From what has been said, and from a petusal of the Poems, the Reader will be able clearly, to perceive the object which I have proposed to myself : he will determine how far I have attained 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.

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 I “Up! Up! and drink the spirit breath'd “ From dead men to their kind.

“ 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 ;
“ Our bodies feel, where'er they be,
“ 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.