"Beloved Vale!" I said, "when I shall con Those many records of my childish years, Remembrance of myself and of my peers Will press me down: to think of what is gone Will be an awful thought, if life have one." 5 But, when into the Vale I came, no fears Distressed me; from mine eyes escaped no tears;[1] Deep thought, or dread remembrance, had I none.[2] By doubts and thousand petty fancies crost[3] I stood, of simple shame the blushing Thrall;[A] 10 So narrow seemed the brooks, the fields so small![4] A Juggler's balls old Time about him tossed; I looked, I stared, I smiled, I laughed; and all The weight of sadness was in wonder lost. Doubtless the "Vale" referred to is that of Hawkshead; the "brooks" may refer to the one that feeds Esthwaite lake, or to Sawrey beck, or (more likely) to the streamlet, "the famous brook within our garden boxed," described in _The Prelude_, books i. and ii. (vol. iii.) See also _The Fountain_, vol. ii. p. 92.--ED. VARIANTS: [1] 1827. Distress'd me; I look'd round, I shed no tears; 1807. [2] 1837. ... or awful vision, I had none. 1807. ... had I none. 1827. [3] 1827. By thousand petty fancies I was cross'd, 1807. [4] 1827. To see the Trees, which I had thought so tall, Mere dwarfs; the Brooks so narrow, Fields so small. 1807. FOOTNOTES: [A] Compare _Hart-Leap Well_, l. 117 (vol. ii. p. 134).--ED. "HOW SWEET IT IS, WHEN MOTHER FANCY ROCKS" Composed 1806.--Published 1807 Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED. How sweet it is, when mother Fancy rocks The wayward brain, to saunter through a wood! An old place, full of many a lovely brood, Tall trees, green arbours, and ground-flowers in flocks; And wild rose tip-toe upon hawthorn stocks, 5 Like a bold Girl, who plays her agile pranks[1] At Wakes and Fairs with wandering Mountebanks,-- When she stands cresting the Clown's head, and mocks The crowd beneath her. Verily I think, Such place to me is sometimes like a dream 10 Or map of the whole world: thoughts, link by link, Enter through ears and eyesight, with such gleam Of all things, that at last in fear I shrink, And leap at once from the delicious stream. VARIANTS: [1] 1827. Like to a bonny Lass, who plays her pranks 1807. "THOSE WORDS WERE UTTERED AS IN PENSIVE MOOD" Composed 1806.--Published 1807 ----"they are of the sky, And from our earthly memory fade away."[A] Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.