1801

Wordsworth's Poetical Works, Volume 2: 1801

Edited by William Knight

1896

Table of Contents

• 1801
• The Sparrow's Nest
• "Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side"
• Selections from Chaucer Modernised
• The Prioress' Tale
• The Cuckoo and the Nightingale
• Troilus and Cresida

The Sparrow's Nest, and the sonnet on Skiddaw, along with some translations from Chaucer, belong to the year 1801. During this year, however, The Excursion was in progress. In its earlier stages, and before the plan of 'The Recluse' was matured, the introductory part was familiarly known, and talked of in the Wordsworth household, by the name of "The Pedlar." The following extracts from Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal of 1801 will show the progress that was being made with it:

"Dec. 21.—Wm. sate beside me, and wrote The Pedlar.

22nd.—W. composed a few lines of The Pedlar.

23rd.— William worked at The Ruined Cottage" (this was the name of the first part of 'The Excursion', in which The Pedlar was included), "and made himself very ill," etc.

Ed.

Contents 1801
Main Contents