Volume 2 — Rural Architecture
Reading edition
Composed 1800.—Published 1800
The Poem
[Written at Town-end, Grasmere. These structures, as every one knows, are common amongst our hills, being built by shepherds, as conspicuous marks, and occasionally by boys in sport.—I. F.]
Included among the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood."—Ed.
The Poem
text variant footnote line number
There's George Fisher, Charles Fleming, and Reginald Shore, Three rosy-cheeked school-boys, the highest not more Than the height of a counsellor's bag; To the top of Great How did it please them to climb: And there they built up, without mortar or lime, A Man on the peak of the crag. They built him of stones gathered up as they lay: They built him and christened him all in one day, An urchin both vigorous and hale; And so without scruple they called him Ralph Jones. Now Ralph is renowned for the length of his bones; The Magog of Legberthwaite dale. Just half a week after, the wind sallied forth, And, in anger or merriment, out of the north, Coming on with a terrible pother, From the peak of the crag blew the giant away. And what did these school-boys?—The very next day They went and they built up another. —Some little I've seen of blind boisterous works By Christian disturbers more savage than Turks, Spirits busy to do and undo: At remembrance whereof my blood sometimes will flag; Then, light-hearted Boys, to the top of the crag; And I'll build up a giant with you. Contents: Poems on the Naming of Places Main Contents 1 2 3 4 A 5 10 15 20
Variant 1:
1800
From the meadows of Armath, on Thirlmere's wild shore, 1827
The text of 1832 reverts to that of 1800.
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Variant 2:
1800
... were once tempted to climb; 1827
The text of 1832 reverts to that of 1800.
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Variant 3:
1820
In Paris and London, 'mong Christians or Turks, 1800
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Variant 4:
This last stanza was omitted from the editions of 1805 and 1815. It was restored in 1820.
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Footnote A:
Great How is a single and conspicuous hill, which rises towards the foot of Thirl-mere, on the western side of the beautiful dale of Legberthwaite, along the high road between Keswick and Ambleside.—W. W. 1800.
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Contents: Poems on the Naming of Places Main Contents