VARIANTS:

[417] 1836.

Sight of a large and populous Vale—Solitary consents to go
1814.
forward—Vale described—

[418] 1836.

1814.
The Church-yard—
[419] Apology for the Rite—
First inserted in the edition of 1836.

[420] 1836.

1814.
What sensations they excite—

[421] 1827.

And guardian rocks!—With unreverted eyes
1814.
I cannot pass thy bounds, attractive Seat!

[422]

MS.
Open, to ...

[423] 1836.

Upon the side
Of that brown ridge, sole outlet of the Vale,
1814.
Lingering
1827.
Of that brown Slope, ...

[424] 1836.

... of a troubled World.
And now, pursuing leisurely my way,
1814.
How vain, thought I, it is by change of place

[425] 1827.

1814.
... tenor ...

[426] 1845.

1814.
Obscurity, and calm forgetfulness.

[427] 1814.

1827.
With ever-welcome ...

The text of 1836 returns to that of 1814.

[428] 1836.

1814.
By ...

[429] 1845.

1814.
From which the road ...

[430] 1827.

To that injunction, earnestly expressed,
1814.
He yielded, ...

[431] 1845.

A popular equality doth seem
Here to prevail; and yet a House of State
Stands yonder, one beneath whose roof, methinks,
A rural Lord might dwell." "No feudal pomp,"
Replied our Friend, a Chronicler who stood
Where'er he moved upon familiar ground,
"Nor feudal power is there; but there abides,
1814.
In his allotted Home a genuine Priest,
A popular equality reigns here
Save for one House of State beneath whose roof
1827.
A rural Lord ...

[432] 1827.

Under his spiritual sway, collected round him
1814.
In this sequestered Realm. He hath vouchsafed

[433] 1827.

1814.
... his ...

[434] 1827.

This good to reap, these pleasures to secure,
1814.
Hither, ...

[435] 1836.

... This deep vale
Is lengthened out by many a winding reach,
Not visible to us; and one of these
A turretted manorial Hall adorns;
In which the good Man's Ancestors have dwelt
From age to age, the Patrons of this Cure.
1814.
To them, and to his decorating hand,
MS.
To them, and to his own judicious hand,
... This deep vale
1827.
Winds far in reaches hidden from our eyes,

[436] 1827.

1814.
... in ...

[437] 1836.

1814.
... halting, ...

[438] 1827.

1814.
Not framed to ...
MS.
Nor shaped in ...

[439] 1845.

1814.
... in some thick grove,
1827.
... mid some thick grove,

[440] 1845.

... the chancel only shewed
Some inoffensive marks of earthly state
1814.
And vain distinction....
The Chancel only shewed
So privileged of yore, without offence
To piety, some marks of earthly state
And vain distinction,
Allowed by ancient privilege; though in sooth
With the pure sanctity the place should breathe
But ill according. A capacious pew
Of sculptured oak stood here, with drapery lined
And curtained closely round. Obnoxious less
To blame or unavoidable regret,
A high fixed hatchment, time-discoloured, told
C.
Of man's mortality and its own decay.
Some vain distinctions, an heraldic shield,
In tincture varying as the sun might shine,
Imbued its eastern window, and aloft
A faded hatchment hung, and one by time
C.
Yet undiscoloured, marks of earthly state.

[441] 1827.

1814.
Upon the walls; ...

[442] 1845.

1814.
Without reluctance did we pay; and read
C.
We paid to each with due respect,

[443] 1827.

... and for this
1814.
Yet more endeared to him, ...

[444] 1836.

1814.
As unconcerned as when he plants a tree?

[445] 1836.

1814.
... by his voice

[446] 1845.

... images and thoughts,
And from the company of serious words.
1814.
Much, yesterday, ...
And from the company of serious words,
Which then were silent; but crave utterance now.
Much," he continued, with dejected looks,
1836.
"Much, yesterday, ...

[447] 1827.

1814.
At its ...

[448] 1836.

1814.
With tiny fingers, ...

[449] 1845.

1814.
... unblest ...
1827.
... humblest ...

[450] 1827.

1814.
... tow'rds ...

[451] 1836.

1814.
... doth a while sustain,

[452] 1845.

1814.
... and ...

[453] 1845.

1814.
Whom the best might of Conscience, Truth, and Hope,

[454] 1845.

1814.
Foretelling total Winter, blank and cold.
1840.
Foretelling aged Winter's dreary sway.
C.
Prelude to coming Winter's desolate sway.

[455] 1827.

1814.
... adorn

[456] 1827.

1814.
Do tend their flocks, These share Man's general lot

[457] 1836.

1814.
Perchance, guilt's heavier woes; and do not feel

[458] 1827.

1814.
... tow'rds ...

[459] 1836.

Could have transferred him to his lonely House
1814.
Within the circuit of those guardian rocks.

[460] 1836.

1814.
... gentler ...

[461] 1827.

1814.
... full ...

[462] 1836.

Thus truth is missed, and comprehension fails;
1814.
And darkness ...

[463] 1836.

1814.
... and ...

[464] 1827.

1814.
... or ...

[465] 1820.

1814.
... forbidding ...

The texts of 1827 to 1843 and that of 1847 return to the text of 1814.

[466] 1836.

... or approached.
Permit me," said the Priest continuing, "here
To use an illustration of my thought,
Drawn from the very spot on which we stand.
—In changeful April, when, as he is wont,
Winter has reassumed a short lived sway
And whitened all the surface of the fields,
If—from the sullen region of the North
Towards the circuit of this holy ground
Your walk conducts you, ere the vigorous sun,
High climbing, hath attained his noon-tide height—
1814.
These Mounds, ...
Thus, when in changeful April snow has fallen,
And fields are white, if from the sullen north
Your walk conduct you hither, ere the Sun
Hath gained his noontide height, this churchyard, filled
1827.
With mounds ...
MS.
... ere vigorous sun

[467] 1827.

1814.
A dreary plain of unillumined snow,

[468] 1827.

... Go forward, and look back;
On the same circuit of this church-yard ground
1814.
Look, ...

[469] 1836.

Hopeful and cheerful:—vanished is the snow,
1814.
Vanished or hidden; ...

[470] 1827.

1814.
A ...

[471] 1827.

1814.
And ...

[472] 1836.

1814.
... spade, and shepherd's simple crook,

[473] 1827.

... where You have long
Held spiritual sway, have guided and consoled,
1814.
And watched the outward course and inner heart.

[474] Italics were first used in 1827.

[475] 1827.

1814.
... it ...

[476] 1845.

1814.
And on the bosom of the mountain dwell—

[477] 1836.

... above the chimney top;
1814.
In shape, in size, and colour, an abode
... above the chimney top:
1827.
A rough abode—in colour, shape, and size,

[478] 1814.

Few only in the scale of culture, hold
C.
Among my flock ...

[479] 1845.

1814.
But humbleness of heart descends from heaven;

[480] 1827.

1814.
... those ...

[481] 1836.

A lone way-faring Man, I once was brought.
Dark on my road the autumnal evening fell
1814.
While I was traversing yon mountain-pass,

[482] 1814.

C.
And with the night succeeded a thick gloom,

[483] 1845.

1814.
So that my feet and hands at length became

[484] 1827.

1814.
Said I, ...

[485] 1836.

1814.
... open ...

[486] 1827.

... which the lofty Site,
Far from all public road or beaten way
1814.
And traversed only by a few faint paths,

[487] 1832.

(Such chance is rare) detains him till the night
Falls black upon the hills. "But come," she said,
"Come let me lead you to our poor Abode.
Behind those rocks it stands, as if it shunned,
In churlishness, the eye of all mankind;
But the few Guests who seek the door receive
1814.
Most hearty welcome."— ...
Detains him after his accustomed hour
1827.
When night lies black upon the hills. 'But come,

[488] 1827.

1814.
... Before ...

[489] 1845.

But more was given; the eye, the mind, the heart,
Found exercise in noting, as we sate
By the bright fire, the good Man's face—composed
1814.
Of features elegant; ...
1827.
But more was given; I studied as we sate

[490] 1836.

1814.
... these ...

[491] 1814.

Sweetened for me our mutual good night
Nor left me on a lonely pillow stretched
C.
Till slumber had given way to dreamless sleep.

[492] 1814.

C.
... God's ...

[493] 1820.

1814.
... nor seldom ...

[494] 1845.

"—But, above all, my Thoughts are my support."
1814.
The Matron ended— ...

[495] 1827.

1814.
... the ...

[496] 1836.

1814.
... for ...

[497] 1832.

1814.
... beneath ...

[498] 1827.

... so plentiful, as mine!"
See, in this well conditioned Soul, a Third
To match with your good Couple that put forth
Their homely graces on the mountain side.
1814.
But ...

[499] 1832.

1814.
... could feelingly ...

[500] 1845.

1814.
... mysteriously-consorted Pair

[501] 1814.

C.
... and therewith

[502] 1845.

1814.
... is ...
1836.
... yields ...

[503] 1836.

A rueful sight the wild shore strewn with wrecks
And trod by people in afflicted quest
1814.
Of friends and kindred, ...

[504] 1836.

1814.
Did lodge, in an appropriated spot,

[505] 1836.

1814.
... and others, who allowed

[506] 1814.

Are here deposited as the like shall be
C.
Through ages yet to come.

[507] 1827.

1814.
... framed to high ...

[508] 1814.

C.
... upward can ...

[509] 1836.

1814.
... and ...

FOOTNOTES:

[FY] With this compare The Prelude, book i. line 463 (vol. iii. p. 146)—

Till all was tranquil as a dreamless sleep.

[FZ] The "semicirque of turf-clad ground," where the conversations recorded in books iii. and iv. had been carried on.—ED.

[GA] Towards Little Langdale.—ED.

[GB] See Matthew Arnold's address as President of the Wordsworth Society, in its Transactions for the year 1883.—ED.

[GC] The sledge used for bringing down peats or bracken from the uplands. The "sledge" has not yet entirely given way to the "wheel," many of the Westmoreland peasants still using it, when bringing down their winter stores of fuel and bedding, as they do in Norway.—ED.

[GD] The vale of Little Langdale.—ED.

[GE] "After we quit his cottage, passing over a low ridge, we descend into another vale, that of Little Langdale, towards the head of which stands embowered, or partly shaded by yews and other trees, something between a cottage and a mansion, or gentleman's house, such as they once were in this country. This I convert into the parsonage, and at the same time, and as by the waving of a magic wand, I turn the comparatively confined vale of Langdale, its tarn, and the rude chapel which once adorned the valley, into the stately and comparatively spacious vale of Grasmere and its ancient parish church."—I. F.

The Fenwick note is not quite clear as to the relation of Hackett to Blea Tarn Cottage. Dr. Cradock thinks that "Wordsworth meant that his description of the cottage was borrowed from Hackett (which he frequently visited), so far at least as the solitary clock, and the cottage stairs, and the dark and low apartments were concerned."—ED.