Thou wert a scorner of the fields, my Friend, 50 But more in show than truth;[28] and from the fields, And from the mountains, to thy rural grave Transported, my soothed spirit hovers o’er Its green untrodden turf, and blowing flowers; And taking up a voice shall speak (tho’ still 55 Awed by the theme’s peculiar sanctity Which words less free presumed not even to touch) Of that fraternal love, whose heaven-lit lamp From infancy, through manhood, to the last Of threescore years, and to thy latest hour, 60 Burnt on with ever-strengthening light, enshrined[29] Within thy bosom. “Wonderful” hath been The love established between man and man, “Passing the love of women;” and between Man and his help-mate in fast wedlock joined 65 Through God,[30] is raised a spirit and soul of love Without whose blissful influence Paradise Had been no Paradise; and earth were now A waste where creatures bearing human form, Direst of savage beasts, would roam in fear, 70 Joyless and comfortless. Our days glide on;[31] And let him grieve who cannot choose but grieve That he hath been an Elm without his Vine, And her bright dower of clustering charities, That, round his trunk and branches, might have clung 75 Enriching and adorning. Unto thee, Not so enriched, not so adorned, to thee Was given (say rather thou of later birth Wert given to her) a Sister--’tis a word Timidly uttered, for she _lives_, the meek, 80 The self-restraining, and the ever-kind; In whom thy reason and intelligent heart Found--for all interests, hopes, and tender cares, All softening, humanising, hallowing powers, Whether withheld, or for her sake unsought-- 85 More than sufficient recompense! Her love (What weakness prompts the voice to tell it here?) Was as the love of mothers; and when years, Lifting the boy to man’s estate, had called The long-protected to assume the part 90 Of a protector, the first filial tie Was undissolved; and, in or out of sight, Remained imperishably interwoven With life itself. Thus, ’mid a shifting world, Did they together testify of time[32] 95 And season’s difference--a double tree With two collateral stems sprung from one root; Such were they--such thro’ life they _might_ have been In union, in partition only such; Otherwise wrought the will of the Most High; 100 Yet, thro’ all visitations and all trials, Still they were faithful; like two vessels launched From the same beach one ocean to explore[33] With mutual help, and sailing--to their league