Page:The Prelude, Wordsworth, 1850.djvu/308

286 Of pity and sorrow to a state of being

That through the time's exceeding fierceness saw

Glimpses of retribution, terrible,

And in the order of sublime behests:

But, even if that were not, amid the awe

Of unintelligible chastisement,

Not only acquiescences of faith

Survived, but daring sympathies with power,

Motions not treacherous or profane, else why

Within the folds of no ungentle breast

Their dread vibration to this hour prolonged?

Wild blasts of music thus could find their way

Into the midst of turbulent events;

So that worst tempests might be listened to.

Then was the truth received into my heart,

That, under heaviest sorrow earth can bring,

If from the affliction somewhere do not grow

Honour which could not else have been, a faith,

An elevation and a sanctity,

If new strength be not given nor old restored,

The blame is ours, not Nature's. When a taunt

Was taken up by scoffers in their pride,

Saying, "Behold the harvest that we reap

From popular government and equality,"

I clearly saw that neither these nor aught