The wayside well

Greet thee kindly, Wayside Well,

In thy hedge of roses!

Whither drawn by soothing spell,

Weary foot reposes.

With a welcome fresh and green

Wave thy border grasses,

By the dusty traveller seen,

Sighing as he passes.

Cup of no Circean bliss,

Charity of summer,

Making happy with a kiss

Every meanest comer!

Morning, too, and eventide,

Without stint or measure,

Cottage households near and wide

Share thy liquid treasure.

Fair the greeting face ascends,

Like a naiad's daughter,

To the peasant lass that bends

To thy trembling water.

When a lad has brought her pail

Down the twilight meadow,

Tender falls the whisper'd tale,

Soft the double shadow.

Clear as childhood's is thy look,

Nature seems to pet thee,

Fierce July that drains the brook

Hath no power to fret thee.

Shelter'd cool and free from smirch

In thy cavelet shady,

O'er thee in a silver birch

Stoops a forest lady.

Mirror to the Star of Eve,

Maiden shy and slender,

Matron Moon thy depths receive,

Globed in mellow splendour.

Bounteous Spring! for ever own

Undisturb'd thy station;

Not to thirsty lips alone

Serving mild donation.

Never come the newt or frog,

Pebble thrown in malice,

Mud or wither'd leaves, to clog

Or defile thy chalice.

Heaven be still within thy ken,

Through the veil thou wearest, --

Glimpsing clearest, as with men,

When the boughs are barest.