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Full Title
The complete poetical works of William Wordsworth: together with a description of the country of the lakes in the north of England, now first published with his works ... / edited by Henry Reed.
Author
Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850. Melville, Herman, 1819-1891.
Date Added
8 January 2014
Language
English
Publish Date
1839
Publisher
Philadelphia: J. Kay, Jun. and brother; Boston: J. Munroe and Co.; [etc., etc.]
Source
Woodstock Theological Center Library, Georgetown University.
Topic
Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850. Melville, Herman, 1819-1891. English poetry.
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Disclaimers
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OCR
”
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bom in akin tl hin ana 5
228 WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS.
From all that man’s performance could present,
Stoops to that closing deed magnificent,
And with the embrace is satisfied.
— Fly, ministers of Fame,
Whate’er your means, whatever help ye claim,
Bear through the world these tidings of delight!
— Hours, Days, and Months, have borne them, in the
sight :
Of mortals, travelling faster than the shower,
. That land-ward stretches from.the sea,
The morning’s splendours to devour;
But this appearance scattered ecstasy, /
And heart-sick Europe blessed the healing power.
—The shock is given — the Adversaries bleed —
Lo, Justice triumphs ! —Earth is freed !
Such glad assurance suddenly went forth —
It pierced. the caverns of the sluggish North —
It found no barrier on the ridge
-|- Of Andes — frozen gulfs became its bridge —
The vast Pacific gladdens with the freight —
Upon the Lakes of Asia ’tis bestowed —
The Arabian desert shapes a willing road,
Across her burning breast,.
For this refreshing incense from the West!
— Where snakes and lions breed,
Where towns and cities thick as stars appear
Wherever fruits are gathered, and where’er
The upturned soil receives the hopeful seed —
While the Sun rules, and cross the shades of night —
_| The unwearied arrow hath pursued its flight!
. The eyes of good men thankfully give heed,
And in its sparkling progress read
' How virtue triumphs, from her bondage freed !
Tyrants exult to hear of kingdoms won, ,
_ And slaves are pleased to learn that mighty feats are
done ;
Even the proud Realm, from whose distracted borders
This messenger of good was launched in air,
France, conquered France, amid her wild disorders,
Feels, and hereafter shall the truth declare
That she too lacks not reason to rejoice,
And utter England’s name with sadly-plausive voice,
10
Preserve, O Lord! within our hearts
That memory of thy favour, ”
That else insensibly departs,
And losses its sweet savour!
Lodge it within us!—as the power of light
Lives inexhaustibly in precious gems,
Fixed on the front of Eastern diadems,
So shine our thankfulness for ever bright!
What offering, what transcendent monument
Shall our sincerity to Thee present?
- —Not work of hands; but trophies that may reach
To highest Heaven — the labour of the soul;
That builds, as thy unerring precepts teach,
Upon the inward victories of each,
Her hope of lasting glory for the whole,
— Yet might it well become that city now,
Into whose breast the tides of grandeur flow,
To whom all persecuted men retreat ;
If a new Temple lift her votive brow
Upon the shore of silver Thames—to greet
The peaceful guest advancing from afar,
Bright be the distant Fabric, as a star
Fresh risen —and beautiful within !— there meet
Dependence infinite, proportion just 3~
—A Pile that Grace approves, that Time can trust
With his most sacred wealth, heroic dust !
11.
But if the valiant of this land
In reverential modesty demand
That all observance, due to them, be paid
Where their serene progenitors are laid ;
Kings, warriors, high-souled poets, saint-like sages,
England’s illustrious sons of long, long ages;
Be it not unordained that solemn rites,
Within the circuit of those Gothic walls,
Shall be performed at pregnant intervals;
Commemoration holy, that unites
.| The living generations with the dead;
By the deep. soul-moving’ sense
Of religious eloquence, —
By visual pomp, and by the tie
Of sweet and threatening harmony ;
Soft notes, awful as the omen
Of destructive tempests coming,
And escaping from that sadness
Into elevated gladness;
While the white-robed choir attendant,
Under mouldering banners pendant,
Provoke all potent symphonies to raise
Songs of victory and praise,
For them who bravely stood unhurt, or bled
With medicable wounds, or found their gTaves
Upon the battle-field, or under ocean’s waves;
Or were conducted home in single state,
And long procession — there to lie,
Where their sons’ sons, and all posterity,
Unheard by them, their deeds shall celebrate!
12.
Nor will the God of peace and love
Such martial service disapprove.
He guides the Pestilence — the cloud
Of locusts travels on his breath ;
The region that in hope was ploughed
His drought consumes, his mildew taints with death;
He springs the hushed Volcano’s mine ;
He puts the Earthquake on her still design,
Darkens the sun, hath bade the forest sink,