The rest of the poem was written in the vale of Grasmere, chiefly during our residence at Allan Bank.

The long poem on my own education was, together with many minor poems, composed while we lived at the cottage at Town-End.

Perhaps my purpose of giving an additional interest to these my poems, in the eyes of my nearest and dearest friends, may he promoted by saying a few words upon the character of the 'Wanderer,' the 'Solitary,' and the 'Pastor,' and some other of the persons introduced.

And first of the principal one, the 'Wanderer.' My lamented friend Southey (for this is written a month after his decease[12]) used to say that had he been a Papist, the course of life which would in all probability have been his, was the one for which he was most fitted and most to his mind, that of a Benedictine Monk, in a Convent, furnished, as many once were, and some still are, with an inexhaustible library.

_Books_, as appears from many passages in his writings, and was evident to those who had opportunities of observing his daily life, were, in fact, _his passion_; and _wandering_, I can with truth affirm, was mine; but this propensity in me was happily counteracted by inability from want of fortune to fulfil my wishes.
[12] Which took place in March, 1843.
But had I been born in a class which would have deprived me of what is called a liberal education, it is not unlikely that, being strong in body, I should have taken to a way of life such as that in which my 'Pedlar' passed the greater part of his days.