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Even such a Man (inheriting the zeal
And from the sanctity of elder times
Not deviating, a priest, the like of whom
If multiplied, and in their stations set,
Would o'er the bosom of a joyful land
Spread true religion and her genuine fruits)
Before me stood that day; on holy ground
Fraught with the relics of mortality,
Exalting tender themes, by just degrees
To lofty raised; and to the highest, last;
The head and mighty paramount of truths,-
Immortal life, in never-fading worlds,

For mortal creatures, conquered and secured.

That basis laid, those principles of faith
Announced, as a preparatory act
Of reverence done to the spirit of the place,
The Pastor cast his eyes upon the ground;
Not, as before, like one oppressed with awe
But with a mild and social cheerfulness;
Then to the Solitary turned, and spake.

"At morn or eve, in your retired domain, Perchance you not unfrequently have marked A Visitor-in quest of herbs and flowers; Too delicate employ, as would appear,

For one, who, though of drooping mien, had yet From nature's kindliness received a frame Robust as ever rural labour bred."

The Solitary answered: "Such a Form Full well I recollect. We often crossed Each other's path; but, as the Intruder seemed

Fondly to prize the silence which he kept,
And I as willingly did cherish mine,

We met, and passed, like shadows. I have heard,
From my good Host, that being crazed in brain
By unrequited love, he scaled the rocks,

Dived into caves, and pierced the matted woods,
In hope to find some virtuous herb of power
To cure his malady!"

The Vicar smiled,

"Alas! before to-morrow's sun goes down His habitation will be here: for him

That open grave is destined."

"Died he then

Of pain and grief?" the Solitary asked,

'Do not believe it; never could that be!"

"He loved," the Vicar answered, "deeply loved,
Loved fondly, truly, fervently; and dared
At length to tell his love, but sued in vain ;
Rejected, yea repelled; and, if with scorn
Upon the haughty maiden's brow, 'tis but
A high-prized plume which female Beauty wears
In wantonness of conquest, or puts on
To cheat the world, or from herself to hide
Humiliation, when no longer free.

That he could brook, and glory in; but when
The tidings came that she whom he had wooed
Was wedded to another, and his heart

Was forced to rend away its only hope;
Then, Pity could have scarcely found on earth
An object worthier of regard than he,
In the transition of that bitter hour!

Lost was she, lost; nor could the Sufferer say

That in the act of preference he had been
Unjustly dealt with; but the Maid was gone!
Had vanished from his prospects and desires;
Not by translation to the heavenly choir
Who have put off their mortal spoils—ah no!
She lives another's wishes to complete,-
'Joy be their lot, and happiness,' he cried,

'His lot and hers, as misery must be mine!'

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Such was that strong concussion; but the Man,

Who trembled, trunk and limbs, like some huge oak
By a fierce tempest shaken, soon resumed

The stedfast quiet natural to a mind
Of composition gentle and sedate,

And, in its movements, circumspect and slow.
To books, and to the long-forsaken desk,
O'er which enchained by science he had loved
To bend, he stoutly re-addressed himself,
Resolved to quell his pain, and search for truth
With keener appetite (if that might be)
And closer industry. Of what ensued
Within the heart no outward sign appeared

Till a betraying sickliness was seen

To tinge his cheek; and through his frame it crept With slow mutation unconcealable;

Such universal change as autumn makes

In the fair body of a leafy grove,

Discoloured, then divested.

'Tis affirmed

By poets skilled in nature's secret ways

That Love will not submit to be controlled

By mastery and the good Man lacked not friends

Who strove to instil this truth into his mind,

A mind in all heart-mysteries unversed.

'Go to the hills,' said one, 'remit a while
"This baneful diligence :-at early morn
'Court the fresh air, explore the heaths and woods;
'And, leaving it to others to foretell,

'By calculations sage, the ebb and flow
"Of tides, and when the moon will be eclipsed,
'Do you, for your own benefit, construct

'A calendar of flowers, plucked as they blow

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Where health abides, and cheerfulness, and peace.'

The attempt was made;-'tis needless to report
How hopelessly; but innocence is.strong,
And an entire simplicity of mind

A thing most sacred in the eye of Heaven;
That opens, for such sufferers, relief
Within the soul, fountains of grace divine;
And doth commend their weakness and disease
To Nature's care, assisted in her office
By all the elements that round her wait
To generate, to preserve, and to restore;
And by her beautiful array of forms

Shedding sweet influence from above; or pure
Delight exhaling from the ground they tread."

"Impute it not to impatience, if," exclaimed The Wanderer, "I infer that he was healed By perseverance in the course prescribed."

"You do not err: the powers, that had been lost By slow degrees, were gradually regained; The fluttering nerves composed; the beating heart In rest established; and the jarring thoughts To harmony restored.-But yon dark mould

Will cover him, in the fulness of his strength,
Hastily smitten by a fever's force;

Yet not with stroke so sudden as refused
Time to look back with tenderness on her
Whom he had loved in passion; and to send
Some farewell words-with one, but one, request;
That, from his dying hand, she would accept
Of his possessions that which most he prized;
A book, upon whose leaves some chosen plants,
By his own hand disposed with nicest care,
In undecaying beauty were preserved;
Mute register, to him, of time and place,
And various fluctuations in the breast;
To her, a monument of faithful love
Conquered, and in tranquillity retained!

Close to his destined habitation, lies One who achieved a humbler victory, Though marvellous in its kind. A place there is High in these mountains, that allured a band Of keen adventurers to unite their pains

In search of precious ore: they tried, were foiled-
And all desisted, all, save him alone.

He, taking counsel of his own clear thoughts,
And trusting only to his own weak hands,
Urged unremittingly the stubborn work,
Unseconded, uncountenanced; then, as time
Passed on, while still his lonely efforts found
No recompense, derided; and at length,
By many pitied, as insane of mind;
By others dreaded as the luckless thrall
Of subterranean Spirits feeding hope
By various mockery of sight and sound;

VOL. VL.

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