By those bright eyes, what weary vigils kept,
Beside that hearth what sighs may have been heaved 260
For wounds inflicted, nor what toil relieved
By fortitude and patience, and the grace
Of heaven in pity visiting the place.
Not unadvisedly those secret springs
I leave unsearched: enough that memory clings, 265
Here as elsewhere, to notices that make
Their own significance for hearts awake,
To rural incidents, whose genial powers
Filled with delight three summer morning hours.

More could my pen report of grave or gay 270
That through our gipsy travel cheered the way;
But, bursting forth above the waves, the Sun
Laughs at my pains, and seems to say, "Be done."
Yet, Beaumont, thou wilt not, I trust, reprove
This humble offering made by Truth to Love, 275
Nor chide the Muse that stooped to break a spell
Which might have else been on me yet:--
FAREWELL.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1845.

Or stedfast Centinel ... 1842.

[2]

Until the Vale she quitted, and their door
Was closed, to which she will return no more;
But first old Faithful to a neighbour's care
Was given in charge; nor lacked he dainty fare,
And in the chimney nook was free to lie
And doze, or, if his hour were come, to die.

Inserted only in the edition of 1842.

[3] The phrase "for the nonce" was _italicised_ in 1842.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] In the MS. of these Fenwick notes, the following is written in
pencil, the passage referred to beginning with "Our hostess," and ending
at "the poem." "Revise this sentence. Here is something involved."--ED.

[B] _i.e._ John Carter, Wordsworth's confidential clerk, who saw the
edition of 1857 through the press. The sentence enclosed within brackets
and signed J. C. is his.--ED.

[C] See the note dealing with this date (p. 269). It should be 1811.--ED.

[D] A local word for Sledge.--W. W. 1842.

[E] A word common in the country, signifying shelter, as in Scotland.--W.
W. 1842.

UPON PERUSING THE FOREGOING EPISTLE THIRTY YEARS AFTER ITS COMPOSITION

Composed 1841.--Published 1842

Included among the "Miscellaneous Poems."--ED.

Soon did the Almighty Giver of all rest
Take those dear young Ones to a fearless nest;
And in Death's arms has long reposed t