A Prayer in the Prospect of Death.

Thou unknown, Almighty Cause

Of all my hope and fear!

In whose dread presence, ere an hour,
Perhaps I must appear!

If I have wandered in those paths

Of life I ought to shun;

As something, loudly, in my breast
Remonstrates I have done,-

Thou know'st that Thou hast formed me
With passions wild and strong;
And list'ning to their witching voice

Has often lead me wrong.

Where human weakness has come short,

Or frailty steps aside,

Do thou, All-Good!-for such thou art

In shades of darkness hide.

Where with intention I have erred,

No other plea I have,

But, Thou art good; and goodness still
Delighteth to forgive.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH was born April 7, 1770, and on the 23d of April, 1850, "he closed a life so pure, serene, and priest-like in its consecration to lofty purto Milton in order to pose, that find its parallel."

we

must

go

back

In

He was a graduate of Cambridge University. 1889, Oxford University recognized his ability by conferring upon him the degree of D. C. L. In 1843, he was made poet-laureate of England.

to

Wordsworth studied Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser and Chaucer, as models. He was the founder of the "Lake School" of poets, composed of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey. As a writer, he first came public notice in two poems, An Evening Walk, and a Pedestrian Tour Descriptive Sketches Taken During among the Alps. The simplicity, refinement, and originality shown in these poems attracted general attention. The Excursion is, without doubt, Wordsworth's finest and most important production.

Most of the study of poetry. means of support.

poet's life. was devoted to a special Two legacies bequeathed him, gave His desire was to secure simpli

city of language. The first efforts were so extremely simple that they were considered simple by all. This apparent silliness was ridiculed and laughed at by Jeffrey.

He is now loved and admired by all the world. His poetry is completely emancipated from the artificial. As Coleridge says, "He is austerely accurate in the use of words." By common consent, we place Wordsworth on the list of great poets, next to Milton, where his "all-embracing humanity" will forever shine.

From "The Excursion."

HE mountain-ash,

Decked with autumnal berries that outshine

Spring's richest blossoms, yields a splendid show,
Amid the leafy woods; and ye have seen,

By a brook-side or solitary turn,

How she her station doth adorn; the pool
Glows at her feet, and all the gloomy rocks
Are brightened round her. In his native vale
Such and so glorious did this youth appear;
A sight that kindled pleasure in all hearts
By his ingenuous beauty, by the gleam
Of his fair eyes, by his capacious brow,