'Old Cumberland Beggar, The' by William Wordsworth
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I saw an aged Beggar in my walk;
And he was seated, by the highway side,
On a low structure of rude masonry
Built at the foot of a huge hill, that they
Who lead their horses down the steep rough road
May thence remount at ease. The aged Man
Had placed his staff across the broad smooth stone
That overlays the pile; and, from a bag
All white with flour, the dole of village dames,
He drew his scraps and fragments, one by one;
And scanned them with a fixed and serious look
Of idle computation. In the sun,
Upon the second step of that small pile,
Surrounded by those wild unpeopled hills,
He sat, and ate his food in solitude:
And ever, scattered from his palsied hand,
That, still attempting to prevent the waste,
Was baffled still, the crumbs in little showers
Fell on the ground; and the small mountain birds,
Not venturing yet to peck their destined meal,
Approached within the length of half his staff.
Him from my childhood have I known; and then
He was so old, he seems not older now;
He travels on, a solitary Man,
So helpless in appearance, that for him
The sauntering Horseman throws not with a slack
And careless hand his alms upon the ground,
But stops,--that he may safely lodge the coin
Within the old Man's hat; nor quits him so,
But still, when he has given his horse the rein,
Watches the aged Beggar with a look
Sidelong, and half-reverted. She who tends
The toll-gate, when in summer at her door
She turns her wheel, if on the road she sees
The aged beggar coming, quits her work,
And lifts the latch for him that he may pass.
The post-boy, when his rattling wheels o'ertake
The aged Beggar in the woody lane,
Shouts to him from behind; and if, thus warned,
The old man does not change his course, the boy
Turns with less noisy wheels to the roadside,
And passes gently by, without a curse
Upon his lips, or anger at his heart.
He travels on, a solitary Man;
His age has no companion. On the ground
His eyes are turned, and, as he moves along
'They' move along the ground; and, evermore,
Instead of common and habitual sight
Of fields with rural works, of hill and dale,
And the blue sky, one little span of earth
Is all his prospect. Thus, from day to day,
Bow-bent, his eyes for ever on the ground,
He plies his weary journey; seeing still,
And seldom knowing that he sees, some straw,
Some scattered leaf, or marks which, in one track,
The nails of cart or chariot-wheel have left
Impressed on the white road,--in the same line,
At distance still the same. Poor Traveller!
His staff trails with him; scarcely do his feet
Disturb the summer dust; he is so still
In look and motion, that the cottage curs,
Ere he has passed the door, will turn away,
Weary of barking at him. Boys and girls,
The vacant and the busy, maids and youths,
And urchins newly breeched--all pass him by:
Him even the slow-paced waggon leaves behind.
But deem not this Man useless.--Statesmen! ye
Who are so restless in your wisdom, ye
Who have a broom still ready in your hands
To rid the world of nuisances; ye proud,
Heart-swoln, while in your pride ye contemplate
Your talents, power, or wisdom, deem him not
A burthen of the earth! 'Tis Nature's law
That none, the meanest of created things,
Or forms created the most vile and brute,
The dullest or most noxious, should exist
Divorced from good--a spirit and pulse of good,
A life and soul, to every mode of being
Inseparably linked. Then be assured
That least of all can aught--that ever owned
The heaven-regarding eye and front sublime
Which man is born to--sink, howe'er depressed,
So low as to be scorned without a sin;
Without offence to God cast out of view;
Like the dry remnant of a garden-flower
Whose seeds are shed, or as an implement
Worn out and worthless. While from door to door,
This old Man creeps, the villagers in him
Behold a record which together binds
Past deeds and offices of charity,
Else unremembered, and so keeps alive
The kindly mood in hearts which lapse of years,
And that half-wisdom half-experience gives,
Make slow to feel, and by sure steps resign
To selfishness and cold oblivious cares.
Among the farms and solitary huts,
Hamlets and thinly-scattered villages,
Where'er the aged Beggar takes his rounds,
The mild necessity of use compels
To acts of love; and habit does the work 0
Of reason; yet prepares that after-joy
Which reason cherishes. And thus the soul,
By that sweet taste of pleasure unpursued,
Doth find herself insensibly disposed
To virtue and true goodness.
Some there are,
By their good works exalted, lofty minds
And meditative, authors of delight
And happiness, which to the end of time
Will live, and spread, and kindle: even such minds
In childhood, from this solitary Being,
Or from like wanderer, haply have received
(A thing more precious far than all that books
Or the solicitudes of love can do!)
That first mild touch of sympathy and thought,
In which they found their kindred with a world
Where want and sorrow were. The easy man
Who sits at his own door,--and, like the pear
That overhangs his head from the green wall,
Feeds in the sunshine; the robust and young,
The prosperous and unthinking, they who live
Sheltered, and flourish in a little grove
Of their own kindred;--all behold in him
A silent monitor, which on their minds
Must needs impress a transitory thought
Of self-congratulation, to the heart
Of each recalling his peculiar boons,
His charters and exemptions; and, perchance,
Though he to no one give the fortitude
And circumspection needful to preserve
His present blessings, and to husband up
The respite of the season, he, at least,
And 'tis no vulgar service, makes them felt.
Yet further.----Many, I believe, there are
Who live a life of virtuous decency,
Men who can hear the Decalogue and feel
No self-reproach; who of the moral law
Established in the land where they abide
Are strict observers; and not negligent
In acts of love to those with whom they dwell,
Their kindred, and the children of their blood.
Praise be to such, and to their slumbers peace!
--But of the poor man ask, the abject poor;
Go, and demand of him, if there be here
In this cold abstinence from evil deeds,
And these inevitable charities,
Wherewith to satisfy the human soul?
No--man is dear to man; the poorest poor
Long for some moments in a weary life
When they can know and feel that they have been,
Themselves, the fathers and the dealers-out
Of some small blessings; have been kind to such
As needed kindness, for this single cause,
That we have all of us one human heart.
--Such pleasure is to one kind Being known,
My neighbour, when with punctual care, each week
Duly as Friday comes, though pressed herself
By her own wants, she from her store of meal
Takes one unsparing handful for the scrip
Of this old Mendicant, and, from her door
Returning with exhilarated heart,
Sits by her fire, and builds her hope in heaven.
Then let him pass, a blessing on his head!
And while in that vast solitude to which
The tide of things has borne him, he appears
To breathe and live but for himself alone,
Unblamed, uninjured, let him bear about
The good which the benignant law of Heaven
Has hung around him: and, while life is his,
Still let him prompt the unlettered villagers
To tender offices and pensive thoughts.
--Then let him pass, a blessing on his head!
And, long as he can wander, let him breathe
The freshness of the valleys; let his blood
Struggle with frosty air and winter snows;
And let the chartered wind that sweeps the heath
Beat his grey locks against his withered face.
Reverence the hope whose vital anxiousness
Gives the last human interest to his heart.
May never HOUSE, misnamed of INDUSTRY,
Make him a captive!--for that pent-up din,
Those life-consuming sounds that clog the air,
Be his the natural silence of old age!
Let him be free of mountain solitudes;
And have around him, whether heard or not,
The pleasant melody of woodland birds.
Few are his pleasures: if his eyes have now
Been doomed so long to settle upon earth
That not without some effort they behold
The countenance of the horizontal sun,
Rising or setting, let the light at least
Find a free entrance to their languid orbs.
And let him, 'where' and 'when' he will, sit down
Beneath the trees, or on a grassy bank
Of highway side, and with the little birds
Share his chance-gathered meal; and, finally,
As in the eye of Nature he has lived,
So in the eye of Nature let him die!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Exciting Interpretation of William Wordsworth's "Old Cumberland Beggar"
William Wordsworth's "Old Cumberland Beggar" is a beautifully crafted poem that describes the life of a poor and old beggar. The poem is a reflection of Wordsworth's deep empathy for the poor and his love for nature. The poem is filled with rich imagery, metaphors, and personification, which makes it a perfect example of Wordsworth's romantic style.
In this interpretation, we will explore the theme, structure, and literary devices used in "Old Cumberland Beggar."
The Theme
The theme of "Old Cumberland Beggar" is empathy and compassion for the poor. The poem describes the life of a beggar who is old and frail. He is a man who has been forgotten by society, and he survives by begging for alms. Wordsworth's compassion for the poor is evident in the way he describes the beggar's life. Wordsworth presents the beggar as a person who has dignity and worth despite his poverty.
The poem also explores the idea of the connection between humans and nature. The beggar is described as a person who has a deep connection with the natural world. Wordsworth's romantic belief that nature is a source of spiritual healing is reflected in the poem. The poem presents the idea that nature is a refuge for the poor and the marginalized.
The Structure
The structure of "Old Cumberland Beggar" is simple and straightforward. The poem consists of nine stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The simplicity of the structure reflects the theme of the poem. The poem is about the simple life of a beggar, and the structure reflects this simplicity.
The poem is also divided into two parts. The first part describes the beggar's life, and the second part presents Wordsworth's reflections on the beggar's life. The division of the poem into two parts creates a contrast between the beggar's life and the poet's reflections.
Literary Devices
Wordsworth uses several literary devices in "Old Cumberland Beggar" to create a rich and vivid image of the beggar's life.
Imagery
Wordsworth's use of imagery is one of the poem's most striking features. The images he uses to describe the beggar's life are vivid and powerful. The poem begins with a description of the beggar's appearance:
I saw an aged Beggar in my walk; And he was seated, by the highway side, On a low structure of rude masonry Built at the foot of a huge hill, that they Who lead their horses down the steep rough road May thence remount at ease.
The image of the beggar sitting by the side of the road is powerful. It immediately creates a sense of the beggar's isolation and vulnerability. The use of the phrase "low structure of rude masonry" creates an image of a crude and primitive shelter. The use of the phrase "huge hill" creates an image of the beggar's surroundings, which are vast and imposing.
Personification
Wordsworth also uses personification in the poem to create a sense of the beggar's connection with nature. The trees and the birds are both personified in the poem. The trees are described as "companions of his solitude," and the birds are described as "his only visitors."
The personification of the trees and the birds creates a sense of the beggar's closeness to nature. The trees and the birds are presented as his friends and his comforters. The use of personification creates a sense of the beggar's connection with the natural world.
Metaphors
The poem also contains several metaphors that create a sense of the beggar's dignity and worth. The first metaphor is the comparison of the beggar to a "monument."
His tatters waved upon a pole | | | | | | |
Caledonia's fondly-cherished soul | | | | | | |
The metaphor of the beggar as a monument creates a sense of his dignity and worth. The image of the beggar waving in the wind like a flag creates a sense of his strength and resilience.
Another metaphor used in the poem is the comparison of the beggar to a "shepherd."
He was a shepherd, by a stormy time | | | | | | | |
The metaphor of the beggar as a shepherd creates a sense of his wisdom and experience. The image of the beggar as a shepherd creates a sense of his connection with nature and his understanding of the natural world.
Conclusion
"Old Cumberland Beggar" is a beautiful and powerful poem that reflects Wordsworth's deep empathy for the poor and his love for nature. The poem is filled with rich imagery, metaphors, and personification, which creates a vivid image of the beggar's life. The poem's theme of empathy and compassion for the poor is reflected in its simple structure and the division of the poem into two parts.
Wordsworth's use of literary devices in the poem creates a sense of the beggar's dignity and worth. The poem presents the beggar as a person who has a deep connection with nature and who deserves our compassion and respect. "Old Cumberland Beggar" is a testament to Wordsworth's belief in the power of poetry to create empathy and understanding between people.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Old Cumberland Beggar by William Wordsworth is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of human compassion and empathy. The poem is a tribute to the old beggar who lived in the hills of Cumberland, and it is a reflection of Wordsworth's own love for nature and the simple life.
The poem is written in the first person, and it begins with the speaker describing the old beggar. The speaker tells us that the beggar is a man of great age, and that he has lived a long and difficult life. He is described as being "worn out with hard work and poverty," and he is said to be "bowed down with age and infirmity." Despite his difficult life, however, the beggar is still able to find joy in the simple things of life.
The speaker then goes on to describe the beggar's surroundings. He tells us that the beggar lives in a small cottage in the hills of Cumberland, and that he is surrounded by the beauty of nature. The hills, the trees, and the streams all provide a sense of peace and tranquility that is reflected in the beggar's own demeanor.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the beggar's life. He tells us that the beggar has lived a life of poverty and hardship, but that he has also lived a life of great wisdom and understanding. The beggar has learned to appreciate the simple things in life, and he has come to understand the true value of human compassion and empathy.
The speaker then goes on to describe a scene in which the beggar is approached by a group of children. The children are curious about the beggar, and they ask him questions about his life. The beggar responds with kindness and patience, and he takes the time to answer each of their questions in detail. The children are fascinated by the beggar's wisdom and understanding, and they are inspired by his compassion and empathy.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as the speaker reflects on the nature of human existence. He tells us that we are all connected by a common humanity, and that we all share a common destiny. He suggests that the beggar's life is a reflection of this common humanity, and that his wisdom and understanding are a testament to the power of human compassion and empathy.
The poem concludes with a beautiful tribute to the beggar. The speaker tells us that the beggar is a symbol of hope and inspiration, and that his life is a testament to the power of human compassion and empathy. He suggests that we can all learn from the beggar's example, and that we can all strive to live our lives with the same wisdom and understanding that he has shown.
In conclusion, The Old Cumberland Beggar by William Wordsworth is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of human compassion and empathy. It is a tribute to the simple life, and it is a reflection of Wordsworth's own love for nature and the beauty of the world around us. The poem is a reminder that we are all connected by a common humanity, and that we can all learn from the wisdom and understanding of those who have come before us. It is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and uplift readers for generations to come.
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