100
WITHOUT AND WITHIN.
And He, the kind old bachelor whose heart had been for one
Too much, and so he shared it out with all beneath the sun—
I see his broad and honest brow, the sparkle in his eye
(A steadfast fire undimmed by age), I hear his slow reply.
Too much, and so he shared it out with all beneath the sun—
I see his broad and honest brow, the sparkle in his eye
(A steadfast fire undimmed by age), I hear his slow reply.
The patientest of anglers he, and I the quietest
Of dreamy boys, true comrades we,—he chose me from the rest;
Content to saunter by his side in silence through the day,
Through coppice and by stream, the while my thoughts were far away,
Of dreamy boys, true comrades we,—he chose me from the rest;
Content to saunter by his side in silence through the day,
Through coppice and by stream, the while my thoughts were far away,
Perhaps with Crusoe in his isle; our noonday meal we took
Beneath an old grey lichened rock that beetled o'er the brook;
Then were our tongues set free at last! not learning much nor wit
Went with our simple fare, but talk as well that seasoned it.
Beneath an old grey lichened rock that beetled o'er the brook;
Then were our tongues set free at last! not learning much nor wit
Went with our simple fare, but talk as well that seasoned it.
I never hear a chafing brook, nor see the smooth stones lie
Beneath it golden-brown, or mark the mailed dragonfly
Beneath it golden-brown, or mark the mailed dragonfly
