Glad
tidings!
William Wordsworth
--Published 1815
[This was actually composed the last day of our tour between Dalston and
Grasmere. --I. F. ]
One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets" in 1815 and 1820. --Ed.
Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale! [1]
Say that we come, and come by this day's light;
Fly upon swiftest wing round field and height, [2]
But chiefly let one Cottage hear the tale;
There let a mystery of joy prevail, 5
The kitten frolic, like a gamesome sprite, [3]
And Rover whine, as at a second sight
Of near-approaching good that shall not fail:
And from that Infant's face let joy appear;
Yea, let our Mary's one companion child--10
That hath her six weeks' solitude beguiled
With intimations manifold and dear,
While we have wandered over wood and wild--
Smile on his Mother now with bolder cheer.
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1837.
Fly, some kind Spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale! 1815.
. . . dale, 1827. ]
[Variant 2:
1837.
Glad tidings! --spread them over field and height; 1815. ]
[Variant 3:
1837.
The Kitten frolic with unruly might, 1815.
The happy Kitten bound with frolic might, 1827. ]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: In the editions of 1815 and 1820, this poem bore the title,
'On approaching Home, after a Tour in Scotland, 1803',--Ed. ]
"Sunday, September 25, 1803. --A beautiful autumnal day. Breakfasted at
a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld; arrived at home
between eight and nine o'clock, where we found Mary in perfect health,
Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the
clothes-basket by the fire. "
(From Dorothy Wordsworth's 'Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland',
1803. )--Ed.
* * * * *
THE BLIND HIGHLAND BOY
A TALE TOLD BY THE FIRE-SIDE, AFTER RETURNING TO THE VALE OF GRASMERE[A]
Date of composition uncertain. --Published 1807
[The story was told me by George Mackereth, for many years parish-clerk
of Grasmere. He had been an eye-witness of the occurrence. The vessel in
reality was a washing-tub, which the little fellow had met with on the
shores of the Loch. --I.
[This was actually composed the last day of our tour between Dalston and
Grasmere. --I. F. ]
One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets" in 1815 and 1820. --Ed.
Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale! [1]
Say that we come, and come by this day's light;
Fly upon swiftest wing round field and height, [2]
But chiefly let one Cottage hear the tale;
There let a mystery of joy prevail, 5
The kitten frolic, like a gamesome sprite, [3]
And Rover whine, as at a second sight
Of near-approaching good that shall not fail:
And from that Infant's face let joy appear;
Yea, let our Mary's one companion child--10
That hath her six weeks' solitude beguiled
With intimations manifold and dear,
While we have wandered over wood and wild--
Smile on his Mother now with bolder cheer.
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1837.
Fly, some kind Spirit, fly to Grasmere Vale! 1815.
. . . dale, 1827. ]
[Variant 2:
1837.
Glad tidings! --spread them over field and height; 1815. ]
[Variant 3:
1837.
The Kitten frolic with unruly might, 1815.
The happy Kitten bound with frolic might, 1827. ]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: In the editions of 1815 and 1820, this poem bore the title,
'On approaching Home, after a Tour in Scotland, 1803',--Ed. ]
"Sunday, September 25, 1803. --A beautiful autumnal day. Breakfasted at
a public-house by the road-side; dined at Threlkeld; arrived at home
between eight and nine o'clock, where we found Mary in perfect health,
Joanna Hutchinson with her, and little John asleep in the
clothes-basket by the fire. "
(From Dorothy Wordsworth's 'Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland',
1803. )--Ed.
* * * * *
THE BLIND HIGHLAND BOY
A TALE TOLD BY THE FIRE-SIDE, AFTER RETURNING TO THE VALE OF GRASMERE[A]
Date of composition uncertain. --Published 1807
[The story was told me by George Mackereth, for many years parish-clerk
of Grasmere. He had been an eye-witness of the occurrence. The vessel in
reality was a washing-tub, which the little fellow had met with on the
shores of the Loch. --I.
