Page:The Prelude, Wordsworth, 1850.djvu/319

BOOK IX.] Distempered, till they found, in every blast

Forced from the street-disturbing newsman's horn,

For her great cause record or prophecy

Of utter ruin. How might we believe

That wisdom could, in any shape, come near

Men clinging to delusions so insane?

And thus, experience proving that no few

Of our opinions had been just, we took

Like credit to ourselves where less was due,

And thought that other notions were as sound,

Yea, could not but be right, because we saw

That foolish men opposed them.

To a strain

More animated I might here give way,

And tell, since juvenile errors are my theme,

What in those days, through Britain, was performed

To turn all judgments out of their right course;

But this is passion over-near ourselves,

Reality too close and too intense,

And intermixed with something, in my mind,

Of scorn and condemnation personal,

That would profane the sanctity of verse.

Our Shepherds, this say merely, at that time

Acted, or seemed at least to act, like men

Thirsting to make the guardian crook of law