168 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



ThuSj though abroad perchance I might appear 



Harsh and austere, 

 To those who on my leisure would intrude 



Reserved and rude. 

 Gentle at home amid my friends I'd be. 

 Like the high leaves upon the holly-tree. 



And should my youth, as youth is apt I know. 



Some harshness show. 

 All vain asperities I day by day 



Would wear away. 

 Till the smooth temper of my age should be 

 Like the high leaves upon the holly-tree. 



And as when all the summer trees are seen 



So bright and green. 

 The holly leaves their fadeless hues display 



Less bright than they ; 

 But when the bare and wintry woods we see. 

 What then so cheerful as the holly-tree ? 



So serious should my youth appear among 



The thoughtless throng ; 

 So would I seem among the young and gay 



More grave than they ; 

 That in my age as cheerful 1 might be 

 As the green winter of the holly-tree." 



Wordsworth also praises the Holly : 



(( Where leafless oaks towered high above, 

 I sate within an under-grove 

 Of tallest hollies, tall and green ; 

 A fairer bower was never seen. 

 From year to year the spacious floor 

 With withered leaves is covered o'er. 

 You could not lay a hair between : 

 And all the year the bower is green. 

 But see where'er the hailstones drop 

 The withered leaves all skip and hop. 



