The Poem

textvariantfootnoteline number
Dear native regions, I foretell,
From what I feel at this farewell,
That, wheresoe'er my steps may tend,
And whensoe'er my course shall end,
If in that hour a single tie
Survive of local sympathy,
My soul will cast the backward view,
The longing look alone on you.
Thus, while the Sun sinks down to rest
Far in the regions of the west,
Though to the vale no parting beam
Be given, not one memorial gleam,
A lingering light he fondly throws
On the dear hills where first he rose.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]		[B]


5
10

[Footnote A:]

See the

Memoirs of William Wordsworth

, by Christopher Wordsworth (1851), vol. i. pp. 10-31.—Ed.

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[Footnote B:]

Compare the

Ode, composed in January 1816

, stanza v.—Ed.

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[Variant 1:]

1832
... shall 1815

... shall

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[Variant 2:]

1815
That, when the close of life draws near,
And I must quit this earthly sphere,
If in that hour a tender tie 		MS.

That, when the close of life draws near,
And I must quit this earthly sphere,
If in that hour a tender tie

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[Variant 3:]

1845.
Thus, when the Sun, prepared for rest,
Hath gained the precincts of the West,
Though his departing radiance fail
To illuminate the hollow Vale, 		1815.
Thus, from the precincts of the West,
The Sun, when sinking down to rest, 		1832.
... while sinking ... 1836.
Hath reached the precincts ... MS.

Thus, when the Sun, prepared for rest,
Hath gained the precincts of the West,
Though his departing radiance fail
To illuminate the hollow Vale,

Thus, from the precincts of the West,
The Sun, when sinking down to rest,

... while sinking ...

Hath reached the precincts ...

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[Variant 4:]

1815
A lingering lustre fondly throws 1832

A lingering lustre fondly throws

The edition of 1845 reverts to the reading of 1815.

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[Variant 5:]

1815
On the dear mountain-tops ... 1820

On the dear mountain-tops ...

The edition of 1845 returns to the text of 1815.

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[Contents]

[Written in very Early Youth]

Composed 1786[A].—Published 1807[B]

[The Poem]

From 1807 to 1843 this was placed by Wordsworth in his group of "Miscellaneous Sonnets." In 1845, it was transferred to the class of "Poems written in Youth." It is doubtful if it was really written in "'very' early youth." Its final form, at any rate, may belong to a later period.—Ed.