I cannot, however, be insensible to the present outcry against the triviality and

meanness, both of thought and language, which some of my contemporaries have

occasionally introduced into their metrical compositions; and I acknowledge that this

defect, where it exists, is more dishonourable to the Writer's own character than false

refinement or arbitrary innovation, though I should contend at the same time, that it is far

less pernicious in the sum of its consequences. From such verses the Poems in these

volumes will be found distinguished at least by one mark of difference, that each of them

has a worthy purpose. Not that I always began to write with a distinct purpose formerly

conceived; but habits of meditation have, I trust, so prompted and regulated my feelings,

that my descriptions of such objects as strongly excite those feelings, will be found to

carry along with them a purpose. If this opinion be erroneous, I can have little right to the

name of a Poet. For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings:

and though this be true, Poems to which any value can be attached were never produced

on any variety of subj ects but by a man who, being possessed of more than usual organic

sensibility, had also thought long and deeply. For our continued influxes of feeling are

modified and directed by our thoughts, which are indeed the representatives of all our

past feelings; and, as by contemplating the relation of these general representatives to

each other, we discover what is really important to men, so, by the repetition and

continuance of this act, our feelings will be connected with important subjects, till at

length, if we be originally possessed of much sensibility, such habits of mind will be

produced, that, by obeying blindly and mechanically the impulses of those habits, we

shall describe objects, and utter sentiments, of such a nature, and in such connexion with

each other, that the understanding of the Reader must necessarily be in some degree

enlightened, and his affections strengthened and purified.

It has been said that each of these poems has a purpose. Another circumstance must be

mentioned which distinguishes these Poems from the popular Poetry of the day; it is this,

that the feeling therein developed gives importance to the action and situation, and not

the action and situation to the feeling.

A sense of false modesty shall not prevent me from asserting, that the Reader's

attention is pointed to this mark of distinction, far less for the sake of these particular

Poems than from the general importance of the subject. The subject is indeed important!

For the human mind is capable of being excited without the application of gross and

violent stimulants; and he must have a very faint perception of its beauty and dignity who

does not know this, and who does not further know, that one being is elevated above

another, in proportion as he possesses this capability. It has therefore appeared to me,

that to endeavour to produce or enlarge this capability is one of the best services in

which, at any period, a Writer can be engaged; but this service, excellent at all times, is

especially so at the present day. For a multitude of causes, unknown to former times, are

now acting with a combined force to blunt the discriminating powers of the mind, and,

unfitting it for all voluntary exertion, to reduce it to a state of almost savage torpor. The

most effective of these causes are the great national events which are daily taking place,

and the increasing accumulation of men in cities, where the uniformity of their

occupations produces a craving for extraordinary incident, which the rapid

communication of intelligence hourly gratifies. to this tendency of life and manners the

literature and theatrical exhibitions of the country have conformed themselves. The

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