On Man, on Nature, and on Human Life, Musing in solitude, I oft perceive

Fair trains of imagery before me rise,
Accompanied by feelings of delight

Pure, or with no unpleasing sadness mixed; 5
And I am conscious of affecting thoughts

And dear remembrances, whose presence

soothes

Or elevates the mind, intent to weigh The good and evil of our mortal state.

9

To these emotions, whencesoe'er they come, Whether from breath of outward circumstance, Or from the soul- an impulse to herself

I would give utterance in numerous1 verse. Of Truth, of Grandeur, Beauty, Love, and Hope,

And melancholy Fear subdued by Faith; 15
Of blessed consolations in distress;

Of moral strength, and intellectual power;
Of joy in widest commonalty spread;
Of the individual mind that keeps her own
Inviolate retirement, subject there
To conscience only, and the law supreme
Of that Intelligence which governs all

20

I sing: -“fit audience let me find though few!" 2

So prayed, more gaining than he asked, the bard

A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

25

30

Me this unchartered freedom tires;

I feel the weight of chance-desires:

20

My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose that ever is the same.

40

And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity!

Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear The Godhead's most benignant grace; Nor know we anything so fair As is the smile upon thy face: Flowers laugh before thee on their beds And fragrance in thy footing treads; Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; And the most ancient heavens, through thee, are fresh and strong.

45

5

To humbler functions, awful Power! I call thee: I myself commend

50

Oh, let my weakness have an end! Unto thy guidance from this hour; Give unto me, made lowly wise,

Be on them; who, in love and truth,

The spirit of self-sacrifice;

ΙΟ

Where no misgiving is, rely

The confidence of reason give;

55

Upon the genial sense of youth:

And in the light of truth thy bondman let me

live!

There are who ask not if thine eye

And with a living pleasure we describe; And fits of sprightly malice do but bribe The languid mind into activity.

15

Sound sense, and love itself, and mirth and glee

Are fostered by the comment and the gibe." 20
Even be it so; yet still among your tribe,
Our daily world's true worldings, rank not
me!

Children are blest, and powerful; their world lies

More justly balanced; partly at their feet, And part far from them: sweetest melodies 25 Are those that are by distance made more sweet;

Whose mind is but the mind of his own eyes, He is a slave; the meanest we can meet!

And thus from day to day my little boat Rocks in its harbour, lodging peaceably. Blessings be with them—and eternal praise, Who gave us nobler loves, and nobler cares The Poets, who on earth have made us heirs Of truth and pure delight by heavenly lays! Oh! might my name be numbered among theirs,

Then gladly would I end my mortal days. 56

ODE

INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY

CHILDHOOD

I

There was a time when meadow, grove and stream,

The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem

Apparelled in celestial light,
The glory and the freshness of a dream.
It is not now as it hath been of yore;
Turn wheresoe'er I may,

By night or day,

5

The things which I have seen I now can see no