1. TRUE LOVE. Let me not to the marriage of true minds Or bends with the remover to remove :— O no! It is an ever-fixed mark 5 That looks on tempests and is never shaken : Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks If this be error and upon me proved ---Shakespeare. 2.-MICHAEL. A PASTORAL POEM. If from the public way you turn your steps Up the tumultuous brook of Green-head Ghyll, You will suppose that with an upright path Your feet must struggle; in such bold ascent The pastoral mountains front you, face to face. But, courage! for around that boisterous brook The mountains have all opened out themselves, And made a hidden valley of their own. 10 5 No habitation can be seen; but they Who journey hither find themselves alone 10 With a few sheep, with rocks and stones, and kites It is, in truth, an utter solitude; Nor should I have made mention of this dell But for one object which you might pass by, Or for the summer shade. It was the first 15 20 Of shepherds, dwellers in the valleys, men Whom I already loved;-not, verily, For their own sakes, but for the fields and hills 25 Where was their occupation and abode. And hence this tale, while I was yet a boy Careless of books, yet having felt the power Of natural objects led me on to feel 30 For passions that were not my own, and think (At random and imperfectly indeed) On man, the heart of man, and human life. 35 Homely and rude, I will relate the same Upon the forest-side in Grasmere Vale 40 45 And in his shepherd's calling he was prompt 50 55 Hence had he learned the meaning of all winds, suppose 60 Had climbed with vigorous steps, which had impressed Of hardship, skill or courage, joy or fear; 70 Those fields, those hills (what could they less ?), had laid Strong hold on his affections; were to him 75 A pleasurable feeling of blind love, The pleasure which there is in life itself. His days had not been passed in singleness. His helpmate was a comely matron, old— Though younger than himself full twenty years. Whose heart was in her house. Two wheels she had It was because the other was at work. 80 85 To deem that he was old-in shepherd's phrase, 90 With two brave sheep-dogs tried in many a storm, Made all their household. I may truly say, That they were as a proverb in the vale For endless industry. When day was gone, 95 And from their occupations out-of-doors The Son and Father were come home, even then Each with a mess of pottage and skimmed milk, 100 Sat round their basket piled with oaten cakes, 105 Down from the ceiling, by the chimney's edge, 110 That in our ancient uncouth country style Did with a huge projection overbrow |