So their wall, extending ever, Spann'd at length the vale and river; Grasp'd the mountains there and here: Reached towards the blue of heaven; Touched the light cloud o'er it driven; And the end at length was near. June had come; and all was vernal: Seemed secure their Spring eternal: Eyes were bright, and skies were blue: When--at Nature's call--unguided-- Out the voice above them glided, "Cuckoo!"--far away, "Cuckoo!" "Gone!" a hundred tongues in chorus Shouted; "Gone! the bird that bore us Spring with all things bright and good!" While, in stupor and amazement, Vacantly from cope to basement Glowering at their wall, they stood.-- But though all forgot, while building Up their wall, that months were yielding Each in turn to others' sway, With their leaves and landscapes changing; And, to skies more constant ranging, Fled the Cuckoo far away! Winter from their hearts had perished; Spring in every heart was cherished; Every charm of life and love-- Love for wife and home and neighbour-- Sprang from out that genial labour; Peace around, and Heaven above. Faith into their lives had entered; Joy and fellowship were centred Wheresoe'er a hearth was found. While the calm bright hope before them Temper'd even the rains, and o'er them Charmed to rest the tempests' sound. NOTES TO "THE CUCKOO IN BORRODALE." If the traditions of the past, and the estimate formed of them by their distant neighbours, bear rather hardly upon the people of Borrodale, it must be remembered that the relations of that dale to the world without were very different a hundred years ago from what they are now. It was a recess, approached by a long and winding valley, from the vale of Keswick, with the lake extending between its entrance and the town. The highest mountains of the district closed round its head. Its entrance was guarded by a woody hill, on which had formerly stood a Roman fortress, afterwards occupied by the Saxons, and which in later times was maintained in its military capacity by the monks of Furness. For here one of their principal magazines was established, and the holy fathers had great possessions to defend from the frequent irruptions of the Scots in those days. Besides their tithe corn, they amassed here the valuable minerals of the country; among which salt, produced from a spring in the valley, was no inconsiderable article.