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Lines composed at Grasmere

_LINES_,
    Composed at GRASMERE, during a walk, one Evening, after
    a stormy day, the Author having just read in a Newspaper
    that the dissolution of MR. FOX was hourly expected.

  Loud is the Vale! the Voice is up
  With which she speaks when storms are gone,
  A mighty Unison of streams!
  Of all her Voices, One!
  Loud is the Vale;--this inland Depth
  In peace is roaring like the Sea;
  Yon Star upon the mountain-top
  Is listening quietly.
  Sad was I, ev'n to pain depress'd,
  Importunate and heavy load!                              10
  The Comforter hath found me here,
  Upon this lonely road;
  And many thousands now are sad,
  Wait the fulfilment of their fear;
  For He must die who is their Stay,
  Their Glory disappear.
  A Power is passing from the earth
  To breathless Nature's dark abyss;
  But when the Mighty pass away
  What is it more than this,                               20
  That Man, who is from God sent forth,
  Doth yet again to God return?--
  Such ebb and flow must ever be,
  Then wherefore should we mourn?

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