‘In the cave which wild weeds cover’

The lines are drafted in Nbk 10, and were perhaps composed on S/s first arrival for his second visit to Rome, in early March 1819; they were possibly at first intended for PU. In the cave which wild weeds cover Wait for thine etherial lover for the pallid moon is waningO'er the spiral cypress hanging5 and the moon no cloud is staining. It was once a Roman's chamber where he kept his revels and the wild weeds twine and clamber it was then a chasm for devils. Presumably referring to the flowers of line written over the in Nbk 11. This line is written in pencil, probably at a later date. The word is debatable, and the context might support morn or noon; although the meeting of lovers envisaged, recalling in general terms the atmosphere of Coleridge's 'Kubla Khan', seems to suggest moonlight Roman's.