Stretched on the dying Mother's lap, lies dead Her new-born Babe; dire ending[941] of bright hope! But Sculpture here, with the divinest scope Of luminous faith, heavenward hath raised that head So patiently; and through one hand has spread 5 A touch so tender for the insensate Child-- (Earth's lingering love to parting reconciled, Brief parting, for the spirit is all but fled)-- That we, who contemplate the turns of life Through this still medium, are consoled and cheered; Feel with the Mother, think the severed Wife 11 Is less to be lamented than revered; And own that Art, triumphant over strife And pain, hath powers to Eternity endeared. FOOTNOTES: [941] 1845. ... issue ... 1835. XL SUGGESTED BY THE FOREGOING[942] Tranquillity! the sovereign aim wert thou In heathen schools of philosophic lore;[943] Heart-stricken by stern destiny of yore The Tragic Muse thee served with thoughtful vow; And what of hope Elysium could allow 5 Was fondly seized by Sculpture, to restore Peace to the Mourner. But when He who wore[944] The crown of thorns around his bleeding brow Warmed our sad being with celestial light,[945] _Then_ Arts which still had drawn a softening grace 10 From shadowy fountains of the Infinite, Communed with that Idea face to face: And move around it now as planets run, Each in its orbit round the central Sun. FOOTNOTES: [942] In the edition of 1835 there is no title to this sonnet. [943] #Ataraxia#, was the aim of Stoic, Epicurean, and Sceptic alike.--ED. [944] 1840. Peace to the Mourner's soul; but He who wore 1835. [945] 1840. ... with his glorious light: 1835. Round our sad being shed celestial light, C. XLI NUNNERY[946] [I became acquainted with the walks of Nunnery when a boy: they are within easy reach of a day's pleasant excursion from the town of Penrith, where I used to pass my summer holidays under the roof of my maternal Grandfather. The place is well worth visiting; though, within these few years, its privacy, and therefore the pleasure which the scene is so well fitted to give, has been injuriously affected by walks cut in the rocks on that side the stream which had been left in its natural state.--I. F.]