"Yes." 30 Ah, that maternal smile! it answers- Till, all stock of infant sorrow § spent, I learned at last submission to my lot, But, though I less deplored thee, ne'er forgot. 40 45 Where once we dwelt our name is heard no more, Children not thine have trod my nursery floor; And where the gardener Robin, day by day, * 66 Sound;" in Eds. 1798 to 1806, altered in Ed. 1808. + A;" the like. .66 I Disappointment;" the like. "Sorrow;" all Eds., except those of 1799, Southey, Grimshawe, Dale, and Bell, which have " sorrows." Printed " cap" in 12mo. Ed. 1798, and "capt" in 8vo. Ed. 1798, the last word of the preceding line being then spelled in both editions" wrapt." "Capt" was continued down to 1808, when "cap" was again adopted and continued 55 That once we called the pastoral house* our own. 60 The fragrant waters on my cheeks bestowed By thy own hand, till fresh they shone and glowed; All this, and more endearing still than all, Thy constant flow of love, that knew no fall, Ne'er roughened by those cataracts and breaks, And still to be so to my latest age, 65 70 Not scorned in Heaven, though little noticed here. Could Time, his flight reversed, restore the hours When, playing with thy vesture's tissued flowers, The violet, the pink, and jessamine, 76 80 I pricked them into paper with a pin, (And thou wast happier than myself the while, Wouldst softly speak, and stroke my head and smile), Could those few pleasant days† again appear, Might one wish bring them, would I wish them here? in all Eds. down to 1825, and also by Grimshawe and Dale. Southey having "wrapt" has "capt;" Bell having "wrapped" has "capped." * Of Berkhamstead. "Hours;" Eds. 1798 to 1806, altered in 1808. I would not trust my heart-the dear delight 90 Thou, as a gallant bark from Albion's coast (The storms all weathered and the ocean crossed) Shoots into port at some well-havened isle, Where spices breathe, and brighter seasons smile, There sits quiescent on the floods that show Her beauteous form reflected clear below, While airs impregnated with incense play Around her, fanning light her streamers gay;- 95 So thou, with sails how swift! hast reached the shore, 100 " Where tempests never beat nor billows roar;' * Garth (C.). But Garth's line (which is in the third canto of the "Dispensary ") runs thus : "Where billows never break nor tempests roar." "At;" Eds. 1798 to 1806, altered in 1808. "Winds;" the like. "But;" the like. Grimshawe alone, since 1808 has "but." From loins enthroned, and rulers of the earth; 110 And now, And while the wings of Fancy still are free, 120 FRIENDSHIP.* HAT Virtue, or what mental grace, Of Liberality of heart, And Dullness of Discretion. 5 *There are three versions of this poem, all differing in ways which curiously exemplify the results of the "poetic pains" which Cowper has celebrated in the Task. The lines were written in November, 1782, (see Letter to Unwin of 30th November in that year,) but not printed until 1801, when Mr. Bull added them to the "Poems translated from the French of Madame de la Mothe Guion," published in a 12mo. volume at Newport Pagnel, (p. 104). In 1803 (i. 211) Hay. ley printed another version, and added the various readings between his copy and that of Mr. Bull in foot-notes. Dr. John Johnson reprinted Hayley's copy in his volume of posthumous poetry published in 1815 but without the If every polished gem we find various readings, and both Hayley's copy and Bull's have been published in many editions since 1815, and occasionally printed in different volumes of the same work, without any indication of their connection. Among the Unwin Papers, now in the British Museum, there is a third version, a manuscript in the handwriting of the poet, (Addl. MS. No. 24,155, fol. 143). The differences are so considerable that it is impossible to indicate them in notes only. We have there. fore printed Bull's version in the text, with notes of the variations between it and the Unwin MS., and have given Hayley's copy entire at the foot of the page. ON FRIENDSHIP. Amicitia nisi inter bonos esse non potest.-CICERO [LÆLIUS, seo. v.] [1782.] WHAT virtue can we name, or grace, But men unqualified and base Will boast it their possession? Profusion apes the noble part And Dulness of Discretion. But, as the gem of richest cost Employs the utmost skill she can Some will pronounce me too severe- An error soon corrected; |