"WELL PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE IN NATURE AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE SENSE, THE ANCHOR OF MY THOUGHTS, "THE BURTHEN OF THE MYSTERY, THE WEARY WEIGHT SONNETS. These moralists could act and comprehend: Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendour: what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. strange, France, 'tis Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change! [Written about 1802-3.] 489 V. THE SLEEPING CITY. EARTH has not anything to show more fair: All bright and glittering in the smokeless air. OF ALL THIS UNINTELLIGIBLE WORLD."-WORDSWORTH. THE NURSE, THE GUIDE, THE GUARDIAN OF MY HEART, AND SOUL OF ALL MY MORAL BEING."-WORDSWORTH. "NO GREETINGS WHERE NO KINDNESS IS, NOR ALL THE DREARY INTERCOURSE OF DAILY LIFE, WILLIAM WORDSWORTH) ["The broad sun is sinking down in its tranquillity."] VI. BY THE SEA-SHORE. IT is a beauteous evening, calm and free: The gentleness of heaven is on the sea. "THY MEMORY A DWELLING-PLACE FOR ALL SWEET SOUNDS."-WORDSWORTH. " THY MIND A MANSION OF ALL LOVELY FORMS."-WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. SHALL E'ER DISTURB OUR CHEERFUL FAITH THAT ALL WHICH WE BEHOLD IS FULL OF BLESSINGS."-W. WORDSWORTH. "HIS HOPE IS TREACHEROUS ONLY WHOSE love dies-(wORDSWORTH) Listen! the mighty being is awake, And doth with his eternal motion make Dear child! dear girl! that walkest with me here,- Thy nature therefore is not less divine: "AND NOT IN VAIN, WHEN THOUGHTS ARE CAST UPON AN INEXORABLE PAST, SOME PENITENT SINCERE (WORDSWORTH) VII. AGAINST WORLDLINESS. THE world is too much with us; late and soon, We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! MAY FOR A WORTHIER FUTURE SIGH, WHILE TRICKLES FROM HIS DOWNCAST EYE NO UNAVAILING TEAR."-WORDSWORTH. VIII. THE BROOK. BROOK! whose society the poet seeks, * "Proteus represented the everlasting changes, united with the everrecurrent sameness, of the sea."-F. T. PALGRAVE. WITH BEAUTY, WHICH IS VARYING EVERY HOUR."-w. WORDSWORTH. "NOT FORTUNE'S SLAVE IS MAN; OUR STATE ENJOINS, WHILE FIRM RESOLVES AWAIT ON WISHES JUST AND WISE,-(WORDSWORTH) "TIS SENSE, UNBRIDLED WILL, AND NOT TRUE LOVE, WORDSWORTH) THAT STRENUOUS ACTION FOLLOW BOTH, AND LIFE BE ONE PERPETUAL GROWTH OF HEAVENWARD ENTERPRISE."-WORDSWORTH. ["Through rocky passes, among flowery creeks."] And whom the curious painter doth pursue THAT KILLS THE SOUL: LOVE BETTERS WHAT IS BEST."-WORDSWORTH. "SIN-BLIGHTED THOUGH WE ARE, WE TOO, THE REASONING SONS OF MEN,-(WORDSWORTH) 66 STILL TO BE STRENUOUS FOR THE BRIGHT REWARD, SONNETS. Thee, and not thee thyself, I would not do With purer robes than those of flesh and blood, Unwearied joy, and life without its cares. 493 FROM ONE OBLIVIOUS WINTER CALLED, SHALL RISE, AND BREATHE AGAIN."-WORDSWORTH. IX. THE SHIP. WITH ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh, Some veering up and down, one knew not why. When will she turn, and whither? She will brook [I cannot here resist the temptation of quoting the following passage :- AND IN THE SOUL ADMIT OF NO DECAY."-WORDSWORTH. |