VARIANTS:

[100]

—feelings of the Author at the sight of it—
Inserted from 1814 to 1832.

[101]

—Brief conversation—
Inserted from 1814 to 1832.

[102] 1836

1814.
Quit

[103] 1827.

Than this obscure Itinerant (an obscure,
But a high-souled and tender-hearted Man)
Had skill to draw from many a ramble, far
1814.
And wide protracted, through the tamer ground

[104]

And pathways winding on from farm to farm,
This line appeared only in 1814 and 1820.

[105] 1836.

1814.
... beneath ...

[106] 1827.

1814.
... which ...

[107] 1827.

1814.
... supply:

[108]

Along the field, and in the shady grove;
This line appeared only in 1814 and 1820.

[109] C. and 1845.

—Greetings and smiles we met with all day long
1814.
From faces that he knew; ...

[110] 1845.

1814.
... come from far.

[111] This line was added in 1845.

[112] 1827.

1814.
Wherein his charity ...

[113] 1827.

1814.
... itself ...

[114] 1832.

My Fellow Traveller said with earnest voice,
As if the thought were but a moment old,
That I must yield myself without reserve
1814.
To his disposal. Glad was I of this:
My Fellow traveller claim'd with earnest voice,
As if the thought were but a moment old,
1827.
An absolute dominion for the day.

[115] 1836.

1814.
... and he led towards the hills,

[116] 1827.

Mount slowly, Sun! and may our journey lie
Awhile within the shadow of this hill,
1814.
This friendly hill, a shelter from thy beams!

[117] 1827.

... wish;
And as that wish, with prevalence of thanks
For present good o'er fear of future ill,
1814.
Stole in among the morning's blither thoughts,

[118] 1827.

1814.
... tow'rds ...

[119] 1827.

1814.
... ear, did to the question yield

[120] 1836.

1814.
... and ...

[121] C. and 1845.

1814.
Here would I linger, and ...

[122] 1827.

1814.
... will ...

[123] 1845.

We must proceed—a length of journey yet
1814.
Remains untraced." ...
A length of journey yet remains untrod,
C.
Let us proceed." ...

[124] 1832.

1814.
Towards those craggy summits, ...

[125] 1827.

Upon the humblest ground of social life,
Doth at this day, I trust, the blossoms bear
1814.
Of piety and simple innocence.

[126] 1827.

And, as he shewed in study forward zeal,
All helps were sought, all measures strained, that He,
By due scholastic discipline prepared,
Might to the Ministry be called: which done,
Partly through lack of better hopes—and part
Perhaps incited by a curious mind,
1814.
In early life he undertook the charge

[127] 1827.

1814.
... and, ...

[128] 1845.

... How full their joy,
How free their love! nor did their love decay;
1814.
Nor joy abate, till, pitiable doom!
1827.
... nor did that love decay,
How free their love, till all by death was blasted
In one undreaded year, Death swept away
C.
Two lovely ...

[129] 1845.

... compelled
By pain to turn his thoughts towards the grave,
1814.
And face the regions of Eternity.
... compelled
To commune with the grave soul-sick, and face
C.
With pain ...

[130] 1827.

1814.
The ...

[131] 1827.

... France!
That sudden light had power to pierce the gloom
In which his Spirit, friendless upon earth,
In separation dwelt, and solitude.
1814.
The voice of social transport ...

[132] 1827.

That righteous Cause of freedom did, we know,
1814.
Combine, for one hostility, as friends,

[133] 1827.

1814.
... its ...

[134] 1827.

1814.
... those ...

[135] 1827.

1814.
Which, ...

[136] 1836.

1814.
... he still ...

[137] 1836.

1814.
... such ...

[138] 1827.

1814.
... and ...

[139] 1827.

1814.
... this gone, therewith he lost

[140] 1827.

... hate!
—And thus beset, and finding in himself
Nor pleasure nor tranquillity, at last,
After a wandering course of discontent
1814.
In foreign Lands, and inwardly oppressed

[141] 1845.

1814.
In self-indulging spleen, that doth not want

[142] 1827.

1814.
With which my Fellow-traveller had beguiled

[143] 1827.

Now, suddenly diverging, he began
To climb upon its western side a Ridge
Pathless and smooth, a long and steep ascent;
1814.
As if the object of his quest had been

[144] 1845.

1814.
Of water—or some boastful Eminence,

[145] 1827.

We clomb without a track to guide our steps;
1814.
And, on the summit, reached a heathy plain,
MS.
A steep ascent, and reached at length a dreary plain,

[146]

... region! and I walked
1814.
In weariness: ...

[147] 1827.

1814.
... which ...

[148] 1836.

1814.
... soft it seems to lie,

[149] 1827.

On these and other kindred thoughts intent,
1814.
In silence by my Comrade's side I lay,

[150] 1827.

1814.
... towards the Hut,

[151] 1814.

... These words,
Said my companion, sighing as he spoke,
C.
Were chosen by himself, God rest his soul.

[152] 1845.

1814.
The Wanderer cried, ...

[153] 1814.

C.
He is it not perhaps ...

[154] 1836.

1814.
... upon ...

[155] 1827.

1814.
... in the course I took,

[156] 1827.

... aside!
It was an Entry, narrow as a door;
1814.
A passage whose brief windings opened out

[157] 1827.

1814.
... a single ...

[158] 1827.

Met in an angle, hung a tiny roof,
Or penthouse, which most quaintly had been framed
1814.
By thrusting two rude sticks into the wall

[159] 1827.

Whose simple skill had thronged the grassy floor
1814.
With work of frame less solid, a proud show

[160] 1827.

Who, having entered, carelessly looked round,
1814.
And now would have passed on; when I exclaimed,

[161]1845.

... "Gracious Heaven!"
1814.
The Wanderer cried, "it cannot but be his,

[162]1814.

"It cannot," said the Wanderer, "but be his,
C.
And he is gone!" ...

[163]1827.

... here no doubt
He sometimes played with them; and here hath sate
Far oftener by himself. This Book, I guess,
Hath been forgotten in his careless way;
Left here when he was occupied in mind;
1814.
And by the Cottage Children has been found.

[164]1827.

... things;
Nor, with the knowledge which my mind possessed,
Could I behold it undisturbed: 'tis strange,
I grant, and stranger still had been to see
1814.
The Man, who was its Owner, dwelling here,

[165]1827.

1814.
... the

[166]1827.

1814.
I knew, from the appearance and the dress,

[167]1845.

1814.
A tall and meagre person, in a garb

[168]1827.

Which on a leaf he carried in his hand,
1814.
Strings of ripe currants; ...

[169]1827.

Glad was my Comrade now, though he at first,
I doubt not, had been more surprized than glad.
But now, recovered from the shock and calm,
He soberly advanced; and to the Man
Gave chearful greeting.—Vivid was the light
1814.
Which flashed at this from out the Other's eyes;

[170]1845.

He was all fire: the sickness from his face
1814.
Passed like a fancy that is swept away;

[171]1840.

... more,
1814.
And much of what had vanished was returned,

[172]1827.

1814.
... little

[173]1845.

He knows not why;—but he, perchance, this day,
1814.
Is shedding Orphan's tears; and you yourself

[174] 1836.

... Often have I stopped
When on my way, I could not chuse but stop,
1814.
So much I felt the awfulness of Life,
....Often have I stopped,
1827.
So much I felt the awfulness of life,

The text of 1832 returns to that of 1814.

[175] 1845.

... to its home,
1814.
Its final home in earth....
... to its home,
1836.
Its final home on earth....

[176] 1836.

1814.
... towards the grave

[177] 1827.

... in this Solitude,
(That seems by Nature framed to be the seat
1814.
And very bosom of pure innocence)

[178] 1845.

1814.
In what it values most—the love of God
1827.
In what she values most—the love of God
And more as years are multiplied
C.
With what she most delights in, love of God

[179] 1836.

... Saying this he led
1814.
Towards the Cottage;—homely was the spot;

[180] 1827.

1814.
... Valley's brink

[181] 1827.

1814.
... that ...

[182] 1845.

Was silent; and the solitary clock
1814.
Ticked, as I thought, with melancholy sound.—

[183] 1845.

1814.
We had around us! ...
1827.
Had we around us! ...

[184] 1827.

... moss; and here and there
Lay, intermixed with these, mechanic tools,
1814.
And scraps of paper,—some I could perceive

[185]

MS.
... the ...

[186] 1845.

1814.
... load

[187] 1827.

1814.
... curds, ...

[188] 1832.

Butter that had imbibed a golden tinge,
A hue like that of yellow meadow flowers
1814.
Reflected faintly in a silent pool.
From meadow flowers, hue delicate as theirs
1827.
Faintly reflected in a lingering stream;

[189]

MS.
Became ...

[190] 1827.

"Those lusty Twins on which your eyes are cast,"
1814.
Exclaimed our Host, "if here you dwelt, would be

[191] 1827.

1814.
... frame; ...

[192] 1845.

With brightening face
1814.
The Wanderer heard him speaking thus, and said,
A fall of voice,
Regretted like the Nightingale's last note,
1827.
Had scarcely closed this high-wrought Rhapsody,
C.
Had scarcely closed this strain of thankful rapture,
MS.
Ere with inviting voice ...

[193] 1827.

... unawares
And was forgotten. Let this challenge stand
For my excuse, if what I shall relate
Tire your attention.—Outcast and cut off
1814.
As we seem here, and must have seemed to you

[194] 1845.

1814.
... of ...

[195] 1836.

1814.
... ordinance ...

[196] 1827.

1814.
... was ...

[197]1836.

1814.
... beneath ...

[198]1827.

1814.
useful ...

[199]1827.

1814.
... from mid-noon the rain

[200]1827.

1814.
... mountain

[201]1827.

1814.
Came not, and now perchance upon the Heights