PART II.] CHILDHOOD. H 



Beheld through sympathy's enchanted eyes : 

 AVith silent admiration oft we view'd 

 The myriad hues o'er heaven's blue concave strew'd 

 The fleecy clouds, of every tint and shade, 

 Round which the silvery sunbeam glancing play'd, 

 And the round orb itself, in azure throne, 

 Just peeping o'er the blue hill's ridgy zone : 

 We mark'd, delighted, how, with aspect gay, 

 Reviving nature hail'd returning day ; 

 Mark'd how the flowrets rear'd their drooping heads, 

 And the wild lambkins bounded o'er the meads, 

 While from each tree, in tones of sweet delight. 

 The birds sung paeans to the source of light : 

 Oft have we watched the speckled lark arise, 

 Leave his grass bed, and soar to kindred skies. 

 And rise, and rise, till the pain'd sight no moj-o 

 Could trace him in his high aerial tour : 

 Though on the ear, at intervals, his song 

 Came wafted slow on the wavy breeze along ; 

 And we have thought how happy were our lot, 

 Bless'd with some sweet, some solitary cot, 

 Where, from the peep of day till russet eve 

 Began in every dell her forms to weave. 

 We might pursue our sports from day to day, 

 And in each other's arms wear life away. 



At sultry noon, too, when our toils were done. 

 We to the gloomy glen were wont to run ; 

 There on the turf we lay, while at our feet 

 The cooling rivulet rippled softly sweet ; 

 And mused on holy theme, and ancient lore. 

 Of deeds, and days, and heroes now no more ; 

 Heard, as his solemn harp Isaiah swept. 

 Sung woe unto the wicked land — and wept ; 

 Or, fancy led, saw Jeremiah mourn 

 In solemn sorrow o'er Judea's urn. 

 Then to another shore perhaps would rove, 

 With Plato talk in his Ilyssian grove ; 

 Or, wand'ring where the Thespian palace rose, 

 Weep once again o'er fair Jocasta's woes. 



