Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/249

223 Our Inquest turns.—Accord, good Sir! the light

Of your experience, to dispel this gloom.

By your persuasive wisdom shall the Heart

That frets, or languishes, be stilled and cheered."

"Our Nature," said the Priest, in mild reply,

"Angels may weigh and fathom: they perceive,

With undistempered and unclouded spirit,

The object as it is; but, for ourselves,

That speculative height we may not reach.

The good and evil are our own; and we

Are that which we would contemplate from far.

Knowledge, for us, is difficult to gain—

Is difficult to gain and hard to keep—

As Virtue's self; like Virtue is beset

With snares; tried, tempted, subject to decay.

Love, admiration, fear, desire, and hate,

Blind were we without these; through these alone

Are capable to notice or discern

Or to record; we judge, but cannot be

Indifferent judges. 'Spite of proudest boast

Reason, best Reason, is to imperfect Man

An effort only, and a noble aim;