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

TO THE DAISY

Composed 1802.--Published 1807

"Her [A] divine skill taught me this,

That from every thing I saw

I could some instruction draw,

And raise pleasure to the height

Through the meanest object's sight.

By the murmur of a spring,

Or the least bough's rustelling;

By a Daisy whose leaves spread

Shut when Titan goes to bed;

Or a shady bush or tree;

She could more infuse in me

Than all Nature's beauties can

In some other wiser man."

G. WITHER. [1]

[Composed in the orchard, Town-end, Grasmere.--I. F.]

One of the "Poems of the Fancy."--Ed.

In youth from rock to rock I went,

From hill to hill in discontent

Of pleasure high and turbulent,

Most pleased when most uneasy;

But now my own delights I make,--

My thirst at every rill can slake, [2]

And gladly Nature's love partake,

Of Thee, sweet Daisy! [3]

Thee Winter in the garland wears

That thinly decks his few grey hairs;

Spring parts the clouds with softest airs,

That she may sun thee; [4]

Whole Summer-fields are thine by right;

And Autumn, melancholy Wight!

Doth in thy crimson head delight