Part 12 (1/2)

”We talked of change, of winter gone, Of green leaves on the hawthorn spray, Of birds that build their nests and sing, And all 'since Mother went away!'

”To her these tales they will repeat, To her our new-born tribes will show, The goslings green, the a.s.s's colt, The lambs that in the meadow go.

”--But see, the evening star comes forth!

To bed the children must depart; A moment's heaviness they feel, A sadness at the heart:

”'Tis gone--and in a merry fit They run upstairs in gamesome race; I, too, infected by their mood, I could have joined the wanton chase.

”Five minutes past--and, O the change!

Asleep upon their beds they lie; Their busy limbs in perfect rest, And closed the sparkling eye.”

The following poem was written at Rydal Mount in 1832. Wordsworth has said he believed it arose out of a casual expression of one of Mr.

Swinburne's children:--

LOVING AND LIKING: IRREGULAR VERSES, ADDRESSED TO A CHILD.

”There's more in words than I can teach; Yet listen, Child!--I would not preach; But only give some plain directions To guide your speech and your affections.

Say not you _love_ a roasted fowl, But you may love a screaming owl, And, if you can, the unwieldy toad That crawls from his secure abode Within the mossy garden wall When evening dews begin to fall.

Oh mark the beauty of his eye: What wonders in that circle lie!

So clear, so bright, our fathers said He wears a jewel in his head!

”And when upon some showery day, Into a path or public way A frog leaps out from bordering gra.s.s, Startling the timid as they pa.s.s, Do you observe him, and endeavour To take the intruder into favour; Learning from him to find a reason For a light heart in a dull season.

And you may love him in the pool, That is for him a happy school, In which he swims as taught by nature, Fit pattern for a human creature, Glancing amid the water bright, And sending upward sparkling light.

”Nor blush if o'er your heart be stealing A love for things that have no feeling: The spring's first rose by you espied May fill your breast with joyful pride; And you may love the strawberry-flower, And love the strawberry in its bower; But when the fruit, so often praised For beauty, to your lip is raised, Say not you _love_ the delicate treat, But _like_ it, enjoy it, and thankfully eat.

”Long may you love your pensioner mouse, Though one of a tribe that torment the house: Nor dislike for her cruel sport the cat, Deadly foe both of mouse and rat; Remember she follows the law of her kind, And Instinct is neither wayward nor blind.

Then think of her beautiful gliding form, Her tread that would scarcely crush a worm, And her soothing song by the winter fire, Soft as the dying throb of the lyre.

”I would not circ.u.mscribe your love: It may soar with the eagle and brood with the dove, May pierce the earth with the patient mole, Or track the hedgehog to his hole.

Loving and liking are the solace of life, Rock the cradle of joy, smooth the death-bed of strife.

”You love your father and your mother, Your grown-up and your baby brother; You love your sister, and your friends, And countless blessings which G.o.d sends: And while these right affections play, You _live_ each moment of your day; They lead you on to full content, And likings fresh and innocent, That store the mind, the memory feed, And prompt to many a gentle deed: But _likings_ come, and pa.s.s away; 'Tis _love_ that remains till our latest day: Our heavenward guide is holy love, And will be our bliss with saints above.”

The poem suggested by an island on Derwent-water, which is said to have been composed so late as the year 1842, shows that, if the date be correct, which is somewhat doubtful, Miss Wordsworth was at that time in full possession of her faculties. These lines, we are informed, she used to take pleasure in repeating during her last illness.

”FLOATING ISLAND.

”Harmonious Powers with Nature work On sky, earth, river, lake, and sea; Suns.h.i.+ne and cloud, whirlwind and breeze, All in one duteous task agree.

”Once did I see a slip of earth (By throbbing waves long undermined) Loosed from its hold; how, no one knew, But all might see it float, obedient to the wind;

”Might see it, from the mossy sh.o.r.e Dissevered, float upon the Lake, Float with its crest of trees adorned On which the warbling birds their pastime take.

”Food, shelter, safety, there they find; There berries ripen, flowerets bloom; There insects live their lives, and die; A peopled world it is; in size a tiny room.