Poems (Wordsworth, 1815)/Volume 1/Notes

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NOTES TO VOLUME I.

Page 48.—Poem of the Highland Boy. It is recorded in Dampier's Voyages that a Boy, the Son of a Captain of a Man of War, seated himself in a Turtle-shell and floated in it from the shore to his Father's Ship, which lay at anchor at the distance of half a mile. Upon the suggestion of a Friend, I have substituted such a Shell for that less elegant vessel in which my blind voyager did actually intrust himself to the dangerous current of Loch Levin, as was related to me by an Eye-witness.

Page 235.—To the Daisy. This Poem, and two others to the same Flower, were written in the year 1802; which is mentioned because in some of the ideas, though not in the manner in which those ideas are connected, and likewise even in some of the expressions, they bear a striking resemblance to a Poem (lately published) of Mr. Montgomery, entitled, a Field Flower. This being said, Mr. Montgomery will not think any apology due to him; I cannot however help addressing him in the words of the Father of English Poets.

'Though it happe me to rehersin—'That ye han in your freshe songis saied,'Forberith me, and beth not ill apaied,'Sith that ye se I doe it in the honour'Of Love, and eke in service of the Flour.'

Note published in the Year 1808.


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