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IF thou indeed derive thy light from Heaven,
Then, to the measure of that heaven-born light
Shine, Poet! in thy place, and be content,-
The stars pre-eminent in magnitude,

And they that from the zenith dart their beams
(Visible though they be to half the earth,

Though half a sphere be conscious of their brightness) Are yet of no diviner origin,

No purer essence, than the one that burns,

Like an untended watch-fire, on the ridge

Of some dark mountain; or than those which seem
Humbly to hang, like twinkling winter lamps
Among the branches of the leafless trees;
All are the undying offspring of one Sire:
Then, to the measure of the light vouchsafed,
Shine, Poet! in thy place, and be content.

PREFATORY NOTE.

IN

N the following pages I have endeavoured to give the best of Wordsworth's earlier short poems. They are arranged, as nearly as can be ascertained, in the chronological order of their composition; the date of each poem being appended.

The earlier texts have been followed, except in a few cases where the later readings were preferable.

The present selection will, I trust, confirm the general opinion that Wordsworth's early work is his best. All the poems here given were composed between the Poet's sixteenth and fiftieth years; and the greater portion of them between the years 1798 and 1808. Wordsworth was born 1770; died 1850.

J. R. TUTIN.

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