CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Some tributes to Wordsworth's eminence as a poet-

His birth (April 7, 1770) and parentage-His mother

dies (1778) Is sent to the Grammar School, Hawks-

head, where he makes his first attempts at poetry-

His impressions of his mother-Early days at Penrith

and Cockermouth-His youthful pastimes described

-His father dies (1783)-Is sent to Cambridge (Oct.,

1787)-Does not like the restraint of university life

-Studies Italian and the earlier English poets-Enjoys

life at the university-Spends his first summer vaca-

tion in the Vale of Esthwaite-His self-dedication to

Nature-Writes An Evening Walk,' etc.-In 1790,

his last vacation, makes a tour through France, Swit-

zerland, and the North of Italy-Takes his B.A.

degree (Jan., 1791), and quits the university

CHAPTER II.

-

Wordsworth makes a tour in North Wales--Is urged

to enter the Church-His misgivings-He revisits

France (Nov., 1791) during the Revolution His

sympathy with the movement-Becomes a patriot-

Associates with the military officers in Paris-Forms

a friendship with Beaupuis at Orleans-Proceeds

thence to Blois-Returns to Paris, and finds France

a Republic-Hears Robespierre denounced-Is com-

pelled to return to England-Is again urged to em-

brace the clerical profession Obstacles in the way

-Deplores the results of the Revolution-Is opposed

to the Bar-Annoyance of his relatives-'An Even-

ing Walk' (1793)- Descriptive Sketches' (1793)—

Visits the Isle of Wight, where Raisley Calvert lies

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ill—Spends his time afterwards in visiting his friends

-His dreary prospects-Contemplates starting the

Philanthropist-Hears of the fall of Robespierre—

His thankfulness thereupon-Is reduced to extremity,

and seeks employment on the Metropolitan press-

Raisley Calvert dies, and leaves him £900 (1795)—Is

restored to the companionship of his sister Dorothy

CHAPTER III.

Wordsworth settles with his sister at Racedown Lodge,

near Crewkerne, Dorsetshire (1795)-Devotes himself

assiduously to poetry-His style of living-Is visited

by Coleridge (June, 1797)-Descriptions of Coleridge

-Coleridge's impressions of Wordsworth, and his de-

scription of Dorothy Wordsworth-Her influence on

Wordsworth-Removes to Alfoxden (July, 1797) -

Composes the Lyrical Ballads'-Makes a tour in

Devonshire Origin of 'The Ancient Mariner'-

Completes his tragedy of 'The Borderers,' which is

rejected-Coleridge's account of the origin of the

'Lyrical Ballads - Wordsworth becomes acquainted

with Charles and Mary Lamb, and Hazlitt-Descrip-

tion of Wordsworth by the latter

·

CHAPTER IV.

The Lyrical Ballads' (1798)-Wordsworth, accom-

panied by his sister and Coleridge, sets out for Germany

(September, 1798)-Coleridge parts from them at

Hamburg-They winter at Goslar, where he produces

some charming poems-Commences The Prelude '

on leaving Goslar (February, 1799)-Returns to Eng-

land-Resides no more at Alfoxden-Makes a tour

into Cumberland and Westmoreland-Visits Gras-

mere with Coleridge-Settles there with his sister

(December, 1799)

CHAPTER V.

Grasmere described-Dove Cottage--Lyrical Ballads,'

in two volumes (1800)-Wordsworth is visited by his

brother John-His great poetic period (1795-1800)

referred to-Is visited by Coleridge (August, 1800)—

Life at Dove Cottage-Visits France with his sister-

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33

52

67

CHAPTER VI.

Wordsworth marries (October 4, 1802)-His poetical

tributes to his wife-His children-Makes acquain-

tance of De Quincey-De Quincey's description of

Wordsworth-Visits Scotland with his sister (August,

1803)-Becomes acquainted with Scott-His friend-

ship with Southey- Sir George Beaumont - His

brother John dies (1805)-Scott visits Grasmere-

'The Prelude' and 'The Waggoner' finished

CHAPTER VII.

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83

'Poems in Two Volumes' (1807)—The Lake School-

Wordsworth takes up his abode at Coleorton, Leices-

tershire-Visits London with his wife, and returns

with Scott (1807)-Removes into Allan Bank, Gras-

mere (1808)-'Essay on the Convention of Cintra'

(1809) Contributes Essay on Epitaphs' to the

Friend (1810)-Writes introduction to 'Select Views

in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire'-

Resides temporarily at the Parsonage House, Grasmere

(1811) His little daughter Catharine dies (June 4,

1812), and his second son, Thomas (December 1,

1812)
- 103

CHAPTER VIII.

-

Wordsworth removes to Rydal Mount (1813)-Descrip-

tion of the same-Is appointed Distributor of Stamps

for Westmoreland - Declines the Collectorship of

Whitehaven 'The Excursion' (1814) - 'Poems:

including Lyrical Ballads, etc.,' in two volumes (1815)

-The White Doe of Rylstone' (1815)-Extracts

from the poem

CHAPTER IX.

Wordsworth's domestic happiness Leigh Hunt's

account of his appearance-His literary friendships

-His brother Richard dies (1816)-'Peter Bell' (1819)

-'The Waggoner' (1819)- The River Duddon,' etc.

(1820)-Visits Switzerland and Italy, and, returning,

narrowly escapes shipwreck (1820)-Is thrown from

his horse and seriously injured (1822)—' Memorials

of a tour on the Continent, 1820' (1822)-' Ecclesias-

tical Sketches' (1822)-Visits Belgium and Holland

(1823)-Makes a tour in North Wales (1824)-His

122

library-His habit of reading and correcting his own

poems-Sir George Beaumont dies, and leaves him

an annuity of £100 (1827)-Makes an excursion with

his daughter and Coleridge into Flanders (1828)—

Visits Ireland (1829)-His eldest son marries (1830)—

Visits Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford (1831)-Death

of Scott (1832) -

CHAPTER X.

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. 139

Wordsworth visits the Isle of Man en route for Scotland

(1833)-Poems and incidents relating to the Island-

Coleridge dies (July 25, 1834)--Charles Lamb dies

(Dec. 27, 1834)-Loses several friends by death

(1835)-Yarrow Revisited, and other Poems' (1835)

--Evening Voluntaries '-His alleged Pantheism-

Sarah Hutchinson dies (1836)-Visits Italy (1837)—

'The Sonnets of William Wordsworth' (1838)--Uni-

versity of Oxford confers D.C.L. upon him (1839)-Is

acknowledged to be the greatest living poet-Is visited

by Mrs. Sigourney (1840) — His darling daughter,

Dora, marries Edward Quillinan (1841)-Classified

collection of his poems in six volumes (1842)—'Poems:

chiefly of Early and Late Years, including "The Bor-

derers, a Tragedy" (1842)-Resigns the Distributor-

ship of Stamps-Is awarded by the Crown a pension

of £300 per annum
- 158

CHAPTER XI.

Southey dies (March 21, 1843)-Wordsworth is ap-

pointed Poet Laureate-Jeffrey's 'Essays' republished

-Is presented to the Queen (1845)-Reference to

Dorothy, his invalid sister-His brother Christopher

dies (1846)-His younger son marries (1847)-Dora

Quillinan dies (July 9, 1847)-Hartley Coleridge

dies (1849)-Daily life at Rydal Mount-Anecdotes

of Wordsworth

174

CHAPTER XII.

Wordsworth attends Divine Service at Rydal Chapel

for the last time (March 10, 1850)-Is taken ill two

days later, and dies in his eighty-first year (April 23,

1850)-Is interred in Grasmere Churchyard-Inscrip-

tion on his tombstone-Text of tablet in the church - 191

CHAPTER XIII.

On Wordsworth's Poetry

- 201

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH:

THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

CHAPTER I.

'At first, the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel,
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.'

Shakespeare.

Some tributes to Wordsworth's eminence as a poet-His birth (April 7, 1770) and parentage-His mother dies (1778)-Is sent to the Grammar School, Hawkshead, where he makes his first attempts at poetry-His impressions of his mother-Early days at Penrith and Cockermouth-His youthful pastimes described-His father dies (1783)-Is sent to Cambridge (Oct., 1787)-Does not like the restraint of university life-Studies Italian and the earlier English poets-Enjoys life at the university-Spends his first summer vacation in the Vale of Esthwaite-His self-dedication to Nature-Writes 'An Evening Walk,' etc.-In 1790, his last vacation, makes a tour through France, Switzerland, and the North of Italy-Takes his B.A. degree (Jan., 1791), and quits the university.

Ir has been well said, 'What a glorious gift God bestows on a nation when He gives them a poet;'