This stanza occurs only in the
editions
of 1800 to 1815.
William Wordsworth
30
Yet, God is my witness, thou small helpless Thing!
Thy life I would gladly sustain
Till summer come [10] up from the south, and with crowds
Of thy brethren a march thou should'st sound through the clouds.
And back to the forests again! 35
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1820.
A fig for . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 2:
1800.
On his . . . 1827.
The text of 1837 returns to that of 1800. ]
[Variant 3:
Our earth is no doubt made of excellent stuff,
But her pulses beat slower and slower,
The weather in Forty was cutting and rough,
And then, as Heaven knows, the glass stood low enough,
And _now_ it is four degrees lower.
This stanza occurs only in the editions of 1800 to 1815. ]
[Variant 4:
1820.
Here's a Fly, . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 5:
1827.
. . . this . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 6:
1837.
.
Yet, God is my witness, thou small helpless Thing!
Thy life I would gladly sustain
Till summer come [10] up from the south, and with crowds
Of thy brethren a march thou should'st sound through the clouds.
And back to the forests again! 35
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1820.
A fig for . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 2:
1800.
On his . . . 1827.
The text of 1837 returns to that of 1800. ]
[Variant 3:
Our earth is no doubt made of excellent stuff,
But her pulses beat slower and slower,
The weather in Forty was cutting and rough,
And then, as Heaven knows, the glass stood low enough,
And _now_ it is four degrees lower.
This stanza occurs only in the editions of 1800 to 1815. ]
[Variant 4:
1820.
Here's a Fly, . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 5:
1827.
. . . this . . . 1800. ]
[Variant 6:
1837.
.
