Possessed the woods again; old Time forgot, But this pure fount, through rolling years the same, William Lisle Bowles. Loddon Hall. LODDON HALL. CL on he rode! a mansion fair and tall STILL Rose on his view, the pride of Loddon Hall: Spread o'er the park he saw the grazing steer, The full-fed steed, and herds of bounding deer: On a clear stream the vivid sunbeams played, Through noble elms, and on the surface made That moving picture, checkered light and shade; The attended children, there indulged to stray, Enjoyed and gave new beauty to the day; Whose happy parents from their room were seen Pleased with the sportive idlers on the green. Home went the lovers through that busy place, Through the green vale that formed the river's bed; That have for musing minds unnumbered charms; Loddon, the River. ON REVISITING THE RIVER LODDON. AH! what a weary race my feet have run Since first I trod thy banks with alders crowned, And thought my way was all through fairy ground, Beneath the azure sky and golden sun, When first my muse to lisp her notes begun! Much pleasure, more of sorrow, marks the scene. Sweet native stream! those skies and suns so pure No more return to cheer my evening road! "HOW Come down at Lodore ?" My little boy asked me Thus once on a time; And moreover he tasked me There first came one daughter, To second and third The request of their brother, Comes down at Lodore, They had seen it before. So I told them in rhyme, From its sources which well In the mountains, - Through moss and through brake For a while, till it sleeps Hurry-skurry. Here it comes sparkling, Till, in this rapid race Of its steep descent. The cataract strong As if a war waging Sinking and creeping, Showering and springing, Flying and flinging, Spouting and frisking, A sight to delight in; Dizzying and deafening the ear with its sound. Collecting, projecting, Receding and speeding, And shocking and rocking, And darting and parting, |