Ye Vales and Hills, whose beauty hither drew The Poet’s steps, and fixed him here, on you His eyes have closed; and ye, loved Books, no more Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore, To Works that ne’er shall forfeit their renown Adding immortal labours of his own, As Fancy, disciplined by studious Art Informed his pen, or Wisdom of the heart, Or judgments rooted in a Patriot’s mind Taught to revere the rights of all mankind. Friends, Family--ah wherefore touch that string, To them _so_ fondly did the good man cling! His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud From Skiddaw’s top; but He to Heaven was vowed Through a long life; and calmed by Christian faith, In his pure soul, the fear of change and death. This Memorial was erected by friends of Robert Southey. Alteration in the Epitaph-- … He to Heaven was vowed Through a life long and pure; and Christian faith Calmed in his soul the fear of change and death.--W.W. December the 6th. MY DEAR MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE, Notwithstanding what I have written before, I could not but wish to meet _your wishes_ upon the points which you mentioned, and, accordingly, have added and altered as on the other side of this paper. If you approve don’t trouble yourself to answer. Ever faithfully yours, W. WORDSWORTH. Ye torrents, foaming down the rocky steeps, Ye lakes, wherein the spirit of water sleeps, Ye vales and hills, etc. Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind By reverence for the rights of all mankind. Friends, Family--within no human breast Could private feelings need a holier nest. His joys, his griefs, have vanished. These alterations are approved of by friends here, and I hope will please you. * * * * * MY DEAR MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE, Pray accept my thanks for the pains you have taken with the Inscription, and excuse the few words I shall have to say upon your remarks. There are two lakes in the Vale of Keswick; both which, along with the lateral Vale of Newlands immediately opposite Southey’s study window, will be included in the words “Ye _Vales_ and Hills” by everyone who is familiar with the neighbourhood. I quite agree with you that the construction of the lines that particularize his writings is rendered awkward by so many participles passive, and the more so on account of the transitive verb _informed_. One of these participles may be got rid of, and, I think, a better couplet produced by this alteration-- Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind By reverence for the rights of all mankind.