Poems In Two Volumes, vol 2 | Page 8

general joy of heart?The blind Boy's little Dog took part;?He leapt about, and oft did kiss?His master's hands in sign of bliss,
With sound like lamentation. 190
But most of all, his Mother dear,?She who had fainted with her fear,?Rejoiced when waking she espies?The Child; when she can trust her eyes,
And touches the blind Boy.
She led him home, and wept amain,?When he was in the house again:?Tears flow'd in torrents from her eyes,?She could not blame him, or chastise:
She was too happy far. 200
Thus, after he had fondly braved?The perilous Deep, the Boy was saved;?And, though his fancies had been wild,?Yet he was pleased, and reconciled
To live in peace on shore.
THE GREEN LINNET.
The May is come again:--how sweet?To sit upon my Orchard-seat!?And Birds and Flowers once more to greet,
My last year's Friends together:?My thoughts they all by turns employ;?A whispering Leaf is now my joy,?And then a Bird will be the toy
That doth my fancy tether.
One have I mark'd, the happiest Guest?In all this covert of the blest: 10 Hail to Thee, far above the rest
In joy of voice and pinion,?Thou, Linnet! in thy green array,?Presiding Spirit here to-day,?Dost lead the revels of the May,
And this is thy dominion.
While Birds, and Butterflies, and Flowers?Make all one Band of Paramours,?Thou, ranging up and down the bowers,
Art sole in thy employment; 20 A Life, a Presence like the Air,?Scattering thy gladness without care,?Too bless'd with any one to pair,
Thyself thy own enjoyment.
Upon yon tuft of hazel trees,?That twinkle to the gusty breeze,?Behold him perch'd in ecstasies,
Yet seeming still to hover;?There! where the flutter of his wings?Upon his back and body flings 30 Shadows and sunny glimmerings,
That cover him all over.
While thus before my eyes he gleams,?A Brother of the Leaves he seems;?When in a moment forth he teems
His little song in gushes:?As if it pleas'd him to disdain?And mock the Form which he did feign,?While he was dancing with the train
Of Leaves among the bushes. 40
TO A YOUNG LADY,
Who had been reproached for taking long?Walks in the Country.
Dear Child of Nature, let them rail!?--There is a nest in a green dale,?A harbour and a hold,?Where thou a Wife and Friend, shalt see?Thy own delightful days, and be?A light to young and old.
There, healthy as a Shepherd-boy,?As if thy heritage were joy,?And pleasure were thy trade,?Thou, while thy Babes around thee cling,?Shalt shew us how divine a thing?A Woman may be made.
Thy thoughts and feelings shall not die,?Nor leave thee, when grey hairs are nigh,?A melancholy slave?But an old age, alive and bright,?And lovely as a Lapland night,?Shall lead thee to thy grave.?"--_Pleasure is spread through the earth?In stray gifts to be claim'd by whoever shall find_."

By their floating Mill,?Which lies dead and still,?Behold yon Prisoners three!?The Miller with two Dames, on the breast of the Thames;?The Platform is small, but there's room for them all;?And they're dancing merrily.
From the shore come the notes?To their Mill where it floats,?To their House and their Mill tether'd fast;?To the small wooden isle where their work to beguile 10 They from morning to even take whatever is given;--?And many a blithe day they have past.
In sight of the Spires?All alive with the fires?Of the Sun going down to his rest,?In the broad open eye of the solitary sky,?They dance,--there are three, as jocund as free,?While they dance on the calm river's breast.
Man and Maidens wheel,?They themselves make the Reel, 20 And their Music's a prey which they seize;?It plays not for them,--what matter! 'tis their's;?And if they had care it has scattered their cares,?While they dance, crying, "Long as ye please!"
They dance not for me,?Yet mine is their glee!?Thus pleasure is spread through the earth?In stray gifts to be claim'd by whoever shall find;?Thus a rich loving-kindness, redundantly kind,?Moves all nature to gladness and mirth. 30
The Showers of the Spring?Rouze the Birds and they sing;?If the Wind do but stir for his proper delight,?Each Leaf, that and this, his neighbour will kiss,?Each Wave, one and t'other, speeds after his Brother;?They are happy, for that is their right!
STAR GAZERS.
What crowd is this? what have we here! we must not pass it by; A Telescope upon its frame, and pointed to the sky:?Long is it as a Barber's Poll, or Mast of little Boat,?Some little Pleasure-Skiff, that doth on Thames's waters float.
The Show-man chuses well his place, 'tis Leicester's busy Square; And he's as happy in his night, for the heavens are blue and fair; Calm, though impatient is the Crowd; Each is ready with the fee, And envies him that's looking--what an insight must it be!
Yet, Show-man, where can lie the cause? Shall thy Implement have
blame,?A Boaster, that when he is tried, fails, and is put to shame? 10 Or is it good as others are, and be their eyes in fault??Their eyes, or minds? or, finally, is this