a Female Friend; .. if any one regard them with dislike, or be disposed to condemn them, let the censure fall upon him, who, trusting in his own sense of their merit, and their fitness for the place which they occupy, extorted them from the Authoress." In the edition of 1845, he disclosed the authorship; and gave the more natural title, “by my sister." The other two poems by her, introduced into the edition of 1815 and subsequent ones, were the Address to a Child, and The Mother's Return. At least one other poem by Dorothy Wordsworth, hitherto unpublished, will be given, in a subsequent volume, in the year to which it belongs.-ED. [Written at Town-end, Grasmere. The characters and story from fact.] "In Cairo's crowded streets The impatient Merchant, wondering, waits in vain, And Mecca saddens at the long delay." THOMSON. TO CHARLES LAMB, ESQ. MY DEAR FRIEND, When I sent you, a few weeks ago, the Tale of Peter Bell, you asked "why THE WAGGONER was not added?"-To say the truth,-from the higher tone of imagination, and the deeper touches of passion aimed at in the former, I apprehended, this little Piece could not accompany it without disadvantage. In the year 1806, if I am not mistaken, THE WAGGONER was read to you in manuscript, and, as you have remembered it for so long a time, I am the more encouraged to hope that, since the localities on which the Poem partly depends did not prevent its being interesting to you, it may prove acceptable to others. Being therefore in some measure the cause of its present appearance, you must allow me the gratification of inscribing it to you; in acknowledgment of the pleasure I have derived from your Writings, and of the high esteem with which I am Very truly yours, RYDAL MOUNT, May 20, 1819. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. CANTO FIRST. 'Tis spent this burning day of June! Soft darkness o'er its latest gleams is stealing; The buzzing dor-hawk, round and round, is wheeling,— 1 That solitary bird Is all that can be heard In silence deeper far than that of deepest noon !1 Confiding Glow-worms, 'tis a night Propitious to your earth-born light! But, where the scattered stars are seen In hazy straits the clouds between, Each, in his station twinkling not, Seems changed into a pallid spot.2 1819. The Night-hawk is singing his frog-like tune, The dor-hawk, solitary bird, MS. of 1805 Round the dim crags on heavy pinions whirling, Buzzes incessantly, a tiresome tune : 2 That constant voice is all that can be heard In silence deeper far than that of deepest noon! 1820. On heavy pinions wheeling, With untired voice sings an unvaried tune; Those burring notes are all that can be heard The text of 1845 returns to the first version of 1819. 1819. Now that the children's busiest schemes Do all lie buried in blank sleep, Or only live in stirring dreams, The glow-worms fearless watch may keep ; On mossy bank by cottage-door, As safe as on the loneliest moor. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819. 1836. 1836. 1 The mountains against heaven's grave weight Is close and hot;-and now and then And the silence makes it sweet. Hush, there is some one on the stir! Who long hath trod this toilsome way, 1836. The mountains rise to wondrous height, The mountains rise to wondrous height, And in the heavens there hangs a weight; 1819. 1827. In edd. 1819 to 1832, these two lines follow the line "like the stifling of disease." 1 Hither he his course is bending;- Yet all the while his whip is dumb! The Horses have worked with right good-will, And so have gained the top of the hill;2 Heaven shield him from mishap and snare! Is it for threatenings in the sky? Or for some other danger nigh? No; none is near him yet, though he Be one of much infirmity ;* For at the bottom of the brow, Where once the DOVE and OLIVE-BOUGH 1819. Listen! you can hardly hear! Ed. 1845 returns to the text of 1819. 1836. Offered a greeting of good ale To all who entered Grasmere Vale; Here is no danger,-none at all! Beyond his wish he walks secure ;1 But pass a mile-and then for trial,— And that bright gleam which thence will fall Of 11836. open house and ready fare. Beyond his wish is he secure. 1819. |