The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth novel. A total of 345 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.Edited by William Knight.PREFACE During the dec
The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.Edited by William Knight.PREFACE During the decade between 1879 and 1889 I was engaged in a detailed study of Wordsworth; and, amongst other things, edited a library edition of his Poetical Works in eight volumes,
- 245 Oft on the dappled turf at ease I sit, and play with similes, [2] 10 Loose types of things through all degrees, Thoughts of thy raising: And many a fond and idle name I give to thee, for praise or blame, As is the humour of the game, 15 While I am gazing.
- 244 1836.When, smitten by the morning ray, I see thee rise alert and gay, Then, chearful Flower! my spirits play With kindred motion: 1807.With kindred gladness: 1815.Then Daisy! do my spirits play, With cheerful motion. MS.][Variant 11: 1815.At dusk, I've s
- 243 Thee Winter in the garland wears That thinly decks his few grey hairs; 10 Spring parts the clouds with softest airs, That she may sun thee; [4]Whole Summer-fields are thine by right; And Autumn, melancholy Wight!Doth in thy crimson head delight 15 When ra
- 242 TO H. C.SIX YEARS OLD Composed 1802.--Published 1807 One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood."--Ed.O thou! whose fancies from afar are brought; Who of thy words dost make a mock apparel, And fittest to unutterable thought The breeze-like
- 241 [Variant 3.1845.But dearly do I prize thee for I find In thee a bulwark of the cause of men; 1803.But dearly must we prize thee; we who find 1807.... for the cause of men; 1827.Most dearly 1838.The text of 1840 returns to that of 1827.]FOOTNOTE ON THE TEX
- 240 1807. But to ... MS.] FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: See Clarendons History of the Rebellion, book iii.--Ed.] "IT IS NOT TO BE THOUGHT OF THAT THE FLOOD" Composed September, 1802.--Published 1807 [A] It is not to be thought of that the Flood Of Briti
- 239 O FRIEND! [A] I know not which way I must look [1] For comfort, being, as I am, opprest, To think that now our life is only drest For show; mean handy-work of craftsman, cook, Or groom!--We must run glittering like a brook 5 In the open suns.h.i.+ne, or w
- 238 1827.But on our proffer'd kindness still did lay 1803.][Variant 7: 1845.... or at the same Was silent, motionless in eyes and face.She was a negro woman, out of France, Rejected, like all others of that race: Not one of whom may now find footing there.Wh
- 237 1815. In white sleevd s.h.i.+rts are playing by the score, And even this little Rivers gentle roar, 1807.] FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: At the beginning of Dorothy Wordsworths Journal of a Tour on the Continent in 1820, she writes (July 10, 1820): "
- 236 Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men! [B]Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough Within thy hearing, or thy head be now Pillowed in some deep dungeon's earless den;--[1]O miserable Chieftain! where and when 5 Wilt thou find patience? Yet die not;
- 235 [Footnote A: Compare 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' (canto iv. II): 'The spouseless Adriatic mourns her lord.'Ed.]"Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee."The special glory of Venice dates from the conquest of Constantinople by the Latins in 1202
- 234 VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1807.Air sleeps,--from strife or stir the clouds are free; 1837.A fairer face of evening cannot be; 1840.The text of 1845 returns to that of 1807.][Variant 2: 1837.... is on the Sea: 1807.][Variant 3: 1807.But list! ... 18
- 233 This sonnet, originally ent.i.tled 'To a Friend, composed near Calais, on the Road leading to Ardres, August 7th, 1802', was addressed to Robert Jones, of Plas-yn-llan, near Ruthin, Denbighs.h.i.+re, a brother collegian at Cambridge, and afterwards a fe
- 232 1807. Thus fares it ever. Men of prostrate mind! 1803.] FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: This sonnet was first published in The Morning Post, Jan. 29, 1803, under the signature W. L. D., along with the one beginning, "I grieved for Buonaparte, with a va
- 231 The date which Wordsworth gave to this sonnet on its first publication in 1807, viz. September 3, 1803,--and which he retained in all subsequent editions of his works till 1836,--is inaccurate. He left London for Dover, on his way to Calais, on the 31st o
- 230 "THE SUN HAS LONG BEEN SET" Composed June 8, 1802.--Published 1807 [This _Impromptu_ appeared, many years ago, among the Authors poems, from which, in subsequent editions, it was excluded. [A] It is reprinted, at the request of the Friend in whose prese
- 229 Will prosper, though untended and alone: Fields, goods, and far-off chattels we have none: These narrow bounds contain our private store Of things earth makes, and sun doth s.h.i.+ne upon; 15 Here are they in our sight--we have no more.Suns.h.i.+ne and sh
- 228 [Sub-Footnote i: Additional variants obtained from this source are inserted as "MS. 1802."--Ed.]The late Bishop of Lincoln, in the 'Memoirs' of his uncle (vol. i. pp.172, 173), quotes from a letter, written by Wordsworth "to some friends, which has m
- 227 [Variant 31: 1827. ... and strong admonishment. 1807. ... by strong admonishment. 1820.] [Variant 32: 1815. The ... 1807. And MS. 1802.] [Variant 33: 1820. And now, not knowing what the Old Man had said, 1807. And MS. 1802. But now, perplexd by what the O
- 226 [Variant 19. 1807. ... moves . . MS. 1802.] [Variant 20. He wore a Cloak the same as women wear As one whose blood did needful comfort lack; His face lookd pale as if it had grown fair; And, furthermore he had upon his back, Beneath his cloak, a round and
- 225 And MS. 1802.] [Variant 7: 1836. ... comes ... 1807. And MS. 1802.] [Variant 8: 1807. ... was ... MS. 1802.] [Variant 9: 1807. ... that ... MS. 1802.] [Variant 10: 1820. When up and down my fancy thus was driven, And I with these untoward thoughts had str
- 224 Of Him who walked in glory and in joy 45 Following his plough, along the mountain-side: [6]By our own spirits are we deified: We Poets in our youth begin in gladness; But thereof come [7] in the end despondency and madness.VIII Now, whether it were [8] by
- 223 And this recalls the first verse of 'Expostulation and Reply', written at Alfoxden in 1798; 'Why, William, on that old grey stone, Thus for the length of half a day, Why, William, sit you thus alone, And dream your time away?'The retreat where "apple
- 222 ... did ... 1815.][Variant 2: 1827.The beetle with his radiance manifold, 1815.][Variant 3: 1827.And cups of flowers, and herbage green and gold; 1815.][Variant 4: 1836.And, sooth, these two did love each other dear, As far as love in such a place could b
- 221 [Variant 3: 1845.Bright as any of the train 1807.][Variant 4: This stanza was added in 1845. (See note [Footnote B, To the Small Celandine], p. 302.)][Variant 5: 1845.Let, as old Magellen did, Others roam about the sea; Build who will a pyramid; [a] 1807.
- 220 VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1836. ... great ... 1807.] [Variant 2: 1832. ... its ... 1807.] [Variant 3: 1836. Scornd and slighted ... 1807.] [Variant 4: 1836. Singing at my hearts command, In the lanes my thoughts pursuing, 1807.] FOOTNOTES ON THE TE
- 219 [Variant 1: 1815.That is work which I am rueing--1807.][Variant 2: 1836.... and ... 1807.][Variant 3: 1815.Violets, do what they will, Wither'd on the ground must lie; Daisies will be daisies still; Daisies they must live and die: Fill your lap, and fill
- 218 TO A b.u.t.tERFLY (#2) Composed April 20, 1802.--Published 1807 [Written at the same time and place. The Orchard, Grasmere Town-end, 1801.--I.F.]Included among the "Poems founded on the Affections."--Ed.I've watch'd you now a full [1] half-hour, Self-
- 217 Included among the "Poems of the Fancy."In some editions this poem is a.s.signed to the year 1806; but, in Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal the following occurs, under date "Sunday, 18th"(April 1802): "A mild grey morning with rising vapours. We sate in
- 216 Dryden's 'All for Love', act IV. scene I: 'Men are but children of a larger growth.'And Pope's 'Essay on Man', Ep. iv. l. 175: 'The boy and man an individual makes.'Also Chatterton's 'Fragment' (Aldine edition, vol. 1. p. 132): 'Nature in th
- 215 VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1845.While I am lying on the gra.s.s, I hear thy restless shout: From hill to hill it seems to pa.s.s, About, and all about! 1807.Thy loud note smites my ear!-- From hill to hill it seems to pa.s.s, At once far off and nea
- 214 For they confound me: as it is, I have forgot those smiles of his. 1807. For they bewilder me--even now _His_ smiles are lost,--I know not how! 1820. By those bewildering glances crost In which the light of his is lost. [a] 1827.] [Variant 9: 1827. From F
- 213 And thus, from what I heard and knew, or guessed, [5]My song the workings of her heart expressed.I "Dear Babe, thou daughter of another, 15 One moment let me be thy mother!An infant's face and looks are thine And sure a mother's heart is mine: Thy own
- 212 [Variant 3: 1836.... such thoughts ... 1827.]FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: This and the three following lines were placed here in the edition of 1836. See note to the previous page.--Ed.]TO A b.u.t.tERFLY (#1) Composed March 14, 1802.--Published 1807
- 211 1827.They bolted on me thus, and lo! 1807.][Variant 11: 1827."Nay but I gave her pence, and she will buy you bread." 1807.][Variant 12: 1845."Sweet Boys, you're telling me a lie; 1807.... Heaven hears that rash reply; 1827.The text of 1807 was resumed
- 210 The other wore a rimless crown 25 With leaves of laurel stuck about; And, while both [6] followed up and down, Each whooping with a merry shout, In their fraternal features I could trace Unquestionable lines of that wild Suppliant's face. [7] 30 Yet _the
- 209 1845.'Twas twisted betwixt nave and spoke; Her help she lent, and with good heed Together we released the Cloak; 1807.... between ... 1840.][Variant 7: 1836.A wretched, wretched rag indeed! 1807.][Variant 8: 1845.She sate like one past all relief; Sob af
- 208 It was only excluded from the editions of 1820, 1827, and 1832. In the edition of 1807 it was placed amongst a group of "Poems composed during a Tour, chiefly on foot." In 1815, in 1836, and afterwards, it was included in the group "referring to the Pe
- 207 [Variant 2: 1836. ... I woke, With the first word I had to spare I said to her, "Beneath your Cloak Whats that which on your arm you bear?" 1807. "What treasure," said I,"do you bear, Beneath the covert of your Cloak Protected from the cold damp air?
- 206 (Professor Dowden, in the 'Transactions of the Wordsworth Society', No.III.)--Ed.][Footnote D: In Chaucer "werreyed" = warred on = fought against.--Ed.][Footnote E: "'Toward my death with wind I steer and sail.'This is Urry's version, but Chaucer
- 205 And certainly this wind, that more and more 155 By moments thus increaseth in my face, Is of my Ladys sighs heavy and sore; I prove it thus; for in no other s.p.a.ce Of all this town, save only in this place, Feel I a wind, that soundeth so like pain; 160
- 204 'Tall were the flowers, the grove a lofty cover, All green and white; and nothing else was seen.'"(Professor Dowden, in the 'Transactions of the Wordsworth Society'. No.III.)--Ed.][Footnote D: "In Chaucer's poem, after 'the cuckoo, bird unholy,'
- 203 LVI And thereat shall the Eagle be our Lord, And other Peers whose names are on record; A summons to the Cuckoo shall be sent, And judgment there be given; or that intent Failing, we finally shall make accord. 280 LVII And all this shall be done, without
- 202 X But tossing lately on a sleepless bed, I of a token thought which Lovers heed; How among them it was a common tale, That it was good to hear the Nightingale, Ere the vile Cuckoo's note be uttered. 50 XI And then I thought anon as it was day, I gladly w
- 201 FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: "Friday, 4th December 1801.... William translating 'The Prioress'Tale'.""Sat.u.r.day, 5th. William finished 'The Prioress' Tale', and after tea, Mary and he wrote it out"(Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal).--Ed.][F
- 200 VII "A little school of Christian people stood Down at the farther end, in which there were A nest of children come of Christian blood, 45 That learned in that school from year to year Such sort of doctrine as men used there, That is to say, to sing and
- 199 [Variant 2: 1837.fairer ... 1815.][Variant 3: 1827.His double-fronted head in higher clouds, 1815.... among Atlantic clouds, MS.]FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: See Spenser's translation of 'Virgil's Gnat', ll. 21-2: 'Or where on Mount Parna.s.se,
- 198 THE SPARROW'S NEST Composed 1801.--Published 1807 [Written in the orchard, Town-end, Grasmere. At the end of the garden of my father's house at c.o.c.kermouth was a high terrace that commanded a fine view of the river Derwent and c.o.c.kermouth Castle.
- 197 (See 'The Topographical Dictionary of England', by Samuel Lewis, vol.ii. p. 1831.)--Ed.][Footnote F: There is a slight inconsistency here. The conversation is represented as taking place in the evening (see l. 227).--Ed.][Footnote G: It may be proper to
- 196 1815.... in ... 1800.][Variant 41: 1827.... from sixty years. 1800.][Variant 42: I for the purpose brought thee to this place.This line appears only in the edition of 1800.][Variant 43: 1827.... stout; ... 1800.][Variant 44: 1802.... should evil men Be th
- 195 [Variant 26: 1836. His cradle with a womans gentle hand. 1800.] [Variant 27: 1836. ... when he Had work by his own door, or when he sate With sheep before him on his Shepherds stool, Beneath that large old Oak, which near their door Stood, and from its en
- 194 1836. ... their ... 1800.] [Variant 12: 1836. ... their ... 1800.] [Variant 13: 1827. Which ... 1800.] [Variant 14: 1836. Did with a huge projection overbrow 1800.] [Variant 15: 1827. ... was in his ... 1800.] [Variant 16: 1836. ... while late ... 1800.]
- 193 The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down, 425 And, as his Father had requested, laid The first stone of the Sheep-fold. At the sight The old Man's grief broke from him; to his heart He pressed his Son, he kissed him and wept; And to the house toget
- 192 MICHAEL A PASTORAL POEM [A]Composed 1800.--Published 1800 [Written at the Town-end, Grasmere, about the same time as 'The Brothers'. The sheepfold, on which so much of the poem turns, remains, or rather the ruins of it. The character and circ.u.mstances
- 191 Hither he came in lifes austere decline: And, Stranger! this blank Heap of stones and earth Is reverenced ... Ed. WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL UPON A STONE IN THE WALL OF THE HOUSE (AN OUT-HOUSE), ON THE ISLAND AT GRASMERE [A] Composed 1800.--Published 1800 Incl
- 190 [Variant 3: 1837.What a picture! 'tis drawn without nature or art, 1800.]The full t.i.tle of this poem, in "Lyrical Ballads," 1800, is 'A Character, in the ant.i.thetical Manner'. It was omitted from all subsequent editions till 1837. With this early
- 189 From the meadows of ARMATH, on THIRLMERE'S wild sh.o.r.e, 1827.The text of 1832 reverts to that of 1800.][Variant 2: 1800.... were once tempted to climb; 1827 The text of 1832 reverts to that of 1800.][Variant 3: 1820.In Paris and London, 'mong Christia
- 188 VI The stream that flows out of the lake, As through the glen it rambles, Repeats a moan o'er moss and stone, For those seven lovely Campbells.Seven little Islands, green and bare, 60 Have risen from out the deep: The fishers say, those sisters fair, By
- 187 FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: This Poem was intended to be the concluding poem of a series of pastorals, the scene of which was laid among the mountains of c.u.mberland and Westmoreland. I mention this to apologise for the abruptness with which the p
- 186 ... they found that he was gone. From this no ill was feared; but one of them, Entering by chance, at even-tide, the house 1820. In all else the edition of 1820 is identical with the final text of 1827.] [Variant 48: 1836. Some went, and some towards the
- 185 [Variant 35: 1836. ... and Id wager twenty pounds, That, if he is alive, ... 1800. ... and Id wager house and field 1827.] [Variant 36: 1815. ... that end, ... 1800.] [Variant 37: 1815. ... this ... 1800.] [Variant 38: 1815. And, though a very Stripling,
- 184 [Variant 21: 1815. Why we have store of them! ... 1800.] [Variant 22: 1815. Cross-bones or skull, type of our earthly state Or emblem of our hopes: ... 1800.] [Variant 23: 1827. ... winters evening, 1800.] [Variant 24: 1815. For five ... 1800.] [Variant 2
- 183 1815. ... at length, ... 1800.] [Variant 8: 1827. ... traffic in ... 1800.] [Variant 9: 1827. ... which he livd there, ... 1800.] [Variant 10: 1836. ... of one whom he so dearly lovd, 1800.] [Variant 11: 1836. Towards the church-yard he had turnd aside, 1
- 182 _Priest_. Happy! Sir-- _Leonard_. You said his kindred all were in their graves, 345 And that he had one Brother-- _Priest_. That is but A fellow-tale of sorrow. From his youth James, though not sickly, yet was delicate; And Leonard being always by his si
- 181 THE BROTHERS [A]Composed 1800. [B]--Published 1800 [This poem was composed in a grove at the north-eastern end of Grasmere lake, which grove was in a great measure destroyed by turning the high road along the side of the water. The few trees that are left
- 180 SONG FOR THE WANDERING JEW Composed 1800.--Published 1800 Included among the "Poems of the Fancy."--Ed. Though the torrents from their fountains Roar down many a craggy steep, Yet they find among the mountains Resting-places calm and deep. Clouds that l
- 179 [Variant 4: 1836.... or ... 1800.]If the second, third, and fourth stanzas of this poem had been published without the first, the fifth, and the last, it would have been deemed an exquisite fragment by those who object to the explanatory preamble, and to
- 178 1802.... on me ... 1800.][Variant 10: 1827.To feed and ... 1800.To rest and ... 1815.][Variant 11: 1815.One night the Wind came from the North And blew a furious blast, 1800.]The spot is fixed within narrow limits by the Fenwick note. It is, beyond doubt,
- 177 III "'Eight weary weeks, through rock and clay, Along this mountain's edge, The Frost hath wrought both night and day, Wedge driving after wedge.Look up! and think, above your head 25 What trouble, surely, will be bred; Last night I heard a crash--'ti
- 176 [Variant 3: 1820.... in this, our natal spot, 1800.][Variant 4: 1815.... wreath ... 1800.][Variant 5: 1836.... Winter's day, 1800.][Variant 6: 1840.The stream came thundering down the dell And gallop'd loud and fast; 1800.The Torrent thundered down the
- 175 To find the pool referred to in the Fenwick note, I have carefully examined the course of Rydal beck, all the way up to the foot of the Fell. There is a pool beyond the enclosures of the Hall property, about five hundred feet above Rydal Mount, which part
- 174 [Variant 9: 1827.... the margin of the lake.That way we turn'd our steps; nor was it long, Ere making ready comments on the sight Which then we saw, with one and the same voice We all cried out, that he must be indeed An idle man, who thus could lose a d
- 173 Stone-Arthur is the name of the hill, on the east side of the Vale of Grasmere, opposite Helm Crag, and between Green Head Ghyll and Tongue Ghyll.--Ed."A NARROW GIRDLE OF ROUGH STONES AND CRAGS"Composed 1800.--Published 1800 [The character of the easter
- 172 In c.u.mberland and Westmoreland are several Inscriptions upon the native rock which from the wasting of Time and the rudeness of the Workmans.h.i.+p had been mistaken for Runic. They are without doubt Roman.The Rotha, mentioned in this poem, is the River
- 171 TO JOANNA Composed 1800.--Published 1800 [Written at Grasmere. The effect of her laugh is an extravagance, though the effect of the reverberation of voices in some parts of the mountains is very striking. There is, in 'The Excursion', an allusion to the
- 170 FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: i. e. first published in the 1815 edition of the Poems: but, although dated by Wordsworth 1803, it had appeared in 'The Morning Post' of July 21, 1800, under the t.i.tle, 'The Farmer of Tilsbury Vale. A Character'. It
- 169 This stanza appeared only in 1800. It was followed by that which now forms lines 53-56 of the final text.] [Variant 22: 1815. Hes ten birth-days younger, hes green, and hes stout, 1800.] [Variant 23: 1815. Youd ... 1800.] [Variant 24: 1815. ... does ... 1
- 168 ... ploughd land, ... 1800.] [Variant 8: 1815. ... the noise of the bowl, 1800] [Variant 9: On the works of the world, on the bustle and sound, Seated still in his boat, he lookd leisurely round; And if now and then he his hands did employ, Twas with vani
- 167 To the neighbours he went,--all were free with their money; For his hive had so long been replenished with honey, That they dreamt not of dearth;--He continued his rounds, [11] 35 Knocked here-and knocked there, pounds still adding to pounds.He paid what
- 166 [Variant 1: 1836.No other sheep ... 1800.][Variant 2: 1836.Towards the Lamb she look'd, and from that shady place 1800][Variant 3: 1802.... is ... 1800.][Variant 4: 1827.... which ... 1800.][Variant 5: 1802.... are ... 1800.][Variant 6: 1800.... Poor cre
- 165 [Variant 11: 1836.Said they, "He's neither maim'd nor scarr'd"--1800.]FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: 'Ghyll', in the dialect of c.u.mberland and Westmoreland is a short and for the most part a steep narrow valley, with a stream running through
- 164 And brought it forth into the light: 90 The Shepherds met him with his charge, An unexpected sight! Into their arms the lamb they took, Whose life and limbs the flood had spared; [11] Then up the steep ascent they hied, 95 And placed him at his mothers si
- 163 [Footnote A: Compare 'Oth.e.l.lo', act I. scene iii. l. 135: 'Of moving accidents by flood and field.'Ed.][Footnote B: Compare the sonnet (vol. iv.) beginning: "Beloved Vale!" I said. "when I shall con ...Ed.][Footnote C: Compare Tennyson, 'In Mem
- 162 [Variant 16: 1820. ... verdant ... 1800.] [Variant 17: 1836. ... living ... 1800.] [Variant 18: 1827. ... gallant brute! ... 1800.] [Variant 19: 1815. And soon the Knight performd what he had said, The fame whereof through many a land did ring. 1800.] [Va
- 161 He turnd aside towards a Va.s.sals door, And, "Bring another Horse!" he cried aloud. 1800.] [Variant 2: 1827. Brach, ... 1800.] [Variant 3: 1827. ... he chid and cheerd them on 1800.] [Variant 4: 1800. With fawning kindness ... MS.] [Variant 5: 1802. ..
- 160 The poor Hart toils along the mountain-side; I will not stop to tell how far he fled, 30 Nor will I mention by what death he died; But now the Knight beholds him lying dead.Dismounting, then, he leaned against a thorn; He had no follower, dog, nor man, no
- 159 1827.So coming back across the wave, Without a groan on Ellen's grave 1800.And coming back ... 1802.]FOOTNOTE: [Footnote A: The Kirtle is a River in the Southern part of Scotland, on whose banks the events here related took place.--W. W. 1800.]No Scottis
- 158 "We left Sockburn last Tuesday morning. We crossed the Tees by moonlight in the Sockburn fields, and after ten good miles riding came in sight of the Swale. It is there a beautiful river, with its green banks and flat holms scattered over with trees. Fou
- 157 Ed.]1800 Towards the close of December 1799, Wordsworth came to live at Dove Cottage, Town-end, Grasmere. The poems written during the following year (1800), are more particularly a.s.sociated with that district of the Lakes. Two of them were fragments of
- 156 [Variant 30: 1802.... grief, ... 1800.][Variant 31: 1805.(And in this tale we all agree) 1800.][Variant 32: 1805.The neighbours grieve for her, and say That she will ... 1802.][Variant 33: This stanza first appeared in the edition of 1802.]FOOTNOTES ON TH
- 155 The text of 1805 returns to that of 1800.] [Variant 18: 1800. For pa.s.sions, amid forms so fair And stately, wanted not their share 1802. The text of 1805 returns to that of 1800.] [Variant 19: 1800. Ill did he live ... 1802. The text of 1805 returns to
- 154 1836. He spake of plants divine and strange That evry day their blossoms change, Ten thousand lovely hues! 1800. ... every hour ... 1802.] [Variant 8: Of march and ambush, siege and fight, Then did he tell; and with delight The heart of Ruth would ache; W
- 153 But ill he lived, [19] much evil saw, 145 With men to whom no better law Nor better life was known; Deliberately, and undeceived, Those wild men's vices he received, And gave them back his own. 150 His genius and his moral frame Were thus impaired, and h
- 152 The text of 1815 returns to that of 1800.]FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: Compare Gray's ode, 'On a Distant Prospect of Eton College', II. 38-9: 'Still as they run they look behind, They hear a voice in every wind.'Ed.]RUTH Composed 1799.--Publish
- 151 "He mentioned the origin of some poems. 'Lucy Gray', that tender and pathetic narrative of a child lost on a common, was occasioned by the death of a child who fell into the lock of a ca.n.a.l. His object was to exhibit poetically entire 'solitude',
- 150 1827.Of flocks and herds both far and near 1800.Of flocks upon the neighbouring hills 1802.][Variant 12: 1845.... sits ... 1800.][Variant 13: When near this blasted tree you pa.s.s, Two sods are plainly to be seen Close at its root, and each with gra.s.s
- 149 I Between two sister moorland rills There is a spot that seems to lie Sacred to flowerets of the hills, And sacred to the sky. And in this smooth and open dell 5 There is a tempest-stricken tree; A corner-stone by lightning cut, The last stone of a lonely
- 148 [Variant 5: 1815. ... his hands, ... 1800.] FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: "Pour me plaindre a moy, regarde noti tant ce quon moste, que ce qui me reste de sauvre, et dedans et dehors." Montaigne, Essais, iii. 12. Compare also: "Themistocles quidem
- 147 A CONVERSATION Composed 1799.--Published 1800 One of the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection."--Ed.We talked with open heart, and tongue Affectionate and true, A pair of friends, though I was young, And Matthew seventy-two.We lay beneath a spreading oak,
- 146 We walked along, while bright and red Uprose the morning sun; And Matthew stopped, he looked, and said, "The will of G.o.d be done!" A village schoolmaster was he, 5 With hair of glittering grey; As blithe a man as you could see On a spring holiday. And