Much
converse
do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Historian of my infancy!
William Wordsworth
.
.
1827.
]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: This and the three following lines were placed here in the
edition of 1836. See note to the previous page. --Ed. ]
* * * * *
TO A BUTTERFLY (#1)
Composed March 14, 1802. --Published 1807
[Written in the Orchard, Town-end, Grasmere. My sister and I were parted
immediately after the death of our mother, who died in 1778, both being
very young. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood. "--Ed.
Stay near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart! 5
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!
Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days, 10
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline [A] and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs 15
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her! feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: In the MS. for the edition of 1807 the transcriber (not W.
W. ) wrote "Dorothy. " This, Wordsworth erased, putting in
"Emmeline. "--Ed. ]
The text of this poem was never changed. It refers to days of childhood
spent at Cockermouth before 1778.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: This and the three following lines were placed here in the
edition of 1836. See note to the previous page. --Ed. ]
* * * * *
TO A BUTTERFLY (#1)
Composed March 14, 1802. --Published 1807
[Written in the Orchard, Town-end, Grasmere. My sister and I were parted
immediately after the death of our mother, who died in 1778, both being
very young. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood. "--Ed.
Stay near me--do not take thy flight!
A little longer stay in sight!
Much converse do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!
Float near me; do not yet depart! 5
Dead times revive in thee:
Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art!
A solemn image to my heart,
My father's family!
Oh! pleasant, pleasant were the days, 10
The time, when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline [A] and I
Together chased the butterfly!
A very hunter did I rush
Upon the prey:--with leaps and springs 15
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she, God love her! feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: In the MS. for the edition of 1807 the transcriber (not W.
W. ) wrote "Dorothy. " This, Wordsworth erased, putting in
"Emmeline. "--Ed. ]
The text of this poem was never changed. It refers to days of childhood
spent at Cockermouth before 1778.
