itself) The budding rose above the rose full blown. What temper at the prospect did not wake To happiness unthought of ? The inert Were roused, and lively natures rapt away! 20 They who had fed their childhood upon dreams, The playfellows of fancy, who had made All powers of swiftness, subtilty, and strength Their ministers,--who in lordly wise had stirred [5] Among the grandest objects of the sense, 25 And dealt [6] with whatsoever they found there As if they had within some lurking right To wield it;--they, too, who, of gentle mood, Had watched all gentle motions, and to these Had fitted their own thoughts, schemers more mild, 30 And in the region of their peaceful selves;-- 72 Now was it that both [7] found, the meek and lofty Did both find, helpers to their heart's desire, And stuff at hand, plastic as they could wish; Were called upon to exercise their skill, 35 Not in Utopia, subterranean [8] fields, Or some secreted island, Heaven knows where! But in the very world, which is the world Of all of us,--the place where in the end We find our happiness, or not at all! 40 * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: "were" omitted from the 1820 edition only.] [Variant 2: 1809. ... us ... 'The Prelude', 1850.] [Variant 3: 73 1815. ... Enchanter ... 1809.] [Variant 4: 1832. (To take an image which was felt no doubt 1809. (As at some moments might not be unfelt 'The Prelude', 1850.] [Variant 5: 1815. Their ministers--used to stir in lordly wise 1809.] [Variant 6: 1815. And deal ... 1809.] [Variant 7: "both" 'italicised' from 1815 to 1832, and also in 'The 74 Prelude'.] [Variant 8: 1832 ... subterraneous ... 1809.] Compare Coleridge's remarks in 'The Friend', vol. ii. p. 38, before quoting this poem, "My feelings and imagination did not remain unkindled in this general conflagration; and I confess I should be more inclined to be ashamed than proud of myself if they had! I was a sharer in the general vortex, though my little world described the path of its revolution in an orbit of its own,"
etc. Ed. * 75 ODE TO DUTY Composed 1805.--Published 1807 "Jam non consilio bonus, sed more eA2 perductus, ut non tantum rectA facere possim, sed nisi rectA facere non possim." [A] [This Ode is on the model of Gray's 'Ode to Adversity', which is copied from Horace's Ode to Fortune. Many and many a time have I been twitted by my wife and sister for having forgotten this dedication of myself to the stern lawgiver. Transgressor indeed I have been from hour to hour, from day to day: I would fain hope, however, not more flagrantly, or in a worse way than most of my tuneful brethren. But these last words are in a wrong strain. We should be rigorous to ourselves, and forbearing, if not indulgent, to others; and, if we make comparison at all, it ought to be with those who have morally excelled us.--I. F.] In pencil on the MS., "But is not the first stanza of Gray's from a chorus of Aschylus? And is not Horace's Ode also modelled on the Greek?" 76 This poem was placed by Wordsworth among his "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--Ed. Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! O Duty! if that name thou love Who art a light to guide, a rod To check the erring, and reprove; Thou, who art victory and law 5 When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free; And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity! [1] There are who ask not if thine eye Be on them; who, in love and truth, 10 Where no misgiving is, rely Upon the genial sense of youth: [B] Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do thy work, [2] and know it not: Oh, if through confidence misplaced 15 They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power! around them cast. [3] Serene will be our days and bright, And happy will our nature be, When love is an unerring light, And joy its own security. 20 And they a blissful course may hold 77 Even now, who, not unwisely bold, [4] Live in the spirit of this creed; Yet seek thy firm support, [5] according to their need. I, loving freedom, and untried; 25 No sport of every random gust, Yet being to myself a guide, Too blindly have reposed my trust: And oft, when in my heart was heard Thy timely mandate, I deferred 30 The task, in smoother walks to stray; [6] But thee I now [7] would serve more strictly, if I may. Through no disturbance of my soul, Or strong compunction in me wrought, I supplicate for thy control; 35 But in the quietness of thought: Me this unchartered freedom tires; [C] I feel the weight of chance-desires: My hopes no more must change their name, I long for a repose that [8] ever is the same. 40 [9] Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear The Godhead's most benignant grace; Nor know we any thing so [10] fair As is the smile upon thy face: [D] Flowers laugh before thee on their beds 45 And fragrance in thy footing treads; [E] Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; 78 And the most ancient heavens, through Thee, are fresh and strong. To humbler functions, awful Power! I call thee: I myself commend 50 Unto thy guidance from this hour; Oh, let my weakness have an end! Give unto me, made lowly wise, The spirit of self-sacrifice; The confidence of reason give; 55 And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live! [F] * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1815 From strife and from despair; a glorious ministry. 1807.] [Variant 2: ... the right ... MS. 79 ... thy will ... MS.] [Variant 3: 1837. May joy be theirs while life shall last! And Thou, if they should totter, teach them to stand fast! 1807. Long may the kindly impulse last! But Thou, ... 1827. And may that genial sense remain, when youth is past. MS.] [Variant 4: 1827. And bless'd are they who in the main This faith, even now, do entertain: 1807. Even now this creed do entertain MS. This holy creed do entertain MS.] [Variant 5: 80 1845. Yet find that other strength, ... 1807. Yet find thy firm support, ... 1837.] [Variant 6: 1827. Resolved that nothing e'er should press Upon my present happiness, I shoved unwelcome tasks away; 1807. Full oft, when in my heart was heard Thy timely mandate, I deferred The task imposed, from day to day; 1815.] [Variant 7: But henceforth I would ... MS.] [Variant 8: 1827. 81 ... which ... 1807.] [Variant 9: Yet not the less would I throughout Still act according to the voice Of my own wish; and feel past doubt That my submissiveness was choice: Not seeking in the school of pride For "precepts over dignified," Denial and restraint I prize No farther than they breed a second Will more wise. Only in the edition of 1807.] [Variant 10: ... more ... MS.] * FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT 82 [Footnote A: This motto was added in the edition of 1837.--Ed.] [Footnote B: Compare S. T. C. in 'The Friend' (edition 1818, vol. iii. p. 62), "Its instinct, its safety, its benefit, its glory is to love, to admire, to feel, and to labour." Ed.] [Footnote C: Compare Churchill's 'Gotham', i. 49: 'An Englishman in chartered freedom born.' Ed.] [Footnote D: Compare in 'Sartor Resartus', "Happy he for whom a kind of heavenly sun brightens it [Necessity] into a ring of Duty, and plays round it with beautiful prismatic refractions." Ed.] [Footnote E: Compare Persius, 'Satura', ii. l. 38: 83 'Quidquic calcaverit hic, rosa fiat.' And Ben Jonson, in 'The Sad Shepherd', act I. scene i. ll. 8, 9: 'And where she went, the flowers took thickest root, As she had sow'd them with her odorous foot.' Also, a similar reference to Aphrodite in Hesiod, 'Theogony', vv. 192 'seq.'--Ed.] [Footnote F: Compare S. T. C. in 'The Friend' (edition 1818), vol. iii. p. 64.--Ed.] Mr. J. R. Tutin has supplied me with the text of a proof copy of the sheets of the edition of 1807, which was cancelled by Wordsworth, in which the following stanzas take the place of the first four of that edition: 'There are who tread a blameless way In purity, and love, and truth, Though resting on no better stay Than on the genial sense of youth: Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot; Who do the right, and know it not: 84 May joy be theirs while life shall last And may a genial sense remain, when youth is past. Serene would be our days and bright; And happy would our nature be; If Love were an unerring light; And Joy its own security. And bless'd are they who in the main, This creed, even now, do entertain, Do in this spirit live; yet know That Man hath other hopes; strength which elsewhere must grow. I, loving freedom, and untried; No sport of every random gust, Yet being to myself a guide, Too blindly have reposed my trust; Resolv'd that nothing e'er should press Upon my present happiness, I shov'd unwelcome tasks away: But henceforth I would serve; and strictly if I may. O Power of DUTY! sent from God To enforce on earth his high behest, And keep us faithful to the road Which conscience hath pronounc'd the best: Thou, who art Victory and Law When empty terrors overawe; From vain temptations dost set free, From Strife, and from Despair, a glorious Ministry! [G]' 85 Ed. [Footnote G: In the original MS. sent to the printer, I find that this stanza was transcribed by Coleridge.--Ed.] * TO A SKYLARK Composed 1805.--Published 1807 [Rydal Mount, 1825. [A]--I. F.] In pencil opposite, "Where there are no skylarks; but the poet is everywhere." 86 In the edition of 1807 this is No. 2 of the "Poems, composed during a Tour, chiefly on foot." [B] In 1815 it became one of the "Poems of the Fancy."--Ed. Up with me! up with me into the clouds! For thy song, Lark, is strong; Up with me, up with me into the clouds! Singing, singing, With clouds and sky [1] about thee ringing, 5 Lift me, guide me till I find That spot which seems so to thy mind! I have walked through wildernesses dreary, And [2] to-day my heart is weary; Had I now the wings [3] of a Faery, 10 Up to thee would I fly. There is madness about thee, and joy divine In that song
