"WITH SHIPS THE SEA WAS SPRINKLED FAR AND NIGH"
Reading edition
Composed 1806.—Published 1807
Placed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."—Ed.
With Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh,[A] Like stars in heaven, and joyously it showed; Some lying fast at anchor in the road, Some veering up and down, one knew not why. A goodly Vessel did I then espy 5 Come like a giant from a haven broad; And lustily along the bay she strode, Her tackling rich, and of apparel high.[B] This Ship was nought to me, nor I to her, Yet I pursued her with a Lover's look; 10 This Ship to all the rest did I prefer: When will she turn, and whither? She will brook No tarrying; where She comes the winds must stir: On went She, and due north her journey took.[C]
FOOTNOTES:
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Compare The Excursion, book iv. l. 1197— ... sea with ships
Sprinkled ...Ed.Note 2 · In the editions of 1815 to 1832 (but not in 1807) this line was printed within inverted commas. The quotation marks were dropped, however, iNote 3 · See Professor H. Reed's note to the American edition of Memoirs of Wordsworth, vol. i. p. 335; and Wordsworth's comment on Mrs. Fermor's cri