Page:Lyrical ballads, Volume 2, Wordsworth, 1800.djvu/229

221 Will I without thee go again, and do

All works which I was wont to do alone,

Before I knew thy face.——Heaven bless thee, Boy!

Thy heart these two weeks has been beating fast

With many hopes—it should be so—yes—yes—

I knew that thou could'st never have a wish

To leave me, Luke, thou hast been bound to me

Only by links of love, when thou art gone

What will be left to us!—But, I forget

My purposes. Lay now the corner-stone,

As I requested, and hereafter, Luke,

When thou art gone away, should evil men

Be thy companions, let this Sheep-fold be

Thy anchor and thy shield; amid all fear

And all temptation, let it be to thee

An emblem of the life thy Fathers liv'd,

Who, being innocent, did for that cause

Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well—

When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see