There sometimes doth [2] a leaping fish 25
  Send through the tarn a lonely cheer;
  The crags repeat the raven’s croak, [C]
  In symphony austere;
  Thither the rainbow comes—­the cloud—­
  And mists that spread the flying shroud; 30
  And sunbeams; and the sounding blast,
  That, if it could, would hurry past;
  But that enormous barrier holds [3] it fast.

  Not free from boding thoughts, [4] a while
  The Shepherd stood; then makes his way 35
  O’er rocks and stones, following the Dog [5]
  As quickly as he may;
  Nor far had gone before he found
  A human skeleton on the ground;
  The appalled Discoverer with a sigh [6] 40
  Looks round, to learn the history.

  From those abrupt and perilous rocks
  The Man had fallen, that place of fear! 
  At length upon the Shepherd’s mind
  It breaks, and all is clear:  45
  He instantly recalled the name, [7]
  And who he was, and whence he came;
  Remembered, too, the very day
  On which the Traveller passed this way.

  But hear a wonder, for whose sake 50
  This lamentable tale I tell! [8]
  A lasting monument of words
  This wonder merits well. 
  The Dog, which still was hovering nigh,
  Repeating the same timid cry, 55
  This Dog, had been through three months’ space
  A dweller in that savage place.

  Yes, proof was plain that, since the day
  When this ill-fated Traveller died, [9]
  The Dog had watched about the spot, 60
  Or by his master’s side: 
  How nourished here through such long time
  He knows, who gave that love sublime;
  And gave that strength of feeling, great
  Above all human estimate! 65

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1820.

  From which immediately leaps out
  A Dog, and yelping runs about. 1807.

  And instantly a Dog is seen,
  Glancing from that covert green. 1815.]

[Variant 2: 

1820.

  ... does ... 1807.]

[Variant 3: 

1837.

  binds 1807.]

[Variant 4: 

1815.

  Not knowing what to think 1807.]

[Variant 5: 

1837.

  Towards the Dog, o’er rocks and stones, 1807.]

[Variant 6: 

1815.

  Sad sight! the Shepherd with a sigh 1807.]

[Variant 7: 

  And signs and circumstances dawned
  Till everything was clear;
  He made discovery of his name.  Ms.]

[Variant 8: 

1815.

  But hear a wonder now, for sake
  Of which this mournful Tale I tell! 1807.]