Apr 3rd, 2008
A bit of Wordsworth
And here was Labour, his own bond-slave; Hope,
That never set the pains against the prize;
Idleness halting with his weary clog,
And poor misguided Shame, and witless Fear,
And simple Pleasure foraging for Death;
Honour misplaced, and Dignity astray;
Feuds, factions, flatteries, enmity, and guile,
Murmuring submission, and bald government,
(The idol weak as the idolater),
And Decency and Custom starving Truth,
And blind Authority beating with his staff
The child that might have led him; Emptiness
Followed as of good omen, and meek Worth
Left to herself unheard of and unknown.
The Prelude, Book Third: 630 - 643
I’m back in Aberystwyth, the sun is shining and I’m feeling pretentiously literate. I’ve had an old copy of some William W. in my bathroom for years to dip into while using the facilities (in a manner of speaking) - but this is the first bit that made me want to quote him. Nice. I can’t claim very much more literacy though.
