'have been ruthlessly overthrown. One has been uprooted bodily; all the leaders and branches of the others have been wrenched from the main trunk; and the three still standing are bare poles and broken wreckage. Until one visits the spot one can have no conception of the wholesale destruction that the hurricane has wrought; until he looks on the huge rosy-hearted branches he cannot guess the tremendous force with which the tornado had fallen upon that "sable roof of boughs."

'For tornado or whirlwind it must needs have been. The Yews grew under the eastern flank of the hill called Base Brown. The gale raged from the westward. One could hardly believe it possible that the trees could have been touched by it; for the barrier hill on which they grew,--and under whose shelter they have seen centuries of storm,--goes straight upwards, betwixt them and the west. It was only realizable when, standing amid the wreckage, and looking across the valley, it was seen that a larch plantation had been entirely levelled, and evidently by a wind that was coming from the east, and directly toward the Yew-trees. On enquiring at Seathwaite Farm, one found that all the slates blown from the roof of that building on the west side, had been whirled up clean over the roof: and we can only surmise that the winds rushing from the west and north-west, and meeting the bastions of Glaramara and the Sty-head slopes, were whirled round in the 'cul-de-sac' of the valley, and moved with churning motion back from east to west over the Seathwaite Farm, and so in straight line across the beck, and up the slope to the Yew-tree cl.u.s.ter. With what a wrenching, and with what violence, these trees were in a moment shattered, only those can guess who now witness the ruins of the pillared shade, upon the "gra.s.sless floor of red-brown hue."'"

Ed.

"WHO FANCIED WHAT A PRETTY SIGHT"

Composed 1803.--Published 1807

In the edition of 1807 this poem was No. VIII. of the series ent.i.tled "Moods of my own Mind." It was afterwards included among the "Poems of the Fancy," and in a MS. copy it was named "The Coronet of Snowdrops."--Ed.

Who fancied what a pretty sight This Rock would be if edged around With living snow-drops? circlet bright!

How glorious to this orchard-ground!

Who loved the little Rock, and set 5 Upon its head this coronet?

Was it the humour of a child?

Or rather of some gentle [1] maid, Whose brows, the day that she was styled The shepherd-queen, were thus arrayed? 10 Of man mature, or matron sage?

Or old man toying with his age?

I asked--'twas whispered; The device To each and [2] all might well belong: It is the Spirit of Paradise 15 That prompts such work, a Spirit strong, That gives to all the self-same bent Where life is wise and innocent.

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1836.

... love-sick ... 1807.]

[Variant 2:

1827.

... or ... 1807.]

"IT IS NO SPIRIT WHO FROM HEAVEN HATH FLOWN"

Composed 1803.--Published 1807

[Written at Town-end, Grasmere. I remember the instant my sister S. H., called me to the window of our Cottage, saying, "Look how beautiful is yon star! It has the sky all to itself." I composed the verses immediately.--I.F.]

This was No. XIII. of "Moods of my own Mind," in the edition of 1807. It was afterwards included among the "Poems of the Imagination."--Ed.

It is no Spirit who from heaven hath flown, And is descending on his emba.s.sy; Nor Traveller gone from earth the heavens to espy!

'Tis Hesperus--there he stands with glittering crown, First admonition that the sun is down! 5 For yet it is broad day-light: clouds pa.s.s by; A few are near him still--and now the sky, He hath it to himself--'tis all his own.

O most ambitious Star! an inquest wrought Within me when I recognised thy light; 10 A moment I was startled at the sight: And, while I gazed, there came to me a thought That I might step beyond my natural race As thou seem'st now to do; might one day trace [1]

Some ground not mine; and, strong her strength above, 15 My Soul, an Apparition in the place, Tread there with steps that no one shall reprove! [A]

VARIANT ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 1807.

O most ambitious Star! an inquest wrought Within me when I recognised thy light; A moment I was startled at the sight: And, while I gazed, there came to me a thought That even I beyond my natural race Might step as thou dost now: might one day trace 1815.

O most ambitious Star! thy Presence brought A startling recollection to my mind Of the distinguished few among mankind, Who dare to step beyond their natural race, As thou seem'st now to do:--nor was a thought Denied--that even I might one day trace 1820.

The text of 1836 returns to that of 1807.]

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT