THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - VOL 1 (Completed)

SIMON LEE, THE OLD HUNTSMAN; WITH AN INCIDENT IN WHICH HE WAS CONCERNED

Composed 1798.--Published 1798.

[This old man had been huntsman to the Squires of Alfoxden, which, at the time we occupied it, belonged to a minor. The old man's cottage stood upon the Common, a little way from the entrance to Alfoxden Park. But it had disappeared. Many other changes had taken place in the adjoining village, which I could not but notice with a regret more natural than well-considered. Improvements but rarely appear such to those who, after long intervals of time, revisit places they have had much pleasure in. It is unnecessary to add, the fact was as mentioned in the poem; and I have, after an interval of forty-five years, the image of the old man as fresh before my eyes as if I had seen him yesterday. The expression when the hounds were out, 'I dearly love their voice,' was word for word from his own lips.--I. F.]

This poem was classed among those of "Sentiment and Reflection."--Ed.

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THE POEM

In the sweet shire of Cardigan,

Not far from pleasant Ivor-hall,

An old Man dwells, a little man,--

'Tis said [1] he once was tall. [2]

Full five-and-thirty [3] years he lived

A running huntsman merry;

And still the centre of his cheek

Is red as a ripe cherry. [4]

No man like him the horn could sound,

And hill and valley rang with glee:

When Echo bandied, round and round,

The halloo of Simon Lee.

In those proud days, he little cared

For husbandry or tillage;

To blither tasks did Simon rouse

The sleepers of the village. [5]

He all the country could outrun,

Could leave both man and horse behind;

And often, ere the chase [6] was done,

He reeled, and was stone blind.

And still there's something in the world