A PPA R E LLE D
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LI G H T
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N
T I MA T I O
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NS
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LO T H R O P
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VV O R D S W O RT H
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M M O R T A LI T Y
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ND
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M PA NY
S T RE E T S
W I LLI A M W O
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NOTE
A"TH OR S
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H I S was c o m p o s ed d u r i n g m y r e s id e n ce at T wn n d G r a s
at lea s t p a s s e d bet wee n t h e wr iti n g f t h e
T wo yea r
mere
fo u r fi r s t s ta n za s a n d t h e r e m ai n i n g p a r t T o t h e atte n tive
a n d c o m p ete n t r ead e r t h e wh o le s u ffi cie n tly e x p lai n it s elf ; but
t h e r e m a y be n o h a r m in ad ve r ti n g h e r e t o p a r tic u la r feeli n gs
m
i
n
d
o n wh ic h
t
h
e
o wn
s t r u ct u r e o f t h e
of m
o r e xp e i e n c es
y
p o e m p a r tly r e s t s No t h i n g was m o r e d i ffi cult fo m e in c h i ld
h o o d t h a n t o ad m it t h e n o ti n o f d eat h a s a s tate a p p licable
I h av e s aid el s w h e r e
t o m y o wn bei n g
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A n d feel s it s life ln eve r y li m b
"
W h at s h o ul d it k n o w o f d eat h "
A
s
,
,
,
B ut it wa s n o t s m uc h f r o m feeli n g s o f a n i m al v iv acit y
t h at m y d iffic u lty ca m e a s f r o m a s e n s e o f t h e i n d o m it a ble
n e s s o f t h e s p i r it wit h i n m e
I u s ed t o b r o o d o ve r t h e s t
o f E n o c h an d
E li j a h a n d al m o s t t o p e r u ad e m y s elf t h at
rie s
W h atev e r m ig h t bec o m e o f o t h e r s I s h o u ld be t r a n s lated i n
s o m et h i n g o f t h e
h eave n W it h a feeli n g o n
to
s a m e wa y
ge n ial t o t h i s I was o fte n u n abl e t o t h i n k o f e xte r n al t h i n g s
as
h avi n g exte r n al exi s te n ce a n d I c o m m u n ed wit h all t h at I
s aw as
a p a r t f r o m b u t i n h e r e n t i n m y o wn
s o m et h i n g
no t
i m m ate r i al n atu r e Ma n y ti m e s wh ile g o i n g t o s c h o o l h av e I
g r a s p ed at a wall o r t r ee t r ecall m y s elf f r o m t h i s aby s s o f
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deal i s m t o t h e r eality A t t h at ti m e I was af r ai d o f
p r o ce s s e s I n l ate r p e r i o d s o f life I h ave d e p l o r ed as w
al l r ea o n t o d o a u b j u gati o n o f a n o p p o s ite c h a r acte r
h av e r ej o iced o ve r t h e r e m e m b r a n ce s a s is e x p r e s s ed in
l i n es
i
.
.
e
,
s
s
,
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,
uch
h ave
an d
the
s
,
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q u e ti o n i n g
t h i n gs
o u t wa r d
va n i h i n g
e n s e a nd
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Of
s
-
s
s
,
us ,
s
s
"
.
t h at d r eam like v iv id n e s a n d s p le n d o r wh ic h n v e s t o h
f
ood
s ig h t i n
e
ct
c
h
ild
h
ev
e
r
y
one
I believ e if h e w u ld
j
l o o k back c o uld bea r te t i m o n y a n d I n ee d n o t d well u p n
it h e r e ; b u t h avi n g in t h e p o e m r ega r d ed it a 1 e s m pt i e
ev id e n ce o f a p r i o r s tate o f e x i s te n ce I t h i n k it r ig h t t p
te s t agai n s t a c o n cl u s i o n wh ic h ha s give n p ai n t o m e g d
a n d p i o u s p e r s o n s t h at I m ea n t t o i n c u lcate s u c h a belief
It is fa r t o o s h ad o wy a n o ti o n t o be r ec m m e n d ed t o fait h
as
m o r e t h a n a n el e m e n t in o
i n s ti n ct s o f i m m o r tality Bu t
let u s bea r i n m i n d t h at t ho ug h t h e id ea is n o t ad va n ced i n
r ev el ati o n t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t h e r e t o c n t r ad ict it a n d t h e fall
p r e s e n t a n a n al o gy i n it s fav o r A cc o r d i n gly a p r e
o f m an
exi s te n t s tate has e n te r ed i n t o t h e p o p ula r c r eed s o f m a n y
n ati o n s ; a n d am o n g all p e r s o n s acq u ai n t ed wit h cl a s s ic lite r a
tu r e is k n o wn a s a n i n g r ed ie n t i n Plat o n ic p h il o s p h y A r c h i
m ed e s s aid t h at h e c o u ld m o ve t h e wo r ld if h e h ad a p o i n t
W ho ha s n o t felt t he s a m e a s
w h e r e o n t o r e s t his m ac h i n e
p i r ati o n s a r ega r d s t h e wo r ld o f his o wn m i n d " H a v m g t o
wi eld s o m e o f it s ele m e n t w h e n I wa s i m p elled t o wr ite t h i s
p o e m o n t h e I m m o r tality o f t h e S l I t o o k ho ld o f t h e
n ti o n o f p r e e x i s te n ce a h av i n g s u ffi cie n t f o u n d ati o n in h
m a n ity fo
a u t h o r izi n g m e t o m ake fo m y p u r p o s e t h e be s t
use
o f it
I c o u ld a s a p o et
To
s
-
s
o
i
,
,
s
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N
I LL"S TRA TI O S
S "B JE C T
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A RT I S T
.
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F C H I LD E IIA S S A M
‘
.
e C tta g e
Do v
o
\V i llia m
a
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Gr
R
r
s
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P
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o r t ra
it
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OM
A
H
ENR
Y
amb
d
ie
t ab
A n d t he Ba
be l ea p
s up on
s
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his
d
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a rm
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li t le C h i l d
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Of h e
t
av
’
n
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or
or o
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on
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in
g
’
t hy b e m g s
t h ug h t f pa t y ea
Pe pe t u a l be dicti
The
o
s o
r
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t h a t pi pe
ne
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rs
th
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ng r v i n g
e
by G
o rg
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ee d
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i
eL
RRE
SM
a
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.
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t h t pl a y
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ee
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a nd
Jo
h
S c ho e le h
‘
n
.
S
E D LE Y
.
RE
B H"M PH
on
and y e
E
XV M S T J O H NH A
h e g ht
in m e d o
D
.
.
.
.
the m i ht
us
G
Mi s s L
.
o n.
N
B H"M PH
.
A nd wh l t he y o u ng l
’
A s t o t im
e
o r s s o un
N N
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N ET C H I
BI A R G A R E T GI LLI
or r
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E ( E g l a d ) t h u g h wh e
S
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c u te y b
P fe
t h e w p t ait f W d
S
f fi
T h ey m f m a
t
t h i l u me
f m the
w th i
gi e
ph t g a p h
i g i a l p e pa ed f t h e m e m be f t h e S ci et y
ami
f t h e S ciet y ( N
It m y
t b
qu te h e e f m t h e T a act i
what i
aid f t h e I m a p t ait wh ic h t f m e t we ty e e
i de ed t h e be t llk
Th t ru e m
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YV d w t h him e l f c
f m
he w
h e l i ed d m ed a m g t h e
the
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ff g
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pict u e
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s o ns
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ro
FRO M RE C O LLE C T I O NS OF
C H I LD H O O D
E A R LY
/
Child is f a t h e r o f t h e M a n ;
A n d I c o u ld wi s h m y d ay s t o be
B o u n d e a c h t o eac h by n at u r al p iet y
T he
t
st
r ea m
A p p are ll ed i n
T he
.
o ry
l
g
c
ele s tia l light
d the fre s hn e s s
an
of
a
d r ea m
.
.
1
6
NTI /11 A Tfo Ns
‘
I
Lo o k
OF i M M Ofe TA M T V
r ou n d h e r w he n th e h e a v e n s a r e b a r e
RE C O LL E C TI ONS
FR O M
Nw
o
,
w hile the bi r d s th u s
w h il e
A nd
the
s
t o th e tab o r
‘
s
‘
so u
m e al o n e t he r e c a m e a
CHI LD HO OD
i n g a j o y o us
nd
so
1
.
ng
9
,
bo u n d
y o u n g la m b s
'
As
To
OF E A R L Y
,
t h o u g ht
o
f
g r ief
A ti m el y u tte r a n ce g av e th a t th o u g ht r el ief
,
An d
I
a g ai n a m
s
tro n g
T h e cata r a ct s b lo w th ei r t r u m p et s fr o m th e
N
o
mo r e
I he a r
s
th e
h al l g r i ef
E c ho e s
Th e Wi n d s co m e
And
s
th e ea r th
an d
them s elve s
fi eld s
is
g ay ;
to
lity
j
se a
up
A n d w ith t he hea r t
ol
of
teep ;
eas o n w r o n g ;
m o u n tai n s
m e fr o m th e
La n d
G ive
m i n e th e
th r o u g h th e
to
a ll
of
s
,
Ma y
th r o n g
of s
l e ep
20
S ho ut
NTL II A TZ ONS
[
’
r o u n d me
,
A nd
s
-
l et m e h ea r
h appy S he phe rd
Th is
I AI OR TA LI T V
OF [JL
-
bo y
w ee t May
th e C hil d r e n
O n eve r y
s
i de
,
th
"
-
mo r
ning
are
c u ll i n g
,
A
ND
THE
B
A BE
LE A Bs
"P
ON
H IS
MO
T H ER S
’
ARM
.
FR O M
F res h
fl o we r s ;
I
on
his
C
HI LD H O OD
s un
s
M o th e r
,
’
arm :
s
,
’
s
a T r ee
,
of
ma n y
,
i n gl e F iel d w hich I ha v e l o o ked up o n
B o th
o
f
the m
s
D o th
W hithe r
W he r e
is
the
is fl e d
1t
of so
no
s
so
ul
is
,
go n e
a m e tale r e p eat :
th e vi s i o n a r y g lea m "
w, the g l o r y a n d th e d r eam "
V
bi r th
m ethi n g that
o ne,
Pa n s y at my fe et
T he
’
p e ak
is
but a
t hat
s
.
l eep a n d a
r i s e s with
us,
our
H a t hh a d e l s e w h e r e it s
A nd
Nt
o
And
life
s
’
s
c o m eth fr o m a
i n e n ti r e fo r g etfu l n e s s
no t
in
u
S ta r ,
etti n g
,
tte r n a k ed n e s s
,
.
2
3
hi n e s wa r m
h e a r I h e a r w ith j o y I hea r "
B u t th e r e
s
E A RL S"
w hil e th e
A n d the B ab e l eap s u p
A
OF
R E C OLL E C TI O/VS
,
,
2
NTL l/ A TI ONS
[
4
OF [ill /MOR TA LI T Y
’
Bu t t r aili n g cl o u d s
of
F r o m G o d who
is
,
H e a v e n l ie s
S h ad e s
of
ab o u t
th e p r i
us
so
do
glo r y
in
we
our
o ur
c o me
ho m e
in fa n e y '
n h o u s e b egi n
-
clo s e
to
Bu t h e beh o ld s th e li g ht a n d w he n ce it
,
He
s
ee s it i n his j o y
fl o ws
;
T he Y o u th who dail y fa r th e r fr o m th e ea s t
,
M u s t t r a v el
,
s
till
A n d by the v i s i o n
Is
on
his
Nat u r e
is
s
of
,
he r l ap w ith pl ea s u r e s
Yea r
s
hath i n he r
a
wa
c o mm o n day
E a r th fi ll s
he
Pr ie s t
w ay atte n ded ;
fade i n t o th e l i g ht
n i n gs
s
p le n did
A t l e n gth th e Ma n p e r ceive s it die
And
’
o
of
he r
o
wn ;
wn n at u r al k i n d ,
FR O/W R E C OLLE C T/O/VS
A n d e v e n w ith
And
so
no
u
EA RL Y CHI LD H O O D
of
m ethi n g
a M o th e r
n w o r thy ai m
T h e h o m ely
To
OF
Nu r
s
’
mi n d
s
,
a ll s he
e d o th
ca n
m ake h e r F o s te r ch ild h e r I n m ate Ma n
-
.
,
,
F o r g et th e g l o r ie s h e hath k n o w n
.
A n d th at i m p e r i al p al ace w h e n ce he c a m e
B eh o l d t he C hil d a m o n g his n e w b o r n b l i s s e s
-
D a r li n g
A
See ,
w he r e m id w o r k
’
F r etted by
s
all ie s
of
of
a pi gm y
of
his
i e"
s z
wn h a n d h e l ie s ,
o
his m o the r
’
s
kis s es
W ith li g ht u p o n h i m fr o m his fathe r
Se e ,
at his feet
S h ap e d
,
so
m e l itt l e p l a n
’
s
,
eye s "
o r c hart ,
by hi m s e l f w ith n e w l y lea r n ed a r t :
-
2
7
28
I
NTI /II A TI ONS
OF f Mfl [OR TA L[ T Y
A n d thi s h ath
.
no
w
his
A n d u n t o thi s h e fr am e s
T he n w ill h e
B u t it w ill
A nd
not
fi t his
.
he a r t
his
,
so
ng
,
to n gue
be lo n g
w ith n e w j o y a n d p r ide
T h e l ittl e A ct o r c o n s a n o th e r p a r t ;
Fi l l i n g fr o m ti m e
to
ti m e his
W ith al l th e Pe r s o n s d o w n
,
h umo r o us
to
sta
p al s ied Ag e
T h at Life b r i n g s w ith h e r i n h e r e qu ip a g e
As
if his w h o l e v o cati o n
W e r e e n d l e s s i m itati o n
.
,
,
e
T H O" L I TT L E C H I LD YET G L O R I O "S I N TH E M I G HT
BORN FR EE D O M O N T H Y BE I N G S H E I G H T
O F H E A V EN —
,
’
.
FR O/II
Tho u,
RE C OLL E C TI ONS
w h o s e e x te r i o r
T hy S o u l
s
OF
E A RL Y CHI LD HO OD
e m bl a n ce d o th beli e
i mm e n s ity ;
’
s
T h o u be s t Phil o s o p h e r who yet d o s t k ee p
,
T hy h e r i t age th o u
,
That , deaf a n d
s
Ey e
il e n t
a m o n g th e b l i n d
re a d s t
’
,
th e ete r n a l de e p
H a u n te d fo r e v e r by th e ete r n al m i n d
,
,
Might y p r o ph et "S ee r ble s t "
On
w h o m th o s e t r u th s
W hich w e a r e t o il i n g all
In
ou r
,
,
o
r e s t,
l ive s t o fi n d ,
da r k n e s s l o s t th e da r k n e s s
Th o u
do
of
th e g r a v e ;
ve r w h o m thy Imm o r ta l ity
B r o o d s l i k e th e D ay a Ma s te r
,
A Pr e s e n c e w hi ch
is
not
to
’
o er
a S l a ve
,
b e p u t by ;
T h o u l ittl e C hil d y et gl o r i o u s i n th e m ight
,
O f he ave n b o r n fr eed o m
-
on
thy bei n g s h ei g ht
’
,
.
3T
I
32
NTI IIJ A TI OI VS
W hy w ith
s
T he yea r s
to
OF I IIL II OR TA LI T Y
’
u ch e a r n e s t p a i n s d o s t th o u p r o v o k e
b r i n g th e i n evitabl e y o ke
T h u s bl i n dly
W i th
thy bl e s s ed n e s s at
n thy S o u l
s
,
t r ife "
hall h ave h e r ea r thl y f
F ul l
soo
A nd
c u s t o m l i e u p o n the e w ith a w ei g ht
e av y
s
fr o s t a n d deep al m o s t
as
,
t h at i n
O j oy "
Is
so
W h at wa s
T h e th o u ght
Fo r th at w hich
is
-
fu gitive "
:
not
a n d l ibe r ty th e
s
,
w fl e d g e d h o pe s
-
s
to
be bl e s t ;
i m pl e c r eed
,
ne
i n deed
m o s t w o r th y
O f C hil dh o o d w heth e r b u s y
W ith
,
p a s t yea r s i n m e d o th b r eed
Pe r p et u a l be n e dicti o n
D eli g ht
e mb e r s
y et r e m e m be r s
so
of our
life "
as
m ethi n g th at d o th l i v e
Nat u r e
T hat
o ur
,
till
or
at r e s t
fl u tte r i n g
i n his b r ea s t
PR OA/
I i E C OLL E C TI O/VS
'
’
Nt
fo r
T he
so
o
OF
E A RL Y CHI LD HOOD
th e s e I r ai s e
ng
of
th a n k s
an
d
p r ai s e ;
W h ich b e the y w h at th e y may
,
A r e yet th e fo u n t ai n li g ht
of
al l
A r e yet a m a s te r l i ght
al l
our s
"ph o l d
O ur
us,
ch e r i s h
n o i s y ye a r s
‘
.
s
,
of
an d
,
our
e ei n g ;
h a ve p o w e r
ee m m o m e n t s
in
d ay ,
to
m ak e
th e bei n g
35
O ui S o ul s
h ave
‘ V hic h
And
(I
see
s
i g ht
o
f
b r o u g ht
th e C hild r e n
s
th at i m m o r tal
us
se a
h ith e r
p o r t u p o n th e
s
ho r e
,
he a r the m
B i r ds
,
Si
ng
,
s mg
a
J
o
yo us
l et th e y o u n g l a m b s b o u n d
so
ng"
YE
T HA T PI PE
.
A
ND
YE
T HA T PLA Y
.
Y e t h at
th r o u g h y o u r h ea r t s
Feel the gl ad n e s s
of
to
day
-
th e Ma y "
“Th at th o u gh th e r adia n ce w hich wa s
o
n ce
so
b r i g ht
T h o u g h n o thi n g ca n b r i n g b ack th e h o u r
Of
s
p le n d o r i n th e g r a s s
W e w il l g r ieve
S t r e n gth in
In
,
of
not,
g l o r y i n th e
r athe r
flo we r
:
find
w h at r e m ai n s b eh i n d ;
the p r i m al
s
y m p ath y
W hich h av i n g be e n mu s t e v e r b e ;
In
In
the
In
th e faith th at l o o k s t hr o u gh
soo
thi n g th o u ght s th at
y e a r s th at b r i n g the
A nd C
,
F o r b o de
h
i
l
o s 0 phic
p
s
pring
mi n d
d e ath
.
y e F o u n ta in s Mea d o w s H ill s a n d G r o v e s
,
not
a ny
s
eve r i n g
,
o
f
o ur
,
l o ve s "
,
I
40
I
o
NTI /WA TI OIVS
OF [Ill /MOR TA LI T Y
.
n l y h ave r e li n qu i s h e d
E ve n
o ne
deli g ht
m o r e th a n w he n I t r ipped li g h tl y
Is
l o vely y et ;
T he C l o u d s th at g a the r r o u n d th e
Do
take
a
so
be r
’
o er
A n o th e r r a ce h ath bee n
t he
s un
ma n
and
,
o
m o r t a l ity
’
s
;
th e r p al m s a r e wo n
th e h u m a n h e a r t b y w hich w e l ive
T h a n k s t o it s t e n de r
me
tti n g
l r i n g fro m a n e y e
T hat h at h kept w atch
To
se
co o
'
T ha n k s t o
the y ;
as
m ea n es t
T h o u ght s th at
do
o
n es s
flo
,
it s
s
y
j
o
,
an d
w e r that bl o w s
fte n h e
to o
fea r s
c an
d eep fo r
,
,
g ive
tea r s
.
.
NOTES
by
[FRO M
Wi l l i a
Pro
fe
t h e ed i ti
m " ig h t
n
ss o r o f
.
e t ica l W k (Edi b u g h
edi t ed
S ec eta y f t h e \V d w t h S ciet y ( E g la d ) d
LL D
a l P h l ph y S t A d e w S c t l a d "
\Vo rd s wo rt h s
of
on
.
,
Mo r
’
'
.
r
,
i o so
or
o
r
n
.
,
Po
r
s,
or
s
n
.
o
s
n
or
o
r
,
n
n
,
an
ed iti o n o f 1 8 07 c o n clu d ed wit h t h i s p o e m wh ic h W o r d s
Paul o
wo r t h s i m p ly n a m e d Ocle pre fi x ing t o it t h e m o tt o
I n 1 8 1 5 w h e n h e r ev i s ed t h e p o e m t h r o ug h
m aj o a c a n a m u s
h e n a m e d it in t h e c h a r acte r i s tic m a n n e r o f m a n y o f his
o t
title s — d iffu s e a n d yet p r eci s e — Od e I t im a t i o n s of I mm o r
E a rly
and h e then
C hi ld /m d
t a li ty fr o m R e c o llec t i o n s
of
p r efi x e d t o it t h e l i n e s o f his o wn ea r lie r p e m o n t h e R ai n
bo w ( Ma r c h
1 802)
TH E
,
“
,
,
-
u
’
r
,
.
,
,
n
.
o
,
o
,
c h ild is Fat h e r o f t h e Ma n ;
A n d I c o uld wi s h m y d ay s t o be
B o u n d eac h t o eac h by n atu r al p iet y
T he
T h is
l o n ge r titl e a n d
e d iti o n s
mo
tt o it r etai n ed
in
.
all t h e
s
ub s eque n t
.
at i n te r v al s bet wee n
t h e yea r s 1 8 03 a n d 1 8 06 ; a n d it was s u b j ecte d t o f r eque n t
a n d ca r efu l r e v i s i o n
No p o e m o f i V o d s wo t h s bea r s m o r e
e vide n t t r ace s in it s s t r u ct u r e at o n ce o f i n s p i r ati o n a n d
el ab o r ati o n ; o f o r igi n al fl ig h t o f t h o u g h t an d q fila tu s o n t h e
o ne
h a n d a n d o n t h e o t h e r o f ca r ef u l s cul p tu r e a n d fa s tid i o u s
c h o ice o f p h r a s e
B ut it is r e m a r kabl e t h at t h e r e a r e ve r y
fe w c h a n ge s o f text in t h e s u cce ive editi o n s
Mo st o f t h e
T he
Od e
on
I mm o rt a li ty
was wr itte n
'
.
,
r
r
,
.
ss
.
’
44
alte r ati o n s we r e m ad e bef o r e 1 8 1 5 a n d t h e o m i s s i o n o f s o m e
feeble li n e s w h ic h
r igi n ally s t o d in s ta n za v i ii in t h e
ed iti o n s o f 1 8 07 n d 1 8 1 5 wa a g r eat adva n tage in d is e n
cu m be r i n g t h e p o e m T h m ai n r e vi i o n n d elab o r ati o n o f
t h i s Od e h o we ve r —
elab o r ati o n wh ic h u gge s t s t h e p a s s age o f
t h e g lacie r ice o ve r t h e r o ck s o f W h ite M o C o m m o n wh e r e
t h e p o e m wa s m u r m u r e d o t s ta n za by s ta n za — wa s all fi n
is he d bef o r e it fi r s t s a w t he lig h t i n 1 8 07
I n f o r m it is i r
r eg u la r a n d o r igi n al A n d p r h a p s t h e m o t r e m a r kable t h i n g
in it s s t r u ct u r e is t h e f r eq u e n t c h a n ge o f t h e key n o te a n d t h e
a n d d elicac y wit h w h ic h t he t r a n iti o n s a r e m ade
T he
s kill
feet t h r o ug h o u t a r e i a m bic T he li n e s v a r y in le n gt h f r m t h e
T h e r e i s a c o n s ta n t
A le x a n d r i n e t o t h e li n e wit h t w a cce n t s
ebb a n d fl o w in t h e f u l l t id e o f n g b u t s ca r ce t wo wav e s
"
a r e alike
(H a we s T u r n e r S e lect i o n s fro m I Vo rcls wo t/t )
In t h e
n o te s t o t h e S elect i o n s j u t r efe r r ed t o t h e r e is
excelle n t c o m m e n ta r y o n t h i s Od e o n I mm o rt a li ty al m o s t
an
ev e r y l i n e o f w h ic h is wo r t h y f m i n ute a n aly s i s a n d s t u dy
u gge s ted by M r T u r n e r
S e ve r al o f t h e f o ll o wi n g a r e
,
o
o
a
.
s
,
e
.
a
s
an
,
,
s
ss
,
u
.
e
.
s
,
“
s
.
o
.
o
.
so
.
,
r
,
’
s
.
,
,
o
.
s
( L)
The wi n d s
T he m o r
co m e
.
fro m
m e,
to
t he
fi eld s
n i n g b r eeze bl wi n g f r o m t h e field s t h at
d u r i n g t h e h o u r s o f s lee p
o
.
B u t t he re
C o m p a r e B r o wn i n g s
’
O n ly
’
Jlla y
little S g h t
h ave in May
i
The p a n s y
D o t/t the
at
s a me
m a ny ,
f
o
D ea th
a nd
one
Wo o d s
t re e,
a
s
,
,
o ne
&c
my
p la n t
.
fe e t
t a le
p e a t,
re
o n e,
.
f s le ep
we r e d a r k
o
,
45
Pe n s "e
Fr e n c h
I f an z le t
"
Pa n s ie s t h at s
’
“
t h o ug h t s
fo r
,
.
Op
"
.
h elia
in
.
Ou r birt h i s
bu t
s le e
a
and
p
a
o
r e tt in ) ,
f g
g
h i s t h o ug h t W o r d s wo r t h o wed c o n s ci o u s ly o u n c o n s ci o u s ly
s
i n t h e Fe n wick n o te t h at h e
T h o u g h h e tell s
t o Plat o
d id n o t m ea n t o i n c u lca t e t he belief t h e r e is n o d u bt t h at
h e cl u n g t o t h e n o ti o n o f a life p e exi s ti n g t h e p r e s e n t o n
g r o u n d s s i m ila r t o t h o s e o n wh ic h h e bel ieved i n a l ife t o
c o m e B u t t h e r e a r e s o m e d iffe r e n ce s in t h e way in wh ic h
t h e idea c o m m e n ded it s elf t o Plat o a n d t o W o r d s wo r t h T he
wa s lai d by W r d s wo r t h n t h e effect o f te r r e s t r ial life
st r ess
i n p utti n g t h e h ig h e r fac u ltie t o lee p an d m aki n g s fo
"
Plat o o n t h e o t h e r h a n d
get t h e gl o r ie s we h av e k n o wn
l o o ked u p n t h e m i n gled ex p e r ie n ce s o f m u n d a n e life a s i n d u c
i n g a g r ad ua l but s l o w r e m e m b r a n ce o f t h e p a s t C o m p a r e
T e n n y s o n s Two V o ic es a n d W o r d s wo r t h s s o n n et
T
r
,
,
u
.
o
,
i
-
,
.
.
o
o
s
s
u
,
.
“
r
,
,
o
.
’
’
'
,
Ma n
“
’
s
l ife
F illi ng —fro m
I Vi t h
i
e
.
wit h
.
(6
the
of
t he
t im e
s
p ar row
,
tim e
to
ig h ty ki n g
m
hi s
“
hu m o ro u s
.
s ta
ge
t he p e rs o n s ,
a ll
d ra m a t i s p er s o n t e
Tho u
)
Tha t ,
T
like a
is
f
( lea
a nd
e
.
s ile n t ,
t he bli n d ,
a m ong
ye
rea d s t
’
t he
e t e rn a l
d eep ,
h e r e is a n ad m i r able p a r allel ill u s t r ati o n o f VV o rd s wo rt h s u s
t h i s figu r e ( d e s c r ibi n g o n e s e n s e i n te r m s o f a n o t h e r ) i n
li n e s in A ira Fo rce V alley
’
e
,
“
A
so
ft
e
y
e
Fu ll
s oon
A nd
cu s t o m
flea v y
as
-
m u s ic
t hy
S ou l
li e
fro s t
,
l
of s o
up o n
an d
s
w wav i n g
b ug h s
o
ha ll ha v e her
t he e
d e ep
wi th
a lm o s t
a
as
e a rt hly
g ht ,
a i ei
life "
.
fre i g ht
,
NO TE S
46
C o m p a r e wit h t h i s t h e li n e s
begi n n i n g
cu rs i o n
.
t h e fo u r t h b o o k
in
The E
of
’
,
la s "t h e e n d wm e n t
I s m atc h ed u n e q u ally
A
o
Fa lli n g s fro m
)
(8
i m m o r tal P a i n
wit h c u s t o m ti m e
of
,
v a nis
u s,
.
hin g s ,
ut wa r d s e n s ibl e n ive r s e v i s ible a n d ta n g ibl e s ee m i n g
as
s
u n r eal t o v a n i s h in u n s ub s ta n tiality
t o fal l a way f r o m
S e e t h e ex p la n ati o n o f t h i s y o ut h f u l ex p e r i e n c e in t h e Fe n
T h at c o n fe s s i o n o f his b o y i s h d ay s at H a wk h ead
wick n o te
m a n y t i m e s wh ile g o w g t o s c h o o l h av e I g r a s p ed at a wa ll
t r ee t r ecall m y s elf f r o m t h i s aby s s o f ideali s m t o t h e
o
"
r eality (by wh ic h h e ex p lai n s t h o s e
T he
u
o
u
,
,
,
,
.
s
.
,
“
,
,
r
,
o
fallm g s
f rom
u s,
v am s
hm g s ,
ugge s t s a s i m ila r ex p e r ie n ce a n d c o n fe s s i o n o f Ca r d i n al Ne w
m a n s i n his Ap o lo g ia ( S ee p
T he R e v R o be r t Pe r ceval G r ave s late o f VVin d e m e re n o w
I r e m e m be r M r W o r d s
wr o te t h u s in 1 8 5 0 :
o f D ubli n
wo rt h s ayi n g t h at a t a p a r ticula r s t age o f his m e n tal p r o g r e s s
h e u s ed t o be f r eque n tl y s o r a p t i n t o an u n r eal t a n s c e n d e n
tal wo r ld o f id ea s t h at t h e e x te r n al wo r l d s ee m ed n o l o n ge r
ex is t i n r elati o n t o him a n d h e h ad t o r ec o n v i n ce him
to
e x i te n ce by cla spi n g a tree o s o m et h i n g t h at
s elf
o f it s
h a p p e n e d t o b e n ea r him I c o u l d n o t h el p c o n n e cti n g t h i s
fact wit h t h a t o b s cu r e p a s s ag e in his g r eat O d e o n t h e I n
t im at io n s o f I m m o r tality
i n wh ic h h e s p eak s o f
s
’
.
.
r
,
,
“
,
.
,
,
r
,
’
s
,
r
.
‘
’
-
,
T h ose
b s ti n ate que s ti o n i n g s
O f s e n s e a n d o ut wa r d t h i n g s
"
Falli n g s f r o m u
v a n i s h i n gs
o
,
s,
P r o fe s s o r
B o n am y
.
P r ice fa r t h e r c o n fi r m s t h e ex p l a n ati o n
NO TE S
wh ic h
47
.
W o r d s wo r t h gav e o f t h e p a s age in a n acc o u n t o f a
c o n ve r s ati o n h e h ad wit h t h e p o et
It wa s a n e pe ri
e n ce h o we ve r n o t I t h i n k as M r Pr ice i m agi n e s p eculiar
t
VV d s wo rt h— a n d it s v al ue wo uld be m uc h le s s e n ed if it
aid t o M i s s Fe n
we r e s o — bu t o n e t o w h ic h (a s t h e p o et
ev e r y o n e if h e wo uld l o o k back c o u ld bea r te s ti
wick )
mo n y
s
,
x
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
or
o
s
“
,
,
.
Ap ri l 21 ,
O X FOR D ,
“
MY DE AR
—Y o u will be glad
SIR,
.
I
,
am
s
ure
1881
.
r ecei ve
o btai n
from
,
to
a n i n te r p r etati o n wh ic h c h a n ce e n able d m e t o
W o r d s wo r t h h i m s el f o f a p as s age in t h e i mm o r t al Od e t o I m
m o r tality
It h a p p e n ed o n e d ay t h at t h e p o et m y wife a n d I we r e
taki n g a walk t o get h e r by t h e s id e o f R yd al W ate r W e we r e
t h e n by t h e s yca m o r e s u n d e r Nab S ca r T he aged p o et was
i n a m o s t ge n ial m o o d a n d it s u dd e n l y o ccu r r ed t o m e t h at
I m i g h t wi t h o t u n wa r r a n table p r e s u m p ti o n s eize t h e g o lde n
O p p o r tu n ity
t h u s o ffe r ed a n d a s k him t o e x p lai n t h e s e m y s
t e io s
a n a p o l o gy a n d
wo r d s
S o I add r e s s ed him wit h
begge d him t o e x p lai n wh at m y o wn feeble m o t h e r Wit was
u n able t o u n r avel a n d fo w h ic h I ha d in ai n s o u g h t t h e
a s s i s ta n ce o f o t h e r wh at we r e t h o s e failing s f r o m u s a n
is hin g s
fo r w h ic h
all t h e r t h i n g h e gav e Go d
ab o v e
t h a n k s T he v e n e r abl e ld m an r ai s ed hi age d f o r m e r ec t ;
h e was walki n g in t h e m id d l e a n d p a s s ed ac r o s s m e t o a fi v e
ba r r ed gate i n t h e wal l wh ic h b o u n d ed t h e r o ad o n t h e s id e
of
t h e lake H e cl e n c h ed t h e t o p ba r fi r m l y wit h his r ig h t
h a n d p u s h ed s t r o n gl y agai n s t it a n d t h e n utte r ed t h e s e ev e r
m e m o r abl e wo r d s
T h e r e wa s a ti m e i n m y life wh e n I h ad
t o p u s h agai n s t s o m et h i n g t h at r e s i s ted
t o be s u r e t h at t h e r e
wa s a n yt h i n g o ut s id e o f m e
I was s u r e f m y o wn m i n d ;
,
,
.
“
,
,
.
.
,
u
,
,
,
r
u
,
.
-
,
r
,
r
“
s,
,
,
o
,
s,
o
.
s
,
.
,
,
:
‘
,
.
o
r
eve r y t h i n g el e f l l a way a n d v a n i s h ed i n t o t h o ug h t T h o u ght
h e wa s u r e o f; m atte r fo him at t h e m o m e n t was a n n
r eality — n o t h i n g b u t a t h o ug h t S uc h n atu r al S p o n tan e s
ideal is m h s p r bably n e ve r bee n felt by a n y o t h e r m a n
B ONA NY P R I C E
s
’
e
,
s
.
r
,
,
,
u
,
'
ou
.
a
-
o
.
.
Pr ofes s o r I
f
n i y ht
.
f o l l o wi n g is f r o m S f T C o l e r idge s B i y p hia Ji tt e
p 29 9 ed
a ri a
( c h xx i i
Od
on
t h e I n ti m ati o n s o f I mm o r t ality f r o m { e
To t h e
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