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PDFRising or setting, let the light at least
Find a free entrance to their languid orbs.
And let him, where and when he will, sit down
Beneath the trees, or on a [21] grassy bank
Of highway side, and with the little birds 195
Share his chance-gathered meal; and, finally,
As in the eye of Nature he has lived,
So in the eye of Nature let him die! [E]
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1805.
... eat ... 1800.]
[Variant 2:
1837.
The sauntering horseman-traveller
does not throw
With careless hand ...
1800.]
[Variant 3:
1827.
Towards the aged Beggar turns a look, 1800.]
[Variant 4:
1827.
... and, if perchance 1800.]
[Variant 5:
1800.
... and, evermore, Instead of Nature’s fair variety,] Her ample scope of hill and dale, of clouds And the blue sky, the same short span of earth Is all his prospect. When the little birds Flit over him, if their quick shadows strike Across his path, he does not lift his head Like one whose thoughts have been unsettled. So Brow-bent, his eyes for ever ... MS.]
[Variant 6:
1827.
And never ... 1800.]
[Variant 7:
1800.
... his slow footsteps scarce MS.]
[Variant 8:
1800.
... that the miller’s
dog
Is tired of barking at him.
MS.]
[Variant 9:
1837.
... have ... 1800.]
[Variant 10:
1837.
... and ... 1800.]
[Variant 11: The lines from “Then be assured” to “worthless” were added in the edition of 1837.]
[Variant 12:
1837.
... While thus he creeps
From door to door, ...
1800.]
[Variant 13:
1832.
... itself ... 1800.]
[Variant 14:
1827.
... ; minds like these, 1800.]
[Variant 15:
1827.
This helpless wanderer, have perchance receiv’d, 1800.]
[Variant 16:
1827.
Which ... 1800.]
[Variant 17:
1827.
... and not negligent,
Meanwhile, in any tenderness
of heart
Or act of love ...
1800.]
[Variant 18:
1827.
... chest ... 1800.]
[Variant 19:
1827.
... led ... 1800.]
[Variant 20:
1837.
... if his eyes, which now
Have been so long familiar
with the earth,
No more behold the horizontal
sun 1800.
