Delphi Complete Works of William Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth

  Monday morning (28th). Received a letter from Coleridge enclosing one from Mr Davy about the Lyrical Ballads — intensely hot I made pies in the morning. Wm went into the wood & altered his poems. In the Evening it was so very warm that I was too much tired to walk.

  Tuesday (29th). Still very hot. We gathered peas for dinner. We walked up in the Evening to find out Hewetson’s cottage but it was too dark. I was sick & weary.

  Wednesday (30th). Gathered peas for Mrs Simpson — John & I walked up with them — very hot — Wm had intended going to Keswick. I was obliged to lie down after dinner from excessive heat & headach. The Evening excessively beautiful — a rich reflection of the moon, the moonlight clouds & the hills, & from the Rays gap a huge rainbow pillar. We sailed upon the lake till it was 10 o clock.

  Thursday (31st). All the morning I was busy copying poems — gathered peas, & in the afternoon Coleridge came very hot, he brought the 2nd volume of the Anthology —— The men went to bathe & we afterwards sailed down to Loughrigg read poems on the water & let the boat take its own course — we walked a long time upon Loughrigg & returned in the grey twilight. The moon just setting as we reached home.

  Friday 1st August. In the morning I copied The Brothers — Coleridge & Wm went down to the lake. They returned & we all went together to Mary Point where we sate in the breeze & the shade & read Wms poems altered ‘The Whirlblast &c’ — Mr Simpson came to tea & Mr B Simpson afterwards — we drank tea in the orchard.

  Saturday Morning 2nd. Wm & Coleridge went to Keswick. John went with them to Wytheburn & staid all day fishing & brought home 2 small pikes at night. I accompanied them to Lewthwaite’s cottage & on my return papered Wm’s room — I afterwards lay down till tea time & after tea worked at my shifts in the orchard. A grey evening — about 8 o’clock it gathered for rain & I had the scatterings of a shower, but afterwards the lake became of a glassy calmness & all was still. I sate till I could see no longer & then continued my work in the house.

  Sunday Morning 3rd. I made pies & stuff d the pike — baked a loaf. Headach after dinner — I lay down, a letter from Wm rouzed me, desiring us to go to Keswick. After writing to Wm we walked as far as Mr Simpson’s & ate black cherries — a Heavenly warm evening with scattered clouds upon the hills. There was a vernal greenness upon the grass from the rains of the morning & afternoon — peas for dinner.

  Monday 4th. Rain in the night. I tied up Scarlet beans, nailed the honeysuckles &c &c — John was prepared to walk to Keswick all the morning — he seized a returned chaise & went after dinner. I pulled a large basket of peas & sent to Keswick by a returned chaise — a very cold evening — assisted to spread out linen in the morning.

  Tuesday 5th. Dried the linen in the morning, the air still cold. I pulled a bag full of peas for Mrs Simpson. Miss Simpson drank tea with me & supped on her return from Ambleside. A very fine evening. I sate on the wall making my shifts till I could see no longer — walked half-way home with Miss Simpson.

  Wednesday 6th August. A rainy morning. I ironed till dinner time — sewed till near dark — then pulled a basket of peas, & afterwards boiled & picked gooseberries. William came home from Keswick at 11 o clock a very fine night.

  Thursday Morning 7th August. Packed up the mattrass, & sent to Keswick — boiled gooseberries — NB 2 lbs of sugar in the first panfull 3 quarts all good measure — 3 lbs in the 2nd 4 quarts — 2½ lbs in the 3rd — a very fine day. William composing in the wood in the morning — in the evening we walked to Mary Point — a very fine sunset.

  Friday Morning (8th). We intended going to Keswick, but were prevented by the excessive heat. Nailed up scarlet beans in the morning — Drank tea at Mr Simpsons; & walked over the mountains by Wattenlath — very fine gooseberries at Mr S’s — a most enchanting walk — Wattenlath a heavenly scene. Reached Coleridge’s at 11 o clock.

  Saturday Morning (9th). I walked with Coleridge in the Windy Brow woods.

  Sunday (10th). Very hot the Cs went to church. We sailed upon Derwent in the evening.

  Monday afternoon (11th). Walked to Windy Brow.

  Tuesday (12th). Drank tea with the Cockins — Wm & I walked along the Gockermouth road — he was altering his poems.

  Wednesday (13th). Made the Windy Brow seat.

  Thursday Morning (14th). Called at the Speddings. In the Evening walked in the wood with W — very very beautiful the moon.

  Friday Morning (15th). W in the wood — I went with Hartley to see the Cockins & to buy Bacon. In the evening we walked to Water End — feasted on gooseberries at Silver hill.

  Saturday Morning (16th). Worked for Mrs C — & walked with Coleridge intending to gather Raspberries — joined by Miss Spedding.

  Sunday 16th August (17th). Came home — Dined in Borrowdale. A rainy morning but a fine evening — saw the Bristol prison & Bassenthwaite at the same time — Wm read us the 7 Sisters on a stone.

  Monday (18th). Putting linen by & mending. Walked with John to Mr Simpson’s & met Wm in returning a fine warm day.

  Tuesday (19th). Mr & Mrs Simpson dined with us — Miss S & Brother drank tea in the orchard.

  Wednesday (20th). I worked in the morning. Cold in the evening & rainy. Did not walk.

  Thursday (21st). Read Wallenstein & sent it off — worked in the morning — walked with John round the two lakes — gathered white foxglove seeds & found Wm in Bain-riggs at our return.

  Friday 21st (22nd). Very cold — baking in the morning — gathered pea seeds & took up — lighted a fire upstairs. Walked as far as Rydale with John intending to have gone on to Ambleside but we found the papers at Rydale — Wm walking in the wood all the time. John & he went out after our return — I mended stockings. Wind very high shaking the corn.

  Saturday 22nd (23rd). A very fine morning. Wm was composing all the morning — I shelled peas, gathered beans, & worked in the garden till ½ past 12 then walked with William in the wood. The Gleams of sunshine & the stirring trees & gleaming bright chearful lake, most delightful. After dinner we walked to Ambleside — showery, went to see Mr Partridges house. Came home by Clappersgate. We had intended going by Rydale woods, but it was cold — I was not well, & tired, got tea immediately, & had a fire — did not reach home till 7 o clock — mended stockings — & W read Peter Bell. He read us the Poem of Joanna beside the Rothay by the roadside.

  Sunday 23rd (24th). A fine cool pleasant breezy day walked in the wood in the morning. Mr Twining called. John walked up to Mr Simpsons in the evening. I staid at home & wrote to Mrs Rawson & my aunt Cookson — I was ill in the afternoon & lay dowrn — got up restored by a sound sleep.

  Monday 24th (25th). A fine day — walked in the wood in the morning & to the firgrove — walked up to Mr Simpsons in the evening.

  Tuesday 25th (26th). We walked in the evening to Ambleside, Wm not quite well. I bought sacking for the mattrass. A very fine solemn evening. The wind blew very free from the islands at Rydale — we went on the other side of Rydale, & sate a long time looking at the mountains which were all black at Grasmere & very bright in Rydale — Grasmere exceedingly dark & Rydale of a light yellow green.

  Wednesday 27th. In the morning we walked — John Baty passed us. We walked along the shore of the lake in the Evening & went over into Langdale & down to Loughrigg tarn — a very fine evening calm & still.

  Thursday 27 August (28th). Still very fine weather I baked bread & cakes. In the Evening we walked round the Lake by Rydale & Mr Simpson came to fish.

  Friday evening (29th). We walked to Rydale to inquire for letters. We walked over the hill by the Firgrove. I sate upon a rock & observed a flight of swallows gathering together high above my head they flew towards Rydale. We walked through the wood over the stepping stones — The lake of Rydale very beautiful, partly still. John & I left Wm to compose an Inscription — that about the path. We had a very fine walk by the gloomy lake. There was a curious yellow reflection in the water as of corn fields — there was no light in the clouds from which it appeared to come.


  Saturday Morning 28th August. (30th). I was baking Bread pies & dinner. It was very warm. Wm finished his Inscription of the Pathway. Then walked in the wood & when John returned he sought him & they bathed together. I read a little of Boswells Life of Johnson. I had a headache & went to lie down in the orchard. I was rouzed by a shout that Anthony Harrison was come. We sate in the orchard till tea time, drank tea early & rowed down the lake which was stirred by Breezes. We looked at Rydale which was soft, chearful, & beautiful. We then went to peep into Langdale. The Pikes were very grand. We walked back to the view of Rydale, which was now a dark mirror. We rowed home over a lake still as glass & then went to George Mackareth’s to hire a horse for John. A fine moonlight night. The beauty of the Moon was startling as it rose to us over Loughrigg Fell. We returned to supper at 10 o’clock. Thomas Ashburner brought us our 8th Cart of coals since May 17th.

  Sunday 29th (31st). Anthony Harrison & John left us at ‘A past seven — a very fine morning. A great deal of corn is cut in the vale, & the whole prospect though not tinged with a general autumnal yellow, yet softened down into a mellowness of colouring which seems to impart softness to the forms of hills & mountains. At 11 o’clock Coleridge came when I was walking in the still, clear moonshine in the garden — he came over Helvellyn — Wm was gone to bed & John also, worn out with his ride round Coniston. We sate & chatted till ½ past three W in his dressing gown. Coleridge read us a part of Christabel. Talked much about the mountains &c &c Miss Thrale’s hatred — Losh’s opinion of Southey — the first of poets.

  Monday Morning 1st September. We walked in the wood by the Lake. W read Joanna & the Firgrove to Coleridge. They bathed. The morning was delightful with somewhat of an autumnal freshness. After dinner Coleridge discovered a rock seat in the orchard, cleared away the brambles. Coleridge obliged to go to bed after tea. John & I followed Wm up the hill & then returned to go to Mr Simpsons — we borrowed some bottles for bottling rum. The evening somewhat frosty & grey but very pleasant. I broiled Coleridge a mutton chop which he ate in bed. Wm was gone to bed — I chatted with John & Coleridge till near 12.

  Tuesday 2nd. In the morning they all went to Stickel Tarn. A very fine, warm sunny beautiful morning. I baked a pie &c for dinner — little Sally was with me. The fair day. Miss Simpson & Mr came down to tea we walked to the fair. There seem’d very few people & very few stalls yet I believe there were many cakes & much beer sold. My Brothers came home to dinner at 6 o’clock. We drank Tea immediately after by Candlelight. It was a lovely moonlight night. We talked much about a house on Helvellyn. The moonlight shone only upon the village it did not eclipse the village lights & the sound of dancing & merriment came along the still air — I walked with Coleridge & Wm up the Lane & by the Church, I then lingered with Coleridge in the garden. John & Wm were both gone to bed & all the lights out.

  Wednesday 3rd September. Coleridge Wm & John went from home to go upon Helvellyn with Mr Simpson. They set out after breakfast. I accompanied them up near the Blacksmith’s. A fine coolish morning. I ironed till ½ past three — now very hot. I then went to a funeral at John Dawsons. About 10 men & 4 women. Bread cheese & ale — they talked sensibly & chearfully about common things. The dead person 56 years of age buried by the parish — the coffin was neatly lettered & painted black & covered with a decent cloth. They set the corpse down at the door & while we stood within the threshold the men with their hats off sang with decent & solemn countenances a verse of a funeral psalm. The corpse was then borne down the hill & they sang till they had got past the Town-end. I was affected to tears while we stood in the house, the coffin lying before me. There were no near kindred, no children. When we got out of the dark house the sun was shining & the prospect looked so divinely beautiful as I never saw it. It seemed more sacred than I had ever seen it, & yet more allied to human life. The green fields, neighbours of the churchyard, were green as possible & with the brightness of the sunshine looked quite Gay. I thought she was going to a quiet spot & I could not help weeping very much. When we came to the bridge they began to sing again & stopped during 4 lines before they entered the church-yard. The priest met us — he did not look as a man ought to do on such an occasion — I had seen him half drunk the day before in a pot-house. Before we came with the corpse one of the company observed he wondered what sort of cue ‘our Parson would be in.’ NB it was the day after the Fair. I had not finished ironing till 7 o’clock. The wind was now high & I did not walk — writing my journal now at 8 o clock. Wm & John came home at 1 o o clock.

  Thursday 4th September. A fine warm day — I was busy all the morning making a mattrass. Mr Simpson called in the afternoon. Wm walked in the wood in the morning & in the evening as we set forward to walk a letter from Mrs Clarkson. We walked into the black quarter. The patches of corn very interesting.

  Friday Morning (5th). Finished the mattrass, ironed the white bed in the afternoon. When I was putting it up Mr & Mrs Losh arrived while Wm & John were walking.

  Saturday Morning 6th September. Breakfasted with the Loshes — very warm — returned through Rydale woods. The Clarksons dined. After tea we walked round Rydale, a little rain.

  Sunday Morning 7th. Rainy. Walked before dinner over the stepping stones to Langdale & home on the other side of the lake. I lay down after dinner. Wm poorly. Walked into the Black quarter.

  Monday Morning 8th September. Very rainy. The Clarksons left us after dinner — still rainy. We walked towards Rydale, & then to Mr Olliffs gate a fine evening.

  Tuesday Morning 9th. Mr Marshall came — he dined with us. My Brothers walked with him round the lakes after dinner — windy we went to the island. W & I after to tea. John & I went to the B quarter, before supper went to seek a horse at Dawsons — fir grove — After supper talked of Wms Poems.

  Wednesday Sept. 10th. After Breakfast Mr Marshall, Wm & John went on horseback to Keswick — I wrote to Mrs Marshall — a fine autumn day. I had a fire. Paid Mr Bousfield 8–2-11. After tea walked with French Beans to Mr Simpsons — went up to the Forest side above a deserted house, sat till twilight came on. Mr & Miss S came down with me & supped.

  Thursday 11th. All the morning mending white gown — washed my head — Molly washing. Drank tea at Mr Simpsons. Found Wm at home at my return he was unable to go on with Mr Marshall & parted from him in Borrowdale. Made tea after my return.

  Friday 12th Sept. I worked in the morning cut my thumb. Walked in the Fir-grove before dinner — after dinner sate under the trees in the orchard. A rainy morning but very fine afternoon. Miss Simpson called for my packing needle. The Fern of the mountains now spreads yellow veins among the trees. The coppice wood turns brown. William observed some affecting little things in Borrowdale — a decayed house with this inscription (

  ) in the church-yard, the tall silent rocks seen thro’ the broken windows — a kind of rough column put upon the gavel end of a house with a ball stone smooth from the river placed upon it for ornament — near it one stone like it upon an old mansion carefully hewn.

  Saturday Morning 13th September. William writing his preface did not walk. Jones & Mr Palmer came to tea — we walked with them to Borricks — a lovely evening but the air frosty — worked when I returned home. Wm walked out. John came, horse from Mr Marshall sent backward to Mrs Clarkson.

  Sunday Morning 14th. Made bread — a sore thumb from a cut — a lovely day — read Boswell in the house in the morning & after dinner under the bright yellow leaves of the orchard — the pear trees a bright yellow, the apple trees green still, a sweet lovely afternoon.

  Here I have long neglected my Journal. John came home in the evening after Jones left us. Jones returned again on the Friday the 19th September — Jones stayed with us till Friday, 26th September. Coleridge came on Tuesday 23rd & went home with Jones. Charles Lloyd called on Tuesday 23rd, & on Sunday 27th we drank tea & supped with him, & on that day heard of the Abergavennys arrival. While Jones was with us we had much rainy weather. On Sunday the 21st Tom Myers & Father called, & on the 2
8th Mr & Miss Smith.

  On Monday 29th John left us. Wm & I parted with him in sight of Ulswater. It was a fine day, showery but with sunshine & fine clouds — poor fellow my heart was right sad — I could not help thinking we should see him again because he was only going to Penrith.

  On Tuesday 30th September Charles Lloyd dined with us. We walked homewards with him after dinner. It rained very hard. Rydale was extremely wild & we had a fine walk. We sate quietly & comfortably by the fire. I wrote — the last sheet of notes & preface — Went to bed at 12 o’clock.

  Wednesday 1st October. A fine morning — a showery night the lake still in the morning — in the forenoon flashing light from the beams of the sun, as it was ruffled by the wind. We corrected the last sheet.

  Thursday 2nd October. A very rainy morning — We walked after dinner to observe the torrents — I followed Wm to Rydale, he afterwards went to Butterlip How. I came home to receive the Lloyds. They walked with us to see Churnmilk force & the Black quarter. The black quarter looked marshy, & the general prospect was cold, but the Force was very grand. The Lychens are now coming out afresh, I carried home a collection in the afternoon. We had a pleasant conversation about the manners of the rich — Avarice, inordinate desires, & the effeminacy unnaturalness & the unworthy objects of education. After the Lloyds were gone we walked — a showery evening. The moonlight lay upon the hills like snow.