to 1808-1811, the period of Wordsworth's residence at Allan Bank. The first edition-a quarto-1814, consisted of 500 copies, and sold slowly. In the second edition, 1820-an octavo-the changes were very few and unimportant. For the next edition, that of 1827, the poem was carefully revised, the main feature of the revision being the strengthening of feeble passages by condensation. A long passage at the close of Book VI., telling of a widower's happy second marriage, was now omitted, (see pp. 375-377), and in connection with this it may be noted that the incident of the second marriage of the Wanderer's mother in Book I. was also omitted. Were we in the dark as to the chronology of Wordsworth's poems, something might be learnt by studying the omission or alteration in this edition of "The Excursion," and in other poems, of the following words: frame (verb) towards and toward, that and which, sweet. Again in 1832 some changes were effected, and a more extensive revision was made for the edition of 1837. Many of the alterations, however, of 1827, 1832, and 1837 are in details of workmanship or manipulation, and some of these I have not thought it necessary to record. Of the alterations made in 1845 several are of considerable interest, and in some instances they consist of additions. These additions remaining in the text, the chief results of this last revision can be traced only by observing the date 1845 in the notes, and referring to the text; and such a scrutiny will repay the careful student. In certain cases, as towards the close of Book I. (11. 934-940 and 11. 952-955) and elsewhere, the additions indicate the added importance which Wordsworth attached to Christian faith; see also Book V., ll. 824-826; Book VI., ll. 766-774; Book IX., 11. 225-228. The collation in the present edition, while not aiming at exhaustiveness, omits nothing which affects in any noteworthy way the thought of the poem; and I am glad to be able to refer to the collation of "The Excursion" in Professor Knight's edition as being full and (apart from a narrow margin of inevitable error) as accurate. reader of Professor Knight's notes, however, may almost invariably alter the date 1849 to 1845, and he should be on his guard against the erroneous numbering of lines in every book of the poem. If notes of a topographical kind be desired, in addition to what is given in the Fenwick note, they may be found in Professor Knight's edition; but it should be remembered that Wordsworth's topography, though founded on fact, is ideal, and not literal.

The

BOOK I.

L. 6 (1827); previously two lines:

"From many a brooding cloud; far as the sight Could reach, those many shadows lay in spots".

Ll. 16, 17 (1827); in 1814-1820:

"By that impending covert made more soft More low and distant!"

Ll. 17-20 (1845); previously:

"Other lot was mine;

Yet with good hope that soon I should obtain
As grateful resting place, and livelier joy."

L. 22, "steps that" (1827); previously "feet which."
In the same line, "turf" (1845); previously "ground."
L. 26, "moorland" (1845); previously "level."
Ll. 39-41 (1827); previously:

“And in the middle of the public way Stationed, as if to rest himself, with face

Turned tow'rds the sun then setting, while that staff Afforded to his Figure, as he stood".

L. 43, "his countenance as he stood" (1845); in 1814, "the countenance of the Man"; in 1827, "his countenance meanwhile."

L. 51, "Under the covert (1845); previously "Beneath the shelter."

Ll. 52-55 (1827, with the reading, "were pass'd My school-days"; altered to present text in 1845); in 1814

1820:

"We were tried Friends: I from my Childhood up Had known him.—In a little Town obscure,

A market-village, seated in a tract

Of mountains, where my school-day time was pass'd,
One room he owned, the fifth part of a house,
A place to which he drew from time to time,'

Ll. 62, 63 (1827); previously:

we wander'd through the woods,

A pair of random travellers; we sate

We walked; he pleas'd me with his sweet discourse

L. 111 (1827); previously in place of this one line the following passage:

"His Father dwelt; and died in poverty;
While He, whose lowly fortune I retrace,
The youngest of three sons, was yet a babe,
A little One-unconscious of their loss.
But ere he had outgrown his infant days
His widowed Mother, for a second Mate,
Espoused the Teacher of the Village School;
Who on her offspring zealously bestowed
Needful instruction; not alone in arts
Which to his humble duties appertained,
But in the lore of right and wrong, the rule
Of human kindness, in the peaceful ways
Of honesty, and holiness severe."

L. 122 (1827); previously "To his Step-father's School, that stood alone".

Ll. 137-139 (1845); in 1814-1820:

"Great objects on his mind, with portraiture
And colour so distinct, that on his mind
They lay like substances, and almost seemed
To haunt the bodily sense. He had received
(Vigorous in native genius as he was)".

The last of these lines was omitted 1827, the rest remaining unchanged.

Ll. 197-199 (1827); previously:

"From early childhood, even, as hath been said,
From his sixth year, he had been sent abroad
In summer to tend herds: such was the task
Thenceforward 'till the later days of youth.
O then what soul was his, when, on the tops
Of the high mountains, he beheld the sun”.
LI. 202, 203 (1845); previously :

mass, beneath him lay

In gladness and deep joy. The clouds were touch'd," L. 227 (1832); in 1814, "There did he see the writing; -all things there"; in 1827:

'

Responsive to the writing, all things there".

L. 240, "In oft-recurring hours" (1827); previously "In many a calmer hour."

L. 252, father."

"School-master" (1827); previously "Step

L. 277 (1845); previously two lines :

"Inscribed, as with the silence of the thought,
Upon its bleak and visionary sides,"

L. 293 (1827); previously:

"He asked repose; and I have heard him say
That often, failing at this time to gain".

Ll. 297, 298 (1827); previously :

mist, which in the sunshine frames

A lasting tablet-for the observer's eye

Varying".

Ll. 302, 303 (1827); previously:

"Thus, even from Childhood upward, was he reared; For intellectual progress wanting much,

Doubtless, of needful help-yet gaining more;"

Ll. 312-314 (1827); previously:

"The Mother strove to make her Son perceive
With what advantage he might teach a School
In the adjoining Village; but the Youth,
Who of this service made a short essay,

Found that the wanderings of his thought were then
A misery to him; that he must resign".

L. 323 (1827); previously "Through dusty ways, in storm, from door to door ".

Ll. ́324, 325 (1837); previously one line, "A vagrant Merchant bent beneath his load!"

L. 338 (1827); previously:

"He asked his Mother's blessing; and with tears
Thanking his second Father, asked from him
Paternal blessings. The good Pair bestowed".

Ll. 352, 353 (1827); previously:

"Upon the bounties of the year, and felt
The liberty".

Ll. 382, 383 (1827); previously:

"Chosen in youth, through manhood he pursued,
Till due provision for his modest wants

Had been obtained ;-and, thereupon, resolved".

Invited him, would often leave his home
And journey far, revisiting those scenes
Which to his memory were most endeared.”

L. 392, "undamped" (1827); previously "untouched." L. 412,"Shaped" (1827); previously "Framed." Between 1. 416 and 1. 417 in edd. 1814-1820 occur two lines (omitted 1827):

"Nor could be bid them from his presence, tired
With questions and importunate demands:

Ll. 441-443 (1827); previously:

“He had not heard my steps

As I approached; and near him did I stand
Unnotic'd in the shade, some minutes' space."

Ll. 447, 448 (1827); previously :

"And ere the pleasant greeting that ensued
Was ended,"

Ll. 452, 453 (1827); previously:

"The fence hard by, where that aspiring shrub
Looked out upon the road.”

Ll. 494-498. Of these lines 494, 495 date from 1827; 1. 496 dates from 1837; ll. 497, 498 from 1832. In 18141820:

"Green with the moss of years; a pensive sight
That moved my heart!-recalling former days
When I could never pass that road but She
Who lived within these walls, at my approach,"

Ll. 496-498 in 1827 were:

"There let the relic lie-fond thought—vain words!
Forgive them-never did my steps approach
This humble door but she who dwelt within".

Ll. 550, 551 (1827); previously:

"but ere the second autumn

life's true Help-mate".