And silent morning, I sat down, and there, 80 In memory of affections old and true, I chiselled out in those rude characters Joanna's name deep in the living stone:--[8] And I, and all who dwell by my fireside, Have called the lovely rock, JOANNA'S ROCK." 85 * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1827. Your time ... 1800.] [Variant 2: 1836. Is slow towards... 1800. ... toward.... 1827.] [Variant 3: 1836. ... are taught... 1800.] [Variant 4: 1836. ... betwixt ... 1800.] [Variant 5: 1836. Which looks towards the East, I there stopp'd short, 1800. ... toward ... 1827.] [Variant 6: 1836. And trac'd ... 1800.] [Variant 7: 1827. Is not for me to tell; but sure I am 1800] [Variant 8: 1845. Joanna's name upon the living stone. 1800.] * * * * * FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT [Footnote A: The Rectory at Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived from 1811 to 1813, and where two of his children died.--Ed.] In Cumberland and Westmoreland are several Inscriptions upon the native rock which from the wasting of Time and the rudeness of the Workmanship had been mistaken for Runic. They are without doubt Roman. The Rotha, mentioned in this poem, is the River which flowing through the Lakes of Grasmere and Rydale falls into Wyndermere. On Helm-Crag, that impressive single Mountain at the head of the Vale of Grasmere, is a Rock which from most points of view bears a striking resemblance to an Old Woman cowering. Close by this rock is one of those Fissures or Caverns, which in the language of the Country are called Dungeons. The other Mountains either immediately surround the Vale of Grasmere, or belong to the same Cluster.--W. W. 1800. Most of the Mountains here mentioned immediately surround the vale of Grasmere; of the others, some are at a considerable distance, but they belong to the same cluster.--W. W. 1802. The majority of the changes introduced into the text of this poem were made in the year 1836. The place where the echo of the bleat of the lamb was heard--referred to in the Fenwick note--may be easily found. The "precipice" is Pavy Ark. "The 'lofty firs, that overtop their ancient neighbour, the old steeple-tower,' stood by the roadside, scarcely twenty yards north-west from the steeple of Grasmere church. Their site is now included in the road, which has been widened at that point. They were Scotch firs of unusual size, and might justly be said to 'overtop their neighbour' the tower. Mr. Fleming Green, who well remembers the trees, gave me this information, which is confirmed by other inhabitants. "When the road was enlarged, not many years ago, the roots of the trees were found by the workmen." (Dr. Cradock to the editor.) The 'tall rock That eastward looks'