And shine in quietness secure, On the mossy bank by the cottage door, As safe as on the loneliest moor. In the play, or on the hill, Everything is hushed and still; The clouds show here and there a spot Of a star that twinkles not, The air as in ... From a MS. copy of the poem in Henry Crabb Robinson's 'Diary, etc'. 1812. 185 Now that the children's busiest schemes Do all lie buried in blank sleep, Or only live in stirring dreams, The glow-worms fearless watch may keep; Rich prize as their bright lamps would be, They shine, a quiet company, On mossy bank by cottage-door, As safe as on the loneliest moor. In hazy straits the clouds between, And in their stations twinkling not, Some thinly-sprinkled stars are seen, Each changed into a pallid spot. 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 3: 1836. The mountains rise to wond'rous height, And in the heavens there is a weight; 1819. And in the heavens there hangs a weight; 1827. In the editions of 1819 to 1832, these two lines follow the line "Like the stifling of disease."] 186 [Variant 4: 1819. ... faint ... 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 5: 1819. But welcome dews ... 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 6: 1819. ... or ... 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] 187 [Variant 7: 1819. Listen! you can hardly hear! Now he has left the lower ground, And up the hill his course is bending, With many a stop and stay ascending;--1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 8: 1836. And now ... 1819.] [Variant 9: 1836. Gathering ... 1819.] [Variant 10: 1819. 188 No;--him infirmities beset, But danger is not near him yet; 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 11: 1836. is he secure; 1819.] [Variant 12: 1836. full well 1819.] [Variant 13: 1836. Uncouth although the object be, An image of perplexity; Yet not the less it is our boast, 1819.] 189 [Variant 14: 1827. ... I frame ... 1819.] [Variant 15: 1836 And never was my heart more light. 1819.] [Variant 16: 1836. ... will bless ... 1819.] [Variant 17: 1836. ... delight, ... 1819.] 190 [Variant 18: 1836. Good proof of this the Country gain'd, One day, when ye were vex'd and strain'd-- Entrusted to another's care, And forc'd unworthy stripes to bear. 1819.] [Variant 19: 1836. (Expanding four lines into six.) Here was it--on this rugged spot Which now contented with our lot We climb--that piteously abused Ye plung'd in anger and confused: 1819.] [Variant 20: 1836. ... in your ... 1819.] [Variant 21: 191 1836. The ranks were taken with one mind; 1819.] [Variant 22: 1819. Our road be, narrow, steep, and rough; 1836. The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.] [Variant 23: 1836. large drops upon his head 1819.] [Variant 24: 1836. He starts-and, at the admonition, Takes a survey of his condition. 1819.] 192 [Variant 25: 1836. A huge and melancholy room, 1819.] [Variant 26: 1836. ... on high ... 1819.] [Variant 27: 1836. The previous four lines were added in the edition of 1820, where they read as follows: And suddenly a ruffling breeze (That would have sounded through the trees Had aught of sylvan growth been there) Was felt throughout the region bare: 1820.] [Variant 28: 1836. By peals of thunder, clap on clap! And many a terror-striking flash;-- 193 And somewhere, as it seems, a crash, 1819.] [Variant 29: 1820. And rattling ... 1819,] [Variant 30: 1836. (Compressing six lines into four.) The voice, to move commiseration, Prolong'd its earnest supplication-- "This storm that beats so furiously-- This dreadful place! oh pity me!" While this was said, with sobs between, And many tears, by one unseen; 1819.] [Variant 31: 1845. And Benjamin, without further question, Taking her for some way-worn rover, 1819. 194 And, kind to every way-worn rover, Benjamin, without a question, 1836.] [Variant 32: 1820. ... trouble ... 1819.] [Variant 33: 1845. And to a little tent hard by Turns the Sailor instantly; 1819. And to his tent-like domicile, Built in a nook with cautious skill, The Sailor turns, well pleased to spy His shaggy friend who stood hard by Drenched--and, more fast than with a tether, Bound to the nook by that fierce weather, Which caught the vagrants unaware:
For, when, ere closing-in ... 1836.]
195
[Variant 34:
1836.
Had tempted ... 1819.]
[Variant 35:
1836.
Proceeding with an easy mind;
While he, who had been left behind, 1819.]
[Variant 36:
1820.
Who neither heard nor saw--no more Than if he had been deaf and blind, Till, startled by the Sailor's roar, 1819.]
[Variant 37:
1819.
That blew us hither! dance, boys, dance!
196
Rare luck for us! my honest soul,
I'll treat thee to a friendly bowl!" 1836.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.]
[Variant 38:
1836.
