The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
The other wore a rimless crown 25 With leaves of laurel stuck about; And, while both [6] followed up and down, Each whooping with a merry shout, In their fraternal features I could trace Unquestionable lines of that wild Suppliant's face. [7] 30
Yet _they_, so blithe of heart, seemed fit [8]
For finest tasks of earth or air: Wings let them have, and they might flit Precursors to [9] Aurora's car, Scattering fresh flowers; though happier far, I ween, 35 To hunt their fluttering game o'er rock and level green.
They dart across my path--but lo, [10]
Each ready with a plaintive whine!
Said I, "not half an hour ago Your Mother has had alms of mine." 40 "That cannot be," one answered--"she is dead:"-- I looked reproof--they saw--but neither hung his head. [11]
"She has been dead, Sir, many a day."-- "Hush, boys! you're telling me a lie; [12]
It was your Mother, as I say!" 45 And, in the twinkling of an eye, "Come! come!" cried one, and without more ado, Off to some other play the joyous Vagrants flew! [13] [C]
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1845.
She had a tall Man's height, or more; No bonnet screen'd her from the heat; A long drab-colour'd Cloak she wore, A Mantle reaching to her feet: What other dress she had I could not know; Only she wore a Cap that was as white as snow. 1807.
Before me as the Wanderer stood, No bonnet screened her from the heat; Nor claimed she service from the hood Of a blue mantle, to her feet Depending with a graceful flow; Only she wore a cap pure as unsullied snow. 1827.
Before my eyes a Wanderer stood; Her face from summer's noon-day heat Nor bonnet shaded, nor the hood Of that blue cloak which to her feet Depended with a graceful flow; Only she wore a cap as white as new-fallen snow. 1832.
No bonnet shaded, nor the hood Of the blue cloak ... 1836.
She had a tall man's height or more; And while, 'mid April's noontide heat, A long blue cloak the vagrant wore, A mantle reaching to her feet, No bonnet screened her lofty brow, Only she wore a cap as white as new-fallen snow. C.
She had a tall man's height or more; A garment for her stature meet, And for a vagrant life, she wore A mantle reaching to her feet.
Nor hood, nor bonnet screened her lofty brow, C.]
[Variant 2:
1827.
In all my walks, through field or town, Such Figure had I never seen: Her face was of Egyptian brown: Fit person was she for a Queen, 1807.
Such figure had I never seen In all my walks through field or town, Fit person seemed she for a Queen, C.]
[Variant 3:
1836.
To head ... 1807.]
[Variant 4:
1845.
Before me begging did she stand, Pouring out sorrows like a sea; Grief after grief:--on English Land Such woes I knew could never be; 1807.
Her suit no faltering scruples checked; Forth did she pour, in current free, Tales that could challenge no respect But from a blind credulity; 1827.
She begged an alms; no scruple checked The current of her ready plea, Words that could challenge ... 1832.
Before me begging did she stand And boldly urged a doleful plea, Grief after grief, on English land Such woes I knew could never be. C.]
[Variant 5:
1807.
With yellow flowers around, as with a golden band. C.]
[Variant 6:
1827.
And they both ... 1807.]
[Variant 7:
1820.
Two Brothers seem'd they, eight and ten years old; And like that Woman's face as gold is like to gold. 1807.]
[Variant 8: This stanza was added in the edition of 1827.]
[Variant 9:
1836.
Precursors of ... 1827.]
[Variant 10:
