[94] 1837.

From reason's earliest dawn beguiled
The docile, unsuspecting Child: 1815.

[95] 1837.

... music sweet
Was played to chear them in retreat;
But Norton lingered in the rear:
Thought followed thought—and ere the last
Of that unhappy train was past,
Before him Francis did appear. 1815.

[96] 1837.

"Now when 'tis not your aim to oppose,"
Said he, "in open field your Foes;
Now that from this decisive day
Your multitude must melt away,
An unarmed Man may come unblamed;
To ask a grace, that was not claimed
Long as your hopes were high, he now
May hither bring a fearless brow;
When his discountenance can do
No injury,—may come to you.
Though in your cause no part I bear,
Your indignation I can share;
Am grieved this backward march to see,
How careless and disorderly!
I scorn your Chieftains, Men who lead,
And yet want courage at their need;
Then look at them with open eyes!
Deserve they further sacrifice?
My Father!..." 1815.

[97] 1837.

... remains ... 1815.

[98] 1837.

At length, the issue of this prayer?
Or how, from his depression raised,
The Father on his Son had gazed; 1815.

[99] 1845.

Suffice it that the Son gave way,
Nor strove that passion to allay, 1815.

[100] 1837.

The like endeavours 1815.

[101] 1837.

From cloudless ether looking down,
The Moon, this tranquil evening, sees 1815.

[102] 1837.

... with moors between,
Hill-tops, and floods, and forests green, 1815.

[103] 1827.

The silver smoke, and mounts in wreaths. 1815.

[104] 1827.

Had ... 1815.

[105] 1837.

The same fair Creature which was nigh
Feeding in tranquillity,
When Francis uttered to the Maid 1815.
... who was nigh 1820.

[106] Lines 40-43 were added in 1837.

[107] 1836.

But where at this still hour is she,
The consecrated Emily?
Even while I speak, behold the Maid
Emerging from the cedar shade 1815.

[108] In the editions of 1815 to 1832, the paragraph ends with this line. The remaining nine lines in these editions are added to the following paragraph.

[109] 1837.

Yet the meek Creature was not free,
Erewhile, from some perplexity:
For thrice hath she approached, this day,
The thought-bewildered Emily;
Endeavouring, in her gentle way,
Some smile or look of love to gain,—
Encouragement to sport or play;
Attempts which by the unhappy Maid
Have all been slighted or gainsaid. 1815.

[110] 1837.

—O welcome to the viewless breeze!
'Tis fraught with acceptable feeling,
And instantaneous sympathies
Into the Sufferer's bosom stealing;—
Ere she hath reached yon rustic Shed 1815.
Yet is she soothed: the viewless breeze
Comes fraught with kindlier sympathies:
Ere she hath reached yon rustic Shed 1827.
Ere she had reached ... 1832.

[111] 1837.

Revives ... 1815.

[112] 1837.

... —'tis that bless'd Saint 1815.

[113] 1837.

Thou Spirit ... 1815.

[114] 1837.

Descend on Francis:—through the air
Of this sad earth to him repair,
Speak to him with a voice, and say,
"That he must cast despair away!" 1815.

[115] Italics and capitals were first used in the edition of 1820.

[116] 1837.

—She knows, she feels it, and is cheared;
At least her present pangs are checked. 1815.

[117] 1837.

—And now an ancient Man appeared,
Approaching her with grave respect.
Down the smooth walk which then she trod
He paced along the silent sod,
And greeting her thus gently spake, 1815.
—But now ... 1827.

[118] 1837.

In friendship;—go—from him—from me—
Strive to avert this misery. 1815.

[119] 1837.

—If prudence offer help or aid,
On you is no restriction laid; 1815.

[120] 1837.

"Hope," said the Sufferer's zealous Friend,
"Must not forsake us till the end.— 1815.

[121] 1837.

... may have the skill ... 1815.

[122] 1837.

Their flight the fair Moon may not see;
For, from mid-heaven, already she 1815.

[123] 1837.

... haughty ... 1815.

[124] Italics were first used in 1837.

[125] 1837.

... to the cause. 1815.

[126] 1837.

They shout aloud—but Heaven decreed
Another close
To that brave deed
Which struck ... 1815.

[127] 1820.

... spreads ... 1815.

[128] 1820.

... and as seldom free 1815.

[129] 1820.

And from the heat of the noon-tide sun, 1815.

[130] 1837.

They to the Watch-tower did repair,
Commodious Pleasure-house! and there 1815.

[131] 1837.

He was the proudest ... 1815.

[132]

Dead are they, they were doomed to die;
The Sons and Father all are dead,
All dead save One; and Emily
No more shall seek this Watch-tower high,
To look far forth with anxious eye,—
She is relieved from hope and dread,
Though suffering in extremity.

Inserted only in the edition of 1815.

[133] Italics were first used in 1820.

[134] 1837. In the editions of 1815-32 the following passage took the place of this line:—

She turned to him, who with his eye
Was watching her while on the height
She sate, or wandered restlessly,
O'erburdened by her sorrow's weight;
To him who this dire news had told,
And now beside the Mourner stood;

[135] 1837.

Then on this place the Maid had sought:
And told, as gently as could be,
The end of that sad Tragedy, 1815.

[136] These two lines were added in 1827.

[137] 1827.

... the people cried, 1815.

[138] 1837.

For sake of ... 1815.

[139] 1837.

He rose not in this quarrel, he
His Father and his Brothers wooed,
Both for their own and Country's good,
To rest in peace—he did divide, 1815.

[140] 1820.

To scatter gleams ... 1815.

[141] 1837.

... of ancient love,
But most, compassion for your fate,
Lady! for your forlorn estate,
Me did these move, and I made bold,
And entrance gained to that strong-hold. 1815.
... of ancient love;
And, in your service, I made bold—
And entrance gained to that strong-hold. 1820.

[142] 1837.

... 'We need not stop, my Son!
But I will end what is begun;
'Tis matter which I do not fear
To entrust to any living ear.' 1815.

[143] 1820.

Had seen ... 1815.

[144] 1837.

Glad ... 1815.

[145] 1837.

... be not 1815.

[146] 1837.

... beauteous 1815.

[147] 1837.

Then Francis answered fervently,
"If God so will, the same shall be." 1815.

[148] 1837.

Immediately, this solemn word 1815.

[149] 1837.

... had reached the door,
The Banner which a Soldier bore,
One marshalled thus with base intent
That he in scorn might go before,
And, holding up this monument, 1815.

[150] 1837.

... that were round 1815.

[151] 1837.

This insult, and the Banner saved,
That moment, from among the tide 1815.

[152] 1837.

Bore unobserved ... 1815.

[153] 1820.

... to encourage ... 1815.

[154] 1837.

"Yet, yet in this affliction," said
The old Man to the silent Maid,
"Yet, Lady! heaven is good—the night
Shews yet a Star which is most bright; 1815.

[155] 1837.

Why comes not Francis?—Joyful chear
In that parental gratulation,
And glow of righteous indignation,
Went with him from the doleful City:—
He fled—yet in his flight could hear
The death-sound of the Minster-bell; 1815.

[156] 1837.

With motion fleet as winged Dove; 1815.
... as a wingèd Dove; 1832.

[157] 1837.

An Angel-guest, should he appear. 1815.

[158] 1837.

Along the plain of York he passed;
The Banner-staff was in his hand,
The Imagery concealed from sight,
And cross the expanse, in open flight,
Reckless of what impels or leads,
Unchecked he hurries on;—nor heeds
The sorrow of the Villages;
From the triumphant cruelties 1815.
Spread by triumphant cruelties 1827.
The sorrow through the Villages, 1832.

[159] 1827.

And punishment without remorse,
Unchecked he journies—under law
Of inward occupation strong;
And the first ... 1815.

[160] 1837.

... did he maintain
Within himself, and found no rest;
Calm liberty he could not gain;
And yet the service was unblest. 1815.

[161] 1820.

Raised self-suspicion which was strong,
Swaying the brave Man to his wrong: 1815.

[162] 1837.

Of all-disposing Providence,
Its will intelligibly shewn,
Finds he the Banner in his hand,
Without a thought to such intent,
Or conscious effort of his own?
And no obstruction to prevent
His Father's wish and last command!
And, thus beset, he heaved a sigh;
Remembering his own prophecy
Of utter desolation, made
To Emily in the yew-tree shade:
He sighed, submitting to the power,
The might of that prophetic hour. 1815.

[163] 1837.

... and, on the second day,
He reached a summit whence his eyes 1815.

[164] 1837.

How Francis had the Banner claimed,
And with that charge had disappeared; 1815.

[165] 1837.

Behold the Ensign in his hand! 1815.

[166] 1837.

... freight I bear;
It weakens me, my heart hath bled
Till it is weak—but you beware,
Nor do ... 1815.

[167] 1837.

Which ... 1815.

[168] 1820.

... with a Warrior's brow 1815.

[169] 1845.

... had snatched
A spear,—and with his eyes he watched
Their motions, turning round and round:—
His weaker hand the Banner held;
And straight by savage zeal impelled
Forth rushed a Pikeman, as if he,
Not without harsh indignity,
Would seize the same:—instinctively—
To smite the Offender—with his lance
Did Francis from the brake advance;
But, from behind, a treacherous wound
Unfeeling, brought him to the ground,
A mortal stroke:—oh, grief to tell!
Thus, thus, the noble Francis fell:
There did he lie of breath forsaken;
The Banner from his grasp was taken,
And borne exultingly away;
And the Body was left on the ground where it lay. 1815.
But not before the warm life-blood
Had tinged with searching overflow,
More deeply tinged the embroidered show
Of His whose side was pierced upon the Rood! 1837.

The text of 1837 is otherwise identical with the final version of 1845.

[170] These two lines were added in 1837.

[171] 1837.

Two days, as many nights, he slept
Alone, unnoticed, and unwept;
For at that time distress and fear
Possessed the Country far and near;
The third day, One, who chanced to pass,
Beheld him stretched upon the grass.
A gentle Forester was he,
And of the Norton Tenantry;
And he had heard that by a Train
Of Horsemen Francis had been slain.
Much was he troubled—for the Man
Hath recognized his pallid face;
And to the nearest Huts he ran,
And called the People to the place.
—How desolate is Rylstone-hall!
Such was the instant thought of all;
And if the lonely Lady there
Should be, this sight she cannot bear!
Such thought the Forester express'd,
And all were swayed, and deemed it best
That, if the Priest should yield assent
And join himself to their intent, 1815.

[172] 1837.

That straightway ... 1815.

[173] 1840.

... on a bier
In decency and humble chear;
And psalms are sung with holy sound. 1815.
And psalms they sung—a holy sound
That hill and vale with sadness hear. 1837.

[174] 1827.

Tow'rds ... 1815.

[175] 1820.

... deep ... 1815.

[176] 1820.

... calm ... 1815.

[177] 1845.

The walks and pools neglect hath sown 1815.

[178] 1837.

There is ... 1815.

[179]

There seated, may this Maid be seen,

Inserted in the editions of 1815-1832.

[180] 1827.

... has ... 1815.

[181] 1837.

For, of that band of rushing Deer, 1815.

[182] 1837.

... its ... 1815.
... his ... 1832.

[183] 1837.

... and more near,
Stopped once again;—but, as no trace
Was found of any thing to fear,
Even to her feet the Creature came, 1815.

[184] 1837.

... choicest ... 1815.

[185] 1837.

For both a bounteous, fruitful meeting. 1815.

[186] 1837.

And take this gift of Heaven with grace? 1815.

[187] This line was added in 1837.

[188] 1837.

... this ... 1815.

[189] 1837.

... was there ... 1815.

[190] 1837.

Did she behold—saw once again; 1815.