The Prelude or Growth of a Poet's Mind: By William Wordsworth: Edited from the manuscripts with introduction, textual and critical notes by Ernest de Selincourt |
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 | The Prelude |  |
To conceal
The threaten'd shame the Parents of the Maid
Found means to hurry her away by night
And unforewarn'd, that in a distant Town
She might remain shrouded in privacy,
Until the Babe was born. When morning came
The Lover thus bereft, stung with his loss
And all uncertain whither he should turn
Chafed like a wild beast in the toils; at length,
Following as his suspicions led, he found
O joy! sure traces of the fugitives,
Pursu'd them to the Town where they had stopp'd,
And lastly to the very House itself
Which had been chosen for the Maid's retreat.
The sequel may be easily divined,
Walks backwards, forwards, morning, noon and night
When decency and caution would allow
And Julia, who, whenever to herself
She happen'd to be left a moment's space,
Was busy at her casement, as a Swallow
About its nest, ere long did thus espy
Her Lover, thence a stolen interview
By night accomplish'd, with a ladder's help.
The threaten'd shame the Parents of the Maid
Found means to hurry her away by night
And unforewarn'd, that in a distant Town
She might remain shrouded in privacy,
Until the Babe was born. When morning came
The Lover thus bereft, stung with his loss
And all uncertain whither he should turn
Chafed like a wild beast in the toils; at length,
Following as his suspicions led, he found
O joy! sure traces of the fugitives,
342
And lastly to the very House itself
Which had been chosen for the Maid's retreat.
The sequel may be easily divined,
Walks backwards, forwards, morning, noon and night
When decency and caution would allow
And Julia, who, whenever to herself
She happen'd to be left a moment's space,
Was busy at her casement, as a Swallow
About its nest, ere long did thus espy
Her Lover, thence a stolen interview
By night accomplish'd, with a ladder's help.
| The Prelude | |