Never Venus or Apollo,
  Pleased a favourite chief to follow
  Through accidents of peace or war,
  In a time of peril threw,
  Round the object of his care,
  Veil of such celestial hue; 1832.

  Never golden-haired Apollo,
  Nor blue-eyed Pallas, nor the Idalian Queen,
  When each was pleased some favourite chief to follow
  Through accidents of peace or war,
  In a perilous moment threw
  Around the object of celestial care
  A veil so rich to mortal view. 1836.

  Never Venus or Apollo,
  Intent some favourite chief to follow
  Through accidents of peace or war,
  Round the object of their care
  In a perilous moment threw
  A veil of such celestial hue.  C.

  Round each object of their care C.]

[Variant 62: 

1819.

  Fails to shield ... 1836.

The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.]

[Variant 63: 

1836.

  Or ... 1819.]

[Variant 64: 

1819.

  If, as he cannot but forebode, 1836.

The text of 1845 returns to that of 1819.]

[Variant 65: 

1836.

  Thou hast loitered ... 1819.]

[Variant 66: 

1836.

  His doubts—­his fears ... 1819.]

[Variant 67: 

1827. (Compressing two lines into one.)

  Sometimes, as in the present case,
  Will show a more familiar face; 1819.

  Or, proud all rivalship to chase,
  Will haunt me with familiar face; 1820.]

[Variant 68: 

1819.

  Or, with milder grace ... 1832.

The edition of 1845 reverts to the text of 1819.]

[Variant 69: 

1836.

  ... window ... 1819.]

[Variant 70:  “Once” ‘italicised’ in 1820 only.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  The title page of the edition of 1819 runs as follows:  The Waggoner, A Poem.  To which are added, Sonnets.  By William Wordsworth.

  “What’s in a NAME?”
  ... 
  “Brutus will start a Spirit as soon as Caesar!”

London, etc. etc., 1819,—­Ed.]

[Footnote B:  See ‘The Seasons’ (Summer), ll. 977-79.—­Ed.]

[Footnote C:  Such is the progress of refinement, this rude piece of self-taught art has been supplanted by a professional production.—­W.  W. 1819.

Mr. William Davies writes to me,