182 THE WIFE OF THOMAS CARLYLE. " For thou hast passed fair places in thy flight ; A world lay all beneath thee where to light ; And, strange thy taste, Of all the varied scenes that met thine eye — - Of all the spots for building 'neath the sky — To choose this waste. "Did fortune try thee? was thy little purse Perchance run low, and thou, afraid of worse, Felt here secure? Ah no ! thou need'st not gold, thou happy one ! Thou know'st it not. Of all God's creatures, rnau Alone is poor! "What was it, then? some mystic turn of thought, Caught under German eaves, and hither brought, Marring thine eye For the world's loveliness, till thou art grown A sober thing that dost but mope and moan, Not knowing why? " Nay, if thy mind be sound, I need not ask, Since here I see thee working at thy task With wing and beak. A well-laid scheme doth that small head contain, At which thou work'st, brave bird, with might and main, Nor more need'st seek. " In truth, I rather take it thou hast got By instinct wise much sense about thy lot, And hast small care Whether an Eden or a desert be Thy home, so thou remain'st alive and free To sldm the air. " God speed thee, pretty bird; may thy small nest With little ones all in good time be blest. I love thee much ; For well thou managest that life of thine, While I ! oh, ask not what I do with mine ! Would I were such ! "
