The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth Volume Ii Part 92

And certainly this wind, that more and more 155 By moments thus increaseth in my face, Is of my Lady's sighs heavy and sore; I prove it thus; for in no other s.p.a.ce Of all this town, save only in this place, Feel I a wind, that soundeth so like pain; 160 It saith, Alas, why severed are we twain?

A weary while in pain he tosseth thus, Till fully past and gone was the ninth night; And ever [7] at his side stood Pandarus, Who busily made use of all his might 165 To comfort him, and make his heart more light; [8]

Giving him always hope, that she the morrow Of the tenth day will come, and end his sorrow.

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1:

1842.

... burst 1841.]

[Variant 2:

1842.

... hast ... 1841.]

[Variant 3:

1842.

... his eye, 1841.]

[Variant 4:

1842.

... whose words ... 1841.]

[Variant 5:

1842.

With a soft voice, ... 1841.]

[Variant 6:

1842.

... mine ... 1841.]

[Variant 7: The "even" of 1841 is evidently a misprint.]

[Variant 8:

1842.

... too light; 1841.]

FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A: In 'The Poems of Geoffrey Chaucer Modernised'. It is an extract from 'Troilus and Cressida', book v. ll. 518-686.--Ed.]

[Footnote B:

"Chaucer's text is:

'And therwithalle his meynye for to blende A cause he fonde in toune for to go.'

'His meynye for to blende,' i. e. to keep his household or his domestics in the dark. But Wordsworth writes:

'And therewithal to cover his _intent_,'

possibly mistaking 'meynye' for 'meaning'."

(Professor Dowden, in the 'Transactions of the Wordsworth Society', No.

III.)--Ed.]

[Footnote C:

"When Troilus sees the shut windows and desolate aspect of his lady's house, his face grows blanched, and he rides past in haste, so fast, says Wordsworth,

'That no wight his continuance espied.'

But in Chaucer he rides fast that his white face may not be noticed:

'And as G.o.d wolde he gan so faste ride That no wight of his countenance espied.'"