POEMS
COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR IN THE SUMMER OF 1833
XXXVIII. THE RIVER EDEN, CUMBERLAND
POEMS
COMPOSED OR SUGGESTED DURING A TOUR IN THE SUMMER OF 1833
EDEN! till now thy beauty had I viewed By glimpses only, and confess with shame That verse of mine, whate’er its varying mood, Repeats but once the sound of thy sweet name: Yet fetched from Paradise that honour came, Rightfully borne; for Nature gives thee flowers That have no rivals among British bowers; And thy bold rocks are worthy of their fame. Measuring thy course, fair Stream! at length I pay To my life’s neighbour dues of neighbourhood; 10 But I have traced thee on thy winding way With pleasure sometimes by this thought restrained– For things far off we toil, while many a good Not sought, because too near, is never gained.