Near The Spring Of The Hermitage

Troubled long with warring notions Long impatient of thy rod, I resign my soul's emotions Unto Thee, mysterious God!

What avails the kindly shelter Yielded by this craggy rent, If my spirit toss and welter On the waves of discontent?

Parching Summer hath no warrant To consume this crystal Well; Rains, that make each rill a torrent, Neither sully it nor swell.

Thus, dishonouring not her station, Would my Life present to Thee, Gracious God, the pure oblation Of divine tranquillity!

It is impossible to say where the "spring of the Hermitage" was, or was supposed by Wordsworth to be. It may refer to some Rydalian retreat. There is no spring or "crystal well" on St. Herbert's Island, Derwentwater; but Inscription XIII. in the edition of 1820 is entitled "For the Spot where the Hermitage stood on St. Herbert's Island, Derwentwater."--ED.