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To E. de S.
COME down at dawn from windless hills | |
| Into the valley of the lake, | |
| Where yet a larger quiet fills | |
| The hour, and mist and water make | |
| With rocks and reeds and island boughs | 5 |
| One silence and one element, | |
| Where wonder goes surely as once | |
| It went | |
| By Galilean prows. | |
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| Moveless the water and the mist, | 10 |
| Moveless the secret air above, | |
| Hushed, as upon some happy tryst | |
| The poised expectancy of love; | |
| What spirit is it that adores | |
| What mighty presence yet unseen? | 15 |
| What consummation works apace | |
| Between | |
| These rapt enchanted shores? | |
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| Never did virgin beauty wake | |
| Devouter to the bridal feast | 20 |
| Than moves this hour upon the lake | |
| In adoration to the east. | |
| Here is the bride a god may know, | |
| The primal will, the young consent, | |
| Till surely upon the appointed mood | 25 |
| Intent | |
| The god shall leap—and, lo, | |
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| Over the lake’s end strikes the sun— | |
| White, flameless fire; some purity | |
| Thrilling the mist, a splendor won | 30 |
| Out of the world’s heart. Let there be | |
| Thoughts, and atonements, and desires; | |
| Proud limbs, and undeliberate tongue; | |
| Where now we move with mortal care | |
| Among | 35 |
| Immortal dews and fires. | |
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| So the old mating goes apace, | |
| Wind with the sea, and blood with thought, | |
| Lover with lover; and the grace | |
| Of understanding comes unsought | 40 |
| When stars into the twilight steer, | |
| Or thrushes build among the may, | |
| Or wonder moves between the hills, | |
| And day | |
| Comes up on Rydal mere. | 45 |
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