Part 14

"Those fervent raptures are for ever flown;[EB] And, since their date, my soul hath undergone Change manifold, for better or for worse: 125 Yet cease I not to struggle, and aspire[312] Heavenward; and chide the part of me that flags, Through sinful choice; or dread necessity On human nature from above imposed. 'Tis, by comparison, an easy task 130 Earth to despise;[EC] but, to converse with heaven-- This is not easy:--to relinquish all We have, or hope, of happiness and joy, And stand in freedom loosened from this world, I deem not arduous; but must needs confess 135 That 'tis a thing impossible to frame Conceptions equal to the soul's desires; And the most difficult of tasks to _keep_ Heights which the soul is competent to gain. --Man is of dust: ethereal hopes are his, 140 Which, when they should sustain themselves aloft, Want due consistence; like a pillar of smoke, That with majestic energy from earth Rises; but, having reached the thinner air, Melts, and dissolves, and is no longer seen. 145 From this infirmity of mortal kind Sorrow proceeds, which else were not; at least, If grief be something hallowed and ordained, If, in proportion, it be just and meet, Yet, through this weakness of the general heart, 150 Is it enabled to maintain its hold[313] In that excess which conscience disapproves. For who could sink and settle to that point Of selfishness; so senseless who could be As long[314] and perseveringly to mourn 155 For any object of his love, removed From this unstable world, if he could fix A satisfying view upon that state Of pure, imperishable, blessedness, Which reason promises, and holy writ 160 Ensures to all believers?--Yet mistrust Is of such incapacity, methinks, No natural branch; despondency far less;[315] And, least of all, is absolute despair.[316] 164 --And, if there be whose tender frames have drooped Even to the dust; apparently, through weight Of anguish unrelieved, and lack of power An agonizing sorrow to transmute; Deem not that proof is here of hope withheld[317] When wanted most; a confidence impaired 170 So pitiably, that, having ceased to see With bodily eyes, they are borne down by love Of what is lost, and perish through regret. Oh! no, the innocent Sufferer often sees[318] Too clearly; feels too vividly; and longs 175 To realize the vision, with intense And over-constant yearning;--there--there lies The excess, by which the balance is destroyed. Too, too contracted are these walls of flesh, This vital warmth too cold, these visual orbs, 180 Though inconceivably endowed, too dim For any passion of the soul that leads To ecstasy; and, all the crooked paths Of time and change disdaining, takes its course Along the line of limitless desires. 185 I, speaking now from such disorder free, Nor rapt, nor craving, but in settled peace, I cannot doubt that they whom you deplore Are glorified; or, if they sleep, shall wake From sleep, and dwell with God in endless love. 190 Hope, below this, consists not with belief In mercy, carried infinite degrees Beyond the tenderness of human hearts: Hope, below this, consists not with belief In perfect wisdom, guiding mightiest power, 195 That finds no limits but her own pure will.[319]

"Here then we rest; not fearing for our creed The worst that human reasoning can achieve, To unsettle or perplex it:[320] yet with pain Acknowledging, and grievous self-reproach, 200 That, though immovably convinced, we want Zeal, and the virtue to exist by faith As soldiers live by courage; as, by strength Of heart, the sailor fights with roaring seas. Alas! the endowment of immortal power 205 Is matched unequally with custom, time,[ED] And domineering faculties of sense In _all;_ in most with superadded foes, Idle temptations; open vanities, Ephemeral offspring[321] of the unblushing world; 210 And, in the private regions of the mind, Ill-governed passions, ranklings of despite, Immoderate wishes, pining discontent, Distress and care. What then remains?--To seek Those helps for his occasions ever near 215 Who lacks not will to use them; vows, renewed On the first motion of a holy thought; Vigils of contemplation; praise; and prayer-- A stream, which, from the fountain of the heart Issuing, however feebly, nowhere flows 220 Without access of unexpected strength. But, above all, the victory is most sure For him, who, seeking faith by virtue, strives To yield entire submission to the law Of conscience--conscience reverenced and obeyed, 225 As God's most intimate presence in the soul, And his most perfect image in the world. --Endeavour thus to live; these rules regard; These helps solicit; and a stedfast seat Shall then be yours among the happy few 230 Who dwell on earth, yet breathe empyreal air, Sons of the morning.[EE] For your nobler part, Ere disencumbered of her mortal chains, Doubt shall be quelled and trouble chased away; With only such degree of sadness left 235 As may support longings of pure desire; And strengthen love, rejoicing secretly In the sublime attractions of the grave."

While, in this strain, the venerable Sage Poured forth his aspirations, and announced 240 His judgments, near that lonely house we paced A plot of green-sward, seemingly preserved By nature's care from wreck of scattered stones, And from encroachment[322] of encircling heath: Small space! but, for reiterated steps, 245 Smooth and commodious; as a stately deck Which to and fro the mariner is used To tread for pastime, talking with his mates, Or haply thinking of far-distant friends, While the ship glides before a steady breeze. 250 Stillness prevailed around us: and the voice That spake was capable to lift the soul Toward[323] regions yet more tranquil. But, methought, That he, whose fixed despondency had given Impulse and motive to that strong discourse, 255 Was less upraised in spirit than abashed; Shrinking from admonition, like a man Who feels that to exhort is to reproach. Yet not to be diverted from his aim, The Sage continued:-- "For that other loss, 260 The loss of confidence in social man, By the unexpected transports of our age Carried so high, that every thought, which looked Beyond the temporal destiny of the Kind, To many seemed superfluous--as, no cause 265 Could e'er for such exalted confidence[324] Exist; so, none is now for fixed[325] despair: The two extremes are equally disowned By reason: if, with sharp recoil, from one You have been driven far as its opposite, 270 Between them seek the point whereon to build Sound expectations. So doth he advise[326] Who shared at first the illusion; but was soon Cast from the pedestal of pride by shocks Which Nature gently gave, in woods and fields; 275 Nor unreproved by Providence, thus speaking To the inattentive children of the world: 'Vain-glorious Generation! what new powers On you have been conferred? what gifts, withheld From your progenitors, have ye received, 280 Fit recompense of new desert? what claim Are ye prepared to urge, that my decrees For you should undergo a sudden change; And the weak functions of one busy day, Reclaiming and extirpating, perform 285 What all the slowly-moving years of time, With their united force, have left undone? By nature's gradual processes be taught; By story be confounded! Ye aspire Rashly, to fall once more; and that false fruit, 290 Which, to your over-weening spirits, yields Hope of a flight celestial, will produce[327] Misery and shame. But Wisdom of her sons Shall not the less, though late, be justified.'[EF] 294

"Such timely warning," said the Wanderer, "gave That visionary voice; and, at this day, When a Tartarean darkness overspreads The groaning nations; when the impious rule, By will or by established ordinance, Their own dire agents, and constrain the good 300 To acts which they abhor; though I bewail This triumph, yet the pity of my heart Prevents me not from owning, that the law, By which mankind now suffers, is most just. For by superior energies; more strict 305 Affiance in each other; faith more firm In their unhallowed principles; the bad Have fairly earned a victory o'er the weak, The vacillating, inconsistent good. Therefore, not unconsoled, I wait--in hope 310 To see the moment, when the righteous cause Shall gain defenders zealous and devout As they who have opposed her; in which Virtue Will, to her efforts, tolerate no bounds That are not lofty as her rights; aspiring 315 By impulse of her own ethereal zeal. That spirit only can redeem mankind; And when that sacred spirit shall appear, Then shall _our_ triumph be complete as theirs. Yet, should this confidence prove vain, the wise 320 Have still the keeping of their proper peace; Are guardians of their own tranquillity. They act, or they recede, observe, and feel; 'Knowing[328] the heart of man is set to be[EG] The centre of this world, about the which 325 Those revolutions of disturbances Still roll; where all the aspècts of misery Predominate; whose strong effects are such As he must bear, being powerless to redress; _And that unless above himself he can 330 Erect himself, how poor a thing is Man_!'[EH]

"Happy is he who lives to understand, Not human nature only, but explores All natures,--to the end that he may find The law that governs each; and where begins 335 The union, the partition where, that makes Kind and degree, among all visible Beings; The constitutions, powers, and faculties, Which they inherit,--cannot step beyond,-- And cannot fall beneath; that do assign 340 To every class its station and its office, Through all the mighty commonwealth of things Up from the creeping plant to sovereign Man. Such converse, if directed by a meek, Sincere, and humble spirit, teaches love: 345 For knowledge is delight; and such delight Breeds love: yet, suited as it rather is To thought and to the climbing intellect, It teaches less to love, than to adore; If that be not indeed the highest love!" 350

"Yet," said I, tempted here to interpose, "The dignity of life is not impaired By aught that innocently satisfies The humbler cravings of the heart; and he Is a still happier man, who, for those heights 355 Of speculation not unfit, descends; And such benign affections cultivates Among the inferior kinds; not merely those That he may call his own, and which depend, As individual objects of regard, 360 Upon his care, from whom he also looks For signs and tokens of a mutual bond; But others, far beyond this narrow sphere, Whom, for the very sake of love, he loves. Nor is it a mean praise of rural life 365 And solitude, that they do favour most, Most frequently call forth, and best sustain, These pure sensations; that can penetrate The obstreperous city; on the barren seas Are not unfelt; and much might recommend, 370 How much they might inspirit and endear, The loneliness of this sublime retreat!"

"Yes," said the Sage, resuming the discourse Again directed to his downcast Friend, "If, with the froward will and grovelling soul 375 Of man, offended, liberty is here, And invitation every hour renewed, To mark _their_ placid state, who never heard Of a command which they have power to break, Or rule which they are tempted to transgress: 380 These, with a soothed or elevated heart, May we behold; their knowledge register; Observe their ways; and, free from envy, find Complacence there:--but wherefore this to you? I guess that, welcome to your lonely hearth, 385 The redbreast, ruffled up by winter's cold Into a 'feathery bunch,' feeds at your hand:[329] A box, perchance, is from your casement hung For the small wren to build in;--not in vain, The barriers disregarding that surround 390 This deep abiding place, before your sight Mounts on the breeze the butterfly; and soars, Small creature as she is, from earth's bright flowers, Into the dewy clouds. Ambition reigns In the waste wilderness: the Soul ascends 395 Drawn towards her native firmament of heaven,[330] When the fresh eagle, in the month of May, Upborne, at evening, on replenished wing, This shaded valley leaves;[331][EI] and leaves the dark Empurpled hills, conspicuously renewing 400 A proud communication with the sun Low sunk beneath the horizon!--List!--I heard, From yon huge breast of rock, a voice sent forth[332] As if the visible mountain made the cry. Again!"--The effect upon the soul was such 405 As he expressed: from out the mountain's heart The solemn voice appeared to issue, startling The blank air--for the region all around Stood empty of all shape of life, and silent Save for that single cry, the unanswer'd bleat 410 Of a poor lamb--left somewhere to itself,[333] The plaintive spirit of the solitude![EJ] He paused, as if unwilling to proceed, Through consciousness that silence in such place Was best, the most affecting eloquence. 415 But soon his thoughts returned upon themselves, And, in soft tone of speech, thus he[334] resumed.

"Ah! if the heart, too confidently raised, Perchance too lightly occupied, or lulled Too easily, despise or overlook 420 The vassalage that binds her to the earth, Her sad dependence upon time, and all The trepidations of mortality, What place so destitute and void--but there The little flower her vanity shall check; 425 The trailing worm reprove her thoughtless pride?

"These craggy regions, these chaotic wilds, Does that benignity pervade, that warms The mole contented with her darksome walk In the cold ground; and to the emmet gives 430 Her foresight, and intelligence[335] that makes The tiny creatures strong by social league; Supports the generations, multiplies Their tribes, till we behold a spacious plain Or grassy bottom, all, with little hills-- 435 Their labour, covered, as a lake with waves;[EK] Thousands of cities, in the desert place Built up of life, and food, and means of life! Nor wanting here, to entertain the thought, Creatures that in communities exist, 440 Less, as might seem, for general guardianship Or through dependence upon mutual aid, Than by participation of delight And a strict love of fellowship, combined. What other spirit can it be that prompts 445 The gilded summer flies to mix and weave Their sports together in the solar beam, Or in the gloom of twilight hum their joy? More obviously the self-same influence rules 449 The feathered kinds; the fieldfare's pensive flock,[336][EL] The cawing rooks, and sea-mews from afar, Hovering above these inland solitudes, By the rough wind unscattered, at whose call Up through the trenches of the long-drawn vales Their voyage was begun:[337] nor is its power 455 Unfelt among the sedentary fowl That seek yon pool,[EM] and there prolong their stay In silent congress; or together roused Take flight; while with their clang the air resounds. And, over all, in that ethereal vault,[338] 460 Is the mute company of changeful clouds; Bright apparition, suddenly put forth, The rainbow smiling on the faded storm; The mild assemblage of the starry heavens; And the great sun, earth's universal lord! 465

"How bountiful is Nature! he shall find Who seeks not; and to him, who hath not asked, Large measure shall be dealt. Three sabbath-days Are scarcely told, since, on a service bent Of mere humanity, you clomb those heights; 470 And what a marvellous and heavenly show Was suddenly revealed![339]--the swains moved on, And heeded not: you lingered, you perceived And felt, deeply as living man could feel. There is a luxury[340] in self-dispraise; 475 And inward self-disparagement affords To meditative spleen a grateful feast. Trust me, pronouncing on your own desert, You judge unthankfully: distempered nerves Infect the thoughts: the languor of the frame 480 Depresses the soul's vigour. Quit your couch-- Cleave not so fondly to your moody cell; Nor let the hallowed powers, that shed from heaven Stillness and rest, with disapproving eye Look down upon your taper, through a watch 485 Of midnight hours, unseasonably twinkling In this deep Hollow, like a sullen star Dimly reflected in a lonely pool. Take courage, and withdraw yourself from ways That run not parallel to nature's course. 490 Rise with the lark! your matins shall obtain Grace, be their composition what it may, If but with hers performed;[EN] climb once again, Climb every day, those ramparts;[EO] meet the breeze Upon their tops, adventurous as a bee 495 That from your garden thither soars, to feed On new-blown heath; let yon commanding rock Be your frequented watch-tower; roll the stone In thunder down the mountains; with all your might Chase the wild goat; and if the bold red deer 500 Fly to those[341] harbours, driven by hound and horn Loud echoing, add your speed to the pursuit; So, wearied to your hut shall you return, And sink at evening into sound repose."

The Solitary lifted toward[342] the hills 505 A kindling eye:--accordant feelings rushed Into my bosom, whence these words broke forth:[343] "Oh! what a joy it were, in vigorous health, To have a body (this our vital frame With shrinking sensibility endued, 510 And all the nice regards of flesh and blood) And to the elements surrender it As if it were a spirit!--How divine, The liberty, for frail, for mortal, man To roam at large among unpeopled glens 515 And mountainous retirements, only trod By devious footsteps; regions consecrate To oldest time! and, reckless of the storm That keeps the raven quiet in her nest, Be as a presence or a motion--one 520 Among the many there; and while the mists Flying, and rainy vapours, call out shapes And phantoms from the crags and solid earth As fast as a musician scatters sounds Out of an instrument; and while the streams 525 (As at a first creation and in haste To exercise their untried faculties) Descending from the region of the clouds, And starting from the hollows of the earth More multitudinous every moment, rend 530 Their way before them--what a joy to roam An equal among mightiest energies; And haply sometimes with articulate voice, Amid the deafening tumult, scarcely heard By him that utters it, exclaim aloud, 535 'Rage on ye elements! let moon and stars Their aspects lend, and mingle in their turn With this commotion (ruinous though it be) From day to night, from night to day, prolonged!'"[344]

"Yes," said the Wanderer, taking from my lips 540 The strain of transport, "whosoe'er in youth Has, through ambition of his soul, given way To such desires, and grasped at such delight, Shall feel congenial stirrings late and long,[345] In spite of all the weakness that life brings, 545 Its cares and sorrows; he, though taught to own The tranquillizing power of time, shall wake, Wake sometimes to a noble restlessness-- Loving the sports[346] which once he gloried in.

"Compatriot, Friend, remote are Garry's hills, 550 The streams far distant of your native glen; Yet is their form and image here expressed With brotherly resemblance.[347] Turn your steps Wherever fancy leads; by day, by night, Are various engines working, not the same 555 As those with[348] which your soul in youth was moved, But by the great Artificer endowed[349] With no inferior power. You dwell alone; You walk, you live, you speculate alone; Yet doth remembrance, like a sovereign prince, 560 For you a stately gallery maintain Of gay or tragic pictures. You have seen, Have acted, suffered, travelled far, observed With no incurious eye; and books are yours, Within whose silent chambers treasure lies 565 Preserved from age to age; more precious far Than that accumulated store of gold And orient gems, which, for a day of need, The Sultan hides deep in[350] ancestral tombs. These hoards of truth you can unlock at will: 570 And music waits upon your skilful touch, Sounds which the wandering shepherd from these heights Hears, and forgets his purpose;--furnished thus, How can you droop, if willing to be upraised?[351]