EVENING.
The sun
Behind the mountain's summit slowly sank;
Crows came in clouds down from the moorlands dun,
And darkened all the pine-trees, rank on rank;
The homeward milch-cows at the fountains drank;
Swains dropt the sickle, hinds unloosed the car—
The twin hares sported on the clover-bank,
And with the shepherd o'er the upland far,
Came out the round pale moon, and star succeeding star.
Star followed star, though yet day's golden light
Upon the hills and headlands faintly stream'd;
To their own pine the twin-doves took their flight;
From crag and cliff the clamorous seamews screamed,
In glade and glen the cottage windows gleam'd;
Larks left the cloud, for flight the grey owl sat;
The founts and lakes up silver radiance steamed;
Winging his twilight journey, hummed the gnat—
The drowsy beetle droned, and skimmed the wavering bat.