The weary Sun betook himself to rest. --Then issued Vesper from the fulgent West, Outshining like a visible God The glorious path in which he trod. And now, ascending, after one dark hour, And one night's diminution of her power, Behold the mighty Moon! this way She looks as if at them--but they 20 Regard not her:--oh better wrong and strife, Better vain deeds or evil than such life! The silent Heavens have goings on; The stars have tasks--but these have none. 11. _TO THE CUCKOO_. O blithe New-comer! I have heard, I hear thee and rejoice: O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird, Or but a wandering Voice? While I am lying on the grass, I hear thy restless shout: From hill to hill it seems to pass, About, and all about! To me, no Babbler with a tale Of sunshine and of flowers, 10 Thou tellest, Cuckoo! in the vale Of visionary hours. Thrice welcome, Darling of the Spring! Even yet thou art to me No Bird; but an invisible Thing, A voice, a mystery. The same whom in my School-boy days I listen'd to; that Cry Which made me look a thousand ways; In bush, and tree, and sky. 20 To seek thee did I often rove Through woods and on the green; And thou wert still a hope, a love; Still long'd for, never seen! And I can listen to thee yet; Can lie upon the plain. And listen, till I do beget That golden time again. O blessed Bird! the earth we pace Again appears to be 30 An unsubstantial, faery place; That is fit home for Thee! 12. _TO A BUTTERFLY_. I've watch'd you now a full half hour, Self-pois'd upon that yellow flower; And, little Butterfly! indeed I know not if you sleep, or feed. How motionless! not frozen seas More motionless! and then What joy awaits you, when the breeze Hath found you out among the trees, And calls you forth again! This plot of Orchard-ground is ours; 10 My trees they are, my Sister's flowers; Stop here whenever you are weary, And rest as in a sanctuary! Come often to us, fear no wrong; Sit near us on the bough! We'll talk of sunshine and of song; And summer days, when we were young, Sweet childish days, that were as long As twenty days are now! 13.