For while they all were travelling home, "Where all this long night you have been, "What you have heard, what you have seen, "And Johnny, mind you tell us true." Now Johnny all night long had heard And thus to Betty's question, he Made answer, like a traveller bold, (His very words I give to you,) "The cocks did crow to-whoo, to-whoo, "And the sun did shine so cold." -Thus answered Johnny in his glory, And that was all his travel's story. LINES WRITTEN NEAR RICHMOND, UPON THE THAMES, AT EVENING. How rich the wave, in front, imprest With evening-twilight's summer hues, And see how dark the backward stream! A little moment past, so smiling! And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam, Some other loiterer beguiling. Such views the youthful bard allure, Glide gently, thus for ever glide, O Thames! that other bards may see, As lovely visions by thy side As now, fair river! come to me. Oh glide, fair stream! for ever so; As thy deep waters now are flowing. Vain thought! yet be as now thou art, That in thy waters may be seen The image of a poet's heart, How bright, how solemn, how serene! Remembrance! as we glide along, * Collins's Ode on the death of Thomson, the last written, I believe, of the poems which were published during his lifetime. This Ode is also alluded to in the next stanza. EXPOSTULATION AND REPLY. 66 'WHY William, on that old grey stone, "Thus for the length of half a day, "Why William, sit you thus alone, "And dream your time away? 66 'Where are your books? that light bequeath'd "To beings else forlorn and blind! "Up! Up! and drink the spirit breath'd "From dead men to their kind. |