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The roses to the porch which they entwine :
Yea, all, that now enchants thee, from the day
On which it should be touched, would melt away.1

The cottage at Town-end, Grasmere-where this sonnet was composed-may have suggested it. Some of the details, however, are scarcely applicable to Dove Cottage; the "brook " (referred to elsewhere) is outside the orchard ground, and there is scarcely anything in the garden to warrant the phrase, "its own small pasture." It is unnecessary to localise the allusions.

-ED.

،،،

““ BELOVED VALE!' I SAID, “WHEN I
SHALL CON'"

Composed 1806. - Published 1807

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED.

"BELOVED Vale!" I said, "when I shall con
Those many records of my childish years,
Remembrance of myself and of my peers
Will press me down to think of what is gone
Will be an awful thought, if life have one."
But, when into the Vale I came, no fears
Distressed me; from mine eyes escaped no tears;2
Deep thought, or dread remembrance, had I none.3
By doubts and thousand petty fancies crost 4

1 1838.

would melt, and melt away!

1807.

2 1827.

Distress'd me; I look'd round, I shed no tears;

1807.

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5

:

I stood, of simple shame the blushing Thrall ; *
So narrow seemed the brooks, the fields so small !1
A Juggler's balls old Time about him tossed;
I looked, I stared, I smiled, I laughed; and all
The weight of sadness was in wonder lost.

10

Doubtless the "Vale" referred to is that of Hawkshead; the "brooks" may refer to the one that feeds Esthwaite lake, or to Sawrey beck, or (more likely) to the streamlet, “the famous brook within our garden boxed," described in The Prelude, books i. and ii. (vol. iii.) See also The Fountain, vol. ii. p. 92.-ED.

“HOW SWEET IT IS, WHEN MOTHER
FANCY ROCKS"

Composed 1806. - Published 1807

Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."-ED.

How sweet it is, when mother Fancy rocks

The wayward brain, to saunter through a wood!

An old place, full of many a lovely brood,

Tall trees, green arbours, and ground-flowers in flocks;

And wild rose tip-toe upon hawthorn stocks,

5

Like a bold Girl, who plays her agile pranks 2
At Wakes and Fairs with wandering Mountebanks, —
When she stands cresting the Clown's head, and mocks

The crowd beneath her. Verily I think,

Such place to me is sometimes like a dream

10

1 1827.

To see the Trees, which I had thought so tall,
Mere dwarfs; the Brooks so narrow, Fields so small.

1807.

2 1827.

Like to a bonny Lass, who plays her pranks

1807.

* Compare Hart-Leap Well, l. 117 (vol. ii. p. 134).-ED.

Or map of the whole world: thoughts, link by link,
Enter through ears and eyesight, with such gleam
Of all things, that at last in fear I shrink,
And leap at once from the delicious stream.

"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
We turned, departing from 3 that solemn sight:
A contrast and reproach to 4 gross delight,
And life's unspiritual pleasures daily wooed!
But now upon this thought I cannot brood ;
It is unstable as a dream of night ;5
Nor will I praise a cloud, however bright,
Disparaging Man's gifts, and proper food.

5

1 1838.

These

2 1827.

utter'd in a pensive mood,

3 1827.

Even while mine eyes were on

Mine eyes yet lingering on

4 1807.

A silent counter part of

5 1827.

It is unstable, and deserts me quite;

1807.

1807.

1807.

1815.

MS.

1807.

* See the sonnet Composed after a Journey across the Hambleton Hills, Yorkshire, vol. ii. p. 349.-ED.

1

Grove, isle, with every shape of sky-built dome,1
Though clad in colours beautiful and pure,
Find in the heart of man no natural home :
The immortal Mind craves objects that endure :
These cleave to it; from these it cannot roam,
Nor they from it: their fellowship is secure.

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,
"How silently, and with how wan a face!" *
Where art thou? Thou so often seen on high 2
Running among the clouds a Wood-nymph's race!
Unhappy Nuns, whose common breath's a sigh
Which they would stifle, move at such a pace!
The northern Wind, to call thee to the chase,
Must blow to-night his bugle horn. Had I
The power of Merlin, Goddess! this should be :
And all the stars, fast as the clouds were riven, 3

1 1827.

The Grove, the sky-built Temple, and the Dome, 1807.

2 1837.

3

1837.

Thou whom I have seen on high 1807.

And all the Stars, now shrouded up in heaven,

And the keen Stars, fast as the clouds were riven,

* From a sonnet of Sir Philip Sydney.-W. W. 1807.

1807. 1820.

5

10

Should sally forth, to keep thee company, 1
Hurrying and sparkling through the clear blue heaven ;2
But, Cynthia! should to thee the palm be given,
Queen both for beauty and for majesty.

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,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers :
Little we see in Nature that is ours;

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
Now up, now down, and sparkling in your glee! 1807.
Sparkling, and hurrying through the clear blue heaven;

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.

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