Delphi Complete Works of William Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth

  By women, who have children of their own,

  Beheld without compassion, yea with praise!

  I spake of mischief by the wise diffused

  With gladness, thinking that the more it spreads

  The healthier, the securer, we become;

  Delusion which a moment may destroy!

  Lastly, I mourned for those whom I had seen

  Corrupted and cast down, on favoured ground, 200

  Where circumstance and nature had combined

  To shelter innocence, and cherish love;

  Who, but for this intrusion, would have lived,

  Possessed of health, and strength, and peace of mind;

  Thus would have lived, or never have been born.

  Alas! what differs more than man from man!

  And whence that difference? whence but from himself?

  For see the universal Race endowed

  With the same upright form!—The sun is fixed,

  And the infinite magnificence of heaven 210

  Fixed, within reach of every human eye;

  The sleepless ocean murmurs for all ears;

  The vernal field infuses fresh delight

  Into all hearts. Throughout the world of sense,

  Even as an object is sublime or fair,

  That object is laid open to the view

  Without reserve or veil; and as a power

  Is salutary, or an influence sweet,

  Are each and all enabled to perceive

  That power, that influence, by impartial law. 220

  Gifts nobler are vouchsafed alike to all;

  Reason, and, with that reason, smiles and tears;

  Imagination, freedom in the will;

  Conscience to guide and check; and death to be

  Foretasted, immortality conceived

  By all,—a blissful immortality,

  To them whose holiness on earth shall make

  The Spirit capable of heaven, assured.

  Strange, then, nor less than monstrous, might be deemed

  The failure, if the Almighty, to this point 230

  Liberal and undistinguishing, should hide

  The excellence of moral qualities

  From common understanding; leaving truth

  And virtue, difficult, abstruse, and dark;

  Hard to be won, and only by a few;

  Strange, should He deal herein with nice respects,

  And frustrate all the rest! Believe it not:

  The primal duties shine aloft—like stars;

  The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless,

  Are scattered at the feet of Man—like flowers. 240

  The generous inclination, the just rule,

  Kind wishes, and good actions, and pure thoughts—

  No mystery is here! Here is no boon

  For high—yet not for low; for proudly graced—

  Yet not for meek of heart. The smoke ascends

  To heaven as lightly from the cottage hearth

  As from the haughtiest palace. He, whose soul

  Ponders this true equality, may walk

  The fields of earth with gratitude and hope;

  Yet, in that meditation, will he find 250

  Motive to sadder grief, as we have found;

  Lamenting ancient virtues overthrown,

  And for the injustice grieving, that hath made

  So wide a difference between man and man.

  Then let us rather fix our gladdened thoughts

  Upon the brighter scene. How blest that pair

  Of blooming Boys (whom we beheld even now)

  Blest in their several and their common lot!

  A few short hours of each returning day

  The thriving prisoners of their village school: 260

  And thence let loose, to seek their pleasant homes

  Or range the grassy lawn in vacancy:

  To breathe and to he happy, run and shout

  Idle,—but no delay, no harm, no loss;

  For every genial power of heaven and earth,

  Through all the seasons of the changeful year,

  Obsequiously doth take upon herself

  To labour for them; bringing each in turn

  The tribute of enjoyment, knowledge, health,

  Beauty, or strength! Such privilege is theirs, 270

  Granted alike in the outset of their course

  To both; and, if that partnership must cease,

  I grieve not,” to the Pastor here he turned,

  “Much as I glory in that child of yours,

  Repine not for his cottage-comrade, whom

  Belike no higher destiny awaits

  Than the old hereditary wish fulfilled;

  The wish for liberty to live—content

  With what Heaven grants, and die—in peace of mind,

  Within the bosom of his native vale. 280

  At least, whatever fate the noon of life

  Reserves for either, sure it is that both

  Have been permitted to enjoy the dawn;

  Whether regarded as a jocund time,

  That in itself may terminate, or lead

  In course of nature to a sober eve.

  Both have been fairly dealt with; looking back

  They will allow that justice has in them

  Been shown, alike to body and to mind.”

  He paused, as if revolving in his soul 290

  Some weighty matter; then, with fervent voice

  And an impassioned majesty, exclaimed—

  “O for the coming of that glorious time

  When, prizing knowledge as her noblest wealth

  And best protection, this imperial Realm,

  While she exacts allegiance, shall admit

  An obligation, on her part, to ‘teach’

  Them who are born to serve her and obey;

  Binding herself by statute to secure

  For all the children whom her soil maintains 300

  The rudiments of letters, and inform

  The mind with moral and religious truth,

  Both understood and practised,—so that none,

  However destitute, be left to droop

  By timely culture unsustained; or run

  Into a wild disorder; or be forced

  To drudge through a weary life without the help

  Of intellectual implements and tools;

  A savage horde among the civilised,

  A servile band among the lordly free! 310

  This sacred right, the lisping babe proclaims

  To be inherent in him, by Heaven’s will,

  For the protection of his innocence;

  And the rude boy—who, having overpast

  The sinless age, by conscience is enrolled,

  Yet mutinously knits his angry brow,

  And lifts his wilful hand on mischief bent,

  Or turns the godlike faculty of speech

  To impious use—by process indirect

  Declares his due, while he makes known his need. 320

  —This sacred right is fruitlessly announced,

  This universal plea in vain addressed,

  To eyes and ears of parents who themselves

  Did, in the time of their necessity,

  Urge it in vain; and, therefore, like a prayer

  That from the humblest floor ascends to heaven,

  It mounts to meet the State’s parental ear;

  Who, if indeed she own a mother’s heart,

  And be not most unfeelingly devoid

  Of gratitude to Providence, will grant 330

  The unquestionable good—which, England, safe

  From interference of external force,

  May grant at leisure; without risk incurred

  That what in wisdom for herself she doth,

  Others shall e’er be able to undo.

  Look! and behold, from Calpe’s sun-burnt cliffs

  To the flat margin of the Baltic sea,

  Long-reverenced titles cast away as weeds;r />
  Laws overturned; and territory split,

  Like fields of ice rent by the polar wind, 340

  And forced to join in less obnoxious shapes

  Which, ere they gain consistence, by a gust

  Of the same breath are shattered and destroyed.

  Meantime the sovereignty of these fair Isles

  Remains entire and indivisible:

  And, if that ignorance were removed, which breeds

  Within the compass of their several shores

  Dark discontent, or loud commotion, each

  Might still preserve the beautiful repose

  Of heavenly bodies shining in their spheres. 350

  —The discipline of slavery is unknown

  Among us,—hence the more do we require

  The discipline of virtue; order else

  Cannot subsist, nor confidence, nor peace.

  Thus, duties rising out of good possest,

  And prudent caution needful to avert

  Impending evil, equally require

  That the whole people should be taught and trained.

  So shall licentiousness and black resolve

  Be rooted out, and virtuous habits take 360

  Their place; and genuine piety descend,

  Like an inheritance, from age to age.

  With such foundations laid, avaunt the fear

  Of numbers crowded on their native soil,

  To the prevention of all healthful growth

  Through mutual injury! Rather in the law

  Of increase and the mandate from above

  Rejoice!—and ye have special cause for joy.

  —For, as the element of air affords

  An easy passage to the industrious bees 370

  Fraught with their burthens; and a way as smooth

  For those ordained to take their sounding flight

  From the thronged hive, and settle where they list

  In fresh abodes—their labour to renew;

  So the wide waters, open to the power,

  The will, the instincts, and appointed needs

  Of Britain, do invite her to cast off

  Her swarms, and in succession send them forth;

  Bound to establish new communities

  On every shore whose aspect favours hope 380

  Or bold adventure; promising to skill

  And perseverance their deserved reward.

  Yes,” he continued, kindling as he spake,

  “Change wide, and deep, and silently performed,

  This Land shall witness; and as days roll on,

  Earth’s universal frame shall feel the effect;

  Even till the smallest habitable rock,

  Beaten by lonely billows, hear the songs

  Of humanised society; and bloom

  With civil arts, that shall breathe forth their fragrance, 390

  A grateful tribute to all-ruling Heaven.

  From culture, unexclusively bestowed

  On Albion’s noble Race in freedom born,

  Expect these mighty issues: from the pains

  And faithful care of unambitious schools

  Instructing simple childhood’s ready ear:

  Thence look for these magnificent results!

  —Vast the circumference of hope—and ye

  Are at its centre, British Lawgivers;

  Ah! sleep not there in shame! Shall Wisdom’s voice 400

  From out the bosom of these troubled times

  Repeat the dictates of her calmer mind,

  And shall the venerable halls ye fill

  Refuse to echo the sublime decree?

  Trust not to partial care a general good;

  Transfer not to futurity a work

  Of urgent need.—Your Country must complete

  Her glorious destiny. Begin even now,

  Now, when oppression, like the Egyptian plague

  Of darkness, stretched o’er guilty Europe, makes 410

  The brightness more conspicuous that invests

  The happy Island where ye think and act;

  Now, when destruction is a prime pursuit,

  Show to the wretched nations for what end

  The powers of civil polity were given.”

  Abruptly here, but with a graceful air,

  The Sage broke off. No sooner had he ceased

  Than, looking forth, the gentle Lady said,

  “Behold the shades of afternoon have fallen

  Upon this flowery slope; and see—beyond— 420

  The silvery lake is streaked with placid blue;

  As if preparing for the peace of evening.

  How temptingly the landscape shines! The air

  Breathes invitation; easy is the walk

  To the lake’s margin, where a boat lies moored

  Under a sheltering tree.”—Upon this hint

  We rose together; all were pleased; but most

  The beauteous girl, whose cheek was flushed with joy.

  Light as a sunbeam glides along the hills

  She vanished—eager to impart the scheme 430

  To her loved brother and his shy compeer.

  —Now was there bustle in the Vicar’s house

  And earnest preparation.—Forth we went,

  And down the vale along the streamlet’s edge

  Pursued our way, a broken company,

  Mute or conversing, single or in pairs.

  Thus having reached a bridge, that overarched

  The hasty rivulet where it lay becalmed

  In a deep pool, by happy chance we saw

  A twofold image; on a grassy bank 440

  A snow-white ram, and in the crystal flood

  Another and the same! Most beautiful,

  On the green turf, with his imperial front

  Shaggy and bold, and wreathed horns superb,

  The breathing creature stood; as beautiful,

  Beneath him, showed his shadowy counterpart.

  Each had his glowing mountains, each his sky,

  And each seemed centre of his own fair world:

  Antipodes unconscious of each other,

  Yet, in partition, with their several spheres, 450

  Blended in perfect stillness, to our sight!

  “Ah! what a pity were it to disperse,

  Or to disturb, so fair a spectacle,

  And yet a breath can do it!”

  These few words

  The Lady whispered, while we stood and gazed

  Gathered together, all in still delight,

  Not without awe. Thence passing on, she said

  In like low voice to my particular ear,

  “I love to hear that eloquent old Man

  Pour forth his meditations, and descant 460

  On human life from infancy to age.

  How pure his spirit! in what vivid hues

  His mind gives back the various forms of things,

  Caught in their fairest, happiest, attitude!

  While he is speaking, I have power to see

  Even as he sees; but when his voice hath ceased,

  Then, with a sigh, sometimes I feel, as now,

  That combinations so serene and bright

  Cannot be lasting in a world like ours,

  Whose highest beauty, beautiful as it is, 470

  Like that reflected in yon quiet pool,

  Seems but a fleeting sunbeam’s gift, whose peace,

  The sufferance only of a breath of air!”

  More had she said—but sportive shouts were heard

  Sent from the jocund hearts of those two Boys,

  Who, bearing each a basket on his arm,

  Down the green field came tripping after us.

  With caution we embarked; and now the pair

  For prouder service were addrest; but each,

  Wishful to leave an opening for my choice, 480

  Dropped the light oar his eager hand had seized.

  Thanks given for that becoming courtesy,

  Their place I took—and
for a grateful office

  Pregnant with recollections of the time

  When, on thy bosom, spacious Windermere!

  A Youth, I practised this delightful art;

  Tossed on the waves alone, or ‘mid a crew

  Of joyous comrades. Soon as the reedy marge

  Was cleared, I dipped, with arms accordant, oars

  Free from obstruction; and the boat advanced 490

  Through crystal water, smoothly as a hawk,

  That, disentangled from the shady boughs

  Of some thick wood, her place of covert, cleaves

  With correspondent wings the abyss of air.

  —”Observe,” the Vicar said, “yon rocky isle

  With birch-trees fringed; my hand shall guide the helm,

  While thitherward we shape our course; or while

  We seek that other, on the western shore;

  Where the bare columns of those lofty firs,

  Supporting gracefully a massy dome 500

  Of sombre foliage, seem to imitate

  A Grecian temple rising from the Deep.”

  “Turn where we may,” said I, “we cannot err

  In this delicious region.”—Cultured slopes,

  Wild tracts of forest-ground, and scattered groves,

  And mountains bare, or clothed with ancient woods,

  Surrounded us; and, as we held our way

  Along the level of the glassy flood,

  They ceased not to surround us; change of place

  From kindred features diversely combined, 510

  Producing change of beauty ever new.

  —Ah! that such beauty, varying in the light

  Of living nature, cannot be portrayed

  By words, nor by the pencil’s silent skill;

  But is the property of him alone

  Who hath beheld it, noted it with care,

  And in his mind recorded it with love!

  Suffice it, therefore, if the rural Muse

  Vouchsafe sweet influence, while her Poet speaks

  Of trivial occupations well devised, 520

  And unsought pleasures springing up by chance;

  As if some friendly Genius had ordained

  That, as the day thus far had been enriched

  By acquisition of sincere delight,

  The same should be continued to its close.

  One spirit animating old and young,

  A gipsy-fire we kindled on the shore

  Of the fair Isle with birch-trees fringed—and there,

  Merrily seated in a ring, partook

  A choice repast—served by our young companions 530

  With rival earnestness and kindred glee.

  Launched from our hands the smooth stone skimmed the lake;

  With shouts we raised the echoes:—stiller sounds

  The lovely Girl supplied—a simple song,

  Whose low tones reached not to the distant rocks

  To be repeated thence, but gently sank