In rambling on the eastern wold, When thro’ the showery April nights Their hueless crescent glimmered cold, From all the other village lights I knew your taper far away. My heart was full of trembling hope, Down from the wold I came and lay Upon the dewy-swarded slope. [16] Mr. Cuming Walters in his interesting volume _In Tennyson Land_, p. 75, notices that the white chalk quarry at Thetford can be seen from Stockworth Mill, which seems to show that if Tennyson did take the mill from Trumpington he must also have had his mind on Thetford Mill. Tennyson seems to have taken delight in baffling those who wished to localise his scenes. He went out of his way to say that the topographical studies of Messrs. Church and Napier were the only ones which could be relied upon. But Mr. Cuming Walters’ book is far more satisfactory than their thin studies. [17] Thus in 1833:— The white chalk quarry from the hill Upon the broken ripple gleamed, I murmured lowly, sitting still, While round my feet the eddy streamed: “Oh! that I were the wreath she wreathes, The mirror where her sight she feeds, The song she sings, the air she breathes, The letters of the books she reads”. [18] 1833. I loved, but when I dared to speak My love, the lanes were white with May Your ripe lips moved not, but your cheek Flushed like the coming of the day. [19] 1833. Rosecheekt, roselipt, half-sly, half-shy. [20] Cf. Milton, _Paradise Lost_;— Two other precious drops that ready stood He, ere they fell, kiss’d. [21] These three stanzas were added in 1842, the following being excised:— Remember you the clear moonlight, That whitened all the eastern ridge, When o’er the water, dancing white, I stepped upon the old mill-bridge. I heard you whisper from above A lute-toned whisper, “I am here”; I murmured, “Speak again, my love, The stream is loud: I cannot hear”. I heard, as I have seemed to hear, When all the under-air was still, The low voice of the glad new year Call to the freshly-flowered hill. I heard, as I have often heard The nightingale in leavy woods Call to its mate, when nothing stirred To left or right but falling floods. [22] 1842. I gave you on the joyful day. [23] In 1833 the following stanza took the place of the one here substituted in 1842:— Come, Alice, sing to me the song I made you on our marriage day, When, arm in arm, we went along Half-tearfully, and you were gay With brooch and ring: for I shall seem, The while you sing that song, to hear The mill-wheel turning in the stream, And the green chestnut whisper near. In 1833 the song began thus, the present stanza taking its place in 1842:— I wish I were her earring, Ambushed in auburn ringlets sleek, (So might my shadow tremble Over her downy cheek), Hid in her hair, all day and night, Touching her neck so warm and white. [24] 1872. In. [25] 1833.