Parallel Texts

	Southey Letter, 6 May 1801			1816 Conclusion
	A little child, a limber Elf			A little child, a limber elf,
	Singing, dancing to itself,	645		Singing, dancing to itself,
	A faery thing with red round Cheeks			A fairy thing with red round cheeks
	That always finds, and never seeks--			That always finds, and never seeks,
	Doth make a Vision to the Sight,			Makes such a vision to the sight
	Which fills a Father's Eyes with Light!			As fills a father's eyes with light;
	And Pleasures flow in so thick & fast	650		And pleasures flow in so thick and fast
	Upon his Heart, that he at last			Upon his heart, that he at last
	Must needs express his Love's Excess			Must needs express his love's excess.
	In Words of Wrong and Bitterness.			With words of unmeant bitterness
	Perhaps 'tis pretty to force together			Perhaps 'tis pretty to force together
	Thoughts so all unlike each other;	655		Thoughts so all unlike each other;
	To mutter and mock a broken charm;			To mutter and mock a broken charm,
	To dally with Wrong, that does no Harm--			To dally with wrong that does no harm
	Perhaps, 'tis tender too & pretty			Perhaps 'tis tender too and pretty
	At each Wild word to feel within			At each wild word to feel within,
	A [s]weet Recoil of Love & Pity;	660		A sweet recoil of love and pity.
	And what if in a World of Sin			And what, if in a world of sin
	(O sorrow & shame! Should this be true)			(O sorrow and shame should this be true!)
	Such Giddiness of Heart & Brain			Such giddiness of heart and brain
	Comes seldom, save from Rage & Pain,			Comes seldom save from rage and pain,
	So talks, as it's most us'd to do.--	665		So talks as it's most used to do.

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