Right opposite to Dungeon-Gill, Seeing, that he should lose the prize, "Stop!" to his comrade Walter cries— James stopp'd with no good will:

Said Walter then, "Your task is here, "Twill keep you working half a year.

V.

Till you have cross'd where I shall cross,
Say that you'll neither sleep nor eat."

James proudly took him at his word,
But did not like the feat.

It was a spot, which you may see

If ever you to Langdale go:

Into a chasm a mighty Block

Hath fallen, and made a bridge of rock;

The gulph is deep below,

And in a bason black and small

Receives a lofty Waterfall.

VI.

With staff in hand across the cleft

The Challenger began his march ;

And now, all eyes and feet, hath gain'd
The middle of the arch.

When list! he hears a piteous moan-
Again! his heart within him dies-
His pulse is stopp'd, his breath is lost,
He totters, pale as any ghost,
And, looking down, he spies

A Lamb, that in the pool is pent

Within that black and frightful rent.

VII.

The Lamb had slipp'd into the stream, And safe without a bruise or wound

The Cataract had borne him down

Into the gulph profound.

His dam had seen him when he fell,

She saw him down the torrent borne ;

And while with all a mother's love

She from the lofty rocks above

Sent forth a cry forlorn,

The Lamb, still swimming round and round Made answer to that plaintive sound.

VIII.

When he had learnt, what thing it was,

That sent this rueful cry; I ween,
The Boy recover'd heart, and told
The sight which he had seen.
Both gladly now deferr'd their task;
Nor was there wanting other aid-
A Poet, one who loves the brooks
Far better than the sages' books,
By chance had thither stray'd;
And there the helpless Lamb he found
By those huge rocks encompass'd round.

IX.

He drew it gently from the pool,

And brought it forth into the light:

The Shepherds met him with his charge
An unexpected sight!

Into their arms the Lamb they took,

Said they, "He's neither maim'd nor scarr'd"-
Then up the steep ascent they hied

And placed him at his Mother's side;
And gently did the Bard

Those idle Shepherd-boys upbraid,

And bade them better mind their trade.

'Tis said, that some have died for love :
And here and there a church-yard grave is found
In the cold North's unhallow'd ground,

Because the wretched man himself had slain,
His love was such a grievous pain.

And there is one whom I five years have known;