Volume Ii Part 4 (2/2)

O blessed Bird! the earth we pace Again appears to be 30 An unsubstantial, faery place; That is fit home for Thee!

12. _TO A b.u.t.tERFLY_.

I've watch'd you now a full half hour, Self-pois'd upon that yellow flower; And, little b.u.t.terfly! indeed I know not if you sleep, or feed.

How motionless! not frozen seas More motionless! and then What joy awaits you, when the breeze Hath found you out among the trees, And calls you forth again!

This plot of Orchard-ground is ours; 10 My trees they are, my Sister's flowers; Stop here whenever you are weary, And rest as in a sanctuary!

Come often to us, fear no wrong; Sit near us on the bough!

We'll talk of suns.h.i.+ne and of song; And summer days, when we were young, Sweet childish days, that were as long As twenty days are now!

13.

It is no Spirit who from Heaven hath flown, And is descending on his emba.s.sy; Nor Traveller gone from Earth the Heavens to espy!

'Tis Hesperus--there he stands with glittering crown, First admonition that the sun is down!

For yet it is broad day-light: clouds pa.s.s by; A few are near him still--and now the sky, He hath it to himself--'tis all his own.

O most ambitious Star! an inquest wrought Within me when I recognised thy light; A moment I was startled at the sight: And, while I gazed, there came to me a thought That I might step beyond my natural race As thou seem'st now to do; might one day trace Some ground not mine; and, strong her strength above, My Soul, an Apparition in the place, Tread there, with steps that no one shall reprove!

THE BLIND HIGHLAND BOY; WITH _OTHER POEMS_.

_THE BLIND HIGHLAND BOY_.

(A Tale told by the Fire-side.)

Now we are tired of boisterous joy, We've romp'd enough, my little Boy!

Jane hangs her head upon my breast, And you shall bring your Stool and rest, This corner is your own.

There! take your seat, and let me see That you can listen quietly; And as I promised I will tell That strange adventure which befel A poor blind Highland Boy. 10

A _Highland_ Boy!--why call him so?

Because, my Darlings, ye must know, In land where many a mountain towers, Far higher hills than these of ours!

He from his birth had liv'd.

He ne'er had seen one earthly sight; The sun, the day; the stars, the night; Or tree, or b.u.t.terfly, or flower, Or fish in stream, or bird in bower, Or woman, man, or child. 20

And yet he neither drooped nor pined, Nor had a melancholy mind; For G.o.d took pity on the Boy, And was his friend; and gave him joy Of which we nothing know.

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