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From what has been said, and from a perusal of the Poems, the Reader will be able clearly to perceive the object which I have proposed to myself: he will determine how far I have attained this object; and, what is a much more important question, whether it be worth attaining; and upon the decision of these two questions will rest my claim to the approbation of the public.

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EXPOSTULATION

AND

REPLY.

"Why, William, on that old grey stone,

"Thus for the length of half a day,

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Why, William, sit you thus alone,

"And dream your time away ?

"Where are your books? that light bequeath'd

"To beings else forlorn and blind!

"Up! Up! and drink the spirit breath'd

"From dead men to their kind.

A

"You look round on your mother earth, "As if she for no purpose bore you; "As if you were her first-born birth, "And none had lived before you !"

One morning thus, by Esthwaite lake, When life was sweet, I knew not why, To me my good friend Matthew spake, And thus I made reply.

"The eye it cannot chuse but see, "We cannot bid the ear be still;

"Our bodies feel, where'er they be,

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"Nor less I deem that there are powers

"Which of themselves our minds impress,

"That we can feed this mind of ours

"In a wise passiveness.

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