Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/331

305 Their brief and unobtrusive history.

—One Hillock, ye may note, is small and low,

Sunk almost to a level with the plain

By weight of time; the Others, undepressed,

Are bold and swelling. There a Husband sleeps,

Deposited, in pious confidence

Of glorious resurrection with the just,

Near the loved Partner of his early days;

And, in the bosom of that family mold,

A second Wife is gathered to his side;

The approved Assistant of an arduous course

From his mid noon of manhood to old age!

He also of his Mate deprived, was left

Alone—'mid many Children; One a Babe

Orphaned as soon as born. Alas! 'tis not

In course of nature that a Father's wing

Should warm these Little-ones; and can he feed?

That was a thought of agony more keen.

For, hand in hand with Death, by strange mishap

And chance-encounter on their diverse road,

The ghastlier shape of Poverty had entered

Into that House, unfeared and unforeseen.