These lines are from Wordsworth's poem "Simon Lee, the Old Huntsman," first published in Lyrical Ballads in 1798 — one of the foundational texts of English Romanticism. Wordsworth was 73 years old when he wrote out this quatrain, just six years before his death. He was at this time England's Poet Laureate, having assumed the role in 1843. Rydal Mount was his beloved home in the Lake District where he lived from 1813 until his death. Autograph poems in Wordsworth's hand are among the most prized items in English literary autographs. This example is complete, boldly signed, precisely dated, and written from his most famous address.
Estimate: $3,500–$6,000
This item will be accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from One of a Kind Collectibles.