Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/308

282 Hidden by clouds, and oft bedimmed by haze,

Are not to be extinguished, or impaired.

Two passions, both degenerate, for they both

Began in honour, gradually obtained

Rule over her, and vexed her daily life;

An unrelenting, avaricious thrift;

And a strange thraldom of maternal love,

That held her spirit, in its own despite,

Bound by vexation, and regret, and scorn.

Constrained forgiveness, and relenting vows,

And tears, in pride suppressed, in shame concealed,

To a poor dissolute Son, her only Child.

—Her wedded days had opened with mishap,

Whence dire dependance.—What could she perform

To shake the burthen off? Ah! there she felt,

Indignantly, the weakness of her sex,

The injustice of her low estate.—She mused;

Resolved, adhered to her resolve; her heart

Closed by degrees to charity; and, thence

Expecting not Heaven's blessing, placed her trust

In ceaseless pains and parsimonious care,

Which got, and sternly hoarded each day's gain.