Those bright blue eggs together laid!
On me the chance-discovered sight
Gleamed like a vision of delight. [1]
I started--seeming to espy 5
The home and sheltered bed,
The Sparrow's dwelling, which, hard by
My Father's house, in wet or dry
My sister Emmeline and I
Together visited. 10

She looked at it and seemed to fear it;
Dreading, tho' wishing, to be near it: [2]
Such heart was in her, being then
A little Prattler among men.
The Blessing of my later years 15
Was with me when a boy:
She gave me eyes, she gave me ears;
And humble cares, and delicate fears;
A heart, the fountain of sweet tears;
And love, and thought, and joy. 20

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1815.

Look, five blue eggs are gleaming there!
Few visions have I seen more fair,
Nor many prospects of delight
More pleasing than that simple sight! 1807.]

[Variant 2:

1845.

She look'd at it as if she fear'd it;
Still wishing, dreading to be near it: 1807.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE

[Footnote A: So it stands in the Fenwick note; but it should evidently
read, "The following stanzas allude."--Ed.]

Wordsworth's "sister Emmeline" was his only sister, Dorothy; and in the
MS. sent originally to the printer the line was "My sister Dorothy and
I." This poem is referred to in a subsequent one, 'A Farewell', l. 56.
See page 326 of this volume.--Ed.

* * * * *

"PELION AND OSSA FLOURISH SIDE BY SIDE"

Composed 1801.--Published 1815

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets." From 1836 onwards it bore the title
'1801'.--Ed.

Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side,
Together in immortal [1] books enrolled:
His ancient dower Olympus hath not sold;
And that inspiring Hill, which "did divide
Into two ample horns his forehead wide," [A] 5
Shines with poetic radiance as of old;
While not an English Mountain we behold
By the celestial Muses glorified.
Yet round our sea-girt shore they rise in crowds:
What was the great Parnassus' self to Thee, 10
Mount Skiddaw? In his natural sovereignty
Our British Hill is nobler [2] far; he shrouds
His double front among Atlantic clouds, [3]
And p