Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/236

210 I read,—how in his manhood's earlier day

He, 'mid the afflictions of intestine War

And rightful Government subverted, found

One only solace, that he had espoused

A virtuous Lady tenderly beloved

For her benign perfections: and for this

Yet more endeared to him, that in her state

Of wedlock richly crowned with heaven's regard,

She with a numerous Issue filled his House,

Who throve, like Plants, uninjured by the Storm

That laid their Country waste. No need to speak

Of less particular notices assigned

To Youth or Maiden gone before their time,

And Matrons and unwedded Sisters old;

Whose charity and goodness were rehearsed

In modest panegyric. "These dim lines,

What would they tell?" said I,—but, from the task

Of puzzling out that faded Narrative,

With whisper soft my venerable Friend

Called me; and looking down the darksome aisle

I saw the Tenant of the lonely Vale

Standing apart; with curved arm reclined

On the baptismal Font; his pallid face