Page:The Prelude, Wordsworth, 1850.djvu/242

220 How could the innocent heart bear up and live!

But doubly fortunate my lot; not here

Alone, that something of a better life

Perhaps was round me than it is the privilege

Of most to move in, but that first I looked

At Man through objects that were great or fair;

First communed with him by their help. And thus

Was founded a sure safeguard and defence

Against the weight of meanness, selfish cares,

Coarse manners, vulgar passions, that beat in

On all sides from the ordinary world

In which we traffic. Starting from this point

I had my face turned toward the truth, began

With an advantage furnished by that kind

Of prepossession, without which the soul

Receives no knowledge that can bring forth good,

No genuine insight ever comes to her.

From the restraint of over-watchful eyes

Preserved, I moved about, year after year,

Happy, and now most thankful that my walk

Was guarded from too early intercourse

With the deformities of crowded life,

And those ensuing laughters and contempts,

Self-pleasing, which, if we would wish to think

With a due reverence on earth's rightful lord,