[501] This Sonnet, as Poetry, explains itself, yet the scene of the incident having been a wild wood, it may be doubted, as a point of natural history, whether the bird was aware that his attentions were bestowed upon a human, or even a living creature. But a Redbreast will perch upon the foot of a gardener at work, and alight on the handle of the spade when his hand is half upon it,--this I have seen. And under my own roof I have witnessed affecting instances of the creature's friendly visits to the chambers of sick persons, as described in the verses to the Redbreast. One of these welcome intruders used frequently to roost upon a nail in the wall, from which a picture had hung, and was ready, as morning came, to pipe his song in the hearing of the Invalid, who had been long confined to her room. These attachments to a particular person, when marked and continued, used to be reckoned ominous; but the superstition is passing away.--W. W. 1827. [502] Jemima Quillinan.--ED. [503] 1837. Strange visitation! at _Jemima's_ lip Thus hadst thou pecked, wild Redbreast! Love might say, 1827. [504] 1827. That the Muse warms; and I, though old and grey, MS. [505] Compare _The Ancient Mariner_, Part vii., stanza 23.--ED. [506] 1837. ... vision bound. 1827. CONCLUSION TO ----[507] Composed 1827.--Published 1827 One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED. If these brief Records, by the Muses' art Produced as lonely Nature or the strife That animates the scenes of public life[508] Inspired, may in thy leisure claim a part; And if these Transcripts of the private heart 5 Have gained a sanction from thy falling tears; Then I repent not. But my soul hath fears Breathed from eternity; for as a dart Cleaves the blank air, Life flies: now every day Is but a glimmering spoke in the swift wheel 10 Of the revolving week. Away, away, All fitful cares, all transitory zeal! So timely Grace the immortal wing may heal, And honour rest upon the senseless clay. FOOTNOTES: [507] I have been unable to discover to whom this _Conclusion_ was addressed. It may have been to his daughter.--ED. [508] This line alludes to Sonnets which will be found in another Class.--W. W. 1837. He refers to the sonnets on Liberty, etc.--ED. 1828 The poems belonging to 1828 include _A Morning Exercise_, _The Triad_, two on _The Wishing-Gate_, _The Gleaner_, a sonnet, two short pieces suggested during the fortnight which Wordsworth spent on the Rhine with his daughter and S. T. Coleridge in that year, and the ode on _The Power of Sound_.--ED. A MORNING EXERCISE Composed 1828.--Published 1832 [Written at Rydal Mount. I could wish the last five stanzas of this to be read with the poem addressed to the skylark.--I.F.] One of the "Poems of the Fancy."--ED.