Whose shades have never felt the encroaching axe, So easily deprived?) but, for that cause, There imaged or when, having gained the top With mind that sheds a light on what he sees ; Upon a living and rejoicing world! So, westward, tow'rd the unviolated woods I bent my way; and, roaming far and wide, Failed not to greet the merry Mocking-bird; And, while the melancholy Mucca wiss (The sportive bird's companion in the grove) Repeated, o'er and o'er, his plaintive cry, I sympathized at leisure with the sound; But that pure archetype of human greatness, I found him not. There, in his stead, appeared A creature, squalid, vengeful, and impure; Remorseless, and submissive to no law But superstitious fear, and abject sloth. Enough is told! Here am I-ye have heard What evidence I seek, and vainly seek; What from my fellow-beings I require, And either they have not to give, or I Lack virtue to receive; what I myself, Too oft by wilful forfeiture, have lost Nor can regain. How languidly I look Upon this visible fabric of the world, May be divined-perhaps it hath been said :— But spare your pity, if there be in me Aught that deserves respect: for I exist, Within myself, not comfortless.-The tenour Which my life holds, he readily may conceive Whoe'er hath stood to watch a mountain brook In some still passage of its course, and seen, Within the depths of its capacious breast, Inverted trees, rocks, clouds, and azure sky; And, on its glassy surface, specks of foam, And conglobated bubbles undissolved, Numerous as stars; that, by their onward lapse, The earth-born wanderer hath passed; and quickly, END OF THE THIRD BOOK. ARGUMENT. Page 115, State of feeling produced by the foregoing Narrative-115, A belief in a superintending Providence the only adequate support under affliction-116, Wanderer's ejaculation-119, Acknowledges the difficulty of a lively faith-120, Hence immoderate sorrow— 123, Exhortations-124, How received-124, Wanderer applies his discourse to that other cause of dejection in the Solitary's mind125, Disappointment from the French Revolution-126, States grounds of hope, and insists on the necessity of patience and fortitude with respect to the course of great revolutions-127, Knowledge the source of tranquillity-128, Rural Solitude favourable to knowledge of the inferior Creatures; Study of their habits and ways recommended; exhortation to bodily exertion and communion with Nature-135, Morbid Solitude pitiable-136, Superstition better than apathy-138, Apathy and destitution unknown in the infancy of society-139, The various modes of Religion prevented it 140, Illustrated in the Jewish, Persian, Babylonian, Chaldean, and Grecian modes of belief-142, Solitary interposes-143, Wanderer points out the influence of religious and imaginative feeling in the humble ranks of society, illustrated from present and past times147, These principies tend to recal exploded superstitions and popery-148, Wanderer rebuts this charge, and contrasts the dignities of the Imagination with the presumptive littleness of certain modern Philosophers 151, Recommends other lights and guides152, Asserts the power of the Soul to regenerate herself; Solitary asks how-154, Reply-156, Personal appeal-157, Exhortation to activity of body renewed-158, How to commune with Nature159, Wanderer concludes with a legitimate union of the imagination affections, understanding, and reason-161, Effect of bis discourse161, Evening; Return to the Cottage. |