Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/259

233 Of birch-trees waves above the chimney top;

In shape, in size, and colour, an abode

Such as in unsafe times of Border war

Might have been wished for and contrived—to elude

The eye of roving Plunderer, for their need

Suffices; and unshaken bears the assault

Of their most dreaded foe, the strong South-west,

In anger blowing from the distant sea.

—Alone within her solitary Hut;

There, or within the compass of her fields,

At any moment may the Dame be found,

True as the Stock-dove to her shallow nest

And to the grove that holds it. She beguiles

By intermingled work of house and field

The summer's day, and winter's; with success

Not equal, but sufficient to maintain,

Even at the worst, a smooth stream of content,

Until the expected hour at which her Mate

From the far-distant Quarry's vault returns;

And by his converse crowns a silent day

With evening cheerfulness. In powers of mind,

In scale of culture, few among my Flock

Hold lower rank than this sequestered Pair.