Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed and gazed-but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

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ODE TO DUTY.

Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! ia seve
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
When empty terrors overawe ;

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From vain temptations dost set free;

And calm'st the weary strife of frail humanity!

There are who ask not if thine eye

Cefart 2 Be on them; who, in love and truth, Tha do this silly

ca turn Where no misgiving is, rely

il al

Upon the genial sense of youth:
Glad Hearts! without reproach or blot;
Who do thy work, and know it not:
Oh! if through confidence misplaced
They fail, thy saving arms, dread Power, around them

cast!

Serene will be our days and bright, Life, well be helpy

And happy will our nature be,
When love is an unerring light,
And joy its own security.

if you

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sume if leve & not dub And they a blissful course may hold ful win is trouble Even now, who, not unwisely bold, up t

Live in the spirit of this creed;ng need your he's..
Yet seek thy firm support, according to their need.

I, loving freedom, and untried;

No sport of every random gust,
Yet being to myself a guide,

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Too blindly have reposed my trust:
And oft, when in my heart was heard

Thy timely mandate, I deferred

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The task, in smoother walks to stray;

But thee I now would serve more strictly, if I may.

NB

Through no disturbance of my soul,
Or strong compunction in me wrought,
I supplicate for thy control;

But in the quietness of thought:

Me this unchartered freedom tires;

I feel the weight of chance-desires :

My hopes no more must change their name,

I long for a repose that ever is the same.

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Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear
The Godhead's most benignant grace;
Nor know we anything so fair
As is the smile upon thy face:
Flowers laugh before thee on their beds
And fragrance in thy footing treads;
/Stars fellow 1
Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong;
a de "lowns & bea
And the most ancient Heavens, through thee, are
fresh and strong.

To humbler functions, awful Power!
I call thee: I myself commend
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;

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Bras

the

And in the light of truth thy Bondman let me live!

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Peace

COMPOSED BY THE SIDE OF

GRASMERE LAKE.

Though's passed by
J

Clouds, lingering yet, extend in solid barse of natting &
Through the grey west; and lo! these waters, steeled An

By breezeless air to smoothest polish, yield

A vivid repetition of the stars;

Jove, Venus, and the ruddy crest of Mars
Amid his fellows beauteously revealed

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ΙΟ

At happy distance from earth's groaning field,
Where ruthless mortals wage incessant wars.
Is it a mirror?-or the nether Sphere
Opening to view the abyss in which she feeds the
At Her own calm fires?-But list! a voice is near;
Great Pan himself low-whispering through the reeds,
'Be thankful, thou; for, if unholy deeds
Ravage the world, tranquillity is here!'

WITH SHIPS THE SEA WAS SPRINKLED.

With Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh,
Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed ;
Some lying fast at anchor in the road,
Some veering up and down, one knew not why.
A goodly Vessel did I then espy

Come like a giant from a haven broad;

And lustily along the bay she strode,

Her tackling rich, and of apparel high.

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ich out

The Ship was nought to me, nor I to her,
Yet I pursued her with a Lover's look;
This Ship to all the rest did I prefer:

When will she turn, and whither? She will brook haru No tarrying; where she comes the winds must stir: On went she, and due north her journey took.

ΙΟ

ODE.

INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.

The Child is father of the Man;

And I could wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety.

I.

There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,

To me did seem

Apparelled in celestial light,

The glory and the freshness of a dream.

It is not now as it hath been of yore;-
Turn wheresoe'er I may,

By night or day,

The things which I have seen I now can see no more.

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