XXVIII. STAR-GAZERS. WHAT crowd is this? what have we here! we must A Telescope upon its frame, and pointed to the sky : Long is it as a Barber's Pole, or Mast of little Boat, Some little Pleasure-skiff, that doth on Thames's waters float. The Show-man chooses well his place, 'tis Leicester's busy Square; And he's as happy in his night, for the heavens are blue and fair ; Calm, though impatient, is the Crowd; each is ready with the fee, And envies him that's looking-what an insight must it be ! Yet, Show-man, where can lie the cause? Shall thy Implement have blame, A Boaster, that when he is tried, fails, and is put to shame ? Or is it good as others are, and be their fault? Their eyes, or minds? or, finally, is this resplendent Vault? Is nothing of that radiant pomp so good as we have here? Or gives a thing but small delight that never can be dear? The silver Moon with all her Vales, and Hills of mightiest fame, Do they betray us when they're seen? and are they but a name? Or is it rather that Conceit rapacious is and strong, And bounty never yields so much but it seems to Or is it, that when human Souls a journey long have had, And are returned into themselves, they cannot but be sad? Or must we be constrained to think that these Spec tators rude, Poor in estate, of manners base, men of the mul titude, Have souls which never yet have risen, and there fore prostrate lie? No, no, this cannot be Men thirst for power and majesty ! Does, then, a deep and earnest thought the blissful mind employ Of him who gazes, or has gazed? a grave and steady joy, That doth reject all shew of pride, admits no outward sign, Because not of this noisy world, but silent and divine ! Whatever be the cause, 'tis sure that they who pry and pore Seem to meet with little gain, seem less happy than before: One after One they take their turns, nor have I one espied That doth not slackly go away, as if dissatisfied. XXIX. THE HAUNTED TREE. ΤΟ THOSE silver clouds collected round the sun His mid-day warmth abate not, seeming less To rocks, fields, woods. Nor doth our human sense More ample than that time-dismantled Oak As beautiful a couch as e'er on earth Than fairest spiritual Creature of the groves, The noon-tide hour: - though truly some there are Whose footsteps superstitiously avoid This venerable Tree; for, when the wind Blows keenly, it sends forth a creaking sound (Above the general roar of woods and crags) Distinctly heard from far a doleful note ! -- As if (so Grecian shepherds would have deemed) The Hamadryad, pent within, bewailed Some bitter wrong. Nor is it unbelieved, By ruder fancy, that a troubled Ghost Haunts this old Trunk; lamenting deeds of which The flowery ground is conscious. But no wind Sweeps now along this elevated ridge; Is mute, and, in his silence, would look down On thy reclining form with more delight Than his Coevals, in the sheltered vale Seem to participate, the whilst they view Their own far-stretching arms and leafy heads. Vividly pictured in some glassy pool, That, for a brief space, checks the hurrying stream! |