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William Wordsworth

Helen Darbishire and Ernest De Selincourt (eds), The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, Vol. 3: Miscellaneous Sonnets; Memorials of Various Tours; Poems to National Independence and Liberty; The Egyptian Maid; The River Duddon Series; The White Doe and Other Narrative Poems; Ecclesiastical Sonnets (Second Edition)

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XIVto sleep

[Composed?—Published 1807.]

  • 1A Flock of sheep that leisurely pass by,
  • 2One after one; the sound of rain, and bees
  • 3Murmuring; the fall of rivers, winds and seas,
  • 4Smooth fields, white sheets of water, and pure sky;
  • Critical Apparatus5I have thought of all by turns, and yet do lie
  • 6Sleepless! and soon the small birds' melodies
  • 7Must hear, first uttered from my orchard trees;
  • pg 98And the first cuckoo's melancholy cry.
  • 9Even thus last night, and two nights more, I lay,
  • 10And could not win thee, Sleep! by any stealth:
  • 11So do not let me wear to-night away:
  • 12Without Thee what is all the morning's wealth?
  • Critical Apparatus13Come, blessed barrier between day and day,
  • 14Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health!

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Notes

Critical Apparatus
XIV. 5 so 1845 and C: I've thought of all by turns; and still I lie MS.-1820; By turns have all been thought of; yet I lie 1827–32; I thought of all by turns and yet I lie 1837, 1840; I have thought etc. 1838
Critical Apparatus
13 between 1832: betwixt MS.-1827
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