At this the Wanderer paused; And, looking up to those enormous elms, He said, "'Tis now the hour of deepest noon.[AZ] At this still season of repose and peace, This hour when all things which are not at rest 595 Are cheerful; while this multitude of flies With tuneful hum is filling all the air;[70] Why should a tear be on an old Man's cheek?[71] Why should we thus, with an untoward mind, And in the weakness of humanity, 600 From natural wisdom turn our hearts away; To natural comfort shut our eyes and ears; And, feeding on disquiet, thus disturb The calm of nature with our restless thoughts?" * * * * * He spake with somewhat of a solemn tone: 605 But, when he ended, there was in his face Such easy cheerfulness, a look so mild,[BA] That for a little time it stole away All recollection; and that simple tale Passed from my mind like a forgotten sound. 610 A while on trivial things we held discourse, To me soon tasteless. In my own despite, I thought of that poor Woman as of one Whom I had known and loved. He had rehearsed Her homely tale with such familiar power, 615 With such an active countenance, an eye So busy, that the things of which he spake Seemed present; and, attention now relaxed, A heart-felt chillness crept along my veins. I rose; and, having left the breezy shade, 620 Stood drinking comfort from the warmer sun, That had not cheered me long--ere, looking round[72] Upon that tranquil Ruin, I returned, And begged of the old Man that, for my sake, He would resume his story. He replied, 625 "It were a wantonness, and would demand Severe reproof, if we were men whose hearts Could hold vain dalliance with the misery Even of the dead; contented thence to draw A momentary pleasure, never marked 630 By reason, barren of all future good. But we have known that there is often found In mournful thoughts, and always might be found, A power to virtue friendly; wer't not so, I am a dreamer among men, indeed 635 An idle dreamer! 'Tis a common tale, An ordinary sorrow of man's life, A tale of silent suffering, hardly clothed In bodily form.--But without further bidding I will proceed. "While thus it fared with them, 640 To whom this cottage, till those hapless years, Had been a blessed home, it was my chance To travel in a country far remote; And[73] when these lofty elms once more appeared What pleasant expectations lured me on 645 O'er the flat Common!--With quick step I reached