Parallel-Text Comparison of Wordsworth's Five Editions of The
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Parallel-Text Comparison of Wordsworth’s Five Editions of the Guide to the Lakes Compiled by Nicholas Mason Overview As detailed in the introduction to this edition, Wordsworth released five distinct versions of the Guide between 1810 and 1835. His original text of 1810, a 27,000-word supplement to Joseph Wilkinson’s Selected Views, was trimmed to 20,000 words for the River Duddon collection of 1820. From that point he steadily expanded the text, to 30,000 words in 1822, 35,000 in 1823, and 38,000 in 1835. While all five versions include significant additions and emendations, the most radical revisions came in the 2nd (1820) and 5th (1835) editions. The 1820 edition reorganizes some sections, adds several paragraphs, and, most drastically, cuts 19 paragraphs (#65-83 below) from the 1810 original. For its part, the 1835 edition not only includes significant additions, but it also features a major reordering of the text, with “Directions and Information for Tourists” (paragraphs #129-55 in the chart that follows) moving from the book’s ending to its beginning. Capitalizing on some of the distinctive features of a digital edition—particularly the ability to perform instantaneous searches across five editions and a wide-screen, color-coded layout that would be difficult to replicate in codex form—we have compiled the following parallel- text comparison of Wordsworth’s five versions of the Guide. This chart allows the casual reader to quickly assess how extensively any given section of the Guide morphed over time. For the scholar, it aims to significantly expedite the line-by-line analysis of Wordsworth’s revisions and provide new insights into his evolving views on the shifting topography and politics of the Lake District between 1810 and 1835. Notes on Formatting Changes from the immediately preceding edition are marked as follows: new words and phrases appear in bold; deletions are struck through; sentences that have been reworded without any key additions or deletions appear in standard script. Explanations of significant revisions are highlighted in yellow. Yellow arrows ↓ indicate where paragraphs have been lengthened in subsequent editions and are used to preserve line-level parallelism. Wordsworth’s footnotes appear in red script. Table cells shaded entirely in grey indicate where an entire paragraph did not appear in a particular edition. These charts do not note changes in punctuation (, to ;), capitalization (Mountains mountains), spelling (vallies valleys), and simple usage (which that). ¶ Line 1810 (Wilkinson) (1st) 1820 (Duddon) (2nd) 1822 (3rd) 1823 (4th) 1835 (5th) TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION SECTION FIRST. VIEW OF THE [See note above on the reordering of OF THE COUNTRY OF THE LAKES COUNTRY AS FORMED BY sections in this edition. The 5th ed. NATURE. began with “Directions and Information for Tourists” (paras. 129-55 below.] 1 1 At Lucerne in Switzerland there existed Switzerland, is 2 some years ago, and perhaps does still shewn a model of the Alpine 3 exist, a model of a large portion of the a model of a large portion of the Alpine 4 Alpine country encompassing the lake of country which encompasses the lake 5 the four Cantons. The spectator ascended The spectator ascends 6 a little platform and saw Mountains, a little platform and sees mountains 7 Lakes, Glaciers, Rivers, Woods, 8 Waterfalls, and Vallies, with their 9 Cottages and every other object which object contained in 10 they contained, lying at his feet; all things them, lying 11 being represented in their exact represented in their exact 12 proportions and appropriate colours. It proportions and appropriate colours. 13 may be easily conceived that this 14 exhibition afforded an exquisite delight to exhibition affords an exquisite 15 the imagination, which was tempted to which was thus tempted to imagination, which was thus tempted 16 wander from valley to valley, from wander from valley to valley at will from tempting it to wander 17 mountain to mountain, at will through mountain 18 the deepest recesses of the Alps. But it But it 19 supplied also a more solid and substantial a more solid and substantial supplies a more substantial 20 pleasure; for the sublime and beautiful pleasure; 21 region, with all its hidden treasures and 22 their relations and bearings to each other, their bearings and relations 23 was thereby comprehended and is thereby 24 understood at once. 2 1 Something of this kind (as far as can be far as it can be kind, without touching 2 performed by words, which must needs upon minute details and individualities 3 be most inadequately) will be attempted be most inadequately) will here be which would only confuse and 4 in the following introductory pages, with attempted in the following introductory embarrass, will here be attempted 5 reference to the country which has pages, with reference to the country 6 furnished the subjects of the Drawings which has furnished the subjects of the 7 now offered to the public, adding to a Drawings now offered to the public, 8 verbal representation of its permanent adding to a verbal representation of its 9 features such appearances as are transitory permanent features such appearances as 10 from their dependence upon accidents of are transitory from their dependence 11 season and weather. upon accidents of season and weather 12 ↓ respect to the Lakes in the North of 13 England, and the values and 14 mountains enclosing and surrounding 15 This, if tolerably executed, will in some them. The delineation if tolerably 16 instances communicate to the traveller, 17 who has already seen the objects, new 18 information; and will assist him to give to will assist him in giving to 19 his recollections a more orderly 20 arrangement than his own opportunities 21 of observing may have permitted him to him to make do 22 do; while it will be still more useful to the 23 future traveller by directing his attention 24 at once to distinctions in things which, 25 without such previous aid, a length of 26 time only could enable him to discover. 27 And, as must be obvious, this general And, as must be obvious, this general 28 introduction will combine with the introduction will combine with the 29 Etchings certain notices of things which, Etchings certain notices of things which, 30 though they may not lie within the though they may not lie within the 31 province of the pencil, cannot but tend to province of the pencil, cannot but tend to 32 render its productions more interesting; render its productions more interesting; 33 especially in a case like the present, where especially in a case like the present, where 34 a work wishes to recommend itself by a a work wishes to recommend itself by a 35 twofold claim, viz. by furnishing pleasing twofold claim, viz. by furnishing pleasing 36 Sketches, and at the same time accurate Sketches, and at the same time accurate 37 Portraits of those scenes from which they Portraits of those scenes from which they 38 are taken. are taken. It is hoped, also, that this 39 Essay may become generally serviceable 40 by leading to habits of more exact and 41 considerate observation than, as far as 42 the writer knows, have hither to been 43 applied to local scenery. 3 1 To begin then with the main the main outlines 2 demarkation of the Country, I know not demarkation of the country. I know not 3 how I can give the reader a more distinct how to I can give 4 image of this than by requesting him to image of these more readily than by 5 place himself in imagination upon some himself with me in imagination 6 given point; let it be the top of either of 7 the mountains of Great Gavel or mountains of, Great 8 Scawfell; or rather let him suppose his let us him suppose our his station 9 station to be a cloud hanging midway between these the 10 between the two mountains, at not more two 11 than half a mile’s distance from the 12 summit of each, and but a few yards 13 above their highest elevation, he will then not many but a few yards 14 see stretched at his feet a number of we shall he will then see stretched at 15 Vallies, not fewer than nine, diverging our his feet a number eight nine, diverging 16 from the point, on which he is supposed 17 to stand, like spokes from the nave of a we are he is supposed 18 wheel. First he will note, lying to the First, we he will note 19 south east, the Vale of Langdale which Langdale* [Note added] 20 will conduct his eye to the long Lake of conduct the his eye 21 Winandermere stretching, as appears, 22 nearly to the sea, or rather to the sands of stretched, as appears, nearly to the sea 23 the vast Bay of Morecamb, which here 24 serves for the rim of this imaginary wheel, Morcamb, serving here for the rim of 25 trace it in a direction from the south east this imaginary wheel;—let us trace 26 towards the south, and he will next fix his 27 eyes upon the Vale of Coniston running we shall he will next fix our his eyes 28 up likewise from the sea, but not (as all 29 the other vallies do) to the station which I 30 have considered as the nave of the wheel; to the station which I 31 and therefore it may not be inaptly have considered as the nave 32 represented as a broken spoke sticking in 33 the rim.