The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

From low to high doth dissolution climb,
    And sink[316] from high to low, along a scale
    Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail;
    A musical but melancholy chime,
    Which they can hear who meddle not with crime,                     5
    Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care.
    Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear
    The longest date do melt like frosty rime,
    That in the morning whitened hill and plain
    And is no more; drop like the tower sublime                       10
    Of yesterday, which royally did wear
    His[317] crown of weeds, but could not even sustain
    Some casual shout that broke the silent air,
    Or the unimaginable touch of Time.

FOOTNOTES:

[316] 1840.

    And sinks ... 1822.

[317] 1837.

    Its ... 1822.




XXXV

OLD ABBEYS


    Monastic Domes! following my downward way,
    Untouched by due regret I marked your fall!
    Now, ruin, beauty, ancient stillness, all
    Dispose to judgments temperate as we lay
    On our past selves in life's declining day:                        5
    For as, by discipline of Time made wise,
    We learn to tolerate the infirmities
    And faults of others--gently as he may,[318]
    So with[319] our own the mild Instructor deals
    Teaching us to forget them or forgive.[320]                       10
    Perversely curious, then, for hidden ill
    Why should we break Time's charitable seals?
    Once ye were holy, ye are holy still;
    Your spirit freely let me drink, and live!

FOOTNOTES:

[318] 1822.

    ...--so, where'er he may 1837.

                        The edition of 1845 returns to the text of 1822.

[319] 1837.

    Towards ... 1822.

[320] This is borrowed from an affecting passage in Mr. George Dyer's
History of Cambridge.--W. W. 1822.




XXXVI

EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY


                             Published 1827

    Even while I speak, the sacred roofs of France
    Are shattered into dust; and self-exiled
    From altars threatened, levelled, or defiled,
    Wander the Ministers of God, as chance
    Opens a way for life, or consonance                                5
    Of faith invites. More welcome to no land
    The fugitives than to the British strand,
    Where priest and layman with the vigilance
    Of true compassion greet them. Creed and test
    Vanish before the unreserved embrace                              10
    Of catholic humanity:--distrest
    They came,--and, while the moral tempest roars
    Throughout the Country they have left, our shores
    Give to their Faith a fearless[321] resting-place.

FOOTNOTES:

[321] 1837.

    ... dreadless ... 1827.




XXXVII

CONGRATULATION

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

Religion

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

From low to high doth dissolution climb,
    And sink[316] from high to low, along a scale
    Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail;
    A musical but melancholy chime,
    Which they can hear who meddle not with crime,                     5
    Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care.
    Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear
    The longest date do melt like frosty rime,
    That in the morning whitened hill and plain
    And is no more; drop like the tower sublime                       10
    Of yesterday, which royally did wear
    His[317] crown of weeds, but could not even sustain
    Some casual shout that broke the silent air,
    Or the unimaginable touch of Time.

FOOTNOTES:

[316] 1840.

    And sinks ... 1822.

[317] 1837.

    Its ... 1822.




XXXV

OLD ABBEYS


    Monastic Domes! following my downward way,
    Untouched by due regret I marked your fall!
    Now, ruin, beauty, ancient stillness, all
    Dispose to judgments temperate as we lay
    On our past selves in life's declining day:                        5
    For as, by discipline of Time made wise,
    We learn to tolerate the infirmities
    And faults of others--gently as he may,[318]
    So with[319] our own the mild Instructor deals
    Teaching us to forget them or forgive.[320]                       10
    Perversely curious, then, for hidden ill
    Why should we break Time's charitable seals?
    Once ye were holy, ye are holy still;
    Your spirit freely let me drink, and live!

FOOTNOTES:

[318] 1822.

    ...--so, where'er he may 1837.

                        The edition of 1845 returns to the text of 1822.

[319] 1837.

    Towards ... 1822.

[320] This is borrowed from an affecting passage in Mr. George Dyer's
History of Cambridge.--W. W. 1822.




XXXVI

EMIGRANT FRENCH CLERGY


                             Published 1827

    Even while I speak, the sacred roofs of France
    Are shattered into dust; and self-exiled
    From altars threatened, levelled, or defiled,
    Wander the Ministers of God, as chance
    Opens a way for life, or consonance                                5
    Of faith invites. More welcome to no land
    The fugitives than to the British strand,
    Where priest and layman with the vigilance
    Of true compassion greet them. Creed and test
    Vanish before the unreserved embrace                              10
    Of catholic humanity:--distrest
    They came,--and, while the moral tempest roars
    Throughout the Country they have left, our shores
    Give to their Faith a fearless[321] resting-place.

FOOTNOTES:

[321] 1837.

    ... dreadless ... 1827.




XXXVII

CONGRATULATION

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 7 (of 8)

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