Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/91

65 Struggling against the strange reverse with zeal

That showed like happiness; but, in despite

Of all this outside bravery, within,

He neither felt encouragement nor hope.

For moral dignity, and strength of mind,

Were wanting; and simplicity of Life;

And reverence for himself; and, last and best,

Confiding thoughts, and love and fear of Him

Before whose sight the troubles of this world

Are vain as billows in a tossing sea.

The glory of the times fading away,

The splendor, which had given a festal air

To self-importance, hallowed it, and veiled

From his own sight,—this gone, therewith he lost

All joy in human nature; was consumed,

And vexed, and chased, by levity and scorn,

And fruitless indignation; galled by pride;

Made desperate by contempt of Men who throve

Before his sight in power or fame, and won,

Without desert, what he desired; weak men,

Too weak even for his envy or his hate!

—And thus beset, and finding in himself