To I.F.[411]

Composed 1840.--Published 1850

The star which comes at close of day to shine More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, Is friendship’s emblem, whether the forlorn She visiteth, or, shedding light benign Through shades that solemnize Life’s calm decline, Doth make the happy happier. This have we Learnt, Isabel, from thy society, Which now we too unwillingly resign Though for brief absence. But farewell! the page Glimmers before my sight through thankful tears, Such as start forth, not seldom, to approve Our truth, when we, old yet unchill’d by age, Call thee, though known but for a few fleet years, The heart-affianced sister of our love!

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

RYDAL MOUNT, Feb. 1840.

This and the preceding sonnet, beginning “We gaze--nor grieve to think that we must die,” were addressed to Miss Fenwick, to whom we owe the invaluable “Fenwick Notes.” Were it not that the date is very minutely given, I would believe that they belong to 1841, as Miss Gillies told me she resided at Rydal Mount in that year, when she painted Mrs. Wordsworth’s portrait.--ED.

1850.

Bright is the star which comes at eve to shine More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, And such is Friendship, whether the forlorn, etc.

1840.