No More Learning

(Compressing six lines into four. )

--Though Liberty shall soon, indignant, raise
Red on the hills his beacon's comet blaze;
Bid from on high his lonely cannon sound,
And on ten thousand hearths his shout rebound;
His larum-bell from village-tower to tower
Swing on the astounded ear its dull undying roar; 1820. ]


[Variant 184:

1836.

Yet, yet rejoice, though Pride's perverted ire
Rouze Hell's own aid, and wrap thy hills on fire!
Lo! from the innocuous flames, a lovely birth,
With its own Virtues springs another earth: 1820. ]


[Variant 185:

1836.

Lines 646-651 were previously

Nature, as in her prime, her virgin reign
Begins, and Love and Truth compose her train;
While, with a pulseless hand, and stedfast gaze,
Unbreathing Justice her still beam surveys. 1820. ]


[Variant 186:

1836.

(Expanding eight lines into nine. )

Oh give, great God, to Freedom's waves to ride
Sublime o'er Conquest, Avarice, and Pride,
To sweep where Pleasure decks her guilty bowers
And dark Oppression builds her thick-ribbed towers!
--Give them, beneath their breast while gladness springs
To brood the nations o'er with Nile-like wings;
And grant that every sceptred Child of clay,
Who cries, presumptuous, "here their tides shall stay," 1820. ]


[Variant 187: This couplet was added in 1836. ]


[Variant 188:

1836.
Swept in their anger from the affrighted shore,
With all his creatures sink--to rise no more! 1820. ]


[Variant 189:

1845.

Be the dead load of mortal ills forgot! 1820

Be fear and joyful hope alike forgot 1836. ]


[Variant 190: This couplet was added in 1827. ]


[Variant 191:

1836.

Renewing, when the rosy summits glow
At morn, our various journey, sad and slow. 1820.

With lighter heart our course we may renew,
The first whose footsteps print the mountain dew. 1827. ]



* * * * *

SUB-VARIANTS


[Sub-Variant 1:

A single taper in the vale profound
Shifts, while the Alps dilated glimmer round; 1832. ]


[Sub-Variant 2:

And, . . . 1832.