12 MARCH 1870, Page 16

POETRY.

THE RECOGNITION OF GENIUS: A SONNET.

WRITTEN IN A POPULAR EDITION OF WORDSWORTH'S POEMS.

TIME was, great Seer, when in thy mountain place

Thou dwelt'st apart, and river, lake, and glen Had more to teach thee than the noise of men Or all the cares that vex our mortal race ; Yet would the envious tribe that springs apace In presence of all goodness, even then With busy havoc of the idle pen, Have turned thy wise retirement to disgrace.

Now, common as the all-encircling air, And open as the waters or the wind, _ We take thee, till the riches that we share Seem as a part of being,—undefined ; This is the fame true greatness only knows, Pulse of the world's free heart it comes and goes.