The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)Wordsworth, William
General
The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)
Wordsworth, William
English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century
know nothing, in lyric poetry, more beautiful or affecting than
the final transition from this part of the ode, with its rapid
metre, to the slow elegiac stanzas at the end, when, from the
warlike fervour and eagerness, the jubilant strain which has just
been described, the Poet passes back into the sublime silence of
Nature, gathering amid her deep and quiet bosom a more subdued and
solemn tenderness than he had manifested before; it is as if from
the heights of the imaginative intellect, his spirit had retreated
into the recesses of a profoundly thoughtful Christian heart."
Professor Henry Reed said of this poem--"Had he never written another
ode, this alone would set him at the head of the lyric poets of
England."--ED.
VARIANTS:
[1] 1815.
... sorrows ... 1807.
[2] 1827.
... hath ... 1807.
[3] 1807.
... royalty. 1815.
The text of 1820 returns to that of 1807.
[4] 1845.
Though she is but a lonely Tower!
Silent, deserted of her best,
Without an Inmate or a Guest, 1807.
Deserted, emptied of her best. MS.
To vacancy and silence left;
Of all her guardian sons bereft-- 1820.
[5] 1836.
Knight, Squire, or Yeoman, Page, or Groom; 1807.
[6] 1807.
... on vale and hill: MS.
[7] 1845.
... solemn ... 1807.
[8] 1845. This line was previously three lines--
And a chearful company,
That learn'd of him submissive ways;
And comforted his private days. 1807.
A spirit-soothing company, 1836.
[9] 1836.
They moved about in open sight,
To and fro, for his delight. 1807.
[10] 1836.
On ... 1807.
[11] 1807.
... heard ... MS.
[12] 1836.
And the Caves ... 1807.
[13] 1836.
Face of thing ... 1807.
[14] C. and 1840.
And, if Men report him right,
He can whisper words of might. 1807.
He could whisper ... 1827.
And, if that men report him right,
He could whisper ... 1836.
[15] 1845.
Alas! the fervent Harper did not know
That for a tranquil Soul the Lay was framed,
Who, long compell'd in humble walks to go, 1807.
[16] 1807.
... of ... MS.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Compare _Hudibras_, part II. canto i. ll. 567-8--
That shall infuse Eternal Spring
And everlasting flourishing. ED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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