No More Learning

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1801


'The Sparrow's Nest', and the sonnet on Skiddaw, along with some
translations from Chaucer, belong to the year 1801. During this year,
however, 'The Excursion' was in progress. In its earlier stages, and
before the plan of 'The Recluse' was matured, the introductory part was
familiarly known, and talked of in the Wordsworth household, by the name
of "The Pedlar. " The following extracts from Dorothy Wordsworth's
Journal of 1801 will show the progress that was being made with it:

"Dec. 21. --Wm. sate beside me, and wrote 'The Pedlar. ' 22nd. --W.
composed a few lines of 'The Pedlar. ' 23rd. --William worked at 'The
Ruined Cottage'" (this was the name of the first part of 'The
Excursion', in which 'The Pedlar' was included), "and made himself
very ill," etc.

Ed.





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THE SPARROW'S NEST


Composed 1801. --Published 1807


[Written in the orchard, Town-end, Grasmere.
At the end of the garden of
my father's house at Cockermouth was a high terrace that commanded a
fine view of the river Derwent and Cockermouth Castle. This was our
favourite play-ground. The terrace wall, a low one, was covered with
closely-clipt privet and roses, which gave an almost impervious shelter
to birds who built their nests there. The latter of these stanzas [A]
alludes to one of those nests. --I. F. ]

This poem was first published in the series entitled "Moods of my own
Mind," in 1807. In 1815 it was included among the "Poems founded on the
Affections," and in 1845 was transferred to the "Poems referring to the
Period of Childhood. "--Ed.




Behold, within the leafy shade,
Those bright blue eggs together laid!
On me the chance-discovered sight
Gleamed like a vision of delight. [1]
I started--seeming to espy 5
The home and sheltered bed,
The Sparrow's dwelling, which, hard by
My Father's house, in wet or dry
My sister Emmeline and I
Together visited. 10

She looked at it and seemed to fear it;
Dreading, tho' wishing, to be near it: [2]
Such heart was in her, being then
A little Prattler among men.
The Blessing of my later years 15
Was with me when a boy:
She gave me eyes, she gave me ears;
And humble cares, and delicate fears;
A heart, the fountain of sweet tears;
And love, and thought, and joy. 20



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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1815.

Look, five blue eggs are gleaming there!