The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 540 pages of information about The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 1.
fire is dead, and snowy white 55
            The water which beside it stood: 
            The wolf has come to me to-night,
            And he has stolen away my food. 
            For ever left alone am I;
            Then wherefore should I fear to die? 60

VII [12] Young as I am, my course is run, [13]
            I shall not see another sun;
            I cannot lift my limbs to know
            If they have any life or no. 
            My poor forsaken Child, if I 65
            For once could have thee close to me,
            With happy heart I then would die,
            And my last thought would happy be; [14]
            But thou, dear Babe, art far away,
            Nor shall I see another day. [15] 70

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1798.

    The stars were mingled with my dreams; 1815.

The text of 1836 returns to that of 1798.]

[Variant 2: 

1820.

    In sleep did I behold the skies, 1798.]

[Variant 3: 

1827.

    I saw the crackling flashes drive; 1798.

    I heard, and saw the flashes drive; 1820.]

[Variant 4: 

1815.

    ... you ... 1798.]

[Variant 5: 

1815.

    Too soon despair o’er me prevailed;
    Too soon my heartless spirit failed; 1798.]

[Variant 6: 

1815.

    ... you ... 1798.]

[Variant 7: 

1845.

    My friends, when you ... 1798.

    ... when ye ... 1815.]

[Variant 8: 

1815.

    A most strange something .... 1798.]

[Variant 9: 

1815.

    ... a little child. 1798.]

[Variant 10: 

1815.

    ... you ... 1798.]

[Variant 11: 

1815.

    You ... 1798.]

[Variant 12:  This stanza was omitted in the editions 1815 to 1832, but restored in 1836.—­Ed.]

[Variant 13: 

1836.

    My journey will be shortly run, 1798.]

[Variant 14: 

1836.

    ...  I then would die,
    And my last thoughts ... 1798.

    ...  I then should die, 1800.]

[Variant 15: 

1836.

    I feel my body die away,
    I shall not see another day. 1798.]

* * * * *

THE LAST OF THE FLOCK

Composed 1798.—­Published 1798.

  [Produced at the same time as ‘The Complaint’, and for the same
  purpose.  The incident occurred in the village of Holford, close by
  Alfoxden.—­I.  F.]

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The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 1 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.