book v
. l. 145--
Not raised in nice proportions was the pile; But large and massy; for duration built.
[337] St. Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren (1675-1710).--ED.
XLVI
EJACULATION
Glory to God! and to the Power who came In filial duty, clothed with love divine, That made his human tabernacle shine Like Ocean burning with purpureal flame; Or like the Alpine Mount, that takes its name 5 From roseate hues,[338] far kenned at morn and even, In hours of peace, or when the storm is driven Along the nether region's rugged frame! Earth prompts--Heaven urges; let us seek the light, Studious of that pure intercourse begun 10 When first our infant brows their lustre won; So, like the Mountain, may we grow more bright From unimpeded commerce with the Sun, At the approach of all-involving night.
FOOTNOTES:
[338] Some say that Monte Rosa takes its name from a belt of rock at its summit--a very unpoetical and scarcely a probable supposition.--W. W. 1822.
XLVII
CONCLUSION
Why sleeps the future, as a snake enrolled, Coil within coil, at noon-tide? For the WORD Yields, if with unpresumptuous faith explored, Power at whose touch the sluggard shall unfold His drowsy rings. Look forth!--that Stream behold, THAT STREAM upon whose bosom we have passed 6 Floating at ease while nations have effaced Nations, and Death has gathered to his fold Long lines of mighty Kings--look forth, my Soul! (Nor in this[339] vision be thou slow to trust) 10 The living Waters, less and less by guilt Stained and polluted, brighten as they roll, Till they have reached the eternal City--built For the perfected Spirits of the just!
FOOTNOTES:
[339] 1827.
... that ... 1822.
TO THE LADY FLEMING,[340]
ON SEEING THE FOUNDATION PREPARING FOR THE ERECTION OF RYDAL CHAPEL,[341] WESTMORELAND
Composed 1822.--Published 1827
[After thanking Lady Fleming in prose for the service she had done to her neighbourhood by erecting this Chapel, I have nothing to say beyond the expression of regret that the architect did not furnish an elevation better suited to the site in a narrow mountain-pass, and, what is of more consequence, better constructed in the interior for the purposes of worship. It has no chancel; the altar is unbecomingly confined; the pews are so narrow as to preclude the possibility of kneeling with comfort; there is no vestry; and what ought to have been first mentioned, the font, instead of standing at its proper place at the entrance, is thrust into the farther end of a pew. When these defects shall be pointed out to the munificent Patroness, they will, it is hoped, be corrected.--I. F.[342]]
One of the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection," from the edition of 1827 to that of 1843; but transferred, in 1845, to the "Miscellaneous Poems." From 1827 to 1836 the title was "To the Lady ----, on seeing the foundation preparing for the erection of ---- Chapel, Westmoreland."--ED.
I
Blest is this Isle--our native Land; Where battlement and moated gate Are objects only for the hand Of hoary Time to decorate; Where shady hamlet, town that breathes 5 Its busy smoke in social wreaths, No rampart's stern defence require, Nought but the heaven-directed spire, And[343] steeple tower (with pealing bells Far-heard)--our only citadels. 10
II
O Lady! from a noble line Of chieftains sprung,[344] who stoutly bore The spear, yet gave to works divine A bounteous help in days of yore, (As records mouldering in the Dell 15 Of Nightshade[345] haply yet may tell;) Thee kindred aspirations moved To build, within a vale beloved, For Him upon whose high behests All peace depends, all safety rests. 20
III[346]
How fondly will the woods embrace This daughter of thy pious care, Lifting her[347] front with modest grace To make a fair recess more fair; And to exalt the passing hour; 25 Or soothe it with a healing power Drawn from the Sacrifice fulfilled, Before this rugged soil was tilled, Or human habitation rose To interrupt the deep repose![348] 30
IV
Well may the villagers rejoice! Nor heat, nor cold, nor weary ways, Will be[349] a hindrance to the voice That would unite in prayer and praise; More duly shall wild wandering Youth 35 Receive the curb of sacred truth, Shall tottering Age, bent earthward, hear The Promise, with uplifted ear;[350] And all shall welcome the new ray Imparted to their sabbath-day. 40
V
Nor deem the Poet's hope misplaced, His fancy cheated--that can see A shade upon the future cast, Of time's pathetic sanctity; Can hear the monitory clock 45 Sound o'er the lake with gentle shock[351] At evening,[352] when the ground beneath Is ruffled o'er with cells of death; Where happy generations lie, Here tutored for eternity. 50
VI
Lives there a man whose sole delights Are trivial pomp and city noise, Hardening a heart that loathes or slights What every natural heart enjoys? Who never caught a noon-tide dream 55 From murmur of a running stream; Could strip, for aught the prospect yields To him, their verdure from the fields; And take the radiance from the clouds In which the sun his setting shrouds.[353] 60
VII
A soul so pitiably forlorn, If such do on this earth abide, May season apathy with scorn, May turn indifference to pride; And still be not unblest--compared 65 With him who grovels, self-debarred[354] From all that lies within the scope Of holy faith and christian hope; Or, shipwreck'd, kindles on the coast False fires, that others may be lost.[355] 70
VIII
Alas! that such perverted zeal Should spread on Britain's favoured ground![356] That public order, private weal, Should e'er have felt or feared a wound From champions of the desperate law 75 Which from their own blind hearts they draw;[357] Who tempt their reason to deny God, whom their passions dare defy,[358] And boast that they alone are free Who reach this dire extremity! 80
IX
But turn we from these "bold bad" men;[359] The way, mild Lady! that hath led Down to their "dark opprobrious den,"[360] Is all too rough for Thee to tread. Softly as morning vapours glide 85 Down Rydal-cove from Fairfield's side,[361] Should move the tenor of _his_ song Who means to charity no wrong; Whose offering gladly would accord With this day's work, in thought and word. 90
X
Heaven prosper it! may peace, and love, And hope, and consolation, fall, Through its meek influence, from above, And penetrate the hearts of all; All who, around the hallowed Fane, 95 Shall sojourn in this fair domain; Grateful to Thee, while service pure, And ancient ordinance, shall endure, For opportunity bestowed To kneel together, and adore their God![362] 100
FOOTNOTES:
[340] 1840.
To the Lady ---- ... 1827.
[341] 1840.
Of ---- Chapel ... 1827.
[342] Rydal Chapel remained in the state mentioned in the Fenwick note till the year 1884.--ED.
[343] 1827.
Or ... MS. sent to Lady Beaumont.
[344] The Fleming family is descended from Sir Michael le Fleming, a relative of Baldwin, Earl of Flanders, brother-in-law to William the Conqueror. This Sir Michael le Fleming, who came over with the Conqueror, was sent into Cumberland against the Scots, and was rewarded for his services by the gift of several manors in _Copeland_, Cumberland.--ED.
[345] Bekangs Ghyll--or the dell of Nightshade--in which stands St. Mary's Abbey in Low Furness.--W. W. 1827.
[346] In the edition of 1827, stanzas iii. and iv. are numbered iv. and iii. respectively.--ED.
[347] 1832.
Even Strangers, slackening here their pace, Shall hail this work of pious care, Lifting its ... 1827.
[348] Compare _Glen-Almain_ (vol. ii. p. 394)--
A convent, even a hermit's cell, Would break the silence of this Dell.--ED.
[349] 1827.
Nor storms henceforth, nor weary ways, Shall be ...
MS. sent to Lord Lonsdale.
[350] 1827.
The Aged shall be free to hear The Promise, caught with steadfast ear.
MS. sent to Lord Lonsdale.
[351] 1832.
Not yet the corner stone is laid With solemn rite; but Fancy sees The tower time-stricken, and in shade Embosomed of coeval trees; Hears, o'er the lake, the warning clock As it shall sound with gentle shock 1827.
[352] Compare the last stanza of _The Wishing Gate_.--ED.
[353] Compare the _Ode, Intimations of Immortality_, stanza xi.--ED.
[354] 1827.
With one who fosters disregard
MS. sent to Lady Beaumont.
[355] 1827.
Yea, strives for others to bedim The glorious Light too pure for him. 1832.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1827.
[356] 1827.
... happy ground.
MS. to Lady Beaumont.
[357] 1827.
From Scoffers leagued in desperate plot To make their own the general lot;
MS. to Lady Beaumont.
[358] 1827.
... do defy,
MS. to Lady Beaumont.
[359] See _The Faërie Queene_, book I . canto i. stanza 37. Also Shakespeare's _Henry VIII._, act II. scene ii. l. 44.--ED.
[360] See _Paradise Lost_,