The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth - LightNovelsOnl.com
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"STRANGE FITS OF Pa.s.sION HAVE I KNOWN"
Composed 1799.--Published 1800
[Written in Germany, 1799.--I.F.]
One of the "Poems founded on the Affections." In MS. Wordsworth gave, as the t.i.tle, "A Reverie," but erased it.--Ed.
Strange fits of pa.s.sion have I known: [1]
And I will dare to tell, But in the Lover's ear alone, What once to me befel.
When she I loved looked every day 5 Fresh as a rose in June, [2]
I to her cottage bent my way, Beneath an [3] evening moon.
Upon the moon I fixed my eye, All over the wide lea; 10 With quickening pace my horse drew nigh [4]
Those paths so dear to me.
And now we reached the orchard-plot; And, as we climbed the hill, The sinking moon to Lucy's cot 15 Came near, and nearer still. [5]
In one of those sweet dreams I slept, Kind Nature's gentlest boon!
And all the while my eyes I kept On the descending moon. 20
My horse moved on; hoof after hoof He raised, and never stopped: When down behind the cottage roof, At once, the bright moon dropped. [6]
What fond and wayward thoughts will slide 25 Into a Lover's head!
"O mercy!" to myself I cried, "If Lucy should be dead!"
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1832.
... I have known, 1800.]
[Variant 2:
1836.
When she I lov'd, was strong and gay And like a rose in June, 1800.]
[Variant 3:
1836.
... the ... 1800.]
[Variant 4:
1836.
My horse trudg'd on, and we drew nigh 1800.]
[Variant 5:
1836.
Towards the roof of Lucy's cot The moon descended still. [a] 1800.]
[Variant 6:
1815.
... the planet dropp'd. 1800.]
SUB-FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT
[Sub-Footnote a: Compare the lines in Arthur Hugh Clough's poem, 'The Stream of Life':
And houses stand on either hand And thou descendest still.
