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From what has been said, and from a perusal 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!

"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,

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"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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