How touching, when, at midnight, sweep
  Snow-muffled winds, and all is dark
  To hear—­and sink again-to sleep
  Or, at an earlier call, to mark, 40
  By blazing fire, the still suspense
  Of self-complacent innocence;

  The mutual nod,—­the grave disguise
  Of hearts with gladness brimming o’er;
  And some unbidden tears that rise 45
  For names once heard, and heard no more;
  Tears brightened by the serenade
  For infant in the cradle laid.

  Ah! not for emerald fields alone,
  With ambient streams more pure and bright 50
  Than fabled Cytherea’s zone
  Glittering before the Thunderer’s sight,
  Is to my heart of hearts endeared
  The ground where we were born and reared!

  Hail, ancient Manners! sure defence, 55
  Where they survive, of wholesome laws;
  Remnants of love whose modest sense
  Thus into narrow room withdraws;
  Hail, Usages of pristine mould,
  And ye that guard them, Mountains old! 60

  Bear with me, Brother! quench the thought
  That slights this passion, or condemns;
  If thee fond Fancy ever brought
  From the proud margin of the Thames,
  And Lambeth’s venerable towers, 65
  To humbler streams, and greener bowers.

  Yes, they can make, who fail to fill
  Short leisure even in busiest days;
  Moments, to cast a look behind,
  And profit by those kindly rays 70
  That through the clouds do sometimes steal,
  And all the far-off past reveal.

  Hence, while the imperial City’s din
  Beats frequent on thy satiate ear,
  A pleased attention I may win 75
  To agitations less severe,
  That neither overwhelm nor cloy,
  But fill the hollow vale with joy!

Christopher Wordsworth was born at Cockermouth in Cumberland on June 9th, 1774.  He received his early education at Hawkshead Grammar School and in 1792 entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as a pensioner.  He graduated in 1796 with high honours in mathematics, and in 1798 was elected a fellow of his college.  He took his M.A. degree in 1799 and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1810.  While at Cambridge Christopher had been tutor to Viscount Canterbury, who introduced him to his father, at that time Bishop of Norwich.  Through the good offices of the Bishop he was appointed to the rectory of Ashby, Norfolk, and thus, with prospects settled, he was enabled to marry.  On the appointment of the Bishop of Norwich to the Archbishopric of Canterbury he was appointed domestic chaplain to the Archbishop.  Subsequently in 1816 he was appointed rector of St. Mary’s, Lambeth, the living he held at the time the poem in the text was written.

In 1820 Christopher was made Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, a position he held until his resignation in 1841.  He died at Buxted on February 2nd, 1846.  “He was an earnest and deeply religious man; in some respects a high churchman of the old school, but with sympathy for whatever was good and noble in others.  In politics he was a staunch Conservative.”