Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/371

345 The rudiments of war; ten—hardy, strong,

And valiant; but young Oswald, like a Chief

And yet a modest Comrade, led them forth

From their shy solitude, to face the world,

With a gay confidence and seemly pride;

Measuring the soil beneath their happy feet

Like youths released from labour and yet bound

To most labourious service, though to them

A festival of unencumbered ease;

The inner spirit keeping holiday,

Like vernal ground to sabbath sunshine left.

Oft have I marked him, at some leisure hour,

Stretched on the grass or seated in the shade

Among his Fellows, while an ample Map

Before their eyes lay carefully outspread,

From which the gallant Teacher would discourse,

Now pointing this way and now that.—"Here flows,"

Thus would he say, "the Rhine, that famous Stream!

"Eastward, the Danube tow'rds this inland sea,

"A mightier river, winds from realm to realm;—

"And, like a serpent, shews his glittering back

"Bespotted with innumerable isles.