The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

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

And spread ...                                                MS.
]

[Footnote 367: 1819.

    The Nest a hollow diadem composed
    Of russet leaves and down where lie enclosed
    The tenderest cares that earthly laws allow:                  MS.
]

[Footnote 368: 1837.

    I gaze--and almost wish to lay aside
    Humanity, weak slave of cumbrous pride!             MS. and 1819.
]


WRITTEN UPON A BLANK LEAF IN "THE COMPLETE ANGLER"

Composed 1819.--Published 1819

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

    While flowing rivers yield a blameless sport,
    Shall live the name of Walton: Sage benign!
    Whose pen, the mysteries of the rod and line
    Unfolding, did not fruitlessly exhort
    To reverend watching of each still report                      5
    That Nature utters from her rural shrine.
    Meek, nobly versed in simple discipline--
    He found the longest summer day too short,
    To his[369] loved pastime given by sedgy Lee,
    Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook--                 10
    Fairer than life itself, in this[370] sweet Book,
    The cowslip-bank[371] and shady willow-tree;
    And the fresh meads--where flowed, from every nook
    Of his[372] full bosom, gladsome Piety!

VARIANTS:

[Footnote 369: 1827.

    O nobly versed in simple discipline,
    Meek, thankful soul, the vernal day how short
    To thy ...                                                  1819.

    O, nobly versed in simple discipline--
    Who found'st the longest summer day too short,
    To thy ...                                                  1837.

    1845 returns to 1827.
]

[Footnote 370: 1827.

    ... thy ...                                                 1819.
]

[Footnote 371: 1819.

    Are cowslip-bank ...                                        1837.

    1845 returns to 1819.
]

[Footnote 372: 1827.

    Of thy ...                                                  1819.

    1837 returns to 1819.

    1845 returns to 1827.
]


CAPTIVITY--MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS[373]

Composed 1819.--Published 1819

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

    "As the cold aspect of a sunless way
    Strikes through the Traveller's frame with deadlier chill,
    Oft as appears a grove, or obvious hill,
    Glistening with unparticipated ray,
    Or shining slope where he must never stray;                    5
    So joys, remembered without wish or will,
    Sharpen the keenest edge of present ill,--
    On the crushed heart a heavier burthen lay.
    Just Heaven, contract the compass of my mind
    To fit proportion with my altered state!                      10
    Quench those felicities whose light I find
    Reflected in[374] my bosom all too late!--
    O be my spirit, like my thraldom, strait;
    And, like mine eyes that stream with sorrow, blind!"

Compare the _Lament of Mary Queen of Scots_, p. 162.

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

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

General

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

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

And spread ...                                                MS.
]

[Footnote 367: 1819.

    The Nest a hollow diadem composed
    Of russet leaves and down where lie enclosed
    The tenderest cares that earthly laws allow:                  MS.
]

[Footnote 368: 1837.

    I gaze--and almost wish to lay aside
    Humanity, weak slave of cumbrous pride!             MS. and 1819.
]


WRITTEN UPON A BLANK LEAF IN "THE COMPLETE ANGLER"

Composed 1819.--Published 1819

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

    While flowing rivers yield a blameless sport,
    Shall live the name of Walton: Sage benign!
    Whose pen, the mysteries of the rod and line
    Unfolding, did not fruitlessly exhort
    To reverend watching of each still report                      5
    That Nature utters from her rural shrine.
    Meek, nobly versed in simple discipline--
    He found the longest summer day too short,
    To his[369] loved pastime given by sedgy Lee,
    Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook--                 10
    Fairer than life itself, in this[370] sweet Book,
    The cowslip-bank[371] and shady willow-tree;
    And the fresh meads--where flowed, from every nook
    Of his[372] full bosom, gladsome Piety!

VARIANTS:

[Footnote 369: 1827.

    O nobly versed in simple discipline,
    Meek, thankful soul, the vernal day how short
    To thy ...                                                  1819.

    O, nobly versed in simple discipline--
    Who found'st the longest summer day too short,
    To thy ...                                                  1837.

    1845 returns to 1827.
]

[Footnote 370: 1827.

    ... thy ...                                                 1819.
]

[Footnote 371: 1819.

    Are cowslip-bank ...                                        1837.

    1845 returns to 1819.
]

[Footnote 372: 1827.

    Of thy ...                                                  1819.

    1837 returns to 1819.

    1845 returns to 1827.
]


CAPTIVITY--MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS[373]

Composed 1819.--Published 1819

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

    "As the cold aspect of a sunless way
    Strikes through the Traveller's frame with deadlier chill,
    Oft as appears a grove, or obvious hill,
    Glistening with unparticipated ray,
    Or shining slope where he must never stray;                    5
    So joys, remembered without wish or will,
    Sharpen the keenest edge of present ill,--
    On the crushed heart a heavier burthen lay.
    Just Heaven, contract the compass of my mind
    To fit proportion with my altered state!                      10
    Quench those felicities whose light I find
    Reflected in[374] my bosom all too late!--
    O be my spirit, like my thraldom, strait;
    And, like mine eyes that stream with sorrow, blind!"

Compare the _Lament of Mary Queen of Scots_, p. 162.

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

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 6 (of 8)

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