: thus furnished,
Their healthful catering is outspread
By the youngest hands, whose love doth render
Brisk service, courteous and tender.
Choice their providing:—milk-white bread,—
And delicate butter, scarce discern'd
'Mong primrose-flowers, as if churn'd
By lady fairies,—and sweet cakes
Of flavour various, to suit
The fickle palate,—store of fruit—
Conserves, and other sun-dried, full
Of their fresh richness (like some hearts,
Time-wrinkled yet still beautiful,
Whose passion-shrivell'd depth imparts
A hivéd sweetness),—milk yet warm
As the taster's lips,—and thicken'd cream
Of daintiest niceness:—one might deem
No more were needful; yet the charm
Of loveliest talk, behaviour glad—
Best gratitude—doth superadd
Delight to this deliciousness,
Even as the sunny day doth bless
The landscape's wide voluptuousness.
Brief time sufficeth to content
Their temperance, for the descent
Even more hungry; eye-allured
To leave their night-long fast uncured,
And with gay feet their will o'ertake,
Round the hill's waist, like a mad snake
Or arm of wooing love, forethrown.
O, for a free bird's vagrant wing,
To track their mazy wandering,
Weaving the glad hill's living zone;
With the late “Pauper” by their side,
A pilgrim travel-glorified!
In sooth, 'twas an inviting scene
By the swift sun beholden then
From the opposite eminence: long miles
Of hill and dale, and crystal streams
Meeting the day-laugh with faint smiles,
Such as, scarce waken'd from the dreams
Of the white night that did eclipse
Their evening splendor, on brides' lips
Wait the first morning kiss. What know
Or dream we of the electric flow
And interchange of heart-contents
Blending the voicéd elements?
Deep unto deep aye answering,
In the shadow of the silent wing
Of the Eternal Passer.—On
With the glad travellers! Nought is still
In life or death. The healthful will
Halts not, ever companioned
By strenuous thought, clear as yon rill
Now with us journeying—lately leapt
From the o'erhanging mountain-head,
As if the sun-engloried wept
Its welling overflow of bliss.
See how the wild-hair'd wavelets kiss
The smooth-cheek'd pebbles; how they bound
On, on; and many a sail-less boat,
Scarce managing to keep afloat,
Bear onward with them, round and round
Whirl'd with its atom company,
Whose sympathetic gaiety
Mimics the mad brook's revelry.
Now the impetuous streamlet rushes
Over tiny precipices,
With a tone of sweet defiance;
Now from under emerald bushes,
Like a glow-worm's ray, outgushes
Thorough mossed interstices
The new-wedded waves dividing;
Now are the green bubbles hiding
Underneath the palace-eaves
Of the lowly primrose-leaves,
While in closer re-alliance
Speed the blithe waves on the way
Of their merriest roundelay:
Now chanting loudly, now low-breathing
Joy-murmurings; anon enwreathing
The bald crown of some sturdy stone;
Thence, startled at his ancient frown,
Leaping, with gurgling laughter, down;
One over other tumbling them
Carelessly 'thwart the rooty stem
Of a grey oak that, father-like,
Leans o'er the easy-temper'd dyke,
Watchful; now are they blandly stroking
The lank hair of the river-maid,
Weed-like amid their kisses laid;—
Peep in the stream! she is uplooking
Through her green sedge veil; you may see
Her lustrous brow and wavy limbs,
And 'neath long eye-lashes the glee
Of her deep-looks, and catch a glimpse
Of ripply lips that laugh outright,
Laughing there continually,
In the ever-rocking light
Nursing their hilarity,—
Merrily, merrily.
And merrily the streamlet singeth,
As on and onward aye it springeth:
Ever abroad its song it flingeth,
Gloriously.