The text of 1845 reverts to the reading of 1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1815.

  Stop here whenever you are weary,
  And rest as in a sanctuary! 1807.

  And feed ...  MS.]

Wordsworth’s date, as given to Miss Fenwick, is incorrect.  In her Journal, April 20, 1802, Dorothy Wordsworth writes: 

  “William wrote a conclusion to the poem of ‘The Butterfly’, ’I’ve
  watch’d you now a full half-hour.’”

This, and the structure of the two poems, makes it probable that the latter was originally meant to be a sort of conclusion to the former (p. 283); but they were always printed as separate poems.

Many of the “flowers” in the orchard at Dove Cottage were planted by Dorothy Wordsworth, and some of the “trees” by William.  The “summer days” of childhood are referred to in the previous poem, ’To a Butterfly’, written on the 14th of March 1802.—­Ed.

* * * * *

FORESIGHT

Composed April 28, 1802.—­Published 1807

[Also composed in the Orchard, Town-end, Grasmere.—­I.F.]

Included among the “Poems referring to the Period of Childhood.”—­Ed.

  That is work of waste and ruin—­[1]
  Do as Charles and I are doing! 
  Strawberry-blossoms, one and all,
  We must spare them—­here are many: 
  Look at it—­the flower is small, 5
  Small and low, though fair as any: 
  Do not touch it! summers two
  I am older, Anne, than you. 
  Pull the primrose, sister Anne! 
  Pull as many as you can. 10
  —­Here are daisies, take your fill;
  Pansies, and the cuckoo-flower: 
  Of the lofty daffodil
  Make your bed, or [2] make your bower;
  Fill your lap, and fill your bosom; 15
  Only spare the strawberry-blossom!

  Primroses, the Spring may love them—­
  Summer knows but little of them: 
  Violets, a barren kind,
  Withered on the ground must lie; 20
  Daisies leave no fruit behind
  When the pretty flowerets die;
  Pluck them, and another year
  As many will be blowing here. [3]

  God has given a kindlier power [4] 25
  To the favoured strawberry-flower. 
  Hither soon as spring is fled
  You and Charles and I will walk; [5]
  Lurking berries, ripe and red,
  Then will hang on every stalk, 30
  Each within its leafy bower;
  And for that promise spare the flower!

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1815.

  That is work which I am rueing—­1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1836.