Or of the church-clock and the chimes That half-mad thing of witty rhymes 15 In silence Matthew lay, and eyed The spring beneath the tree; And thus the dear old man replied, The grey-hair'd man of glee: 20 "No check, no stay, this Streamlet fears; How merrily it goes! Of hazels, and the green and mossy bower, WORDSWORTH. 50 55 THE TWO APRIL MORNINGS. WE walk'd along, while bright and red And Matthew stopp'd, he look'd, and said, A village schoolmaster was he, With hair of glittering grey; 5 As blithe a man as you could see "Our work," said I, "was well begun; Then, from thy breast what thought, So sad a sigh has brought ?" 15 A second time did Matthew stop Upon the eastern mountain-top "Yon cloud with that long purple cleft A day like this which I have left And just above yon slope of corn 25 And, turning from her grave, I met, Beside the churchyard yew, A blooming Girl, whose hair was wet A basket on her head she bare; 45 My days, my Friend, are almost gone, At this he grasp'd my hand, and said, "Alas! that cannot be." We rose up from the fountain-side; 65 Of the green sheep-track did we glide; And, ere we came to Leonard's rock, WORDSWORTH 70 " LAODAMIA. "WITH sacrifice before the rising morn Restore him to my sight-great Jove, restore!" 5 With faith, the Suppliant heavenward lifts her hands; While, like the sun emerging from a cloud, Her countenance brightens-and her eye expands; 10 Her bosom heaves and spreads, her stature grows; And she expects the issue in repose. O terror! what hath she perceived?—O joy! What doth she look on ?-whom doth she behold? 15 Mild Hermes spake-and touch'd her with his wand That calms all fear; "Such grace hath crown'd thy Laodamía! that at Jove's command [prayer, 20 Thy Husband walks the paths of upper air: He comes to tarry with thee three hours' space; Accept the gift, behold him face to face!" Forth sprang the impassion'd Queen her Lord to clasp; 26 The Phantom parts-but parts to re-unite, 30 |