SELECTIONS IN'ENGLISH POETRY
To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given/
But all his serious thoughts had rest in Heaven. ,.
As some taltjdiff,, that lifts its awfuLform,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves^ the storm, 190
Though.round its Abreast the1r^imFcT(>uds are" spread,
Eternal sunshine settles^on^Jj^head.
Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way.
With blossomed furze unprofitably gay,
There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, 195
The village master taught his little school ;
A man severe he was, and stern to view;
I knew him well, and every truant knew;
Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace
The day's disasters in his morning face; 200
Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ;
Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned;
Yet he was kind; or if severe in aught, 205
The love he bore to learning was in fault;
The village all declared how much he knew;
'Twas certain he could write, and cypher too;
Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,
And e'en the story ran that he could gauge. 210
In arguing too, the parson owned his skill,
For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still ;
While words of learned length and thund'ring sound
Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around,
And_Jtilljhey gazed, and still thewonder grew, 215
That one small head could carry ItlTTielaiew:
But past is all his fame. The very spot
Where many a time he triumphed, is forgot.
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