THE WISHING-GATE. 198 



He looks through the open door-place toward the lake, 

 And to the stirring breezes, does he want 

 Creations lovely as the work of sleep, 

 Fair sights and visions of romantic joy." 



Ah ! here we are at the " Wishing-Gate," 

 another object of the poet's regard, so well 

 testified when he mourned in verse (happily 

 labouring under a mistake) " The Wishing- 

 Grate destroyed/' - - verse as amiable as philoso- 

 phical, and I may add moral ; one stanza I will 

 repeat to you, 



" Not fortune's slave is man : our state 

 Enjoins, while firm resolves await 



On wishes just and wise, 

 That strenuous action follow both, 

 And life be one perpetual growth 

 Of heaven-ward enterprise." 



AMICUS. This, a spot commanding a scene of 

 so much beauty, one that might so occupy and 

 charm the senses and delight the mind, is the 

 last I should expect that would be chosen for 

 wishing ! But in this even we may find a 

 moral. 



PISCATOR. Presently we shall come in sight 



of the poet's first abode in the Lake District ; 



a house known before (as if auspicious of its 



coming inmates) by the sign of " The Dove 



o 



