ONhis tour of Scotland in 1833 Wordsworth visited Mossgiel Farm, Ayrshire, where Burns had uprooted the mountain-daisy with his plough (see yesterday's poem).
Here is Wordsworth's description of his visit to Mossgiel, with its commanding views of the Firth of Clyde and Arran (a view Burns apparently took for granted, or didn't see, since he never wrote about it).
'THERE,' SAID A STRIPLING
"There!" said a Stripling, pointing with meet pride
Towards a low roof with green trees half concealed,
"Is Mossgiel Farm; and that's the very field
Where Burns ploughed up the Daisy." Far and wide
A plain below stretched seaward, while, descried
Above sea-clouds, the Peaks of Arran rose;
And, by that simple notice, the repose
Of earth, sky, sea, and air, was vivified.
Beneath "the random bield of clod or stone"
Myriads of daisies have shone forth in flower
Near the lark's nest, and in their natural hour
Have passed away; less happy than the One
That, by the unwilling ploughshare, died to prove
The tender charm of poetry and love.
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