A softened roar, or murmur;1 and the sound The earth-born wanderer hath passed; and quickly, 980 985 990 Book Fourth DESPONDENCY CORRECTED ARGUMENT State of feeling produced by the foregoing Narrative—A belief in a superintending Providence the only adequate support under affliction—Wanderer's ejaculationa— Acknowledges the difficulty of a lively faith-Hence immoderate sorrow -Exhortations · How received-Wanderer applies 2 his discourse to that other cause of dejection in the Solitary's mind-Disappointment from 3 the French Revolution. States grounds of hope, and insists on the necessity of patience and fortitude with respect to the course of great revolutions — Knowledge the source of tranquillity—Rural Solitude favourable to knowledge of the inferior Creatures; Study of their habits and ways recommended; exhortation account of his own devotional feelings in youth involved— 1827. 1827. Implores that he may retain in age the power to find repose among enduring and eternal things— 1814. sorrow-but doubt or despondence not therefore to be in How these are received-Wanderer resumes—and applies 7 1827. Rural life and Solitude particularly favourable to a 1814. 1814. recommended for its influence on the affections and the imagination to bodily exertion and communion1 with Nature-Morbid Solitude pitiable 2-Superstition better than apathy-Apathy and destitution unknown in the infancy of society-The various modes of Religion prevented it-Illustrated 33 in the Jewish, Persian, Babylonian, Chaldean, and Grecian modes of belief-Solitary interposes- Wanderer points out the influence of religious and imaginative feeling in the humble ranks of society, illustrated from present and past times— These principles tend to recal exploded superstitions and popery-Wanderer rebuts this charge, and contrasts the dignities of the Imagination with the presumptuous▾ littleness of certain modern Philosophers-Recommends 8 other lights and guides-Asserts the power of the Soul to regenerate herself; Solitary asks how 9-Reply-Personal appeal 10 1 1827. and an active Communion 1814. 2 1827. a pitiable thing-If the elevated imagination cannot be exerted-try the humbler fancy— 1814. 5 1827. feeling on the mind in the humble ranks of society, in rural life especially-This illustrated 1814. 10 1836. Happy for us that the imagination and affections in our own despite mitigate the evils of that state of intellectual Exhortation to activity of body renewed-How to commune with Nature-Wanderer concludes with a1 legitimate union of the imagination, affections, understanding, and reason 2 -Effect of his discourse 3—Evening; return to the Cottage. HERE closed the Tenant of that lonely vale solitary His mournful narrative commenced in pain, In pain commenced, and ended without peace: "One adequate support Slavery which the calculating understanding is so apt to is apt to 1814. MS. Happy that the imagination and the affections mitigate 1 1827. How Nature is to be communed with 2 1827. 1827. Wanderer con 1814. the affections, the understanding, and the reason— 1814. 5 That did not falter though the heart was moved, 1814. Such pity yet surviving, with clear voice 1836. L faith in definite That the procession of our fate, howe'er And the defence that lies in boundless love Soul of our Souls, and safeguard of the world! Then, as we issued from that covert nook, Shall the Soul, 15 20 25 30 35 To heaven "How beautiful this dome of sky; Me didst thou constitute a priest of thine, 40 * In January 1849, the year before Wordsworth's death, he was asked by Mr. Francis C. Yarnall of Philadelphia for his autograph, for a lady in America; and, in reply, he wrote the four lines, beginning Soul of our Souls, and safeguard of the world! They were doubtless suggested to him at the time by the death of his own daughter. See Mr. Yarnall's paper on "Wordsworth's Influence in America," in the Transactions of the Wordsworth Society, No. v.-Ed. |