Composed between 1803 and 1805.—­Published 1807

One of the “Poems of the Imagination” in 1815 and 1820.—­Ed.

  Behold her, single [1] in the field,
  Yon solitary Highland Lass! 
  Reaping and singing by herself;
  Stop here, or gently pass! 
  Alone she cuts and binds the grain, 5
  And sings a melancholy strain;
  O listen! for the Vale profound
  Is overflowing with the sound.

  No Nightingale did ever chaunt
  More welcome notes to weary bands [2] 10
  Of travellers in some shady haunt,
  Among Arabian sands: 
  A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard [3]
  In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
  Breaking the silence of the seas [A] 15
  Among the farthest Hebrides.

  Will no one tell me what she sings?—­
  Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
  For old, unhappy, far-off things,
  And battles long ago:  20
  Or is it some more humble lay,
  Familiar matter of to-day? 
  Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
  That has been, and may be again?

  Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang [4] 25
  As if her song could have no ending;
  I saw her singing at her work,
  And o’er the sickle bending;—­
  I listened, motionless and still; [5]
  And, as [6] I mounted up the hill, 30
  The music in my heart I bore,
  Long after it was heard no more.

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1807.

  ... singing ...

MS.]

[Variant 2: 

1827.

  So sweetly to reposing bands 1807.]

[Variant 3: 

1837.

  No sweeter voice was ever heard 1807.

  ... sound ...  MS.

  Such thrilling voice was never heard 1827.]

[Variant 4: 

1815.

  ... sung 1807.]

[Variant 5: 

1820.

  I listen’d till I had my fill:  1807.]

[Variant 6: 

1807.

  And when ... 1827.

The text of 1837 returns to that of 1807.]

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  Compare ’The Ancient Mariner’(part ii. stanza 6): 

  ’And we did speak only to break
  The silence of the sea.’

Ed.]

The following is from Dorothy Wordsworth’s ‘Recollections’ of the Tour:  13th Sept. 1803.