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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.

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Why, William, on that old grey stone, "Thus for the length of half a day,

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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,
When life was sweet, I knew not why,
To me my good friend Matthew spake,
And thus I made reply.

"The eye it cannot chuse but see;

"We cannot bid the ear be still ;

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"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.

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