THE RIVER EDEN, CUMBERLAND

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 Paradisethat 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;

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.