But Human-kind rejoices in the might
Of mutability; and airy hopes,
Dancing around her, hinder and disturb

Those meditations of the soul that feed
The retrospective virtues. Festive songs
Break from the maddened nations at the sight
Of sudden overthrow; and cold neglect

Is the sure consequence of slow decay.

Even," said the Wanderer, "as that courteous Knight, Bound by his vow to labour for redress

Of all who suffer wrong, and to enact
By sword and lance the law of gentleness,
(If I may venture of myself to speak,
Trusting that not incongruously I blend
Low things with lofty) I too shall be doomed
To outlive the kindly use and fair esteem
Of the poor calling which my youth embraced
With no unworthy prospect. But enough;
-Thoughts crowd upon me-and 'twere seemlier now
To stop, and yield our gracious Teacher thanks
For the pathetic records which his voice

Hath here delivered; words of heartfelt truth,
Tending to patience when affliction strikes ;
To hope and love; to confident repose
In God; and reverence for the dust of Man.”

END OF THE SEVENTH BOOK.

THE EXCURSION.

BOOK VIII.

THE PARSONAGE.

VOL. VI.

U

ARGUMENT.

Page 291, Pastor's apology and apprehensions that he might have detained his Auditors too long, with the Pastor's invitation to his house-292, Solitary disinclined to comply-rallies the Wanderer-292, and playfully draws a comparison between his itinerant profession and that of the Knight-errant-294, which leads to Wanderer's giving an account of changes in the Country from the manufacturing spirit-295, Favourable effects-296, The other side of the picture, and chiefly as it has affected the humbler classes-298, Wanderer asserts the hollowness of all national grandeur if unsupported by moral worth-299, Physical science unable to support itself—300, Lamentations over an excess of manufacturing industry among the humbler Classes of Society-301, Picture of a Child employed in a Cotton-mill -303, Ignorance and degradation of Children among the agricultural Population reviewed-306, Conversation broken off by a renewed Invitation from the Pastor-307, Path leading to his House-307, Its appearance described-308, His Daughter— 309, His Wife-310, His Son (a Boy) enters with his Companion-311, Their happy appearance-312, The Wanderer how affected by the sight of them.

BOOK EIGHTH.

THE PARSONAGE.

THE pensive Sceptic of the lonely vale

To those acknowledgments subscribed his own,
With a sedate compliance, which the Priest
Failed not to notice, inly pleased, and said:-
"If ye, by whom invited I began
These narratives of calm and humble life,
Be satisfied, 'tis well,-the end is gained;
And, in return for sympathy bestowed
And patient listening, thanks accept from me.
-Life, death, eternity! momentous themes
Are they and might demand a seraph's tongue,
Were they not equal to their own support;
And therefore no incompetence of mine
Could do them wrong. The universal forms
Of human nature, in a spot like this,

Present themselves at once to all men's view:
Ye wished for act and circumstance, that make
The individual known and understood;

And such as my best judgment could select
From what the place afforded, have been given;
Though apprehensions crossed me that my zeal
To his might well be likened, who unlocks
A cabinet stored with gems and pictures-draws
His treasures forth, soliciting regard

To this, and this, as worthier than the last,
Till the spectator, who awhile was pleased
More than the exhibitor himself, becomes
Weary and faint, and longs to be released.
-But let us hence! my dwelling is in sight,
And there-”

At this the Solitary shrunk
With backward will; but, wanting not address
That inward motion to disguise, he said

To his Compatriot, smiling as he spake :

"The peaceable remains of this good Knight Would be disturbed, I fear, with wrathful scorn, If consciousness could reach him where he lies That one, albeit of these degenerate times, Deploring changes past, or dreading change Foreseen, had dared to couple, even in thought, The fine vocation of the sword and lance With the gross aims and body-bending toil Of a poor brotherhood who walk the earth Pitied, and, where they are not known, despised.

Yet, by the good Knight's leave, the two estates Are graced with some resemblance. Errant those,