Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/362

336 Possessed like outskirts of some large Domain,

By any one more thought of than by him

Who holds the land in fee, its careless Lord!

—Yet is the Creature rational—endowed

With foresight; hears, too, every Sabbath day,

The christian promise with attentive ear,

Nor disbelieves the tidings which he hears.

Meanwhile the incense offered up by him

Is of the kind which beasts and birds present

In grove or pasture; chearfulness of soul,

From trepidation and repining free.

How many scrupulous worshippers fall down

Upon their knees, and daily homage pay

Less worthy, less religious even, than his!

This qualified respect, the Old Man's due,

Is paid without reluctance; but in truth"

(Said the good Vicar with a fond half-smile)

"I feel at times a motion of despite

Towards One, whose bold contrivances and skill,

As you have seen, bear such conspicuous part

In works of havoc; taking from these vales,

One after one, their proudest ornaments.