IX.

    See, where yon towering, rocky ledge¹, Hangs jutting² o'er the river's edge, There channelled dark, and dull, and deep, The lazy, lagging waters sleep； Thence follow, with thine eagle sight, A double stone's cast to the right, Mark where a white-walled cottage stands, Devised and reared by cunning hands, A stately pile, and fair to see！ The chisel's touch, and pencil's trace, Have blent for it a goodly grace； And yet, it much less pleaseth me, Than did the simple rustic³ cot, Which occupied of yore that spot. For, 'neath its humble⁴ shelter, grew The fairest flower that e'er drank dew； A lone⁵ exotic of the wood, The fairy of the solitude⁶, Who dwelt amid its loneliness To brighten, beautify, and bless. The summer sky's serenest⁷ blue, Would best portray⁸ her eye's soft hue⁹； From her white brow were backward rolled Long curls of mingled¹⁰ light and gold； The flush upon her cheek of snow, Had shamed the rose's harsher glow； And haughty¹¹ love had, haughtier¹² grown, To own her breast his fairest throne.

    The eye that once behold¹³ her, ne'er Could lose her image；——firm and bright, All-beautiful, and pure, and clear, 'Twas stamped upon th' enamoured sight； Unchangeable, for ever fair, Above decay, it lingered there！ As it has lingered on mine own, These many years, till it has grown, In its mysterious strength, to be A portion of my soul and me.