WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. RYDAL MOUNT, _New Year’s Day, 1840_. [410] See the note to the next sonnet.--ED. TO I.F.[411] Composed 1840.--Published 1850 The star which comes at close of day to shine More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, Is friendship’s emblem,[412] whether the forlorn She visiteth, or, shedding light benign Through shades that solemnize Life’s calm decline, 5 Doth make the happy happier. This have we Learnt, Isabel, from thy society, Which now we too unwillingly resign Though for brief absence. But farewell! the page Glimmers before my sight through thankful tears, 10 Such as start forth, not seldom, to approve Our truth, when we, old yet unchill’d by age, Call thee, though known but for a few fleet years, The heart-affianced sister of our love! WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. RYDAL MOUNT, _Feb. 1840_. [411] This and the preceding sonnet, beginning “We gaze--nor grieve to think that we must die,” were addressed to Miss Fenwick, to whom we owe the invaluable “Fenwick Notes.” Were it not that the date is very minutely given, I would believe that they belong to 1841, as Miss Gillies told me she resided at Rydal Mount in that year, when she painted Mrs. Wordsworth’s portrait.--ED. [412] 1850. Bright is the star which comes at eve to shine More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, And such is Friendship, whether the forlorn, etc. 1840. “OH BOUNTY WITHOUT MEASURE, WHILE THE GRACE” In his copy of the edition of 1845 at the close of the poem, _Animal Tranquillity and Decay_ (1798) (see the “Poem referring to the Period of Old Age,” vol. i. p. 307), Henry Crabb Robinson wrote the following lines, sent to him by Wordsworth.--ED. Oh Bounty without measure, while the Grace Of Heaven doth in such wise from humblest springs Pour pleasures forth, and solaces that trace A mazy course along familiar things, Well may our hearts have faith that blessings come 5 Streaming from points above the starry sky, With angels, when their own untroubled home They leave, and speed on mighty embassy To visit earthly chambers,--and for whom? Yea, both for souls who God’s forbearance try, 10 And those that seek his help and for his mercy sigh. _7th April 1840. My 70th Birthday._ W.W. 1842 THE EAGLE AND THE DOVE[413]