" In 1845, it was
transferred
to the class of
"Poems written in Youth.
"Poems written in Youth.
Wordsworth - 1
Hath reached the precincts . . . MS. ]
[Variant 4:
1815.
A lingering lustre fondly throws 1832.
The edition of 1845 reverts to the reading of 1815. ]
[Variant 5:
1815.
On the dear mountain-tops . . . 1820.
The edition of 1845 returns to the text of 1815. ]
* * * * *
WRITTEN IN VERY EARLY YOUTH
Composed 1786. [A]--Published 1807 [B]
From 1807 to 1843 this was placed by Wordsworth in his group of
"Miscellaneous Sonnets.
" In 1845, it was transferred to the class of
"Poems written in Youth. " It is doubtful if it was really written in
"'very' early youth. " Its final form, at any rate, may belong to a later
period. --Ed.
* * * * *
Calm is all nature as a resting wheel.
The kine are couched upon the dewy grass;
The horse alone, seen dimly as I pass,
Is cropping audibly [1] his later meal: [C]
Dark is the ground; a slumber seems to steal 5
O'er vale, and mountain, and the starless sky.
Now, in this blank of things, a harmony,
Home-felt, and home-created, comes [2] to heal
That grief for which the senses still supply
Fresh food; for only then, when memory 10
Is hushed, am I at rest. My Friends! restrain
Those busy cares that would allay my pain;
Oh! leave me to myself, nor let me feel
The officious touch that makes me droop again.
* * * * *
[Footnote A: The date of the composition of this fragment is quite
unknown. --Ed. ]
[Footnote B: But previously, in 'The Morning Post', Feb. 13, 1802. --Ed. ]
[Footnote C: Canon Ainger calls attention to the fact that there is here
a parallel, possibly a reminiscence, from the 'Nocturnal Reverie' of
the Countess of Winchelsea.
