The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth

Of Christian aspiration, deigned to fill
The temples of their hearts-who, with his word
Informed, were resolute to do his will,
And worship him in spirit and in truth.

IMAGINATIVE REGRETS.
DEEP is the lamentation ! Not alone
From Sages justly honoured by mankind,
Dut from the ghostly Tenants of the wind,
Demoos and Spirits, many a dolorous groan
Issues for that dominion overthrown:
P'roud Tiber grieves, and far-off Ganges, blind
As his own worshippers; and Nile, reclined

pon his monstrous urn, the farewell moan Renews. Through every forest, cave, and den, Where frauds were hatched of old, bath sorrow pastlangs o'er the Arabian Prophet's native Waste Where once his airy belpers schemed and planned, Blid phantom lakos bemocking thirsty men, And stalking pillars built of fiery sand.

EDWARD VI. « Sweet is the boliness of Youth»---so felt Time-honoured Chaucer when he framed the lay By which the Prioress beguiled the way, And many a Pilgrim's rugged heart did melt. Hadst thou, loved Bard ! whose spirit often dwelt In the clear land of vision, but foreseen king, Child, and Seraph, blended in the mien Of pious Edward kneeling as he knelt In meek and simple Infancy, what joy For universal Christendom had thrilled Thy heart! what hopes inspired thy genius, skilled (O great Precursor, genuine morning Star) The lucid shafts of reason to employ, Piercing the Papal darkness from afar!

REFLECTIONS.
GEANT, that by this unsparing Hurricane
Green leaves with yellow mixed are torn away,
And goodly fruitage with the mother spray,

T were madness- wished we, therefore, to detain,
With hands stretched forth in mollified disdain,
The « trumpery» that asceuds in bare display, -
Bulls, pardons, relics, cowls black, white, and grey,
l'pwhirled—and lying o'er the ethereal plain
Fast bound for Limbo Lake. — And yet not choice
But habit rules the usretlectiog herd,
And airy bonds are hardest lo disown;
Hence, with the spiritual sovereignty transferred
Coto itself, the Crown assumes a voice
Of reckless mastery, hitherto unknown.

EDWARD SIGNING THE WARRANT FOR THE

EXECUTION OF JOAN OF KENT.
The tears of man in various measure gush
From various sources; gently overflow
From blissful transport some-from clefts of woe
Some with ungovernable impulse ruslı ;
And some, coëval with the earliest blush
Of infant passion, scarcely dare to show
Their pearly lustre--coming but to go ;
And some break forth when others' sorrows crush
The sympathising heart.

Nor these, nor yet
The noblest drops to admiration knowl,
To gratitude, to injuries forgiven,
Claim Heaven's regard like waters that have wet
The innocent eyes of youthful monarchs driven
To pen the mandates, nature doch disown.

TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE. But, to outweigh all harm, the sacred Book, lu dusty sequestration wrapt too long, Assumes the accents of our native tongue; And he who guides the plough, or wields the crook, With understanding spirit now may look l'pon ber records, listen to her song, And sift her laws-much wondering that the wrong, Which Faith has suffered, Heaven could calmly brook. Transcendant Boon! noblest that earthly King Ever bestowed to equalize and bless l'oder the weight of mortal wretchedness! But passions spread like plagues, and thousands wild With bigotry shall tread the Offering Bencath their fect-detested and defiled.

REVIVAL OF POPERY. Melts into silent shades the Youth, discrowned By unrelenting Death. O People keen For change, to whom the new looks always green! They cast, they cast with joy upon the ground Their Gods of wood and stone; and, at the sound Of counter-proclamation, now are seen, (Proud triumph is it for a sullen Queen!) Lifting them

up, the worship to confound Of the Most High. Again do they invoke The Creature, to the Creature glory give; Again with frankincense the altars smoke Like those the Heatheu served; and mass is sung; And prayer, man's rational prerogative, Runs through blind channels of an unknown tongue.

THE POINT AT ISSUE. Fon what contend the wise? for nothing less

Than ibat pure Faich dissolve the bonds of Sense ; 1 The Soul restored to God by evidence 1 of things not seen-drawn fortlı from their recess,

Root there, and not in forms, her holiness ;
| That Faith which to the Patriarchs did dispense

Sure guidance, ere a ceremonial fence
was needful rouod men thirsting to transgress;

That Faith, more perfect still, with which the Lord | Of all, himself a Spirit, in clic youtlı

LATIMER AND RIDLEY. How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled! Sec Latimer and Ridley' in the miglit

1. M. Latimer very quietly suffered his keeper 10 pull off bis hose, and his other aray, which to looke unto was very simple; and

Of Faith stand coupled for a common flight!
One (like those Prophets whom God sent of old)
Transfigured, from this kindling hath foretold
A torch of inextinguishable liglat;
The other gains a confidence as bold;
And thus they foil their enemy's despite.
The penal instruments, the shows of crime,
Are glorified while this once-miered pair
Of saintly Friends, « the Murtherer's chain partake,
Corded, and burning at the social s:ake:»
Earılı never witnessed object more sublime
Ju constancy, in fellowship more fair!

Most happy, re-assembled in a land
By dauntless Luther freed, could they forget
Their Country's woes. But scarcely have they mel,
Partners in faith, and Brothers in distress,
Free to pour forth their common thankfulness,
Ere hope declines; their union is beset
With speculative notions cashly sown,
Whence thickly-sprouting growth of poisonous wzeds,
Their forms are broken staves; their passions steeds
That master them. How enviably blest
Is he who can, by help of grace, enthrone
Thie peace of God within his single breast !

CRANMER.

OUTSTRETCHING flame-ward his upbraided hand
(O God of mercy, may no earthly Seat
Of judgment suchi presumptuous doom repeat !)
Amid the shuddering throng doth Cranmer stand;
Firm as the stake to which with iron band
llis frame is tied; firm from the naked feet
To the bare head, the victory complete;
The shrouded Rody, to the Soul's command,
Answering with more than Indian fortitude,
Through all her nerves with finer sense endued,
Till breath departs in blissful aspiration:
Then, 'mid the ghastly ruins of the fire,
Behold the unalterable heart entire,
Emblem of faith untouched, miraculous attestation!.

ELIZABETH.
Tall, Virgin Queen! o'er many an envious bar
Triumphant-snatched from many a treacherous wile'
All hail, Sage Lady, whom a grateful Isle
Hath blest, respiring from that dismal war
Stilled by thy voice! But quickly from afar
Defiance breathes with more malignant aim;
And alien storms with home-bred ferments clajm
Portentous fellowship. ller silver car
By sleepless prudence ruled, glides slowly on;
Unhurt by violence, from menaced taint
Emerging pure, and seemingly more bright!
For, wheresocer she moves, the clouds anon
Disperse; or, under a divine constraint,
Rellect some portion of her glorious light!

GENERAL VIEW OF THE TROUBLES OF THE
REFORMATION.

EMINENT REFORMERS,
Aid, glorious Martyrs, from your fields of light

METHINKS that I could trip o'er heaviest soil, Our mortal ken! Inspire a perfect trust

Light as a buoyant Bark from wave to wave, (While we look round) that Heaven's decrees are just:

Were mine the trusty Staff that JEWEL gave Which few can hold committed to a tight

To youthful Hooker, in familiar style That shews, ev'n on its better side, the might

The gift exalting, and with playful smile: ' Of proud Self-will, Rapacity, and Lust,

For thus equipped, and bearing on his head Mid clouds enveloped of polemic dust,

The Donor's farewell blessing, can he dread Which showers of blood seem rather to incite

Tempest, or length of way, or weight of toil? Than to allay.--Anathemas are hurled

More sweet than odours caught by him who sail from both sides; veteran thunders (the brute test

Near spicy shores of Araby the blest, Of Truth) are met by fulminations new

A thousand times more exquisitely sweet, Tartarian flags are caught at, and unfurled

The freight of holy feeling which we meet, Friends strike at Friends--the flying shall pursue

In thoughtful moments, wafted by the gales And Victory sickens, ignorant where to rest!

From fields where good men walk, or bowers wbereie

they rest.

1. On foot they went, and took Salisbury in their way, purposely ENGLISH REFORMERS IN EXILE.

10 see the good Bishop, who made Mr llocher sit at bis 04 B takt:

which Mr looker boasted of with much joy and gratitude whale SCATTERING, like Birds escaped the Fowler's net, saw his mother and friends; and at ibe Bishop's parting with bim, Some seek with timely flight a foreiga strand;

the Bishop gave him good counsel, and his benediction, but for a

to give him money; which when the Bishop had coasidered, b. Feing stripped into his shrowd, be seemed as comely a person to sent a Servant in all haste to call Richard back to hire, asist them that were present, as one should ligbtly see; and whereas in Richard's return, the Bishop said to him, · Richard, I seat for a his clothes bee appeared a witbered and crooked sillie (weak) olio back to lend you a horse which hath carried me many a mike, as man, he now stood bolt upright, as comely a rather as one might lightly I thank God, with much ease,' and presently delivered into his l_04 behold. **** Then they brought a faggouie, kindled with fire, and a walking-staff, with which he professed he had travelled thrott laid the same downe at doctor Ridley's fecto. To whome M. Latimer many parts of Germany, and be said, 'Richard, I do not give, het spake in this manner, Bee of good comfort, master Ridley, and lend you my horse ; be sure you be honest, and bring my horse bask play the man: wee shall this day light such a candle by God's to me at your return this way 10 Oxford. And I do now give you ich grace in England, as I trust shall never bee put out.'s-Fox's Acts, groats to bear your charges to Exeter; and here is ten groats me,

which I charge you to deliver to your mother, and tell ber, I sad Similar alterations in the outward figure and deportment of per- ber a Bisbop's benediction with it, and beg the continuance of her sons brought to like trial were not uncommon. See note to the above prayers for me. And if you bring my borse back to me, I will give passage in Dr Wordsworth's Eclesiastical Biography, for an examplo you ten groats more to carry you on foot to the college: and in a humbie Welsh fisherman.

Ged bless you, good Richard. 's-See Waltox's Life of Rickers I For the belief in tbis fact see the contemporary Historians. Hooker.

etc.

THE SAME.

Holy and heavenly Spirits as they are,
Spotless in life, and eloquent as wise,
With what cutire affection do they prize
Their new-boro Church! labouring with earnest care
To baftle all that may her strength impair ;
That Church-ihc unperverted Gospel's seal;
la their afilictious a divine retreat;
Source of their liveliest hope, and tenderest prayer!
The Truth exploring with an equal mird,
la doctrine and communion they have sought
Firmly betweea the iwo extremes to steer;
But theirs the wise man's ordinary lot,
To trace right courses for the stubborn blind,
And propliesy to ears that will not hear.

Can link with desolation. Smooth and

green, And seeming, at a little distance, slow, The waters of the Rhine; but on they go

Fretting and whitening, keener and more keen, Till madness seizes on the whole wide Flood, Turned to a fearful Thing whose nostrils breathe Blasts of tempestuous smoke-wherewith he tries To hide himself, but only magnifies ; And doch in more conspicuous torment writhe, Dcafening the region in his ireful mood.

DISTRACTIONS. MEN, who have ceased to reverence, soon defy Their Forefathers; lo! Sects are formed-and split With morbid restlessness, the ecstatic fit Spreads wide; though special mysteries multiply, The Saints must govern, is their common cry; And so they labour, deeming lioly Writ Disgraced by aught that seeins coulent to sit Beneath the roof of settled Modesty. The Romanist cxults; fresh hope be draws From the confusion-craflily incites The overweening-personates the mad To beap disgust upon the worthier Cause : Totters the Throne; the new-born Church is sad, For every wave against her peace unites.

TROUBLES OF CHARLES THE FIRST. Such is the contrast, which, where'er we move, To the mind's eye Religion doth present; Now with her own deep quietness content; Then, like the mountain, thundering from above Against the ancient Pine-trees of the grove And the Land's humblest comforts. Now her mood Recals the transformation of the flood, Whose rage the gentle skies in vain reprove, Earth cannot check. O terrible excess Of headstrong will! Can this bc Piety? No-some fierce Maniac bath usurped her name; And scourges England struggling to be free: Iler

peace destroyed! her hopes a wilderness ! Her blessings cursed-her glory turned to shame!

LAUD.

GUNPOWDER PLOT.
Foar hath a hundred eyes that all agree
To placue her beating heart; and there is one

Nor idlest that!) which holds communion | With things that were not, yet were meant to be.

Aghast within its rioomy cavity
That cye (which secs as if fulfilled and done
Crimes that might stop the motion of the sun)
Beholds the horrible catastrophic
Of an assembled Senate unredcemed
From subterraneous Treason's darkling power:

Merciless act of sorrow infinite!
| Worse than the product of that dismal night,

Wheu gushing, copious as a thunder-shower,
The blood of Huguenots through Paris streamed.

PREJUDGED by foes determined not to spare,
An old weak Man for vengeance thrown aside,
Laud «in the painful art of dying» tried,
(Like a poor Bird entangled in a Snare
Wliose heart still flutters, though his wings forbear
To stir in useless strucgle) bath relied
On hope that conscious Innocence supplied,
And in his prison breathes celestial air.
Why carries then thy Chariot? Wherefore stay,
O Death! the ensanguined yet triumphant wheels,
Which ihou preparst, full often to convey,
(What time a State with madding faction reels)
The Saint or Patriot to the world that heals
All wounds, all perturbations doch allay?

! In this age a word cannot be said in praise of Land, or even in compassion for bis fate, without incurring a charge of bigotry; but fcarless of such imputation, I concur with Hume, that it is sufl. cient for bis vindication to observe, that his errors were the most excusable of all those which prevailed during that zealous period. A key to the right understanding of those parts of his conduct that brought the most odium apon bim in his own time, may be found in the following passage of bis speech before the bar of the House of Peers. Ever since I came in place, I have laboured nothing more, than that the external publick worship of God, so much slighted in divers parts of this kingdom, might be preserved, aud that with as much decency and uniformity as might be. For I ovidently saw, that the publick peglect of God's service in the outward face of it, and the nasty lying of many places dedicated 10 thai service, had almost cast a damp upon the true and inward worship of God, which, while we live in the body, needs caternal helps, und all little enough to keep it in any rigour,

ILLUSTRATION.

Tae Virgin Mountaio ?, wearing like a Queen
A brilliant crown of everlasting Soow,
Sheds ruin from her sides; and men below
Wonder that aught of aspect so serene

"A common device in religious and political conflicts. - Sve San is support of this instance.

* The Jung-frau.

AFFLICTIONS OF ENGLAND.

Or would have taught, by discipline of pain

And long privation, now dissolves amain,
HARP! couldst thou venture, on thy boldest string, Or is remembered only to give zest
The faintest note to echo which the blast

To wantonness.-Away, Circean revels!
Caught from the hand of Moses as it past

Already stands our Country on the brink O'er Sinai's top, or from ihe Shepherd King,

Of bigot rage, that all distinction levels Early awake, by Siloa's brook, to sing

Of truth and falschood, swallowing the good name, Of dread Jehovah; then, should wood and waste And, with that draught, the life-blood: misery, shame, Hear also of that name, and mercy cast

By Poets loathed; from which Historians shrink!
Off to the mountains, like a covering
of which the Lord was weary. Weep, oh! wecp,
Weep with the good, beholding King and Priest

LATITUDINARIANISM.
Despised by that stern God to whom they raise
Their suppliant hands; but holy is the feast

Yer Truth is keenly sought for, and the wind
He keepeth ; like the firmament his ways,

Charged with rich words poured out in Thought's His statutes like the chambers of the deep.

defence;
Whether the Church inspire that eloquence,
Or a Platonic Piety confined

To the sole temple of the inward mind;
PART III.

And One there is who builds immortal lays,
Though doomed to tread in solitary ways,

Darkness before, and danger's voice behind!
FROM THE RESTORATION TO THE PRESENT Yet not alone, por helpless to repel
TIMES.

Sad thoughts ; for from above the starry sphere

Come secrets, whispered nigbtly to his ear; I saw the figure of a lovely Maid

And the purc spirit of celestial light Scated alone beneath a darksome Tree,

Shines through his soul —« that he may see and tell Whose fondly overhanging canopy

Of things invisible to mortal sight.»-
Set off ber brightness with a pleasing shade.
Substance she seemed (and that my heart betrayed,
For she was one I loved exceedingly);
But while I gazed in tender reverie

CLERICAL INTEGRITY. (Or was it slecp that with my Fancy played ?)

Nor shall the eternal roll of praise reject The bright corporeal presence, form, and face,

Those Unconforming; whom ope rigorous day Remaiving still distinct, grew thin and rare,

Drives from their Cures, a voluntary prey Like sunny mist; at length the golden hair,

To poverty and grief, and disrespect, Shape, limbs, and heavenly features, keeping pace

And some to want, as if by tempest wrecked Each, with the other, a lingering race

On a wild coast; how destitute ! did They
Of dissolution, melted into air.

Feel not that Conscience never can betray,
That peace of mind is Virtue's sure effect.

Their Altars they forego, their homes they quit,
PATRIOTIC SYMPATHIES.

Fields which they love, and paths they daily trod,

And cast the future Last night, without a voice, this Vision spake

Providence;

upon Fear to my Spirit-passion that might seem

As men the dictate of whose inward sense Wholly dissevered from our present theme;

Outweighs the world ; whom self-deceiving wit Yet do I love my Country-and partake

Lures not from what they deem the cause of God. Of kindred agitations for her sake; She visits oftentimes my midnight dream; Her glory meets me with the earliest beam

PERSECUTION OF THE SCOTTISH COVENAS. Of light, which tells that morning is awake.

TERS.
If auglit impair her beauty or destroy,
Or but forebode destruction, I deplore

When Alpine Vales threw forth a suppliant cry,
With filial love the sad vicissitude;

The majesty of England interposed If she hath fallen and righteous Heaven restore

And the sword stopped; the bleeding wounds were closed, The prostrate, then my spring-limc is renewed,

And Faith preserved her ancient purity.
And sorrow bartered for exceeding joy.

How little boots that precedent of good,
Scorned or forgotten, Thou canst testify,
For England's shame, O Sister Realm! from wood,

Mountain, and moor, and crowded street, where lie
CHARLES THE SECOND.

The headless martyrs of the Covenant, Who comes with rapture greeted, and caress'd Slain by compatriot-protestants that draw With frantic love-his kingdom to regain?

From councils senseless as intolerant Him Virtue's Nurse, Adversity, in vain

Their warrant. Bodies fall by wild sword-law; Received, and fostered in her iron breast :

But who would force Ulic Soul, tilts with a straw For all she taught of bardicst and of best,

Against a Cbampion cased in adamant.

Henceforth, as on the bosom of a stream
That slackens, and spreads wide a watery gleam,
We, nothing loth a lingering course to measure,
May gather up our thoughts, and mark at leisure
Features that else bad vanislied like a dream.

ACQUITTAL OF THE BISHOPS. A voice, from long-expecting thousands sent, Shatters the air and troubles tower and spireFor Justice liath absolved the lonocent, And Tyranny is balked of lier desire: Up, down, the busy Thames-rapid as fire Coursing a train of gunpowder-it went, And transport finds in every street a vent, Till the whole City rings like one vast quire. The Fathers urge the People to be still With outstretched hands and earnest speech-in vain ! Yea, many, haply wont to entertain Small reverence for the Mitre's offices, And to Religion's self no friendly will, A Prelate's blessing ask on bended knees.

WALTON'S BOOK OF LIVES.

Tuere are no colours in the fairest sky
So fair as these. The feather whence the pen
Was shaped that traced the lives of these good men
Dropped from an Angel's wing. With moistened eye
We read of Faith and purest Charity
In Statesman, Priest, and humble Citizen.
O could we copy their mild virtues, then
What joy to live, what blessedness to dic!
Methinks their very names shine still and bright;
A part, like glow-worms on a summer night;
Or lonely tapers when from far they fling
A guiding ray; or seen, like stars on high,
Satellites burning in a lucid ring
Around meek Waltou's heavenly memory.

WILLIAM THE THIRD. Calm as an under current-strong to draw Millions of waves into itself, and run, From sea to sea, impervious to the sun And ploughing storm-the spirit of Nassau (By constant impulse of religious awe Swayed, and thereby enabled 10 contend With the wide world's commotions) from its end Swerves not-diverted by a casual law. Nad mortal action e'er a vobler scope? The Hero comes to liberate, not defy; And, while he marches on with righteous hope, Conqueror beloved ! expected anxiously! The vacillating Bondman of the Pope, Shrinks from the verdict of his steadfast eye.

SACHEVERELL. A Sudden conflict rises from the swell Of a proud slavery met by tenets strained In Liberty's behalf. Fears, true or feigned, Spread through all ranks; and lo! the Sentinel Who loudest rang his pulpit larum bell, Stands at the Bar-absolved by female eyes, Mingling their Light with graver flatteries, Lavished on Him that England may rebel Against her ancient virtue. Higu apd Low, Watch-words of Party, on all tongues are rife; As if a Church, though sprung from heaven, must owe To opposites and fierce extremes her life,Not to the golden mean, and quiet tlow Of truths that soften hatred, temper strife.

PLACES OF WORSHIP.

OBLIGATIONS OF CIVIL TO RELIGIOUS LI

BERTY. ONGRATEFUL Country, if thou e'er forget

The sons who for thy civil rights have bled !
| How, like a Roman, Sidney bowed his head,
| And Russel's milder blood the scaffold wet;

But These had fallen for profiless regret
llad not thy holy Church ler Champions bred;
And claims from other worlds inspirited
The Star of Liberiy to rise. Nor yet
(Grave this within thy beart!) if spiritual things
Be lost, through apathy, or scorn, or fear,
Shalt thou thy humbler franchises support,
However hardly won or justly dear;
What came from Heaven to Ileaven by nature clings,
And, if dissevered thence, its course is short.

As star that shines dependeot upon star
Is to the sky while we look Up

in love;
As to the deep fair ships which though they move
Seem fixed, to eyes that watch them from afar ;
As to the sandy desert fountains are,
With palm groves shaded at wide intervals,
Whose fruit around the sun-burnt Native falls
Of roving tired or desultory war;
Such to this British Isle her Christian Fanes,
Each linked to each for kindred services;
Her Spires, her Steeple-towers with glittering vanes,
Far-kenned, her Chapels lurking among trees,
Where a few villagers on bended knees
Find solace which a busy world disdains.

Down a swift Stream, thus far, a bold design Have we pursued, with livelier stir of heart Than his who sees, borne forward by the Bhine, The living landscapes greet him, and depart; Sees spires fast sinking-up again to start ! And strives the towers to number, that recline O'er the dark steeps, or on the horizon line Striding with shattered crests the eye athwart;So have wc hurried on with troubled pleasure :

PASTORAL CHARACTER.

A GENIAL hearth, a hospitable board, . And a refined rusticity, belong

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