Remember the old Man, and what he was There, by the Sheep-fold, sometimes was he seen Then old, beside him, lying at his feet. The length of full seven years, from time to time, Three years, or little more, did Isabel Survive her Husband: at her death the estate Was sold, and went into a stranger's hand. The Cottage which was named THE EVENING STAR Beside the boisterous brook of Green-head Ghyll. The Pet-Lamb1 A PASTORAL HE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink ; THE 1800. I heard a voice; it said, 'Drink, pretty creature, drink!' And, looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied A snow-white mountain-lamb with a Maiden at its side. Nor sheep nor kine were near; the lamb was all alone, With one knee on the grass did the little Maiden kneel, The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seemed 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! Right towards the lamb she looked; and from a shady place I unobserved could see the workings of her face: If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, '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 owned 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, '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 'Alas, the mountain-tops that look so green and fair! 'Here thou need'st not dread the raven in the sky; -As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet, Again, and once again, did I repeat the song; 'Nay,' said I, 'more than half to the damsel must belong, For she looked with such a look, and she spake with such a tone, That I almost received her heart into my own.' 1800. POEMS ON THE NAMING OF PLACES1 I T was an April morning: fresh and clear 2 IT The Rivulet, delighting in its strength, Ran with a young man's speed; and yet the voice And hopes and wishes, from all living things Them and their object: but, meanwhile, prevailed Yet leafless, showed as if the countenance That could not cease to be. Green leaves were here; |