XLI. THE MONUMENT COMMONLY CALLED LONG MEG AND HER DAUGHTERS, NEAR THE RIVER EDEN. A WEIGHT of awe, not easy to be borne, Fell suddenly upon my Spirit-cast From the dread bosom of the unknown past, When first I saw that family forlorn. Speak Thou, whose massy strength and stature scorn The power of years-pre-eminent, and placed Apart, to overlook the circle vast— Speak, Giant-mother! tell it to the Morn While she dispels the cumbrous shades of Night; * See Note. XLII. LOWTHER. LOWTHER! in thy majestic Pile are seen And charters won and guarded by the sword And will maintain, if God his help afford. For airy promises and hopes suborned The strength of backward-looking thoughts is scorned. Fall if ye must, ye Towers and Pinnacles, With what ye symbolise; authentic Story Will say, Ye disappeared with England's Glory! XLIII. TO THE EARL OF LONSDALE. 'Magistratus indicat virum.' LONSDALE! it were unworthy of a Guest, Yet be unmoved with wishes to attest How in thy mind and moral frame agree And if the Motto on thy 'scutcheon teach With truth, THE MAGISTRACY SHOWS THE MAN;' That searching test thy public course has stood; As will be owned alike by bad and good, Soon as the measuring of life's little span Shall place thy virtues out of Envy's reach *. * See Note. XLIV. ΤΟ CORDELIA M HALLSTEADS, ULLSWATER. Nor in the mines beyond the western main, Nor is it silver of romantic Spain You say, but from Helvellyn's depths was brought, XLV. CONCLUSION. MOST sweet it is with unuplifted eyes Το pace the ground, if path be there or none, While a fair region round the traveller lies Which he forbears again to look upon; Pleased rather with some soft ideal scene, The work of Fancy, or some happy tone Of meditation, slipping in between The beauty coming and the beauty gone. if Thought and Love desert us, from that day Let us break off all commerce with the Muse: With Thought and Love companions of our way, Whate'er the senses take or may refuse, The Mind's internal heaven shall shed her dews Of inspiration on the humblest lay. |