24
THE VIATORIAN
Aware then of this insensibility 'on the part of n1a~, he feels himself called to .unfold the wonderful influence of Nature upon his own character in the belief that men will read, believe and imitate. To the wonderful 路 influence of nature upon his character, he testifies in "The Recluse" when he describes himself as an i1nperious, dating lad, who loved adventure and deeds of . glory, and that in manhood this innate tendency was tempered only by the sennons he heard in stones and running brooks.
~ ~4
((B u t me hath Nature tamed} and bade to seel-c for other agitations} or be calm; Hath dealt ~vith rne as with a turbulent stream} Some nursling of the rnountainsJ which she leads through quiet 'fneado'ZvsJ after hehas learnt His strength) and had his trium,ph and his joy) His desperate course of tuwtult and of glee.JJ '路
Had not nature thus influenced hi1n, he would n1ost probably have been engulfed in son1e disastrous adventure as he was about to be when his great soul had thrown itself into the Fr.e nch Revolution, fortunately to recoil with horror. He sees the spiritual havoc from which he was saved, admitting the sanction of reason upon the workings of Nature.
((. . . . . . . . her deliberate voice Hath said be mild and cleave to gentle things} Thy glory and Thy happiness be there. J.
Then farewell to the WarriorJs schemes . . . . A voice shall speah and w hat shall be the Them,e.? On Man) on Nature) and on 1-Iurnan Life!JJ Vvordsworth's appreciation of Nature and its effects see1ns in his youth to have been different frmn what' it was in his mature years. We observe this in two of his best poems, the ' ~Intima颅 tions", and the "Lines composed a. few miles above Til). tern Abbey". In the latter he remarks that as a youth his love of nature " had no need of a renwter charm By thoughts supplied) nor any interest unborrowed from the eye.JJ
...