THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL. 2 (Completed)

"A NARROW GIRDLE OF FRESH STONES AND CRAGS"

Composed 1800.--Published 1800

[The character of the eastern shore of Grasmere Lake is quite changed since these verses were written, by the public road being carried along its side. The friends spoken of were Coleridge and my Sister, and the facts occurred strictly as recorded.--I.F.]

A narrow girdle of rough stones and crags,

A rude and natural causeway, interposed

Between the water and a winding slope

Of copse and thicket, leaves the eastern shore

Of Grasmere safe in its own privacy: [A]

And there myself and two belovèd Friends,

One calm September morning, ere the mist

Had altogether yielded to the sun,

Sauntered on this retired and difficult way.--

Ill suits the road with one in haste; but we

Played with our time; and, as we strolled along,

It was our occupation to observe

Such objects as the waves had tossed ashore--

Feather, or leaf, or weed, or withered bough,

Each on the other heaped, along the line

Of the dry wreck. And, in our vacant mood,

Not seldom did we stop to watch some tuft

Of dandelion seed or thistle's beard,

That skimmed the surface of the dead calm lake,

Suddenly halting now--a lifeless stand!

And starting off again with freak as sudden; [1]

In all its sportive wanderings, all the while,

Making report of an invisible breeze

That was its wings, its chariot, and its horse,

Its playmate, rather say, its moving soul. [2]