The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)Wordsworth, William
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The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)
Wordsworth, William
English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century
And lay his bones among us. [43]
_Leonard_. If that day 340
Should come, 'twould needs be a glad day for him;
He would himself, no doubt, be happy then
As any that should meet him--
_Priest_. Happy! Sir--
_Leonard_. You said his kindred all were in their graves, 345
And that he had one Brother--
_Priest_. That is but
A fellow-tale of sorrow. From his youth
James, though not sickly, yet was delicate;
And Leonard being always by his side 350
Had done so many offices about him,
That, though he was not of a timid nature,
Yet still the spirit of a mountain-boy
In him was somewhat checked; and, when his Brother
Was gone to sea, and he was left alone, 355
The little colour that he had was soon
Stolen from his cheek; he drooped, and pined, and pined--
_Leonard_. But these are all the graves of full-grown men!
_Priest_. Ay, Sir, that passed away: we took him to us;
He was the child of all the dale--he lived 360
Three months with one, and six months with another;
And wanted neither food, nor clothes, nor love:
And many, many happy days were his.
But, whether blithe or sad, 'tis my belief
His absent Brother still was at his heart. 365
And, when he dwelt [44] beneath our roof, we found
(A practice till this time unknown to him)
That often, rising from his bed at night,
He in his sleep would walk about, and sleeping
He sought his brother Leonard.--You are moved! 370
Forgive me, Sir: before I spoke to you,
I judged you most unkindly.
_Leonard_. But this Youth,
How did he die at last?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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