Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79. | | | | Bala-sala | | At Bala-sala, Isle of Man | | William Wordsworth (1770–1850) |
| | Supposed to Be Written by a Friend
BROKEN in fortune, but in mind entire | |
| And sound in principle, I seek repose | |
| Where ancient trees this convent-pile enclose, | |
| In ruin beautiful. When vain desire | |
| Intrudes on peace, I pray the Eternal Sire | 5 |
| To cast a soul-subduing shade on me, | |
| A gray-haired, pensive, thankful Refugee; | |
| A shade,—but with some sparks of heavenly fire | |
| Once to these cells vouchsafed. And when I note | |
| The old Tower’s brow yellowed as with the beams | 10 |
| Of sunset ever there, albeit streams | |
| Of stormy weather-stains that semblance wrought, | |
| I thank the silent monitor, and say, | |
| “Shine so, my aged brow, at all hours of the day!” | | | | |
|
|
