PRELUDE, The. (The Prelude or Growth or a Poet's Mind,' a blank verse poem in 14 books, was written by Wordsworth between the years 1799 and 1805, and was published posthumously in 1850. The work was intended to be introductory to a long philosophical poem,
comes conscious also at this time of his mis sion as a poet. During the years which follow, Wordsworth passes through the great crisis of his life. He is caught up by the revolutionary enthusiasm while in France, and for the time being entirely loses sight of the earlier vision in his devotion to the new movement for the regeneration of society. But as the revolution progresses, Wordsworth, like other idealists of his time, begins to lose faith in it. He turns to abstract reason for comfort, becomes hopelessly entangled in the mazes of fruitless speculation, and ends in intellectual despair. From this condition he is rescued by renewed contact with the soothing influences of nature and by his sister, who leads him gently back to the life of feeling and restores in him the spirit of joy and love. The emotions are now more precious to him than the intellect, and he regains possession of the creative vision of his youth. But hence forth humanity occupies a position in his heart higher even than that of nature.