The world, for so it thought,
Owed him no service: he was like a plant
Fair to the sun, the darling of the winds,
But hung with fruit which no one, that passed by,
Regarded, and, his spirit damped at once,
With
indignation
did he turn away 1800.
Wordsworth - 1
--Ed.
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1832.
What if these barren boughs the bee not loves; 1798.]
[Variant 2:
1836.
First covered o'er, and taught this aged tree, 1798.]
[Variant 3:
1800.
Now wild, to bend its arms in circling shade, 1798.]
[Variant 4:
1802.
... In youth, by genius nurs'd,
And big with lofty views, he to the world
Went forth, pure in his heart, against the taint
Of dissolute tongues, 'gainst jealousy, and hate,
And scorn, against all enemies prepared,
All but neglect: and so, his spirit damped
At once, with rash disdain he turned away, 1798.
...
The world, for so it thought,
Owed him no service: he was like a plant
Fair to the sun, the darling of the winds,
But hung with fruit which no one, that passed by,
Regarded, and, his spirit damped at once,
With
indignation
did he turn away 1800.
]
[Variant 5:
1798.
The stone-chat, or the sand-lark, restless Bird
Piping along the margin of the lake; 1815.
The text of 1820 returned to that of 1798. [i]]
[Variant 6:
1820.
And on these barren rocks, with juniper,
And heath, and thistle, thinly sprinkled o'er. 1798.]
