Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/349

323 Was overcome by unexpected sleep,

In one blest moment. Like a shadow thrown

Softly and lightly from a passing cloud,

Death fell upon him, while reclined he lay

For noon-tide solace on the summer grass,

The warm lap of his Mother Earth: and so,

Their lenient term of separation past,

That Family (whose graves you there behold)

By yet a higher privilege, once more

Were gathered to each other."

Calm of mind

And silence waited on these closing words;

Until the Wanderer (whether moved by fear

Lest in these passages of life were some

That might have touched the sick heart of his Friend

Too nearly, or intent to reinforce

His own firm spirit in degree depressed

By tender sorrow for our mortal state)

Thus silence broke; "Behold a thoughtless Man

From vice and premature decay preserved

By useful habits, to a fitter soil

Transplanted, ere too late.—The Hermit, lodged

In the untrodden desart, tells his beads,