Magnificent. Behold, how with a grace Of ceaseless motion,[362] that might scarcely seem Inferior to angelical, they prolong 205 Their curious pastime, shaping in mid air, And sometimes with ambitious wing that soars High as the level of the mountain tops, A circuit ampler than the lake beneath, Their own domain;--but ever, while intent 210 On tracing and retracing that large round, Their jubilant activity evolves Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro, Upwards and downwards, progress intricate Yet unperplexed, as if one spirit swayed 215 Their indefatigable flight. ’Tis done-- Ten times and more, I fancied it had ceased; But lo! the vanished company again Ascending, they approach--I hear their wings Faint, faint at first; and then an eager sound 220 Passed in a moment--and as faint again! They tempt the sun to sport among[363] their plumes; Tempt the smooth water,[364] or the gleaming ice, To show them a fair image; ’tis themselves, Their own fair forms, upon the glimmering plain, 225 Painted more soft and fair as they descend, Almost to touch;--then up again aloft, Up with a sally, and a flash of speed, As if they scorned both resting-place and rest![365] This day is a thanksgiving, ’tis a day 230 Of glad emotion and deep quietness; Not upon me alone hath been bestowed, Me rich in many onward-looking thoughts, The penetrating bliss; oh surely these Have felt it, not the happy Quires of Spring, 235 Her own peculiar family of love That sport among green leaves, a blither train. But two are missing--two, a lonely pair Of milk-white Swans, wherefore are _they_ not seen Partaking this day’s pleasure? From afar 240 They came, to sojourn here in solitude, Choosing this Valley, they who had the choice Of the whole world.[366] We saw them day by day, Through these two months of unrelenting storm, Conspicuous at the centre of the Lake, 245 Their safe retreat. We knew them well, I guess That the whole Valley knew them; but to us They were more dear than may be well believed, Not only for their beauty, and their still And placid way of life, and constant love 250 Inseparable, not for these alone, But that _their_ state so much resembled ours, They having also chosen this abode; They strangers, and we strangers; they a pair, And we a solitary pair like them. 255 They should not have departed; many days Did I look forth in vain, nor on the wing Could see them, nor in that small open space Of blue unfrozen water, where they lodged,