It was a cove, a huge recess, That keeps, till June, December's snow; A lofty precipice in front, A silent tarn [A] below! [B] 20 Far in the bosom of Helvellyn, Remote from public road or dwelling, Pathway, or cultivated land; From trace of human foot or hand. There sometimes doth [2] a leaping fish 25 Send through the tarn a lonely cheer; The crags repeat the raven's croak, [C] In symphony austere; Thither the rainbow comes--the cloud-- And mists that spread the flying shroud; 30 And sunbeams; and the sounding blast, That, if it could, would hurry past; But that enormous barrier holds [3] it fast. Not free from boding thoughts, [4] a while The Shepherd stood; then makes his way 35 O'er rocks and stones, following the Dog [5] As quickly as he may; Nor far had gone before he found A human skeleton on the ground; The appalled Discoverer with a sigh [6] 40 Looks round, to learn the history. From those abrupt and perilous rocks The Man had fallen, that place of fear! At length upon the Shepherd's mind It breaks, and all is clear: 45 He instantly recalled the name, [7] And who he was, and whence he came; Remembered, too, the very day On which the Traveller passed this way. But hear a wonder, for whose sake 50 This lamentable tale I tell! [8] A lasting monument of words This wonder merits well. The Dog, which still was hovering nigh, Repeating the same timid cry, 55 This Dog, had been through three months' space A dweller in that savage place. Yes, proof was plain that, since the day When this ill-fated Traveller died, [9] The Dog had watched about the spot, 60 Or by his master's side: How nourished here through such long time He knows, who gave that love sublime; And gave that strength of feeling, great Above all human estimate! 65 * * * * * VARIANTS ON THE TEXT [Variant 1: 1820. From which immediately leaps out A Dog, and yelping runs about. 1807. And instantly a Dog is seen, Glancing from that covert green. 1815.] [Variant 2: 1820. ... does ... 1807.] [Variant 3: 1837. binds 1807.] [Variant 4: 1815. Not knowing what to think 1807.] [Variant 5: 1837. Towards the Dog, o'er rocks and stones, 1807.] [Variant 6: 1815. Sad sight! the Shepherd with a sigh 1807.] [Variant 7: And signs and circumstances dawned Till everything was clear; He made discovery of his name. MS.] [Variant 8: 1815. But hear a wonder now, for sake Of which this mournful Tale I tell! 1807.] [Variant 9: 1827. On which the Traveller thus had died 1807.] * * * * * FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT