No More Learning

"
They should manifestly be placed together. Wordsworth's fourth poem 'To
the Daisy', which is an elegy on his brother John, and belongs to a
subsequent year--having no connection with the three preceding poems,
will be found in its chronological place. --Ed.





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LOUISA

AFTER ACCOMPANYING HER ON A MOUNTAIN EXCURSION


Composed 1802. --Published 1807


[Town-end 1805. --I. F. ]

One of the "Poems founded on the Affections. " From 1807 to 1832 the
title was simply 'Louisa'. --Ed.




I met Louisa in the shade,
And, having seen that lovely Maid,
Why should I fear to say [1]
That, nymph-like, she is fleet and strong, [2]
And down the rocks can leap along 5
Like rivulets in May?
[3]
She loves her fire, her cottage-home;
Yet o'er the moorland will she roam
In weather rough and bleak;
And, when against the wind she strains, 10
Oh! might I kiss the mountain rains
That sparkle on her cheek.

Take all that's mine "beneath the moon," [A]
If I with her but half a noon
May sit beneath the walls 15
Of some old cave, or mossy nook,
When up she winds along the brook [4]
To hunt the waterfalls.


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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1807.
Though, by a sickly taste betrayed,
Some will dispraise the lovely Maid,
With fearless pride I say 1836.

The text of 1845 returns to that of 1807. ]


[Variant 2:

1845.

That she is ruddy, fleet, and strong; 1807.

That she is healthful, . . . 1836. ]


[Variant 3: In the editions of 1807 to 1843 occurs the following verse,
which was omitted from subsequent editions:

And she hath smiles to earth unknown;
Smiles, that with motion of their own
Do spread, and sink, and rise;
That come and go with endless play,
And ever, as they pass away,
Are hidden in her eyes. ]


[Variant 4:

1807.

When she goes barefoot up the brook MS. ]


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FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A: Compare Young's 'Night Thoughts', where the phrase occurs
three times. See also 'Lear', act IV. scene vi. l. 26:

'For all beneath the moon.