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Between his hands he holds a smooth blue stone,
On whose capacious surface see outspread
Large store of gleaming crimson-spotted trouts;
Ranged side by side, and lessening by degrees
Up to the dwarf that tops the pinnacle.
Upon the board he lays the sky-blue stone

With its rich freight; their number he proclaims;
Tells from what pool the noblest had been dragged ;
And where the very monarch of the brook,
After long struggle, had escaped at last-
Stealing alternately at them and us

(As doth his comrade too) a look of pride :
And, verily, the silent creatures made
A splendid sight, together thus exposed;
Dead-but not sullied or deformed by death,
That seemed to pity what he could not spare.

But O, the animation in the mien
Of those two boys! yea in the very words
With which the young narrator was inspired,
When, as our questions led, he told at large
Of that day's prowess! Him might I compare,
His looks, tones, gestures, eager eloquence,
To a bold brook that splits for better speed,
And at the self-same moment, works its way
Through many channels, ever and anon
Parted and re-united: his compeer

To the still lake, whose stillness is to sight
As beautiful-as grateful to the mind.

-But to what object shall the lovely girl

Be likened? She whose countenance and air
Unite the graceful qualities of both,

Even as she shares the pride and joy of both.

My grey-haired Friend was moved; his vivid eye
Glistened with tenderness; his mind, I knew,
Was full; and had, I doubted not, returned,
Upon this impulse, to the theme-erewhile
Abruptly broken off. The ruddy boys

Withdrew, on summons to their well-earned meal;
And He-to whom all tongues resigned their rights
With willingness, to whom the general ear
Listened with readier patience than to strain

Of music, lute or harp, a long delight

That ceased not when his voice had ceased-as One

Who from truth's central point serenely views

The compass of his argument-began

Mildly, and with a clear and steady tone.

END OF THE EIGHTH BOOK.

THE EXCURSION.

BOOK IX.

DISCOURSE OF THE WANDERER, &c.

ARGUMENT.

Page 315, Wanderer asserts that an active principle pervades the Universe, its noblest seat the human soul-316, How lively this principle is in childhood-316, Hence the delight in old Age of looking back upon Childhood-316, The dignity, powers, and privileges of Age asserted-318, These not to be looked for generally but under a just government-319, Right of a human Creature to be exempt from being considered as a mere Instrument-320, The condition of multitudes deplored_320, Former conversation recurred to, and the Wanderer's opinions set in a clearer light-322, Truth placed within reach of the humblest-323, Equality-324, Happy state of the two Boys again adverted to-325, Earnest wish expressed for a System of National Education established universally by Government— 327, Glorious effects of this foretold-330, Walk to the Lake -335, Grand spectacle from the side of a hill-337, Address of Priest to the Supreme Being-339, in the course of which he contrasts with ancient Barbarism the present appearance of the scene before him-340, The change ascribed to Christianity340, Apostrophe to his flock, living and dead-341, Gratitude to the Almighty-342, Return over the Lake-342, Parting with the Solitary-342, Under what circumstances.

BOOK NINTH.

DISCOURSE OF THE WANDERER, AND AN
EVENING VISIT TO THE LAKE.

"To every Form of being is assigned,"
Thus calmly spake the venerable Sage,
"An active Principle:-howe'er removed
From sense and observation, it subsists
In all things, in all natures; in the stars
Of azure heaven, the unenduring clouds,
In flower and tree, in every pebbly stone
That paves the brooks, the stationary rocks,
The moving waters, and the invisible air.
Whate'er exists hath properties that spread
Beyond itself, communicating good,
A simple blessing, or with evil mixed;
Spirit that knows no insulated spot,
No chasm, no solitude; from link to link
It circulates, the Soul of all the worlds.
This is the freedom of the universe;
Unfolded still the more, more visible,

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