did not fail
    In reverence or in courtesy; they prized
    His gentle manners, and his peaceful smiles;
    The gleams of his slow-varying countenance
    Were met with answering sympathy and love. 
       At length when sixty years and five were told
    A slow disease insensibly consumed
    The powers of nature, and a few short steps
    Of friends and kindred bore him from his home,
    Yon cottage shaded by the woody cross,
    To the profounder stillness of the grave. 
    Nor was his funeral denied the grace
    Of many tears, virtuous and thoughtful grief,
    Heart-sorrow rendered sweet by gratitude;
    And now that monumental stone preserves
    His name, and unambitiously relates
    How long and by what kindly outward aids
    And in what pure contentedness of mind
    The sad privation was by him endured. 
    And yon tall pine-tree, whose composing sound
    Was wasted on the good man’s living ear,
    Hath now its own peculiar sanctity,
    And at the touch of every wandering breeze
    Murmurs not idly o’er his peaceful grave.

III.  ESSAYS, LETTERS, AND NOTES ELUCIDATORY AND CONFIRMATORY OF THE POEMS.

1798-1835.

(a) OF THE PRINCIPLES OF POETRY AND THE ‘LYRICAL BALLADS’ (1798-1802). (b) OF POETIC DICTION. (c) POETRY AS A STUDY (1815). (d) OF POETRY AS OBSERVATION AND DESCRIPTION, AND DEDICATION OF 1815. (e) OF ‘THE EXCURSION:’  PREFACE. (f) LETTERS TO SIR GEORGE AND LADY BEAUMONT AND OTHERS ON THE POEMS AND RELATED SUBJECTS. (g) LETTER TO CHARLES FOX WITH THE ‘LYRICAL BALLADS,’ AND HIS ANSWER, &c. (h) LETTER ON THE PRINCIPLES OF POETRY AND HIS OWN POEMS TO (AFTERWARDS) PROFESSOR JOHN WILSON.

NOTE.

Of the occasion and sources, &c. of the several portions of the present division see Preface in Vol.  I. G.

(a) OF THE PRINCIPLES OF POETRY AND THE ‘LYRICAL BALLADS’ (1798-1802).

The first Volume of these Poems has already been submitted to general perusal.  It was published, as an experiment, which, I hoped, might be of some use to ascertain, how far, by fitting to metrical arrangement a selection of the real language of men in a state of vivid sensation, that sort of pleasure and that quantity of pleasure may be imparted, which a Poet may rationally endeavour to impart.

I had formed no very inaccurate estimate of the probable effect of those Poems:  I flattered myself that they who should be pleased with them would read them with more than common pleasure:  and, on the other hand, I was well aware, that by those who should dislike them, they would be read with more than common dislike.  The result has differed from my expectation in this only, that a greater number have been pleased than I ventured to hope I should please.

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