University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poetical works of William Wordsworth

... In six volumes ... A new edition
Wordsworth, William (1770-1850)

expand sectionI. 
VOL. I.
collapse sectionII. 
VOL. II.
expand section 
POEMS ON THE NAMING OF PLACES.
expand section 
POEMS OF THE FANCY.
collapse section 
POEMS OF THE IMAGINATION.
 I. 
I. THERE WAS A BOY.
 II. 
II. TO THE CUCKOO.
 III. 
III. A NIGHT-PIECE.
 IV. 
IV. AIREY-FORCE VALLEY.
 V. 
V. YEW-TREES.
 VI. 
VI. NUTTING.
 VII. 
VII. THE SIMPLON PASS.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE REVERIE OF POOR SUSAN.
 XIV. 
XIV. POWER OF MUSIC.
 XV. 
XV. STAR-GAZERS.
 XVI. 
XVI. WRITTEN IN MARCH,
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII. BEGGARS.
 XIX. 
XIX. SEQUEL TO THE FOREGOING,
 XX. 
XX. GIPSIES.
 XXI. 
XXI. RUTH.
 XXII. 
XXII. RESOLUTION AND INDEPENDENCE.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. THE THORN.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. HART-LEAP WELL.
 XXV. 
XXV. SONG AT THE FEAST OF BROUGHAM CASTLE,
 XXVI. 
XXVI. LINES, COMPOSED A FEW MILES ABOVE TINTERN ABBEY,
 XXVII. 
XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. FRENCH REVOLUTION,
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX. TO A SKY-LARK.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. LAODAMIA.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. DION.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. THE PASS OF KIRKSTONE.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. TO ENTERPRISE.
 XXXV. 
XXXV. TO ------, ON HER FIRST ASCENT TO THE SUMMIT OF HELVELLYN.
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. TO A YOUNG LADY, WHO HAD BEEN REPROACHED FOR TAKING LONG WALKS IN THE COUNTRY.
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. WATER-FOWL.
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BLACK COMB.
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. THE HAUNTED TREE.
 XL. 
XL. THE TRIAD.
 XLI. 
XLI. THE WISHING-GATE.
 XLII. 
XLII. THE WISHING-GATE DESTROYED.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. THE PRIMROSE OF THE ROCK.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. PRESENTIMENTS.
collapse sectionXLV. 
XLV. VERNAL ODE.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. DEVOTIONAL INCITEMENTS.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. THE CUCKOO-CLOCK.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. TO THE CLOUDS.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE.
 L. 
L. A JEWISH FAMILY.
 LI. 
LI. ON THE POWER OF SOUND.
expand section 
PETER BELL.
expand section 
MISCELLANEOUS SONNETS.
expand sectionIII. 
VOL. III.
expand sectionIV. 
VOL. IV.
expand sectionV. 
VOL. V.
expand sectionVI. 
[volume]

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The poetical works of William Wordsworth
next section

V.

[Fair Prime of life! were it enough to gild]

Fair Prime of life! were it enough to gild
With ready sunbeams every straggling shower;
And, if an unexpected cloud should lower,
Swiftly thereon a rainbow arch to build
For Fancy's errands,—then, from fields half-tilled
Gathering green weeds to mix with poppy flower,
Thee might thy Minions crown, and chant thy power,
Unpitied by the wise, all censure stilled.
Ah! show that worthier honours are thy due;
Fair Prime of life! arouse the deeper heart;
Confirm the Spirit glorying to pursue
Some path of steep ascent and lofty aim;
And, if there be a joy that slights the claim
Of grateful memory, bid that joy depart.
previous section The poetical works of William Wordsworth
next section