TOT.L.H.

tot.l.h.

achild

(1814)

modelofthyparentdear,

seriousinfantworthafear:

inthyunfaulteringvisagewell

picturingforththesonoftell,

whenonhisforehead,firmandgood,

motionlessmark,theapplestood;

guilelesstraitor,rebelmild,

convictunconscious,culprit-child!

gatesthatclosewithironroar

havebeentotheethynurserydoor;

chainsthatchinkincheerlesscells

havebeenthyrattlesandthybells;

wallscontrivedforgiantsin

havehemmedthyfaultlessweaknessin;

nearthysinlessbedblackguilt

herdiscordanthousehathbuilt,

andfilleditwithhermonstrousbrood—

sights,bytheenotunderstood—

sightsoffear,andofdistress,

thatpassaharmlessinfant'sguess!

buttheclouds,thatovercast

thyyoungmorning,maynotlast.

soonshallarrivetherescuinghour,

thatyieldstheeuptonature'spower.

nature,thatsolatedothgreetthee,

shallino'er-flowingmeasuremeetthee.

sheshallrecompensewithcost

foreverylessonthouhastlost.

thenwanderingupthysire'slov'dhill注释标题hampstead.,

thoushalltakethyairyfill

ofhealthandpastime.birdsshallsing

forthydelighteachmaymorning.

'midnew-yean'dlambkinsthoushaltplay,

hardlylessalambthanthey.

thenthyprison'slengthenedbound

shallbethehorizonskirtinground.

and,whilethoufillestthylapwithflowers,

tomakeamendsforwinteryhours,

thebreeze,thesunshine,andtheplace,

shallfromthytenderbrowefface

eachvestigeofuntimelycare,

thatsourrestrainthadgraventhere;

andonthyeverylookimpress

amoreexcellingchildishness.

soshallbethydaysbeguil'd,

thorntonhunt,myfavouritechild.

_herecame"balladfromthegerman."seepage29.