"A
heavenly
morning.
William Wordsworth
Bright as any of the train 1807. ]
[Variant 4: This stanza was added in 1845. (See note [Footnote B, To the
Small Celandine], p. 302. )]
[Variant 5:
1845.
Let, as old Magellen did,
Others roam about the sea;
Build who will a pyramid; [a] 1807.
Let, with bold advent'rous skill,
Others thrid the polar sea;
Rear a pyramid who will; 1820.
Let the bold Adventurer thrid
In his bark the polar sea;
Rear who will a pyramid; 1827. ]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: This may be an imperfect reminiscence of 'Comus', ll.
634-5. --Ed. ]
* * * * *
SUB-FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Sub-Footnote a: Barron Field asked Wordsworth to restore these lines of
1807, and Wordsworth promised to do so, but never did it. --Ed. ]
The following is an extract from Dorothy Wordsworth's Grasmere Journal.
Saturday, May 1.
"A heavenly morning. We went into the garden, and sowed the scarlet
beans about the house. It was a clear sky. I sowed the flowers,
William helped me. We then went and sat in the orchard till dinner
time. It was very hot. William wrote 'The Celandine' (second part). We
planned a shed, for the sun was too much for us. "
Ed.
* * * * *
STANZAS WRITTEN IN MY POCKET COPY OF THOMSON'S "CASTLE OF INDOLENCE"
Begun 9th May, finished 11th May, 1802. --Published 1815
[Composed in the orchard, Town-end, Grasmere, Coleridge living with us
much at this time: his son Hartley has said, that his father's character
and habits are here preserved in a livelier way than in anything that
has been written about him. I. F. ]
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections. "--Ed.
Within our happy Castle there dwelt One
Whom without blame I may not overlook;
For never sun on living creature shone
Who more devout enjoyment with us took:
Here on his hours he hung as on a book, 5
On his own time here would he float away,
As doth a fly upon a summer brook;
But go to-morrow, or belike to-day,
Seek for him,--he is fled; and whither none can say.
