THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL. 8 (Completed)

COMPOSED ON RYDAL ON MAY MORNING, 1838 [175]

Composed 1st May 1838.--Published 1838

[This and the following sonnet were composed on what we call the "Far Terrace" at Rydal Mount, where I have murmured out many thousands of verses.--I.F.]

This sonnet was first published in the Volume of Collected Sonnets in 1838. In 1842 it was classed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets"; but in 1845 it was transferred to the "Memorials of a Tour in Italy,1837."--ED.

If with old love of you, dear Hills! I share

New love of many a rival image brought

From far, forgive the wanderings of my thought:

Nor art thou wronged, sweet May! when I compare[176]

Thy present birth-morn with thy last,[177][178] so fair,

So rich to me in favours. For my lot

Then was, within the famed Egerian Grot

To sit and muse, fanned by its dewy air

Mingling with thy soft breath! That morning too,

Warblers I heard their joy unbosoming

Amid the sunny, shadowy, Coliseum;[179]

Heard them, unchecked by aught of saddening hue,[180]

For victories there won by flower-crowned Spring,[181]

Chant in full choir their innocent Te Deum.

[175] 1845.The title in 1838 was "COMPOSED ON MAY-MORNING, 1838"; and "RYDAL MOUNT" was written at the foot of the sonnet.

[176] 1838.

May, if from these thy northern haunts I share

Fond looks of mind for images remote

Fetched out of milder climates, blame me not,

Nor that, upris'n thus early, I compare

MS.

Let those who will or can, dear May, forbear

To rise and hail thy coming, I could not.

The vivid images of scenes remote

Rushing on memory urge me to compare

MS.

Dear native Hills, the love of you I share

With ...

MS.

Dear fields and native mountains, if I share

My love of youth with love of objects brought

{From far, by faithful memory, blame me not. }

{Fetched from a milder climate, blame me not.}

{From a distant land by memory, blame me not.}

{Nor that, upris'n thus early, }

{Nor be displeased, sweet May, if} I compare

{May,}

{Thy } present ...

MS.

[177] 1838.

... past,

MS.

[178] On May morning, 1837, Wordsworth was in Rome with Henry Crabb Robinson.--ED.

[179] The Flavian Amphitheatre, begun by Vespasian, A.D. 72, and continued by his son Titus, one of the noblest structures in Rome, now a ruin. --ED.

[180] 1845. ... of sombre hue,

1838.

... by thoughts of sombre hue,

MS.

[181] 1838.

... too,

How my heart swelled when in the mighty ring,

The mouldering, shadowy, sunny Collosseum,

I heard with some sad thoughts of local hue

Warblers there lodged, for victories won by spring

MS.

... too,

Here did I a deathless joy embosoming,

{Mid } the shadowy Collosseum,

{Within} Hear not without sad thoughts of local hue

MS.

... too,

Heard I, a deathless joy embosoming,

Tho' not without sad thoughts of local hue,

Amid the shadowy, sunny, Collosseum,

Warblers there lodged, for victories won by Spring

MS.