"Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale"A

Composed September 25, 1803.—Published 1815

The Poem

[This was actually composed the last day of our tour between Dalston and Grasmere.—I. F.]

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets" in 1815 and 1820. —Ed.

The Poem

text variant footnote line number

Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale!
Say that we come, and come by this day's light;
Fly upon swiftest wing round field and height,
But chiefly let one Cottage hear the tale;
There let a mystery of joy prevail,
The kitten frolic, like a gamesome sprite,
And Rover whine, as at a second sight
Of near-approaching good that shall not fail:
And from that Infant's face let joy appear;
Yea, let our Mary's one companion child—
That hath her six weeks' solitude beguiled
With intimations manifold and dear,
While we have wandered over wood and wild—
Smile on his Mother now with bolder cheer.

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Variant 1:

1837

Fly, some kind Spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale!

1815

... dale,

1827

Variant 2:

1837

Glad tidings!—spread them over field and height;

1815

Variant 3:

1837

The Kitten frolic with unruly might,

1815

The happy Kitten bound with frolic might,

1827

Footnote A:

In the editions of 1815 and 1820, this poem bore the title, On approaching Home, after a Tour in Scotland, 1803,—Ed.

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Note:

"Sunday, September 25, 1803.—A beautiful autumnal day. Breakfasted at a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld; arrived at home between eight and nine o'clock, where we found Mary in perfect health, Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the clothes-basket by the fire."

(From Dorothy Wordsworth's Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland, 1803.)—Ed.

Contents 1803
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