[23] As] Or Fraser (1): Like MS. H.
[24] ho! ho!] oho! Fraser (1). it] me M. P.
[25] stone] tall MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (2), Collier. On the stone to you MS. H.
[25-6] om. Fraser (1).
[Between 25-6] After sunset and before c.o.c.kcrow M. P. Before sunrise and after c.o.c.kcrow Fraser (2).
[26] void] clear M. P.
[27] I swear by the might Of the darkness of night, I swear by the sleep of our forefathers" souls Fraser (1). souls] soul MS. H.
[26-8] om. Fraser (2).
[28] Both in shape and size MS. Letter: Both in shape and in size M. P.: That in shape and size they resembled Fraser (1), Collier: That in shape and size they are just like the Hole MS. H.
[29] In the large house M. P.
[29-30]
In mansions not seen by the general eye Of that right ancient family.
Fraser (1).
[31] two] round MS. Letter. places] s.p.a.ces Collier, MS. H. void] clear M. P.
[32] Have sat Fraser (1), (2): There have sat for an hour MS. H.
[33] om. MS. Letter, M. P.
[36] Devil] De"il M. P.
[37] With the snow-drift M. P.: With a snow-blast to fan MS. Letter.
[38] Expecting and wishing the trumpet would blow Collier.
THE SNOW-DROP[356:1]
1
Fear no more, thou timid Flower!
Fear thou no more the winter"s might, The whelming thaw, the ponderous shower, The silence of the freezing night!
Since Laura murmur"d o"er thy leaves 5 The potent sorceries of song, To thee, meek Flowret! gentler gales And cloudless skies belong.
2
Her eye with tearful meanings fraught, She gaz"d till all the body mov"d 10 Interpreting the Spirit"s thought-- The Spirit"s eager sympathy Now trembled with thy trembling stem, And while thou droopedst o"er thy bed, With sweet unconscious sympathy 15 Inclin"d the drooping head.[357:1]
3
She droop"d her head, she stretch"d her arm, She whisper"d low her witching rhymes, Fame unreluctant heard the charm, And bore thee to Pierian climes! 20 Fear thou no more the Matin Frost That sparkled on thy bed of snow; For there, mid laurels ever green, Immortal thou shalt blow.
4
Thy petals boast a white more soft, 25 The spell hath so perfumed thee, That careless Love shall deem thee oft A blossom from his Myrtle tree.
Then, laughing at the fair deceit, Shall race with some Etesian wind 30 To seek the woven arboret Where Laura lies reclin"d.
5
All them whom Love and Fancy grace, When grosser eyes are clos"d in sleep, The gentle spirits of the place 35 Waft up the insuperable steep, On whose vast summit broad and smooth Her nest the Phnix Bird conceals, And where by cypresses o"erhung The heavenly Lethe steals. 40
6
A sea-like sound the branches breathe, Stirr"d by the Breeze that loiters there; And all that stretch their limbs beneath, Forget the coil of mortal care.
Strange mists along the margins rise, 45 To heal the guests who thither come, And fit the soul to re-endure Its earthly martyrdom.
7*
The margin dear to moonlight elves Where Zephyr-trembling Lilies grow, 50 And bend to kiss their softer selves That tremble in the stream below:-- There nightly borne does Laura lie A magic Slumber heaves her breast: Her arm, white wanderer of the Harp, 55 Beneath her cheek is prest.
8*
The Harp uphung by golden chains Of that low wind which whispers round, With coy reproachfulness complains, In s.n.a.t.c.hes of reluctant sound: 60 The music hovers half-perceiv"d, And only moulds the slumberer"s dreams; Remember"d LOVES relume her cheek With Youth"s returning gleams.
1800.
FOOTNOTES:
[356:1] First published in _P. W._, 1893. The two last stanzas[*] were omitted as "too imperfect to print". The MS. bears the following heading: LINES WRITTEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PERUSAL OF MRS. ROBINSON"S SNOW DROP.
_To the Editor of the Morning Post._
Sir,
I am one of your many readers who have been highly gratified by some extracts from Mrs. Robinson"s "Walsingham": you will oblige me by inserting the following lines [_sic_] immediately on the perusal of her beautiful poem "The Snow Drop".--ZAGRI.
The "Lines" were never sent or never appeared in the _Morning Post_.
To the Snow Drop.
1