SONNET[48:2]
Reading edition
SONNET[48:2]
TO THE RIVER OTTER
Dear native Brook! wild Streamlet of the West! How many various-fated years have past, What happy and what mournful hours, since last I skimm'd the smooth thin stone along thy breast, Numbering its light leaps! yet so deep imprest 5 Sink the sweet scenes of childhood, that mine eyes I never shut amid the sunny ray, But straight with all their tints thy waters rise, Thy crossing plank, thy marge with willows grey, And bedded sand that vein'd with various dyes 10 Gleam'd through thy bright transparence! On my way, Visions of Childhood! oft have ye beguil'd Lone manhood's cares, yet waking fondest sighs: Ah! that once more I were a careless Child!
? 1793.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] Sonnet No. IV. To the, &c., 1797, 1803.
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What blissful and what anguish'd hours Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.
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ray] blaze Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.
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thy] their S. L. Corrected in Errata, p. [xii].
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The crossing plank, and margin's willowy maze Watchman. Thy crossing plank, thy margin's willowy maze S. S., 1797, 1803.
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On my way] to the gaze Watchman, S. S., 1797, 1803.
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Ah! that I were once more, &c. S. L. Corrected in Errata, p. [xii].