Stirs in the mighty woods.-So did he speak :
The words he uttered shall not pass away
Dispersed, like music that the wind takes up
By snatches, and lets fall, to be forgotten;
No-they sank into me, the bounteous gift
Of one whom time and nature had made wise,
Gracing his doctrine with authority
Which hostile spirits silently allow;
Of one accustomed to desires that feed
On fruitage gathered from the tree of life;
To hopes on knowledge and experience built;
Of one in whom persuasion and belief
Had ripened into faith, and faith become
A passionate intuition; whence the Soul,
Though bound to earth by ties of pity and love,
From all injurious servitude was free.

The Sun, before his place of rest were reached, Had yet to travel far, but unto us,

To us who stood low in that hollow dell,
He had become invisible,-a pomp
Leaving behind of yellow radiance spread
Over the mountain sides, in contrast bold
With ample shadows, seemingly, no less
Than those resplendent lights, his rich bequest;
A dispensation of his evening power.
-Adown the path that from the glen had led
The funeral train, the Shepherd and his Mate
Were seen descending :-forth to greet them ran

Our little Page: the rustic pair approach ;
And in the Matron's countenance may be read
Plain indication that the words, which told
How that neglected Pensioner was sent
Before his time into a quiet grave,

Had done to her humanity no wrong :

But we are kindly welcomed-promptly served
With ostentatious zeal.-Along the floor
Of the small Cottage in the lonely Dell
A grateful couch was spread for our repose;
Where, in the guise of mountaineers, we lay,
Stretched upon fragrant heath, and lulled by sound
Of far-off torrents charming the still night,
And, to tired limbs and over-busy thoughts,
Inviting sleep and soft forgetfulness.

END OF THE FOURTH BOOK.

THE EXCURSION.

BOOK V.

THE PASTOR.

ARGUMENT.

Page 165, Farewell to the Valley-166, Reflections-168, A large and populous Vale described-169, The Pastor's Dwelling, and some account of him-170, Church and Monuments-172, The Solitary musing, and where-173, Roused-174, In the Churchyard the Solitary communicates the thoughts which had recently passed through his mind-174, Lofty tone of the Wanderer's discourse of yesterday adverted to 175, Rite of Baptism, and the professions accompanying it, contrasted with the real state of human life-176, Apology for the Rite-178, Inconsistency of the best men-179, Acknowledgment that practice falls far below the injunctions of duty as existing in the mind-179, General complaint of a falling-off in the value of life after the time of youth-180, Outward appearances of content and happiness in degree illusive-181, Pastor approaches-182, Appeal made to him-182, His answer-185, Wanderer in sympathy with him-186, Suggestion that the least ambitious Enquirers may be most free from error-187, The Pastor is desired to give some portraits of the living or dead from his own observation of life among these Mountains-and for what purpose-189, Pastor consents 189, Mountain cottage-190, Excellent qualities of its Inhabitants-195, Solitary expresses his pleasure; but denies the praise of virtue to worth of this kind-197, Feelings of the Priest before he enters upon his account of persons interred in the Church-yard -199, Graves of unbaptized Infants-200, Funeral and sepulchral observances, whence-200, Ecclesiastical Establishments, whence derived-201, Profession of belief in the doctrine of Immortality.

BOOK FIFTH.

THE PASTOR.

"FAREWELL, deep Valley, with thy one rude House, And its small lot of life-supporting fields,

And guardian rocks!-Farewell, attractive seat!
To the still influx of the morning light
Open, and day's pure cheerfulness, but veiled

From human observation, as if yet

Primeval forests wrapped thee round with dark
Impenetrable shade; once more farewell,
Majestic circuit, beautiful abyss,

By Nature destined from the birth of things
For quietness profound!"

Upon the side

Of that brown ridge, sole outlet of the vale
Which foot of boldest stranger would attempt,
Lingering behind my comrades, thus I breathed
A parting tribute to a spot that seemed
Like the fixed centre of a troubled world.