The snows dissolved, and genial Spring returned
  To clothe the fields with verdure.  Other haunts
  Meanwhile were mine; till, one bright April day, 45
  By chance retiring from the glare of noon
  To this forsaken covert, there I found
  A hoary pathway traced between the trees,
  And winding on with such an easy line
  Along a natural opening, that I stood 50
  Much wondering how I could have sought in vain [3]
  For what was now so obvious. [4] To abide,
  For an allotted interval of ease,
  Under my cottage-roof, had gladly come
  From the wild sea a cherished Visitant; [5] 55
  And with the sight of this same path—­begun,
  Begun and ended, in the shady grove, [6]
  Pleasant conviction flashed upon my mind [7]
  That, to this opportune recess allured,
  He had surveyed it with a finer eye, 60
  A heart more wakeful; and had worn the track [8]
  By pacing here, unwearied and alone, [A]
  In that habitual restlessness of foot
  That haunts the Sailor measuring [9] o’er and o’er
  His short domain upon the vessel’s deck, 65
  While she pursues her course [10] through the dreary sea.

  When thou hadst quitted Esthwaite’s pleasant shore,
  And taken thy first leave of those green hills
  And rocks that were the play-ground of thy youth,
  Year followed year, my Brother! and we two, 70
  Conversing not, knew little in what mould
  Each other’s mind was fashioned; [11] and at length
  When once again we met in Grasmere Vale,
  Between us there was little other bond
  Than common feelings of fraternal love. 75
  But thou, a School-boy, to the sea hadst carried
  Undying recollections; Nature there
  Was with thee; she, who loved us both, she still
  Was with thee; and even so didst thou become
  A silent Poet; from the solitude 80
  Of the vast sea didst bring a watchful heart
  Still couchant, an inevitable ear,
  And an eye practised like a blind man’s touch. 
—­Back to the joyless Ocean thou art gone;
  Nor from this vestige of thy musing hours 85
  Could I withhold thy honoured name,—­and now
  I love the fir-grove [12] with a perfect love. 
  Thither do I withdraw when cloudless suns
  Shine hot, or wind blows troublesome and strong;
  And there I sit at evening, when the steep 90
  Of Silver-how, and Grasmere’s peaceful [13] lake,
  And one green island, gleam between the stems
  Of the dark firs, a visionary scene! 
  And, while I gaze upon the spectacle
  Of clouded splendour, on this dream-like sight 95
  Of solemn loveliness, I think on thee,
  My Brother, and on all which thou hast