Linenotes

Title] To W. Wordsworth. Lines Composed, for the greater part on the Night, on which he finished the recitation of his Poem (in thirteen Books) concerning the growth and history of his own Mind, Jan. 7, 1807, Cole-orton, near Ashby de la Zouch MS. W.: To William Wordsworth. Composed for the greater part on the same night after the finishing of his recitation of the Poem in thirteen Books, on the Growth of his own Mind MS. B.: To a Gentleman, &c. S. L. 1828, 1829.

O Friend! O Teacher! God's great gift to me! MSS. W., B.

Between 5-13

Of thy own Spirit, thou hast lov'd to tell
What may be told, to th' understanding mind
Revealable; and what within the mind
May rise enkindled. Theme as hard as high!
Of Smiles spontaneous and mysterious Fear.

MS. W.

Of thy own spirit thou hast loved to tell
What may be told, by words revealable;
With heavenly breathings, like the secret soul
Of vernal growth, oft quickening in the heart,
Thoughts that obey no mastery of words,
Pure self-beholdings! theme as hard as high,
Of smiles spontaneous and mysterious fear.

MS. B.

By vital breathings like the secret soul S. L. 1828.

Or by interior power MS. W: Or by some central breath MS. Letter, 1815.

inner] hidden MSS. W., B.

Between 17-41

Mid festive crowds, thy Brows too garlanded,
A Brother of the Feast: of Fancies fair,
Hyblaean murmurs of poetic Thought,
Industrious in its Joy, by lilied Streams
Native or outland, Lakes and famous Hills!
Of more than Fancy, of the Hope of Man
Amid the tremor of a Realm aglow—
Where France in all her Towns lay vibrating
Ev'n as a Bark becalm'd on sultry seas
Beneath the voice from Heav'n, the bursting crash
Of Heaven's immediate thunder! when no cloud
Is visible, or Shadow on the Main!
Ah! soon night roll'd on night, and every Cloud
Open'd its eye of Fire: and Hope aloft
Now flutter'd, and now toss'd upon the storm
Floating! Of Hope afflicted and struck down
Thence summoned homeward—homeward to thy Heart,
Oft from the Watch-tower of Man's absolute self,
With light, &c.

MS. W.

social sense MS. B.

Distending, and of man MS. B.

[29-30]

Even as a bark becalm'd on sultry seas
Quivers beneath the voice from Heaven, the burst

MS. B.

Ev'n as a bark becalm'd beneath the burst

MS. Letter, 1815, S. L. 1828.

thine] thy MS. B., MS. Letter, 1815.

a full-born] an arméd MS. B.

Of that dear hope afflicted and amazed MS. Letter, 1815.

So homeward summoned MS. Letter, 1815.

As from the watch-tower MS. B.

controlling] ? impelling, ? directing MS. W.

[45-6]

Virtue and Love—an Orphic Tale indeed
A Tale divine

MS. W.

song] tale MS. B.

song] tale MS. B. thoughts] truths MS. Letter, 1815.

[47-9]

Ah! great Bard
Ere yet that last swell dying aw'd the air
With stedfast ken I viewed thee in the choir

MS. W.

that] the MS. B.

With steadfast eyes I saw thee MS. B.

for they, both power and act MS. B.

them] them S. L. 1828, 1829.

for them, they in it S. L. 1828, 1829.

lay] song MSS. W., B.

lay] song MSS. W., B.

foll.

Dear shall it be to every human heart,
To me how more than dearest! me, on whom
Comfort from thee, and utterance of thy love,
Came with such heights and depths of harmony,
Such sense of wings uplifting, that the storm
Scatter'd and whirl'd me, till my thoughts became
A bodily tumult; and thy faithful hopes,
Thy hopes of me, dear Friend! by me unfelt!
Were troublous to me, almost as a voice,
Familiar once, and more than musical;
To one cast forth, whose hope had seem'd to die
A wanderer with a worn-out heart
Mid strangers pining with untended wounds.
O Friend, too well thou know'st, of what sad years
The long suppression had benumb'd my soul,
That even as life returns upon the drown'd,
The unusual joy awoke a throng of pains—
Keen pangs, &c.

MSS. B, W with the following variants:—

ll. 5-6

Such sense of wings uplifting, that its might
Scatter'd and quell'd me—

MS. B.

ll. 11, 12

As a dear woman's voice to one cast forth
A wanderer with a worn-out heart forlorn.

thee] thee S. L. 1828, 1829.

Strewed] Strewn MS. B., 1828, 1829.

thy] thy S. L. 1828, 1829.

[82-3]

Thou too, Friend!
O injure not the memory of that hour

MS. W.

Thou too, Friend!
Impair thou not the memory of that Hour

MS. B.

Becomes most sweet! hours for their own sake hail'd MS. W.

thy] the MS. B.

my] her MS. B.

and] my MSS. W., B.

Song] lay MS. W.

my] mine MSS. W., B.

Between 107-8

(All whom I deepliest love—in one room all!)

MSS. W., B.