Haply some hoary-headed swain may say, “Oft have we seen him at the peep of dawn Brushing with hasty steps the dews away, To meet the sun upon the upland lawn: 100 “There at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, His listless length at noontide would he stretch, And pore upon the brook that babbles by. “Hard by yon wood, now smiling as in scorn, 105 Mutt’ring his wayward fancies he would rove; Now drooping woeful-wan, like one forlorn, Or craz’d with care, or cross’d in hopeless love. “One morn I miss’d him on the custom’d hill, Along the heath, and near his fav’rite tree; 110 Another came; nor yet beside the rill, Nor up the lawn, nor at the wood was he; “The next, with dirges due in sad array, Slow through the church-way path we saw him borne:— Approach and read (for thou canst read) the lay 115 Graved on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.” THE EPITAPH. Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth, A youth, to Fortune and to Fame unknown: Fair Science frown’d not on his humble birth, And Melancholy mark’d him for her own. 120 Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, Heav’n did a recompense as largely send; He gave to Mis’ry all he had, a tear, He gain’d from Heav’n (’twas all he wish’d) a friend. No farther seek his merits to disclose, 125 Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his Father and his God. * * * * * =MY KATE.= I. She was not as pretty as women I know, And yet all your best made of sunshine and snow Drop to shade, melt to nought in the long-trodden ways, While she’s still remembered on warm and cold days— My Kate. 5 II. Her air had a meaning, her movements a grace; You turned from the fairest to gaze on her face: And when you had once seen her forehead and mouth, You saw as distinctly her soul and her truth— My Kate. 10 III. Such a blue inner light from her eyelids outbroke, You looked at her silence and fancied she spoke: When she did, so peculiar yet soft was the tone, Though the loudest spoke also, you heard her alone— My Kate. 15 IV. I doubt if she said to you much that could act As a thought or suggestion; she did not attract In the sense of the brilliant or wise: I infer ’Twas her thinking of others made you think of her— My Kate. 20 V.