is called the 'breath of heaven' and evokes in him, records.
in response, an inner, 'correspondent' breeze, a 6. I.e., 'and willing to prolong the passion.'
burst of inspiration. The power of this revivifying
.
326 / WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
With warmth, as much as needed, from a sun
Two hours declined towards the west, a day
With silver clouds, and sunshine on the grass,
And, in the sheltered and the sheltering grove,
70 A perfect stillness. Many were the thoughts
Encouraged and dismissed, till choice was made
Of a known Vale7 whither my feet should turn,
Nor rest till they had reached the very door
Of the one Cottage which methought I saw.
75 No picture of mere memory ever looked
So fair; and while upon the fancied scene
I gazed with growing love, a higher power
Than Fancy gave assurance of some work
Of glory, there forthwith to be begun,
so Perhaps too there performed.8 Thus long I mused,
Nor e'er lost sight of what I mused upon,
Save where, amid the stately grove of Oaks,
Now here?now there?an acorn, from its cup
Dislodged, through sere leaves rustled, or at once
85 To the bare earth dropped with a startling sound. From that soft couch I rose not, till the sun
Had almost touched the horizon; casting then
A backward glance upon the curling cloud
Of city smoke, by distance ruralized,
90 Keen as a Truant or a Fugitive,
But as a Pilgrim resolute, I took,
Even with the chance equipment of that hour, The road that pointed tow'rd the chosen Vale. It was a splendid evening: and my Soul 95 Once more made trial of her strength, nor lacked
Eolian visitations;9 but the harp
Was soon defrauded, and the banded host
Of harmony dispersed in straggling sounds;
And lastly utter silence! 'Be it so;
IOO Why think of any thing but present good?'
So, like a Home-bound Labourer, I pursued
My way, beneath the mellowing sun, that shed
Mild influence;1 nor left in me one wish
Again to bend the sabbath of that time2
105 To a servile yoke. What need of many words?
A pleasant loitering journey, through three days
Continued, brought me to my hermitage.
I spare to tell of what ensued, the life
In common things,?the endless store of things
no Rare, or at least so seeming, every day Found all about me in one neighbourhood; The self- congratulation,' and from morn self-rejoicing
7. Grasmere, where Wordsworth settled with his with music to gusts of a breeze. For a description sister, Dorothy, in December 1799. of this instrument, see Coleridge's The Eolian
8. I.e., The Recluse, which Wordsworth planned Harp, n. 1, p. 426. to be his major poetic work. 1. An astrological term for the effect of stars on
