No More Learning

Another time
That was, when I was here twelve years ago. 1803.

. . . long years ago: 1807.

. . . Far different time
That was, which here I witnessed, long ago; 1820. ]


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FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A: It had appeared in 'The Morning Post', February 26, 1803,
under the initials W. L. D. --Ed. ]





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"IT IS A BEAUTEOUS EVENING, CALM AND FREE"


Composed August, 1802.
--Published 1807


[This was composed on the beach near Calais, in the autumn of 1802. --I.
F. ]

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets. " In 1807 it was No. 19 of that
series. --Ed.




It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, [1]
The holy time is quiet as a Nun
Breathless with adoration; the broad sun
Is sinking down in its tranquillity;
The gentleness of heaven broods o'er the Sea: [2] 5
Listen! [3] the mighty Being is awake,
And doth with his eternal motion make
A sound like thunder--everlastingly.
Dear Child! dear Girl! that walkest with me here, [A]
If thou appear untouched by solemn thought, [4] 10
Thy nature is not therefore less divine:
Thou liest in Abraham's bosom all the year;
And worshipp'st at the Temple's inner shrine,
God being with thee when we know it not. [B]


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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1807.

Air sleeps,--from strife or stir the clouds are free; 1837.

A fairer face of evening cannot be; 1840.

The text of 1845 returns to that of 1807.