Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse and with me In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, To kindle or restrain. She shall be sportive as the fawn Or up the mountain springs; And hers shall be the breathing balm, Of mute insensate things. The floating clouds their state shall lend To her; for her the willow bend; Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motions of the Storm Grace that shall mould the Maiden's form By silent sympathy. The stars of midnight shall be dear To her; and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound Shall pass into her face. And vital feelings of delight Shall rear her form to stately height, Her virgin bosom swell; Such thoughts to Lucy I will give While she and I together live Here in this happy dell." Thus Nature spake.-The work was done How soon my Lucy's race was run! She died, and left to me This heath, this calm, and quiet scene; The memory of what has been And never more will be. “SHE DWELT AMONG THE UNTRODDEN WAYS.” Published 1800. Composed 1799. SHE dwelt among the untrodden ways Beside the springs of Dove, A Maid whom there were none to praise, A violet by a mossy stone Half-hidden from the eye! Fair as a star, when only one Is shining in the sky. She lived unknown, and few could know When Lucy ceased to be; But she is in her grave, and, oh, The difference to me! "I TRAVELled amonG UNKNOWN MEN.” Composed 1799. Published 1800. I TRAVELLED among unknown men, In lands beyond the sea; Nor, England! did I know till then 'Tis past, that melancholy dream! A second time; for still I seem Among thy mountains did I feel The joy of my desire; And she I cherished turned her wheel Beside an English fire. Thy mornings showed, thy nights concealed The bowers where Lucy played; And thine is too the last green field That Lucy's eyes surveyed. "A SLUMBER DID MY SPIRIT SEAL." Composed 1799. A SLUMBER did my spirit seal ; I had no human fears: Published 1800. She seemed a thing that could not feel No motion has she now, no force; She neither hears nor sees; Composed 1799. A POET'S EPITAPH. Published 1800. ART thou a Statesman in the van A Lawyer art thou?-draw not nigh! Art thou a Man of purple cheer? Or art thou one of gallant pride, Physician art thou? one, all eyes, Wrapt closely in thy sensual fleece, A Moralist perchance appears ; Led, Heaven knows how! to this poor sod: One to whose smooth-rubbed soul can cling Shut close the door; press down the latch; Nor lose ten tickings of thy watch But who is He, with modest looks, He is retired as noontide dew, The outward shows of sky and earth, In common things that round us lie That broods and sleeps on his own heart. But he is weak; both Man and Boy, The things which others understand. -Come hither in thy hour of strength; Composed 1799. MATTHEW. (14) IF Nature, for a favourite child, Published 1800. In thee hath tempered so her clay, Read o'er these lines; and then review In such diversity of hue Its history of two hundred years. -When through this little wreck of fame, Has travelled down to Matthew's name, And, if a sleeping tear should wake, Poor Matthew, all his frolics o'er, A |