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

"WHILE BEAMS OF ORIENT LIGHT SHOOT WIDE AND HIGH"

Composed 1st January 1843.--Published 1845

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

While beams of orient light shoot wide and high,

Deep in the vale a little rural Town[266]

Breathes forth a cloud-like creature of its own,

That mounts not toward the radiant morning sky,

But, with a less ambitious sympathy,

Hangs o'er its Parent waking to the cares

Troubles and toils that every day prepares.

So Fancy, to the musing Poet's eye,

Endears that Lingerer. And how blest her sway[267]

(Like influence never may my soul reject)[268]

If the calm Heaven, now to its zenith decked[269]

With glorious forms in numberless array,

To the lone shepherd on the hills disclose

Gleams from[270] a world in which the saints repose.

Jan. 1, 1843.

[266] Ambleside.--W.W. 1845.

[267] 1845.

... And blessed be her sway

MS.

So Fancy charms the musing Poet's eye

Fixed on that Lingerer ...

C.

[268] 1845.

Ne'er may my soul like influence reject.

MS.†

[269] 1845.

Endear that Lingerer. And how blest her sway,

The faith how pure and holy in effect,

If the calm Heavens, now to their summit decked

MS.†

[270]

... of ...

MS.††

†  These MS. variants occur in a copy of the sonnet written by Wordsworth for Mrs. Arnold at Foxhowe.