A gallery of famous English and American poets . ind chance mention on this sacred ground). So, through a simple rustic garbs disguise. And through the impediment of rural cares, In him revealed a scholars genius shone; And so, not wholly hidden from mens sight. In him the spirit of a hero walked Our unpretending valley. How the quoit Whizzed fiom the striplings arm ! If touched by him, The inglorious football mounted to the pitch Of the larks flight, or shaped a rainbow curve Aloft in prospect of the shouting field! The indefatigable fox had learned To dread his perseverance in the chase. Wit
A gallery of famous English and American poets . ind chance mention on this sacred ground). So, through a simple rustic garbs disguise. And through the impediment of rural cares, In him revealed a scholars genius shone; And so, not wholly hidden from mens sight. In him the spirit of a hero walked Our unpretending valley. How the quoit Whizzed fiom the striplings arm ! If touched by him, The inglorious football mounted to the pitch Of the larks flight, or shaped a rainbow curve Aloft in prospect of the shouting field! The indefatigable fox had learned To dread his perseverance in the chase. With admiration would he lift his eyes To the wide-ruling eagle, and his hand Was loath to assault the majesty he loved, Else had the strongest fastnesses proved weak To guard the royal brood. The sailing glede, The wheeling swallow, and the darting snipe, The sporting sea-gull dancing with the waves. And cautious wa,ter-fowl from distant climes. Fixed at their seat, the centre of the mere, Were subject to young Oswalds steady aim. 136 THE SKATER. In the frosty season, when the sunWas set, and visible for many a mileThe cottage windows blazed through twilight gloom,I heeded not their summons: happy timeIt was indeed for all of us,—for meIt was a time of rapture! Clear and loudThe village clock tolled six,—I wheeled and exulting like an untired horseThat cares not for his home. All shod with steel, THE SKATER. 137 Wc hissed along the polished ice in games Confederate, imitative of the chase And woodland pleasures,—the resounding horn, The pack loud chiming, and the hunted hare. So throuo-h the darkness and the cold we flew. And not a voice was idle; with the din Smitten, the precipices rang aloud; The leafless trees and every icy crag Tinkled like iron; while far distant hills Into the tumult sent an alien sound Of melancholy not unnoticed, while the stars Eastward were sparkling clear, and in the west The orange sky of evening died away. Not seldom f
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksu, booksubjectenglishpoetry
