The Prelude - Book Fourth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCDECAFGHIJAKLCMNJOP QRAASTUVWXYZYCA2B2C2 YD2AE2YAF2G2YYAH2I2Y J2YAQCAK2CYC2L2M2ZVY YYN2YAYYYK2CK2YYYAAY YYYO2K2YCVK2 P2YK2YK2AYYYCYK2YYYQ 2YCK2K2R2VK2S2AYT2K2 CYAYYCYU2YA YV2YK2YW2YX2AAY2YAAY AZ2YVA3YYB3YVZCZ2C3Y VK2YK2YCD3I2YYE3D2K2 CYAAK2YK2AYK2YYF3Q2V CC G3K2YK2T2YYYL2YZ2AYY AYAH3 K2K2K2K2YI3K2YZN2J3K 3K2C2YK2YK2YK2D3Y YG3D2L3CYI2K2K2YYK2K 2K2AYCYM3CN3K2YD2O3 YYC3X2D3K2CYI3P3YQ3A K2YYG3YYYYYYCR3K2YK2 S3T3YYU3AR2YYYACQ3K2 K2V3W3YG3YCYYK2K2CN3 YYI2YT2ACYYYI3K2YYX3 YCK2YK2AK2K2J3K2YYYK 2 G3YYYYYK2K2K2G3C3YK2 AY N3Y3YYYYYK2YADK2YYK2 YK2K2CK2YZ3YYYK2YDAQ 3Z2QCK2A4YYP2L2L2AYB 4YAC4K2YYYYN3AR3YZD4 K2YK2E4YYYI3YK2K2E3Y YYF4YR2YYK2YYYYCYK2Y YG4G3YAQ3K2YQYYCAH4K 2I4K2J4C3Z2AY YCK2K2YAZ2K2F4

SUMMER VACATION	A
	-
Bright was the summer's noon when quickening steps	B
Followed each other till a dreary moor	C
Was crossed a bare ridge clomb upon whose top	D
Standing alone as from a rampart's edge	E
I overlooked the bed of Windermere	C
Like a vast river stretching in the sun	A
With exultation at my feet I saw	F
Lake islands promontories gleaming bays	G
A universe of Nature's fairest forms	H
Proudly revealed with instantaneous burst	I
Magnificent and beautiful and gay	J
I bounded down the hill shouting amain	A
For the old Ferryman to the shout the rocks	K
Replied and when the Charon of the flood	L
Had staid his oars and touched the jutting pier	C
I did not step into the well known boat	M
Without a cordial greeting Thence with speed	N
Up the familiar hill I took my way	J
Towards that sweet Valley where I had been reared	O
'Twas but a short hour's walk ere veering round	P
I saw the snow white church upon her hill	Q
Sit like a throned Lady sending out	R
A gracious look all over her domain	A
Yon azure smoke betrays the lurking town	A
With eager footsteps I advance and reach	S
The cottage threshold where my journey closed	T
Glad welcome had I with some tears perhaps	U
From my old Dame so kind and motherly	V
While she perused me with a parent's pride	W
The thoughts of gratitude shall fall like dew	X
Upon thy grave good creature While my heart	Y
Can beat never will I forget thy name	Z
Heaven's blessing be upon thee where thou liest	Y
After thy innocent and busy stir	C
In narrow cares thy little daily growth	A2
Of calm enjoyments after eighty years	B2
And more than eighty of untroubled life	C2
Childless yet by the strangers to thy blood	Y
Honoured with little less than filial love	D2
What joy was mine to see thee once again	A
Thee and thy dwelling and a crowd of things	E2
About its narrow precincts all beloved	Y
And many of them seeming yet my own	A
Why should I speak of what a thousand hearts	F2
Have felt and every man alive can guess	G2
The rooms the court the garden were not left	Y
Long unsaluted nor the sunny seat	Y
Round the stone table under the dark pine	A
Friendly to studious or to festive hours	H2
Nor that unruly child of mountain birth	I2
The famous brook who soon as he was boxed	Y
Within our garden found himself at once	J2
As if by trick insidious and unkind	Y
Stripped of his voice and left to dimple down	A
Without an effort and without a will	Q
A channel paved by man's officious care	C
I looked at him and smiled and smiled again	A
And in the press of twenty thousand thoughts	K2
Ha quoth I pretty prisoner are you there	C
Well might sarcastic Fancy then have whispered	Y
An emblem here behold of thy own life	C2
In its late course of even days with all	L2
Their smooth enthralment but the heart was full	M2
Too full for that reproach My aged Dame	Z
Walked proudly at my side she guided me	V
I willing nay nay wishing to be led	Y
The face of every neighbour whom I met	Y
Was like a volume to me some were hailed	Y
Upon the road some busy at their work	N2
Unceremonious greetings interchanged	Y
With half the length of a long field between	A
Among my schoolfellows I scattered round	Y
Like recognitions but with some constraint	Y
Attended doubtless with a little pride	Y
But with more shame for my habiliments	K2
The transformation wrought by gay attire	C
Not less delighted did I take my place	K2
At our domestic table and dear Friend	Y
In this endeavour simply to relate	Y
A Poet's history may I leave untold	Y
The thankfulness with which I laid me down	A
In my accustomed bed more welcome now	A
Perhaps than if it had been more desired	Y
Or been more often thought of with regret	Y
That lowly bed whence I had heard the wind	Y
Roar and the rain beat hard where I so oft	Y
Had lain awake on summer nights to watch	O2
The moon in splendour couched among the leaves	K2
Of a tall ash that near our cottage stood	Y
Had watched her with fixed eyes while to and fro	C
In the dark summit of the waving tree	V
She rocked with every impulse of the breeze	K2
	-
Among the favourites whom it pleased me well	P2
To see again was one by ancient right	Y
Our inmate a rough terrier of the hills	K2
By birth and call of nature pre ordained	Y
To hunt the badger and unearth the fox	K2
Among the impervious crags but having been	A
From youth our own adopted he had passed	Y
Into a gentler service And when first	Y
The boyish spirit flagged and day by day	Y
Along my veins I kindled with the stir	C
The fermentation and the vernal heat	Y
Of poesy affecting private shades	K2
Like a sick Lover then this dog was used	Y
To watch me an attendant and a friend	Y
Obsequious to my steps early and late	Y
Though often of such dilatory walk	Q2
Tired and uneasy at the halts I made	Y
A hundred times when roving high and low	C
I have been harassed with the toil of verse	K2
Much pains and little progress and at once	K2
Some lovely Image in the song rose up	R2
Full formed like Venus rising from the sea	V
Then have I darted forwards to let loose	K2
My hand upon his back with stormy joy	S2
Caressing him again and yet again	A
And when at evening on the public way	Y
I sauntered like a river murmuring	T2
And talking to itself when all things else	K2
Are still the creature trotted on before	C
Such was his custom but whene'er he met	Y
A passenger approaching he would turn	A
To give me timely notice and straightway	Y
Grateful for that admonishment I hushed	Y
My voice composed my gait and with the air	C
And mien of one whose thoughts are free advanced	Y
To give and take a greeting that might save	U2
My name from piteous rumours such as wait	Y
On men suspected to be crazed in brain	A
	-
Those walks well worthy to be prized and loved	Y
Regretted that word too was on my tongue	V2
But they were richly laden with all good	Y
And cannot be remembered but with thanks	K2
And gratitude and perfect joy of heart	Y
Those walks in all their freshness now came back	W2
Like a returning Spring When first I made	Y
Once more the circuit of our little lake	X2
If ever happiness hath lodged with man	A
That day consummate happiness was mine	A
Wide spreading steady calm contemplative	Y2
The sun was set or setting when I left	Y
Our cottage door and evening soon brought on	A
A sober hour not winning or serene	A
For cold and raw the air was and untuned	Y
But as a face we love is sweetest then	A
When sorrow damps it or whatever look	Z2
It chance to wear is sweetest if the heart	Y
Have fulness in herself even so with me	V
It fared that evening Gently did my soul	A3
Put off her veil and self transmuted stood	Y
Naked as in the presence of her God	Y
While on I walked a comfort seemed to touch	B3
A heart that had not been disconsolate	Y
Strength came where weakness was not known to be	V
At least not felt and restoration came	Z
Like an intruder knocking at the door	C
Of unacknowledged weariness I took	Z2
The balance and with firm hand weighed myself	C3
Of that external scene which round me lay	Y
Little in this abstraction did I see	V
Remembered less but I had inward hopes	K2
And swellings of the spirit was rapt and soothed	Y
Conversed with promises had glimmering views	K2
How life pervades the undecaying mind	Y
How the immortal soul with God like power	C
Informs creates and thaws the deepest sleep	D3
That time can lay upon her how on earth	I2
Man if he do but live within the light	Y
Of high endeavours daily spreads abroad	Y
His being armed with strength that cannot fail	E3
Nor was there want of milder thoughts of love	D2
Of innocence and holiday repose	K2
And more than pastoral quiet 'mid the stir	C
Of boldest projects and a peaceful end	Y
At last or glorious by endurance won	A
Thus musing in a wood I sate me down	A
Alone continuing there to muse the slopes	K2
And heights meanwhile were slowly overspread	Y
With darkness and before a rippling breeze	K2
The long lake lengthened out its hoary line	A
And in the sheltered coppice where I sate	Y
Around me from among the hazel leaves	K2
Now here now there moved by the straggling wind	Y
Came ever and anon a breath like sound	Y
Quick as the pantings of the faithful dog	F3
The off and on companion of my walk	Q2
And such at times believing them to be	V
I turned my head to look if he were there	C
Then into solemn thought I passed once more	C
	-
A freshness also found I at this time	G3
In human Life the daily life of those	K2
Whose occupations really I loved	Y
The peaceful scene oft filled me with surprise	K2
Changed like a garden in the heat of spring	T2
After an eight days' absence For to omit	Y
The things which were the same and yet appeared	Y
Far otherwise amid this rural solitude	Y
A narrow Vale where each was known to all	L2
'Twas not indifferent to a youthful mind	Y
To mark some sheltering bower or sunny nook	Z2
Where an old man had used to sit alone	A
Now vacant pale faced babes whom I had left	Y
In arms now rosy prattlers at the feet	Y
Of a pleased grandame tottering up and down	A
And growing girls whose beauty filched away	Y
With all its pleasant promises was gone	A
To deck some slighted playmate's homely cheek	H3
	-
Yes I had something of a subtler sense	K2
And often looking round was moved to smiles	K2
Such as a delicate work of humour breeds	K2
I read without design the opinions thoughts	K2
Of those plain living people now observed	Y
With clearer knowledge with another eye	I3
I saw the quiet woodman in the woods	K2
The shepherd roam the hills With new delight	Y
This chiefly did I note my grey haired Dame	Z
Saw her go forth to church or other work	N2
Of state equipped in monumental trim	J3
Short velvet cloak her bonnet of the like	K3
A mantle such as Spanish Cavaliers	K2
Wore in old times Her smooth domestic life	C2
Affectionate without disquietude	Y
Her talk her business pleased me and no less	K2
Her clear though shallow stream of piety	Y
That ran on Sabbath days a fresher course	K2
With thoughts unfelt till now I saw her read	Y
Her Bible on hot Sunday afternoons	K2
And loved the book when she had dropped asleep	D3
And made of it a pillow for her head	Y
	-
Nor less do I remember to have felt	Y
Distinctly manifested at this time	G3
A human heartedness about my love	D2
For objects hitherto the absolute wealth	L3
Of my own private being and no more	C
Which I had loved even as a blessed spirit	Y
Or Angel if he were to dwell on earth	I2
Might love in individual happiness	K2
But now there opened on me other thoughts	K2
Of change congratulation or regret	Y
A pensive feeling It spread far and wide	Y
The trees the mountains shared it and the brooks	K2
The stars of Heaven now seen in their old haunts	K2
White Sirius glittering o'er the southern crags	K2
Orion with his belt and those fair Seven	A
Acquaintances of every little child	Y
And Jupiter my own beloved star	C
Whatever shadings of mortality	Y
Whatever imports from the world of death	M3
Had come among these objects heretofore	C
Were in the main of mood less tender strong	N3
Deep gloomy were they and severe the scatterings	K2
Of awe or tremulous dread that had given way	Y
In later youth to yearnings of a love	D2
Enthusiastic to delight and hope	O3
	-
As one who hangs down bending from the side	Y
Of a slow moving boat upon the breast	Y
Of a still water solacing himself	C3
With such discoveries as his eye can make	X2
Beneath him in the bottom of the deep	D3
Sees many beauteous sights weeds fishes flowers	K2
Grots pebbles roots of trees and fancies more	C
Yet often is perplexed and cannot part	Y
The shadow from the substance rocks and sky	I3
Mountains and clouds reflected in the depth	P3
Of the clear flood from things which there abide	Y
In their true dwelling now is crossed by gleam	Q3
Of his own image by a sunbeam now	A
And wavering motions sent he knows not whence	K2
Impediments that make his task more sweet	Y
Such pleasant office have we long pursued	Y
Incumbent o'er the surface of past time	G3
With like success nor often have appeared	Y
Shapes fairer or less doubtfully discerned	Y
Than these to which the Tale indulgent Friend	Y
Would now direct thy notice Yet in spite	Y
Of pleasure won and knowledge not withheld	Y
There was an inner falling off I loved	Y
Loved deeply all that had been loved before	C
More deeply even than ever but a swarm	R3
Of heady schemes jostling each other gawds	K2
And feast and dance and public revelry	Y
And sports and games too grateful in themselves	K2
Yet in themselves less grateful I believe	S3
Than as they were a badge glossy and fresh	T3
Of manliness and freedom all conspired	Y
To lure my mind from firm habitual quest	Y
Of feeding pleasures to depress the zeal	U3
And damp those yearnings which had once been mine	A
A wild unworldly minded youth given up	R2
To his own eager thoughts It would demand	Y
Some skill and longer time than may be spared	Y
To paint these vanities and how they wrought	Y
In haunts where they till now had been unknown	A
It seemed the very garments that I wore	C
Preyed on my strength and stopped the quiet stream	Q3
Of self forgetfulness	K2
Yes that heartless chase	K2
Of trivial pleasures was a poor exchange	V3
For books and nature at that early age	W3
'Tis true some casual knowledge might be gained	Y
Of character or life but at that time	G3
Of manners put to school I took small note	Y
And all my deeper passions lay elsewhere	C
Far better had it been to exalt the mind	Y
By solitary study to uphold	Y
Intense desire through meditative peace	K2
And yet for chastisement of these regrets	K2
The memory of one particular hour	C
Doth here rise up against me 'Mid a throng	N3
Of maids and youths old men and matrons staid	Y
A medley of all tempers I had passed	Y
The night in dancing gaiety and mirth	I2
With din of instruments and shuffling feet	Y
And glancing forms and tapers glittering	T2
And unaimed prattle flying up and down	A
Spirits upon the stretch and here and there	C
Slight shocks of young love liking interspersed	Y
Whose transient pleasure mounted to the head	Y
And tingled through the veins Ere we retired	Y
The cock had crowed and now the eastern sky	I3
Was kindling not unseen from humble copse	K2
And open field through which the pathway wound	Y
And homeward led my steps Magnificent	Y
The morning rose in memorable pomp	X3
Glorious as e'er I had beheld in front	Y
The sea lay laughing at a distance near	C
The solid mountains shone bright as the clouds	K2
Grain tinctured drenched in empyrean light	Y
And in the meadows and the lower grounds	K2
Was all the sweetness of a common dawn	A
Dews vapours and the melody of birds	K2
And labourers going forth to till the fields	K2
Ah need I say dear Friend that to the brim	J3
My heart was full I made no vows but vows	K2
Were then made for me bond unknown to me	Y
Was given that I should be else sinning greatly	Y
A dedicated Spirit On I walked	Y
In thankful blessedness which yet survives	K2
	-
Strange rendezvous My mind was at that time	G3
A parti coloured show of grave and gay	Y
Solid and light short sighted and profound	Y
Of inconsiderate habits and sedate	Y
Consorting in one mansion unreproved	Y
The worth I knew of powers that I possessed	Y
Though slighted and too oft misused Besides	K2
That summer swarming as it did with thoughts	K2
Transient and idle lacked not intervals	K2
When Folly from the frown of fleeting Time	G3
Shrunk and the mind experienced in herself	C3
Conformity as just as that of old	Y
To the end and written spirit of God's works	K2
Whether held forth in Nature or in Man	A
Through pregnant vision separate or conjoined	Y
	-
When from our better selves we have too long	N3
Been parted by the hurrying world and droop	Y3
Sick of its business of its pleasures tired	Y
How gracious how benign is Solitude	Y
How potent a mere image of her sway	Y
Most potent when impressed upon the mind	Y
With an appropriate human centre hermit	Y
Deep in the bosom of the wilderness	K2
Votary in vast cathedral where no foot	Y
Is treading where no other face is seen	A
Kneeling at prayers or watchman on the top	D
Of lighthouse beaten by Atlantic waves	K2
Or as the soul of that great Power is met	Y
Sometimes embodied on a public road	Y
When for the night deserted it assumes	K2
A character of quiet more profound	Y
Than pathless wastes	K2
Once when those summer months	K2
Were flown and autumn brought its annual show	C
Of oars with oars contending sails with sails	K2
Upon Winander's spacious breast it chanced	Y
That after I had left a flower decked room	Z3
Whose in door pastime lighted up survived	Y
To a late hour and spirits overwrought	Y
Were making night do penance for a day	Y
Spent in a round of strenuous idleness	K2
My homeward course led up a long ascent	Y
Where the road's watery surface to the top	D
Of that sharp rising glittered to the moon	A
And bore the semblance of another stream	Q3
Stealing with silent lapse to join the brook	Z2
That murmured in the vale All else was still	Q
No living thing appeared in earth or air	C
And save the flowing water's peaceful voice	K2
Sound there was none but lo an uncouth shape	A4
Shown by a sudden turning of the road	Y
So near that slipping back into the shade	Y
Of a thick hawthorn I could mark him well	P2
Myself unseen He was of stature tall	L2
A span above man's common measure tall	L2
Stiff lank and upright a more meagre man	A
Was never seen before by night or day	Y
Long were his arms pallid his hands his mouth	B4
Looked ghastly in the moonlight from behind	Y
A mile stone propped him I could also ken	A
That he was clothed in military garb	C4
Though faded yet entire Companionless	K2
No dog attending by no staff sustained	Y
He stood and in his very dress appeared	Y
A desolation a simplicity	Y
To which the trappings of a gaudy world	Y
Make a strange back ground From his lips ere long	N3
Issued low muttered sounds as if of pain	A
Or some uneasy thought yet still his form	R3
Kept the same awful steadiness at his feet	Y
His shadow lay and moved not From self blame	Z
Not wholly free I watched him thus at length	D4
Subduing my heart's specious cowardice	K2
I left the shady nook where I had stood	Y
And hailed him Slowly from his resting place	K2
He rose and with a lean and wasted arm	E4
In measured gesture lifted to his head	Y
Returned my salutation then resumed	Y
His station as before and when I asked	Y
His history the veteran in reply	I3
Was neither slow nor eager but unmoved	Y
And with a quiet uncomplaining voice	K2
A stately air of mild indifference	K2
He told in few plain words a soldier's tale	E3
That in the Tropic Islands he had served	Y
Whence he had landed scarcely three weeks past	Y
That on his landing he had been dismissed	Y
And now was travelling towards his native home	F4
This heard I said in pity Come with me	Y
He stooped and straightway from the ground took up	R2
An oaken staff by me yet unobserved	Y
A staff which must have dropped from his slack hand	Y
And lay till now neglected in the grass	K2
Though weak his step and cautious he appeared	Y
To travel without pain and I beheld	Y
With an astonishment but ill suppressed	Y
His ghostly figure moving at my side	Y
Nor could I while we journeyed thus forbear	C
To turn from present hardships to the past	Y
And speak of war battle and pestilence	K2
Sprinkling this talk with questions better spared	Y
On what he might himself have seen or felt	Y
He all the while was in demeanour calm	G4
Concise in answer solemn and sublime	G3
He might have seemed but that in all he said	Y
There was a strange half absence as of one	A
Knowing too well the importance of his theme	Q3
But feeling it no longer Our discourse	K2
Soon ended and together on we passed	Y
In silence through a wood gloomy and still	Q
Up turning then along an open field	Y
We reached a cottage At the door I knocked	Y
And earnestly to charitable care	C
Commended him as a poor friendless man	A
Belated and by sickness overcome	H4
Assured that now the traveller would repose	K2
In comfort I entreated that henceforth	I4
He would not linger in the public ways	K2
But ask for timely furtherance and help	J4
Such as his state required At this reproof	C3
With the same ghastly mildness in his look	Z2
He said My trust is in the God of Heaven	A
And in the eye of him who passes me	Y
	-
The cottage door was speedily unbarred	Y
And now the soldier touched his hat once more	C
With his lean hand and in a faltering voice	K2
Whose tone bespake reviving interests	K2
Till then unfelt he thanked me I returned	Y
The farewell blessing of the patient man	A
And so we parted Back I cast a look	Z2
And lingered near the door a little space	K2
Then sought with quiet heart my distant home	F4

William Wordsworth

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