Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/89

63 And in the origin and bounds of power,

Social and temporal; but in laws divine,

Deduced by reason, or to faith revealed.

An overweening trust was raised; and fear

Cast out,—alike of person and of thing.

Plague from this union spread, whose subtle bane

The strongest did not easily escape;

And He, what wonder! took a mortal taint.

How shall I trace the change, how bear to tell

That he broke faith with those whom he had laid

In earth's dark chambers, with a Christian's hope!

An infidel contempt of holy writ

Stole by degrees upon his mind; and hence

Life, like that Roman Janus, double-faced;

Vilest hypocrisy, the laughing, gay

Hypocrisy, not leagued with fear, but pride.

Smooth words he had to wheedle simple souls;

But, for disciples of the inner school,

Old freedom was old servitude, and they

The wisest, whose opinions stooped the least

To known restraints: and who most boldly drew

Hopeful prognostications from a creed,

Which, in the light of false philosophy,