No More Learning

The first, third, and fourth of these couplets were omitted
from the edition of 1820. The whole passage was withdrawn in
1827. ]


[Variant 85:

1820.

Soon shall the Light'ning hold before thy head
His torch, and shew them slumbering in their bed,

Only in the edition of 1793. ]


[Variant 86:

1820.

While, by the scene compos'd, the breast subsides,
Nought wakens or disturbs it's tranquil tides;
Nought but the char that for the may-fly leaps,
And breaks the mirror of the circling deeps;
Or clock, that blind against the wanderer born
Drops at his feet, and stills his droning horn.
--The whistling swain that plods his ringing way
Where the slow waggon winds along the bay;
The sugh [v] of swallow flocks that twittering sweep,
The solemn curfew swinging long and deep;
The talking boat that moves with pensive sound,
Or drops his anchor down with plunge profound;
Of boys that bathe remote the faint uproar,
And restless piper wearying out the shore;
These all to swell the village murmurs blend,
That soften'd from the water-head descend.
While in sweet cadence rising small and still
The far-off minstrels of the haunted hill,
As the last bleating of the fold expires,
Tune in the mountain dells their water lyres.

Only in the edition of 1793. ]


[Variant 87:

1845.

. . . of the night; 1793. ]


[Variant 88:

1815.
Thence, from three paly loopholes mild and small,
Slow lights upon the lake's still bosom fall, 1793. ]


[Variant 89:

1827.

Beyond the mountain's giant reach that hides
In deep determin'd gloom his subject tides.
--Mid the dark steeps repose the shadowy streams,
As touch'd with dawning moonlight's hoary gleams,
Long streaks of fairy light the wave illume
With bordering lines of intervening gloom, 1793.

The second and third of these couplets were cancelled in the edition of
1815, and the whole passage was withdrawn in 1827. ]


[Variant 90:

1836.

Soft o'er the surface creep the lustres pale
Tracking with silvering path the changeful gale. 1793.

. . . those lustres pale
Tracking the fitful motions of the gale. 1815. ]


[Variant 91:

1815.

--'Tis restless magic all; at once the bright [vi]
Breaks on the shade, the shade upon the light,
Fair Spirits are abroad; in sportive chase
Brushing with lucid wands the water's face,
While music stealing round the glimmering deeps
Charms the tall circle of th' enchanted steeps.
--As thro' th' astonished woods the notes ascend,
The mountain streams their rising song suspend;
Below Eve's listening Star, the sheep walk stills
It's drowsy tinklings on th' attentive hills;
The milkmaid stops her ballad, and her pail
Stays it's low murmur in th' unbreathing vale;
No night-duck clamours for his wilder'd mate,
Aw'd, while below the Genii hold their state.