The Prelude or Growth of a Poet's Mind: By William Wordsworth: Edited from the manuscripts with introduction, textual and critical notes by Ernest de Selincourt |
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 | The Prelude |  |
The Men already spoken of as chief
Of my Associates were prepared for flight
To augment the band of Emigrants in Arms
Upon the borders of the Rhine, and leagued
With foreign Foes mustered for instant war.
This was their undisguis'd intent, and they
Were waiting with the whole of their desires
The moment to depart.
Of my Associates were prepared for flight
To augment the band of Emigrants in Arms
Upon the borders of the Rhine, and leagued
With foreign Foes mustered for instant war.
This was their undisguis'd intent, and they
Were waiting with the whole of their desires
The moment to depart.
An Englishman,
Born in a Land, the name of which appear'd
To license some unruliness of mind,
A Stranger, with Youth's further privilege,
And that indulgence which a half-learn'd speech
Wins from the courteous, I who had been else
Shunn'd and not tolerated freely lived
With these Defenders of the Crown, and talk'd
And heard their notions, nor did they disdain
The wish to bring me over to their cause.
Born in a Land, the name of which appear'd
To license some unruliness of mind,
A Stranger, with Youth's further privilege,
And that indulgence which a half-learn'd speech
Wins from the courteous, I who had been else
Shunn'd and not tolerated freely lived
With these Defenders of the Crown, and talk'd
And heard their notions, nor did they disdain
The wish to bring me over to their cause.
| The Prelude | |