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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1836.

  ... love-sick ... 1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1827.

  ... or ... 1807.]

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“IT IS NO SPIRIT WHO FROM HEAVEN HATH FLOWN”

Composed 1803.—­Published 1807

[Written at Town-end, Grasmere.  I remember the instant my sister S. H., called me to the window of our Cottage, saying, “Look how beautiful is yon star!  It has the sky all to itself.”  I composed the verses immediately.—­I.F.]

This was No.  XIII. of “Moods of my own Mind,” in the edition of 1807.  It was afterwards included among the “Poems of the Imagination.”—­Ed.

  It is no Spirit who from heaven hath flown,
  And is descending on his embassy;
  Nor Traveller gone from earth the heavens to espy! 
  ’Tis Hesperus—­there he stands with glittering crown,
  First admonition that the sun is down! 5
  For yet it is broad day-light:  clouds pass by;
  A few are near him still—­and now the sky,
  He hath it to himself—­’tis all his own. 
  O most ambitious Star! an inquest wrought
  Within me when I recognised thy light; 10
  A moment I was startled at the sight: 
  And, while I gazed, there came to me a thought
  That I might step beyond my natural race
  As thou seem’st now to do; might one day trace [1]
  Some ground not mine; and, strong her strength above, 15
  My Soul, an Apparition in the place,
  Tread there with steps that no one shall reprove! [A]

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VARIANT ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:  1807.

  O most ambitious Star! an inquest wrought
  Within me when I recognised thy light;
  A moment I was startled at the sight: 
  And, while I gazed, there came to me a thought
  That even I beyond my natural race
  Might step as thou dost now:  might one day trace 1815.

  O most ambitious Star! thy Presence brought
  A startling recollection to my mind
  Of the distinguished few among mankind,
  Who dare to step beyond their natural race,
  As thou seem’st now to do:—­nor was a thought
  Denied—­that even I might one day trace 1820.

The text of 1836 returns to that of 1807.]

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FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  Professor Dowden directs attention to the relation between these lines and the poem beginning “If thou indeed derive thy light from Heaven.”—­Ed.]

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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN SCOTLAND