Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/315

 THE HERMIT OF MELVERN WATER 305

Let kindness water friendship's flowers, Whose scent may haply sweeten sorrow.

As two good clocks in equal time

Together click, nor slow nor fast, Strike all the hours in even chime,

Ringing together to the last,

So let our hearts, with faithful skill.

In union beat till life shall end. And, mingling with united will,

Heed not Time's weights as they descend.

��THE HERMIT OF MELVERN WATER.

Two friendly travellers, side by side,

Went forth to shun the city's noise, One thoughtful, pale, and gentle-eyed. The other flushed with manly pride — Both blithe as boys.

They journeyed many a weary mile, Each to the other like a brother ; They leaped the dyke, they climbed the stile, Laughing and talking all the while With one another ;

Until they reached the rocky glen

Where Melvern waters foam and roar. Here long ago, when younger men, They'd roamed before — to roam again Now came once more.

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