Showers of the night had swell'd the deep'ning rill, The morning breeze had urged the quick'ning mill; Assembled rooks had wing'd their seaward flight, sound; While the dead foliage dropt from loftier trees, And said aloud, "Yes! doubtless we must die." "We must," said Richard; "and we would not live "To feel what dotage and decay will give; "But we yet taste whatever we behold. "Sounds too delight us,—each discordant tone "No doubt," said George, "the country has its charms. "My farm behold! the model for all farms! “Look at that land—you find not there a weed, "We grub the roots, and suffer none to seed. "To land like this no botanist will come, "To seek the precious ware he hides at home; Pressing the leaves and flowers with effort nice, "As if they came from herbs in Paradise; "Let them their favourites with my neighbours see, They have no- -what?-no habitat with me." 66 They walk'd along, through mead and shaded wood, And stubble ground, where late abundance stood, "See! that unrivall'd flock! they, they alone "Have the vast body on the slender bone; "They are the village boast, the country's theme, "Fleece of such staple! flesh in such esteem!" Richard gave praise, but not in rapturous style; He chose his words, and spoke them with a smile: Brother," said he, "and if I take you right, 66 "I am full glad—these things are your delight; "I see you proud, but,"-speaking half aside"Is, now, the pleasure equal to the pride?" A transient flush on George's face appear'd, Cloudy he look'd, and then his looks were clear'd. "So says my bailiff: sometimes I have tried "To catch the joy, but nature has denied ; "It will not be the mind has had a store "We plant a desert, or we drain a fen; "And—here, behold my medal!—this will show "What men may merit when they nothing know." "Yet reason here," said Richard, "joins with pride." "I did not ask th' alliance," George replied"I grant it true, such trifles may induce "A dull, proud man to wake and be of use; "And there are purer pleasures, that a mind "Calm and uninjured may in villas find; "But where th' affections have been deeply tried, "The powerful medicine for an aching heart; "But minds, dear Richard, have their own retreat; "Till want of rest creates a sense of pain, "That calls that wandering mind, and brings it home again. "But now farewell! to thee will I resign 66 Woods, walks, and valleys! take them till we dine." The Brothers dined, and with that plenteous fare That seldom fails to dissipate our care, At least the lighter kind; and oft prevails When reason, duty, nay, when kindness fails. RICHARD'S BOYHOOD* LEFT by that father, who was known to few, And to that mother, who has not her due On Barford Downs: that mother, fond and poor, more, Such as our village-school and books a few Heard what was said, and mused on what was done; And often wondering what the men could mean. No ships were wreck'd upon that fatal beach, But I could give the luckless tale of each ; * Richard, after dinner, at his brother's request, describes part of his life. |