book i

. canto 2, stanza 43--

Till we be bathed in a living well.

ED.

[603] This "elfin pool," to which the gold and silver fishes were removed, still exists beneath the pollard oak tree in "Dora's Field," at Rydal Mount. The field is now the property of Mr. Gordon Wordsworth.--ED.

[604] 1845.

... Well; That spreads into an elfin pool opaque Of which close boughs a glimmering mirror make, On whose smooth breast with dimples light and small 1835.

[605] 1845.

The fly may settle, leaf or blossom fall. 1835. The fly may settle, or the blossom fall. 1837.

[606] 1845.

They pined, perhaps, ... 1835.

[607] See the reference to the Eagle in _The Power of Sound_ (p. 212), and in the "Poems composed or suggested during a Tour in the Summer of 1833," _The Dunolly Eagle_.--ED.

[608] See, in "The Canterbury Tales," _The Squire's Tale_, ll. 598-611.--ED.

[609] 1837.

... which ... 1835.

[610] These last five lines are amongst the best instances of Wordsworth's appreciation of one of his great predecessors. Compare the second of the two poems _September_ 1819.--ED.

[611] "The Sabine farm was situated in the valley of Ustica, thirty miles from Rome and twelve miles from Tivoli. It possessed the attraction, no small one to Horace, of being very secluded: yet, at the same time, within an easy distance of Rome. When his spirits wanted the stimulus of society or the bustle of the capital, which they often did, his ambling mule would speedily convey him thither; and when jaded, on the other hand, by the noise and racket and dissipations of Rome, he could, in the same homely way, bury himself in a few hours among the hills, and there, under the shadow of his favourite Lucretilis, or by the banks of the clear-flowing and ice-cold Digentia, either stretch himself to dream upon the grass, lulled by the murmurs of the stream, or do a little farming in the way of clearing his fields of stones, or turning over a furrow here and there with the hoe." (See Sir Theodore Martin's _Horace_, p. 68.)--ED.

[612] See Horace, _Odes_, II. 18--

Satis beatus unicis Sabinis. With what I have completely blest, My happy little Sabine nest.--ED.

[613] See _Odes_, III. 13.--ED.

[614] Abraham Cowley (born 1618), educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, a Royalist, and therefore expelled from Cambridge, settled in St. John's College, Oxford, crossed over with the Queen Mother to France for twelve years, returned at the Restoration, but was neglected at Court, and retired to a farm at Chertsey, on the Thames, where he lived for some years, "the melancholy Cowley."--ED.

[615] 1837.

But ... 1835.

[616] There is now, alas! no possibility of the anticipation, with which the above Epistle concludes, being realised: nor were the verses ever seen by the Individual for whom they were intended. She accompanied her husband, the Rev. Wm. Fletcher, to India, and died of cholera, at the age of thirty-two or thirty-three years, on her way from Shalapore to Bombay, deeply lamented by all who knew her.

Her enthusiasm was ardent, her piety steadfast; and her great talents would have enabled her to be eminently useful in the difficult path of life to which she had been called. The opinion she entertained of her own performances, given to the world under her maiden name, Jewsbury, was modest and humble, and, indeed, far below their merits; as is often the case with those who are making trial of their powers, with a hope to discover what they are best fitted for. In one quality, viz., quickness in the motions of her mind, she had,[617] within the range of the Author's acquaintance, no equal.--W. W. 1835.

[617] 1837.

She was in the author's estimation unequalled.--W. W. 1835.

HUMANITY[618]

Composed 1829.--Published 1835

Not from his fellows only man may learn Rights to compare and duties to discern: All creatures and all objects, in degree, Are friends and patrons of humanity.--MS. 1835.

The Rocking-stones, alluded to in the beginning of the following verses, are supposed to have been used, by our British ancestors, both for judicial and religious purposes. Such stones are not uncommonly found, at this day, both in Great Britain and in Ireland.--W. W. 1835.

[These verses and those entitled "Liberty" were composed as one piece, which Mrs. Wordsworth complained of as unwieldy and ill-proportioned; and accordingly it was divided into two, on her judicious recommendation.--I. F.]

One of the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--ED.

What though the Accused, upon his own appeal To righteous Gods when man has ceased to feel, Or at a doubting Judge's stern command, Before the STONE OF POWER no longer stand-- To take his sentence from the balanced Block, 5 As, at his touch, it rocks, or seems to rock;[619] Though, in the depths of sunless groves, no more The Druid-priest the hallowed Oak adore; Yet, for the Initiate, rocks and whispering trees Do still perform mysterious offices! 10 And functions dwell in beast and bird that sway The reasoning mind, or with the fancy play, Inviting, at all seasons, ears and eyes To watch for undelusive auguries:--[620] Not uninspired appear their simplest ways; 15 Their voices mount symbolical of praise-- To mix with hymns that Spirits make and hear; And to fallen man their innocence is dear. Enraptured Art draws from those sacred springs Streams that reflect the poetry of things! 20 Where christian Martyrs stand in hues portrayed, That, might a wish avail, would never fade, Borne in their hands the lily and the palm Shed round the altar a celestial calm; There, too, behold the lamb and guileless dove 25 Prest in the tenderness of virgin love To saintly bosoms!--Glorious in the blending Of right affections climbing or descending Along a scale of light and life, with cares Alternate; carrying holy thoughts and prayers 30 Up to the sovereign seat of the Most High; Descending to the worm in charity;[621] Like those good Angels whom a dream of night Gave, in the field of Luz, to Jacob's sight[622] All, while _he_ slept, treading the pendent stairs 35 Earthward or heavenward, radiant messengers, That, with a perfect will in one accord Of strict obedience, serve[623] the Almighty Lord; And with untired humility forbore To speed their errand by[624] the wings they wore. 40

What a fair world were ours for verse to paint, If Power could live at ease with self-restraint! Opinion bow before the naked sense Of the great Vision,--faith in Providence; Merciful over all his creatures, just[625] 45 To the least particle of sentient dust;[626] But,[627] fixing by immutable decrees, Seedtime and harvest for his purposes! Then would be closed the restless oblique eye That looks for evil like a treacherous spy; 50 Disputes would then relax, like stormy winds That into breezes sink; impetuous minds By discipline endeavour to grow meek As Truth herself, whom they profess to seek. Then Genius, shunning fellowship with Pride, 55 Would braid his golden locks at Wisdom's side; Love ebb and flow untroubled by caprice; And not alone _harsh_ tyranny would cease, But unoffending creatures find release From qualified oppression, whose defence 60 Rests on a hollow plea of recompense; Thought-tempered wrongs, for each humane respect Oft worse to bear, or deadlier in effect. Witness those glances of indignant scorn From some high-minded Slave, impelled to spurn 65 The kindness that would make him less forlorn; Or, if the soul to bondage be subdued, His look of pitiable gratitude!

Alas for thee, bright Galaxy of Isles, Whose[628] day departs in pomp, returns with smiles-- To greet the flowers and fruitage of a land, 71 As the sun mounts, by sea-born breezes fanned; A land whose azure mountain-tops are seats For Gods in council, whose green vales, retreats Fit for the shades of heroes, mingling there 75 To breathe Elysian peace in upper air.

Though cold as winter, gloomy as the grave, Stone-walls a prisoner make, but not a slave.[629] Shall man assume a property in man? Lay on the moral will a withering ban? 80 Shame that our laws at distance still protect[630] Enormities, which they at home reject! "Slaves cannot breathe in England"[631]--yet that boast Is but a mockery! when[632] from coast to coast, Though _fettered_ slave be none, her floors and soil 85 Groan underneath a weight of slavish toil, For the poor Many, measured out by rules Fetched with cupidity from heartless schools, That to an Idol, falsely called[633] "the Wealth Of Nations,"[634] sacrifice a People's health, 90 Body and mind and soul; a thirst so keen[635] Is ever urging on the vast machine Of sleepless Labour, 'mid whose dizzy wheels The Power least prized is that which thinks and feels.

Then, for the pastimes of this delicate age, 95 And all the heavy or light vassalage Which for their sakes we fasten, as may suit Our varying moods, on human kind or brute, 'Twere well in little, as in great, to pause, Lest Fancy trifle with eternal laws. 100 Not from his fellows only man may learn Rights to compare and duties to discern! All creatures and all objects, in degree, Are friends and patrons of humanity. There are to whom the[636] garden, grove, and field, 105 Perpetual lessons of forbearance yield; Who would not lightly violate the grace The lowliest flower possesses in its place; Nor shorten the sweet life, too fugitive, 109 Which nothing less than Infinite Power could give.[637]

FOOTNOTES:

[618] 1837.

HUMANITY.

(WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1829.) 1835.

[619] There are several, so-called, "rocking-stones" in Yorkshire and Lancashire, in Derbyshire, in Cornwall, and in Wales. There are one or two in Scotland, and there used to be several in the Lake District. Some are natural; others artificial.--ED.

[620] 1837.

... offices! And still in beast and bird a function dwells, That, while we look and listen, sometimes tells Upon the heart, in more authentic guise Than Oracles, or winged Auguries, Spake to the Science of the ancient wise. 1835.

[621] The author is indebted, here, to a passage in one of Mr. Digby's valuable works.--W. W. 1835.

See his _Of Bodies, and of man's Soul_.--ED.

[622] Genesis xxviii. 12.--ED.

[623] 1845.

... served ... 1835.

[624] 1837.

The ready service of ... 1835.

[625] 1840.

Merciful over all existence, just 1835.

[626] 1837.

Compassionate to all that suffer, just In the end to every creature born of dust. C.

[627] 1840.

And, ... 1835.

[628] 1837.

Where ... 1835.

[629] Compare Richard Lovelace, _To Althea, from Prison_--

Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage. Minds innocent and quiet take That for a hermitage.--ED.

[630] 1837.

... should protect 1835.

[631] Compare Cowper's _Task_, book ii . l. 40.--ED.

[632] 1837.

...--a proud boast! And yet a mockery! if, ... 1835.

[633]

That to a monstrous idol, called ... C.

[634] Compare _The Prelude_,