Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/230

204 By virtuous friendship's soul-sustaining aid,

And with the blessings of domestic love.

Thus occupied in mind I paced along,

Following the rugged road, by sledge or wheel

Worn in the moorland, till I overtook

My two Associates, in the morning sunshine

Halting together on a rocky knoll,

From which the road descended rapidly

To the green meadows of another Vale.

Here did our pensive Host put forth his hand

In sign of farewell. "Nay," the Old Man said,

"The fragrant Air its coolness still retains;

The Herds and Flocks are yet abroad to crop

The dewy grass; you cannot leave us now,

We must not part at this inviting hour."

To that injunction, earnestly expressed,

He yielded, though reluctant; for his Mind

Instinctively disposed him to retire

To his own Covert; as a billow, heaved

Upon the beach, rolls back into the Sea.