Suggested in part by an event which all England was lamenting-the death of Lord Nelson-and in part by the personal loss, which he still felt so keenly, his brother John's removal. On the 4th of February, 1806, Southey wrote thus to Sir Walter Scott: .. Wordsworth was with me last week; he has been of late more employed in correcting his poems than in writ ting others; but one piece he has written, upon the ideal character of a soldier, than which I have never seen anything more full of meaning and sound thought. The subject was suggested by Nelson's most glorious death..

(Knight, Life of Wordsworth, II, 46-7.)

What knowledge can perform, is dili gent to learn;

WHO is the happy Warrior? Who is he That every man in arms should wish to be?

-It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought: Whose high endeavors are an inward light

That makes the path before him always bright: Who, with a natural instinct to discern

Abides by this resolve, and stops not there,

But makes his moral being his prime

Her feeling, rendered more compassionate;

Is placable--because occasions rise
So often that demand such sacrifice;
More skilful in self-knowledge, even
more pure,

As tempted more; more able to endure, As more exposed to suffering and distress;

Thence, also, more alive to tenderness. -Tis he whose law is reason; who depends

Upon that law as on the best of friends; Whence, in a state where men tempted still

are

To evil for a guard against worse ill,
And what in quality or act is best
Doth seldom on a right foundation rest,
He labors good on good to fix, and owes
To virtue every triumph that he knows:
-Who, if he rise to station of command,
Rises by open means; and there will
stand

On honorable terms, or else retire,
And in himself possess his own desire;
Who comprehends his trust, and to the

same

Keeps faithful with a singleness of aim; And therefore does not stoop, nor lie in wait

For wealth, or honors, or for worldly state;

Whom they must follow; on whose head must fall,

Like showers of manna, if they come at

all: Whose powers shed round him in the common strife,

Or mild concerns of ordinary life,