X. RURAL ARCHITECTURE. FROM the meadows of ARMATH, on THIRLMERE'S wild shore, To the top of GREAT How were once tempted to climb; They built him of stones gathered up as they lay; And so without scruple they called him Ralph Jones. Just half a week after, the wind sallied forth, And, in anger or merriment, out of the North From the peak of the crag blew the Giant away. And what did these School-boys? - The very next day They went and they built up another. Some little I've seen of blind boisterous works By Christian Disturbers more savage than Turks, At remembrance whereof my blood sometimes will flag; GREAT HOW is a single and conspicuous hill, which rises towards the foot of Thirlmere, on the western side of the beautiful dale of Legberthwaite, along the high road between Keswick and Ambleside. XI. THE PET-LAMB. A Pastoral. THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; A snow-white mountain Lamb with a Maiden at its side. No other sheep were near, the Lamb was all alone, The Lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seem'd to feast with head and ears; and his tail with pleasure shook. "Drink, pretty Creature, drink," she said in such a tone That I almost received her heart into my own. 'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a Child of beauty rare! I watch'd them with delight, they were a lovely pair. Now with her empty Can the Maiden turn'd away ; Towards the Lamb she look'd; and from that shady place I unobserved could see the workings of her face: If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, Thus, thought I, to her Lamb that little Maid might sing: "What ails thee, Young One? what? Why pull so at thy cord? Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board? Thy plot of grass is soft, and green as grass can be; Rest, little Young One, rest; what is't that aileth thee? "What is it thou wouldst seek? What is wanting to thy heart? Thy limbs are they not strong? And beautiful thou art: This grass is tender grass; these flowers they have no peers; And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears! "If the Sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, This beech is standing by, its covert thou canst gain; For rain and mountain storms! the like thou need'st not fear The rain and storm are things that scarcely can come here. "Rest, little Young One, rest; thou hast forgot the day When my Father found thee first in places far away; Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert own'd by none, And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone. "He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home. A blessed day for thee! then whither wouldst thou roam? A faithful Nurse thou hast; the dam that did thee yean Upon the mountain tops no kinder could have been. "Thou know'st that twice a day I have brought thee in this Can Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran; And twice in the day, when the ground is wet with dew, I bring thee draughts of milk, warm milk it is and new. 66 Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they are now, Then I'll yoke thee to my cart like a pony in the plough; My Playmate thou shalt be; and when the wind is cold. Our hearth shall be thy bed, our house shall be thy fold. "It will not, will not rest! - Poor Creature, can it be That 'tis thy mother's heart which is working so in thee? Things that I know not of belike to thee are dear, And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear. |