Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/305

279 With resignation; and no jarring tone

Intrudes, the peaceful concert to disturb

Of amity and gratitude."

"Thus sanctioned,"

The Pastor said, "I willingly confine

My narratives to subjects that excite

Feelings with these accordant; love, esteem

And admiration; lifting up a veil,

A sun-beam introducing among hearts

Retired and covert; so that ye shall have

Clear Images before your gladdened eyes

Of Nature's unambitious underwood,

And flowers that prosper in the shade. And when

I speak of such among my flock as swerved

Or fell, those only will I single out

Upon whose lapse, or error, something more

Than brotherly forgiveness may attend:

To such will we restrict our notice, else

Better my tongue were mute. And yet there are,

I feel, good reasons why we should not leave

Wholly untraced a more forbidding way.

For strength to persevere and to support,

And energy to conquer and repel,