rm had fallen upon the Oak, 105
And struck him with a mighty stroke,
And whirled, and whirled him far away;
And, in one hospitable cleft,
The little careless Broom was left
To live for many a day." 110

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1820.

... thundering, ... 1800.]

[Variant 2:

1815.

... half giant and half sage, 1800.]

[Variant 3:

1820.

It came, you know, with fire and smoke
And hither did it bend its way. 1800.

And hitherward it bent its way. 1802.]

[Variant 4:

1836.

The Thing had better been asleep,
Whatever thing it were,
Or Breeze, or Bird, or fleece of Sheep,
That first did plant you there. 1800.

Or Breeze, or Bird, or Dog, or Sheep, 1802.]

[Variant 5:

1820.

That it is true, and more than true, 1800.]

[Variant 6:

1827.

... be we young or old, 1800.]

[Variant 7:

1836.

Here spread ... 1800.]

[Variant 8:

1815.

The Spring for me a garland weaves
Of yellow flowers and verdant leaves, 1800.]

[Variant 9:

1802.

... on me ... 1800.]

[Variant 10:

1827.

To feed and ... 1800.

To rest and ... 1815.]

[Variant 11:

1815.

One night the Wind came from the North
And blew a furious blast, 1800.]

The spot is fixed within narrow limits by the Fenwick note. It is,
beyond doubt, on the wooded part of Nab-Scar, through which the upper
path from Grasmere to Rydal passes. There is one huge block of stone
high above the path, which answers well to the description in the second
stanza. Crabb Robinson wrote in his 'Diary' (Sept. 11, 1816):

"The poem of 'The Oak and the Broom' proceeded from his" (Wordsworth)
"beholding a tree in just such a situation as he described the broom
to be in."

Ed.

* * * * *

"'TIS SAID, THAT SOME HAVE DIED FOR LOVE"

Composed 1800.--Published 1800

One of the "Poems founded on the Affections."--Ed.

'Tis said, that some have died for love:
And here and there a church-yard grave is found
In the cold north's unhallowed ground,
Because the wretched man himself had slain,
His love was such a grievous pain. 5
And there is on