English poem
Variants On The Text
[Variant 1:
1827.
... beside ... 1800.]
[Variant 2:
1827.
No habitation there is seen; but such As journey thither ... 1800.]
[Variant 3:
1827.
There is ... 1800.]
[Variant 4:
1836.
And to that place a story appertains, Which, though it be ungarnish'd with events, Is not unfit, ... 1800.]
[Variant 5:
1827.
... It was the first, The earliest of those tales ... 1800.]
[Variant 6:
1827.
... he had learn'd ... 1800.]
[Variant 7:
1836.
... the hills, which he so oft Had climb'd with vigorous steps; ... 1800.]
[Variant 8:
1832.
... linking to such acts, So grateful in themselves, the certainty Of honourable gains; these fields, these hills Which were his living Being, even more Than his own Blood--what could they less? had laid 1800.
... gain ... 1805.]
[Variant 9:
1815.
He had not passed his days in singleness. He had a Wife, a comely Matron, old 1800.]
[Variant 10:
1836.
... their ... 1800.]
[Variant 11:
1836.
... their ... 1800.]
[Variant 12:
1836.
... their ... 1800.]
[Variant 13:
1827.
Which ... 1800.]
[Variant 14:
1836.
Did with a huge projection overbrow 1800.]
[Variant 15:
1827.
... was in his ... 1800.]
[Variant 16:
1836.
... while late ... 1800.]
[Variant 17:
Not with a waste of words, but for the sake Of pleasure, which I know that I shall give To many living now, I of this Lamp Speak thus minutely: for there are no few Whose memories will bear witness to my tale.
These lines appeared only in the editions of 1800 and 1802.]
[Variant 18:
1815.
The ... 1800.]
[Variant 19:
1832.
The ... 1800.]
[Variant 20:
1827.
... yet more dear-- Effect which might perhaps have been produc'd By that instinctive tenderness, ... 1800.]
[Variant 21:
1836.
Blind Spirit, which is in the blood of all, 1800.]
[Variant 22:
1827.
Or ... 1800.]
[Variant 23: This line was first printed in the edition of 1836.]
[Variant 24:
From such, and other causes, to the thoughts Of the old Man his only Son was now The dearest object that he knew on earth.
Only in the editions of 1800 to 1820.]
[Variant 25:
1827.
For dalliance ... 1800.]
[Variant 26:
1836.
His cradle with a woman's gentle hand. 1800.]
[Variant 27:
1836.
... when he Had work by his own door, or when he sate With sheep before him on his Shepherd's stool, Beneath that large old Oak, which near their door Stood, and from its enormous breadth of shade 1800.]
[Variant 28:
1815.
While this good household thus were living on 1800.
While in the fashion which I have described This simple Household thus were living on 1800 (2nd issue).]
[Variant 29:
1836.
As soon as he had gather'd so much strength That he could look his trouble in the face, It seem'd that his sole refuge was to sell 1800.]
[Variant 30:
1827.
... itself 1800.]
[Variant 31:
1836.
May come again to us ... 1800.]
[Variant 32: Italics were first used in 1827.]
[Variant 33:
1836.
... for the two last nights 1800.
... through the 1815.]
[Variant 34:
1815.
The Lad ... 1800.]
[Variant 35:
1820.
Next morning ... 1800.]
[Variant 36:
1815.
... which close to the brook side 1800.]
[Variant 37:
1836.
... should speak Of things ... 1800.]
[Variant 38:
1827.
... as it befalls 1800.]
[Variant 39:
1836.
When ... 1800.]
[Variant 40:
1815.
... in ... 1800.]
[Variant 41:
1827.
... from sixty years. 1800.]
[Variant 42:
I for the purpose brought thee to this place.
This line appears only in the edition of 1800.]
[Variant 43:
1827.
... stout; ... 1800.]
[Variant 44:
1802.
... should evil men Be thy companions, let this Sheep-fold be Thy anchor and thy shield; amid all fear And all temptation, let it be to thee An emblem of the life thy Fathers liv'd, 1800.]
[Variant 45: This line was added in the edition of 1815.]
[Variant 46:
1815.
Next morning, as had been resolv'd, the Boy 1800.]
[Variant 47:
1820.
Would break the heart:--Old Michael found it so. 1800.]
[Variant 48:
1836.
... look'd up upon the sun, 1800.
... towards the sun, 1832.]
[Variant 49:
1836.
Sitting alone, with that his faithful Dog, 1800.]
* * * * *