FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   >>   >|  
wn, that murmured through the busy day, 20 Is hushed; the roofs one solemn breadth of shade Veils; but the towers, and taper spires above, The pinnets, and the gray embattled walls, And masts that throng around the southern pier, Shine all distinct in light; and mark, remote, O'er yonder elms, St Mary's modest fane. Oh! if such views may please, to me they shine How more attractive! but few years have passed, Since there I saw youth, health, and happiness, All circling round an aged sire,[97] whose hairs 30 Are now in peace gone down; he was to me A friend, and almost with a father's smile Hung o'er my infant Muse. The cheerful voice Of fellowship, the song of harmony, And mirth, and wit,[98] were there. That scene is passed: Cold death and separation have dissolved The evening circle of once-happy friends! So has it ever fared, and so must fare, With all! I see the moonlight watery tract 40 That shines far off, beneath the forest-shades: What seems it, but the mirror of that tide, Which noiseless, 'mid the changes of the world, Holds its inevitable course, the tide Of years departing; to the distant eye Still seeming motionless, though hurrying on From morn till midnight, bearing, as it flows, The sails of pleasurable barks! These gleam To-day, to-morrow other passing sails Catch the like sunshine of the vernal morn. 50 Our pleasant days are as the moon's brief light On the pale ripple, passing as it shines! But shall the pensive bard for this lament, Who knows how transitory are all worlds Before His eye who made them! Cease the strain; And welcome still the social intercourse That soothes the world's loud jarring, till the hour When, universal darkness wrapping all This nether scene, a light from heaven shall stream 60 Through clouds dividing, and a voice be heard: Here only pure and lasting bliss is found! [96] Southampton Castle is a magnificent pile, erected by the Marquis of Lansdowne, commanding the most striking views of the river, the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, _et cet._ [97] Late Dean of Winchester, Dr Newton Ogle. [98] I speak this of Mr Sheridan, who was often of the p
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132  
133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
passing
 

passed

 

shines

 

ripple

 

motionless

 
distant
 
transitory
 

lament

 
inevitable
 

pensive


departing

 

worlds

 
sunshine
 

morrow

 
pleasurable
 

vernal

 
hurrying
 
bearing
 

midnight

 

pleasant


soothes

 

commanding

 

Lansdowne

 

Marquis

 

striking

 

erected

 

Southampton

 

Castle

 

magnificent

 

Sheridan


Newton

 
Forest
 

Winchester

 

lasting

 

intercourse

 
jarring
 

universal

 
social
 

strain

 
darkness

wrapping
 

dividing

 
clouds
 
Through
 

nether

 

heaven

 
stream
 

Before

 
watery
 

yonder