The Priest here ended-- The Stranger would have thanked him, but he felt A gushing from his heart, that took away The power of speech. Both left the spot in silence; [55] And Leonard, when they reached the church-yard gate, 430 As the Priest lifted up the latch, turned round,-- And, looking at the grave, he said, "My Brother!" The Vicar did not hear the words: and now, He pointed towards his dwelling-place, entreating [56] That Leonard would partake his homely fare: 435 The other thanked him with an earnest [57] voice; But added, that, the evening being calm, He would pursue his journey. So they parted. It was not long ere Leonard reached a grove That overhung the road: he there stopped short, 440 And, sitting down beneath the trees, reviewed All that the Priest had said: his early years Were with him:--his long absence, cherished hopes, [58] And thoughts which had been his an hour before, All pressed on him with such a weight, that now, 445 This vale, where he had been so happy, seemed A place in which he could not bear to live: So he relinquished all his purposes. He travelled back [59] to Egremont: and thence, That night, he wrote a letter to the Priest, [60] 450 Reminding him of what had passed between them; And adding, with a hope to be forgiven, That it was from the weakness of his heart He had not dared to tell him who he was. This done, he went on shipboard, and is now 455 A Seaman, a grey-headed Mariner. * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1815. ... their ... 1800.] [Variant 2: 1827. Upon the forehead of a jutting crag Sit perch'd with book and pencil on their knee, And look and scribble, ... 1800.] [Variant 3: 1836. ... youngest child, Who turn'd her large round wheel in the open air With back and forward steps.... 1800.] [Variant 4: 1827. Which ... 1800.] [Variant 5: 1815. ... who ere his thirteenth year Had chang'd his calling, with the mariners 1800.] [Variant 6: 1840. ... green ... 1800.] [Variant 7: 1815. ... at length, ... 1800.] [Variant 8: 1827. ... traffic in ... 1800.] [Variant 9: 1827. ... which he liv'd there, ... 1800.] [Variant 10: 1836. ... of one whom he so dearly lov'd, 1800.] [Variant 11: 1836. Towards the church-yard he had turn'd aside, 1800.] [Variant 12: 1836. ... and he had hopes 1800. ... and hope was his 1832.] [Variant 13: 1815. As up the vale he came that afternoon, 1800.] [Variant 14: 1836. ... the ... 1800.] [Variant 15: 1815. ... he thought that he perceiv'd 1800.] [Variant 16: 1827. And the eternal hills, ... 1800. And the everlasting hills, ... 1820.] [Variant 17: 1815. He scann'd him ... 1800.]