So, westward, tow'rd the unviolated woods I bent my way; and, roaming far and wide, Failed not to greet the merry Mocking-bird; And, while the melancholy Muccawiss (The sportive bird's companion in the grove) Repeated, o'er and o'er, his plaintive cry, I sympathized at leisure with the sound; But that pure archetype of human greatness, I found him not. There, in his stead, appeared A creature, squalid, vengeful, and impure; Remorseless, and submissive to no law But superstitious fear, and abject sloth.

Enough is told! Here am I-ye have heard
What evidence I seek, and vainly seek ;
What from my fellow-beings I require,

And either they have not to give, or I
Lack virtue to receive; what I myself,
Too oft by wilful forfeiture, have lost
Nor can regain. How languidly I look
Upon this visible fabric of the world,
May be divined-perhaps it hath been said :---
But spare your pity, if there be in me
Aught that deserves respect: for I exist,
Within myself, not comfortless.-The tenour
Which my life holds, he readily may conceive
Whoe'er hath stood to watch a mountain brook
In some still passage of its course, and seen,
Within the depths of its capacious breast,
Inverted trees, rocks, clouds, and azure sky;
And, on its glassy surface, specks of foam,

And conglobated bubbles undissolved,

Numerous as stars; that, by their onward lapse,
Betray to sight the motion of the stream,
Else imperceptible. Meanwhile, is heard
A softened roar, or murmur; and the sound
Though soothing, and the little floating isles
Though beautiful, are both by Nature charged
With the same pensive office; and make known
Through what perplexing labyrinths, abrupt
Precipitations, and untoward straits,

The earth-born wanderer hath passed; and quickly,
That respite o'er, like traverses and toils
Must he again encounter.—Such a stream
Is human Life; and so the Spirit fares
In the best quiet to her course allowed
And such is mine,-save only for a hope
That my particular current soon will reach
The unfathomable gulf, where all is still!

;

END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE EXCURSION.

BOOK IV.

DESPONDENCY CORRECTED.

VOL. VII.

I

ARGUMENT.

Page 115, State of feeling produced by the foregoing Narrative—115, A belief in a superintending Providence the only adequate support under affliction—116, Wanderer's ejaculation-119, Acknowledges the difficulty of a lively faith—120, Hence immoderate sorrow— 123, Exhortations-124, How received-124, Wanderer applies his discourse to that other cause of dejection in the Solitary's mind— 125, Disappointment from the French Revolution-126, States grounds of hope, and insists on the necessity of patience and fortitude with respect to the course of great revolutions—127, Knowledge the source of tranquillity-128, Rural Solitude favourable to knowledge of the inferior Creatures; Study of their habits and ways recommended; exhortation to bodily exertion and communion with Nature-135, Morbid Solitude pitiable-136, Superstition better than apathy-138, Apathy and destitution unknown in the infancy of society-139, The various modes of Religion prevented it— 140, Illustrated in the Jewish, Persian, Babylonian, Chaldean, and Grecian modes of belief-142, Solitary interposes-143, Wanderer points out the influence of religious and imaginative feeling in the humble ranks of society, illustrated from present and past times— 147, These principies tend to recal exploded superstitions and popery-148, Wanderer rebuts this charge, and contrasts the dignities of the Imagination with the presumptive littleness of certain modern Philosophers-151, Recommends other lights and guides152, Asserts the power of the Soul to regenerate herself; Solitary asks how-154, Reply-156, Personal appeal-157, Exhortation to activity of body renewed-158, How to commune with Nature159, Wanderer concludes with a legitimate union of the imagination affections, understanding, and reason-161, Effect of his discourse161, Evening; Return to the Cottage.

BOOK FOURTH.

DESPONDENCY CORRECTED.

HERE closed the Tenant of that lonely vale
His mournful narrative-commenced in pain,
In pain commenced, and ended without peace:
Yet tempered, not unfrequently, with strains
Of native feeling, grateful to our minds
And yielding surely some relief to his,
While we sate listening with compassion due.
A pause of silence followed; then, with voice
That did not falter though the heart was moved,
The Wanderer said :—

"One adequate support

For the calamities of mortal life

Exists one only; an assured belief
That the procession of our fate, howe'er
Sad or disturbed, is ordered by a Being
Of infinite benevolence and power;
Whose everlasting purposes embrace