Composed 1843.--Published 1845
One of the "Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces."--ED.
Ye vales and hills whose beauty hither drew
The poet's steps, and fixed him here, on you,
His eyes have closed! And ye, lov'd books, no more
Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore,
To works that ne'er shall forfeit their renown
Adding immortal labours of his own--
Whether he traced historic truth, with zeal
For the State's guidance, or the Church's weal,
Or Fancy, disciplined by studious art,
Inform'd his pen, or wisdom of the heart,
Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot's mind
By reverence for the rights of all mankind.
Wide were his aims, yet in no human breast
Could private feelings meet for holier rest.
His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud
From Skiddaw's top; but he to heaven was vowed
Through his industrious life, and Christian faith
Calmed in his soul the fear of change and death.
I received, from the late Lord Coleridge, the following extracts from letters written by Wordsworth to his father, the Hon. Justice Coleridge, in reference to the Southey Inscription in Crosthwaite Church. Wordsworth seems to have submitted the proposed Inscription to Mr. Coleridge's judgment, and the changes he made upon it, in deference to the opinions he received, shew, as Lord Coleridge says, "the extreme care Wordsworth took to have the substance, and the expression also, as perfect as he could make it." The original draft of the "Inscription"was as follows:--
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT SOUTHEY, WHOSE MORTAL REMAINS ARE INTERRED IN THE ADJOINING CHURCHYARD. HE WAS BORN AT BRISTOL, OCTOBER YE 4TH, 1774, AND DIED, AFTER A RESIDENCE OF NEARLY FORTY YEARS, AT GRETA HALL IN THIS PARISH. MARCH 21ST, 1843.
Ye Vales and Hills, whose beauty hither drew
The Poet's steps, and fixed him here, on you
His eyes have closed; and ye, loved Books, no more
Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore,
To Works that ne'er shall forfeit their renown
Adding immortal labours of his own,
As Fancy, disciplined by studious Art
Informed his pen, or Wisdom of the heart,
Or judgments rooted in a Patriot's mind
Taught to revere the rights of all mankind.
Friends, Family--ah wherefore touch that string,
To them so fondly did the good man cling!
His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud
From Skiddaw's top; but He to Heaven was vowed
Through a long life; and calmed by Christian faith,
YOU ARE READING
THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)
PoetryThe Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. 8. Edited by William Knight
