this object; and, what is a much more important question, whether it be worth attaining; and upon the decision of these two questions will rest my claim to the approbation of the public. 3 LYRICAL BALLADS, WITH PASTORAL AND OTHER POEMS. Pectus enim id est quod disertos facit, & vis mentis ; ideoque imperitis quoquo, si modo sint aliquo affectu concitati, verba non desunt. EXPOSTULATION AND REPLY. Why, William, on that old grey stone, "Thus for the length of half a day, Why, William, sit you thus alone, "And dream your time away? "Where are your books?-that light bequeath'd "To beings else forlorn and blind! "Up! Up! and drink the spirit breath'd "From dead men to their kind. A "You look round on your mother earth, "As if she for no purpose bore you; "As if you were her first-born birth, "And none had lived before you!" One morning thus, by Esthwaite lake, "The eye it cannot chuse but see; "We cannot bid the ear be still ; "Our bodies feel, where'er they be, 66 Against, or with our will. "Nor less I deem that there are powers "Which of themselves our minds impress; "That we can feed this mind of ours "In a wise passiveness. |