Page:Lyrical ballads, Volume 2, Wordsworth, 1800.djvu/191

183 So distant from us now for two long years,

That you will gladly listen to discourse

However trivial, if you thence are taught

That they, with whom you once were happy, talk

Familiarly of you and of old times.

While I was seated, now some ten days past,

Beneath those lofty firs, that overtop

Their ancient neighbour, the old Steeple tower,

The Vicar from his gloomy house hard by

Came forth to greet me, and when he had ask'd,

"How fares Joanna, that wild-hearted Maid!

And when will she return to us?" he paus'd,

And after short exchange of village news,

He with grave looks demanded, for what cause,

Reviving obsolete Idolatry,

I like a Runic Priest, in characters

Of formidable size, had chisel'd out

Some uncouth name upon the native rock,