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INSCRIPTION FOR THE SPOT WHERE THE HERMITAGE STOOD ON ST. HERBERT’S ISLAND, DERWENT-WATER

Composed 1800.—­Published 1800

Included in 1815 among the “Poems referring to the Period of Old Age,” and in all subsequent editions among the “Inscriptions.”—­Ed.

  If thou in the dear love of some one Friend
  Hast been so happy that thou know’st what thoughts
  Will sometimes in the happiness of love
  Make the heart sink, [A] then wilt thou reverence
  This quiet spot; and, Stranger! not unmoved 5
  Wilt thou behold this shapeless heap of stones,
  The desolate ruins of St. Herbert’s Cell. 
  Here stood his threshold; here was spread the roof
  That sheltered him, a self-secluded Man,
  After long exercise in social cares 10
  And offices humane, intent to adore
  The Deity, with undistracted mind,
  And meditate on everlasting things,
  In utter solitude.—­But he had left
  A Fellow-labourer, whom the good Man loved 15
  As his own soul.  And, when with eye upraised
  To heaven he knelt before the crucifix,
  While o’er the lake the cataract of Lodore
  Pealed to his orisons, and when he paced
  Along the beach of this small isle and thought 20
  Of his Companion, he would pray that both
  (Now that their earthly duties were fulfilled)
  Might die in the same moment.  Nor in vain
  So prayed he:—­as our chronicles report,
  Though here the Hermit numbered his last day 25
  Far from St. Cuthbert his beloved Friend,
  Those holy Men both died in the same hour. [1]

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VARIANT ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1832.

The text of this poem underwent so many changes, which are not easily shown by the plan adopted throughout this edition—­portions of the earliest version of 1800 being abandoned and again adopted, and the whole arrangement of the passages being altered—­that it seems desirable to append the entire text of 1800, and extensive parts of that of subsequent years.  The final text of 1832 is printed above.

  If thou in the dear love of some one friend
  Hast been so happy, that thou know’st what thoughts
  Will, sometimes, in the happiness of love
  Make the heart sink, then wilt thou reverence
  This quiet spot.—­St. Herbert hither came
  And here, for many seasons, from the world
  Remov’d, and the affections of the world
  He dwelt in solitude.  He living here,
  This island’s sole inhabitant! had left
  A Fellow-labourer, whom the good Man lov’d
  As his own soul; and when within his cave
  Alone he knelt before the crucifix