188. ‘The Genius.’

    ‘Such strains of rapture as the Genius played.’

See the ‘Vision of Mirza’ in the Spectator.

189. *_Sonnet_ IX.

Upon the sight of a beautiful picture.

This was written when we dwelt in the Parsonage at Grasmere.  The principal features of the picture are Bredon Hill and Cloud Hill, near Coleorton.  I shall never forget the happy feeling with which my heart was filled when I was impelled to compose this sonnet.  We resided only two years in this house; and during the last half of this time, which was after this poem had been written, we lost our two children, Thomas and Catherine.  Our sorrow upon these events often brought it to my mind, and cast me upon the support to which the last line of it gives expression: 

    ‘The appropriate calm of blest eternity.’

It is scarcely necessary to add that we still possess the picture.

190. *_Sonnet_ XI.

Aerial Rock.

A projecting point of Loughrigg, nearly in front of Rydal Mount.  Thence looking at it, you are struck with the boldness of its aspect; but walking under it, you admire the beauty of its details.  It is vulgarly called Holme-scar, probably from the insulated pasture by the waterside below it.

191. *_Sonnet_ XV.

The Wild Duck’s Nest.

I observed this beautiful nest on the largest island of Rydal Water.

192. *_Sonnet_ XIX.

    ‘Grief thou hast lost,’ &c.

I could write a treatise of lamentation upon the changes brought about among the cottages of Westmoreland by the silence of the spinning-wheel.  During long winter’s nights and wet days, the wheel upon which wool was spun gave employment to a great part of a family.  The old man, however infirm, was able to card the wool, as he sate in the corner by the fireside; and often, when a boy, have I admired the cylinders of carded wool which were softly laid upon each other by his side.  Two wheels were often at work on the same floor, and others of the family, chiefly the little children, were occupied in teazing and clearing the wool to fit it for the hand of the carder.  So that all, except the infants, were contributing to mutual support:  Such was the employment that prevailed in the pastoral vales.  Where wool was not at hand, in the small rural towns, the wheel for spinning flax was almost in as constant use, if knitting was not preferred; which latter occupation had the advantage (in some cases disadvantage) that not being of necessity stationary, it allowed of gossiping about from house to house, which good housewives reckoned an idle thing.

193. *_Sonnet_ XXII.

Decay of Piety.

Attendance at church on prayer-days, Wednesdays and Fridays and holidays, received a shock at the Revolution.  It is now, however, happily reviving.  The ancient people described in this sonnet were among the last of that pious class.  May we hope that the practice now in some degree renewed will continue to spread.