150 High instincts before which our mortal Nature But for those first affections, Uphold us, cherish, and have power to make Which neither listlessness, nor mad endeavor, Nor all that is at enmity with joy, 160 Can utterly abolish or destroy! 165 170 Hence in a season of calm weather Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea Can in a moment travel thither, And see the Children sport upon the shore, X. Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song! As to the tabor's sound! We in thought will join your throng, Ye that pipe and ye that play, Ye that through your hearts to-day Feel the gladness of the May! 175 What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now forever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find 180 185 Strength in what remains behind; Which having been must ever be; In the faith that looks through death XI. And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills and Forebode not any severing of our loves! Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might; 190 I only have relinquished one delight 195 To live beneath your more habitual sway. I love the Brooks which down their channels fret, Is lovely yet; The Clouds that gather round the setting sun That hath kept watch o'er man's mortality; ་་ "I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD" (1807) I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, A host, of golden daffodils; 5 Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine They stretched in never-ending line 10 Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, The waves beside them danced; but they In such a jocund company: I gazed-and gazed-but little thought For oft, when on my couch I lie "SHE WAS A PHANTOM OF DELIGHT" (1807) She was a Phantom of delight When first she gleamed upon my sight; To be a moment's ornament; 5 Her eyes are stars of Twilight fair; I saw her upon nearer view, Her household motions light and free, 15 A countenance in which did meet ODE TO DUTY (1807) Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! To check the erring, and reprove; 5 Thou, who art victory and law When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! There are who ask not if thine eye 10 Be on them; who, in love and truth, Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do thy work, and know it not. 15 Long may the kindly impulse last! But thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand fast! Serene will be our days and bright, And they a blissful course may hold Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet seek thy firm support according to their need. 25 I, loving freedom, and untried; Too blindly have reposed my trust: 30 Thy timely mandate, I deferred The task, in smoother walks to stray; But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, But in the quietness of thought: My hopes no more must change their name, 40 I long for a repose that ever is the same. Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear 45 Flowers laugh before thee on their beds Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; |