| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
| |
| William Wordsworth. 1770–1850 |
| |
| 521. Evening on Calais Beach |
| |
| IT is a beauteous evening, calm and free, | |
| The holy time is quiet as a Nun | |
| Breathless with adoration; the broad sun | |
| Is sinking down in its tranquillity; | |
| The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the sea: | 5 |
| Listen! the mighty Being is awake, | |
| And doth with his eternal motion make | |
| A sound like thunder—everlastingly. | |
| Dear Child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here, | |
| If thou appear untouch'd by solemn thought, | 10 |
| Thy nature is not therefore less divine: | |
| Thou liest in Abraham's bosom all the year; | |
| And worshipp'st at the Temple's inner shrine, | |
| God being with thee when we know it not. | |
|
|
