Remote from men, Thou dost not need
  The embarrassed look of shy distress, 30
  And maidenly shamefacedness: 
  Thou wear’st upon thy forehead clear
  The freedom of a Mountaineer: 
  A face with gladness overspread! 
  Soft smiles, [6] by human kindness bred! 35
  And seemliness complete, that sways
  Thy courtesies, about thee plays;
  With no restraint, but such as springs
  From quick and eager visitings
  Of thoughts that lie beyond the reach 40
  Of thy few words of English speech: 
  A bondage sweetly brooked, a strife
  That gives thy gestures grace and life! 
  So have I, not unmoved in mind,
  Seen birds of tempest-loving kind—­45
  Thus beating up against the wind.

    What hand but would a garland cull
  For thee who art so beautiful? 
  O happy pleasure! here to dwell
  Beside thee in some heathy dell; 50
  Adopt your homely ways and dress,
  A Shepherd, thou a Shepherdess! 
  But I could frame a wish for thee
  More like a grave reality: 
  Thou art to me but as a wave 55
  Of the wild sea; and I would have
  Some claim upon thee, if I could,
  Though but of common neighbourhood. 
  What joy to hear thee, and to see! 
  Thy elder Brother I would be, 60
  Thy Father—­anything to thee! [B]

    Now thanks to Heaven! that of its grace
  Hath led me to this lonely place. 
  Joy have I had; and going hence
  I bear away my recompence. 65
  In spots like these it is we prize
  Our Memory, feel that she hath eyes: 
  Then, why should I be loth to stir? 
  I feel this place was made for her;
  To give new pleasure like the past, 70
  Continued long as life shall last. 
  Nor am I loth, though pleased at heart,
  Sweet Highland Girl! from thee to part;
  For I, methinks, till I grow old,
  As fair before me shall behold, 75
  As I do now, the cabin small,
  The lake, the bay, the waterfall;
  And Thee, the Spirit of them all!

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1837.

  ... this ... 1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1827.

  In truth together ye do seem 1807.

  In truth, unfolding thus, ye seem 1837.

The text of 1845 returns to that of 1827.]

[Variant 3:  The two preceding lines were added in 1845.]

[Variant 4: 

1845.

  Yet, dream and vision ... 1807.

  ... or vision ... 1837.]

[Variant 5: 

1845.