Book 2 — ON REVISITING THE SEA-SHORE[359:1]
Reading edition
ON REVISITING THE SEA-SHORE[359:1]
AFTER LONG ABSENCE, UNDER STRONG MEDICAL RECOMMENDATION NOT TO BATHE
God be with thee, gladsome Ocean! How gladly greet I thee once more! Ships and waves, and ceaseless motion, And men rejoicing on thy shore. Dissuading spake the mild Physician, 5 'Those briny waves for thee are Death!' But my soul fulfilled her mission, And lo! I breathe untroubled breath! Fashion's pining sons and daughters, That seek the crowd they seem to fly, 10 Trembling they approach thy waters; And what cares Nature, if they die? Me a thousand hopes and pleasures A thousand recollections bland, Thoughts sublime, and stately measures, 15 Revisit on thy echoing strand: Dreams (the Soul herself forsaking), Tearful raptures, boyish mirth; Silent adorations, making A blessed shadow of this Earth! 20 [360]O ye hopes, that stir within me, Health comes with you from above! God is with me, God is in me! I cannot die, if Life be Love.
August, 1801.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] A flowering weed on the sweet Hill of Poesy MS. Letter, 1801: Ode After Bathing in the Sea, Contrary to Medical Advice M. P. After bathing in the Sea at Scarborough in company with T. Hutchinson. Aug. 1801 MS. A.
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3
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ceaseless] endless MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.
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4
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men] life MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.
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5
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Gravely said the mild MS. A. sage Physician MS. Letter:
Mildly said the mild Physician M. P.
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6
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To bathe me on thy shores were death MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.
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10
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That love the city's gilded sty MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.
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13
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hopes] loves MS. Letter, MS. A.
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16
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echoing] sounding MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.
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18
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Grief-like transports MS. Letter, M. P., MS. A.