Fletcher Raincock—­an elder brother of the William Raincock referred to in the Fenwick note to this poem, as Wordsworth’s schoolfellow at Hawkshead—­was with him also at Cambridge.  He attended Pembroke College, and was second wrangler in 1790. [B] John Fleming of Rayrigg, his half-brother—­the boy with whom Wordsworth used to walk round the lake of Esthwaite, in the morning before school-time, ("five miles of pleasant wandering")—­was also at St. John’s College, Cambridge, at this time, and had been fifth Wrangler in the preceding year, 1789.  He is referred to both in the second and the fifth books of ‘The Prelude’ (see notes to that poem).  It is perhaps not unworthy of note that Wrangham, whose French stanzas on “The Birth of Love” Wordsworth translated into English, was in the same year—­1789—­third Wrangler, second Smith’s prizeman, and first Chancellor’s medallist; while Robert Greenwood, “the Minstrel of the Troop,” who “blew his flute, alone upon the rock” in Windermere,—­also one of the characters referred to in the second book of ’The Prelude’,—­was sixteenth Wrangler in Wordsworth’s year, viz. 1791.  William Raincock was at St. John’s College, Cambridge.—­Ed.

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1815.

  ... when the stars had just begun 1800.]

[Variant 2: 

1836.

  ... a wild scene
  Of mirth and jocund din! ... 1800.

  ... concourse wild 1805.]

[Variant 3: 

1836.

...  And, when it chanced
That pauses of deep silence mock’d his skill, 1800.

... and, when a lengthened pause
Of silence came and baffled his best skill,
‘The Prelude’, 1850.]

[Variant 4:  This and the following line were added in 1805.]

[Variant 5: 

1815.

... ere he was ten years old. 1805.]

[Variant 6: 

1845.

  Fair are the woods, and beauteous is the spot,
  The vale where he was born:  the Church-yard hangs 1800.

  Fair is the spot, most beautiful the Vale
  Where he was born:  the grassy Church-yard hangs 1827.

The text of 1840 returns to that of 1800.]

[Variant 7: 

1836.

  And there along that bank when I have pass’d
  At evening, I believe, that near his grave 1800.

  ...  I believe, that oftentimes 1805.

  And through that Church-yard when my way has led 1827.]

[Variant 8: 

1815.

  A full half-hour together I have stood,
  Mute—­for he died when he was ten years old. 1800.

  Mute—­looking at the grave in which he lies. 1805.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT