And if my timid soul might dare To shape the future in its prayer, Then fervently would I entreat 55 Our gracious God to guide thy feet Back to the peaceful sunny cot, Where thou so oft hast blessed thy lot. [395] I owe my knowledge of this and the following poem to the nephew of Mrs. Wordsworth, the Reverend Thomas Hutchinson of Kimbolton, Herefordshire, who wrote: “The two following poems were found among his papers on the demise of Mr. Monkhouse--a first cousin of Wordsworth; the first in the hand-writing of Wordsworth’s wife, and the second of her daughter.”--ED. HOLIDAY AT GWERNDWFFNANT, MAY 1826 IRREGULAR STANZAS BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH You’re here for one long vernal day; We’ll give it all to social play, Though forty years have rolled away Since we were young as you. Then welcome to our spacious Hall! 5 Tom, Bessy, Mary, welcome all! Though removed from busy men, Yea lonesome as the foxes’ den, ’Tis a place for joyance fit, For frolic games and inborn wit. 10 ’Twas nature built this hall of ours; She shap’d the bank; she framed the bowers That close it all around; From her we hold our precious right, And here, thro’ live-long day and night, 15 She rules with modest sway. Our carpet is our verdant sod; A richer one was never trod In prince’s proud saloon. Purple, and gold, and spotless white, 20 And quivering shade, and sunny light, Blend with the emerald green. She opened for the mountain brook A gentle winding pebbly way Into this placid secret nook. 25 Its bell-like tinkling--list, you hear-- ’Tis never loud, yet always clear As linnet’s song in May. And we have other music here: A thousand songsters through the year 30 Dwell in these happy groves, And in this season of their loves They join their voices with the doves To raise a perfect harmony. Thus spake I while with sober pace 35 We slipped into that chosen place And from the centre of our Hall The young ones played around, Then, like a flock of vigorous lambs, That quit their grave and slow-paced dams 40 To frolic o’er the mead, That innocent fraternal troop Erewhile a steady listening group Off starting--Girl and Boy In gamesome race with agile bound 45 Beat o’er and o’er the grassy ground As if in motion--perfect joy.