>2 ] [APRIL 



NOVEMBER WALK. 



I GAXED with melancholy eye ' 

 On misty hill and cloudy sky. 

 What time November's chilly blast 

 O'er all the leafless groves had pass'd. 

 The distant heath was lone and ban 

 Nor sheep nor shepherd wand'ring there. 

 The long wet grass was waving rank 

 Along the meadows chill and dank, 

 Where shiv'ring herds had ceased to graze, 

 And homeward look'd with eager gaze. 

 The willows by the wild brook's side 

 Droop'd cheerless o'er the sluggish tide, 

 That, lately swell'd by Autumn rains, 

 Rolled heavy through the marshy plains. 

 On hills beyond the moorlands wide, 

 The pine-trees waved in sullen pride, 

 And all was gloomy ; but I love 

 Full oft at such an hour to rove 

 Though scarce a thought, serene or gay, 

 Awake to cheer me by the way. 



There is a music in the blast 

 That whistles o'er the wintry waste ; 

 And leafless groves a charm possess 

 Beyond their summer's greenest dress ; 

 And, oh ! what pleasure then to climb 

 Some mountain's craggy height sublime, 

 And, while the winds with fury blow, 

 Look o'er the trembling vales below ; 

 Or, from the high and stormy cliff, 

 Through mists descry the fisher's skiff 

 Far round the headland work its way, 

 To sheller in the rocky bay : 

 Or, see the screaming gull spread wide 

 His wings o'er Ocean's ruffled tide ; 

 Or, from the headland's chalky crown, 

 On foaming waves look fearless down, 

 And hear the rolling billows dash 

 Their rocky bounds with ceaseless plash ; 

 Or, o'er the pebbly margin stray 

 Alone, and wet with ocean spray; 

 Listening the winds and waves rejoice, 

 (All sounds extinguished but their voice) 

 Then borne on fancy's pinions high, 

 Far o'er the waste of waters fiy, 

 Where bold the seaman spreads his sail, 

 And bounds before the rushing gale- 

 Light tossing in his fragile bark, 

 On mountain billows wild and dark. 

 When its full rage the tempest pours, 

 And all the broad Atlantic roar? 

 And almost madly wish to share 

 His terrors and his perils there! 



Such were my thoughts, as deeper ?f ill 

 Gathered the gloom on heath and hill, 





