In the errata of the edition of 1836 this is corrected to fresh sprigs." There are other errata, which remained in the edition of 1849-50, e.g., in Rob Roy's Grave, "Vools" for "Veols," and mistakes in quotations from other poets, such as "invention" for instruction," in Wither's poem on the Daisy. These are corrected without mention. I should perhaps add that, while I have included, amongst the illustrative notes, extracts from Henry Crabb Robinson's Diary, etc., many of them are now published for the first time. These voluminous MSS. of Robinson's have been re-examined with care; and the reader who compares the three volumes of the Diary, etc.-edited by Dr. Sadler-with the extracts now printed from the original MS., will see where sentences omitted by the original editor have been included. As this edition proceeds, my debt to many-who have been so kind as to put their Wordsworth MSS. and memoranda at my disposal-will be apparent. It is difficult to acknowledge duly my obligation to collectors of autograph Letters-Mr. Morrison, the late Mr. Locker Lampson, the late Mr. Mackay, of the Grange, Trowbridge, and a score of others— but, I may say in general, that the kindness of those who possess Wordsworth MSS. in allowing me to examine them, has been a very genuine evidence of their interest in the Poet, and his work. My special thanks are due to Mr. Gordon Wordsworth, who has, in the kindest manner and for many years, placed everything at my disposal, which could further my labour on his grandfather's Works. Finally, I wish to express the great debt I owe to the late Mr. J. Dykes Campbell, for many suggestions, and for his unwearied interest in this work,which I think was second only to his interest in Coleridge-and also to Mr. W. B. Kinghorn for his valuable assistance in the revision of proof sheets. If there are any desiderata, in reference to Wordsworth—in addition to a new Life, a critical Essay, and such a Bibliography of Criticism as will be adequate for posterity-a Concordance to his works is one of them. A correspondent once offered to prepare this for me, if I found a publisher: and another has undertaken to compile a volume of parallel passages from the earlier poets of England, and of the world. A Concordance might very well form part of a volume of Wordsworthiana, and be a real service to future students of the poet. WILLIAM KNIGHT. WORDSWORTH'S POETICAL WORKS EXTRACT FROM THE CONCLUSION OF A POEM, COMPOSED IN ANTICIPATION OF LEAVING SCHOOL Composed 1786.-Published 1815 THIS poem was placed by Wordsworth among his "Juvenile Pieces." The following note was prefixed to that Series, from 1820 to 1832 : "Of the Poems in this class, "THE EVENING WALK " and "DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES were first published in 1793. They are reprinted with some unimportant alterations that were chiefly made very soon after their publication. It would have been easy to amend them, in many passages, both as to sentiment and expression, and I have not been altogether able to resist the temptation: but attempts of this kind are made at the risk of injuring those characteristic features, which, after all, will be regarded as the principal recommendation of juvenile poems." In 1836 "unimportant was erased before "alterations"; and after "temptation" the following was added, "as will be obvious to the attentive reader, in some instances: these are few, for I am aware that attempts of this kind," etc. "The above, which was written some time ago, scarcely applies to the Poem, Descriptive Sketches, as it now stands. The corrections, though numerous, are not, however, such as to prevent its retaining with propriety a place in the class of 'Juvenile Pieces.'" In the editions of 1845 and 1849, Wordsworth called his "Juvenile Pieces," "Poems written in Youth."-ED. VOL. I E B 2 EXTRACT FROM THE CONCLUSION OF A POEM The ["Dear native regions," etc., 1786, Hawkshead. beautiful image with which this poem concludes suggested itself to me while I was resting in a boat along with my companions under the shade of a magnificent row of sycamores, which then extended their branches from the shore of the promontory upon which stands the ancient, and at that time the more picturesque, Hall of Coniston, the Seat of the Le Flemings from very early times. The Poem of which it was the conclusion, was of many hundred lines, and contained thoughts and images, most of which have been dispersed through my other writings.—I. F.] In the editions 1815 to 1832, the title given to this poem was Extract from the conclusion of a Poem, composed upon leaving School. The row of sycamores at Hawkshead, referred to in the Fenwick note, no longer exists. 66 In the "Autobiographical Memoranda," dictated by Wordsworth at Rydal Mount in November 1847, he says, I wrote, while yet a schoolboy, a long poem running upon my own adventures, and the scenery of the county in which I was brought up. The only part of that poem which has been preserved is the conclusion of it, which stands at the beginning of my collected Poems."* In the eighth book of The Prelude, (lines 468-475), this fragment is introduced, and there Wordsworth tells us that once, when boating on Coniston Lake (Thurston-mère) in his boyhood, he entered under a grove of trees on its "western marge," and glided "along the line of low-roofed water," "as in a cloister." He adds, while, in that shade Loitering, I watched the golden beams of light Flung from the setting sun, as they reposed In silent beauty on the naked ridge Of a high eastern hill-thus flowed my thoughts DEAR native regions,† I foretell, 1 From what I feel at this farewell, ED. * See the Memoirs of William Wordsworth, by Christopher Wordsworth (1851), vol. i. pp. 10-31.-ED. f Compare the Ode, composed in January 1816, stanza v.-ED. IN ANTICIPATION OF LEAVING SCHOOL If in that hour a single tie1 My soul will cast the backward view, Thus, while the Sun sinks down to rest WRITTEN IN VERY EARLY YOUTH Composed 1786.*-Published 1807 + From 1807 to 1843 this was placed by Wordsworth in his group of "Miscellaneous Sonnets." In 1845, it was transferred to the class of "Poems written in Youth." It is doubtful if it was really written in "very early youth." Its final form, at any rate, may belong to a later period.-ED. The edition of 1845 reverts to the reading of 1815. 4 1815. 1820. The edition of 1845 returns to the text of 1815. * The date of the composition of this fragment is quite unknown.-ED. t But previously, in The Morning Post, Feb. 13, 1802.-Ed. |