Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/299

273 The Shadow falls, to note the stealthy hours

Winds an inscriptive Legend"—At these words

Thither we turned; and, gathered, as we read,

The appropriate sense, in Latin numbers couched.

"Time flies; it is his melancholy task

"To bring, and bear away, delusive hopes,

"And re-produce the troubles he destroys.

"But, while his blindness thus is occupied,

"Discerning Mortal! do thou serve the will

"Of Time's eternal Master, and that peace,

"Which the World wants, shall be for Thee confirmed."

"Smooth verse, inspired by no unlettered Muse,"

Exclaimed the Sceptic, "and the strain of thought

Accords with Nature's language;—the soft voice

Of yon white torrent falling down the rocks

Speaks, less distinctly, to the same effect.

If, then, their blended influence be not lost

Upon our hearts, not wholly lost, I grant,

Even upon mine, the more are we required

To feel for those, among our fellow men,

Who, offering no obeisance to the world,