Than he who now at night-fall treads thy bare domain! 1842.]
[Variant 5:
1845.
And, from its perilous shelter driven, ... 1842.]
[Variant 6: The following stanza was only in the editions of 1798 and 1800:
By Derwent"s side my Father"s cottage stood, (The Woman thus her artless story told) One field, a flock, and what the neighbouring flood Supplied, to him were more than mines of gold.
Light was my sleep; my days in transport roll"d: With thoughtless joy I stretch"d along the sh.o.r.e My father"s nets, or watched, when from the fold High o"er the cliffs I led my fleecy store, A dizzy depth below! his boat and twinkling oar. 1798.
... or from the mountain fold Saw on the distant lake his twinkling oar Or watch"d his lazy boat still less"ning more and more. 1800.]
[Variant 7:
1842.
My father was a good and pious man, An honest man by honest parents bred, 1798.]
[Variant 8: Stanzas XXIV. and XXV. were omitted from the editions of 1802 and 1805. They were restored in 1820.]
[Variant 9:
1842.
Can I forget what charms did once adorn My garden, stored with pease, and mint, and thyme, And rose and lilly for the sabbath morn?
The sabbath bells, and their delightful chime; The gambols and wild freaks at shearing time; My hen"s rich nest through long gra.s.s scarce espied; The cowslip-gathering at May"s dewy prime; The swans, that, when I sought the water-side, From far to meet me came, spreading their snowy pride. 1798.
Can I forget our croft and plot of corn; Our garden, stored ... 1836.
The cowslip-gathering in June"s dewy prime; 1820.
The swans, that with white chests upheaved in pride, Rushing and racing came to meet me at the waterside. 1836.]
[Variant 10:
1842.
... yet ... 1798.]
[Variant 11:
1802.
When ... 1798.]
[Variant 12:
1836.
My watchful dog, whose starts of furious ire, When stranger pa.s.sed, so often I have check"d; 1798.]
[Variant 13:
1845.
... would ... 1842.]
[Variant 14:
1845.
... summer ... 1842.]
[Variant 15:
1845.
The suns of twenty summers danced along,-- Ah! little marked, how fast they rolled away: Then rose a mansion proud our woods among, And cottage after cottage owned its sway, No joy to see a neighbouring house, or stray Through pastures not his own, the master took; My Father dared his greedy wish gainsay; He loved his old hereditary nook, And ill could I the thought of such sad parting brook. 1798.
Then rose a stately hall our woods among, 1800.
... how fast they rolled away: But, through severe mischance, and cruel wrong, My father"s substance fell into decay; We toiled, and struggled--hoping for a day When Fortune should put on a kinder look; But vain were wishes--efforts vain as they: He from his old hereditary nook Must part,--the summons came,--our final leave we took. 1820.]
[Variant 16: The following stanza occurs only in the editions 1798 to 1805:
But, when he had refused the proffered gold, To cruel injuries he became a prey, Sore traversed in whate"er he bought and sold: His troubles grew upon him day by day, Till all his substance fell into decay.
His little range of water was denied; [i]
All but the bed where his old body lay, All, all was seized, and weeping, side by side, We sought a home where we uninjured might abide. 1798.
And all his substance fell into decay.
They dealt most hardly with him, and he tried To move their hearts--but it was vain--for they Seized all he had; and, weeping ... 1802-5.]