England and Yesterday

<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</SPAN></span></p> <h2>IV.<br/><small>ROOKS IN NEW COLLEGE GARDENS.</small></h2> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="verse">Through rosy cloud, and over thorny towers,</div> <div class="verse">Their wings with darkling autumn distance filled,</div> <div class="verse">From Isis’ valley border, hundred-hilled,</div> <div class="verse">The rooks are crowding home as evening lowers:</div> <div class="verse">Not for men only, and their musing hours,</div> <div class="verse">By battled walls did gracious Wykeham build</div> <div class="verse">These dewy spaces early sown and stilled,</div> <div class="verse">These dearest inland melancholy bowers.</div> <div class="verse">Blest birds! A book held open on the knee</div> <div class="verse">Below, is all they guess of Adam’s blight:</div> <div class="verse">With surer art the while, and simpler rite,</div> <div class="verse">They follow Truth in some monastic tree,</div> <div class="verse">Where breathe against their docile breasts, by night,</div> <div class="verse">The scholar’s star, the star of sanctity.</div> </div></div> <hr> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />