The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

XV       He told, that to these waters he had come [28]
           To gather leeches, being old and poor:                    100
           Employment hazardous and wearisome!
           And he had many hardships to endure: [29]
           From pond to pond he roamed, from moor to moor;
           Housing, with God's good help, by choice or chance;
           And in this way he gained an honest maintenance.          105

  XVI      The old Man still stood talking by my side;
           But now [30] his voice to me was like a stream
           Scarce heard; nor word from word could I divide;
           And the whole body of the Man did seem
           Like one whom I had met with in a dream;                  110
           Or like a man from some far region sent,
           To give me human strength, by apt admonishment. [31]

  XVII     My former thoughts returned: the fear that kills;
           And [32] hope that is unwilling to be fed;
           Cold, pain, and labour, and all fleshly ills;             115
           And mighty Poets in their misery dead.
--Perplexed, and longing to be comforted, [33]
           My question eagerly did I renew,
           "How is it that you live, and what is it you do?" [34]

  XVIII    He with a smile did then his words repeat;                120
           And said, that, gathering leeches, far and wide
           He travelled; stirring thus about his feet
           The waters of the pools where they abide. [35]
           "Once I could meet with them on every side;
           But they have dwindled long by slow decay;                125
           Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may." [36]

  XIX      While he was talking thus, the lonely place,
           The old Man's shape, and speech--all troubled me:
           In my mind's eye I seemed to see him pace
           About the weary moors continually,                        130
           Wandering about alone and silently.
           While I these thoughts within myself pursued,
           He, having made a pause, the same discourse renewed.

  XX       And soon [37] with this he other matter blended,
           Cheerfully uttered, with demeanour kind,                  135
           But stately in the main; and when he ended, [38]
           I could have laughed myself to scorn to find
           In that decrepit Man so firm a mind.
           "God," said I, "be my help and stay secure;
           I'll think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor!"     140


       *       *       *       *       *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1827.

  ... which, ...    1807.

And in MS. letter from Coleridge to Sir George Beaumont, 1802.[i]]



[Variant 2:

1820.

  ... singing ...     1807.

And MS. 1802.]


[Variant 3:

1807.

  ... happy ...       MS. 1802.]


[Variant 4:

1807.

  And they who lived in genial faith found nought
  that grew more willingly than genial good;      MS. 1802.]


[Variant 5:

1815.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

General

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

XV       He told, that to these waters he had come [28]
           To gather leeches, being old and poor:                    100
           Employment hazardous and wearisome!
           And he had many hardships to endure: [29]
           From pond to pond he roamed, from moor to moor;
           Housing, with God's good help, by choice or chance;
           And in this way he gained an honest maintenance.          105

  XVI      The old Man still stood talking by my side;
           But now [30] his voice to me was like a stream
           Scarce heard; nor word from word could I divide;
           And the whole body of the Man did seem
           Like one whom I had met with in a dream;                  110
           Or like a man from some far region sent,
           To give me human strength, by apt admonishment. [31]

  XVII     My former thoughts returned: the fear that kills;
           And [32] hope that is unwilling to be fed;
           Cold, pain, and labour, and all fleshly ills;             115
           And mighty Poets in their misery dead.
--Perplexed, and longing to be comforted, [33]
           My question eagerly did I renew,
           "How is it that you live, and what is it you do?" [34]

  XVIII    He with a smile did then his words repeat;                120
           And said, that, gathering leeches, far and wide
           He travelled; stirring thus about his feet
           The waters of the pools where they abide. [35]
           "Once I could meet with them on every side;
           But they have dwindled long by slow decay;                125
           Yet still I persevere, and find them where I may." [36]

  XIX      While he was talking thus, the lonely place,
           The old Man's shape, and speech--all troubled me:
           In my mind's eye I seemed to see him pace
           About the weary moors continually,                        130
           Wandering about alone and silently.
           While I these thoughts within myself pursued,
           He, having made a pause, the same discourse renewed.

  XX       And soon [37] with this he other matter blended,
           Cheerfully uttered, with demeanour kind,                  135
           But stately in the main; and when he ended, [38]
           I could have laughed myself to scorn to find
           In that decrepit Man so firm a mind.
           "God," said I, "be my help and stay secure;
           I'll think of the Leech-gatherer on the lonely moor!"     140


       *       *       *       *       *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1827.

  ... which, ...    1807.

And in MS. letter from Coleridge to Sir George Beaumont, 1802.[i]]



[Variant 2:

1820.

  ... singing ...     1807.

And MS. 1802.]


[Variant 3:

1807.

  ... happy ...       MS. 1802.]


[Variant 4:

1807.

  And they who lived in genial faith found nought
  that grew more willingly than genial good;      MS. 1802.]


[Variant 5:

1815.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)

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