There is a Yew-tree, pride of Lorton Vale, br Which to this day stands single, in the midst br Of its own darkness, as it stood of yore: br Not loathe to furnish weapons for the Bands br Of Umfraville or Percy ere they marched br To Scotland's heaths; or those that crossed the sea br And drew their sounding bows at Azincour, br Perhaps at earlier Crecy, or Poictiers. br Of vast circumference and gloom profound br This solitary Tree! -a living thing br Produced too slowly ever to decay; br Of form and aspect too magnificent br To be destroyed. But worthier still of note br Are those fraternal Four of Borrowdale, br Joined in one solemn and capacious grove; br Huge trunks! -and each particular trunk a growth br Of intertwisted fibres serpentine br Up-coiling, and inveteratley convolved, - br Nor uninformed with Fantasy, and looks br That threaten the profane; -a pillared shade, br Upon whose grassless floor of red-brown hue, br By sheddings from the pining umbrage tinged br Perennially -beneath whose sable roof br Of boughs, as if for festal purpose decked br With unrejoicing berries -ghostly Shapes br May meet at noontide: Fear and trembling Hope, br Silence and Foresight, Death the Skeleton br And Time the Shadow; there to celebrate, br As in a natural temple scattered o'er br With altars undisturbed of mossy stone, br United worship; or in mute repose br To lie, and listen to the mountain flood br Murmuring from Glaramara's inmost caves.