New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-15
RUSKIN ON WORDSWORTH.
From The Ntneteenh Century.

From The NtHeteeuM century,
have lately seen, and with extreme pleasure
Mr. Matthew ArnOlPs arrangement Of Wordss
worth's poems; and read with sincere interest his
high estimate of them But great poets work
never needs arrangement by other han1s; and
though il is very proper that Silver How should
clearly understand and brightly praise ITS traterna
Rydai Mount, we must not forget that, over you.
der, are the Andes, all the while.
WordswOrth's rank and scale among poets were
determined by himself, In single exclamation:
"what was the great Parnassus' self to thee.
Mount sklddawP
Answer his question faithfully. and you have the
relation between the great masters OF the Muses
teaching and the pleasant nngerer OF his pastoral
flute among the reeds of Rydai.
Wordsworth is simply W estmoreland peasant,
with considerably less shire wdness than most border
Englisbmen OF Scots men inherit; and no sense OK
hnmor; but gifted lin this slngularly) with vivid
sense Of natural beauty, and pretty turn for re-
Elections not always acute but far as they reach,
medicinal to tho fever OF the restless and corrupted
lIfo around him. Water to parched lips may be
better than samian VINE but 40 not let us therefore
doubt there being many inglorous Millions IN our
country churchyardsj but am very sure there are
many WOrdswOrths resting there, who were inferior
TO the renowned one only In caring less TO hear
themselves talk. =,
egoIsm, q wholesome contentment In modest elf
cumstances, and such sufficient ease, In that acJ
cepted state. permitted the passing OF good deal
OF time in wishing that dasIe could see the beauty
of their own shadows, and Other such profitable
mental exercises, Wordsworth has left us series
Of studies of the graceful and happy shepherd life
of our lake country, which TO me personally, for
one are entirely sweet and precious but they are
only so az the of an existent reality IN many
ways more beautiful than its picture:
But the other day went for an afternoons rest
into the cottage of one of our country people OF old
statesman class cottage living nearly midway be-
tween two village churches. but more conveniently
for downbill walk toward one than the other: !
found the good housewife made tea for me, thai
nevertheless she went up the hill 10 church. why
do not you 60 to the nearer church. !" asked,
Don't you like the clergyman y "Oh no. SIR,
s sou leave my mother Your mother she Z
bnried at IL, then ~ Yes SIR and you know
couldn't go to church anywhere else"
That feelings such these existed among the
peasants. not Of Cumberl aud only, but OF all the
tender earth that gives forth her fruit for the iv.
ing, and receives Der dead to peace might perhaps
cred before now, II Wordsworth had been contens
to tell us what he knew of his own villages and
people, not as the leader of new aud only correct
school of poetry, but simply as a country gentleman
of and feeling, fond OF prlmroses kind 70 lne
parish children, and reverent OF the spade WIN
which Wilkinson had titled his lands and am ny
no means sure that bis influence Oh the stronger
minds OF his time anywise fastened or EXTENDED
by the spirit Of tunefulness under whose guidance
he discovered that heaven rhymed to seVen' anu
FOy to boy. =,
Tupeful nevertheless at heart and of the heavenly
choir, gladly and frankly acknow ledge him; ana
our English literature enriched with a new ana
singular virtue in the aerial purity and bealthfaii
rightness of his quiet soDg;-but aerial only -no'
ethereal; and lowiy in It's privacy OF light.
measured mind. and calm; innocent. nnrepeni.
ant; helpful to snless creatures aud scatDeesS sucn
of the flock as do stray Hopeful at least. II nos
faithful; content with intmatious of inmortanty
such as may be IN skipping of lambs, and Laughter
of children -ucurous to In the hands the pfn'
OF the Nails.
A gracious and constant mind; as the heritage Oh
its native hills, fragrant aud pure yet. 10 tns
sweep and the shadow, the stress and distress Oh
the greater souls of men, the tuitcd 10 ths
laurel wilderness of rcmpe,-as TIE cleaning
euphrasy to the dark branches of Dodona