Or map of the whole world thoughts, link by link, "THOSE WORDS WERE UTTERED AS IN PENSIVE MOOD" Composed 1806. - Published 1807 -"they are of the sky, And from our earthly memory fade away.' "* Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED. THOSE 1 words were uttered as in pensive mood 2 5 * See the sonnet Composed after a Journey across the Hambleton Hills, Yorkshire, vol. ii. p. 349.-ED. Grove, isle, with every shape of sky-built dome,1 10 "WITH HOW SAD STEPS, O Moon, Thou CLIMB'ST THE SKY" Composed 1806.-Published 1807 In the edition of 1815, this was placed among the "Poems of the Fancy." In 1820 it became one of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED. WITH how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb'st the sky, 5 10 1 1827. The Grove, the sky-built Temple, and the Dome, 1807. 2 1837. Thou whom I have seen on high 1807. 3 1837. And all the Stars, now shrouded up in heaven, 1807. And the keen Stars, fast as the clouds were riven, 1820. * From a sonnet of Sir Philip Sydney.-W. W. 1807. Should sally forth, to keep thee company, 1 The sonnet of Sir Philip Sidney's, from which the two first lines are taken, is No. xxxI. in Astrophel and Stella. In the edition of 1807 these lines were printed, not as a sonnet, but as No. 111. in the series of "Poems composed during a Tour, chiefly on foot; " and in 1807 and 1815 the first two lines were placed within quotation marks.-ED. “THE WORLD IS TOO MUCH WITH US; LATE AND SOON" Composed 1806.-Published 1807 One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED. THE world is too much with us; late and soon, 1 1807. Should sally forth, an emulous Company, 2 1840. 1820. The text of 1837 returns to that of 1807. What strife would then be yours, fair Creatures, driv'n 1820. All hurrying with thee through the clear blue heaven; 1832. In that keen sport along the plain of heaven; 1837. in emulous company Sparkling, and hurrying through the clear blue heaven; 1838 and C. Hurrying and sparkling through the clear blue Heaven. C. With emulous brightness through the clear blue Heaven. C. We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! 5 10 So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,* The "pleasant lea" referred to in this sonnet is unknown. It may have been on the Cumbrian coast, or in the Isle of Man. I am indebted to the Rev. Canon Ainger for suggesting an (unconscious) reminiscence of Spenser in the last line of the sonnet. Compare Dr. Arnold's commentary (Miscellaneous Works of Thomas Arnold, p. 311), and that of Sir Henry Taylor in his Notes from Books. —ED. "WITH SHIPS THE SEA WAS SPRINKLED FAR AND NIGH" 1 Composed 1806. -Published 1807 Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED. WITH Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh, § Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed ; 1807. The MS. 2 1827. coming 1807. * See Spenser's Colin Clout's come Home againe, 1. 283 "A goodly pleasant lea." ED. + Compare Paradise Lost, book iii. 1. 603. See Colin Clout's come Home againe, II. 244-5 Of them the shepheard which hath charge in chief, Is Triton, blowing loud his wreathed horne. ED. § Compare The Excursion, book iv. 1. 1197 sea with ships Sprinkled : ED. Some lying fast at anchor in the road, 5 10 "WHERE LIES THE LAND TO WHICH YON SHIP MUST GO?" Composed 1806. --Published 1807 Classed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED. WHERE lies the Land to which yon Ship must go? 1 1837. Festively she puts forth in trim array; 1807. * In the editions of 1815 to 1832 (but not in 1807) this line was printed within inverted commas. The quotation marks were dropped, however, in subsequent editions (as in the quotation from Spenser, in the poem Beggars). In a note at the end of the volumes of 1807, Wordsworth says, "From a passage in Skelton, which I cannot here insert, not having the Book at hand." The passage is as follows Her takelynge ryche, and of hye apparayle. Skelton's Bowge of Courte, stanza vi.-ED. + See Professor H. Reed's note to the American edition of Memoirs of Wordsworth, vol. i. p. 335; and Wordsworth's comment on Mrs. Fermor's criticism of this sonnet in his letter to Lady Beaumont, May 21, 1807.-ED. |