THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL. 2 (Completed)

THE MATRON OF JEDBOROUGH AND HER HUSBAND

Composed between 1803 and 1805.--Published 1807

At Jedborough we went into private Lodgings for a few days; and the following Verses were called forth by the character, and domestic situation, of our Hostess.--W. W. 1807.

One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Old Age" in 1815 and 1820.--Ed.

Age! twine thy brows with fresh spring flowers,

And call a train of laughing Hours;

And bid them dance, and bid them sing;

And thou, too, mingle in the ring!

Take to thy heart a new delight;

If not, make merry in despite

That [1] there is One who scorns thy power:--

But dance! for under Jedborough Tower,

A Matron dwells who, though she bears

The weight of more than seventy years,

Lives in the light of youthful glee, [2]

And she will dance and sing with thee.

Nay! start not at that Figure--there!

Him who is rooted to his chair!

Look at him--look again! for he

Hath long been of thy family.

With legs that move not, if they can,

And useless arms, a trunk of man,

He sits, and with a vacant eye;

A sight to make a stranger sigh!

Deaf, drooping, that is now his doom:

His world is in this single room:

Is this a place for mirthful cheer? [3]

Can merry-making enter here? [A]

The joyous Woman is the Mate

Of him in that forlorn estate!

He breathes a subterraneous damp;

But bright as Vesper shines her lamp:

He is as mute as Jedborough Tower:

She jocund as it was of yore,

With all its bravery on; in times

When all alive with merry chimes,

Upon a sun-bright morn of May,

It roused the Vale to holiday.

I praise thee, Matron! and thy due

Is praise, heroic praise, and true!

With admiration I behold

Thy gladness unsubdued and bold:

Thy looks, thy gestures, all present

The picture of a life well spent:

This do I see; and something more;

A strength unthought of heretofore!

Delighted am I for thy sake;

And yet a higher joy partake:

Our Human-nature throws away