And, Matthew, for thy children dead At this he grasp'd my hand, and said, We rose up from the fountain-side; THE LONGEST DAY. BY WORDSWORTH. LET us quit the leafy arbour, Evening now unbinds the fetters Yet by some grave thoughts attended For the day that now is ended Summer ebbs; each day that follows He who governs the creation To the life of human kind. Yet we mark it not; fruits redden, Fresh flowers blow, as flowers have blown, And the heart is loth to deaden Hopes that she so long hath known. Be thou wiser, youthful maiden! Now, e'en now, ere wrapp'd in slumber, That absorbs time, space, and number,- FRIENDSHIP. By WORDSWORTH. SMALL service is true service while it lasts, THE ROSE. BY COWPER. THE rose had been wash'd, just wash'd in a shower, The plentiful moisture encumber'd the flower, The cup was all fill'd, and the leaves were all wet, And it seem'd, to a fanciful view, To weep for the buds it had left with regret I hastily seized it, unfit as it was For a nosegay, so dripping and drown'd, And such, I exclaim'd, is the pitiless part This elegant rose, had I shaken it less, THE POPLAR FIELD. THE poplars are felled, farewell to the shade, Twelve years have elapsed since I last took a view And the tree is my seat that once lent me a shade. The blackbird has fled to another retreat, My fugitive years are all hastening away, 'Tis a sight to engage me if anything can, THE DIVERTING HISTORY OF JOHN GILPIN; SHOWING HOW HE WENT FARTHER THAN HE INTENDED, AND CAME SAFE HOME AGAIN. BY COWPER. JOHN GILPIN was a citizen A train-band captain eke was he John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, 66 Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we "To-morrow is our wedding-day, "My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, "I do admire Of womankind but one, "I am a linendraper bold As all the world doth know, Quoth Mrs. Gilpin, "That's well said, John Gilpin kiss'd his loving wife; That though on pleasure she was bent, The morning came, the chaise was brought, To drive up to the door, lest all Should say that she was proud. So three doors off the chaise was stayed, Six precious souls, and all agog To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip, round went the wheels, Were never folks so glad; The stones did rattle underneath, As if Cheapside were mad. |