All summer-long the happy Eve Of this fair Spot her flowers may bind, 20 Nor e'er, with ruffled fancy, grieve, From the next glance she casts, to find That love for little things by Fate Is rendered vain as love for great. Yet, where the guardian fence is wound, 25 So subtly are our eyes beguiled We see not nor suspect a bound,[391] No more than in some forest wild; The sight is free as air--or crost[392] Only by art in nature lost. 30 And, though[393] the jealous turf refuse By random footsteps to be prest, And feed[394] on never-sullied dews, _Ye_, gentle breezes from the west, With all the ministers of hope 35 Are tempted to this sunny slope! And hither throngs of birds resort; Some, inmates lodged in shady nests, Some, perched on stems of stately port That nod to welcome transient guests; 40 While hare and leveret, seen at play, _Appear_ not more shut out than they. Apt emblem (for reproof of pride) This delicate Enclosure shows Of modest kindness, that would hide 45 The firm protection she bestows; Of manners, like its viewless fence, Ensuring peace to innocence. Thus spake the moral Muse--her wing Abruptly spreading to depart, 50 She left that[395] farewell offering, Memento for some docile heart; That may respect the good old age When Fancy was Truth's willing Page; And Truth would skim the flowery glade, 55 Though entering but as Fancy's Shade. In a letter from Mrs. Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont, dated "Rydal Mount, Feb. 28" (1824), the following occurs:-- "This garden is made out of Lady Caroline Price's, and your own, combining the recommendations of both. Like you, I enjoy the beauty of flowers, but do not carry my admiration so far as my sister, not to feel how very troublesome they are. I have more pleasure in clearing away thickets, and making such arrangements as produced the Winter Garden, and those sweet glades behind Coleorton Church."--ED. FOOTNOTES: [389] 1836. A FLOWER GARDEN. 1827. [390] The flower garden was constructed below the terrace to the east of the Hall.--ED. [391] 1836. So subtly is the eye beguiled It sees not nor suspects a Bound, 1827. MS. sent by Mrs. Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont. [392] 1836. Free as the light in semblance--crost. 1827. MS. sent by Mrs. Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont. [393] 1827. What though ... MS. sent by Mrs. Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont. [394] 1836. And feeds ... 1827. [395] 1827. ... this ... MS. sent by Mrs. Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont.