Here closed the Sage that eloquent harangue, 1275 Poured forth with fervour in continuous stream, Such as, remote, 'mid savage wilderness, An Indian Chief discharges from his breast Into the hearing of assembled tribes,[408] In open circle seated round, and hushed 1280 As the unbreathing air, when not a leaf Stirs in the mighty woods.--So did he speak: The words he uttered shall not pass away Dispersed, like music that the wind takes up By snatches, and lets fall, to be forgotten; 1285 No--they sank into me,[409] the bounteous gift Of one whom time and nature had made wise, Gracing his doctrine[410] with authority Which hostile spirits silently allow; Of one accustomed to desires that feed 1290 On fruitage gathered from the tree of life; To hopes on knowledge and experience built; Of one in whom persuasion and belief Had ripened into faith, and faith become A passionate intuition; whence the Soul, 1295 Though bound to earth by ties of pity and love, From all injurious servitude was free. The Sun, before his place of rest were reached, Had yet to travel far, but unto us, To us who stood low in that hollow dell, 1300 He had become invisible,--a pomp Leaving behind of yellow radiance spread Over[411] the mountain sides, in contrast bold With ample shadows, seemingly, no less 1304 Than those resplendent lights, his rich bequest; A dispensation of his evening power. --Adown the path that[412] from the glen had led The funeral train, the Shepherd and his Mate Were seen descending:--forth to greet them ran[413] Our little Page: the rustic pair approach; 1310 And in the Matron's countenance may be read Plain indication[414] that the words, which told How that neglected Pensioner was sent Before his time into a quiet grave, Had done to her humanity no wrong: 1315 But we are kindly welcomed--promptly served With ostentatious zeal.--Along the floor Of the small Cottage in the lonely Dell A grateful couch was spread for our repose; Where, in the guise of mountaineers, we lay,[415] 1320 Stretched upon fragrant heath, and lulled by sound Of far-off torrents charming the still night, And, to tired limbs and over-busy thoughts, Inviting sleep and soft forgetfulness.[416] VARIANTS: [Footnote 284: 1827. _Wanderer's ejaculation to the supreme Being--_ 1814. 1836. _Account of his own devotional feelings in youth involved in it--_ 1814. _account of his own devotional feelings in youth involved_-- 1827. 1827. _Implores that he may retain in age the power to find repose among enduring and eternal things_-- 1814.