O melancholy bird!--a winter’s day Thou standest by the margin of the pool, And, taught by God, dost thy whole being school To patience, which all evil can allay; God has appointed thee the fish thy prey; 5 And given thyself a lesson to the fool Unthrifty, to submit to moral rule, And his unthinking course by thee to weigh. There need not schools, nor the professor’s chair, Though these be good, true wisdom to impart; 10 He, who has not enough for these to spare Of time or gold, may yet amend his heart, And teach his soul by brooks and rivers fair; Nature is always wise in every part. _Lord Thurlow._ CXCIX _THE SYLVAN LIFE._ When in the woods I wander all alone, The woods that are my solace and delight, Which I more covet than a prince’s throne, My toil by day and canopy by night; (Light heart, light foot, light food, and slumber light, 5 These lights shall light me to old age’s gate, While monarchs, whom rebellious dreams affright, Heavy with fear, death’s fearful summons wait;) Whilst here I wander, pleased to be alone, Weighing in thought the world’s no-happiness, 10 I cannot choose but wonder at its moan, Since so plain joys the woody life can bless: Then live who may where honied words prevail, I with the deer, and with the nightingale! _Lord Thurlow._ CC _SPRING._ Again the violet of our early days Drinks beauteous azure from the golden sun, And kindles into fragrance at his blaze; The streams, rejoiced that winter’s work is done, Talk of to-morrow’s cowslips, as they run. 5 Wild apple! thou art bursting into bloom; Thy leaves are coming, snowy-blossomed thorn! Wake, buried lily! spirit, quit thy tomb; And thou, shade-loving hyacinth, be born. 9 Then haste, sweet rose! sweet woodbine, hymn the morn, Whose dew-drops shall illume with pearly light Each grassy blade that thick embattled stands From sea to sea, while daisies infinite Uplift in praise their little glowing hands O’er every hill that under heaven expands. 15 _Ebenezer Elliot._ CCI _THE POETRY OF EARTH_