>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > THE APRIL DAY.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 20th, 1820.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ALL day the low hung clouds have dropt 1
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Their garnered fulness down ;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > All day that soft grey mist hath wrapt
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hill, valley, grove, and town.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There has not been a sound to day 2
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To break the calm of nature;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Nor motion, I might almost say,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of life or living creature :
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of waving bough, or warbling bird, 3
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or cattle faintly lowing;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I could have half-believed I heard
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The leaves and blossoms growing.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I stood to hear I love it well, 4
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The rains continuous sound:
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down straight into the ground.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For leafy thickness is not yet 5
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Earth's naked breast to skreen,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Though ev'ry dripping branch is set
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With shoots of tender green.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sure since I looked, at early morn, 6
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those honey-suckle buds
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have swelled to double growth: that thorn
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hath put forth larger studs.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That lilac's cleaving cones have burst, 7
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The milk-white flowers revealing;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ev'n now, upon my senses first,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Methinks their sweets are stealing:
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The very earth, the steamy air, 8
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is all with fragrance rife!
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And grace and beauty ev'ry where
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are flushing into life.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down, down they come--those fruitful stores! 9
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those earth-rejoicing drops!
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A momentary deluge pours,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then thins, decreases, stops.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And e'er the dimples on the stream 10
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have circled out of sight,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lo! from the west, a parting gleam
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Breaks forth of amber light.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > It slants along that emerald mead, 11
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Across those poplars tall,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And brightens every rain-gloss'd weed
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On that old mossy wall.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The windows of that mansion old 12
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Enkindled by the blaze,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Reflect in flames of living gold,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The concentrated rays.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > But yet behold — abrupt and loud, 13
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Comes down the glittering rain —
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The farewell of a passing cloud,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fringes of its train.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 'Tis o'er — the blackbird's glossy wing 14
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Flirts off the sparkling spray,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As yon tall elm he mounts, to sing
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > His evening roundelay.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [The poem continues after this.]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On his website version of the poem, George Dance made the following changes to Ms. Southey's poem:
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “dropped” for the original “dropt” in Stanza 1, line 1.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “fullness” for the original “fulness” in Stanza 1, line 2.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “wrapped” for the original “wrapt” in Stanza 1, line 3.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a hyphen into "to day" in Stanza 2, line 1.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted a semicolon instead of the original colon at the end of Stanza 2, line 4.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put in an apostrophe instead of the original punctuation of “rains” in Stanza 4, line 2.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “screen” for the original “skreen” in Stanza 5, line 2.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “every” for the original “ev’ry” in Stanza 5, line 3.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put in a comma in the first line of Stanza 6, line 1, “Sure, since I looked” instead of the original “Sure since I looked, [...]“
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a semi-colon into Stanza 6, Line 3, “Have swelled to double growth;” instead of the original “Have swelled to double growth: that thorn […]”
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “even” for the original “ev’n” in Stanza 7, line 3.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance put a period at the end of line 4, Stanza 7, instead of the original colon.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted "everywhere" for the original "ev'ry where" in Stanza 8, line 4.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted "ere" for the original "e'er" in Stanza 10, line 1. This changes the meaning of the word in the line. "Ere" means before, but "e'er" means ever.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance substituted “long” for “yon” and has “As long tall elm he mounts,” in Stanza 14, line 3. This should be the original “yon tall elm,” not to be confused with “Long Tall Sally.” This change makes the line funny, which Ms. Southey would not have appreciated.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance fails the poetry course. We hope that he doesn’t decide to do his hacking take on Shakespeare’s works. "In the public domain" does not mean that George Dance can substitute his own words and punctuation in poems and call that scholarship.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > That's the Team Donkey way:
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "So, this being a public domain poem, this might be a line to consider editing"
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- Will Donkey, on sanctity of "public domain" text.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Absolutely: if it's not under copyright, anything goes. "Modernize that sonnet." "The King James Version is so 1600s." "If no one knows the poem, put your name on it and pass it off as your own work." "You don't need to proofread--no one will know."
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > NG, please stop spreading the false story that I made any of the above changes. Whoever made them did so long before I ever saw the poem; and quite a few more that you missed. As proof, here's a 19th-century school reader that contains all of them.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > George Dance, what does that prove? That reprints of poems contain errors? Does that excuse you for printing/copying the poem and including errors that did not appear in the original printing of the poem? If you had looked at the poem in the 1822 volume, you would have had the correct version for your blog. Instead, you reproduced one that was highly flawed, including your own mistakes. "Long tall" indeed!
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > XX.—AN APRIL DAY.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 1. All day the low-hung clouds have dropped [“dropped” for the original “dropt”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Their garnered fullness down; [“fullness” for the original “fulness”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > All day that soft, gray mist hath wrapped [“wrapped” for the original “wrapt”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hill, valley, grove, and town.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 2. There has not been a sound to-day [put a hyphen into "to day"]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > To break the calm of nature;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hor motion, I might almost say,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Of life, or living creature; [substituted a semicolon instead of the original colon]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 3. Of waving bough, or warbling bird,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Or cattle faintly lowing :
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I could have half believed I heard
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The leaves and blossoms growing,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 4. I stood to hear—I love it well—
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The rain’s continuous sound ; [put in an apostrophe instead of the original punctuation of “rains”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Down straight into the ground.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 5. For leafy thickness is not yet,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Earth’s naked breast to screen; [“screen” for the original “skreen”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Though every dripping branch is set
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With shoots of tender green.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 6. Sure, since I looked at early morn,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those honeysuckle buds
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have swelled to double growth ; that thorn [put a semi-colon into Stanza 6, Line 3]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hath put forth larger studs.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 7. That lilac’s cleaving cones have burst,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The milk-white flowers revealing;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Even now, upon my senses first [“even” for the original “ev’n”]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Methinks their sweets are stealing. [a period at the end of line 4, Stanza 7, instead of the original colon]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 8. The very earth, the steamy air,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Is all with fragrance rife ;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > And grace and beauty everywhere ["everywhere" for the original "ev'ry where"]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Are flushing into life.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 9. Down, down they come—those fruitful stores,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Those earth rejoicing drops !
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A momentary deluge pours,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Then thins, decreases, stops.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 10. And ere the dimples on the stream ["ere" for the original "e'er"]
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have circled ont of sight,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lo ! from the west a parting gleam
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Breaks forth, of amber light.
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 11. But yet behold—abrupt and loud,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Comes down the glittering rain;
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The farewell of a passing cloud,
>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fringes of her train.