Brooks so narrow, Fields so small.
1807.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Compare _Hart-Leap Well_, l. 117 (vol. ii. p. 134).--ED.

"HOW SWEET IT IS, WHEN MOTHER FANCY ROCKS"

Composed 1806.--Published 1807

Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

How sweet it is, when mother Fancy rocks
The wayward brain, to saunter through a wood!
An old place, full of many a lovely brood,
Tall trees, green arbours, and ground-flowers in flocks;
And wild rose tip-toe upon hawthorn stocks, 5
Like a bold Girl, who plays her agile pranks[1]
At Wakes and Fairs with wandering Mountebanks,--
When she stands cresting the Clown's head, and mocks
The crowd beneath her. Verily I think,
Such place to me is sometimes like a dream 10
Or map of the whole world: thoughts, link by link,
Enter through ears and eyesight, with such gleam
Of all things, that at last in fear I shrink,
And leap at once from the delicious stream.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1827.

Like to a bonny Lass, who plays her pranks 1807.

"THOSE WORDS WERE UTTERED AS IN PENSIVE MOOD"

Composed 1806.--Published 1807

----"they are of the sky,
And from our earthly memory fade away."[A]

Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

Those[1] words were uttered as in pensive mood[2]
We turned, departing from[3] that solemn sight:
A contrast and reproach to[4] gross delight,
And life's unspiritual pleasures daily wooed!
But now upon this thought I cannot brood; 5
It is unstable as a dream of night;[5]
Nor will I praise a cloud, however bright,
Disparaging Man's gifts, and proper food.
Grove, isle, with every shape of sky-built dome,[6]
Though clad in colours beautiful and pure, 10
Find in the heart of man no natural home:
The immortal Mind craves objects that endure:
These cleave to it; from these it cannot roam,
Nor they from it: their fellowship is secure.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1838.

These ... 1807.

[2] 1827.

... utter'd in a pensive mood. 1807.

[3] 1827.

Even while mine eyes were on ... 1807.

Mine eyes yet lingering on ... 1815.

[4] 1807.

A silent c