The death of Raisley Calvert was unquestionably the turning-point in Wordsworth's career, and it is pleasing to know that his name will assuredly go down to posterity as the benefactor of the greatest poet of the century. At this time Wordsworth's religious views were greatly unsettled, and it is impossible to say what phase they might have assumed, had he not now been restored to the companionship and ennobling influence of his 'sole sister,' significantly named Dorothy-gift of God. 'Then it was Thanks to the bounteous Giver of all good!- Those days were passed, now speaking in a voice That did but cross a lonely road, and now She whispered still that brightness would return, And that alone, my office upon earth.' CHAPTER III. 'An elegant sufficiency, content, Progressive virtue, and approving Heaven!' -Thomson. 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 description 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-Description of Wordsworth by the latter. 6 BEING relieved from his pecuniary difficulties by the timely benevolence of Raisley Calvert, Wordsworth was now in a position to settle down somewhere; and, accordingly, in the autumn of 1795, he took up his abode with his sister at Racedown Lodge, near Crewkerne, in Dorsetshire. Henceforth. she was to be his constant companion and guardian angel through a long course of years. Some idea of the quiet and seclusion of this, their first home, may be inferred from the fact that they had little or no society, and but one post a week. Yet, blest with each other's affectionate and helpful company, they were intensely happy, and wanted for nothing. The country,' writes his sister, 'is delightful; we have charming walks, a good garden, a pleasant house.' Wordsworth never possessed many books, but the shelves of his new dwelling were pretty well stocked, and he and his sister were most industrious readers. Their time was happily spent in reading, writing, gardening, and walking. Wordsworth was busily enough occupied. He was engaged in composing some Imitations of Juvenal, and finishing 'Salisbury Plain, or Guilt and Sorrow.' Here, too, he commenced his first and only tragedy, 'The Borderers.' From this time forth he dedicated himself with all his heart, with all his mind, with all his soul, and with all his strength,' to the service of poetry. It was the principal business of his life. He composed verses upon anything and everything, sticking unswervingly to his purpose, like a limpet to a rock. No lover ever wooed his mistress with greater fervour and pertinacity than he did the Muse; no painter nor sculptor ever devoted himself more assiduously to his art; to excel in poetry was to him, in a very deep sense, the one thing needful. Everything was subordinated to this. Knowing the incalculable influence of inspiring natural scenery and surroundings, he invariably through life resided in the most beautiful and picturesque regions. His method of composition was peculiar. He composed, for the most part, in the open air, and his productions were afterwards committed to paper. Indeed, nine-tenths of his verses were produced in this way. Wordsworth's style of living at this period was necessarily frugal. It was a bold proceeding on his part to turn his back upon the world, forsaking all ideas of professional life, and of employment of every kind, and to fix his residence in a secluded, out-of-the-way district, with only £900 at his command. But he was justified in so doing. Though but twenty-five years of age, yet he knew what manner of man he was, and he was fully conscious of his own strength. Having once put his hand to the plough, he was not the one to look back. He had a purpose; and he had, too, an inflexible will. had, doubtless, counted the cost before throwing the die, and he was prepared for a life, if need be, of 'plain living and high thinking.' Such was the daily round of the youthful poet and his sister. But if their means were small, their wants were few; and comfortably domiciled amidst the beauties of nature, they had all that they required. He In June, 1797, a most important event occurred. They were visited at Racedown by no less a person age than Samuel Taylor Coleridge, destined to become so famous in the world of letters. Let us pause for a moment to look at Coleridge. Born in October, 1772, he was but in his twentyfifth year; but young as he was, he had had strange and exceptional experiences. He had already, in a fit of despondency, enlisted as a private and been bought out of the ranks; had been an ardent advocate of Pantisocracy with Southey and others; had posed as an arrant republican, having been deeply infected with the revolutionary movement in France; and had-mirabile dictu-figured as a Unitarian preacher, his first sermon having been delivered to a congregation of some seventeen persons. ... He was no ordinary visitor, therefore. He is thus described by Dorothy Wordsworth, in an epistle to a friend: 'You had a great loss in not seeing Coleridge. He is a wonderful man. His conversation teems with soul, mind, and spirit. . . . At first I thought him very plain, that is, for about. three minutes; he is pale, thin, has a wide mouth, thick lips, and not very good teeth, longish, loosegrowing, half-curling, rough black hair. But, if you hear him speak for five minutes you think no more of them. His eye is large and full, and not very dark, but grey, such an eye as would receive from a heavy soul the dullest expression; but it speaks every emotion of his animated mind: it has |