FIDELITY. A barking sound the Shepherd hears, A cry as of a Dog or Fox; He halts, and searches with his eyes Among the scatter'd rocks: And now at distance can discern A stirring in a brake of fern; The Dog is not of mountain breed ; It's motions, too, are wild and shy; With something, as the Shepherd thinks, Nor is there any one in sight All round, in Hollow or on Height; It was a Cove, a huge Recess, That keeps till June December's snow; A lofty Precipice in front, A silent Tarn * below! Far in the bosom of Helvellyn, Remote from public Road or Dwelling, Pathway, or cultivated land; From trace of human foot or hand. * Tarn is a small Mere or Lake mostly high up in the mountains. There, sometimes does a leaping Fish Thither the Rainbow comes, the Cloud;: But that enormous Barrier binds it fast.. Not knowing what to think, a while Nor far had gone before he found A human skeleton on the ground, Sad sight! the Shepherd with a sigh: From those abrupt and perilous rocks, At length upon the Shepherd's mind He instantly recall'd the Name, And who he was, and whence he came; On which the Traveller pass'd this way. But hear a wonder now, for sake Of which this mournful Tale I tell! A lasting monument of words This wonder merits well. The Dog, which still was hovering nigh, Repeating the same timid cry, This Dog had been through three months' space A Dweller in that savage place. |