to Racedown, and in his twenty-eighth when he came to Alfoxden (perhaps "28th year was misprinted "23rd "). The title 1800-1820 was "The Old Cumberland Beggar. A Description"; the last two words were omitted in 1827. In Wordsworth's note prefixed to the poem, "alms" (1802) was in 1800 "charity." L. 15, “ate" (1805); previously “eat.” "The sauntering horseman-traveller does not throw L. 31 (1827); previously "Towards the aged Beggar turns a look.' L. 39, "thus warned" (1827); previously "perchance." L. 54," seldom" (1827); previously "never." L. 62, "has" (1837); previously "have." L. 72, CC or " (1837); previously "and." Ll. 79-88 (1837), a considerable addition; previously two lines: Inseparably linked. While thus he creeps L. 104, "herself" (1832); previously “itself.” like these." L. 111 (1827); previously "This helpless Wanderer, have perchance received.” Ll. 138, 139 (1827); previously three lines: ".... negligent Meanwhile, in any tenderness of heart L. 157, “store” (1827); previously "chest." L. 164, "borne " (1827); previously “led.” Ll. 186-189 (1815, except the word " upon" which dates from 1837, previously "on the "); in 1800-1805: "if his eyes, which now Have been so long familiar with the earth, the."-ED. L. 193, “on a" (1837); previously "by the.” The Farmer of Tilsbury Vale (page 119). With this picture, which was taken from real life, compare the imaginative one of "The Reverie of Poor Susan," vol. ii. p. 98; and see (to make up the deficiencies of this class) "The Excursion," passim.-W. W. : The character of this man was described to me, and the incident upon which the verses turn was told me, by Mr. Pool of Nether Stowey, with whom I became ac quainted through our common friend, S. T. Coleridge. During my residence at Alfoxden I used to see much of him and had frequent occasions to admire the course of his daily life, especially his conduct to his labourers and poor neighbours their virtues he carefully encouraged, and weighed their faults in the scales of charity. If I seem in these verses to have treated the weaknesses of the farmer, and his transgression, too tenderly, it may in part be ascribed to my having received the story from one so averse to all harsh judgment. After his death, was found in his escritoire a lock of grey hair carefully preserved, with a notice that it had been cut from the head of his faithful shepherd, who had served him for a length of years. I need scarcely add that he felt for all men as his brothers. He was much beloved by distinguished persons -Mr. Coleridge, Mr. Southey, Sir H. Davy, and many others; and in his own neighbourhood was highly valued as a magistrate, a man of business, and in every other social relation. The latter part of the poem, perhaps, requires some apology as being too much of an echo to the Reverie of Poor Susan."—I. F. • Dated by Wordsworth 1803. In a letter to Daniel Stuart, May 17, 1838, Wordsworth mentions that the poem first appeared in "The Morning Post or The Courier," he had forgotten which; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1815. Ll. 7, 8 (1837); in 1815-1820: "Erect as a sunflower he stands, and the streak In 1827 1. 7 remained as before; 1. 8 became, "Of the unfaded rose still enlivens his cheek." L. 11 (1843); previously " There fashioned that countenance, which in spite of a stain." L. 16, "mild ale" (1827); previously "good ale." L. 74,"fruits L. 82, a waggon" (1837); previously "the waggon." The Small Celandine (page 124). Dated by Wordsworth 1804; first published 1807. Text unchanged except 1. 4, "himself" (1837); previously "itself." Professor Knight notes that in pencil Wordsworth added to the Fenwick note the query, not Chaucer noticed it ?"-ED. The Two Thieves (page 125). "Has This is described from the life, as I was in the habit of observing when a boy at Hawkshead School. Daniel was more than eighty years older than myself when he was daily, thus occupied, under my notice. No book could have so early taught me to think of the changes to which human life is subject; and while looking at him I could not but say to myself-we may, one of us, I or the happiest of my playmates, live to become still more the object of pity than this old man, this half-doating pilferer !—I. F. Dated by Wordsworth 1800; first published 1800. In 1820, "little Dan" is younger than in earlier edd.; see note on 1. 13. L. 3, Then" (1802); in 1800,"When,' L. 13 (1820); previously "Little Dan is unbreeched, he is three birth-days old," L. 15, “There are " (1802); in 1800, “There's." L. 22, ed. 1805 alone reads, "last look of dotage" probably a misprint for "lost look.” L. 25, "He" (1820); previously "Dan.” L. CC وو streets" (1802); in 1800,"street.” L. 38, "becomes leader and led" (1837); previously "is both leader and led." "The L. 42, "For the grey-headed Sire" (1837); in 18001815, For grey-headed Dan"; in 1820-1832, grey-headed Sire."-ED. Animal Tranquillity and Decay (page 128). Dated by Wordsworth 1798; first published 1798. The title in 1798 was "Old Man Travelling; Animal Tranquillity and Decay, A Sketch"; in 1802 the first three words were omitted; in 1845, "A Sketch" was omitted. The "hath" (1805) of 1. 10 was, 1798-1802, "has"; otherwise the lines stand as in 1798, but then they were followed by six lines omitted in 1815 and later edd. : "I asked him whither he was bound, and what Who from a sea-fight has been brought to Falmouth, And there is dying in an hospital.— In 1800 (alone) the "dying" of the last line became "lying"; and then the old man's words were put into the third person: "That he was going many miles," "his son," sea-fight had," was dying." So also in 18021805, with "dying" in last line.-ED. Epitaphs, 1810 (page 129). Those from Chiabrera were chiefly translated when Mr. Coleridge was writing his "Friend," in which periodical my "Essay on Epitaphs," written about that time, was first published. For further notice of Chiabrera, in connection with his Epitaphs, see "Musings at Aquapendente" (vol. iii. p. 240).-I. F. I. "Weep not, beloved Friends" (page 129). Date uncertain; first published 1837. Ll. 7, 8 (1850; perhaps, as stated by Knight, 1846, which ed., as explained in Preface, I do not consult); previously: "Francesco Ceni after death enjoined That thus his tomb should speak for him."-Ed. II. "Perhaps some needful service," etc. (page 129). Written 1809 or early in 1810; first published in "The Friend," Feb. 22, 1810; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1815. From 1815 onwards text unchanged, except in 1. 16, "hath brought" (1837); previously "conducts." In "The Friend" occur the following variations: 1.11, "Nestrian "; ll. 12, 13: "There did he live content; and all his thoughts III. "O Thou who movest onward," etc. (page 130). "Well " Same dates of composition and publication as the last (Epitaph II.). Text unchanged except in l. 8, (1837); previously "Much." ED. IV. "There never breathed a man," etc. (page 131). Written 1809; first published in "The Friend,” Dec. 28, 1809; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1815. The only changes in the text are that "fifty" in 1. 13 and "seventy" in 1. 30 were substituted in 1837 for the previous "forty" and "sixty," and that in 1. 23 "learned" in 1832 replaced the earlier " learn."-ED. V. "True is it," etc. (page 132). Date uncertain; first published 1837. Text unchanged. Coleridge was also interested in this Epitaph of Chiabrera, and rendered some lines of it in "A Tombless Epitaph,' where he makes an idealising study in verse of his own character.-Ed. VI." Destined to war," etc. (page 133). Written 1809; first published in "The Friend," Dec. 28, 1809; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1815. Text unchanged.-ED. VII. "O Flower," etc. (page 133). Date uncertain; first published 1837. Text unchanged. -ED. VIII. "Not without heavy grief of heart," etc. (page 134). Written 1809; first published in "The Friend," Jan. 4, 1810; first included among Wordsworth's poems in 1815. Text unchanged.-ED. IX. “Pause, courteous Spirit!" ( page 135). Written 1809; dates of first publication and first inclusion in poems same as last (No. VIII.). L. 14 (1837); previously " Twine on the top of Pindus." L. 16, songs (1837); previously song." L. 18 (1837); previously "And fixed his Pindus upon Lebanon." -ED. By a blest husband guided, Mary came" (page 135). This lady was named Carleton; she, along with a sister, was brought up in the neighbourhood of Ambleside. The |