Delphi Complete Works of William Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth

  Thursday (29th). In the morning worked in the garden a little, read King John. Miss Simpson & Miss Falcon & Mr S came very early — went to Mr Gells boat before tea — we fished upon the lake & amongst us caught 13 Bass. Miss Simpson brought gooseberries & cream left the water at near nine o clock, very cold. Went part of the way home with the party.

  Friday (30th). In the morning went to Ambleside, forgetting that the post does not come till the evening — how was I grieved when I was so informed — I walked back resolving to go again in the evening. It rained very mildly & sweetly in the morning as I came home, but came on a wet afternoon & evening — luckily I caught Mr Ollifs Lad as he was going for letters, he brought me one from Wm & 12 papers. I planted London pride upon the wall & many things on the Borders. John sodded the wall. As I came past Rydale in the morning I saw a Heron swimming with only its neck out of water — it beat & struggled amongst the water when it flew away & was long in getting loose.

  Saturday (31st). A sweet mild rainy morning. Grundy the carpet man called I paid him 1 — 10/ — Went to the Blind man’s for plants. I got such a load that I was obliged to leave my Basket in the Road & send Molly for it. Planted &c. After dinner when I was putting up vallances Miss Simpson & her Visitors called — I went with them to Brathay Bridge. We got Broom in returning, strawberries &c, came home by Ambleside — Grasmere looked divinely beautiful. Mr, Miss Simpson & Tommy drank tea at 8 o clock — I walked to the Potters with them.

  Sunday June 1st. Rain in the night — a sweet mild morning — Read Ballads, went to church. Singers from Wytheburn. Went part of the way home with Miss Simpson. Walked upon the hill above the house till dinner-time — went again to church — a Christening & singing which kept us very late. The pewside came down with me. Walked with Miss Simpson nearly home. After tea went to Ambleside, round the lakes — a very fine warm evening. I lay upon the steep of Loughrigg my heart dissolved in what I saw when I was not startled but recalled from my reverie by a noise as of a child paddling without shoes. I looked up and saw a lamb close to me — it approached nearer & nearer as if to examine me & stood a long time. I did not move — at last it ran past me & went bleating along the pathway seeming to be seeking its mother. I saw a hare in the high road. The post was not come in — I waited in the Road till Johns apprentice came with a letter from Coleridge & 3 papers. The moon shone upon the water — reached home at 10 o clock — went to bed immediately. Molly brought Daisies &c which we planted.

  Monday (2nd). A cold dry windy morning. I worked in the garden & planted flowers &c — Sate under the trees after dinner till tea time. John Fisher stuck the peas, Molly weeded & washed. I went to Ambleside after tea, crossed the stepping-stones at the foot of Grasmere & pursued my way on the other side of Rydale & by Clappersgate. I sate a long time to watch the hurrying waves & to hear the regularly irregular sound of the dashing waters. The waves round about the little (Island) seemed like a dance of spirits that rose out of the water, round its small circumference of shore. Inquired about lodgings for Coleridge, & was accompanied by Mrs Nicholson as far as Rydale. This was very kind, but God be thanked I want not society by a moonlight lake — It was near 11 when I reached home. I wrote to Coleridge & went late to bed.

  Tuesday (3rd). Sent off my letter by the Butcher — a boisterous drying day. Worked in the garden before dinner. Read R(ichar)d Second — was not well after dinner & lay down. Mrs Simpsons grandson brought me some gooseberries — I got up & walked with him part of the way home, afterwards went down rambling by the lake side — got Lockety goldings, strawberries &c, & planted. After tea the wind fell I walked towards Mr Simpsons. Gave the newspapers to the Girl, reached home at 10. No letter, no William — a letter from R(ichar)d to John.

  Wednesday (4th). A very fine day. I sate out of doors most of the day, wrote to Mr Jackson. Ambleside fair. I walked to the lake side in the morning, took up plants & sate upon a stone reading Ballads. In the Evening I was watering plants when Mr & Miss Simpson called — I accompanied them home — & we went to the waterfall at the head of the valley — it was very interesting in the Twilight. I brought home lemon thyme & several other plants, & planted them by moonlight. I lingered out of doors in the hope of hearing my Brothers tread.

  Thursday (5th). I sate out of doors great part of the day & worked in the Garden — had a letter from Mr Jackson, & wrote an answer to Coleridge. The little birds busy making love & pecking the blossoms & bits of moss off the trees, they flutter about & about & thrid the trees as I lie under them. Molly went out to tea — I would not go far from home expecting my Brothers — I rambled on the hill above the house gathered wild thyme & took up roots of wild Columbine. Just as I was returning with my ‘load’, Mr & Miss Simpson called. We went again upon the hill, got more plants, set them, & then went to the Blind Mans for London Pride for Miss Simpson. I went up with them as far as the Blacksmith’s. A fine lovely moonlight night.

  Friday (6th). Sate out of doors reading the Whole Afternoon, but in the morning I wrote to my aunt Cookson. In the Evening I went to Ambleside with Coleridge’s letter — it was a lovely night as the day had been. I went by Loughrigg & Clappersgate & just met the post at the turnpike — he told me there were two letters but none for me. So I was in no hurry & went round again by Clappersgate, crossed the Stepping stones & entered Ambleside at Matthew Harrisons — A letter from Jack Hutchinson, & one from Montagu enclosing a 3£ note — No William! I slackened my pace as I came near home fearing to hear that he was not come. I listened till after one o’clock to every barking dog, Cock fighting, & other sports: it was Mr Borricks opening. Foxgloves just coming into blossom.

  Saturday (7th). A very warm cloudy morning, threatening to rain. I walked up to Mr Simpsons to gather gooseberries — it was a very fine afternoon — little Tommy came down with me, ate gooseberry pudding & drank tea with me. We went up the hill to gather sods & plants & went down to the lake side & took up orchises &c — I watered the garden & weeded. I did not leave home in the expectation of Wm & John, & sitting at work till after 11 o clock I heard a foot go to the front of the house, turn round, & open the gate. It was William —— after our first joy was over we got some tea. We did not go to bed till 4 o clock in the morning so he had an opportunity of seeing our improvements — the birds were singing, & all looked fresh though not gay. There was a greyness on earth & sky. We did not rise till near 10 in the morning. We were busy all day in writing letters to Coleridge, Montagu, Douglass, Richard. Mr & Miss Simpson called in the Evening, the little Boy carried our letters to Ambleside. We walked with Mr & Miss S home on their return the evening was cold & I was afraid of the tooth-ach for William. We met John on our return home.

  Monday 9th. In the morning W cut down the winter cherry tree I sowed French Beans & weeded. A coronetted Landau went by when we were sitting upon the sodded wall. The ladies (evidently Tourists) turned an eye of interest upon our little garden & cottage. We went to R Newtons for pikefloats & went round to Mr Cell’s Boat & on to the Lake to fish we caught nothing — it was extremely cold. The Reeds & Bulrushes or Bullpipes of a tender soft green making a plain whose surface moved with the wind. The reeds not yet tall. The lake clear to the Bottom, but saw no fish. In the evening I stuck peas, watered the garden & planted Brocoli — Did not walk for it was very cold. A poor Girl called to beg who had no work at home & was going in search of it to Kendal. She slept in Mr Bensons Lathe — & went off after Breakfast in the morning with 7d & a letter to the Mayor of Kendal.

  Tuesday 10th. A cold, yet sunshiny morning. John carried letters to Ambleside. I made tarts, pies &c — Wm stuck peas. After dinner he lay down — John not at home — I stuck peas alone — Molly washing. Cold showers with hail & rain, but at half past five after a heavy rain the lake became calm — & very beautiful. Those parts of the water which were perfectly unruffled lay like green islands of various shapes. W & I walked to Ambleside to seek lodgings for C. No letters — no papers. It was a very cold cheerless evening. John had been fishing
in Langdale & was gone to bed.

  On Tuesday, May 27th, a very tall woman, tall much beyond the measure of tall women, called at the door. She had on a very long brown cloak, & a very white cap without Bonnet — her face was excessively brown, but it had plainly once been fair. She led a little bare footed child about 2 years old by the hand & said her husband who was a tinker was gone before with the other children. I gave her a piece of Bread. Afterwards on my road to Ambleside, beside the Bridge at Rydale, I saw her husband sitting by the road-side, his two asses feeding beside him & the two young children at play upon the grass. The man did not beg — I passed on & about 1/4 of a mile further I saw two boys before me, one about 10 the other about 8 years old at play chasing a butterfly. They were wild figures, not very ragged, but without shoes & stockings; the hat of the elder was wreathed round with yellow flowers, the younger whose hat was only a rimless crown, had stuck it round with laurel leaves. They continued at play till I drew very near & then they addressed me with the Begging cant & the whining voice of sorrow — I said I served your Mother this morning (The Boys were so like the woman who had called at the door that I could not be mistaken) — O! says the elder you could not serve my mother for she’s dead & my father’s on at the next town — he’s a potter — I persisted in my assertion & that I would give them nothing. Says the elder Come lets ‘away’ & away they flew like lightning. They had however sauntered so long in their road that they did not reach Ambleside before me, & 1 saw them go up to Matthew Harrison’s house with their wallet upon the elder’s shoulder, & creeping with a Beggars complaining foot. On my return through Ambleside I met in the street the mother driving her asses; in the two Panniers of one of which were the two little children whom she was chiding & threatening with a wand which she used to drive on her asses, while the little things hung in wantonness over the Panniers edge. The woman had told me in the morning that she was of Scotland, which her accent fully proved, but that she had lived (I think at Wigton) that they could not keep a house, & so they travelled.

  Wednesday 13th June (11th). A very cold morning — we went on the lake to set pike floats with John’s fish — W & J went first alone — Mr Simpson called & I accompanied him to the Lake side — My Brothers & I again went upon the water, & returned to dinner — we landed upon the Island where I saw the whitest Hawthorn I have seen this year, the generality of hawthorns are bloomless — I saw wild roses in the hedges. Went to bed in the afternoon & slept till after six — a threatening of the tooth-ach. Wm & John went to the pike floats — they brought in 2 pikes. I sowed Kidney-beans & spinnach, a cold evening. Molly stuck the peas. I weeded a little. Did not walk.

  Thursday 14th June (12th). William & I went upon the water to set pike floats — John fished under Loughrigg. We returned to dinner — 2 pikes boiled & roasted — a very cold air but warm sun. W & I again went upon the water — we walked to Rydale after tea, & up to the potter’s — a cold night, but warmer.

  Friday (13th). A rainy morning. W & J went upon the Lake — very warm, & pleasant gleams of sunshine. Went upon the water after tea, caught a pike 71/2(lbs.) Mr Simpson trolling. Mr Gell & his party come.

  Saturday (14th). A fine morning but cloudy — W & John went upon the lake — I staid at home. We drank tea at Mr Simpsons. Stayed till after 10 o clock.

  Sunday (15th). John walked to Coniston. W & I sauntered in the Garden. Afterwards walked by the lake side: a cold air — we pushed through the wood — walked behind the fir grove & returned to dinner. We lay down after dinner. Parker, the Tanner & the Blacksmith from Hawkshead called.

  Monday (16th). Wm & I went to Brathay by Little Langdale & Coliath & Skelleth. It was a warm mild morning with threatenings of rain. The vale of Little Langdale looked bare & unlovely. Collath was wild & interesting, from the Peat carts & peat gatherers — the valley all perfumed with the Gale & wild thyme. The woods about the waterfall veined with rich yellow Broom. A succession of delicious views from Skelleth to Brathay. We met near Skelleth a pretty little Boy with a wallet over his shoulder he came from Hawkshead & was going to ‘late’ a lock of meal. He spoke gently & without complaint. When I asked him if he got enough to eat he looked surprized & said ‘Nay’. He was 7 years old but seemed not more than 5. We drank tea at Mr Ibbetsons & returned by Ambleside. Sent 3–9-0 to the Potter at Kendal. Met John on our return home at about 10 o clock. Saw a primrose in blossom.

  Tuesday (17th). We put the new window in. I ironed & worked about a good deal in house & garden. In the Evening we walked for letters. Found one for Coleridge at Rydale, & I returned much tired.

  Wednesday (18th). We walked round the lake in the morning & in the evening to the lower waterfall at Rydale — it was a warm dark, lowering evening.

  Thursday (19th). A very hot morning — Wm & I walked up to Mr Simpsons. W & old Mr S. went to fish in Wytheburn water. I dined with John, & lay under the trees. The afternoon changed from clear to cloudy & to clear again — John & I walked up to the waterfall & to Mr Simpsons, & with Miss Simpson met the fishers — W caught a pike weighing 43/4 Ibs. There was a gloom almost terrible over Grasmere water & vale — a few drops fell but not much rain. No Coleridge whom we fully expected.

  Friday (20th). I worked in the garden in the morning. Wm prepared Pea sticks. Threatening for rain but yet it comes not. On Wednesday evening a poor man called, a hatter — he had been long ill, but was now recovered & his wife was lying-in of her 4th child. The parish would not help him because he had implements of trade &c — &c — We gave him 6d.

  Saturday (21st). In the morning W & I went to Ambleside to get his tooth drawn, & put in — a fine clear morning but cold — Ws tooth drawn with very little pain he slept till 3 o’clock. Young Mr S. drank tea & supped with us they fished in Rydale water & they caught 2 small fishes, W no bite, John 3. Miss Simpson & 3 children called — I walked with them to Rydale. The evening cold & clear & frosty, but the wind was falling as I returned. I staid at home about an hour & then walked up the hill to Rydale lake. Grasmere looked so beautiful that my heart was almost melted away. It was quite calm only spotted with sparkles of light. The church visible. On our return all distant objects had faded away — all but the hills. The reflection of the light bright sky above Black quarter was very solemn. Mr S did not go till 12 o clock.

  Sunday (22nd). In the morning W & I walked towards Rydale & up into the wood but finding it not very pleasant we returned — sauntered in the garden — a showery day. In the evening I planted a honeysuckle round the yew tree. In the evening we walked for letters. No letters, no news of Coleridge. Jimmy Benson came home drunk beside us.

  Monday (23rd). Mr Simpson called in the morning Tommys Father dead. W & I went into Langdale to fish. The morning was very cold. I sate at the foot of the lake till my head ached with cold. The view exquisitely beautiful, through a gate & under a sycamore tree beside the first house going into Loughrigg — Elter water looked barren, & the view from the church less beautiful than in winter. When W went down to the water to fish I lay under the wind my head pillowed upon a mossy rock & slept about 10 minutes which relieved my headach. We ate our dinner together & parted again. Wm was afraid he had lost his line & sought me. An old Man saw me just after I had crossed the stepping stones & was going thro’ a copse — Ho, where were you going? To Eltcrwater Bridge — Why says he its well I saw you, ye were gane to Little Langdale by Wrynose, & several other places — which he ran over, with a mixture of triumph, good-nature, & wit. Its well I saw you or youd ha been lost —— The evening grew very pleasant we sate on the side of the hill looking to Elterwater. I was much tired & returned home to tea — W went to fish for pike in Rydale. John came in when I had done tea, & he & I carried a jug of tea to William. We met him in the old road from Rydale — he drank his tea upon the turf — the setting sun threw a red purple light upon the rocks & stone walls of Rydale which gave them a most interesting & beautiful appearance.

  Tuesday (24th). W went to Ambleside — John walked out — I made tarts &c —
Mr B Simpson called & asked us to tea — I went to the view of Rydale to meet William. John went to him — I returned — W & I drank tea at Mr Simpsons, brought down Lemon Thyme, greens &c — The old woman was very happy to see us & we were so in the pleasure we gave. She was an affecting picture of Patient disappointment suffering under no particular affliction.

  Wednesday (25th). A very rainy day — I made a shoe — Wm & John went to fish in Langdale. In the evening I went above the house, & gathered flowers which I planted, fox-glove &c. On Sunday (29 June) Mr & Mrs Coleridge & Hartley came. The day was very warm we sailed to the foot of Loughrigg. They staid with us three weeks & till the Thursday following, ie. till the 23 (24th) of July. On the Friday preceding their departure we drank tea at the island. The weather very delightful — & on the Sunday we made a great fire, & drank tea in Bainriggs with the Simpsons — I accompanied Mrs C. to Wytheburne & returned with W — to tea at Mr Simpsons — it was excessively hot. But the day after Friday July 24th (25th) still hotter. All the morning I was engaged in unpacking our Somersetshire goods & in making pies. The house was a hot oven but yet we could not bake the pies — I was so weary I could not walk so I went & sate with Wm in the orchard — we had a delightful half hour, in the warm still evening.

  Saturday 25th (26th). Still hotter. I sate with W. in the orchard all the morning & made my shoe. In the afternoon from excessive heat I was ill in the headach & toothach & went to bed — I was refreshed with washing myself after I got up, but it was too hot to walk till near dark, & then I sate upon the wall finishing my shoes.

  Sunday Mor. 26th (27th). Very warm — Molly ill — John bathed in the lake. I wrote out Ruth in the afternoon, in the morning I read Mr Knight’s Landscape. After tea we rowed down to Loughrigg Fell, visited the white foxglove, gathered wild strawberries, & walked up to view Rydale we lay a long time looking at the lake, the shores all embrowned with the scorching sun. The Ferns were turning yellow, that is here & there one was quite turned. We walked round by Benson’s wood home. The lake was now most still & reflected the beautiful yellow & blue & purple & grey colours of the sky. We heard a strange sound in the Bainriggs wood as we were floating on the water it seemed in the wood, but it must have been above it, for presently we saw a raven very high above us — it called out & the Dome of the sky seemed to echoe the sound — it called again & again as it flew onwards, & the mountains gave back the sound, seeming as if from their center a musical bell-like answering to the birds hoarse voice. We heard both the call of the bird & the echoe after we could see him no longer. We walked up to the top of the hill again in view of Rydale — met Mr & Miss Simpson on horseback. The crescent moon which had shone upon the water was now gone down. Returned to supper at 10 o clock.