morning. Walked with them half way. On our return, sheltered under the hollies, during a hail-shower. The withered leaves danced with the hailstones. William wrote a description of the storm.[1]
19th.—Wm. and Basil and I walked to the hill-tops, a very cold bleak day. We were met on our return by a severe hailstorm. William wrote some lines describing a stunted thorn.[2]
20th.—Coleridge dined with us. We went more than half way home with him in the evening. A very cold evening, but clear. The spring seemingly very little advanced. No green trees, only the hedges are budding, and looking very lovely.
21st.—We drank tea at Coleridge's. A quiet shower of snow was in the air during more than half our walk. At our return the sky partially shaded with clouds. The horned moon was set. Startled two night birds from the great elm tree.
22nd.—I spent the morning in starching and hanging out linen; walked through the wood in the evening, very cold.
23rd.—Coleridge dined with us. He brought his ballad finished.[3] We walked with him to the Miner's house. A beautiful evening, very starry, the horned moon.
24th.—Coleridge, the Chesters, and Ellen Cruikshank called. We walked with them through the wood. Went in the evening into the Coombe to get eggs; returned through the wood, and walked in the park. A duller night than last night: a sort of white shade over the blue sky. The stars dim. The spring continues to advance very slowly, no green trees, the hedges leafless; nothing green but the brambles that still retain their old
- ↑ See "A whirl-blast from behind the hill" in the "Poetical Works," vol. i. p. 238.—Ed.
- ↑ See The Thorn, "Poetical Works," vol. i. p. 239.—Ed.
- ↑ The ballad was finished by February 18, 1798. See Early Recollections, etc., by Joseph Cottle, vol. i. p. 307 (1837).—Ed.
