THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)

"PROUD WERE YE, MOUNTAINS, WHEN, IN TIMES OF OLD"

Composed 1844.--Published 1845[280]

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

Proud were ye, Mountains, when, in times of old,

Your patriot sons, to stem invasive war,

Intrenched your brows; ye gloried in each scar:

Now, for your shame, a Power, the Thirst of Gold,

That rules o'er Britain like a baneful star,

Wills that your peace, your beauty, shall be sold,

And clear way made for her triumphal car

Through the beloved retreats your arms enfold!

Heard YE that Whistle? As her long-linked Train

Swept onwards, did the vision cross your view?

Yes, ye were startled;--and, in balance true,

Weighing the mischief with the promised gain,

Mountains, and Vales, and Floods, I call on you

To share the passion of a just disdain.

The following by Canon Rawnsley--suggested by an attempt to introduce a mineral railway into Borrowdale--may be read in connection with Wordsworth's two sonnets.--ED.

A CRY FROM DERWENTWATER

Shall then the stream of ruinous Lodore

Not fill the valley with its changeful sound

Unchallenged! shall grey Derwent's sacred bound

Hear the harsh brawl and intermittent roar

Of mocking waves upon an iron shore,

Whereby nor health nor happiness is found!--

While steam-wains drag from Honister's heart wound

The long cooled ashes of its fiery core!

Burst forth ye sulphurous fountains, as ye broke

On Skiddaw, lick the waters, blast the trees,

And let men have the earth they would desire,--

As well go pass our children through the fire

With shrieks, Cath-Belus, round thine altar's smoke,

As let old Derwent hear such sounds as these.

                                                                           H.D. RAWNSLEY.

WRAY VICARAGE, AMBLESIDE.

[280] This sonnet was first published in The Morning Post, December 17, 1844.--ED.