(Such have I seen) whom chance of birth Hath separated from its kind,

To live and die in a shady bower,

Single on the gladsome earth.

When, with a noise like distant thunder, A troop of Deer came sweeping by; And, suddenly, behold a wonder! For, of that band of rushing Deer,

A single One in mid career

Hath stopped, and fixed its large full eye Upon the Lady Emily,

A Doe most beautiful, clear-white,

A radiant Creature, silver-bright!

Thus checked, a little while it stayed;
A little thoughtful pause it made;
And then advanced with stealth-like pace,
Drew softly near her—and more near,
Stopped once again;-but, as no trace
Was found of any thing to fear,

Even to her feet the Creature came,
And laid its head upon her knee,

And looked into the Lady's face,

A look of pure benignity,

And fond unclouded memory.

It is, thought Emily, the same,
The very Doe of other years!

The pleading look the Lady viewed,

And, by her gushing thoughts subdued,

She melted into tears

A flood of tears, that flowed apace
Upon the happy Creature's face.

Oh, moment ever blest! O Pair! Beloved of heaven, heaven's choicest care This was for you a precious greeting, For both a bounteous, fruitful meeting. Joined are they, and the sylvan Doe Can she depart? can she forego The Lady, once her playful Peer, And now her sainted Mistress dear?

And will not Emily receive

This lovely Chronicler of things
Long past, delights and sorrowings?
Lone Sufferer! will not she believe

The promise in that speaking face,
And take this gift of Heaven with grace?

That day, the first of a re-union

Which was to teem with high communion,

That day of balmy April weather,

They tarried in the wood together.

And when, ere fall of evening-dew
She from this sylvan haunt withdrew,
The White Doe tracked with faithful pace
The Lady to her Dwelling-place;
That nook where, on paternal ground,
A habitation she had found,

The Master of whose humble board

Once owned her Father for his Lord;

A Hut, by tufted Trees defended,

Where Rylstone Brook with Wharf is blended.

When Emily by morning light

Went forth, the Doe was there in sight.

She shrunk :—with one frail shock of pain,
Received and followed by a prayer,

Did she behold

saw once again;

Shun will she not, she feels, will bear;
But, wheresoever she looked round,

All now was trouble-haunted ground.

So doth the Sufferer deem it good

Even once again this neighbourhood

To leave. Unwooed, yet unforbidden,

The White Doe followed up the Vale,
Up to another Cottage-hidden
In the deep fork of Amerdale;
And there may Emily restore
Herself, in spots unseen before

Why tell of mossy rock, or tree,
By lurking Dernbrook's pathless side,
Haunts of a strengthening amity

That calmed her, cheared, and fortified?

For she hath ventured now to read

Of time, and place, and thought, and deed, Endless history that lies

In her silent Follower's eyes!

Who with a power like human Reason

Discerns the favourable season,

Skilled to approach or to retire,

From looks conceiving her desire,

From look, deportment, voice or mien, to the heart within.

That

vary

If she too passionately writhed

Her arms, or over-deeply breathed,

Walked quick or slowly, every mood
In its degree was understood;
Then well may their accord be true,
And kindly intercourse ensue.

-Oh! surely 'twas a gentle rouzing
When she by sudden glimpse espied
The White Doe on the mountain browzing,
Or in the meadow wandered wide!

How pleased, when down the Straggler sank
Beside her, on some sunny bank!

How soothed, when in thick bower enclosed,
They like a nested Pair reposed!

Fair Vision! when it crossed the Maid
Within some rocky cavern laid,

The dark cave's portal gliding by,
White as the whitest cloud on high,
Floating through the azure sky.

-What now is left for pain or fear?
That Presence, dearer and more dear,
Did now a very gladness yield
At morning to the dewy field,

While they side by side were straying,
And the Shepherd's pipe was playing;