might I kiss the
mountain
rains
That sparkle on her cheek.
That sparkle on her cheek.
William Wordsworth
" Nevertheless, in the revised
edition of 1836-7, he gave the date 1802 to the first, 1803 to the
third, and 1805 to the second of them. In the earlier editions 1815 to
1832, they are all classed among the "Poems of the Fancy," but in the
edition of 1837, and afterwards, the last, "Bright Flower! whose home is
everywhere," is ranked among the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection. "
They should manifestly be placed together. Wordsworth's fourth poem 'To
the Daisy', which is an elegy on his brother John, and belongs to a
subsequent year--having no connection with the three preceding poems,
will be found in its chronological place. --Ed.
* * * * *
LOUISA
AFTER ACCOMPANYING HER ON A MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
Composed 1802. --Published 1807
[Town-end 1805. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections. " From 1807 to 1832 the
title was simply 'Louisa'. --Ed.
I met Louisa in the shade,
And, having seen that lovely Maid,
Why should I fear to say [1]
That, nymph-like, she is fleet and strong, [2]
And down the rocks can leap along 5
Like rivulets in May?
[3]
She loves her fire, her cottage-home;
Yet o'er the moorland will she roam
In weather rough and bleak;
And, when against the wind she strains, 10
Oh!
might I kiss the mountain rains
That sparkle on her cheek.
Take all that's mine "beneath the moon," [A]
If I with her but half a noon
May sit beneath the walls 15
Of some old cave, or mossy nook,
When up she winds along the brook [4]
To hunt the waterfalls.
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1807.
Though, by a sickly taste betrayed,
Some will dispraise the lovely Maid,
With fearless pride I say 1836.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1807. ]
[Variant 2:
1845.
That she is ruddy, fleet, and strong; 1807.
That she is healthful, . . . 1836. ]
[Variant 3: In the editions of 1807 to 1843 occurs the following verse,
which was omitted from subsequent editions:
And she hath smiles to earth unknown;
Smiles, that with motion of their own
Do spread, and sink, and rise;
That come and go with endless play,
And ever, as they pass away,
Are hidden in her eyes. ]
[Variant 4:
1807.
When she goes barefoot up the brook MS. ]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: Compare Young's 'Night Thoughts', where the phrase occurs
three times. See also 'Lear', act IV.
edition of 1836-7, he gave the date 1802 to the first, 1803 to the
third, and 1805 to the second of them. In the earlier editions 1815 to
1832, they are all classed among the "Poems of the Fancy," but in the
edition of 1837, and afterwards, the last, "Bright Flower! whose home is
everywhere," is ranked among the "Poems of Sentiment and Reflection. "
They should manifestly be placed together. Wordsworth's fourth poem 'To
the Daisy', which is an elegy on his brother John, and belongs to a
subsequent year--having no connection with the three preceding poems,
will be found in its chronological place. --Ed.
* * * * *
LOUISA
AFTER ACCOMPANYING HER ON A MOUNTAIN EXCURSION
Composed 1802. --Published 1807
[Town-end 1805. --I. F. ]
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections. " From 1807 to 1832 the
title was simply 'Louisa'. --Ed.
I met Louisa in the shade,
And, having seen that lovely Maid,
Why should I fear to say [1]
That, nymph-like, she is fleet and strong, [2]
And down the rocks can leap along 5
Like rivulets in May?
[3]
She loves her fire, her cottage-home;
Yet o'er the moorland will she roam
In weather rough and bleak;
And, when against the wind she strains, 10
Oh!
might I kiss the mountain rains
That sparkle on her cheek.
Take all that's mine "beneath the moon," [A]
If I with her but half a noon
May sit beneath the walls 15
Of some old cave, or mossy nook,
When up she winds along the brook [4]
To hunt the waterfalls.
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1807.
Though, by a sickly taste betrayed,
Some will dispraise the lovely Maid,
With fearless pride I say 1836.
The text of 1845 returns to that of 1807. ]
[Variant 2:
1845.
That she is ruddy, fleet, and strong; 1807.
That she is healthful, . . . 1836. ]
[Variant 3: In the editions of 1807 to 1843 occurs the following verse,
which was omitted from subsequent editions:
And she hath smiles to earth unknown;
Smiles, that with motion of their own
Do spread, and sink, and rise;
That come and go with endless play,
And ever, as they pass away,
Are hidden in her eyes. ]
[Variant 4:
1807.
When she goes barefoot up the brook MS. ]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: Compare Young's 'Night Thoughts', where the phrase occurs
three times. See also 'Lear', act IV.
