THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL. 2 (Completed)

THE EMIGRANT MOTHER

Composed March 16th and 17th, 1802.--Published 1807

[Suggested by what I have noticed in more than one French fugitive during the time of the French Revolution. If I am not mistaken the lines were composed at Sockburn when I was on a visit to Mary and her brothers.--I. F.]

In the editions of 1807 and 1815, this poem had no distinctive title;but in the Wordsworth circle, it was known from the year 1802 as 'The Emigrant Mother', and at least one copy was transcribed with this title in 1802. It was first published under that name in 1820. It was revised and altered in 1820, 1827, 1832, 1836, and more especially in 1845.

In Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal the following entries occur:

"Tuesday (March 16).--William went up into the orchard, and wrote a part of 'The Emigrant Mother'."

"Wednesday.--William went up into the orchard, and finished the poem.... I went and sate with W., and walked backwards and forwards in the orchard till dinner-time. He read me his poem."

This poem was included among those "founded on the Affections."--Ed.

Once in a lonely hamlet I sojourned

In which a Lady driven from France did dwell;

The big and lesser griefs with which she mourned,

In friendship she to me would often tell.

This Lady, [1] dwelling upon British [2] ground,

Where she was childless, daily would [3] repair

To a poor neighbouring cottage; as I found,

For sake of a young Child whose home was there.

Once having seen her clasp with fond embrace

This Child, I chanted to myself a lay,

Endeavouring, in our English tongue, to trace

Such things as she unto the Babe might say: [4]

And thus, from what I heard and knew, or guessed, [5]

My song the workings of her heart expressed.

I

"Dear Babe, thou daughter of another,

One moment let me be thy mother!

An infant's face and looks are thine

And sure a mother's heart is mine: