Composed 1799.--Published 1800
[Written in Germany, 1799.--I.F.]
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections." In MS. Wordsworth gave, as the title, "A Reverie," but erased it.--Ed.
Strange fits of passion have I known: [1]
And I will dare to tell,
But in the Lover's ear alone,
What once to me befel.
When she I loved looked every day
Fresh as a rose in June, [2]
I to her cottage bent my way,
Beneath an [3] evening moon.
Upon the moon I fixed my eye,
All over the wide lea;
With quickening pace my horse drew nigh [4]
Those paths so dear to me.
And now we reached the orchard-plot;
And, as we climbed the hill,
The sinking moon to Lucy's cot
Came near, and nearer still. [5]
In one of those sweet dreams I slept,
Kind Nature's gentlest boon!
And all the while my eyes I kept
On the descending moon.
My horse moved on; hoof after hoof
He raised, and never stopped:
When down behind the cottage roof,
At once, the bright moon dropped. [6]
What fond and wayward thoughts will slide
Into a Lover's head! "O mercy!" to myself I cried,
"If Lucy should be dead!"
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:1832.
... I have known, 1800.]
[Variant 2:1836.
When she I lov'd, was strong and gay
And like a rose in June, 1800.]
[Variant 3:1836.
... the ... 1800.]
[Variant 4:1836.
My horse trudg'd on, and we drew nigh 1800.]
[Variant 5:1836.
Towards the roof of Lucy's cot
The moon descended still. [a] 1800.]
[Variant 6:1815.
... the planet dropp'd. 1800.]
* * * * *
SUB-FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT
[Sub-Footnote a: Compare the lines in Arthur Hugh Clough's poem, 'The Stream of Life':
And houses stand on either hand And thou descendest still.
Ed.]
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THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL. 2 (Completed)
ClassicsThe poetical works of William Wordsworth, edited by William Knight.
