When pained below he looked above, Yet scorned no flower of nature's sod. 18. And when to fill the ripening man And o'er it floated, borne in air, Fears, Passions, Doubts no longer Her form serene in brightness clad, tame; With glistening stars around the hair, And eyes of love no longer sad. 30. And there he saw the gentle maid Whose earliest grief was like his own: To him it seemed his mother bade Their hearts should each to each be known. 36. Yet passed a week as if no more They could recall their mournful meeting; And then, when seven long days were o'er, Again they spoke with timid greeting. 37. Amid the noiseless crystal morn They stood below the nightly Yew; And Thou pervading Soul of All, In man's large mind most clearly shown, Receiving at devotion's call 'Mid graves, beside the churchyard tree, While summer's light around them clung. 47. He seemed a more than common man, Whom children passed not heedless by, With graven brow of shapely span, And sudden-moving, pensive eye. 48. Retired and staid was Henry's look, And shrank from men's tumultuous ways; And on the earth as on a book He oft would bend his gaze. 49. But then at sight of bird or flower, Or beam that set the clouds in flame, Or aught that told of joy or power, Upon the man his genius came. 50. Most flashed his light whene'er he saw The kind and blooming face of Jane, When Love, by its supremest law, Bade care depart, and fears be vain. 51. His Jane was fair to any eye; 52. So childlike young, so gravely sweet, With smiles of some disportive sprite, While blushes clear and fancies fleet Played o'er in rippling waves of light. 53. Whate'er of best thy Sire makes It was, in truth, a simple soul That filled with day her great blue eyes, That made her all one gracious Whole, Unmarred by vain and selfish lies. 54. She had no art, and little skill In aught save Right, and maiden Feeling. On Henry's wisdom leant her will, No ignorance from him concealing. 55. And so she freshened all his life, PART IV. With bold affection, pure and true, 2. Sometimes amid the glimmering meads They walked in August's genial eve, And marked above the mill-stream reeds The myriad flies their mazes weave. 3. While under heaven's warm lucent hues They felt their eyes and bosoms glow, And learnt how fondly Fancy views Fair sights the moment ere they go. 4. And then, while earth was darkening o'er, While stars began their tranquil day, Rejoiced that Nature gives us more Than all it ever takes away. 5. In earliest autumn's fading woods Remote from eyes they roamed at morn, And saw how Time transmuting broods O'er all that into Time is born. 6. That power which men would fain forget, The law of change and slow decay, 7. While in this mood one day they sat 8. To Jane her lover slowly said, "In land of Greece in ancient days, A man, by many dreams possessed, Would wander oft from trodden ways, And rudest wilds he loved the best. 10 "He strewed his thoughts along the gale, He gave his heart to earth and sky, 11. "His soul devout, his shaping mind, Had power at last o'er mystic things, And could the silent charms unbind That chain the fountain's icy springs. 12. "There shone a breezeless autumn morn When o'er the crystal cell arose "He sought to make the maid his own, 14. "One day of pure delight was given In every month of changing skies, "For thee my heart, so calmly blest, Has throbbed with keener hopes and joys; My waves have sparkled unrepressed, And breathed for thee more vocal noise. 19. "Too fond has been our mutual love To last beneath yon clouded sun; And fate, that sternly sits above, Decrees our bliss already done. 20. "At morn or eve thou must no more Return for commune sweet with me; My gaze on mortal eyes is o'er, Because it may not feed on thee. 21. "Thou must in other pathways roam, But sometimes think that once we met; I seek my lonely cavern home, There still to live, but not forget.' 22. "The tinkling words were hardly said, When sank the fountain's mournful |