th were listening, to my side
The fair Joanna drew, as if she wished 75
To shelter from some object of her fear.
--And hence, long afterwards, when eighteen moons
Were wasted, as I chanced to walk alone
Beneath this rock, at sunrise, on a calm
And silent morning, I sat down, and there, 80
In memory of affections old and true,
I chiselled out in those rude characters
Joanna's name deep in the living stone:--[8]
And I, and all who dwell by my fireside,
Have called the lovely rock, JOANNA'S ROCK." 85

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1827.

Your time ... 1800.]

[Variant 2:

1836.

Is slow towards... 1800.

... toward.... 1827.]

[Variant 3:

1836.
... are taught... 1800.]

[Variant 4:

1836.

... betwixt ... 1800.]

[Variant 5:

1836.

Which looks towards the East, I there stopp'd short, 1800.

... toward ... 1827.]

[Variant 6:

1836.

And trac'd ... 1800.]

[Variant 7:

1827.

Is not for me to tell; but sure I am 1800]

[Variant 8:

1845.

Joanna's name upon the living stone. 1800.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A: The Rectory at Grasmere, where Wordsworth lived from 1811
to 1813, and where two of his children died.--Ed.]

In Cumberland and Westmoreland are several Inscriptions upon the native
rock which from the wasting of Time and the rudeness of the Workmanship
had been mistaken for Runic. They are without doubt Roman.

The Rotha, mentioned in this poem, is the River which flowing through
the Lakes of Grasmere and Rydale falls into Wyndermere. On Helm-Crag,
that impressive single Mountain at the head of the Vale of Grasmere, is
a Rock which from most points of view bears a striking resemblance to an
Old Woman cowering. Close by this rock is one of those Fissures or
Caverns, which in the language of the Country are called Dungeons. The
other Mountains either immediately surround the Vale of Grasmere, or
belong to the same Cluster.--W. W. 1800.

Most of the Mountains here mentioned immediately surround the vale of
Grasmere; of the others, some are at a considerable distance, but they
belong to the same cluster.--W. W. 1802.

The majority of the changes introduce