But thou, how leisurely thou fill'st thy horn
With brightness! leaving her to post along,
And range about, disquieted in change,
And still impatient of the shape she wears.
Once up, once down the hill, one journey, Babe,
That will suffice thee; and it seems that now
Thou hast foreknowledge that such task is thine;
Thou travellest so contentedly, and sleep'st
In such heedless peace. Alas! full soon
Hath this conception, grateful to behold,
Changed countenance, like an object sullied o'er
By breathing mist; and thine appears to be
A mournful labor, while to her is given
Hope, and a renovation without end.

- That smile forbids the thought; for on thy face Smiles are beginning, like the beams of dawn, To shoot and circulate; smiles have there been

seen;

Tranquil assurances that Heaven supports
The feeble motions of thy life, and cheers
Thy loneliness: or shall those smiles be called
Feelers of love, put forth as if to explore
This untried world, and to prepare thy way
Through a strait passage intricate and dim?
Such are they; and the same are tokens, signs,
Which, when the appointed season hath arrived,
Joy, as her holiest language, shall adopt;
And Reason's godlike Power be proud to own.

XXXIII.

THE WAGONER.

"In Cairo's crowded streets

The impatient Merchant, wondering, waits in vain,
And Mecca saddens at the long delay."

THOMSON.

TO CHARLES LAMB, ESQ.

MY DEAR FRIEND:

WHEN I sent you, a few weeks ago, the Tale of Peter Bell, you asked why THE WAGONER was not added. · To say the truth,—from the higher tone of imagination, and the deeper touches of passion aimed at in the former, I apprehended this little Piece could not accompany it without disadvantage. In the year 1806, if I am not mistaken, THE WAGONER was read to you in manuscript, and, as you have remembered it for so long a time, I am the more encouraged to hope, that, since the localities on which the Poem partly depends did not prevent its being interesting to you, it may prove acceptable to others. Being therefore in some measure the cause of its present appearance, you must allow me the gratification of inscribing it to you; in acknowledgment of the pleasure I have derived from your Writings, and of the high esteem with which I am very truly yours,

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

RYDAL MOUNT, May 20, 1819.

"TIS spent,

CANTO FIRST.

this burning day of June!

Soft darkness o'er its latest gleams is stealing; The buzzing dor-hawk, round and round, is wheeling,

That sclitary bird

Is all that can be heard

In silence deeper far than that of deepest noon!

Confiding Glowworms, 't is a night Propitious to your earth-born light! But, where the scattered stars are seen In hazy straits the clouds between, Each, in his station twinkling not,

Seems changed into a pallid spot.

The mountains against heaven's grave weight Rise up, and grow to wondrous height.

The air, as in a lion's den,

Is close and hot;

and now and then

Comes a tired and sultry breeze,

With a haunting and a panting,
Like the stifling of disease;
But the dews allay the heat,

And the silence makes it sweet.

Hush, there is some one on the stir!
'T is Benjamin the Wagoner;
Who long hath trod this toilsome way,
Companion of the night and day.
That far-off tinkling's drowsy cheer,
Mixed with a faint yet grating sound
In a moment lost and found,

The Wain announces,

- by whose side

Along the banks of Rydal Mere
He paces on, a trusty Guide.

·1

Listen! you can scarcely hear!
Hither he his course is bending;
Now he leaves the lower ground,
And, up the craggy hill ascending,
Many a stop and stay he makes,
Many a breathing-fit he takes;
Steep the way and wearisome,

-

Yet all the while his whip is dumb!

The Horses have worked with right good-will,

And so have gained the top of the hill;

He was patient, they were strong,
And now they smoothly glide along,
Recovering breath, and pleased to win
The praises of mild Benjamin.

Heaven shield him from mishap and snare!
But why so early with this prayer?

Is it for threatenings in the sky?

Or for some other danger nigh?

No; none is near him yet, though he

Be one of much infirmity;

For at the bottom of the brow,

Where once the DOVE and OLIVE-BOUGH

Offered a greeting of good ale

To all who entered Grasmere Vale,
And called on him who must depart

To leave it with a jovial heart, —

There, where the DOVE and OLIVE-BOUGH

Once hung, a Poet harbors now,

A simple water-drinking Bard;

Why need our Hero then (though frail
His best resolves) be on his guard?
He marches by, secure and bold;
Yet while he thinks on times of old,
It seems that all looks wondrous cold;
He shrugs his shoulders, shakes his head,
And, for the honest folk within,
It is a doubt with Benjamin
Whether they be alive or dead!

Here is no danger,

none at all!
Beyond his wish he walks secure ;
But pass a mile — and then for trial,
Then for the pride of self-denial ;
If he resist that tempting door,

Which with such friendly voice will call;
If he resist those casement panes,

And that bright gleam which thence will fall
Upon his Leaders' bells and manes,
Inviting him with cheerful lure :
For still, though all be dark elsewhere,
Some shining notice will be there,
Of open house and ready fare.

The place to Benjamin right well
Is known, and by as strong a spell
As used to be that sign of love
And hope,

the OLIVE-BOUGH and DOVE;

He knows it to his cost, good Man!

Who does not know the famous SWAN?