One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”—­Ed.

  Dark and more dark the shades of evening fell;
  The wished-for point was reached—­but at an hour
  When little could be gained from that rich dower [1]
  Of prospect, whereof many thousands tell. 
  Yet did the glowing west with marvellous power 5
  Salute us; there stood Indian citadel,
  Temple of Greece, and minster with its tower
  Substantially expressed—­a place for bell
  Or clock to toll from!  Many a tempting isle,
  With groves that never were imagined, lay 10
  ’Mid seas how steadfast! objects all for the eye
  Of silent rapture; but we felt the while [2]
  We should forget them; they are of the sky,
  And from our earthly memory fade away.

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VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1837.

  Ere we had reach’d the wish’d-for place, night fell: 
  We were too late at least by one dark hour,
  And nothing could we see of all that power
  Of prospect, ... 1807.

  Dark, and more dark, the shades of Evening fell;
  The wish’d-for point was reach’d—­but late the hour;
  And little could we see of all that power 1815.

  And little could be gained from all that dower 1827.]

[Variant 2: 

1837.

  The western sky did recompence us well
  With Grecian Temple, Minaret, and Bower;
  And, in one part, a Minster with its Tower
  Substantially distinct, a place for Bell
  Or Clock to toll from.  Many a glorious pile
  Did we behold, sights that might well repay
  All disappointment! and, as such, the eye
  Delighted in them; but we felt, the while, 1807.

  Substantially expressed—... 1815.

  Did we behold, fair sights that might repay 1815.

  Yet did the glowing west in all its power 1827.

The text of 1827 is otherwise identical with that of 1837.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  Called by Wordsworth, “The Hamilton Hills” in the editions from 1807 to 1827.—­Ed.]

The following extract from Dorothy Wordsworth’s Journal indicates, as fully as any other passage in it, the use which her brother occasionally made of it.  We have the “Grecian Temple,” and the “Minster with its Tower”: