"There are few more touching scenes in the Duddon Valley than the little lonely hillside burial-place of the early Friends, spoken of in Sonnet XXIX. All round the inside of the rude wall enclosure are still to be seen the stone seats used by the followers of Fox, who were forbidden to hold their meetings under any lower roof than the canopy of Heaven. The Scotch firs have grown into stately shade since the Quakers sat in silent meditation high up, lifted above the life of the valley and the noise of Duddon and the tributary stream just opposite. But though the Friends lie here in unvisited graves, the earth is neither blank nor forlorn. Laurels glisten above their rest, and the _Spiræa salicifolia_ waves its light wands of flower above their sleep, all evidences of care for the heroes of a cause that is not dead yet." (H. D. Rawnsley.)] [Footnote 464: See _Furness and Furness Abbey_, by Francis Evans (8vo, Ulverston, 1842), p. 180.] XXX "WHO SWERVES FROM INNOCENCE, WHO MAKES DIVORCE" Who swerves from innocence, who makes divorce Of that serene companion--a good name, Recovers not his loss; but walks with shame, With doubt, with fear, and haply with remorse: And oft-times he--who, yielding to the force 5 Of chance-temptation, ere his journey end, From chosen comrade turns, or faithful friend-- In vain shall rue the broken intercourse. Not so with such as loosely wear the chain That binds them, pleasant River! to thy side:-- 10 Through the rough copse[GF] wheel thou with hasty stride; I choose to saunter o'er the grassy plain, Sure, when the separation has been tried, That we, who part in love, shall meet again.[GG] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote GF: "To get from the Sepulchre (Sonnet XXIX.) to Ulpha Kirk (Sonnet XXXI.) it is necessary to pass through Birks Wood, or else to skirt the wood by going up the Fell and round it." (Herbert Rix.)] [Footnote GG: Compare the Fenwick note prefixed to these sonnets.--ED.] XXXI "THE KIRK OF ULPHA TO THE PILGRIM'S EYE" The Kirk of Ulpha to the pilgrim's eye Is welcome as a star, that doth present Its shining forehead through the peaceful rent Of a black cloud diffused o'er half the sky:[GH] Or as a fruitful palm-tree towering high 5 O'er the parched waste beside an Arab's tent; Or the Indian tree whose branches, downward bent, Take root again, a boundless canopy. How sweet were leisure! could it yield no more Than 'mid that wave-washed Church-yard to recline, 10 From pastoral graves extracting thoughts divine; Or there to pace, and mark the summits hoar Of distant moon-lit mountains faintly shine, Soothed by the unseen River's gentle roar. FOOTNOTES: