Odropmelikeacursedthing。
See’stthouthecrowdedswardsofgold？
TheywavetousRoseandRing。
death-whitemouth!Ocastmedown!
Thoudiest？ThenwiththeeIdie-
See’stthoutheangelswiththeirCrown？
Wetwainhavereachedthesky。
WhentheHeadofBranWasfirmonBritishshoulders，Godmadeaman!
Criedallbeholders。
SteelcouldnotresistTheweighthisarmwouldrattle；
He，withnakedfist，Hasbrain’daknightinbattle。
Hemarchedonthefoe，Andnevercountednumbers；
ForeignwidowsknowThehostshesenttoslumbers。
Asastreetyouscan，That’stoweredbythesteeple，SotheHeadofBranRoseo’erhispeople。
’Death’smyneighbour，’
QuothBrantheBlest；
’ChristianlabourBringsChristianrest。
FromthetrunkseverTheHeadofBran，ThatwhichneverHasbenttoman!
’ThatwhichneverTomenhasbowedShallleeverToshametheshroud：
ShallleeverTofacethefoe；
Severit，sever，Andwithoneblow。
’Beitwritten，ThatallIwroughtWasforBritain，Indeedandthought：
Beitwritten，ThatwhileIdie，GlorytoBritain!
Ismylastcry。
’GlorytoBritain!
Deathechoesmeround。
GlorytoBritain!
Theworldshallresound。
GlorytoBritain!
Inruinandfall，GlorytoBritain!
Isheardoverall。’
Burn，Sun，downthesea!
Branlieslowwiththee。
Burst，Morn，fromthemain!
Bransoshallriseagain。
Blow，Wind，fromthefield!
Bran’sHeadistheBriton’sshield。
Beam，Star，intheWest!
BrightburnstheHeadofBrantheBlest。
Crimson-footed，likethestork，Fromgreatrutsofslaughter，WarriorsoftheGoldenTorqueCrosstheliftingwater。
Princesseven，enchaininghands，Beartheleheadhomeward。
Lo!itspeaks，andstillcommands：
Gazingoutfarfoamward。
FierywordsoflightningsenseDownthehollowsthunder；
ForesthostelsknownotwhenceComesthespeech，andwonder。
City-Castles，onthesteep，WherethefaithfulSevenHouseatmidnight，hear，insleep，Laughterunderheaven。
Lilies，swimmingonthemere，Inthecastleshadow，Underdrawtheirheads，andFearWalksthemistymeadow。
Tremblenot!itisnotDeathPledgingdarkespousal：
’TistheHeadofendlessbreath，Challengingcarousal!
Brimthehorn!ahealthisdrunk，Now，thatshallkeepgoing：
Lifeisbutthepebblesunk；
Deeds，thecirclegrowing!
Fill，andpledgetheHeadofBran!
Whilehisleadtheyfollow，LongshallheadsinBritainplanSpeechDeathcannotswallow!
Theoldcoach-roadthroughacommonoffurze，Withknollsofpine，ranwhite；
Berriesofautumn，withthistles，andburrs，Andspider-threads，droop’dinthelight。
Thelightinathinblueveilpeeredsick；
Thesheepgrazedcloseandstill；
ThesmokeofafarmbyayellowrickCurledlazilyunderahill。
Noflyshooktheroundofthesilvernet；
Noinsecttheswiftbirdchased；
OnlytwotravellersmovedandmetAcrossthathazywaste。
Onewasagirlwithababethatthrove，Herruinandherbliss；
Onewasayouthwithalawlesslove，Whoclaspeditthemoreforthis。
Thegirlforherbabehummedprayerfulspeech；
Theyouthforhislovedidpray；
Eachcastawistfullookoneach，Andeitherwenttheirway。
Now，this，tomynotion，ispleasantcheer，Tolieallaloneonaraggedheath，Whereyournoseisn’tsniffingforbonesorbeer，Butapeat-firesmellslikeagardenbeneath。
Thecottagersbustleaboutthedoor，Andthegirlatthewindowtiesherstrings。
She’sadishforamanwho’samindtobepoor；
Lord!womenaresuchexpensethings。
Wedon’tmarrybeggars，saysshe：why，no：
Itseemsthattomake’emiswhatyoudo；
AndasIcancook，andscour，andsew，Ineedn’tpayhalfmyctualsforyou。
Amanforhimselfshouldbeabletoscratch，Buttickling’saluxury：-love，indeed!
Loveburnsaslongasthelucifermatch，Wedlock’sthecandle!Now，that’smycreed。
Thechurch-bellssoundwater-likeoverthewheat；
Andupthelongpathtrooppairafterpair。
Theman’swell-brushed，andthewomanlooksneat：
It’smanandwomaneverywhere!
Unless，likeme，youliehereflat，Withadonkeyforfriend，youmusthaveawife：
Shepullsoutyourhair，butshebrushesyourhat。
Appearancesmakethebesthalfoflife。
Younicelittlemadam!youknowyou’renice。
IrememberhearingaparsonsayYou’reaplatefulofvanitypepper’dwithce；
Youchapatthegatethinkst’otherway。
Onhiswaistcoatyoureadbothhisheadandhisheart：
There’sawholeweek’swagestherefiguredingold!
Yes!whenyouturnroundyoumaywellgeastart：
It’sfuntoafellowwho’sgettingold。
Now，that’sagoodcraft，weangwaistcoatsandflowers，Andsellingofribbons，andscentingoflard：
Itgesyouahousetogetinfromtheshowers，Andfoodwhenyourappetitejockeysyouhard。
Youlearespectableman；butIaskIfit’sworththetrouble？Youuseyourtools，Andspendyourtime，andwhat’syourtask？
Why，tomakeaslideforacoupleoffools。
Youcan’tmatchthecolouro’theseheathmounds，Norbetterthatpeat-fire’sagreeablesmell。
I’mclothed-likewithnaturalsightsandsounds；
TomyselfI’mintune：Ihopeyou’reaswell。
Youjollyoldcot!thoughyoudon’towncoal：
It’sagenerouspotthat’sboiledwithpeat。
LettheLordMayoro’Londonroastoxenwhole：
Hissmoke，atleast，don’tsmellsosweet。
I’mnotalowRadical，hatingthelaws，Who’dthearistocracyrebuke。
Italko’theLordMayoro’LondonbecauseIoncewasonintimatetermswithhiscook。
Iservedhimaturn，andgotpensionedonscraps，And，Lord，Sir!didn’tIenvyhisplace，TillDeathknock’dhimdownwiththesoftestoftaps，AndIknewwhatwasmeantbyatallowyface!
Onthecontrary，I’mConservatequite；
There’sbeggarsinScripture’mongstGentilesandJews：
It’snonsense，tryingtosetthingsright，Forifpeoplewillge，why，who’llrefuse？
Thatstoppingoldcustomwakesmyspleen：
Thepoorandtherichbothingingagree：
Yourtight-fistedshopman’stheRadicalmean：
There’snothingincommon’twthimandme。
HesaysI’mnouse!butIwon’treply。
You’reluckynotbeingofusetohim!
Onweek-dayshe’splayingatSpiderandFly，AndonSundayshesingsaboutCherubim!
Nailingshillingstocountersishischiefwork：
Henodsnowandthenatthenameonhisdoor：
Butjudgeofustwo，atabowandasmirk，IthinkI’mhismatch：andI’mhonest——that’smore。
Nouse!well，Imayn’tbe。Youringapig’ssnout，Andthencalltheanimalglutton!Now，he，Mr。Shopman，he’snoughtbutapipeandaspoutWhowon’tletthegoodso’thisworldpassfree。
Thisblazingblueweatherallroundthebrowncrop，Hecan’tenjoy!allbutcashhehates。
He’sonlyasnailthatcrawlsunderhisshop；
Thoughhehasgottheearo’themagistrates。
Now，gingandtaking’saproperexchange，Likequestionandanswer：you’rebothcontent。
Butbuyingandsellingseemsalwaysstrange；
You’rehostile，andthat’sthethingthat’smeant。
It’smanagainstman——you’realmostbrutes；
There’sherenothanks，andthere’stherenopride。
IfCharity’sChristian，don’tblamemypursuits，Icarryatouchstonebywhichyou’retried-
’Takeit，’saysshe，’it’sallI’vegot’：
IrememberagirlinLondonstreets：
Shestoodbyacoffee-stall，niceandhot，Mybellywaslikealambthatbleats。
SaysItomyself，ashershillingIseized，Youhaven’tacharacterhere，mydear!
Butformakingarascallikemesopleased，I’llgeyouone，inabettersphere!
Andthat’swhereitis——shemademefeelIwasarascal：butpeoplewhoscorn，Andtellapoorpatch-breechheisn’tgenteel，Why，theymakehimkickup——andhetreadsonacorn。
Itisn’tliking，it’scurstill-luck，Dreshalfofusintothebegging-trade：
Iffortakingtowateryoupraiseaduck，Fortakingtobeerwhyamanupbraid？
Thesermon’sover：they’reoutoftheporch，Andit’stimeformetomovealeg；
Butingeneralpeoplewhocomefromchurch，Andhavecalledthemselvessinners，hatechapstobeg。
I’llwagerthey’llallof’emdineto-day!
Iwaseasyhalfaminuteago。
Ifthatisn’tpigthat’sbakingaway，MayIperish!——we’renevercontented——heigho!
BYTHEROSANNA——TOF。M。STANZERTHAL，TYROL
TheoldgreyAlphascaughtthecloud，Andthetorrentrersingsaloud；
Theglacier-greenRosannasingsAnorgansongofitsuppersprings。
Foamingunderthetiersofpine，Iseeitdashdownthedarkrane，Andittumblestherocksinboisterousplay，Withanearnestwilltofinditsway。
Sharpitthrowsoutanemeraldshoulder，And，thunderingeverofthemountain，Slapsinsportsomegiantboulder，Andtopsitinasilverfountain。
Achainoffoamfromendtoend，Andasolitudesodeep，myfriend，YoumayforgetthatmanabidesBeyondthegreatmutemountain-sides。
Yettome，inthishigh-walledsolitudeOfrerandrockandforestrude，TheroaringvoicethroughthelongwhitechainIsthevoiceoftheworldofbubbleandbrain。
WithinaTempleoftheToes，WheretwirledthepassionateWili，Isawfullmanyamarketrose，Andsighedformyllagelily。
WithcynicalAdrianthenItookflightTothatolddeadcitywhosecarolBurstsoutlikeareveller’sloudinthenight，Ashesitsastridehisbarrel。
WetwowereboundtheAlpstoscale，Uptherock-reflectingrer；
Oldtimesblewthro’melikeagale，Andkeptmythoughtsinaquer。
Hawkingruin，wood-slope，andneReeledsilver-lacedundermysion，Andintomepassed，withthegreen-eyedwineKnockinghardatmyheadforadmission。