[Variant 16:]

1845
—Then Quiet led me up the huddling rill,
Bright'ning with water-breaks the sombrous gill;
—Then, while I wandered up the huddling rill
Brightening with water-breaks the sombrous ghyll,

Then, while I wandered where the huddling rill
Brightens with water-breaks the sombrous ghyll,
1793


1820


1836

—Then Quiet led me up the huddling rill,
Bright'ning with water-breaks the sombrous gill;
—Then, while I wandered up the huddling rill
Brightening with water-breaks the sombrous ghyll,
Then, while I wandered where the huddling rill
Brightens with water-breaks the sombrous ghyll,

[return]

[Variant 17:]

1820
To where, while thick above the branches close,
In dark-brown bason its wild waves repose,
Inverted shrubs, and moss of darkest green,
Cling from the rocks, with pale wood-weeds between;
Save that, atop, the subtle sunbeams shine,
On wither'd briars that o'er the craggs recline;
Sole light admitted here, a small cascade,
Illumes with sparkling foam the twilight shade.
Beyond, along the visto of the brook,
Where antique roots its bustling path o'erlook,
The eye reposes on a secret bridge
Half grey, half shagg'd with ivy to its ridge.
—Sweet rill, farewel! ...

1793

To where, while thick above the branches close,
In dark-brown bason its wild waves repose,
Inverted shrubs, and moss of darkest green,
Cling from the rocks, with pale wood-weeds between;
Save that, atop, the subtle sunbeams shine,
On wither'd briars that o'er the craggs recline;
Sole light admitted here, a small cascade,
Illumes with sparkling foam the twilight shade.
Beyond, along the visto of the brook,
Where antique roots its bustling path o'erlook,
The eye reposes on a secret bridge
Half grey, half shagg'd with ivy to its ridge.
—Sweet rill, farewel! ...

[return]

[Variant 18:]

1845
But see aloft the subtle sunbeams shine,
On withered briars that o'er the crags recline;
Thus beautiful! as if the sight displayed,
By its own sparkling foam that small cascade;
Inverted shrubs, with moss of gloomy green
Cling from the rocks, with pale wood-weeds between.

Inverted shrubs with pale wood weeds between
Cling from the moss-grown rocks, a darksome green,
Save where aloft the subtle sunbeams shine
And its own twilight softens the whole scene.
And sparkling as it foams a small cascade
Illumines from within the impervious shade
Below, right in the vista of the brook,
Where antique roots, etc.




C.








MS.