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diff --git a/old/52836-0.txt b/old/52836-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 267282c..0000000 --- a/old/52836-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,23278 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth -- -Volume 8 (of 8), by William Wordsworth - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth -- Volume 8 (of 8) - -Author: William Wordsworth - -Editor: William Knight - -Release Date: August 18, 2016 [EBook #52836] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POETICAL WORKS--WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL 8 *** - - - - -Produced by Jonathan Ingram and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - -VOL. VIII - -[Illustration: _William Wordsworth_ - -_after Thomas Woolner_ - -_Printed by Ch Wittmann Paris_] - - - - - THE POETICAL WORKS - OF - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - - EDITED BY - WILLIAM KNIGHT - - VOL. VIII - - [Illustration: _Gallow Hill_ - - _Yorkshire_] - - London - MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. - New York: Macmillan & Co. - 1896 - - _All rights reserved._ - - - - -CONTENTS - - - PAGE - 1834 - - Lines suggested by a Portrait from the Pencil of F. Stone 1 - - The foregoing Subject resumed 6 - - To a Child 7 - - Lines written in the Album of the Countess of Lonsdale, - Nov. 5, 1834 8 - - 1835 - - “Why art thou silent? Is thy love a plant” 12 - - To the Moon 13 - - To the Moon 15 - - Written after the Death of Charles Lamb 17 - - Extempore Effusion upon the Death of James Hogg 24 - - Upon seeing a Coloured Drawing of the Bird of Paradise - in an Album 29 - - “Desponding Father! mark this altered bough” 31 - - “Four fiery steeds impatient of the rein” 31 - - To ---- 32 - - Roman Antiquities discovered at Bishopstone, Herefordshire 33 - - St. Catherine of Ledbury 34 - - “By a blest Husband guided, Mary came” 35 - - “Oh what a Wreck! how changed in mien and speech!” 36 - - 1836 - - November 1836 37 - - To a Redbreast--(In Sickness) 38 - - 1837 - - “Six months to six years added he remained” 39 - - Memorials of a Tour in Italy, 1837--To Henry Crabb Robinson 41 - - I. Musings near Aquapendente, April, 1837 42 - - II. The Pine of Monte Mario at Rome 58 - - III. At Rome 59 - - IV. At Rome--Regrets--in Allusion to Niebuhr and other - Modern Historians 60 - - V. Continued 61 - - VI. Plea for the Historian 61 - - VII. At Rome 62 - - VIII. Near Rome, in Sight of St. Peter’s 63 - - IX. At Albano 64 - - X. “Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove” 65 - - XI. From the Alban Hills, looking towards Rome 65 - - XII. Near the Lake of Thrasymene 66 - - XIII. Near the same Lake 67 - - XIV. The Cuckoo at Laverna 67 - - XV. At the Convent of Camaldoli 72 - - XVI. Continued 73 - - XVII. At the Eremite or Upper Convent of Camaldoli 74 - - XVIII. At Vallombrosa 75 - - XIX. At Florence 78 - - XX. Before the Picture of the Baptist, by Raphael, - in the Gallery at Florence 79 - - XXI. At Florence--From Michael Angelo 80 - - XXII. At Florence--From Michael Angelo 81 - - XXIII. Among the Ruins of a Convent in the Apennines 82 - - XXIV. In Lombardy 83 - - XXV. After leaving Italy 84 - - XXVI. Continued 85 - - At Bologna, in Remembrance of the late Insurrections, - 1837.--I. 86 - - II. Continued 86 - - III. Concluded 87 - - “What if our numbers barely could defy” 87 - - A Night Thought 88 - - The Widow on Windermere Side 89 - - 1838 - - To the Planet Venus 92 - - “Hark! ’tis the Thrush, undaunted, undeprest” 93 - - “’Tis He whose yester-evening’s high disdain” 94 - - Composed at Rydal on May Morning, 1838 94 - - Composed on a May Morning, 1838 97 - - A Plea for Authors, May 1838 99 - - “Blest Statesman He, whose Mind’s unselfish will” 101 - - Valedictory Sonnet 102 - - 1839 - - Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death-- - - I. Suggested by the View of Lancaster Castle (on the - Road from the South) 103 - - II. “Tenderly do we feel by Nature’s law” 104 - - III. “The Roman Consul doomed his sons to die” 105 - - IV. “Is _Death_, when evil against good has fought” 106 - - V. “Not to the object specially designed” 106 - - VI. “Ye brood of conscience--Spectres! that frequent” 107 - - VII. “Before the world had past her time of youth” 107 - - VIII. “Fit retribution, by the moral code” 108 - - IX. “Though to give timely warning and deter” 109 - - X. “Our bodily life, some plead, that life the shrine” 109 - - XI. “Ah, think how one compelled for life to abide” 110 - - XII. “See the Condemned alone within his cell” 110 - - XIII. Conclusion 111 - - XIV. Apology 112 - - “Men of the Western World! in Fate’s dark book” 112 - - 1840 - - To a Painter 114 - - On the same Subject 115 - - Poor Robin 116 - - On a Portrait of the Duke of Wellington upon the Field - of Waterloo, by Haydon 118 - - 1841 - - Epitaph in the Chapel-Yard of Langdale, Westmoreland 120 - - 1842 - - “Intent on gathering wool from hedge and brake” 122 - - Prelude, prefixed to the Volume entitled “Poems chiefly - of Early and Late Years” 123 - - Floating Island 125 - - “The Crescent-moon, the Star of Love” 127 - - “_A Poet!_--He hath put his heart to school” 127 - - “The most alluring clouds that mount the sky” 128 - - “Feel for the wrongs to universal ken” 129 - - In Allusion to various Recent Histories and Notices of - the French Revolution 130 - - Continued 131 - - Concluded 131 - - “Lo! where she stands fixed in a saint-like trance” 132 - - The Norman Boy 132 - - The Poet’s Dream 135 - - Suggested by a Picture of the Bird of Paradise 140 - - To the Clouds 142 - - Airey-Force Valley 146 - - “Lyre! though such power do in thy magic live” 147 - - Love lies Bleeding 148 - - “They call it Love lies bleeding! rather say” 150 - - Companion to the Foregoing 150 - - The Cuckoo-Clock 151 - - “Wansfell! this Household has a favoured lot” 153 - - “Though the bold wings of Poesy affect” 154 - - “Glad sight wherever new with old” 154 - - 1843 - - “While beams of orient light shoot wide and high” 156 - - Inscription for a Monument in Crosthwaite Church, in - the Vale of Keswick 157 - - To the Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, D.D., Master of - Harrow School 162 - - 1844 - - “So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive” 164 - - On the projected Kendal and Windermere Railway 166 - - “Proud were ye, Mountains, when, in times of old” 167 - - At Furness Abbey 168 - - 1845 - - “Forth from a jutting ridge, around whose base” 170 - - The Westmoreland Girl 172 - - At Furness Abbey 176 - - “Yes! thou art fair, yet be not moved” 176 - - “What heavenly smiles! O Lady mine” 177 - - To a Lady 177 - - To the Pennsylvanians 179 - - “Young England--what is then become of Old” 180 - - 1846 - - Sonnet 181 - - “Where lies the truth? has Man, in wisdom’s creed” 182 - - To Lucca Giordano 183 - - “Who but is pleased to watch the moon on high” 184 - - Illustrated Books and Newspapers 184 - - Sonnet. To an Octogenarian 185 - - “I know an aged Man constrained to dwell” 186 - - “The unremitting voice of nightly streams” 187 - - “How beautiful the Queen of Night, on high” 188 - - On the Banks of a Rocky Stream 188 - - Ode. Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of - Early Childhood 189 - - POEMS - BY - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - AND BY - DOROTHY WORDSWORTH - NOT INCLUDED IN THE EDITION OF 1849-50 - - 1787 - - Sonnet, on seeing Miss Helen Maria Williams weep at a - Tale of Distress 209 - - Lines written by William Wordsworth as a School Exercise - at Hawkshead, Anno Ætatis 14 211 - - 1792 (or earlier) - - “Sweet was the walk along the narrow lane” 214 - - “When Love was born of heavenly line” 215 - - The Convict 217 - - 1798 - - “The snow-tracks of my friends I see” 219 - - The Old Cumberland Beggar (MS. Variants, not inserted - in Vol. I.) 220 - - 1800 - - Andrew Jones 221 - - “There is a shapeless crowd of unhewn stones” 223 - - 1802 - - “Among all lovely things my Love had been” 231 - - “Along the mazes of this song I go” 233 - - “The rains at length have ceas’d, the winds are still’d” 233 - - “Witness thou” 234 - - Wild-Fowl 234 - - Written in a Grotto 234 - - Home at Grasmere 235 - - “Shall he who gives his days to low pursuits” 257 - - 1803 - - “I find it written of Simonides” 258 - - 1804 - - “No whimsey of the purse is here” 258 - - 1805 - - “Peaceful our valley, fair and green” 259 - - “Ah! if I were a lady gay” 262 - - 1806 - - To the Evening Star over Grasmere Water, July 1806 263 - - Michael Angelo in Reply to the Passage upon his Statue - of Night sleeping 263 - - “Come, gentle Sleep, Death’s image tho’ thou art” 264 - - “Brook, that hast been my solace days and week” 265 - - Translation from Michael Angelo 265 - - 1808 - - George and Sarah Green 266 - - 1818 - - “The Scottish Broom on Bird-nest brae” 270 - - Placard for a Poll bearing an old Shirt 271 - - “Critics, right honourable Bard, decree” 271 - - 1819 - - “Through Cumbrian wilds, in many a mountain cove” 272 - - “My Son! behold the tide already spent” 273 - - 1820 - - Author’s Voyage down the Rhine 273 - - 1822 - - “These vales were saddened with no common gloom” 275 - - Translation of Part of the First Book of the _Æneid_ 276 - - 1823 - - “Arms and the Man I sing, the first who bore” 281 - - 1826 - - Lines addressed to Joanna H. from Gwerndwffnant in June 1826 282 - - Holiday at Gwerndwffnant, May 1826 284 - - Composed when a Probability existed of our being obliged - to quit Rydal Mount as a Residence 289 - - “I, whose pretty Voice you hear” 295 - - 1827 - - To my Niece Dora 297 - - 1829 - - “My Lord and Lady Darlington” 298 - - 1833 - - To the Utilitarians 299 - - 1835 - - “Throned in the Sun’s descending car” 300 - - “And oh! dear soother of the pensive breast” 301 - - 1836 - - “Said red-ribboned Evans” 301 - - 1837 - - On an Event in Col. Evans’s Redoubted Performances in Spain 303 - - 1838 - - “Wouldst thou be gathered to Christ’s chosen flock” 303 - - Protest against the Ballot, 1838 304 - - “Said Secrecy to Cowardice and Fraud” 304 - - A Poet to his Grandchild 305 - - 1840 - - On a Portrait of I.F., painted by Margaret Gillies 306 - - To I.F. 307 - - “Oh Bounty without measure, while the Grace” 308 - - 1842 - - The Eagle and the Dove 309 - - Grace Darling 310 - - “When Severn’s sweeping flood had overthrown” 314 - - The Pillar of Trajan 314 - - 1846 - - “Deign, Sovereign Mistress! to accept a lay” 319 - - 1847 - - Ode, performed in the Senate-House, Cambridge, on the 6th of - July 1847, at the First Commencement after the Installation - of His Royal Highness the Prince Albert, Chancellor of the - University 320 - - To Miss Sellon 325 - - “The worship of this Sabbath morn” 325 - - BIBLIOGRAPHIES-- - - I. Great Britain 329 - - II. America 380 - - III. France 421 - - ERRATA AND ADDENDA LIST 431 - - INDEX TO THE POEMS 433 - - INDEX TO THE FIRST LINES 451 - - - - -PREFATORY NOTE - - -The American Bibliography is almost entirely the work of Mrs. St. John -of Ithaca, and is the result of laborious and careful critical research -on her part. The French Bibliography is not so full. I have been -assisted in it mainly by M. Legouis at Lyons, and by workers at the -British Museum. I have also collected a German Bibliography, but it is -in too incomplete a state for publication in its present form. - -The English Bibliography is fuller than any of its predecessors; but -there is no such thing as finality in such work, especially when an -addition to the literature of the subject is made nearly every week. -Many kind friends, and coadjutors, have assisted me in it, amongst whom -I may mention Dr. Garnett of the British Museum, and _very specially_ -Mr. Tutin, of Hull, and also Mr. John J. Smith, St. Andrews, and Mr. -Maclauchlan, Dundee. If I omit, either here or elsewhere, to record the -assistance which I have received from any one, in my efforts to make -this edition of Wordsworth as perfect as is possible at this stage of -literary criticism and editorship, I sincerely regret it; but many of -my correspondents have specially requested that no mention should be -made of their names or their services. - -In the Preface to the first volume of this edition there was an -unfortunate omission. In returning the final proofs to press, I -accidentally transmitted an uncorrected one, in which two names did -not appear. They were those of Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, Dublin, and -Mr. S. C. Hill, of Hughli College, Bengal. The former kindly revised -most of the sheets of Volumes I. and II., and corrected errors, -besides making other valuable suggestions and additions. When his own -Clarendon Press edition of Wordsworth was being prepared for press, -Mr. Hutchinson asked permission to incorporate in it materials which -were not afterwards inserted. This I granted cordially, as a similar -permission had been given to Professor Dowden for his Aldine edition. -The unfortunate omission of Mr. Hutchinson’s name was not discovered -by me till after the issue of volumes I. and II. (which appeared -simultaneously), and it was first brought under my notice by Mr. -Hutchinson’s own letters to the newspapers. My debt to Mr. Hutchinson -is great; and, although I have already thanked him for the services -which he has rendered to the world in connection with Wordsworthian -literature, I may perhaps be allowed to repeat the acknowledgment now. -The revised sheets of Vols. I. and II. of this edition were, however, -submitted to others at the same time that they were sent to Mr. -Hutchinson; more especially to the late Mr. Dykes Campbell, and on his -death to Mr. Belinfante, and then to the late Mr. Kinghorn, all of whom -were engaged by my publishers to assist in the work entrusted to me. -They “turned on the microscope” on my own work, and Mr. Hutchinson’s; -and to them I have been indebted in many ways. - -Mr. Hill’s services, in tracing the sources of numerous quotations from -other poets which occur in Wordsworth’s text, have been great. He sent -me his discoveries, unsolicited, and I wish to express very cordially -my indebtedness to him. To discover some of these quotations--there -are several hundreds of them--cost me much labour, before I had the -pleasure of hearing from, or knowing, Mr. Hill; and his assistance -in this matter has been greater than that of any other person. It -will be seen that I have failed--after much study and extensive -correspondence--to discover them all. - -In addition to actual quotations--indicated by Wordsworth by inverted -commas in his poems--to trace parallel passages from other poets, or -phrases which may have suggested to him what he recast and glorified, -has seemed to me work not unworthy of accomplishment. At the same time, -and in the same connection, to discover the somewhat similar debts -of later poets to Wordsworth, and to indicate this here and there in -footnotes, may not be wholly useless to posterity. - -My obligations to my friend, Mr. Dykes Campbell, are greater than I can -adequately express. He supplied me with much material, drawn from many -quarters; and, although he did not always mention his sources, I had -implicit confidence in him, both as a literary man and a friend. After -his death, through the kindness of Mrs. Campbell, I examined some MS. -volumes of _Wordsworthiana_ written by him, which were of much use to -me. - -Some of these were from unknown sources, which I should perhaps have -traced out before making use of them, but, in all my Wordsworth work, I -have acted from first to last on the legal opinion of a distinguished -Judge, that the heir of the writer of literary work could alone -authorise its subsequent publication; and, since the heirs of the Poet -had kindly given me permission to collect and publish his works, I did -so, with a view to the benefit of posterity. - -Some of Mr. Campbell’s material was derived from MSS. now in the -possession of Mr. T. Norton Longman, and I have to express my sincere -regret that in the earlier volumes I copied from Mr. Campbell’s -transcripts of these MSS.--which were lent to him on the condition -that no public use should be made of them without Mr. Longman’s -permission--some variations of the text, without mentioning the source -whence they were derived. - -I was unaware that these MSS. were lent to Mr. Campbell with the -condition attached, and regret very much that I am unable to trust my -memory to indicate now what variations of text I have quoted from them. -But I may add that Mr. Longman is about to publish a work which will -enable Wordsworth students to become practically acquainted with the -contents of his MSS. - -In reference to the poems not published by Wordsworth or his sister -during their lifetime, I have included in this volume not only fugitive -pieces printed in Magazines and elsewhere, but also those which have -been since recovered from numerous manuscript sources. They are of -varying merit. It would be interesting to know, and to record in every -instance, where these manuscripts now are; but this is impossible. In -many cases the manuscripts have recently changed ownership. I have -obtained a sight of many of them, and have been granted permission to -transcribe them, from the fortunate possessors of large autograph -collections, and also from dealers in autographs; but, after the sale -of manuscripts at public auction-rooms, it is, as a rule, impossible to -trace them. - -In many cases the MS. variants which have been published in previous -volumes occur in copies of the poems, transcribed by the Wordsworth -household in private letters to friends. I have occasionally indicated -this in footnotes; but, to have done so always would have disfigured -the pages, and frequently the notes would have been longer than the -text. To trace the present possessors of the MSS. would be well-nigh -impossible. It is perhaps worth mentioning that in several cases -Wordsworth entered as “misprints” in future editions, what some of his -editors have considered “new readings.” _E.g._ in _The Excursion_, book -ix. l. 679, “wild” demeanour, instead of “mild” demeanour. - -On Nov. 4, 1893, Mr. Aubrey de Vere wrote to me-- - - “I earnestly hope that, in your ‘monumental edition,’ you will - restore the _Ode, Intimations of Immortality_, to the place - which Wordsworth always assigned to it, that of the High Altar - of his poetic Cathedral; remitting Quillinan’s laureate Ode - on an unworthy, because ‘occasional,’ subject to an Appendix, - as a work that at the time of publication was attributed to - Wordsworth, but was written by another, though it probably - was seen by him, and had a line or two of his in it, and - corrections by him. - - “This is certainly the truth; and I should think that he - probably himself told all that truth to the officials, when - transmitting the Ode; but that they concealed the circumstance; - and that Wordsworth, then profoundly depressed in spirits, gave - no more thought to the subject, and soon forgot all about it.… - - “Yours very sincerely, - - “AUBREY DE VERE.” - -It was in compliance with Mr. Aubrey de Vere’s request that, in this -edition, I departed, in a single instance, from the chronological -arrangement of the poems. - -It may not be too trivial a detail to mention that I gladly gave -permission to other editors of Wordsworth to make use of any of the -material which I discovered, and brought together, in former editions; -_e.g._ to Mr. George, in Boston, for his edition of _The Prelude_ (in -which, if the reader, or critic, compares my original edition with his -notes, he will see what Mr. George has done); and to Professor Dowden, -Trinity College, Dublin, for his most admirable Aldine edition. For the -latter--which will always hold a high place in Wordsworth literature--I -placed everything asked from me at the disposal of Mr. Dowden. - -While these sheets are passing through the press, Dr. Garnett, of the -British Museum--one of the kindest and ablest of bibliographers--has -forwarded to me a contribution, previously sent by him to _The -Academy_, and printed in its issue of January 2, 1897. - -I have no means of knowing--or of ultimately discovering--whether that -sonnet, printed as Wordsworth’s, is really his. Dr. Garnett says, in -his letter to me, “The verses were undoubtedly in Wordsworth’s hand”; -and, he adds, “I think they should be preserved, because they are -Wordsworth’s, and as an additional proof of his regard for Camoens, -whom he enumerates elsewhere among great sonnet-writers. I have added -a version of the quatrains, that the piece may be complete. From the -character of the handwriting, the lines would seem to have been written -down in old age; and I am not quite certain of the word which I have -transcribed as ‘Austral.’” - - Vasco, whose bold and happy mainyard spread - Sunward thy sails where dawning glory dyed - Heaven’s Orient gate; whose westering prow the tide - Clove, where the day star bows him to his bed: - Not sterner toil than thine, or strife more dread, - Or nobler laud to nobler lyre allied, - His, who did baffled Polypheme deride; - Or his, whose scaring shaft the Harpy fled. - Camoens, he the accomplished and the good, - Gave to thy fame a more illustrious flight - Than that brave vessel, though she sailed so far. - Through him her course along the Austral flood - Is known to all beneath the polar star, - Through him the Antipodes in thy name delight. - - WILLIAM KNIGHT. - - - - -WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS - - - - -1834 - - -LINES - -SUGGESTED BY A PORTRAIT FROM THE PENCIL OF F. STONE - -Composed 1834.--Published 1835 - -[This Portrait has hung for many years in our principal sitting-room, -and represents J. Q.[1] as she was when a girl. The picture, though it -is somewhat thinly painted, has much merit in tone and general effect: -it is chiefly valuable, however, from the sentiment that pervades -it. The anecdote of the saying of the monk in sight of Titian’s -picture was told in this house by Mr. Wilkie, and was, I believe, -first communicated to the public in this poem, the former portion of -which I was composing at the time. Southey heard the story from Miss -Hutchinson, and transferred it to the _Doctor_; but it is not easy to -explain how my friend Mr. Rogers, in a note subsequently added to his -_Italy_, was led to speak of the same remarkable words having many -years before been spoken in his hearing by a monk or priest in front -of a picture of the Last Supper, placed over a Refectory-table in a -convent at Padua.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - Beguiled into forgetfulness of care - Due to the day’s unfinished task; of pen - Or book regardless, and of that fair scene - In Nature’s prodigality displayed - Before my window, oftentimes and long 5 - I gaze upon a Portrait whose mild gleam - Of beauty never ceases to enrich - The common light; whose stillness charms the air, - Or seems to charm it, into like repose; - Whose silence, for the pleasure of the ear, 10 - Surpasses sweetest music. There she sits - With emblematic purity attired - In a white vest, white as her marble neck - Is, and the pillar of the throat would be - But for the shadow by the drooping chin 15 - Cast into that recess--the tender shade, - The shade and light, both there and every where, - And through the very atmosphere she breathes, - Broad, clear, and toned harmoniously, with skill - That might from nature have been learnt in the hour 20 - When the lone shepherd sees the morning spread - Upon the mountains. Look at her, whoe’er - Thou be that, kindling with a poet’s soul, - Hast loved the painter’s true Promethean craft - Intensely--from Imagination take 25 - The treasure,--what mine eyes behold see thou, - Even though the Atlantic ocean roll between. - - A silver line, that runs from brow to crown - And in the middle parts the braided hair, - Just serves to show how delicate a soil 30 - The golden harvest grows in; and those eyes, - Soft and capacious as a cloudless sky - Whose azure depth their colour emulates, - Must needs be conversant with upward looks, - Prayer’s voiceless service; but now, seeking nought 35 - And shunning nought, their own peculiar life - Of motion they renounce, and with the head - Partake its inclination towards earth - In humble grace, and quiet pensiveness - Caught at the point where it stops short of sadness. 40 - - Offspring of soul-bewitching Art, make me - Thy confidant! say, whence derived that air - Of calm abstraction? Can the ruling thought - Be with some lover far away, or one - Crossed by misfortune, or of doubted faith? 45 - Inapt conjecture! Childhood here, a moon - Crescent in simple loveliness serene, - Has but approached the gates of womanhood, - Not entered them; her heart is yet unpierced - By the blind Archer-god; her fancy free: 50 - The fount of feeling, if unsought elsewhere, - Will not be found. - - Her right hand, as it lies - Across the slender wrist of the left arm - Upon her lap reposing, holds--but mark - How slackly, for the absent mind permits 55 - No firmer grasp--a little wild-flower, joined - As in a posy, with a few pale ears - Of yellowing corn, the same that overtopped - And in their common birthplace sheltered it - ’Till they were plucked together; a blue flower 60 - Called by the thrifty husbandman a weed; - But Ceres, in her garland, might have worn - That ornament, unblamed. The floweret, held - In scarcely conscious fingers, was, she knows, - (Her Father told her so) in youth’s gay dawn 65 - Her Mother’s favourite; and the orphan Girl, - In her own dawn--a dawn less gay and bright, - Loves it, while there in solitary peace - She sits, for that departed Mother’s sake. - --Not from a source less sacred is derived 70 - (Surely I do not err) that pensive air - Of calm abstraction through the face diffused - And the whole person. - Words have something told - More than the pencil can, and verily - More than is needed, but the precious Art 75 - Forgives their interference--Art divine, - That both creates and fixes, in despite - Of Death and Time, the marvels it hath wrought. - - Strange contrasts have we in this world of ours! - That posture, and the look of filial love 80 - Thinking of past and gone, with what is left - Dearly united, might be swept away - From this fair Portrait’s fleshly Archetype, - Even by an innocent fancy’s slightest freak - Banished, nor ever, haply, be restored 85 - To their lost place, or meet in harmony - So exquisite; but _here_ do they abide, - Enshrined for ages. Is not then the Art - Godlike, a humble branch of the divine, - In visible quest of immortality, 90 - Stretched forth with trembling hope?--In every realm, - From high Gibraltar to Siberian plains, - Thousands, in each variety of tongue - That Europe knows, would echo this appeal; - One above all, a Monk who waits on God 95 - In the magnific Convent built of yore - To sanctify the Escurial palace. He-- - Guiding, from cell to cell and room to room, - A British Painter (eminent for truth - In character,[2] and depth of feeling, shown 100 - By labours that have touched the hearts of kings, - And are endeared to simple cottagers)-- - Came, in that service, to a glorious work,[3] - Our Lord’s Last Supper, beautiful as when first - The appropriate Picture, fresh from Titian’s hand, 105 - Graced the Refectory: and there, while both - Stood with eyes fixed upon that masterpiece, - The hoary Father in the Stranger’s ear - Breathed out these words:--“Here daily do we sit, - Thanks given to God for daily bread, and here 110 - Pondering the mischiefs of these restless times, - And thinking of my Brethren, dead, dispersed, - Or changed and changing, I not seldom gaze - Upon this solemn Company unmoved - By shock of circumstance, or lapse of years, 115 - Until I cannot but believe that they-- - They are in truth the Substance, we - the Shadows.”[4] - - So spake the mild Jeronymite, his griefs - Melting away within him like a dream - Ere he had ceased to gaze, perhaps to speak: 120 - And I, grown old, but in a happier land, - Domestic Portrait! have to verse consigned - In thy calm presence those heart-moving words: - Words that can soothe, more than they agitate; - Whose spirit, like the angel that went down 125 - Into Bethesda’s pool, with healing virtue - Informs the fountain in the human breast - Which[5] by the visitation was disturbed. - ----But why this stealing tear? Companion mute, - On thee I look, not sorrowing; fare thee well, 130 - My Song’s Inspirer, once again farewell![6] - -[1] Jemima Quillinan, the eldest daughter of Edward Quillinan, -Wordsworth’s future son-in-law. The portrait was taken when she was a -school-girl, and while her father resided at Oporto.--ED. - -[2] Wilkie. See the Fenwick note.--ED. - -[3] 1837. - - Left not unvisited a glorious work, - - 1835. - -[4] “When Wilkie was in the Escurial, looking at Titian’s famous -picture of the Last Supper, in the Refectory there, an old Jeronymite -said to him: ‘I have sate daily in sight of that picture for now nearly -three score years; during that time my companions have dropt off, one -after another--all who were my seniors, all who were my contemporaries, -and many, or most of those who were younger than myself; more than one -generation has passed away, and there the figures in the picture have -remained unchanged! I look at them till I sometimes think that they are -the realities, and we but shadows!’ - -I wish I could record the name of the monk by whom that natural feeling -was so feelingly and strikingly expressed. - - The shows of things are better than themselves, - -says the author of the tragedy of Nero, whose name also I could wish -had been forthcoming; and the classical reader will remember the lines -of Sophocles: - - ὁρῶ γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ὄντας ἄλλο, πλὴν - εἴδωλ’, ὅσοιπερ ζῶμεν, ὴ κούφην σκιάν. - -These are reflections which should make us think - - Of that same time when no more change shall be - But steadfast rest of all things, firmly stayd - Upon the pillars of Eternity, - That is contrain to mutability; - For all that moveth doth in change delight: - But henceforth all shall rest eternally - With Him that is the God of Sabaoth hight, - O that great Sabaoth God grant me that Sabbath’s sight. - - SPENSER.” - -(Southey, _The Doctor_, vol. iii. p. 235.)--ED. - -[5] 1837. - - That … - - 1835. - -[6] The pile of buildings, composing the palace and convent of San -Lorenzo, has, in common usage, lost its proper name in that of the -_Escurial_, a village at the foot of the hill upon which the splendid -edifice, built by Philip the Second, stands. It need scarcely be added, -that Wilkie is the painter alluded to.--W.W. 1835. - - -THE FOREGOING SUBJECT RESUMED - -Composed 1834.--Published 1835. - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - Among a grave fraternity of Monks, - For One, but surely not for One alone, - Triumphs, in that great work, the Painter’s skill, - Humbling the body, to exalt the soul; - Yet representing, amid wreck and wrong 5 - And dissolution and decay, the warm - And breathing life of flesh, as if already - Clothed with impassive majesty, and graced - With no mean earnest of a heritage - Assigned to it in future worlds. Thou, too, 10 - With thy memorial flower, meek Portraiture! - From whose serene companionship I passed - Pursued by thoughts that haunt me still; thou also-- - Though but a simple object, into light - Called forth by those affections that endear 15 - The private hearth; though keeping thy sole seat - In singleness, and little tried by time, - Creation, as it were, of yesterday-- - With a congenial function art endued - For each and all of us, together joined 20 - In course of nature under a low roof - By charities and duties that proceed - Out of the bosom of a wiser vow. - To a like salutary sense of awe - Or sacred wonder, growing with the power 25 - Of meditation that attempts to weigh, - In faithful scales, things and their opposites, - Can thy enduring quiet gently raise - A household small and sensitive,--whose love, - Dependent as in part its blessings are 30 - Upon frail ties dissolving or dissolved - On earth, will be revived, we trust, in heaven.[7] - -[7] In the class entitled “Musings,” in Mr. Southey’s Minor Poems, is -one upon his own miniature picture, taken in childhood, and another -upon a landscape painted by Gaspar Poussin. It is possible that every -word of the above verses, though similar in subject, might have been -written had the author been unacquainted with those beautiful effusions -of poetic sentiment. But, for his own satisfaction, he must be allowed -thus publicly to acknowledge the pleasure those two poems of his Friend -have given him, and the grateful influence they have upon his mind as -often as he reads them, or thinks of them.--W.W. 1835. - - -TO A CHILD - -WRITTEN IN HER ALBUM[8] - -Composed 1834.--Published 1835 - -[This quatrain was extempore on observing this image, as I had often -done, on the lawn of Rydal Mount. It was first written down in the -Album of my God-daughter, Rotha Quillinan.--I.F.] - -In 1837 this was one of the “Inscriptions.” In 1845 it was transferred -to the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - Small service is true service while it lasts: - Of humblest Friends, bright Creature! scorn not one![9] - The Daisy, by the shadow that it casts, - Protects the lingering dew-drop from the Sun.[10] - -[8] The original title (1835) was “Written in an Album.” In 1837 it was -“Written in the Album of a Child.” In 1845 the title was reconstructed -as above. - -[9] 1845. - - Of Friends, however humble, scorn not one: - - 1835. - -[10] Compare the lines, written in 1845, beginning-- - - So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive. - - ED. - - -LINES - -WRITTEN IN THE ALBUM OF THE COUNTESS OF LONSDALE,[11] NOV. 5, 1834 - -Composed 1834.--Published 1835 - -[This is a faithful picture of that amiable Lady, as she then was. The -youthfulness of figure and demeanour and habits, which she retained in -almost unprecedented degree, departed a very few years after, and she -died without violent disease by gradual decay before she reached the -period of old age.--I.F.] - -This was placed, in 1845, among the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - Lady! a Pen (perhaps with thy regard, - Among the Favoured, favoured not the least) - Left, ’mid the Records of this Book inscribed, - Deliberate traces, registers of thought - And feeling, suited to the place and time 5 - That gave them birth:--months passed, and still this hand, - That had not been too timid to imprint - Words which the virtues of thy Lord inspired, - Was yet not bold enough to write of Thee. - And why that scrupulous reserve? In sooth 10 - The blameless cause lay in the Theme itself. - Flowers are there many that delight to strive - With the sharp wind, and seem to court the shower, - Yet are by nature careless of the sun - Whether he shine on them or not; and some, 15 - Where’er he moves along the unclouded sky, - Turn a broad front full on his flattering beams: - Others do rather from their notice shrink, - Loving the dewy shade,--a humble band, - Modest and sweet, a progeny of earth, 20 - Congenial with thy mind and character, - High-born Augusta! - Witness Towers, and Groves! - And Thou, wild Stream, that giv’st the honoured name[12] - Of Lowther to this ancient Line, bear witness[13] - From thy most secret haunts; and ye Parterres, 25 - Which She is pleased and proud to call her own, - Witness how oft upon my noble Friend - _Mute_ offerings, tribute from an inward sense - Of admiration and respectful love, - Have waited--till the affections could no more 30 - Endure that silence, and broke out in song, - Snatches of music taken up and dropt - Like those self-solacing, those under, notes - Trilled by the redbreast, when autumnal leaves - Are thin upon the bough. Mine, only mine, 35 - The pleasure was, and no one heard the praise, - Checked, in the moment of its issue, checked - And reprehended, by a fancied blush - From the pure qualities that called it forth. - - Thus Virtue lives debarred from Virtue’s meed; 40 - Thus, Lady, is retiredness a veil - That, while it only spreads a softening charm - O’er features looked at by discerning eyes, - Hides half their beauty from the common gaze; - And thus,[14] even on the exposed and breezy hill 45 - Of lofty station, female goodness walks, - When side by side with lunar gentleness, - As in a cloister. Yet the grateful Poor - (Such the immunities of low estate, - Plain Nature’s enviable privilege, 50 - Her sacred recompense for many wants) - Open their hearts before Thee, pouring out - All that they think and feel, with tears of joy; - And benedictions not unheard in heaven: - And friend in the ear of friend, where speech is free 55 - To follow truth, is eloquent as they. - - Then let the Book receive in these prompt lines - A just memorial; and thine eyes consent - To read that they, who mark thy course, behold - A life declining with the golden light 60 - Of summer, in the season of sere leaves;[15] - See cheerfulness undamped by stealing Time; - See studied kindness flow with easy stream, - Illustrated with inborn courtesy; - And an habitual disregard of self 65 - Balanced by vigilance for others’ weal. - - And shall the Verse not tell of lighter gifts - With these ennobling attributes conjoined - And blended, in peculiar harmony, - By Youth’s surviving spirit? What agile grace! 70 - A nymph-like liberty, in nymph-like form, - Beheld with wonder; whether floor or path - Thou tread; or sweep--borne on the managed steed--[16] - Fleet as the shadows, over down or field, - Driven by strong winds at play among the clouds. 75 - - Yet one word more--one farewell word--a wish - Which came, but it has passed into a prayer-- - That, as thy sun in brightness is declining, - So--at an hour yet distant for _their_ sakes - Whose tender love, here faltering on the way 80 - Of a diviner love, will be forgiven-- - So may it set in peace, to rise again - For everlasting glory won by faith. - -[11] 1837. - - Countess of ---- - - 1835. - -[12] The Lowther stream passes the Castle, and joins the Eamont below -Brougham Hall, near Penrith.--ED. - -[13] 1837. - - Towers, and stately Groves, - Bear witness for me; thou, too, Mountain-stream! - - 1835. - -[14] - - When hence … - - C. - -[15] Compare _September, 1819_, and _Upon the Same Occasion_, vol. vi. -pp. 201, 202, especially the lines in the latter-- - - Me, conscious that my leaf is sere, - And yellow on the bough, etc. - -ED. - -[16] 1837. - - Thou tread, or on the managed steed art borne, - - 1835. - - - - -1835 - -Two Evening Voluntaries, two Elegies (on the deaths of Charles Lamb and -James Hogg), the lines on the Bird of Paradise, and a few sonnets, make -up the poems belonging to the year 1835.--ED. - - -“WHY ART THOU SILENT? IS THY LOVE A PLANT” - -Composed 1835 (or earlier).--Published 1835 - -[In the month of January,--when Dora and I were walking from Town-end, -Grasmere, across the Vale, snow being on the ground, she espied, in -the thick though leafless hedge, a bird’s nest half-filled with snow. -Out of this comfortless appearance arose this Sonnet, which was, in -fact, written without the least reference to any individual object, -but merely to prove to myself that I could, if I thought fit, write in -a strain that Poets have been fond of. On the 14th of February in the -same year, my daughter, in a sportive mood, sent it as a Valentine, -under a fictitious name, to her cousin C.W.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Why art thou silent? Is thy love a plant - Of such weak fibre that the treacherous air - Of absence withers what was once so fair? - Is there no debt to pay, no boon to grant? - Yet have my thoughts for thee been vigilant-- 5 - Bound to thy service with unceasing care,[17] - The mind’s least generous wish a mendicant - For nought but what thy happiness could spare. - Speak--though this soft warm heart, once free to hold - A thousand tender pleasures, thine and mine, 10 - Be left more desolate, more dreary cold - Than a forsaken bird’s-nest filled with snow - ’Mid its own bush of leafless eglantine-- - Speak, that my torturing doubts their end may know! - -[17] 1845. - - … with incessant care, - - C. - - (As would my deeds have been) with hourly care, - - 1835. - - -TO THE MOON - -(COMPOSED BY THE SEA-SIDE,--ON THE COAST OF CUMBERLAND) - -Composed 1835.--Published 1837 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. - - Wanderer! that stoop’st so low, and com’st so near - To human life’s unsettled atmosphere; - Who lov’st with Night and Silence to partake, - So might it seem, the cares of them that wake; - And, through the cottage-lattice softly peeping, 5 - Dost shield from harm the humblest of the sleeping; - What pleasure once encompassed those sweet names - Which yet in thy behalf the Poet claims, - An idolizing dreamer as of yore!-- - I slight them all; and, on this sea-beat shore 10 - Sole-sitting, only can to thoughts attend - That bid me hail thee as the SAILOR’S FRIEND; - So call thee for heaven’s grace through thee made known - By confidence supplied and mercy shown, - When not a twinkling star or beacon’s light 15 - Abates the perils of a stormy night; - And for less obvious benefits, that find - Their way, with thy pure help, to heart and mind; - Both for the adventurer starting in life’s prime; - And veteran ranging round from clime to clime, 20 - Long-baffled hope’s slow fever in his veins, - And wounds and weakness oft his labour’s sole remains. - - The aspiring Mountains and the winding Streams, - Empress of Night! are gladdened by thy beams; - A look of thine the wilderness pervades, 25 - And penetrates the forest’s inmost shades; - Thou, chequering peaceably the minster’s gloom, - Guid’st the pale Mourner to the lost one’s tomb; - Canst reach the Prisoner--to his grated cell - Welcome, though silent and intangible!-- 30 - And lives there one, of all that come and go - On the great waters toiling to and fro, - One, who has watched thee at some quiet hour - Enthroned aloft in undisputed power, - Or crossed by vapoury streaks and clouds that move 35 - Catching the lustre they in part reprove-- - Nor sometimes felt a fitness in thy sway - To call up thoughts that shun the glare of day, - And make the serious happier than the gay? - - Yes, lovely Moon! if thou so mildly bright 40 - Dost rouse, yet surely in thy own despite, - To fiercer mood the phrenzy-stricken brain, - Let me a compensating faith maintain; - That there’s a sensitive, a tender, part - Which thou canst touch in every human heart, 45 - For healing and composure.--But, as least - And mightiest billows ever have confessed - Thy domination; as the whole vast Sea - Feels through her lowest depths thy sovereignty; - So shines that countenance with especial grace 50 - On them who urge the keel her _plains_ to trace - Furrowing its way right onward. The most rude, - Cut off from home and country, may have stood-- - Even till long gazing hath bedimmed his eye, - Or the mute rapture ended in a sigh-- 55 - Touched by accordance of thy placid cheer, - With some internal lights to memory dear, - Or fancies stealing forth to soothe the breast - Tired with its daily share of earth’s unrest,-- - Gentle awakenings, visitations meek; 60 - A kindly influence whereof few will speak, - Though it can wet with tears the hardiest cheek. - - And when thy beauty in the shadowy cave - Is hidden, buried in its monthly grave;[18] - Then, while the Sailor, ’mid an open sea 65 - Swept by a favouring wind that leaves thought free, - Paces the deck--no star perhaps in sight, - And nothing save the moving ship’s own light - To cheer the long dark hours of vacant night-- - Oft with his musings does thy image blend, 70 - In his mind’s eye thy crescent horns ascend, - And thou art still, O Moon, that SAILOR’S FRIEND! - -[18] Compare-- - - When thou wert hidden in thy monthly grave, - -in the lines _Written in a Grotto_, p. 235.--ED. - - -TO THE MOON - -(RYDAL) - -Composed 1835.--Published 1837 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. - - Queen of the stars!--so gentle, so benign, - That ancient Fable did to thee assign, - When darkness creeping o’er thy silver brow - Warned thee these upper regions to forego, - Alternate empire in the shades below-- 5 - A Bard, who, lately near the wide-spread sea - Traversed by gleaming ships, looked up to thee - With grateful thoughts, doth now thy rising hail - From the close confines of a shadowy vale. - Glory of night, conspicuous yet serene, 10 - Nor less attractive when by glimpses seen - Through cloudy umbrage,[19] well might that fair face, - And all those attributes of modest grace, - In days when Fancy wrought unchecked by fear, - Down to the green earth fetch thee from thy sphere, 15 - To sit in leafy woods by fountains clear! - - O still belov’d (for thine, meek Power, are charms - That fascinate the very Babe in arms, - While he, uplifted towards thee, laughs outright, - Spreading his little palms in his glad Mother’s sight) 20 - O still belov’d, once worshipped! Time, that frowns - In his destructive flight on earthly crowns, - Spares thy mild splendour; still those far-shot beams - Tremble on dancing waves and rippling streams - With stainless touch, as chaste as when thy praise 25 - Was sung by Virgin-choirs in festal lays; - And through dark trials still dost thou explore - Thy way for increase punctual as of yore, - When teeming Matrons--yielding to rude faith - In mysteries of birth and life and death 30 - And painful struggle and deliverance--prayed - Of thee to visit them with lenient aid. - What though the rites be swept away, the fanes - Extinct that echoed to the votive strains; - Yet thy mild aspect does not, cannot, cease 35 - Love to promote and purity and peace; - And Fancy, unreproved, even yet may trace - Faint types of suffering in thy beamless face. - - Then, silent Monitress! let us--not blind - To worlds unthought of till the searching mind 40 - Of Science laid them open to mankind-- - Told, also, how the voiceless heavens declare - God’s glory; and acknowledging thy share - In that blest charge; let us--without offence - To aught of highest, holiest, influence-- 45 - Receive whatever good ’tis given thee to dispense. - May sage and simple, catching with one eye - The moral intimations of the sky, - Learn from thy course, where’er their own be taken, - “To look on tempests, and be never shaken”;[20] 50 - To keep with faithful step the appointed way - Eclipsing or eclipsed, by night or day, - And from example of thy monthly range - Gently to brook decline and fatal change; - Meek, patient, stedfast, and with loftier scope, 55 - Than thy revival yields, for gladsome hope![21] - -[19] Compare _The Triad_, vol. vii. p. 181.--ED. - -[20] Compare l. 6 of Shakespeare’s sonnet, beginning-- - - Let me not to the marriage of true minds. - -ED. - -[21] See a fragment of ten lines, which was written by Wordsworth in -MS. after the above, in a copy of his poems. They are printed in the -Appendix to this volume.--ED. - - -WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH OF CHARLES LAMB - -[Light will be thrown upon the tragic circumstance alluded to in this -poem when, after the death of Charles Lamb’s Sister, his biographer, -Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, shall be at liberty to relate particulars which -could not, at the time his Memoir was written, be given to the public. -Mary Lamb was ten years older than her brother, and has survived him as -long a time. Were I to give way to my own feelings, I should dwell not -only on her genius and intellectual powers, but upon the delicacy and -refinement of manner which she maintained inviolable under most trying -circumstances. She was loved and honoured by all her brother’s friends; -and others, some of them strange characters, whom his philanthropic -peculiarities induced him to countenance. The death of C. Lamb himself -was doubtless hastened by his sorrow for that of Coleridge, to whom -he had been attached from the time of their being school-fellows at -Christ’s Hospital. Lamb was a good Latin scholar, and probably would -have gone to college upon one of the school foundations but for the -impediment in his speech. Had such been his lot, he would most likely -have been preserved from the indulgences of social humours and fancies -which were often injurious to himself, and causes of severe regret to -his friends, without really benefiting the object of his misapplied -kindness.--I.F.] - -In the edition of 1837, these lines had no title. They were printed -privately,--before their first appearance in that edition,--as a small -pamphlet of seven pages without title or heading. A copy will be found -in the fifth volume of the collection of pamphlets, forming part of -the library bequeathed by the late Mr. John Forster to the South -Kensington Museum. There are several readings to be found only in this -privately-printed edition. The poem was placed among the “Epitaphs and -Elegiac Pieces.”--ED. - -Composed November 19, 1835.--Published 1837 - - To a good Man of most dear memory[22] - This Stone is sacred.[23] Here he lies apart - From the great city where he first drew breath, - Was reared and taught; and humbly earned his bread, - To the strict labours of the merchant’s desk 5 - By duty chained. Not seldom did those tasks - Tease, and the thought of time so spent depress, - His spirit, but the recompense was high; - Firm Independence, Bounty’s rightful sire; - Affections, warm as sunshine, free as air; 10 - And when the precious hours of leisure came, - Knowledge and wisdom, gained from converse sweet - With books, or while he ranged the crowded streets - With a keen eye, and overflowing heart: - So genius triumphed over seeming wrong, 15 - And poured out truth in works by thoughtful love - Inspired--works potent over smiles and tears. - And as round mountain-tops the lightning plays, - Thus innocently sported, breaking forth - As from a cloud of some grave sympathy, 20 - Humour and wild instinctive wit, and all - The vivid flashes of his spoken words. - From the most gentle creature nursed in fields[24] - Had been derived the name he bore--a name, - Wherever christian altars have been raised, 25 - Hallowed to meekness and to innocence; - And if in him meekness at times gave way, - Provoked out of herself by troubles strange, - Many and strange, that hung about his life;[25] - Still, at the centre of his being, lodged 30 - A soul by resignation sanctified: - And if too often, self-reproached, he felt - That innocence belongs not to our kind, - A power that never ceased to abide in him, - Charity, ’mid the multitude of sins[26] 35 - That she can cover, left not his exposed - To an unforgiving judgment from just Heaven. - O, he was good, if e’er a good Man lived! - - From a reflecting mind and sorrowing heart - Those simple lines flowed with an earnest wish, 40 - Though but a doubting hope, that they might serve - Fitly to guard the precious dust of him - Whose virtues called them forth. That aim is missed; - For much that truth most urgently required - Had from a faltering pen been asked in vain: 45 - Yet, haply, on the printed page received, - The imperfect record, there, may stand unblamed - As long as verse of mine shall breathe the air - Of memory, or see the light of love.[27] - - Thou wert a scorner of the fields, my Friend, 50 - But more in show than truth;[28] and from the fields, - And from the mountains, to thy rural grave - Transported, my soothed spirit hovers o’er - Its green untrodden turf, and blowing flowers; - And taking up a voice shall speak (tho’ still 55 - Awed by the theme’s peculiar sanctity - Which words less free presumed not even to touch) - Of that fraternal love, whose heaven-lit lamp - From infancy, through manhood, to the last - Of threescore years, and to thy latest hour, 60 - Burnt on with ever-strengthening light, enshrined[29] - Within thy bosom. - “Wonderful” hath been - The love established between man and man, - “Passing the love of women;” and between - Man and his help-mate in fast wedlock joined 65 - Through God,[30] is raised a spirit and soul of love - Without whose blissful influence Paradise - Had been no Paradise; and earth were now - A waste where creatures bearing human form, - Direst of savage beasts, would roam in fear, 70 - Joyless and comfortless. Our days glide on;[31] - And let him grieve who cannot choose but grieve - That he hath been an Elm without his Vine, - And her bright dower of clustering charities, - That, round his trunk and branches, might have clung 75 - Enriching and adorning. Unto thee, - Not so enriched, not so adorned, to thee - Was given (say rather thou of later birth - Wert given to her) a Sister--’tis a word - Timidly uttered, for she _lives_, the meek, 80 - The self-restraining, and the ever-kind; - In whom thy reason and intelligent heart - Found--for all interests, hopes, and tender cares, - All softening, humanising, hallowing powers, - Whether withheld, or for her sake unsought-- 85 - More than sufficient recompense! - Her love - (What weakness prompts the voice to tell it here?) - Was as the love of mothers; and when years, - Lifting the boy to man’s estate, had called - The long-protected to assume the part 90 - Of a protector, the first filial tie - Was undissolved; and, in or out of sight, - Remained imperishably interwoven - With life itself. Thus, ’mid a shifting world, - Did they together testify of time[32] 95 - And season’s difference--a double tree - With two collateral stems sprung from one root; - Such were they--such thro’ life they _might_ have been - In union, in partition only such; - Otherwise wrought the will of the Most High; 100 - Yet, thro’ all visitations and all trials, - Still they were faithful; like two vessels launched - From the same beach one ocean to explore[33] - With mutual help, and sailing--to their league - True, as inexorable winds, or bars 105 - Floating or fixed of polar ice, allow.[34] - - But turn we rather, let my spirit turn - With thine, O silent and invisible Friend! - To those dear intervals, nor rare nor brief, - When reunited, and by choice withdrawn 110 - From miscellaneous converse, ye were taught - That the remembrance of foregone distress, - And the worse fear of future ill (which oft - Doth hang around it, as a sickly child - Upon its mother) may be both alike 115 - Disarmed of power to unsettle present good - So prized, and things inward and outward held - In such an even balance, that the heart - Acknowledges God’s grace, his mercy feels, - And in its depth of gratitude is still. 120 - - O gift divine of quiet sequestration! - The hermit, exercised in prayer and praise, - And feeding daily on the hope of heaven, - Is happy in his vow, and fondly cleaves - To life-long singleness; but happier far 125 - Was to your souls, and, to the thoughts of others, - A thousand times more beautiful appeared, - Your _dual_ loneliness. The sacred tie - Is broken; yet why grieve? for Time but holds - His moiety in trust, till Joy shall lead 130 - To the blest world where parting is unknown.[35] - -[22] 1837. - - _To the dear memory of a frail good Man_ - - In privately printed edition. - -[23] Charles Lamb died December 27, 1834, and was buried in Edmonton -Churchyard, in a spot selected by himself.--ED. - -[24] This way of indicating the _name_ of my lamented friend has been -found fault with, perhaps rightly so; but I may say in justification of -the double sense of the word, that similar allusions are not uncommon -in epitaphs. One of the best in our language in verse, I ever read, -was upon a person who bore the name of Palmer†; and the course of the -thought, throughout, turned upon the Life of the Departed, considered -as a pilgrimage. Nor can I think that the objection in the present -case will have much force with any one who remembers Charles Lamb’s -beautiful sonnet addressed to his own name, and ending-- - - No deed of mine shall shame thee, gentle name! - -W. W. 1837. - - † 1840. - - Pilgrim; - - 1837. - -Professor Henry Reed, in his edition of 1837, added the following note -to Wordsworth’s. “In _Hierologus_, a Church Tour through England and -Wales, I have met with an epitaph which is probably the one alluded to -above … a Kentish epitaph on one Palmer: - - Palmers all our fathers were; - I, a Palmer lived here, - And traveyled sore, till worn with age, - I ended this world’s pilgrimage, - On the blest Ascension Day - In the cheerful month of May.” - -The above is Professor Reed’s note. The following is an exact copy of -the epitaph:-- - - _Palmers_ all our faders were; - I, a _Palmer_ livyd here - And travyld still till worne wyth age, - I endyd this world’s pylgramage, - On the blyst assention day - In the cherful month of May; - A thowsand wyth fowre hundryd seven, - And took my jorney hense to heven. - - (Printed by Weever.) - -ED. - -[25] Compare Talfourd’s _Final Memorials of Charles Lamb_, -_passim_.--ED. - -[26] 1837. - - _He had a constant friend--in Charity_; - HER _who, among_ a multitude of sins, - - In privately printed edition. - -[27] 1837. - - From a reflecting mind and sorrowing heart - This tribute flow’d, with hope that it might guard - The dust of him whose virtues call’d it forth; - But ’tis a little space of earth that man, - Stretch’d out in death, is doom’d to occupy; - Still smaller space doth modest custom yield, - On sculptured tomb or tablet, to the claims - Of the deceased, or rights of the bereft. - ’Tis well; and tho’, the record overstepped - Those narrow bounds, yet on the printed page - Received, there may it stand, I trust, unblamed - As long as verse of mine shall steal from tears - Their bitterness, or live to shed a gleam - Of solace over one dejected thought. - - In privately printed edition. - -Professor Dowden quotes, from “a slip of MS. in the poet’s -hand-writing,” the following variation of these lines-- - - ’Tis well, and if the Record in the strength - And earnestness of feeling, overpass’d - Those narrow limits and so miss’d its aim, - Yet will I trust that on the printed page - Received, it there may keep a place unblamed. - -ED. - -[28] Lamb’s indifference to the country “was a sort of ‘mock apparel,’ -in which it was his humour at times to invest himself.” (H. N. -Coleridge, Supplement to the _Biographia Literaria_, p. 333.)--ED. - -[29] 1837. - - Burned, and with ever-strengthening light, enshrined - - In privately printed edition. - -[30] 1837. - - By God, … - - In privately printed edition. - -[31] 1837. - - … Our days pass on; - - In privately printed edition. - -[32] 1837. - - Together stood they witnessing of time - - In privately printed edition. - -[33] 1837. - - Yet, in all visitations, through all trials - Still they were faithful, like two goodly ships - Launch’d from the beach, … - - In privately printed edition. - -[34] Compare the testimony borne to Mary Lamb by Mr. Procter (Barry -Cornwall), and by Henry Crabb Robinson.--ED. - -[35] 1837. - - … The sacred tie - Is broken, to become more sacred still. - - In privately printed edition. - -Wordsworth originally meant to write an epitaph on Charles Lamb, -but his verse grew into an elegy of some length. A reference to the -circumstance of its “composition” will be found in one of his letters, -in a later volume.--ED. - - -EXTEMPORE EFFUSION UPON THE DEATH OF JAMES HOGG - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -[These verses were written extempore, immediately after reading a -notice of the Ettrick Shepherd’s death, in the Newcastle paper, to the -Editor of which I sent a copy for publication. The persons lamented -in these verses were all either of my friends or acquaintance. In -Lockhart’s _Life of Sir Walter Scott_, an account is given of my -first meeting with him in 1803. How the Ettrick Shepherd and I became -known to each other has already been mentioned in these notes. He was -undoubtedly a man of original genius, but of coarse manners and low -and offensive opinions. Of Coleridge and Lamb I need not speak here. -Crabbe I have met in London at Mr. Rogers’s, but more frequently and -favourably at Mr. Hoare’s upon Hampstead Heath. Every spring he used to -pay that family a visit of some length, and was upon terms of intimate -friendship with Mrs. Hoare, and still more with her daughter-in-law, -who has a large collection of his letters addressed to herself. After -the Poet’s decease, application was made to her to give up these -letters to his biographer, that they, or at least part of them, might -be given to the public. She hesitated to comply, and asked my opinion -on the subject. “By no means,” was my answer, grounded not upon any -objection there might be to publishing a selection from these letters, -but from an aversion I have always felt to meet idle curiosity by -calling back the recently departed to become the object of trivial -and familiar gossip. Crabbe obviously for the most part preferred the -company of women to that of men, for this among other reasons, that -he did not like to be put upon the stretch in general conversation: -accordingly in miscellaneous society his _talk_ was so much below what -might have been expected from a man so deservedly celebrated, that to -me it seemed trifling. It must upon other occasions have been of a -different character, as I found in our rambles together on Hampstead -Heath, and not so much from a readiness to communicate his knowledge -of life and manners as of natural history in all its branches. His -mind was inquisitive, and he seems to have taken refuge from the -remembrance of the distresses he had gone through, in these studies -and the employments to which they led. Moreover, such contemplations -might tend profitably to counterbalance the painful truths which he had -collected from his intercourse with mankind. Had I been more intimate -with him, I should have ventured to touch upon his office as a minister -of the Gospel, and how far his heart and soul were in it so as to make -him a zealous and diligent labourer: in poetry, though he wrote much -as we all know, he assuredly was not so. I happened once to speak of -pains as necessary to produce merit of a certain kind which I highly -valued: his observation was--“It is not worth while.” You are quite -right, thought I, if the labour encroaches upon the time due to teach -truth as a steward of the mysteries of God: if there be cause to fear -_that_, write less: but, if poetry is to be produced at all, make -what you do produce as good as you can. Mr. Rogers once told me that -he expressed his regret to Crabbe that he wrote in his later works so -much less correctly than in his earlier. “Yes,” replied he, “but then -I had a reputation to make; now I can afford to relax.” Whether it -was from a modest estimate of his own qualifications, or from causes -less creditable, his motives for writing verse and his hopes and aims -were not so high as is to be desired. After being silent for more than -twenty years, he again applied himself to poetry, upon the spur of -applause he received from the periodical publications of the day, as he -himself tells us in one of his prefaces. Is it not to be lamented that -a man who was so conversant with permanent truth, and whose writings -are so valuable an acquisition to our country’s literature, should have -_required_ an impulse from such a quarter? Mrs. Hemans was unfortunate -as a poetess in being obliged by circumstances to write for money, and -that so frequently and so much, that she was compelled to look out for -subjects wherever she could find them, and to write as expeditiously as -possible. As a woman, she was to a considerable degree a spoilt child -of the world. She had been early in life distinguished for talent, and -poems of hers were published while she was a girl. She had also been -handsome in her youth, but her education had been most unfortunate. -She was totally ignorant of housewifery, and could as easily have -managed the spear of Minerva as her needle. It was from observing these -deficiencies, that, one day while she was under my roof, I _purposely_ -directed her attention to household economy, and told her I had -purchased _Scales_ which I intended to present to a young lady as a -wedding present; pointed out their utility (for her especial benefit) -and said that no ménage ought to be without them. Mrs. Hemans, not in -the least suspecting my drift, reported this saying, in a letter to a -friend at the time, as a proof of my simplicity. Being disposed to make -large allowances for the faults of her education and the circumstances -in which she was placed, I felt most kindly disposed towards her, and -took her part upon all occasions, and I was not a little affected -by learning that after she withdrew to Ireland, a long and severe -sickness raised her spirit as it depressed her body. This I heard from -her most intimate friends, and there is striking evidence of it in a -poem written and published not long before her death. These notices -of Mrs. Hemans would be very unsatisfactory to her intimate friends, -as indeed they are to myself, not so much for what is said, but what -for brevity’s sake is left unsaid. Let it suffice to add, there was -much sympathy between us, and, if opportunity had been allowed me to -see more of her, I should have loved and valued her accordingly; as it -is, I remember her with true affection for her amiable qualities, and, -above all, for her delicate and irreproachable conduct during her long -separation from an unfeeling husband, whom she had been led to marry -from the romantic notions of inexperienced youth. Upon this husband I -never heard her cast the least reproach, nor did I ever hear her even -name him, though she did not wholly forbear to touch upon her domestic -position; but never so that any fault could be found with her manner of -adverting to it. --I.F.] - -This first appeared in _The Athenæum_, December 12, 1835, and in -the edition of 1837 it was included among the “Epitaphs and Elegiac -Pieces.”--ED. - - When first, descending from the moorlands, - I saw the Stream of Yarrow glide - Along a bare and open valley, - The Ettrick Shepherd was my guide.[36] - - When last along its banks I wandered, 5 - Through groves that had begun to shed - Their golden leaves upon the pathways, - My steps the Border-minstrel led. - - The mighty Minstrel breathes no longer,[37] - ’Mid mouldering ruins low he lies;[38] 10 - And death upon the braes of Yarrow, - Has closed the Shepherd-poet’s eyes:[39] - - Nor has the rolling year twice measured, - From sign to sign, its stedfast course, - Since every mortal power of Coleridge 15 - Was frozen at its marvellous source;[40] - - The rapt One, of the godlike forehead,[41] - The heaven-eyed creature sleeps in earth: - And Lamb, the frolic and the gentle, - Has vanished from his lonely hearth.[42] 20 - - Like clouds that rake the mountain-summits,[43] - Or waves that own no curbing hand, - How fast has brother followed brother, - From sunshine to the sunless land! - - Yet I, whose lids from infant slumber[44] 25 - Were earlier raised, remain to hear - A timid voice, that asks in whispers, - “Who next will drop and disappear?” - - Our haughty life is crowned with darkness, - Like London with its own black wreath, 30 - On which with thee, O Crabbe! forth-looking, - I gazed from Hampstead’s breezy heath. - - As if but yesterday departed, - Thou too art gone before;[45] but why, - O’er ripe fruit, seasonably gathered, 35 - Should frail survivors heave a sigh? - - Mourn rather for that holy Spirit, - Sweet as the spring, as ocean deep; - For Her who, ere her summer faded, - Has sunk into a breathless sleep.[46] 40 - - No more of old romantic sorrows, - For slaughtered Youth or love-lorn Maid! - With sharper grief is Yarrow smitten, - And Ettrick mourns with her their Poet dead.[47] - -[36] Compare _Yarrow Visited_ (September, 1814), vol. vi. p. 35.--ED. - -[37] Compare _Yarrow Revisited_ (1831), vol. vii. p. 278.--ED. - -[38] Scott died at Abbotsford, on the 21st September 1832, and was -buried in Dryburgh Abbey.--ED. - -[39] Hogg died at Altrive, on the 21st November 1835.--ED. - -[40] Coleridge died at Highgate, on the 25th July 1834.--ED. - -[41] Compare the _Stanzas written in my Pocket Copy of Thomson’s -“Castle of Indolence”_ (vol. ii. p. 307)-- - - Profound his forehead was, though not severe. - -ED. - -[42] Lamb died in London, on the 27th December 1834.--ED. - -[43] “This expression is borrowed from a sonnet by Mr. G. Bell, the -author of a small volume of poems lately printed at Penrith. Speaking -of Skiddaw he says-- - - Yon dark cloud ‘rakes,’ and shrouds its noble brow.” - -(Henry Reed, 1837.)--ED. - -[44] 1845. - - … slumbers - - 1837. - -[45] George Crabbe died at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on the 3rd of -February 1832.--ED. - -[46] Felicia Hemans died 16th May 1835.--ED. - -[47] - - Grieve rather for that holy Spirit - Pure as the sky, as ocean deep; - For her who ere the summer faded - Has sunk into a breathless sleep. - - No more of old romantic sorrows - For slaughtered Youth or love-lorn Maid! - With sharper grief is Yarrow smitten, - And Ettrick mourns her Shepherd Poet dead. - - C. - - -UPON SEEING A COLOURED DRAWING OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE IN AN ALBUM - -Composed 1835.--Published 1836 - -[I cannot forbear to record that the last seven lines of this Poem were -composed in bed during the night of the day on which my sister Sara -Hutchinson died about 6 P.M., and it was the thought of her innocent -and beautiful life that, through faith, prompted the words---- - - On wings that fear no glance of God’s pure sight, - No tempest from his breath. - -The reader will find two poems on pictures of this bird among my -Poems. I will here observe that in a far greater number of instances -than have been mentioned in these notes one poem has, as in this -case, grown out of another, either because I felt the subject had -been inadequately treated, or that the thoughts and images suggested -in course of composition have been such as I found interfered with -the unity indispensable to every work of art, however humble in -character.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - Who rashly strove thy Image to portray? - Thou buoyant minion of the tropic air; - How could he think of the live creature----gay - With a divinity of colours, drest - In all her brightness, from the dancing crest 5 - Far as the last gleam of the filmy train - Extended and extending to sustain - The motions that it graces----and forbear - To drop his pencil! Flowers of every clime - Depicted on these pages smile at time; 10 - And gorgeous insects copied with nice care - Are here, and likenesses of many a shell - Tossed ashore by restless waves, - Or in the diver’s grasp fetched up from caves - Where sea-nymphs might be proud to dwell: 15 - But whose rash hand (again I ask) could dare, - ’Mid casual tokens and promiscuous shows, - To circumscribe this Shape in fixed repose; - Could imitate for indolent survey, - Perhaps for touch profane, 20 - Plumes that might catch, but cannot keep, a stain; - And, with cloud-streaks lightest and loftiest, share - The sun’s first greeting, his last farewell ray! - - Resplendent Wanderer! followed with glad eyes - Where’er her course; mysterious Bird! 25 - To whom, by wondering Fancy stirred, - Eastern Islanders have given - A holy name----the Bird of Heaven! - And even a title higher still, - The Bird of God![48] whose blessed will 30 - She seems performing as she flies - Over the earth and through the skies - In never-wearied search of Paradise---- - Region that crowns her beauty with the name - She bears for _us_----for us how blest, 35 - How happy at all seasons, could like aim - Uphold our Spirits urged to kindred flight - On wings that fear no glance of God’s pure sight, - No tempest from his breath, their promised rest - Seeking with indefatigable quest 40 - Above a world that deems itself most wise - When most enslaved by gross realities! - -[48] Compare, in Robert Browning’s poem on Guercino’s picture of _The -Guardian-Angel at Fano_---- - - Thou bird of God. - -ED. - - -“DESPONDING FATHER! MARK THIS ALTERED BOUGH” - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Desponding Father! mark this altered bough,[49] - So beautiful of late, with sunshine warmed, - Or moist with dews; what more unsightly now, - Its blossoms shrivelled, and its fruit, if formed, - Invisible? yet Spring her genial brow 5 - Knits not o’er that discolouring and decay - As false to expectation. Nor fret thou - At like unlovely process in the May - Of human life: a Stripling’s graces blow, - Fade and are shed, that from their timely fall 10 - (Misdeem it not a cankerous change) may grow - Rich mellow bearings, that for thanks shall call: - In all men, sinful is it to be slow - To hope----in Parents, sinful above all. - -[49] Compare _The Excursion_ (book iii. l. 649), and the sonnet (vol. -vi. p. 72) beginning---- - - Surprised by joy----impatient as the Wind. - -ED. - - -“FOUR FIERY STEEDS IMPATIENT OF THE REIN” - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -[Suggested on the road between Preston and Lancaster where it first -gives a view of the Lake country, and composed on the same day, on the -roof of the coach.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Four fiery steeds impatient of the rein - Whirled us o’er sunless ground beneath a sky - As void of sunshine, when, from that wide plain, - Clear tops of far-off mountains we descry, - Like a Sierra of cerulean Spain, 5 - All light and lustre. Did no heart reply? - Yes, there was One;--for One, asunder fly - The thousand links of that ethereal chain; - And green vales open out, with grove and field, - And the fair front of many a happy Home; 10 - Such tempting spots as into vision come - While Soldiers, weary of the arms they wield - And sick at heart[50] of strifeful Christendom, - Gaze on the moon by parting clouds revealed. - -[50] 1837. - - While Soldiers, of the weapons that they wield - Weary, and sick of strifeful … - - 1835. - - -TO ---- - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -[The fate of this poor Dove, as described, was told to me at Brinsop -Court, by the young lady to whom I have given the name of Lesbia.--I.F.] - - [Miss not the occasion: by the forelock take - That subtle Power, the never-halting Time, - Lest a mere moment’s putting-off should make - Mischance almost as heavy as a crime.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - “Wait, prithee, wait!” this answer Lesbia[51] threw - Forth to her Dove, and took no further heed. - Her eye was busy, while her fingers flew - Across the harp, with soul-engrossing speed; - But from that bondage when her thoughts were freed 5 - She rose, and toward the close-shut casement drew, - Whence the poor unregarded Favourite, true - To old affections, had been heard to plead - With flapping wing for entrance. What a shriek - Forced from that voice so lately tuned to a strain 10 - Of harmony!----a shriek of terror, pain, - And self-reproach! for, from aloft, a Kite - Pounced,----and the Dove, which from its ruthless beak - She could not rescue, perished in her sight! - -[51] Miss Loveday Walker, daughter of the Rector of Brinsop. See the -Fenwick note to the next sonnet.--ED. - - -ROMAN ANTIQUITIES DISCOVERED AT BISHOPSTONE, HEREFORDSHIRE - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -[My attention to these antiquities was directed by Mr. Walker, son -to the itinerant Eidouranian Philosopher. The beautiful pavement was -discovered within a few yards of the front door of his parsonage, and -appeared from the site (in full view of several hills upon which there -had formerly been Roman encampments) as if it might have been the -villa of the commander of the forces, at least such was Mr. Walker’s -conjecture.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - While poring Antiquarians search the ground - Upturned with curious pains, the Bard, a Seer, - Takes fire:----The men that have been reappear; - Romans for travel girt, for business gowned; - And some recline on couches, myrtle-crowned, 5 - In festal glee: why not? For fresh and clear, - As if its hues were of the passing year, - Dawns this time-buried pavement. From that mound - Hoards may come forth of Trajans, Maximins, - Shrunk into coins with all their warlike toil: 10 - Or a fierce impress issues with its foil - Of tenderness--the Wolf, whose suckling Twins - The unlettered ploughboy pities when he wins - The casual treasure from the furrowed soil. - - -ST. CATHERINE OF LEDBURY - -Composed 1835.--Published 1835 - -[Written on a journey from Brinsop Court, Herefordshire.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - When human touch (as monkish books attest) - Nor was applied nor could be, Ledbury bells - Broke forth in concert flung adown the dells, - And upward, high as Malvern’s cloudy crest;[52] - Sweet tones, and caught by a noble Lady blest 5 - To rapture! Mabel listened at the side - Of her loved mistress: soon the music died, - And Catherine said, Here I set up my rest. - Warned in a dream, the Wanderer long had sought - A home that by such miracle of sound 10 - Must be revealed:--she heard it now, or felt - The deep, deep joy of a confiding thought; - And there, a saintly Anchoress, she dwelt - Till she exchanged for heaven that happy ground. - -[52] The Ledbury bells are easily audible on the Malvern hills.--ED. - - -“BY A BLEST HUSBAND GUIDED, MARY CAME”[53] - -Published 1835 - -[This lady was named Carleton; she, along with a sister, was brought -up in the neighbourhood of Ambleside. The epitaph, a part of it at -least, is in the church at Bromsgrove, where she resided after her -marriage.--I.F.] - -One of the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”--ED. - - By a blest Husband guided, Mary came - From nearest kindred, Vernon[54] her new name; - She came, though meek of soul, in seemly pride - Of happiness and hope, a youthful Bride. - O dread reverse! if aught _be_ so, which proves 5 - That God will chasten whom he dearly loves. - Faith bore her up through pains in mercy given, - And troubles that were each a step to Heaven: - Two Babes were laid in earth before she died; - A third now slumbers at the Mother’s side; 10 - Its Sister-twin survives, whose smiles afford - A trembling solace to her widowed Lord. - - Reader! if to thy bosom cling the pain - Of recent sorrow combated in vain; - Or if thy cherished grief have failed to thwart 15 - Time still intent on his insidious part, - Lulling the mourner’s best good thoughts asleep, - Pilfering regrets we would, but cannot, keep; - Bear with Him--judge _Him_ gently who makes known - His bitter loss by this memorial Stone; 20 - And pray that in his faithful breast the grace - Of resignation find a hallowed place. - -[53] 1837. - -In the edition of 1835 the title was “Epitaph.” - -[54] 1837. - - From nearest kindred, … - - 1835. - - -“OH WHAT A WRECK! HOW CHANGED IN MIEN AND SPEECH!” - -Composed 1835.--Published 1838 - -[The sad condition of poor Mrs. Southey[55] put me upon writing this. -It has afforded comfort to many persons whose friends have been -similarly affected.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Oh what a Wreck! how changed in mien and speech! - Yet--though dread Powers, that work in mystery, spin - Entanglings of[56] the brain; though shadows stretch - O’er the chilled heart--reflect; far, far within - Hers is a holy Being, freed from Sin. 5 - She is not what she seems, a forlorn wretch, - But delegated Spirits comfort fetch - To Her from heights that Reason may not win. - Like Children, She is privileged to hold - Divine communion;[57] both do live and move, 10 - Whate’er to shallow Faith their ways unfold, - Inly illumined by Heaven’s pitying love; - Love pitying innocence not long to last, - In them--in Her our sins and sorrows past. - -[55] Mrs. Southey died 16th November 1837. She had long been an -invalid. See Southey’s _Life and Correspondence_, vol. vi. p. 347.--ED. - -[56] 1842. - - … for … - - 1838. - -[57] Compare a remark of Wordsworth’s that he never saw those with -mind unhinged, but he thought of the words, “Life hid in God.” It is a -curious oriental belief that idiots are in closer communion with the -Infinite than the sane are.--ED. - - - - -1836 - -So far as can be ascertained, only one sonnet was written by Wordsworth -in 1836. The verses _To a Redbreast_, by his sister-in-law, Sarah -Hutchinson, may however be placed alongside of the sonnet addressed to -her.--ED. - - -NOVEMBER 1836 - -Composed 1836.--Published 1837. - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Even so for me a Vision sanctified - The sway of Death; long ere mine eyes had seen - Thy countenance--the still rapture of thy mien-- - When thou, dear Sister![58] wert become Death’s Bride: - No trace of pain or languor could abide 5 - That change:--age on thy brow was smoothed--thy cold - Wan cheek at once was privileged to unfold - A loveliness to living youth denied. - Oh! if within me hope should e’er decline, - The lamp of faith, lost Friend! too faintly burn; 10 - Then may that heaven-revealing smile of thine, - The bright assurance, visibly return: - And let my spirit in that power divine - Rejoice, as, through that power, it ceased to mourn. - -[58] Sarah Hutchinson--Mrs. Wordsworth’s sister--died at Rydal on the -23rd June 1836. It was after her that the poet named one of the two -“heath-clad rocks” referred to in the “Poems on the naming of Places,” -and which he called respectively “Mary-Point” and “Sarah-Point.” In -1827 he inscribed to her the sonnet beginning-- - - Excuse is needless when with love sincere, - -and the lines she wrote _To a Redbreast_, beginning-- - - Stay, little cheerful Robin! stay, - -were published among Wordsworth’s own poems. - -The sonnet written in 1806, beginning-- - - Methought I saw the footsteps of a throne, - -was, Wordsworth tells us, a great favourite with S. H. He adds, “When -I saw her lying in death I could not resist the impulse to compose the -sonnet that follows it.” (See vol. iv. p. 46.) - -In a letter to Southey (unpublished), Wordsworth refers to her death, -and adds: “I saw her within an hour after her decease, in the silence -and peace of death, with as heavenly an expression on her countenance -as ever human creature had. Surely there is food for faith in these -appearances: for myself, I can say that I have passed a wakeful night, -more in joy than in sorrow, with that blessed face before my eyes -perpetually as I lay in bed.” - - -TO A REDBREAST--(IN SICKNESS) - -Published 1842 - -[Almost the only verses by our lamented sister Sara Hutchinson.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - Stay, little cheerful Robin! stay, - And at my casement sing, - Though it should prove a farewell lay - And this our parting spring. - - Though I, alas! may ne’er enjoy 5 - The promise in thy song; - A charm, _that_ thought can not destroy, - Doth to thy strain belong. - - Methinks that in my dying hour - Thy song would still be dear, 10 - And with a more than earthly power - My passing Spirit cheer. - - Then, little Bird, this boon confer, - Come, and my requiem sing, - Nor fail to be the harbinger 15 - Of everlasting Spring. - - S.H. - - - - -1837 - -The poems belonging to the year 1837 include the “Memorials of a Tour -in Italy” with Henry Crabb Robinson in that year, and one or two -additional sonnets.--ED. - - -“SIX MONTHS TO SIX YEARS ADDED HE REMAINED” - -Published 1837 - -One of the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”--ED. - - Six months to six years added he remained - Upon this sinful earth, by sin unstained: - O blessed Lord! whose mercy then removed - A Child whom every eye that looked on loved; - Support us, teach us calmly to resign 5 - What we possessed, and now is wholly thine![59] - -[59] This refers to the poet’s son Thomas, who died December 1, 1812. -He was buried in Grasmere churchyard, beside his sister Catherine; and -Wordsworth placed these lines upon his tombstone. They may have been -written much earlier than 1836, probably in 1813, but it is impossible -to ascertain the date, and they were not published till 1837.--ED. - - -MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN ITALY 1837 - -Composed 1837.--Published 1842 - -[During my whole life I had felt a strong desire to visit Rome and the -other celebrated cities and regions of Italy, but did not think myself -justified in incurring the necessary expense till I received from Mr. -Moxon, the publisher of a large edition of my poems, a sum sufficient -to enable me to gratify my wish without encroaching upon what I -considered due to my family. My excellent friend H.C. Robinson readily -consented to accompany me, and in March 1837, we set off from London, -to which we returned in August, earlier than my companion wished or -I should myself have desired had I been, like him, a bachelor. These -Memorials of that tour touch upon but a very few of the places and -objects that interested me, and, in what they do advert to, are for -the most part much slighter than I could wish. More particularly do I -regret that there is no notice in them of the South of France, nor of -the Roman antiquities abounding in that district, especially of the -Pont de Degard, which, together with its situation, impressed me full -as much as any remains of Roman architecture to be found in Italy. -Then there was Vaucluse, with its Fountain, its Petrarch, its rocks of -all seasons, its small plots of lawn in their first vernal freshness, -and the blossoms of the peach and other trees embellishing the scene -on every side. The beauty of the stream also called forcibly for the -expression of sympathy from one who, from his childhood, had studied -the brooks and torrents of his native mountains. Between two and three -hours did I run about climbing the steep and rugged crags from whose -base the water of Vaucluse breaks forth. “Has Laura’s Lover,” often -said I to myself, “ever sat down upon this stone? or has his foot ever -pressed that turf?” Some, especially of the female sex, would have felt -sure of it: my answer was (impute it to my years) “I fear, not.” Is it -not in fact obvious that many of his love verses must have flowed, I -do not say from a wish to display his own talent, but from a habit of -exercising his intellect in that way rather than from an impulse of his -heart? It is otherwise with his Lyrical poems, and particularly with -the one upon the degradation of his country: there he pours out his -reproaches, lamentations, and aspirations like an ardent and sincere -patriot. But enough: it is time to turn to my own effusions such as -they are.--I.F.] - - -TO HENRY CRABB ROBINSON[60] - - Companion! by whose buoyant Spirit cheered, - In[61] whose experience trusting, day by day - Treasures I gained with zeal that neither feared - The toils nor felt the crosses of the way, - These records take, and happy should I be 5 - Were but the Gift a meet Return to thee - For kindnesses that never ceased to flow, - And prompt self-sacrifice to which I owe - Far more than any heart but mine can know. - - W. WORDSWORTH. - -RYDAL MOUNT, _Feb. 14th, 1842._ - -[60] The following is the Itinerary of the Italian Tour of 1837, -supplied by Mr. Henry Crabb Robinson. (See _Memoirs of Wordsworth_, -vol. ii. pp. 316, 317.) The spelling of the names of places is -Robinson’s. - - March, 1837. - - 19. By steam to Calais. - 20. Posting to Samer. - 21. Posting to Granvilliers. - 22. Through Beauvais to Paris. - 26. To Fontainbleau. - 27. Through Nemours to Cosne. - 28. To Moulins. - 29. To Tarare. - 30. To Lyons. - 31. Through Vienne to Tain. - - April. - - 1. Through Valence to Orange. - 2. To Avignon; to Vaucluse and back. - 3, 4. By Pont du Gard to Nismes. - 5, 6. By St. Remi to Marseilles. - 7. To Toulon. - 8. To Luc. - 9. By Frejus to Cannes. - 10, 11. To Nice. - 12. Through Mentone to St. Remo. - 13. Through Finale to Savone. - 14-16. To Genoa. - 17. To Chiaveri. - 18. To Spezia. - 19. By Carrara to Massa. - 20. To Lucca. - 21. To Pisa. - 22. To Volterra. - 23. By Castiglonacco and Sienna. - 24. To Radicofani. - 25. By Aquapendente to Viterbo. - 26. To Rome. - - May. - - 13. Excursion to Tivoli with Dr. Carlyle. - 17-21. Excursion to Albano, etc., etc., with Miss Mackenzie. - 23. To Terni. - 24. After seeing the Falls, to Spoleto. - 25. To Cortona and Perugia. - 26. To Arezzo. - 27. To Bibiena and Laverna. - 28. To Camaldoli. - 29. From Muselea to Ponte Sieve. - 30. From Ponte Sieve to Val Ombrosa and Florence. - - June. - - 6, 7. To Bologna. - 8. Parma. - 9. Through Piacenza to Milan. - 11. To the Certosa and back. - 12. To the Lake of Como and back. - 13. To Bergamo. - 14. To Pallazuola and Isco. - 15. Excursion to Riveri and back. - 16. To Brescia and Desinzano. - 17. On Lake of Garda to Riva. - 19. To Verona. - 20. Vicenza. - 21. Padua. - 22. Venice. - 28. To Logerone. - 29. To Sillian. - 30. Spittal (in Carinthia). - - July. - - 1. Over Kazenberg to Tweng. - 2. Through Werfen to Hallein. - 3. Excursion to Konigsee. - 4, 5. To Saltzburg. - 6. To Ischl. A week’s stay in the Salzkammer Gut, viz.-- - 8. Gmund. - 9. Travenfalls and back. - 10. Aussee. - 11. Excursion to lakes, then to Hallstadt. - 13. Through Ischl to St. Gilgin. - 14. Through Salzburg to Trauenstein. - 15. To Miesbach. - 16. To Tegernsee and Holzkirken. - 17. To Munich. - 21. To Augsburg. - 22. To Ulm. - 23. To Stuttgard. - 24. To Besigham. - 25. To Heidelberg. - 28. Through Worms to Mayence. - 29. To Coblenz. - 30. To Bonn. - 31. Through Cologne to Aix-la-Chapelle. - - August. - - 1. To Louvain - 2. To Brussels. - 3. To Antwerp. - 4. To Liege. - 5. Through Lille to Cassell. - 6. Calais. - 7. London. - -[61] 1845. - - To … - - 1842. - - -The Tour of which the following Poems are very inadequate remembrances -was shortened by report, too well founded, of the prevalence of Cholera -at Naples. To make some amends for what was reluctantly left unseen -in the South of Italy, we visited the Tuscan Sanctuaries among the -Apennines, and the principal Italian Lakes among the Alps. Neither -of those lakes, nor of Venice, is there any notice in these Poems, -chiefly because I have touched upon them elsewhere. See, in particular, -_Descriptive Sketches_, “Memorials of a Tour on the Continent in 1820,” -and a Sonnet upon the extinction of the Venetian Republic.--W.W. - - -I - -MUSINGS NEAR AQUAPENDENTE - -APRIL, 1837 - - [Not the less - Had his sunk eye kindled at those dear words - That spake of bards and minstrels. - -His, Sir Walter Scott’s, eye, _did_ in fact kindle at them, for the -lines, “Places forsaken now” and the two that follow, were adopted from -a poem of mine which nearly forty years ago was _in part_ read to him, -and he never forgot them. - - Old Helvellyn’s brow - Where once together, in his day of strength, - We stood rejoicing. - -Sir Humphry Davy was with us at the time. We had ascended from -Patterdale, and I could not but admire the vigour with which Scott -scrambled along that horn of the mountain called “Striding Edge.” Our -progress was necessarily slow, and was beguiled by Scott’s telling many -stories and amusing anecdotes, as was his custom. Sir H. Davy would -have probably been better pleased if other topics had occasionally been -interspersed, and some discussion entered upon: at all events he did -not remain with us long at the top of the mountain, but left us to find -our way down its steep side together into the Vale of Grasmere, where, -at my cottage, Mrs. Scott was to meet us at dinner. - - With faint smile - … - He said, “When I am there, although ’tis fair, - ’Twill be another Yarrow.” - -See among these notes the one on _Yarrow Revisited_. - - A few short steps (painful they were) apart - From Tasso’s Convent-haven, and retired grave. - -This, though introduced here, I did not know till it was told me at -Rome by Miss Mackenzie of Seaforth, a lady whose friendly attentions -during my residence at Rome I have gratefully acknowledged with -expressions of sincere regret that she is no more. Miss M. told me -that she accompanied Sir Walter to the Janicular Mount, and, after -showing him the grave of Tasso in the church upon the top, and a mural -monument, there erected to his memory, they left the church and stood -together on the brow of the hill overlooking the City of Rome: his -daughter Anne was with them, and she, naturally desirous, for the sake -of Miss Mackenzie especially, to have some expression of pleasure from -her father, half reproached him for showing nothing of that kind either -by his looks or voice: “How can I,” replied he, “having only one leg -to stand upon, and that in extreme pain!” so that the prophecy was more -than fulfilled. - - Over waves rough and deep. - -We took boat near the lighthouse at the point of the right horn of -the bay which makes a sort of natural port for Genoa; but the wind -was high, and the waves long and rough, so that I did not feel quite -recompensed by the view of the city, splendid as it was, for the danger -apparently incurred. The boatman (I had only one) encouraged me saying -we were quite safe, but I was not a little glad when we gained the -shore, though Shelley and Byron--one of them at least, who seemed to -have courted agitation from any quarter--would have probably rejoiced -in such a situation: more than once I believe were they both in extreme -danger even on the lake of Geneva. Every man, however, has his fears -of some kind or other; and no doubt they had theirs: of all men whom I -have ever known, Coleridge had the most of passive courage in bodily -peril, but no one was so easily cowed when moral firmness was required -in miscellaneous conversation or in the daily intercourse of social -life. - - How lovely robed in forenoon light and shade, - Each ministering to each, didst thou appear, - Savona. - -There is not a single bay along this beautiful coast that might not -raise in a traveller a wish to take up his abode there, each as it -succeeds seems more inviting than the other; but the desolated convent -on the cliff in the bay of Savona struck my fancy most; and had I, for -the sake of my own health or that of a dear friend, or any other cause, -been desirous of a residence abroad, I should have let my thoughts -loose upon a scheme of turning some part of this building into a -habitation provided as far as might be with English comforts. There is -close by it a row or avenue, I forget which, of tall cypresses. I could -not forbear saying to myself--“What a sweet family walk, or one for -lonely musings, would be found under the shade!” but there, probably, -the trees remained little noticed and seldom enjoyed. - - This flowering broom’s dear neighbourhood. - -The broom is a great ornament through the months of March and April to -the vales and hills of the Apennines, in the wild parts of which it -blows in the utmost profusion, and of course successively at different -elevations as the season advances. It surpasses ours in beauty and -fragrance,[62] but, speaking from my own limited observations only, -I cannot affirm the same of several of their wild spring flowers, -the primroses in particular, which I saw not unfrequently but thinly -scattered and languishing compared to ours. - -The note at the end of this poem, upon the Oxford movement, was -entrusted to my friend, Mr. Frederick Faber.[63] I told him what I -wished to be said, and begged that, as he was intimately acquainted -with several of the Leaders of it, he would express my thought in the -way least likely to be taken amiss by them. Much of the work they are -undertaking was grievously wanted, and God grant their endeavours may -continue to prosper as they have done.--I.F.] - - Ye Apennines! with all your fertile vales - Deeply embosomed, and your winding shores - Of either sea, an Islander by birth, - A Mountaineer by habit, would resound - Your praise, in meet accordance with your claims 5 - Bestowed by Nature, or from man’s great deeds - Inherited:--presumptuous thought!--it fled - Like vapour, like a towering cloud, dissolved. - Not, therefore, shall my mind give way to sadness;-- - Yon snow-white torrent-fall, plumb down it drops 10 - Yet ever hangs or seems to hang in air, - Lulling the leisure of that high perched town, - AQUAPENDENTE, in her lofty site - Its neighbour and its namesake--town, and flood - Forth flashing out of its own gloomy chasm 15 - Bright sunbeams--the fresh verdure of this lawn - Strewn with grey rocks, and on the horizon’s verge, - O’er intervenient waste, through glimmering haze, - Unquestionably kenned, that cone-shaped hill - With fractured summit,[64] no indifferent sight 20 - To travellers, from such comforts as are thine, - Bleak Radicofani![65] escaped with joy-- - These are before me; and the varied scene - May well suffice, till noon-tide’s sultry heat - Relax, to fix and satisfy the mind 25 - Passive yet pleased. What! with this Broom in flower - Close at my side! She bids me fly to greet - Her sisters, soon like her to be attired - With golden blossoms opening at the feet - Of my own Fairfield.[66] The glad greeting given, 30 - Given with a voice and by a look returned - Of old companionship, Time counts not minutes - Ere, from accustomed paths, familiar fields, - The local Genius hurries me aloft, - Transported over that cloud-wooing hill, 35 - Seat Sandal, a fond suitor of the clouds,[67] - With dream-like smoothness, to Helvellyn’s top,[68] - There to alight upon crisp moss and range, - Obtaining ampler boon, at every step, - Of visual sovereignty--hills multitudinous, 40 - (Not Apennine can boast of fairer) hills - Pride of two nations, wood and lake and plains, - And prospect right below of deep coves shaped[69] - By skeleton arms, that, from the mountain’s trunk - Extended, clasp the winds, with mutual moan 45 - Struggling for liberty, while undismayed - The shepherd struggles with them. Onward thence - And downward by the skirt of Greenside fell,[70] - And by Glenridding-screes,[71] and low Glencoign,[72] - Places forsaken now, though[73] loving still 50 - The muses, as they loved them in the days - Of the old minstrels and the border bards.-- - But here am I fast bound; and let it pass, - The simple rapture;--who that travels far - To feed his mind with watchful eyes could share 55 - Or wish to share it?--One there surely was, - “The Wizard of the North,” with anxious hope - Brought to this genial climate, when disease - Preyed upon body and mind--yet not the less - Had his sunk eye kindled at those dear words 60 - That spake of bards and minstrels; and his spirit - Had flown with mine to old Helvellyn’s brow, - Where once together, in his day of strength, - We stood rejoicing,[74] as if earth were free - From sorrow, like the sky above our heads. 65 - - Years followed years, and when, upon the eve - Of his last going from Tweed-side, thought turned, - Or by another’s sympathy was led, - To this bright land, Hope was for him no friend, - Knowledge no help; Imagination shaped 70 - No promise. Still, in more than ear-deep seats, - Survives for me, and cannot but survive - The tone of voice which wedded borrowed words - To sadness not their own, when, with faint smile - Forced by intent to take from speech its edge, 75 - He said, “When I am there, although ’tis fair, - ’Twill be another Yarrow.”[75] Prophecy - More than fulfilled, as gay Campania’s shores - Soon witnessed, and the city of seven hills, - Her sparkling fountains, and her mouldering tombs; 80 - And more than all, that Eminence[76] which showed - Her splendours, seen, not felt, the while he stood - A few short steps (painful they were) apart - From Tasso’s Convent-haven, and retired grave.[77] - - Peace to their Spirits! why should Poesy 85 - Yield to the lure of vain regret, and hover - In gloom on wings with confidence outspread - To move in sunshine?--Utter thanks, my Soul! - Tempered with awe, and sweetened by compassion - For them who in the shades of sorrow dwell, 90 - That I--so near the term to human life - Appointed by man’s common heritage,[78] - Frail as the frailest, one withal (if that - Deserve a thought) but little known to fame-- - Am free to rove where Nature’s loveliest looks, 95 - Art’s noblest relics, history’s rich bequests, - Failed to reanimate and but feebly cheered - The whole world’s Darling--free to rove at will - O’er high and low, and if requiring rest, - Rest from enjoyment only. - Thanks poured forth 100 - For what thus far hath blessed my wanderings, thanks - Fervent but humble as the lips can breathe - Where gladness seems a duty--let me guard - Those seeds of expectation which the fruit - Already gathered in this favoured Land 105 - Enfolds within its core. The faith be mine, - That He who guides and governs all, approves - When gratitude, though disciplined to look - Beyond these transient spheres, doth wear a crown - Of earthly hope put on with trembling hand; 110 - Nor is least pleased, we trust, when golden beams, - Reflected through the mists of age, from hours - Of innocent delight, remote or recent, - Shoot but a little way--’tis all they can-- - Into the doubtful future. Who would keep 115 - Power must resolve to cleave to it through life, - Else it deserts him, surely as he lives. - Saints would not grieve nor guardian angels frown - If one--while tossed, as was my lot to be, - In a frail bark urged by two slender oars 120 - Over waves rough and deep,[79] that, when they broke, - Dashed their white foam against the palace walls - Of Genoa the superb--should there be led - To meditate upon his own appointed tasks, - However humble in themselves, with thoughts 125 - Raised and sustained by memory of Him - Who oftentimes within those narrow bounds - Rocked on the surge, there tried his spirit’s strength - And grasp of purpose, long ere sailed his ship - To lay a new world open. - Nor less prized 130 - Be those impressions which incline the heart - To mild, to lowly, and to seeming weak, - Bend that way her desires. The dew, the storm-- - The dew whose moisture fell in gentle drops - On the small hyssop destined to become, 135 - By Hebrew ordinance devoutly kept, - A purifying instrument--the storm - That shook on Lebanon the cedar’s top, - And as it shook, enabling the blind roots - Further to force their way, endowed its trunk 140 - With magnitude and strength fit to uphold - The glorious temple--did alike proceed - From the same gracious will, were both an offspring - Of bounty infinite. - Between Powers that aim - Higher to lift their lofty heads, impelled 145 - By no profane ambition, Powers that thrive - By conflict, and their opposites, that trust - In lowliness--a mid-way tract there lies - Of thoughtful sentiment for every mind - Pregnant with good. Young, Middle-aged, and Old, 150 - From century on to century, must have known - The emotion--nay, more fitly were it said-- - The blest tranquillity that sunk so deep - Into my spirit, when I paced, enclosed - In Pisa’s Campo Santo,[80] the smooth floor 155 - Of its Arcades paved with sepulchral slabs,[81] - And through each window’s open fret-work looked - O’er the blank Area of sacred earth - Fetched from Mount Calvary,[82] or haply delved - In precincts nearer to the Saviour’s tomb, 160 - By hands of men, humble as brave, who fought - For its deliverance--a capacious field - That to descendants of the dead it holds - And to all living mute memento breathes, - More touching far than aught which on the walls 165 - Is pictured, or their epitaphs can speak, - Of the changed City’s long-departed power, - Glory, and wealth, which, perilous as they are, - Here did not kill, but nourished, Piety. - And, high above that length of cloistral roof, 170 - Peering in air and backed by azure sky, - To kindred contemplations ministers - The Baptistery’s dome,[83] and that which swells - From the Cathedral pile;[84] and with the twain - Conjoined in prospect mutable or fixed 175 - (As hurry on in eagerness the feet, - Or pause) the summit of the Leaning-tower.[85] - Nor[86] less remuneration waits on him - Who having left the Cemetery stands - In the Tower’s shadow, of decline and fall 180 - Admonished not without some sense of fear, - Fear that soon vanishes before the sight - Of splendour unextinguished, pomp unscathed, - And beauty unimpaired. Grand in itself, - And for itself, the assemblage, grand and fair 185 - To view, and for the mind’s consenting eye - A type of age in man, upon its front - Bearing the world-acknowledged evidence - Of past exploits, nor fondly after more - Struggling against the stream of destiny, 190 - But with its peaceful majesty content. - --Oh what a spectacle at every turn - The Place unfolds, from pavement skinned with moss, - Or grass-grown spaces, where the heaviest foot - Provokes no echoes, but must softly tread; 195 - Where Solitude with Silence paired stops short - Of Desolation, and to Ruin’s scythe - Decay submits not. - But where’er my steps - Shall wander, chiefly let me cull with care - Those images of genial beauty, oft 200 - Too lovely to be pensive in themselves - But by reflection made so, which do best - And fitliest serve to crown with fragrant wreaths - Life’s cup when almost filled with years, like mine. - --How lovely robed in forenoon light and shade, 205 - Each ministering to each, didst thou appear - Savona,[87] Queen of territory fair - As aught that marvellous coast thro’ all its length - Yields to the Stranger’s eye. Remembrance holds - As a selected treasure thy one cliff, 210 - That, while it wore for melancholy crest - A shattered Convent, yet rose proud to have - Clinging to its steep sides a thousand herbs - And shrubs, whose pleasant looks gave proof how kind - The breath of air can be where earth had else 215 - Seemed churlish. And behold, both far and near, - Garden and field all decked with orange bloom, - And peach and citron, in Spring’s mildest breeze - Expanding; and, along the smooth shore curved - Into a natural port, a tideless sea, 220 - To that mild breeze with motion and with voice - Softly responsive; and, attuned to all - Those vernal charms of sight and sound, appeared - Smooth space of turf which from the guardian fort - Sloped seaward, turf whose tender April green, 225 - In coolest climes too fugitive, might even here - Plead with the sovereign Sun for longer stay - Than his unmitigated beams allow, - Nor plead in vain, if beauty could preserve, - From mortal change, aught that is born on earth 230 - Or doth on time depend. - While on the brink - Of that high Convent-crested cliff I stood, - Modest Savona! over all did brood - A pure poetic Spirit--as the breeze, - Mild--as the verdure, fresh--the sunshine, bright-- 235 - Thy gentle Chiabrera![88]--not a stone, - Mural or level with the trodden floor, - In Church or Chapel, if my curious quest - Missed not the truth, retains a single name - Of young or old, warrior, or saint, or sage, 240 - To whose dear memories his sepulchral verse[89] - Paid simple tribute, such as might have flowed - From the clear spring of a plain English heart, - Say rather, one in native fellowship - With all who want not skill to couple grief 245 - With praise, as genuine admiration prompts. - The grief, the praise, are severed from their dust, - Yet in his page the records of that worth - Survive, uninjured;--glory then to words, - Honour to word-preserving Arts, and hail 250 - Ye kindred local influences that still, - If Hope’s familiar whispers merit faith, - Await my steps when they the breezy height - Shall range of philosophic Tusculum;[90] - Or Sabine vales[91] explored inspire a wish 255 - To meet the shade of Horace by the side - Of his Bandusian fount;[92]--or I invoke - His presence to point out the spot where once - He sate, and eulogized with earnest pen - Peace, leisure, freedom, moderate desires; 260 - And all the immunities of rural life - Extolled, behind Vacuna’s crumbling fane.[93] - Or let me loiter, soothed with what is given - Nor asking more, on that delicious Bay,[94] - Parthenope’s Domain--Virgilian haunt, 265 - Illustrated with never-dying verse,[95] - And, by the Poet’s laurel-shaded tomb,[96] - Age after age to Pilgrims from all lands - Endeared. - And who--if not a man as cold - In heart as dull in brain--while pacing ground 270 - Chosen by Rome’s legendary Bards, high minds - Out of her early struggles well inspired - To localize heroic acts--could look - Upon the spots with undelighted eye, - Though even to their last syllable the Lays 275 - And very names of those who gave them birth - Have perished?--Verily, to her utmost depth, - Imagination feels what Reason fears not - To recognize, the lasting virtue lodged - In those bold fictions that, by deeds assigned 280 - To the Valerian, Fabian, Curian Race, - And others like in fame, created Powers - With attributes from History derived, - By Poesy irradiate, and yet graced, - Through marvellous felicity of skill, 285 - With something more propitious to high aims - Than either, pent within her separate sphere, - Can oft with justice claim. - And not disdaining - Union with those primeval energies - To virtue consecrate, stoop ye from your height 290 - Christian Traditions! at my Spirit’s call - Descend, and, on the brow of ancient Rome - As she survives in ruin, manifest - Your glories mingled with the brightest hues - Of her memorial halo, fading, fading, 295 - But never to be extinct while Earth endures. - O come, if undishonoured by the prayer, - From all her Sanctuaries!--Open for my feet - Ye Catacombs, give to mine eyes a glimpse - Of the Devout, as, ’mid your glooms convened 300 - For safety, they of yore enclasped the Cross[97] - On knees that ceased from trembling, or intoned - Their orisons with voices half-suppressed, - But sometimes heard, or fancied to be heard, - Even at this hour. - And thou Mamertine prison,[98] 305 - Into that vault receive me from whose depth - Issues, revealed in no presumptuous vision, - Albeit lifting human to divine, - A saint, the Church’s Rock, the mystic Keys - Grasped in his hand;[99] and lo! with upright sword 310 - Prefiguring his own impendent doom, - The Apostle of the Gentiles; both prepared - To suffer pains with heathen scorn and hate - Inflicted;--blessed Men, for so to Heaven - They follow their dear Lord! - Time flows--nor winds, 315 - Nor stagnates, nor precipitates his course, - But many a benefit borne upon his breast - For human-kind sinks out of sight, is gone, - No one knows how; nor seldom is put forth - An angry arm that snatches good away, 320 - Never perhaps to reappear. The Stream - Has to our generation brought and brings - Innumerable gains; yet we, who now - Walk in the light of day, pertain full surely - To a chilled age, most pitiably shut out 325 - From that which _is_ and actuates, by forms, - Abstractions, and by lifeless fact to fact - Minutely linked with diligence uninspired, - Unrectified, unguided, unsustained, - By godlike insight. To this fate is doomed 330 - Science, wide-spread and spreading still as be - Her conquests, in the world of sense made known. - So with the internal mind it fares; and so - With morals, trusting, in contempt or fear - Of vital principle’s controlling law, 335 - To her purblind guide Expediency; and so - Suffers religious faith. Elate with view - Of what is won, we overlook or scorn - The best that should keep pace with it, and must, - Else more and more the general mind will droop, 340 - Even as if bent on perishing. There lives - No faculty within us which the Soul - Can spare,[100] and humblest earthly Weal demands, - For dignity not placed beyond her reach, - Zealous co-operation of all means 345 - Given or acquired, to raise us from the mire, - And liberate our hearts from low pursuits. - By gross Utilities enslaved we need - More of ennobling impulse from the past, - If to the future aught of good must come 350 - Sounder and therefore holier than the ends - Which, in the giddiness of self-applause, - We covet as supreme. O grant the crown - That Wisdom wears, or take his treacherous staff - From Knowledge!--If the Muse, whom I have served 355 - This day, be mistress of a single pearl - Fit to be placed in that pure diadem; - Then, not in vain, under these chesnut boughs - Reclined, shall I have yielded up my soul - To transports from the secondary founts 360 - Flowing of time and place, and paid to both - Due homage; nor shall fruitlessly have striven, - By love of beauty moved, to enshrine in verse - Accordant meditations, which in times - Vexed and disordered, as our own, may shed 365 - Influence, at least among a scattered few, - To soberness of mind and peace of heart - Friendly; as here to my repose hath been - This flowering broom’s dear neighbourhood,[101] the light - And murmur issuing from yon pendent flood, 370 - And all the varied landscape. Let us now - Rise, and to-morrow greet magnificent Rome.[102] - -[62] Wordsworth himself, his nephew tells us, had no sense of smell -(see the _Memoirs_, by his nephew Christopher, vol. ii. p. 322).--ED. - -[63] Afterwards Father Faber, priest of the Oratory of St. Philip -Neri.--ED. - -[64] Monte Amiata,--ED. - -[65] On the old high road from Siena to Rome.--ED. - -[66] The mountain between Rydal Head and Helvellyn.--ED. - -[67] Seat Sandal is the mountain between Tongue Ghyll and Grisedale -Tarn on the south and east, and the Dunmail Raise road on the west.--ED. - -[68] Compare _The Eclipse of the Sun_, l. 78, in “Memorials of a Tour -on the Continent in 1820” (vol. vi. p. 345).--ED. - -[69] Keppelcove, Nethermost cove, and the cove in which Red Tarn lies -bounded by the “skeleton arms” of Striding Edge and Swirrel Edge. -Compare _Fidelity_, l. 17, vol. iii. p. 45-- - - It was a cove, a huge recess, - That keeps, till June, December’s snow. - -ED. - -[70] Descending to Ullswater from Helvellyn, Greenside Fell and Mines -are passed.--ED. - -[71] The Glenridding Screes are bold rocks on the left as you descend -Helvellyn to Patterdale.--ED. - -[72] Glencoign is an offshoot of the Patterdale valley between -Glenridding and Goldbarrow.--ED. - -[73] 1845. - - … but … - - 1842. - -[74] See the Fenwick note.--ED. - -[75] These words were quoted to me from _Yarrow Unvisited_, by Sir -Walter Scott, when I visited him at Abbotsford, a day or two before his -departure for Italy: and the affecting condition in which he was when -he looked upon Rome from the Janicular Mount, was reported to me by a -lady who had the honour of conducting him thither.--W.W. 1842. See also -the Fenwick note to this poem, and compare Lockhart’s _Memoirs of the -Life of Sir Walter Scott_ (chapter lxxx. vol. x. p. 104).--ED. - -[76] The Janicular Mount.--ED. - -[77] See the Fenwick note prefixed to this poem.--ED. - -[78] He was then sixty-seven years of age.--ED. - -[79] See the Fenwick note.--ED. - -[80] The Campo Santo, or Burial Ground, founded by Archbishop Ubaldo -(1188-1200).--ED. - -[81] “There are forty-three flat arcades, resting on forty-four -pilasters.… In the interior there is a spacious hall, the open -round-arched windows of which, with their beautiful tracery, sixty-two -in number, look out upon a green quadrangle.… The walls are covered -with frescoes by the Tuscan School of the fourteenth and fifteenth -centuries, below which is a collection of Roman, Etruscan, and -mediaeval sculptures.… The tombstones of persons interred here form the -pavement.” (Baedeker’s _Northern Italy_, p. 324.)--ED. - -[82] Ubaldo conveyed hither fifty-three ship-loads of earth from Mount -Calvary, in the Holy Land, in order that the dead might repose in holy -ground.--ED. - -[83] The Baptistery in Pisa was begun in 1153 by Diotisalvi, and -completed in 1278. It is a circular structure, covered by a conical -dome, 190 feet high.--ED. - -[84] The Cathedral of Pisa is a basilica, built in 1063, in the Tuscan -style, and has an elliptical dome.--ED. - -[85] The Campanile, or Clock-Tower, rises in eight stories to the -height of 179 feet, and (from its oblique position) is known as the -Leaning-Tower.--ED. - -[86] 1845. - - Not … - - 1842. - -[87] See the Fenwick note to this poem. Savona is a town on the Gulf of -Genoa, capital of the Montenotte Department under Napoleon.--ED. - -[88] The theatre in Savona is dedicated to Chiabrera, who was a native -of the place.--ED. - -[89] If any English reader should be desirous of knowing how far I -am justified in thus describing the epitaphs of Chiabrera, he will -find translated specimens of them in this Volume, under the head of -“Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”--W.W. 1842. - -[90] Tusculum was the birthplace of the elder Cato, and the residence -of Cicero.--ED. - -[91] “Satis beatus unicis Sabinis.” _Odes_, ii. 18, 14.--ED. - -[92] See Horace, _Odes_, iii. 13.--ED. - -[93] See Horace, _Epistles_, i. 10, 49-- - - Haec tibi dictabam post fanum putre Vacunae. - -Vacuna was a Sabine divinity. She had a sanctuary near Horace’s Villa. -(Compare Pliny, _Nat. Hist._ iii. 42, 47.) A traveller in Italy writes: -“Following a path along the brink of the torrent Digentia, we passed -a towering rock, on which once stood Vacuna’s shrine.” See also Ovid, -_Fasti_, vi. 307.--ED. - -[94] The Bay of Naples. Neapolis (the new city) received its ancient -name of Parthenope from one of the Sirens, whose body was said to have -been washed ashore in that bay. Sil. 12, 33.--ED. - -[95] See _Georgics_, iv. 564.--ED. - -[96] Virgil died at Brundusium, but his remains were carried to his -favourite residence, Naples, and were buried by the side of the road -leading to Puteoli--the Via Puteolana. His tomb is still pointed out -near Posilipo,--close to the sea, and about half way from Naples to -Puteoli, the _Scuola di Virgilio_. - -“The monument, now called the tomb of Virgil, is not on the road -which passes through the tunnel of Posilipo; but if the Via Puteolana -ascended the hill of Posilipo, as it may have done, the situation of -the monument would agree very well with the description of Donatus.” -(George Long, in Smith’s _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography_.) - -The inscription said to have been placed on the tomb was as follows:-- - - Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc - Parthenope. Cecini pascua, rura, duces. - -ED. - -[97] The catacombs were subterranean chambers and passages, usually -cut out of the solid rock, and used as places of burial, or of refuge. -The early Christians made use of the catacombs in the Appian Way for -worship, as well as for sepulture.--ED. - -[98] The Carcer Mamertinus,--one of the most ancient Roman -structures,--overhung the Forum, as Livy tells us, “imminens foro,” -underneath the Capitoline hill. It still exists, and is entered from -the sacristy of the church of S. Giuseppe de Falagnami, to the left -of the arch of Severus. It was originally a well (the _Tullianum_ of -Livy), and afterwards a prison, in which Jugurtha was starved to death, -and Catiline’s accomplices perished. There are two chambers in the -prison, one beneath the other; the lower-most containing, in its rock -floor, a spring, which rises nearly to the surface. For the legend -connected with it see the next note.--ED. - -[99] According to the legend, St. Peter, who was imprisoned in the -_Carcer Mamertinus_ under Nero, caused this spring to flow miraculously -in order to baptize his jailors. Hence the building is called _S. -Pietro in Carcere._--ED. - -[100] Compare “Despondency Corrected,” _The Excursion_, book iv. l. -1058-- - - Within the soul a faculty abides, etc. - -ED. - -[101] See the Fenwick note.--ED. - -[102] It would be ungenerous not to advert to the religious movement -that, since the composition of these verses in 1837, has made itself -felt, more or less strongly, throughout the English Church;--a movement -that takes, for its first principle, a devout deference to the voice of -Christian antiquity. It is not my office to pass judgment on questions -of theological detail; but my own repugnance to the spirit and system -of Romanism has been so repeatedly and, I trust, feelingly expressed, -that I shall not be suspected of a leaning that way, if I do not join -in the grave charge, thrown out, perhaps in the heat of controversy, -against the learned and pious men to whose labours I allude. I speak -apart from controversy; but, with strong faith in the moral temper -which would elevate the present by doing reverence to the past, I would -draw cheerful auguries for the English Church from this movement, as -likely to restore among us a tone of piety more earnest and real than -that produced by the mere formalities of the understanding, refusing, -in a degree, which I cannot but lament, that its own temper and -judgment shall be controlled by those of antiquity.--W.W. 1842. - - -II - -THE PINE OF MONTE MARIO[103] AT ROME - -[Sir George Beaumont told me that, when he first visited Italy, -pine-trees of this species abounded, but that on his return thither, -which was more than thirty years after, they had disappeared from many -places where he had been accustomed to admire them, and had become -rare all over the country, especially in and about Rome. Several Roman -villas have within these few years passed into the hands of foreigners, -who, I observed with pleasure, have taken care to plant this tree, -which in course of years will become a great ornament to the city -and to the general landscape. May I venture to add here, that having -ascended the Monte Mario, I could not resist embracing the trunk of -this interesting monument of my departed friend’s feelings for the -beauties of nature, and the power of that art which he loved so much, -and in the practice of which he was so distinguished?--I.F.] - - I saw far off the dark top of a Pine - Look like a cloud--a slender stem the tie - That bound it to its native earth--poised high - ’Mid evening hues, along the horizon line, - Striving in peace each other to outshine. 5 - But when I learned the Tree was living there, - Saved from the sordid axe by Beaumont’s care,[104] - Oh, what a gush of tenderness was mine! - The rescued Pine-tree, with its sky so bright - And cloud-like beauty, rich in thoughts of home, 10 - Death-parted friends, and days too swift in flight, - Supplanted the whole majesty of Rome - (Then first apparent from the Pincian Height)[105] - Crowned with St. Peter’s everlasting dome.[106] - -[103] The Monte Mario is to the north-west of Rome, beyond the -Janiculus and the Vatican. The view from the summit embraces Rome, the -Campagna, and the sea. It is capped by the villa Millini, in which the -“magnificent solitary pine-tree” of this sonnet still stands, amidst -its cypress plantations.--ED. - -[104] “It was Mr. Theed, the sculptor, who informed us of the pine-tree -being the gift of Sir George Beaumont.” H.C. Robinson. (See _Memoirs of -Wordsworth_, by his nephew, vol. ii. p. 330.)--ED. - -[105] From the _Mons Pincius_, “collis hortorum,” where were the -gardens of Lucullus, there is a remarkable view of modern Rome.--ED. - -[106] Within a couple of hours of my arrival at Rome, I saw from -Monte Pincio, the Pine tree as described in the sonnet; and, while -expressing admiration at the beauty of its appearance, I was told by -an acquaintance of my fellow-traveller, who happened to join us at the -moment, that a price had been paid for it by the late Sir G. Beaumont, -upon condition that the proprietor should not act upon his known -intention of cutting it down.--W.W. 1842. - - -III - -AT ROME - -[Sight is at first sight a sad enemy to imagination and to those -pleasures belonging to old times with which some exertions of that -power will always mingle: nothing perhaps brings this truth home to -the feelings more than the city of Rome; not so much in respect to the -impression made at the moment when it is first seen and looked at as -a whole, for then the imagination may be invigorated and the mind’s -eye quickened; but when particular spots or objects are sought out, -disappointment is I believe invariably felt. Ability to recover from -this disappointment will exist in proportion to knowledge, and the -power of the mind to reconstruct out of fragments and parts, and to -make details in the present subservient to more adequate comprehension -of the past.--I.F.] - - Is this, ye Gods, the Capitolian Hill? - Yon petty Steep in truth the fearful Rock, - Tarpeian named of yore,[107] and keeping still - That name, a local Phantom proud to mock - The Traveller’s expectation?--Could our Will - Destroy the ideal Power within, ’twere done - Thro’ what men see and touch,--slaves wandering on, - Impelled by thirst of all but Heaven-taught skill. - Full oft, our wish obtained, deeply we sigh; - Yet not unrecompensed are they who learn, 10 - From that depression raised, to mount on high - With stronger wing, more clearly to discern - Eternal things; and, if need be, defy - Change, with a brow not insolent, though stern. - -[107] The Tarpeian rock, from which those condemned to death were -hurled, is not now precipitous, as it used to be: the ground having -been much raised by successive heaps of ruin.--ED. - - -IV - -AT ROME--REGRETS--IN ALLUSION TO NIEBUHR AND OTHER MODERN HISTORIANS - - Those old credulities, to nature dear, - Shall they no longer bloom upon the stock - Of History, stript naked as a rock - ’Mid a dry desert? What is it we hear? - The glory of Infant Rome must disappear,[108] 5 - Her morning splendours vanish, and their place - Know them no more. If Truth, who veiled her face - With those bright beams yet hid it not, must steer - Henceforth a humbler course perplexed and slow; - One solace yet remains for us who came 10 - Into this world in days when story lacked - Severe research, that in our hearts we know - How, for exciting youth’s heroic flame, - Assent is power, belief the soul of fact. - -[108] Niebuhr, in his Lectures on Roman History (1826-29), was one of -the first to point out the legendary character of much of the earlier -history, and its “historical impossibility.” He explained the way -in which much of it had originated in family and national vanity, -etc.--ED. - - -V - -CONTINUED - - Complacent Fictions were they, yet the same - Involved a history of no doubtful sense, - History that proves by inward evidence - From what a precious source of truth it came. - Ne’er could the boldest Eulogist have dared 5 - Such deeds to paint, such characters to frame, - But for coeval sympathy prepared - To greet with instant faith their loftiest claim. - None but a noble people could have loved - Flattery in Ancient Rome’s pure-minded style: 10 - Not in like sort the Runic Scald was moved; - He, nursed ’mid savage passions that defile - Humanity, sang feats that well might call - For the blood-thirsty mead of Odin’s riotous Hall. - - -VI - -PLEA FOR THE HISTORIAN - - Forbear to deem the Chronicler unwise, - Ungentle, or untouched by seemly ruth, - Who, gathering up all that Time’s envious tooth - Has spared of sound and grave realities, - Firmly rejects those dazzling flatteries, 5 - Dear as they are to unsuspecting Youth, - That might have drawn down Clio from the skies - To vindicate the majesty of truth. - Such was her office while she walked with men,[109] - A Muse, who,[110] not unmindful of her Sire 10 - All-ruling Jove, whate’er the[111] theme might be - Revered her Mother, sage Mnemosyne, - And taught her faithful servants how the lyre - Should[112] animate, but not mislead, the pen.[113] - -[109] Clio, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the first-born of the -Muses, presided over History. It was her office to record the actions -of illustrious heroes.--ED. - -[110] 1845. - - Her rights to claim, and vindicate the truth. - Her faithful Servants while she walked with men - Were they who, … - - 1842. - -[111] 1845. - - … their … - - 1842. - -[112] 1845. - - And, at the Muse’s will, invoked the lyre - To animate, … - - 1842. - -[113] - - Quem virum--lyra-- - --sumes celebrare Clio? - - W. W. 1842. - - -VII - -AT ROME - -[I have a private interest in this Sonnet, for I doubt whether it -would ever have been written but for the lively picture given me by -Anna Ricketts of what she had witnessed of the indignation and sorrow -expressed by some Italian noblemen of their acquaintance upon the -surrender, which circumstances had obliged them to make, of the best -portion of their family mansions to strangers.--I.F.] - - They--who have seen the noble Roman’s scorn - Break forth at thought of laying down his head, - When the blank day is over, garreted - In his ancestral palace, where, from morn - To night, the desecrated floors are worn 5 - By feet of purse-proud strangers; they--who have read - In one meek smile, beneath a peasant’s shed, - How patiently the weight of wrong is borne; - They--who have heard some learned Patriot treat[114] - Of freedom, with mind grasping the whole theme 10 - From ancient Rome, downwards through that bright dream - Of Commonwealths, each city a starlike seat - Of rival glory; they--fallen Italy-- - Nor must, nor will, nor can, despair of Thee! - - -VIII - -NEAR ROME, IN SIGHT OF ST. PETER’S - - Long has the dew been dried on tree and lawn; - O’er man and beast a not unwelcome boon - Is shed, the languor of approaching noon; - To shady rest withdrawing or withdrawn - Mute are all creatures, as this couchant fawn, 5 - Save insect-swarms that hum in air afloat, - Save that the Cock is crowing, a shrill note, - Startling and shrill as that which roused the dawn. - --Heard in that hour, or when, as now, the nerve - Shrinks from the note[115] as from a mis-timed thing, 10 - Oft for a holy warning may it serve, - Charged with remembrance of _his_ sudden sting, - His bitter tears, whose name the Papal Chair - And yon resplendent Church are proud to bear. - -[114] 1845. - - They--who have heard thy lettered sages treat - - 1842. - -[115] 1845. - - … voice … - - 1842. - - -IX - -AT ALBANO[116] - -[This Sonnet is founded on simple fact, and was written to enlarge, -if possible, the views of those who can see nothing but evil in the -intercessions countenanced by the Church of Rome. That they are in -many respects lamentably pernicious must be acknowledged; but, on the -other hand, they who reflect, while they see and observe, cannot but -be struck with instances which will prove that it is a great error to -condemn in all cases such mediation as purely idolatrous. This remark -bears with especial force upon addresses to the Virgin.--I.F.] - - Days passed--and Monte Calvo would not clear - His head from mist; and, as the wind sobbed through - Albano’s dripping Ilex avenue,[117] - My dull forebodings in a Peasant’s ear - Found casual vent. She said, “Be of good cheer; 5 - Our yesterday’s procession did not sue - In vain; the sky will change to sunny blue, - Thanks to our Lady’s grace.” I smiled to hear, - But not in scorn:--the Matron’s Faith may lack - The heavenly sanction needed to ensure 10 - Fulfilment; but, we trust, her upward track[118] - Stops not at this low point, nor wants the lure - Of flowers the Virgin without fear may own, - For by her Son’s blest hand the seed was sown. - -[116] Albano, 10 miles south-east of Rome, is a small town and -episcopal residence, a favourite autumnal resort of Roman citizens. It -is on the site of the ruins of the villa of Pompey. Monte Carlo (the -Monte Calvo of this sonnet) is the ancient _Mons Latialis_, 3127 feet -high. At its summit a convent of Passionist Monks occupies the site of -the ancient temple of Jupiter.--ED. - -[117] The ilex-grove of the Villa Doria is one of the most marked -features of Albano.--ED. - -[118] 1845. - - Its own fulfilment; but her upward track - - 1842. - - -X - -“NEAR ANIO’S STREAM, I SPIED A GENTLE DOVE” - - Near Anio’s stream,[119] I spied a gentle Dove - Perched on an olive branch, and heard her cooing - ’Mid new-born blossoms that soft airs were wooing, - While all things present told of joy and love. - But restless Fancy left that olive grove 5 - To hail the exploratory Bird renewing - Hope for the few, who, at the world’s undoing, - On the great flood were spared to live and move. - O bounteous Heaven! signs true as dove and bough - Brought to the ark are coming evermore, 10 - Given though we seek them not, but, while we plough[120] - This sea of life without a visible shore, - Do neither promise ask nor grace implore - In what alone is ours, the living Now.[121] - -[119] The Anio joins the Tiber north of Rome, flowing from the -north-east past Tivoli.--ED. - -[120] 1845. - - Even though men seek them not, but, while they plough - - 1842. - -[121] 1845. - - … the vouchsafed Now. - - 1842. - - -XI - -FROM THE ALBAN HILLS, LOOKING TOWARDS ROME - - Forgive, illustrious Country! these deep sighs, - Heaved less for thy bright plains and hills bestrown - With monuments decayed or overthrown, - For all that tottering stands or prostrate lies, - Than for like scenes in moral vision shown, 5 - Ruin perceived for keener sympathies; - Faith crushed, yet proud of weeds, her gaudy crown - Virtues laid low, and mouldering energies. - Yet why prolong this mournful strain?--Fallen Power, - Thy fortunes, twice exalted,[122] might provoke 10 - Verse to glad notes prophetic of the hour - When thou, uprisen, shalt break thy double yoke, - And enter, with prompt aid from the Most High, - On the third stage of thy great destiny.[123] - -[122] The ancient Classic period, and that of the Renaissance.--ED. - -[123] This period seems to have been already entered. Compare Mrs. -Browning’s “Poems before Congress,” _passim_.--ED. - - -XII - -NEAR THE LAKE OF THRASYMENE - - When here with Carthage Rome to conflict came,[124] - An earthquake, mingling with the battle’s shock, - Checked not its rage;[125] unfelt the ground did rock, - Sword dropped not, javelin kept its deadly aim.-- - Now all is sun-bright peace. Of that day’s shame, 5 - Or glory, not a vestige seems to endure, - Save in this Rill that took from blood the name[126] - Which yet it bears, sweet Stream! as crystal pure. - So may all trace and sign of deeds aloof - From the true guidance of humanity, 10 - Thro’ Time and Nature’s influence, purify - Their spirit; or, unless they for reproof - Or warning serve, thus let them all, on ground - That gave them being, vanish to a sound. - -[124] The Carthaginian general Hannibal defeated the Roman Consul C. -Flaminius, near the lacus Trasimenus, 217 B.C., with a loss of 15,000 -men. (See Livy, book xxii. 4, etc.)--ED. - -[125] Compare _Hannibal, A Historical Drama_, by the late Professor -John Nichol, act II. scene vi. p. 107-- - - Here shall shepherds tell - To passing travellers, when we are dust, - How, by the shores of reedy Thrasymene, - We fought and conquered, while the earthquake shook - The walls of Rome. - -ED. - -[126] Sanguinetto.--W.W. 1845. - - -XIII - -NEAR THE SAME LAKE - - For action born, existing to be tried, - Powers manifold we have that intervene - To stir the heart that would too closely screen - Her peace from images to pain allied. - What wonder if at midnight, by the side 5 - Of Sanguinetto or broad Thrasymene,[127] - The clang of arms is heard, and phantoms glide, - Unhappy ghosts in troops by moonlight seen; - And singly thine, O vanquished Chief![128] whose corse, - Unburied, lay hid under heaps of slain: 10 - But who is He?--the Conqueror. Would he force - His way to Rome? Ah, no,--round hill and plain - Wandering, he haunts, at fancy’s strong command, - This spot--his shadowy death-cup in his hand.[129] - -[127] Lake Thrasymene is the largest of the Etrurian lakes, being ten -miles in length and three in breadth.--ED. - -[128] C. Flaminius.--ED. - -[129] After the battle of Lake Thrasymene, Hannibal did not push on to -Rome, but turned through the Apennines to Apulia, just as subsequently -after the battle of Cannas he remained inactive.--ED. - - -XIV - -THE CUCKOO AT LAVERNA[130] - -MAY 25TH 1837 - -[Among a thousand delightful feelings connected in my mind with -the voice of the cuckoo, there is a personal one which is rather -melancholy. I was first convinced that age had rather dulled my -hearing, by not being able to catch the sound at the same distance as -the younger companions of my walks; and of this failure I had a proof -upon the occasion that suggested these verses. I did not hear the sound -till Mr. Robinson had twice or thrice directed my attention to it.] - - List--’twas the Cuckoo.--O with what delight - Heard I that voice! and catch it now, though faint,[131] - Far off and faint, and melting into air, - Yet not to be mistaken. Hark again! - Those louder cries give notice that the Bird, 5 - Although invisible as Echo’s self,[132] - Is wheeling hitherward. Thanks, happy Creature, - For this unthought-of greeting! - While allured - From vale to hill, from hill to vale led on, - We have pursued, through various lands, a long 10 - And pleasant course; flower after flower has blown, - Embellishing the ground that gave them birth - With aspects novel to my sight; but still - Most fair, most welcome, when they drank the dew - In a sweet fellowship with kinds beloved, 15 - For old remembrance sake. And oft--where Spring - Display’d her richest blossoms among files - Of orange-trees bedecked with glowing fruit - Ripe for the hand, or under a thick shade - Of Ilex, or, if better suited to the hour, 20 - The lightsome Olive’s twinkling canopy--[133] - Oft have I heard the Nightingale and Thrush - Blending as in a common English grove - Their love-songs; but, where’er my feet might roam, - Whate’er assemblages of new and old, 25 - Strange and familiar, might beguile the way, - A gratulation from that vagrant Voice - Was wanting;--and most happily till now. - - For see, Laverna! mark the far-famed Pile, - High on the brink of that precipitous rock,[134] 30 - Implanted like a Fortress, as in truth - It is, a Christian Fortress, garrisoned - In faith and hope, and dutiful obedience, - By a few Monks, a stern society, - Dead to the world and scorning earth-born joys. 35 - Nay--though the hopes that drew, the fears that drove, - St. Francis, far from Man’s resort, to abide - Among these sterile heights of Apennine, [135] - Bound him, nor, since he raised yon House, have ceased - To bind his spiritual Progeny, with rules 40 - Stringent as flesh can tolerate and live;[136] - His milder Genius (thanks to the good God - That made us) over those severe restraints - Of mind, that dread heart-freezing discipline, - Doth sometimes here predominate, and works 45 - By unsought means for gracious purposes; - For earth through heaven, for heaven, by changeful earth, - Illustrated, and mutually endeared. - - Rapt though He were above the power of sense, - Familiarly, yet out of the cleansed heart 50 - Of that once sinful Being overflowed - On sun, moon, stars, the nether elements, - And every shape of creature they sustain, - Divine affections; and with beast and bird - (Stilled from afar--such marvel story tells-- 55 - By casual outbreak of his passionate words, - And from their own pursuits in field or grove - Drawn to his side by look or act of love - Humane, and virtue of his innocent life) - He wont to hold companionship so free, 60 - So pure, so fraught with knowledge and delight, - As to be likened in his Followers’ minds - To that which our first Parents, ere the fall - From their high state darkened the Earth with fear, - Held with all Kinds in Eden’s blissful bowers. 65 - - Then question not that, ’mid the austere Band, - Who breathe the air he breathed, tread where he trod, - Some true Partakers of his loving spirit - Do still survive,[137] and, with those gentle hearts - Consorted, Others, in the power, the faith, 70 - Of a baptized imagination, prompt - To catch from Nature’s humblest monitors - Whate’er they bring of impulses sublime. - - Thus sensitive must be the Monk, though pale - With fasts, with vigils worn, depressed by years, 75 - Whom in a sunny glade I chanced to see, - Upon a pine-tree’s storm-uprooted trunk, - Seated alone, with forehead sky-ward raised, - Hands clasped above the crucifix he wore - Appended to his bosom, and lips closed 80 - By the joint pressure of his musing mood - And habit of his vow. That ancient Man-- - Nor haply less the Brother whom I marked, - As we approached the Convent gate, aloft - Looking far forth from his aerial cell, 85 - A young Ascetic--Poet, Hero, Sage, - He might have been, Lover belike he was-- - If they received into a conscious ear - The notes whose first faint greeting startled me, - Whose sedulous iteration thrilled with joy 90 - My heart--may have been moved like me to think, - Ah! not like me who walk in the world’s ways, - On the great Prophet, styled _the Voice of One_ - _Crying amid the wilderness_, and given, - Now that their snows must melt, their herbs and flowers 95 - Revive, their obstinate winter pass away, - That awful name to Thee, thee, simple Cuckoo, - Wandering in solitude, and evermore - Foretelling and proclaiming, ere thou leave - This thy last haunt beneath Italian skies 100 - To carry thy glad tidings over heights - Still loftier, and to climes more near the Pole. - - Voice of the Desert, fare-thee-well; sweet Bird! - If that substantial title please thee more, - Farewell!--but go thy way, no need hast thou 105 - Of a good wish sent after thee; from bower - To bower as green, from sky to sky as clear, - Thee gentle breezes waft--or airs that meet - Thy course and sport around thee softly fan-- - Till Night, descending upon hill and vale, 110 - Grants to thy mission a brief term of silence, - And folds thy pinions up in blest repose. - -[130] Laverna is a corruption of _Alverna_ (now called Alverniac). It -is about five or six hours’ walk from Camaldoli, on a height of the -Apennines, not far from the sources of the Anio. To reach it, “the -southern height of the Monte Valterona is ascended as far as the chapel -of St. Romaiald; then a descent is made to Moggiona, beyond which the -path turns to the left, traversing a long and fatiguing succession of -gorges and slopes; the path at the base of the mountain is therefore -preferable. The market town of Soci in the valley of the Archiano -is first reached, then the profound valley of the Corsaline; beyond -it rises a blunted cone, on which the path ascends in windings to a -stony plain with marshy meadows. Above this rises the abrupt sandstone -mass of the _Vernia_, to the height of 850 feet. On its S.W. slope, -one-third of the way up, and 3906 feet above the sea-level, is seen a -wall with small windows, the oldest part of the monastery, built in -1218 by St. Francis of Assisi. The church dates from 1284.… One of the -grandest points is the _Penna della Vernia_ (4796 feet), the ridge of -the Vernia, also known as _l’Apennino_, the ‘rugged rock between the -sources of the Tiber and Anio,’ as it is called by Dante (_Paradiso_, -ii. 106).… Near the monastery are the _Luoghi Santi_, a number of -grottos and rock-hewn chambers in which St. Francis once lived.” (See -Baedeker’s _Northern Italy_, 1886, p. 463.) - -“The Monte Alverno, or Monte della Verni is situated on the border -of Tuscany, near the sources of the Tiber and Anio, not far from the -Castle of Chiusi, where Orlando lived.” (Mrs. Oliphant’s _Francis of -Assisi_, chap. xvi. p. 248.) - -See also Herzog’s _Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und -Kirche_, vol. iv. p. 655.--ED. - -[131] Compare _To the Cuckoo_, II. 3, 4 (vol. ii. p. 289)-- - - … Bird, - Or but a wandering Voice? - -ED. - -[132] Compare _To the Cuckoo_, l. 15 (vol. ii. p. 290)-- - - No bird, but an invisible thing. - -ED. - -[133] From the difference in the colour of each side of the leaf, -a grove of olives when _wind-tossed_ is pre-eminently a “twinkling -canopy.”--ED. - -[134] See note, p. 67.--ED. - -[135] St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the order of Friars Minors, -after establishing numerous monasteries in Italy, Spain, and France, -resigned his office and retired to this, one of the highest of the -Apennine heights. See note, p. 67. He was canonised in 1230. Henry -Crabb Robinson tells us, “It was at Laverna that he” [W.W.] “led me to -expect that he had found a subject on which he could write, and that -was the love which birds bore to St. Francis. He repeated to me a short -time afterwards a few lines, which I do not recollect amongst those -he has written on St. Francis in this poem. On the journey, one night -only I heard him in bed composing verses, and on the following day I -offered to be his amanuensis; but I was not patient enough, I fear, and -he did not employ me a second time. He made inquiries for St. Francis’s -biography, as if he would dub him his Leibheiliger (body-saint), as -Goethe (saying that every one must have one) declared St. Philip Neri -to be his.” (See the _Memoirs of William Wordsworth_, by his nephew, -vol. ii. p. 331)--ED. - -[136] The characteristic feature of the Franciscan order was its vow -of Poverty, and Francis desired that it should be taken in the most -rigorous sense, viz. that no individual member of the fraternity, -nor the fraternity itself, should be allowed to possess any property -whatsoever, even in things necessary to human use.--ED. - -[137] The members of the Franciscan order were the Stoics of -Christendom. The order has been powerful, and of great service to -the Roman Church--alike in literature, and in practical action and -enterprise.--ED. - - -XV - -AT THE CONVENT OF CAMALDOLI - -This famous sanctuary was the original establishment of Saint Romualdo -(or Rumwald, as our ancestors saxonised the name) in the 11th century, -the ground (campo) being given by a Count Maldo. The Camaldolensi, -however, have spread wide as a branch of Benedictines, and may -therefore be classed among the _gentlemen_ of the monastic orders. The -society comprehends two orders, monks and hermits; symbolised by their -arms, two doves drinking out of the same cup. The monastery in which -the monks here reside is beautifully situated, but a large unattractive -edifice, not unlike a factory. The hermitage is placed in a loftier and -wilder region of the forest. It comprehends between 20 and 30 distinct -residences, each including for its single hermit an inclosed piece of -ground and three very small apartments. There are days of indulgence -when the hermit may quit his cell, and when old age arrives, he -descends from the mountain and takes his abode among the monks. - -My companion had, in the year 1831, fallen in with the monk, the -subject of these two sonnets, who showed him his abode among the -hermits. It is from him that I received the following[138] particulars. -He was then about 40 years of age, but his appearance was that of an -older man. He had been a painter by profession, but on taking orders -changed his name from Santi to Raffaello, perhaps with an unconscious -reference as well to the great Sanzio d’Urbino as to the archangel. -He assured my friend that he had been 13 years in the hermitage and -had never known melancholy or ennui. In the little recess for study -and prayer, there was a small collection of books. “I read only,” said -he, “books of asceticism and mystical theology.” On being asked the -names of the most famous[139] mystics, he enumerated _Scaramelli_, _San -Giovanni della Croce_, _St. Dionysius the Areopagite_ (supposing the -work which bears his name to be really his),[140] and with peculiar -emphasis _Ricardo di San Vittori_. The works of _Saint Theresa_ are -also in high repute among ascetics.[141] These names may interest some -of my readers. - -We heard that Raffaello was then living in the convent; my friend -sought in vain to renew his acquaintance with him. It was probably a -day of seclusion. The reader will perceive that these sonnets were -supposed to be written when he was a young man.--W.W. 1842. - -The monastery of Camaldoli is on the highest point of the hills near -Naples (1476 feet), and commands one of the finest views in Italy.--ED. - - Grieve for the Man who hither came bereft, - And seeking consolation from above; - Nor grieve the less that skill to him was left - To paint this picture of his lady-love: - Can she, a blessed saint, the work approve? 5 - And O, good Brethren of the cowl, a thing - So fair, to which with peril he must cling, - Destroy in pity, or with care remove. - That bloom--those eyes--can they assist to bind - Thoughts that would stray from Heaven? The dream must cease 10 - To be; by Faith, not sight, his soul must live; - Else will the enamoured Monk too surely find - How wide a space can part from inward peace - The most profound repose his cell can give. - -[138] 1845. - - received these particulars. - -1842. - -[139] 1845. - - famous Italian mystics, - -1842. - -[140] 1845. - - _San Dionysia_, _Areopagitica_, and with - -1842. - -[141] 1845. - - are among ascetics in high repute, but she was a Spaniard. - -1842. - - -XVI - -CONTINUED - - The world forsaken, all its busy cares - And stirring interests shunned with desperate flight, - All trust abandoned in the healing might - Of virtuous action; all that courage dares, - Labour accomplishes, or patience bears-- 5 - Those helps rejected, they, whose minds perceive - How subtly works man’s weakness, sighs may heave - For such a One beset with cloistral snares. - Father of Mercy! rectify his view, - If with his vows this object ill agree; 10 - Shed over it thy grace, and thus subdue[142] - Imperious passion in a heart set free:-- - That earthly love may to herself be true, - Give him a soul that cleaveth unto thee. - -[142] 1845. - - … and so subdue - - 1842. - - -XVII - -AT THE EREMITE OR UPPER CONVENT OF CAMALDOLI - - What aim had they, the Pair of Monks, in size[143] - Enormous, dragged, while side by side they sate, - By panting steers up to this convent gate? - How, with empurpled cheeks and pampered eyes, - Dare they confront the lean austerities 5 - Of Brethren, who, here fixed, on Jesu wait - In sackcloth, and God’s anger deprecate - Through all that humbles flesh and mortifies? - Strange contrast!--verily the world of dreams, - Where mingle, as for mockery combined, 10 - Things in their very essences at strife, - Shows not a sight incongruous as the extremes - That everywhere, before the thoughtful mind, - Meet on the solid ground of waking life.[144] - -[143] In justice to the Benedictines of Camaldoli, by whom strangers -are so hospitably entertained, I feel obliged to notice, that I saw -among them no other figures at all resembling, in size and complexion, -the two Monks described in this Sonnet. What was their office, or the -motive which brought them to this place of mortification, which they -could not have approached without being carried in this or some other -way, a feeling of delicacy prevented me from inquiring. An account has -before been given of the hermitage they were about to enter. It was -visited by us towards the end of the month of May; yet snow was lying -thick under the pine-trees, within a few yards of the gate.--W.W. 1842. - -[144] See note, pp. 72, 73.--ED. - - -XVIII - -AT VALLOMBROSA[145] - -[I must confess, though of course I did not acknowledge it in the few -lines I wrote in the Strangers’ book kept at the convent, that I was -somewhat disappointed at Vallombrosa. I had expected, as the name -implies, a deep and narrow valley overshadowed by enclosing hills; but -the spot where the convent stands is in fact not a valley at all, but -a cove or crescent open to an extensive prospect. In the book before -mentioned, I read the notice in the English language that if anyone -would ascend the steep ground above the convent, and wander over it, he -would be abundantly rewarded by magnificent views. I had not time to -act upon this recommendation, and only went with my young guide to a -point, nearly on a level with the site of the convent, that overlooks -the Vale of Arno for some leagues. To praise great and good men has -ever been deemed one of the worthiest employments of poetry, but the -objects of admiration vary so much with time and circumstances, and -the noblest of mankind have been found, when intimately known, to be -of characters so imperfect, that no eulogist can find a subject which -he will venture upon with the animation necessary to create sympathy, -unless he confines himself to a particular part or he takes something -of a one-sided view of the person he is disposed to celebrate. This -is a melancholy truth, and affords a strong reason for the poetic -mind being chiefly exercised in works of fiction: the poet can then -follow wherever the spirit of admiration leads him, unchecked by such -suggestions as will be too apt to cross his way if all that he is -prompted to utter is to be tested by fact. Something in this spirit I -have written in the note attached to the Sonnet on the King of Sweden; -and many will think that in this poem and elsewhere I have spoken -of the author of _Paradise Lost_ in a strain of panegyric scarcely -justifiable by the tenor of some of his opinions, whether theological -or political, and by the temper he carried into public affairs, in -which, unfortunately for his genius, he was so much concerned.--I.F.] - - Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks - In Vallombrosa, where Etrurian shades - High over-arch’d embower. - - PARADISE LOST.[146] - - “Vallombrosa--I longed in thy shadiest wood - To slumber, reclined on the moss-covered floor!”[147] - Fond wish that was granted at last, and the Flood, - That lulled me asleep, bids me listen once more. - Its murmur how soft! as it falls down the steep, 5 - Near that Cell--yon sequestered Retreat high in air--[148] - Where our Milton was wont lonely vigils to keep - For converse with God, sought through study and prayer. - The Monks still repeat the tradition with pride, - And its truth who shall doubt? for his Spirit is here;[149] 10 - In the cloud-piercing rocks doth her grandeur abide, - In the pines pointing heavenward her beauty austere; - In the flower-besprent meadows his genius we trace - Turned to humbler delights, in which youth might confide, - That would yield him fit help while prefiguring that Place 15 - Where, if Sin had not entered, Love never had died. - - When with life lengthened out came a desolate time, - And darkness and danger had compassed him round, - With a thought he would[150] flee to these haunts of his prime, - And here once again a kind shelter be found. 20 - And let me believe that when nightly the Muse - Did[151] waft him to Sion, the glorified hill,[152] - Here also, on some favoured height, he[153] would choose - To wander, and drink inspiration at will. - - Vallombrosa! of thee I first heard in the page 25 - Of that holiest of Bards, and the name for my mind - Had a musical charm, which the winter of age - And the changes it brings had no power to unbind. - And now, ye Miltonian shades! under you - I repose, nor am forced from sweet fancy to part, 30 - While your leaves I behold and the brooks they will strew, - And the realised vision is clasped to my heart. - - Even so, and unblamed, we rejoice as we may - In Forms that must perish, frail objects of sense; - Unblamed--if the Soul be intent on the day 35 - When the Being of Beings shall summon her hence. - For he and he only with wisdom is blest - Who, gathering true pleasures wherever they grow, - Looks up in all places, for joy or for rest, - To the Fountain whence Time and Eternity flow. 40 - -[145] The name of Milton is pleasingly connected with Vallombrosa in -many ways. The pride with which the Monk, without any previous question -from me, pointed out his residence, I shall not readily forget. It may -be proper here to defend the Poet from a charge which has been brought -against him, in respect to the passage in _Paradise Lost_, where this -place is mentioned. It is said, that he has erred in speaking of the -trees there being deciduous, whereas they are, in fact, pines. The -fault-finders are themselves mistaken; the _natural_ woods of the -region of Vallombrosa _are_ deciduous, and spread to a great extent; -those near the convent are, indeed, mostly pines; but they are avenues -of trees _planted_ within a few steps of each other, and thus composing -large tracts of wood; plots of which are periodically cut down. The -appearance of those narrow avenues, upon steep slopes open to the sky, -on account of the height which the trees attain by being _forced_ -to grow upwards, is often very impressive. My guide, a boy of about -fourteen years old, pointed this out to me in several places.--W.W. -1842. - -[146] Compare _Paradise Lost_, book i. l. 302. Vallombrosa--the shady -valley--is 18 miles distant from Florence. Wordsworth’s quotation from -Milton was from memory. It is not quite accurate.--ED. - -[147] See for the two _first lines_, _Stanzas composed in the Simplon -Pass_.--W.W. 1842. (See vol. vi. p. 357.)--ED. - -[148] The monastery of Vallombrosa was founded about 1050, by S. -Giovanni Gnalberto. It was suppressed in 1869, and is now converted -into the R. Instituto Forestale, or forest school. The “cell,” the -“sequestered retreat” referred to by Wordsworth, is doubtless _Il -Paradisino_, or _Le Celle_, a small hermitage 266 feet above the -monastery, which is itself 2980 feet above the sea.--ED. - -[149] Compare Milton’s letter to Benedetto Bonmattei of Florence, -written during his stay in the city, September 10, 1638.--ED. - -[150] 1845. - - … might … - - 1842. - -[151] 1845. - - Would … - - 1842. - -[152] Compare _Paradise Lost_, book iii. l. 29-- - - … but chief - Thee, Sion, and the flourie Brooks beneath, - That wash thy hallowed feet, and warbling flow, - Nightly I visit. - -ED. - -[153] 1845. - - … they … - - 1842. - - -XIX - -AT FLORENCE - -[Upon what evidence the belief rests that this stone was a favourite -seat of Dante, I do not know; but a man would little consult his own -interest as a traveller, if he should busy himself with doubts as -to the fact. The readiness with which traditions of this character -are received, and the fidelity with which they are preserved from -generation to generation, are an evidence of feelings honourable to -our nature. I remember how, during one of my rambles in the course -of a college vacation, I was pleased on being shown a seat near a -kind of rocky cell at the source of the river, on which it was said -that Congreve wrote his _Old Bachelor_. One can scarcely hit on any -performance less in harmony with the scene; but it was a local tribute -paid to intellect by those who had not troubled themselves to estimate -the moral worth of that author’s comedies; and why should they? He -was a man distinguished in his day; and the sequestered neighbourhood -in which he often resided was perhaps as proud of him as Florence of -her Dante: it is the same feeling, though proceeding from persons one -cannot bring together in this way without offering some apology to the -Shade of the great Visionary.--I.F.] - - Under the shadow of a stately Pile, - The dome of Florence, pensive and alone, - Nor giving heed to aught that passed the while, - I stood, and gazed upon a marble stone, - The laurelled Dante’s favourite seat.[154] A throne, 5 - In just esteem, it rivals; though no style - Be there of decoration to beguile - The mind, depressed by thought of greatness flown. - As a true man, who long had served the lyre, - I gazed with earnestness, and dared no more. 10 - But in his breast the mighty Poet bore - A Patriot’s heart, warm with undying fire. - Bold with the thought, in reverence I sate down, - And, for a moment, filled that empty Throne. - -[154] The _Sasso di Dante_ is built into the wall of the house, No. 29 -Casa dei Canonici, close to the Duomo.--ED. - - -XX - -BEFORE THE PICTURE OF THE BAPTIST, BY RAPHAEL, IN THE GALLERY AT -FLORENCE[155] - -[It was very hot weather during the week we stayed at Florence; and, -never having been there before, I went through much hard service, and -am not therefore _ashamed_ to confess I fell asleep before this picture -and sitting with my back towards the Venus de Medicis. Buonaparte--in -answer to one who had spoken of his being in a sound sleep up to the -moment when one of his great battles was to be fought, as a proof -of the calmness of his mind and command over anxious thoughts--said -frankly, that he slept because from bodily exhaustion he could not help -it. In like manner it is noticed that criminals on the night previous -to their execution seldom awake before they are called, a proof that -the body is the master of us far more than we need be willing to allow. -Should this note by any possible chance be seen by any of my countrymen -who might have been in the gallery at the time (and several persons -were there) and witnessed such an indecorum, I hope he will give up the -opinion which he might naturally have formed to my prejudice.--I.F.] - - The Baptist might have been ordain’d to cry - Forth from the towers of that huge Pile, wherein - His Father served Jehovah; but how win - Due audience, how for aught but scorn defy - The obstinate pride and wanton revelry 5 - Of the Jerusalem below, her sin - And folly, if they with united din - Drown not at once mandate and prophecy? - Therefore the Voice spake from the Desert, thence - To Her, as to her opposite in peace, 10 - Silence, and holiness, and innocence, - To Her and to all Lands its warning sent, - Crying with earnestness that might not cease, - “Make straight a highway for the Lord--repent!” - -[155] This sonnet refers to the picture of the young St. John the -Baptist, now in the Tribuna, Florence, designed about the same time as -the Madonna di San Sisto, for Cardinal Colonna, who is said to have -presented it to his doctor, Jacopo da Carpi. It has been much admired, -and often copied; but it is inferior, both in drawing and in colouring, -to the great works of Raphael. How much of it was actually from his -hand is uncertain; and Baptist is painted rather like a Bacchus than a -Saint.--ED. - - -XXI - -AT FLORENCE--FROM MICHAEL ANGELO - -[However at first these two sonnets from Michael Angelo may seem in -their spirit somewhat inconsistent with each other, I have not scrupled -to place them side by side as characteristic of their great author, -and others with whom he lived. I feel, nevertheless, a wish to know -at what periods of his life they were respectively composed.[156] The -latter, as it expresses, was written in his advanced years, when it -was natural that the Platonism that pervades the one should give way to -the Christian feeling that inspired the other: between both there is -more than poetic affinity.--I.F.] - - Rapt above earth by power of one fair face, - Hers in whose sway alone my heart delights, - I mingle with the blest on those pure heights - Where Man, yet mortal, rarely finds a place. - With Him who made the Work that Work accords 5 - So well, that by its help and through his grace - I raise my thoughts, inform my deeds and words, - Clasping her beauty in my soul’s embrace. - Thus, if from two fair eyes mine cannot turn, - I feel how in their presence doth abide 10 - Light which to God is both the way and guide; - And, kindling at their lustre, if I burn, - My noble fire emits the joyful ray - That through the realms of glory shines for aye. - -[156] The second of the two sonnets translated by Wordsworth is No. -lxxiii. in Signor Cesare Guastî’s edition of Michael Angelo (1863). - -AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS. - -_Scaro d’un’ importuna._ - -It was evidently written in old age. The following is Mr. John -Addington Symond’s translation of the same sonnet. - - Freed from a burden sore and grievous band, - Dear Lord, and from this wearying world untied, - Like a frail bark I turn me to Thy side, - As from a fierce storm to a tranquil land. - Thy thorns, Thy nails, and either bleeding hand, - With Thy mild gentle piteous face, provide - Promise of help and mercies multiplied, - And hope that yet my soul secure may stand. - Let not Thy holy eyes be just to see - My evil part, Thy chastened ears to hear, - And stretch the arm of judgment to my crime: - Let Thy blood only love and succour me, - Yielding more perfect pardon, better cheer, - As older still I grow with lengthening time. - -_The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tomaso Campanella_, by -John Addington Symonds, p. 110. - -Compare Wordsworth’s translation of other three sonnets by Michael -Angelo (vol. iii. pp. 380-384).--ED. - - -XXII - -AT FLORENCE--FROM M. ANGELO - - Eternal Lord! eased of a cumbrous load, - And loosened from the world, I turn to Thee; - Shun, like a shattered bark, the storm, and flee - To thy protection for a safe abode. - The crown of thorns, hands pierced upon the tree, 5 - The meek, benign, and lacerated face, - To a sincere repentance promise grace, - To the sad soul give hope of pardon free. - With justice mark not Thou, O Light divine, - My fault, nor hear it with thy sacred ear; 10 - Neither put forth that way thy arm severe; - Wash with thy blood my sins; thereto incline - More readily the more my years require - Help, and forgiveness speedy and entire. - - -XXIII - -AMONG THE RUINS OF A CONVENT IN THE APENNINES - -[The political revolutions of our time have multiplied, on the -Continent, objects that unavoidably call forth reflections such as are -expressed in these verses, but the Ruins in those countries are too -recent to exhibit, in anything like an equal degree, the beauty with -which time and nature have invested the remains of our Convents and -Abbeys. These verses, it will be observed, take up the beauty long -before it is matured, as one cannot but wish it may be among some of -the desolations of Italy, France, and Germany.--I.F.] - - Ye Trees! whose slender roots entwine - Altars that piety neglects; - Whose infant arms enclasp the shrine - Which no devotion now respects; - If not a straggler from the herd 5 - Here ruminate, nor shrouded bird, - Chanting her low-voiced hymn, take pride - In aught that ye would grace or hide-- - How sadly is your love misplaced, - Fair Trees, your bounty run to waste! 10 - - Ye, too,[157] wild Flowers! that no one heeds, - And ye--full often spurned as weeds-- - In beauty clothed, or breathing sweetness - From fractured arch and mouldering wall-- - Do but more touchingly recal 15 - Man’s headstrong violence and Time’s fleetness, - Making[158] the precincts ye adorn - Appear to sight still more forlorn. - -[157] 1845. - - And ye, … - - 1842. - -[158] 1845. - - And make … - - 1842. - - -XXIV - -IN LOMBARDY - - See, where his difficult way that Old Man wins - Bent by a load of Mulberry leaves!--most hard - Appears _his_ lot, to the small Worm’s compared, - For whom his toil with early day begins. - Acknowledging no task-master, at will 5 - (As if her labour and her ease were twins) - _She_ seems to work, at pleasure to lie still;-- - And softly sleeps within the thread she spins. - So fare they--the Man serving as her Slave. - Ere long their fates do each to each conform: 10 - Both pass into new being,--but the Worm, - Transfigured, sinks into a hopeless grave; - _His_ volant Spirit will, he trusts, ascend - To bliss unbounded, glory without end. - - -XXV - -AFTER LEAVING ITALY - -[I had proof in several instances that the Carbonari, if I may still -call them so, and their favourers, are opening their eyes to the -necessity of patience, and are intent upon spreading knowledge actively -but quietly as they can. May they have resolution to continue in this -course! for it is the only one by which they can truly benefit their -country. We left Italy by the way which is called the “Nuova Strada de -Allmagna,” to the east of the high passes of the Alps, which take you -at once from Italy into Switzerland. This road leads across several -smaller heights, and winds down different vales in succession, so that -it was only by the accidental sound of a few German words that I was -aware we had quitted Italy, and hence the unwelcome shock alluded to in -the two or three last lines of the latter sonnet.--I.F.] - - Fair Land! Thee all men greet with joy; how few, - Whose souls take pride in freedom, virtue, fame, - Part from thee without pity dyed in shame: - I could not--while from Venice we withdrew, - Led on till an Alpine strait confined our view[159] 5 - Within its depths, and to the shore we came - Of Lago Morto, dreary sight and name, - Which o’er sad thoughts a sadder colouring threw. - Italia! on the surface of thy spirit, - (Too aptly emblemed by that torpid lake) 10 - Shall a few partial breezes only creep?-- - Be its depths quickened; what thou dost inherit - Of the world’s hopes, dare to fulfil; awake, - Mother of Heroes, from thy death-like sleep! - -[159] They left Venice by the Nuova Strada de Allmagna, resting -at Logerone, Sillian, Spittal (in Carinthia), and thence on to -Salzburg.--ED. - - -XXVI - -CONTINUED - - As indignation mastered grief, my tongue - Spake bitter words; words that did ill agree - With those rich stores of Nature’s imagery, - And divine Art, that fast to memory clung-- - Thy gifts, magnificent Region, ever young 5 - In the sun’s eye, and in his sister’s sight - How beautiful! how worthy to be sung - In strains of rapture, or subdued delight! - I feign not; witness that unwelcome shock - That followed the first sound of German speech, 10 - Caught the far-winding barrier Alps among. - In that announcement, greeting seemed to mock[160] - Parting; the casual word had power to reach - My heart, and filled that heart with conflict strong. - -[160] See the Fenwick note to the last sonnet.--ED. - - -AT BOLOGNA, IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE LATE INSURRECTIONS, 1837[161][162] - -Composed 1837.--Published 1842 - -This was originally (1842) included in the “Memorials of a Tour in -Italy,” but, in 1845, it was transferred, along with the two which -follow it, to the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - -I - - Ah why deceive ourselves! by no mere fit - Of sudden passion roused shall men attain - True freedom where for ages they have lain - Bound in a dark abominable pit, - With life’s best sinews more and more unknit. 5 - Here, there, a banded few who loathe the chain - May rise to break it: effort worse than vain - For thee, O great Italian nation, split - Into those jarring fractions.--Let thy scope - Be one fixed mind for all; thy rights approve 10 - To thy own conscience gradually renewed; - Learn to make Time the father of wise Hope; - Then trust thy cause to the arm of Fortitude, - The light of Knowledge, and the warmth of Love. - - -II - -CONTINUED - -Composed 1837.--Published 1842 - - Hard task! exclaim the undisciplined, to lean - On Patience coupled with such slow endeavour, - That long-lived servitude must last for ever. - Perish the grovelling few, who, prest between - Wrongs and the terror of redress, would wean 5 - Millions from glorious aims. Our chains to sever - Let us break forth in tempest now or never!-- - What, is there then no space for golden mean - And gradual progress?--Twilight leads to day, - And, even within the burning zones of earth, 10 - The hastiest sunrise yields a temperate ray; - The softest breeze to fairest flowers gives birth: - Think not that Prudence dwells in dark abodes, - She scans the future with the eye of gods. - - -III - -CONCLUDED - -Composed 1837.--Published 1842 - - As leaves are to the tree whereon they grow - And wither, every human generation - Is to the Being of a mighty nation, - Locked in our world’s embrace through weal and woe; - Thought that should teach the zealot to forego 5 - Rash schemes, to abjure all selfish agitation, - And seek through noiseless pains and moderation - The unblemished good they only can bestow. - Alas! with most, who weigh futurity - Against time present, passion holds the scales: 10 - Hence equal ignorance of both prevails, - And nations sink; or, struggling to be free, - Are doomed to flounder on, like wounded whales - Tossed on the bosom of a stormy sea. - -[161] This date was omitted in the edition of 1842. - -[162] The three sonnets, _At Bologna, in remembrance of the late -Insurrections_, 1837, are printed as a sequel to the Italian Tour of -that year.--ED. - - -“WHAT IF OUR NUMBERS BARELY COULD DEFY” - -Composed 1837.--Published 1837 - -One of the “Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty.”--ED. - - What if our numbers barely could defy - The arithmetic of babes, must foreign hordes, - Slaves, vile as ever were befooled by words, - Striking through English breasts the anarchy - Of Terror, bear us to the ground, and tie 5 - Our hands behind our backs with felon cords? - Yields every thing to discipline of swords? - Is man as good as man, none low, none high?-- - Nor discipline nor valour can withstand - The shock, nor quell[163] the inevitable rout, 10 - When in some great extremity breaks out - A people, on their own beloved Land - Risen, like one man, to combat in the sight - Of a just God for liberty and right. - -[163] 1837. - - … nor stem … - - C. - - -A NIGHT THOUGHT - -Composed 1837.--Published 1837 - -[These verses were thrown off extempore upon leaving Mrs. Luff’s -house at Fox Ghyll one evening. The good woman is not disposed to -look at the bright side of things, and there happened to be present -certain ladies who had reached the point of life where _youth_ is -ended, and who seemed to contend with each other in expressing their -dislike of the country and climate. One of them had been heard to say -she could not endure a country where there was “neither sunshine nor -cavaliers.”--I.F.] - -This poem was first published in _The Tribute, a Collection of -Miscellaneous unpublished Poems by various Authors, edited by Lord -Northampton_, in 1837, “for the benefit of the widow and family of the -Rev. Edward Smedley.” (The same volume contained a poem by Southey on -Brough Bells.) It next found a place in “Poems chiefly of Early and -Late Years” (1842). A stanza given in _The Tribute_, No. 2 (see below), -was omitted afterwards.--ED. - - Lo! where the Moon along the sky - Sails with her happy destiny;[164] - Oft is she hid from mortal eye - Or dimly seen, - But when the clouds asunder fly 5 - How bright her mien![165] - - Far different we--a froward race,[166] - Thousands though rich in Fortune’s grace - With cherished sullenness of pace - Their way pursue, 10 - Ingrates who wear a smileless face - The whole year through. - - If kindred humours e’er would make[167] - My spirit droop for drooping’s sake, - From Fancy following in thy wake, 15 - Bright ship of heaven! - A counter impulse let me take - And be forgiven.[168] - -[164] 1842. - - The moon that sails along the sky - Moves with a happy destiny, - - 1837. - -[165] 1837. - - Not flagging when the winds all sleep, - Not hurried onward, when they sweep - The bosom of th’ ethereal deep, - Not turned aside, - She knows an even course to keep, - Whate’er betide. - - In the text of 1837 only. - -[166] 1842. - - Perverse are we--a froward race; - - 1837. - -[167] 1842. - - If kindred humour e’er should make - - 1837. - -[168] Compare the poem _To the Daisy_ (1802), beginning-- - - Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere. - -ED. - - -THE WIDOW ON WINDERMERE SIDE - -Published 1842 - -[The facts recorded in this Poem were given me, and the character of -the person described, by my friend the Rev. R. P. Graves,[169] who -has long officiated as curate at Bowness, to the great benefit of the -parish and neighbourhood. The individual was well known to him. She -died before these verses were composed. It is scarcely worth while -to notice that the stanzas are written in the sonnet form, which was -adopted when I thought the matter might be included in twenty-eight -lines.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems founded on the Affections.”--ED. - - I - - How beautiful when up a lofty height - Honour ascends among the humblest poor, - And feeling sinks as deep! See there the door - Of One, a Widow, left beneath a weight - Of blameless debt. On evil Fortune’s spite 5 - She wasted no complaint, but strove to make - A just repayment, both for conscience-sake - And that herself and hers should stand upright - In the world’s eye. Her work when daylight failed - Paused not, and through the depth of night she kept 10 - Such earnest vigils, that belief prevailed - With some, the noble Creature never slept; - But, one by one, the hand of death assailed - Her children from her inmost heart bewept. - - II - - The Mother mourned, nor ceased her tears to flow, 15 - Till a winter’s noon-day placed her buried Son - Before her eyes, last child of many gone-- - His raiment of angelic white, and lo! - His very feet bright as the dazzling snow - Which they are touching; yea far brighter, even 20 - As that which comes, or seems to come, from heaven, - Surpasses aught these elements can show. - Much she rejoiced, trusting that from that hour - Whate’er befel she could not grieve or pine; - But the Transfigured, in and out of season, 25 - Appeared, and spiritual presence gained a power - Over material forms that mastered reason. - Oh, gracious Heaven, in pity make her thine! - - III - - But why that prayer? as if to her could come - No good but by the way that leads to bliss 30 - Through Death,--so judging we should judge amiss. - Since reason failed want is her threatened doom, - Yet frequent transports mitigate the gloom: - Nor of those maniacs is she one that kiss - The air or laugh upon a precipice; 35 - No, passing through strange sufferings toward the tomb, - She smiles as if a martyr’s crown were won: - Oft, when light breaks through clouds or waving trees, - With outspread arms and fallen upon her knees - The Mother hails in her descending Son 40 - An Angel, and in earthly ecstasies - Her own angelic glory seems begun. - -[169] The late Archdeacon of Dublin, author of _Life of Sir William -Rowan Hamilton_, etc. He gives the date of the composition of the poem -as 1837.--ED. - - - - -1838 - -In 1838 Wordsworth wrote ten sonnets. These were published (along with -the one suggested by Mrs. Southey) for the first time in the volume of -collected Sonnets, several being inserted out of their intended place, -while the book was passing through the press. - -The _Protest against the Ballot_, which appeared in 1838, was never -republished.--ED. - - -TO THE PLANET VENUS - -UPON ITS APPROXIMATION (AS AN EVENING STAR) TO THE EARTH, JANUARY 1838 - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838[170] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - What strong allurement draws, what spirit guides, - Thee, Vesper! brightening still, as if the nearer - Thou com’st to man’s abode the spot grew dearer - Night after night? True is it Nature hides - Her treasures less and less.--Man now presides 5 - In power, where once he trembled in his weakness; - Science[171] advances with gigantic strides; - But are we aught enriched in love and meekness?[172] - Aught dost thou see, bright Star! of pure and wise - More than in humbler times graced human story; 10 - That makes our hearts more apt to sympathise - With heaven, our souls more fit for future glory, - When earth shall vanish from our closing eyes, - Ere we lie down in our last dormitory?[173] - -[170] It was afterwards printed in the _Saturday Magazine_, Oct. 24, -1840.--ED. - -[171] 1845. - - Knowledge - - 1838. - -[172] Compare Tennyson’s _In Memoriam_, stanza cxx.-- - - Let Science prove we are, and then - What matters Science unto men, etc. - -ED. - -[173] Compare the poem in vol. vii. p. 299, _To the Planet Venus, an -Evening Star_.--ED. - - -“HARK! ’TIS THE THRUSH, UNDAUNTED, UNDEPREST” - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Hark! ’tis the Thrush, undaunted, undeprest, - By twilight premature of cloud and rain; - Nor does that roaring wind deaden his strain[174] - Who carols thinking of his Love and nest, - And seems, as more incited, still more blest. 5 - Thanks; thou hast snapped a fire-side Prisoner’s chain, - Exulting Warbler! eased a fretted brain, - And in a moment charmed my cares to rest. - Yes, I will forth, bold Bird! and front the blast, - That we may sing together, if thou wilt, 10 - So loud, so clear, my Partner through life’s day, - Mute in her nest love-chosen, if not love-built - Like thine, shall gladden, as in seasons past, - Thrilled by loose snatches of the social Lay. - -RYDAL MOUNT, 1838. - -[174] 1838. - - … undaunted, unopprest, - Struggling with twilight premature and rain. - Loud roars the wind, but smothers not his strain - - MS. - - -“’TIS HE WHOSE YESTER-EVENING’S HIGH DISDAIN” - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - ’Tis He whose yester-evening’s high disdain - Beat back the roaring storm--but how subdued - His day-break note, a sad vicissitude! - Does the hour’s drowsy weight his glee restrain? - Or, like the nightingale, her joyous vein 5 - Pleased to renounce, does this dear Thrush attune - His voice to suit the temper of yon Moon - Doubly depressed, setting, and in her wane? - Rise, tardy Sun! and let the Songster prove - (The balance trembling between night and morn 10 - No longer) with what ecstasy upborne - He can pour forth his spirit. In heaven above, - And earth below, they best can serve true gladness - Who meet most feelingly the calls of sadness. - - -COMPOSED AT RYDAL ON MAY MORNING, 1838[175] - -Composed 1st May 1838.--Published 1838 - -[This and the following sonnet were composed on what we call the “Far -Terrace” at Rydal Mount, where I have murmured out many thousands of -verses.--I.F.] - -This sonnet was first published in the Volume of Collected Sonnets -in 1838. In 1842 it was classed among the “Miscellaneous Sonnets”; -but in 1845 it was transferred to the “Memorials of a Tour in Italy, -1837.”--ED. - - If with old love of you, dear Hills! I share - New love of many a rival image brought - From far, forgive the wanderings of my thought: - Nor art thou wronged, sweet May! when I compare[176] - Thy present birth-morn with thy last,[177][178] so fair, 5 - So rich to me in favours. For my lot - Then was, within the famed Egerian Grot - To sit and muse, fanned by its dewy air - Mingling with thy soft breath! That morning too, - Warblers I heard their joy unbosoming 10 - Amid the sunny, shadowy, Coliseum;[179] - Heard them, unchecked by aught of saddening hue,[180] - For victories there won by flower-crowned Spring,[181] - Chant in full choir their innocent Te Deum. - -[175] 1845. - -The title in 1838 was “COMPOSED ON MAY-MORNING, 1838”; and “RYDAL -MOUNT” was written at the foot of the sonnet. - -[176] 1838. - - May, if from these thy northern haunts I share - Fond looks of mind for images remote - Fetched out of milder climates, blame me not, - Nor that, upris’n thus early, I compare - - MS. - - Let those who will or can, dear May, forbear - To rise and hail thy coming, I could not. - The vivid images of scenes remote - Rushing on memory urge me to compare - - MS. - - Dear native Hills, the love of you I share - With … - - MS. - - Dear fields and native mountains, if I share - My love of youth with love of objects brought - {From far, by faithful memory, blame me not. } - {Fetched from a milder climate, blame me not.} - {From a distant land by memory, blame me not.} - {Nor that, upris’n thus early, } - {Nor be displeased, sweet May, if} I compare - {May,} - {Thy } present … - - MS. - -[177] 1838. - - … past, - - MS. - -[178] On May morning, 1837, Wordsworth was in Rome with Henry Crabb -Robinson.--ED. - -[179] The Flavian Amphitheatre, begun by Vespasian, A.D. 72, and -continued by his son Titus, one of the noblest structures in Rome, now -a ruin. --ED. - -[180] 1845. - - … of sombre hue, - - 1838. - - … by thoughts of sombre hue, - - MS. - -[181] 1838. - - … too, - How my heart swelled when in the mighty ring, - The mouldering, shadowy, sunny Collosseum, - I heard with some sad thoughts of local hue - Warblers there lodged, for victories won by spring - - MS. - - … too, - Here did I a deathless joy embosoming, - {Mid } the shadowy Collosseum, - {Within} - Hear not without sad thoughts of local hue - - MS. - - … too, - Heard I, a deathless joy embosoming, - Tho’ not without sad thoughts of local hue, - Amid the shadowy, sunny, Collosseum, - Warblers there lodged, for victories won by Spring - - MS. - - -COMPOSED ON A MAY MORNING, 1838[182] - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838[183] - -This was one of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Life with yon Lambs, like day, is just begun, - Yet Nature seems to them a heavenly guide.[184] - Does joy approach? they meet the coming tide; - And sullenness avoid, as now they shun[185] - Pale twilight’s lingering glooms,--and in the sun 5 - Couch near their dams, with quiet satisfied;[186] - Or gambol--each with his shadow at his side,[187] - Varying its shape wherever he may run. - As they from turf yet hoar with sleepy dew - All turn, and court the shining and the green, 10 - Where herbs look up, and opening flowers are seen; - Why to God’s goodness cannot We be true, - And so, His[188] gifts and promises between, - Feed to the last on pleasures ever new? - -[182] 1845. - -The title, in 1838, was “COMPOSED ON THE SAME MORNING”; referring to -the previous sonnet in that edition, beginning-- - - If with old love of you, dear Hills! I share. - -[183] There were so many tentative efforts in the construction of this -sonnet, and the one which follows it, that I feel justified in printing -them from MS. sources.--ED. - -[184] 1838. - - Life with yon mountain lambs is just begun, - - MS. - - Yon mountain Lambs whose life is just begun - Some guidance know to Man’s grave years denied. - - MS. - - Your lives, ye mountain lambs, tho’ just begun - A guidance know to our best years denied. - - MS. sent to Mr. Clarkson. - -[185] 1838. - - O that by Nature we were prompt the tide - Of joy to meet, as {they} are who {now } shun - {ye } {there} - - MS. sent to Mr. Clarkson. - -[186] 1838. - - The lingering glooms of twilight, in the sun - To couch, with sober quiet satisfied. - - MS. sent to Mr. Clarkson. - - … shun - Hollows unbrightened by the {rising} sun - {morning} - On slopes to couch with quiet satisfied. - - MS. - - To couch on slopes where he his beams has tried, - Sporting and running wheresoe’er ye run. - - MS. - -[187] 1838. - - Couch near their dams; or frisk in sportive pride - Each with his playful shadow at his side, - - MS. - -[188] 1838. - - As they from turf hoary with unsunned dew - Turn and do one and all prefer the green - To chilly nooks, knolls cheered with glistening sheen, - Why may not we a kindred course pursue - And so, God’s … - - MS. - - … shun - Hollows {enlivened } by the rising sun - {unbrightened} - On slopes to couch with quiet satisfied, - Or gambol each, his shadow at his side, - Running in sport wherever he may run. - As from dull turf hoary with unsunned dew - They turn, and one and all prefer the green - To chilly nooks, knolls {warmed} with glistening sheen, - {cheered} - Why may not we a kindred course pursue - And so, Heaven’s … - - MS. - - … shun - The lingering gloom of twilight in the sun, - To couch with sober quiet satisfied, - Or gambol each, his shadow at his side, - Varying its shape wherever he may run. - - MS. - - As they from turf with thick and sleepy dew - {{Yet} whitened o’er, turn and} - {{All} } prefer the green - {Turn, and do one and all } - To chilly nooks, {slopes} warm with glistening sheen, - {knolls} - Why may not we thro’ life such course pursue - And so, God’s … - - MS. - - As they from turf with thick and sleepy dew - Yet whitened o’er, turn and prefer the green; - To chilly nooks, slopes warm with glistering sheen, - Why may not we such course through life pursue, - And so, God’s gifts and promises between, - Feed … - - MS. - - -A PLEA FOR AUTHORS, MAY 1838 - - Failing impartial measure to dispense - To every suitor, Equity is lame; - And social Justice, stript of reverence - For natural rights, a mockery and a shame; - Law but a servile dupe of false pretence, 5 - If, guarding grossest things from common claim - Now and for ever, She, to works that came[189] - From mind and spirit, grudge a short-lived fence. - “What! lengthened privilege, a lineal tie, - For _Books_!” Yes, heartless Ones, or be it proved 10 - That ’tis a fault in Us to have lived and loved - Like others, with like temporal hopes to die; - No public harm that Genius from her course - Be turned; and streams of truth dried up, even at their source![190] - -[189] 1838. - - {If} failing one strict measure to dispense - {When} - To all her suitors Equity is lame, - And social justice by fit reverence - Of natural right unswayed is but a name, - - MS. - - {Law but} the servile dupe of false pretence, - {And Law} - - MS. - - {When} guarding grossest things from common claim - {If} - Now, and for ever, She for work that came - - MS. - - … lame, - Justice unswayed, unmoved by reverence - For natural right {what is she but a name?} - {is but an empty name, } - - MS. - -[190] 1838. - - … from its course - Be turned, and streams of truth dried at their source. - - MS. - - From mind and spirit grudge a short-lived fence. - But no--{our} sages join in banded force - {the} - {That} books by right or wrong {may} glad the isle - {With} {to} - Say, {would} this serve the {future should our} course - {can } {people if the } - {Of pure domestic hopes be checked the while} - {Of prejudice be less opposed the while } - {Should} toil-worn Genius want a cheering smile - {If } - And streams of truth be dried up at their source? - - MS. - - Out of the mind grudges a short-lived fence. - {But no--the Sages join in banded force } - {And how preposterous Sages is your course} - Who cry give books free passage thro’ the isle. - {Say can this serve the people of our isle, } - {By right or wrong, for better or for worse,} - Friends to the people, what care ye the while - Tho’ toil-worn genius want a cheering smile - And far-fetched truth be dried up at her source? - - MS. - - -“BLEST STATESMAN HE, WHOSE MIND’S UNSELFISH WILL” - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Blest Statesman He, whose Mind’s unselfish will - Leaves him[191] at ease among grand thoughts: whose eye - Sees that, apart from magnanimity, - Wisdom exists not; nor the humbler skill - Of Prudence, disentangling good and ill 5 - With patient care. What tho’[192] assaults run high, - They daunt not him who holds his ministry, - Resolute, at all hazards, to fulfil - Its[193] duties;--prompt to move, but firm to wait,-- - Knowing, things rashly sought are rarely found; 10 - That, for[194] the functions of an ancient State-- - Strong by her charters, free because imbound, - Servant of Providence, not slave of Fate-- - Perilous is sweeping change, all chance unsound.[195] - -[191] 1842. - - … her - - C. and 1838. - -[192] 1838. - - … if - - C. - -[193] 1838. - - His - - C. - -[194] 1838. - - … in - - C. - -[195] - - All change is perilous, and all chance unsound. - - SPENSER.--W.W. 1838. - -The passage will be found in _The Faërie Queene_, book v. canto xii. -stanza 36.--ED. - - -VALEDICTORY SONNET[196] - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Serving no haughty Muse, my hands have here - Disposed some cultured Flowerets (drawn from spots - Where they bloomed singly, or in scattered knots), - Each kind in several beds of one parterre; - Both to allure the casual Loiterer, 5 - And that, so placed, my Nurslings may requite - Studious regard with opportune delight, - Nor be unthanked, unless I fondly err. - But metaphor dismissed, and thanks apart, - Reader, farewell! My last words let them be-- 10 - If in this book Fancy and Truth agree; - If simple Nature trained by careful Art - Through It have won a passage to thy heart; - Grant me thy love, I crave no other fee! - -[196] This closed the volume of sonnets published in 1838.--ED. - - - - -1839 - -The fourteen “Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death” were originally -published in the _Quarterly Review_ (in December 1841), in an article -on the “Sonnets of William Wordsworth” by the late Sir Henry Taylor, -author of _Philip van Artevelde_, and other poems. Towards the close of -this article (of 1841), after reviewing the volume of Sonnets published -in 1838, Sir Henry adds, “There is a short series _written two years -ago_, which we have been favoured with permission to present to the -public for the first time. It was suggested by the recent discussions -in Parliament, and elsewhere, on the subject of the ‘Punishment of -Death.’” - -When republishing this and other critical Essays on Poetry, in -the collected edition of his works in 1878, Sir Henry omitted the -paragraphs relating to these particular sonnets. Wordsworth published -the sonnets in his volume of “Poems chiefly of Early and Late Years,” -in 1842.--ED. - - -SONNETS UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH - -IN SERIES - -Composed 1839.--Published 1841 - -“In the session of 1836, a report by the Commissioners on Criminal -Law--of which the second part was on this subject (the Punishment of -Death)--was laid before Parliament. In the ensuing session this was -followed by papers presented to Parliament by her Majesty’s command, -and consisting of a correspondence between the Commissioners, Lord -John Russell, and Lord Denman. Upon the foundation afforded by these -documents, the bills of the 17th July 1837--(7th Gul. IV. and 1st -Vict. cap. 84 to 89 and 91)--were brought in and passed. These acts -removed the punishment of death from about 200 offences, and left it -applicable to high treason,--murder and attempts at murder--rape--arson -with danger to life--and to piracies, burglaries, and robberies, when -aggravated by cruelty and violence.” (Sir Henry Taylor, _Quarterly -Review_, Dec. 1841, p. 39.) Some members of the House of Commons--Mr. -Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Ewart, and others--desired a further limitation -of the punishment of death to the crimes of murder and treason only: -and the question of the entire abolition of capital punishment being -virtually before the country, Wordsworth dealt with it in the following -series of sonnets.--ED. - - -I - -SUGGESTED BY THE VIEW OF LANCASTER CASTLE (ON THE ROAD FROM THE SOUTH) - - This Spot--at once unfolding sight so fair - Of sea and land, with yon grey towers that still - Rise up as if to lord it over air-- - Might soothe in human breasts the sense of ill, - Or charm it out of memory; yea, might fill 5 - The heart with joy and gratitude to God - For all his bounties upon man bestowed: - Why bears it then the name of “Weeping Hill”?[197] - Thousands, as toward yon old Lancastrian Towers, - A prison’s crown, along this way they past 10 - For lingering durance or quick death with shame, - From this bare eminence thereon have cast - Their first look--blinded as tears fell in showers - Shed on their chains; and hence that doleful name. - -[197] The name given to the spot from which criminals on their way to -the Castle of Lancaster first see it.--ED. - - -II[198] - -“TENDERLY DO WE FEEL BY NATURE’S LAW” - - Tenderly do we feel by Nature’s law - For worst offenders: though the heart will heave - With indignation, deeply moved we grieve, - In after thought, for Him who stood in awe - Neither of God nor man, and only saw, 5 - Lost wretch, a horrible device enthroned - On proud temptations, till the victim groaned - Under the steel his hand had dared to draw. - But O, restrain compassion, if its course, - As oft befalls, prevent or turn aside 10 - Judgments and aims and acts whose higher source - Is sympathy with the unforewarned, who died[199] - Blameless--with them that shuddered o’er his grave, - And all who from the law firm safety crave. - -[198] “The first sonnet prepares the reader to sympathise with the -sufferings of the culprits. The next cautions him as to the limits -within which his sympathies are to be restrained.” (Sir Henry -Taylor.)--ED. - -[199] 1842. - - … that died - - 1841. - - -III[200] - -“THE ROMAN CONSUL DOOMED HIS SONS TO DIE” - - The Roman Consul doomed his sons to die - Who had betrayed their country.[201] The stern word - Afforded (may it through all time afford) - A theme for praise and admiration high. - Upon the surface of humanity 5 - He rested not; its depths his mind explored; - He felt; but his parental bosom’s lord - Was Duty,--Duty calmed his agony. - And some, we know, when they by wilful act - A single human life have wrongly taken, 10 - Pass sentence on themselves, confess the fact, - And, to atone for it, with soul unshaken - Kneel at the feet of Justice, and, for faith - Broken with all mankind, solicit death. - -[200] “In the third and fourth sonnets the reader is prepared to -regard as low and effeminate the views which would estimate life and -death as the most important of all sublunary conditions.” (Sir Henry -Taylor.)--ED. - -[201] Lucius Junius Brutus, who condemned his sons to die for the part -they took in the conspiracy to restore the Tarquins. (See Livy, book -ii.)--ED. - - -IV - -“IS _DEATH_, WHEN EVIL AGAINST GOOD HAS FOUGHT” - - Is _Death_, when evil against good has fought - With such fell mastery that a man may dare - By deeds the blackest purpose to lay bare? - Is Death, for one to that condition brought, - For him, or any one, the thing that ought 5 - To be _most_ dreaded? Lawgivers, beware, - Lest, capital pains remitting till ye spare - The murderer, ye, by sanction to that thought - Seemingly given, debase the general mind; - Tempt the vague will tried standards to disown, 10 - Nor only palpable restraints unbind, - But upon Honour’s head disturb the crown, - Whose absolute rule permits not to withstand - In the weak love of life his least command. - - -V - -“NOT TO THE OBJECT SPECIALLY DESIGNED” - - Not to the object specially designed, - Howe’er momentous in itself it be, - Good to promote or curb depravity, - Is the wise Legislator’s view confined. - His Spirit, when most severe, is oft most kind; 5 - As all Authority in earth depends - On Love and Fear, their several powers he blends, - Copying with awe the one Paternal mind. - Uncaught by processes in show humane, - He feels how far the act would derogate 10 - From even the humblest functions of the State; - If she, self-shorn of Majesty, ordain - That never more shall hang upon her breath - The last alternative of Life or Death. - - -VI[202] - -“YE BROOD OF CONSCIENCE--SPECTRES! THAT FREQUENT” - - Ye brood of conscience--Spectres! that frequent - The bad man’s restless walk, and haunt his bed-- - Fiends in your aspect, yet beneficent - In act, as hovering Angels when they spread - Their wings to guard the unconscious Innocent-- 5 - Slow be the Statutes of the land to share - A laxity that could not but impair - _Your_ power to punish crime, and so prevent. - And ye, Beliefs! coiled serpent-like about - The adage on all tongues, “Murder will out,”[203] 10 - How shall your ancient warnings work for good - In the full might they hitherto have shown, - If for deliberate shedder of man’s blood - Survive not Judgment that requires his own? - -[202] “The sixth sonnet adverts to the effect of the law in preventing -the crime of murder, not merely by fear, but by horror, by investing -the crime itself with the colouring of dark and terrible imaginations.” -(Sir Henry Taylor.)--ED. - -[203] See Chaucer, _The Nonnes Priestes Tale_, l. 232.--ED. - - -VII - -“BEFORE THE WORLD HAD PAST HER TIME OF YOUTH” - - Before the world had past her time of youth - While polity and discipline were weak, - The precept eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, - Came forth--a light, though but as of day-break, - Strong as could then be borne. A Master meek 5 - Proscribed the spirit fostered by that rule, - Patience _his_ law, long-suffering _his_ school, - And love the end, which all through peace must seek. - But lamentably do they err who strain - His mandates, given rash impulse to controul 10 - And keep vindictive thirstings from the soul, - So far that, if consistent in their scheme, - They must forbid the State to inflict a pain, - Making of social order a mere dream. - - -VIII[204] - -“FIT RETRIBUTION, BY THE MORAL CODE” - - Fit retribution, by the moral code - Determined, lies beyond the State’s embrace, - Yet, as she may, for each peculiar case - She plants well-measured terrors in the road - Of wrongful acts. Downward it is and broad, 5 - And, the main fear once doomed to banishment, - Far oftener then, bad ushering worse event, - Blood would be spilt that in his dark abode - Crime might lie better hid. And, should the change - Take from the horror due to a foul deed, 10 - Pursuit and evidence so far must fail, - And, guilt escaping, passion then might plead - In angry spirits for her old free range, - And the “wild justice of revenge”[205] prevail. - -[204] “In the eighth sonnet the doctrine, which would strive to measure -out the punishments awarded by the law in proportion to the degrees of -moral turpitude, is disavowed.” (Sir Henry Taylor.)--ED. - -[205] See Bacon’s Essay _Of Revenge_, beginning, “Revenge is a sort of -wild justice.”--ED. - - -IX - -“THOUGH TO GIVE TIMELY WARNING AND DETER” - - Though to give timely warning and deter - Is one great aim of penalty, extend - Thy mental vision further and ascend - Far higher, else full surely shalt thou err.[206] - What is a State? The wise behold in her 5 - A creature born of time, that keeps one eye - Fixed on the statutes of Eternity, - To which her judgments reverently defer. - Speaking through Law’s dispassionate voice the State - Endues her conscience with external life 10 - And being, to preclude or quell the strife - Of individual will, to elevate - The grovelling mind, the erring to recal, - And fortify the moral sense of all. - -[206] 1845. - - … thou shalt err. - - 1842. - - -X - -“OUR BODILY LIFE, SOME PLEAD, THAT LIFE THE SHRINE” - - Our bodily life, some plead, that life the shrine - Of an immortal spirit, is a gift - So sacred, so informed with light divine, - That no tribunal, though most wise to sift - Deed and intent, should turn the Being adrift 5 - Into that world where penitential tear - May not avail, nor prayer have for God’s ear - A voice--that world whose veil no hand can lift - For earthly sight. “Eternity and Time” - _They_ urge, “have interwoven claims and rights 10 - Not to be jeopardised through foulest crime: - The sentence rule by mercy’s heaven-born lights.” - Even so; but measuring not by finite sense - Infinite Power, perfect Intelligence. - - -XI[207] - -“AH, THINK HOW ONE COMPELLED FOR LIFE TO ABIDE” - - Ah, think how one compelled for life to abide - Locked in a dungeon needs must eat the heart - Out of his own humanity, and part - With every hope that mutual cares provide; - And, should a less unnatural doom confide 5 - In life-long exile on a savage coast, - Soon the relapsing penitent may boast - Of yet more heinous guilt, with fiercer pride. - Hence thoughtful Mercy, Mercy sage and pure, - Sanctions the forfeiture that Law demands, 10 - Leaving the final issue in _His_ hands - Whose goodness knows no change, whose love is sure, - Who sees, foresees; who cannot judge amiss, - And wafts at will the contrite soul to bliss. - -[207] “In the eleventh and twelfth sonnets the alternatives of -secondary punishment,--solitary imprisonment, and transportation,--are -adverted to.” (Sir Henry Taylor.)--ED. - - -XII - -“SEE THE CONDEMNED ALONE WITHIN HIS CELL” - - See the Condemned alone within his cell - And prostrate at some moment when remorse - Stings to the quick, and, with resistless force, - Assaults the pride she strove in vain to quell. - Then mark him, him who could so long rebel, 5 - The crime confessed, a kneeling Penitent - Before the Altar, where the Sacrament - Softens his heart, till from his eyes outwell - Tears of salvation. Welcome death! while Heaven - Does in this change exceedingly rejoice; 10 - While yet the solemn heed the State hath given - Helps him to meet the last Tribunal’s voice - In faith, which fresh offences, were he cast - On old temptations, might for ever blast. - - -XIII[208] - -CONCLUSION - - Yes, though He well may tremble at the sound - Of his own voice, who from the judgment-seat - Sends the pale Convict to his last retreat - In death; though Listeners shudder all around, - They know the dread requital’s source profound; 5 - Nor is, they feel, its wisdom obsolete-- - (Would that it were!) the sacrifice unmeet - For Christian Faith. But hopeful signs abound; - The social rights of man breathe purer air; - Religion deepens her preventive care; 10 - Then, moved by needless fear of past abuse, - Strike not from Law’s firm hand that awful rod, - But leave it thence to drop for lack of use: - Oh, speed the blessed hour, Almighty God! - -[208] “In the thirteenth sonnet he anticipates that a time may come -when the punishment of death will be needed no longer; but he wishes -that the disuse of it should grow out of the absence of the need, not -be imposed by legislation.” (Sir Henry Taylor.)--ED. - - -XIV - -APOLOGY - - The formal World relaxes her cold chain - For One who speaks in numbers; ampler scope - His utterance finds; and, conscious of the gain, - Imagination works with bolder hope - The cause of grateful reason to sustain; 5 - And, serving Truth, the heart more strongly beats - Against all barriers which his labour meets - In lofty place, or humble Life’s domain. - Enough;--before us lay a painful road, - And guidance have I sought in duteous love 10 - From Wisdom’s heavenly Father. Hence hath flowed - Patience, with trust that, whatsoe’er the way - Each takes in this high matter, all may move - Cheered with the prospect of a brighter day. - - 1840.[209] - -[209] In the editions of 1842, 1845, and 1850 the date “1840” follows -this poem. It may have been written in that year.--ED. - - -“MEN OF THE WESTERN WORLD! IN FATE’S DARK BOOK” - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Men of the Western World! in Fate’s dark book - Whence these opprobrious leaves of dire portent? - Think ye your British Ancestors forsook - Their native Land, for outrage provident; - From unsubmissive necks the bridle shook 5 - To give, in their Descendants, freer vent - And wider range to passions turbulent, - To mutual tyranny a deadlier look? - Nay, said a voice, soft as the south wind’s breath, - Dive through the stormy surface of the flood 10 - To the great current flowing underneath; - Explore the countless springs of silent good; - So shall the truth be better understood, - And thy grieved Spirit brighten strong in faith.[210] - -[210] These lines were written several years ago, when reports -prevailed of cruelties committed in many parts of America, by men -making a law of their own passions. A far more formidable, as being a -more deliberate mischief, has appeared among those States, which have -lately broken faith with the public creditor in a manner so infamous. -I cannot, however, but look at both evils under a similar relation to -inherent good, and hope that the time is not distant when our brethren -of the West will wipe off this stain from their name and nation. - -ADDITIONAL NOTE. - -I am happy to add that this anticipation is already partly realised; -and that the reproach addressed to the Pennsylvanians is no longer -applicable to them. I trust that those other states to which it may yet -apply will soon follow the example now set them by Philadelphia, and -redeem their credit with the world.--W.W. 1850. - -“This editorial note is on a fly-leaf at the end of the fifth volume of -the edition, which was completed only a short time before the Poet’s -death. It contains probably the last sentences composed by him for the -press. It was promptly added by him in consequence of a suggestion -from me, that the sonnet addressed “_To Pennsylvanians_” was no longer -just--a fact which is mentioned to shew that the fine sense of truth -and justice which distinguish his writings was active to the last.” -(Note to Professor Reed’s American Edition of 1851.)--ED. - - - - -1840 - -Only four poems, viz. _Poor Robin_, two sonnets referring to Miss -Gillies, and one on Haydon’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington, belong -to 1840.--ED. - - -TO A PAINTER - -Composed 1840.--Published 1842 - -[The picture which gave occasion to this and the following sonnet was -from the pencil of Miss M. Gillies, who resided for several weeks under -our roof at Rydal Mount.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - All praise the Likeness by thy skill portrayed;[211] - But ’tis a fruitless task to paint for me, - Who, yielding not to changes Time has made, - By the habitual light of memory see - Eyes unbedimmed, see bloom that cannot fade, 5 - And smiles that from their birth-place ne’er shall flee - Into the land where ghosts and phantoms be; - And, seeing this, own nothing in its stead. - Couldst thou go back into far-distant years, - Or share with me, fond thought! that inward eye,[212] 10 - Then, and then only, Painter! could thy Art - The visual powers of Nature satisfy, - Which hold, whate’er to common sight appears, - Their sovereign empire in a faithful heart. - -[211] Miss Gillies told me that she visited Rydal Mount in 1841, at the -invitation of the Wordsworths, to make a miniature portrait of the poet -on ivory, which had been commissioned by Mr. Moon, the publisher, for -the purpose of engraving. An engraving of this portrait was published -on the 6th of August 1841. The original is now in America. I think she -must have been wrong in her memory of the year, which was 1840. Miss -Gillies also told me that the Wordsworths were so pleased with what she -had done for Mr. Moon that they wished a replica for themselves, with -Mrs. Wordsworth added. She painted this; and a copy of it, subsequently -taken for Miss Quillinan, was long in her possession at Loughrigg -Holme. It now belongs to Mr. Gordon Wordsworth. It is to the portrait -of Mrs. Wordsworth that this sonnet and the next refer.--ED. - -[212] Compare the lines in vol. iii. p. 5-- - - They flash upon that inward eye - Which is the bliss of solitude. - -The fact that these two lines had been added by Mrs. Wordsworth (see -note to the poem, p. 7) was doubtless remembered by the poet, when he -wrote this sonnet suggested by her portrait.--ED. - - -ON THE SAME SUBJECT - -Composed 1840.--Published 1842 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Though I beheld at first with blank surprise - This Work, I now have gazed on it so long - I see its truth with unreluctant eyes; - O, my Belovèd! I have done thee wrong, - Conscious of blessedness, but, whence it sprung, 5 - Ever too heedless, as I now perceive: - Morn into noon did pass, noon into eve, - And the old day was welcome as the young, - As welcome, and as beautiful--in sooth - More beautiful, as being a thing more holy: 10 - Thanks to thy virtues, to the eternal youth - Of all thy goodness, never melancholy; - To thy large heart and humble mind, that cast - Into one vision, future, present, past.[213] - -[213] Compare-- - - O dearer far than light and life are dear (1824). - Let other bards of angels sing (1824). - Such age how beautiful! O Lady bright (1827). - What heavenly smiles! O Lady mine (1845). - -ED. - - -POOR ROBIN[214] - -Composed March 1840.--Published 1842 - -[I often ask myself what will become of Rydal Mount after our day. -Will the old walls and steps remain in front of the house and about -the grounds, or will they be swept away with all the beautiful mosses -and ferns and wild geraniums and other flowers which their rude -construction suffered and encouraged to grow among them?[215]--This -little wild flower--“Poor Robin”--is here constantly courting my -attention, and exciting what may be called a domestic interest with the -varying aspects of its stalks and leaves and flowers.[216] Strangely do -the tastes of men differ according to their employment and habits of -life. “What a nice well would that be,” said a labouring man to me one -day, “if all that rubbish was cleared off.” The “_rubbish_” was some of -the most beautiful mosses and lichens and ferns and other wild growths -that could possibly be seen. Defend us from the tyranny of trimness and -neatness showing itself in this way! Chatterton says of freedom--“Upon -her head wild weeds were spread,” and depend upon it if “the marvellous -boy” had undertaken to give Flora a garland, he would have preferred -what we are apt to call weeds to garden flowers. True taste has an eye -for both. Weeds have been called flowers out of place. I fear the place -most people would assign to them is too limited. Let them come near to -our abodes, as surely they may, without impropriety or disorder.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, - And lilies face the March-winds in full blow, - And humbler growths as moved with one desire - Put on, to welcome spring, their best attire, - Poor Robin is yet flowerless; but how gay 5 - With his red stalks upon this sunny day! - And, as his tufts[217] of leaves he spreads, content - With a hard bed and scanty nourishment, - Mixed with the green, some shine not lacking power - To rival summer’s brightest scarlet flower; 10 - And flowers they well might seem to passers-by - If looked at only with a careless eye; - Flowers--or a richer produce (did it suit - The season) sprinklings of ripe strawberry fruit. - But while a thousand pleasures come unsought, 15 - Why fix upon his wealth or want[218] a thought? - Is the string touched in prelude to a lay - Of pretty fancies that would round him play - When all the world acknowledged elfin sway? - Or does it suit our humour to commend 20 - Poor Robin as a sure and crafty friend, - Whose practice teaches, spite of names to show - Bright colours whether they deceive or no?-- - Nay, we would simply praise the free good-will - With which, though slighted, he, on naked hill 25 - Or in warm valley, seeks his part to fill; - Cheerful alike if bare of flowers as now, - Or when his tiny gems shall deck his brow: - Yet more, we wish that men by men despised, - And such as lift their foreheads overprized, 30 - Should sometimes think, where’er they chance to spy - This child of Nature’s own humility, - What recompense is kept in store or left - For all that seem neglected or bereft; - With what nice care equivalents are given, 35 - How just, how bountiful, the hand of Heaven. - - _March, 1840._ - -[214] The small wild Geranium known by that name.--W.W. 1842. - -[215] These things remain comparatively unaltered. Rydal Mount has -suffered little in picturesqueness since Wordsworth’s death; while the -house, and the grounds, have gained in many ways by what the present -tenant has done for them. It is impossible to keep such a place exactly -as it was left by its greatest tenant; and Mr. Crewdson has certainly -not injured, but wisely improved the place.--ED. - -[216] Compare what is said of it in the _Memoirs of Wordsworth_, by his -nephew, vol. i. p. 20.--ED. - -[217] 1849. - - … tuft - - 1842. - -[218] 1845. - - … want or wealth - - 1842. - - -ON A PORTRAIT OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON UPON THE FIELD OF WATERLOO, BY -HAYDON[219] - -Composed August 31, 1840.--Published 1842 - -[This was composed while I was ascending Helvellyn in company with my -daughter and her husband. She was on horseback, and rode to the top -of the hill without once dismounting, a feat which it was scarcely -possible to perform except during a season of dry weather; and a guide, -with whom we fell in on the mountain, told us he believed it had never -been accomplished before by any one.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets”; but first published in the “Poems -chiefly of Early and Late Years.”--ED. - - By Art’s bold privilege Warrior and War-horse stand - On ground yet strewn with their last battle’s wreck; - Let the Steed glory while his Master’s hand - Lies fixed for ages on his conscious neck; - But by the Chieftain’s look, though at his side 5 - Hangs that day’s treasured sword, how firm a check - Is given to triumph and all human pride! - Yon trophied Mound shrinks to a shadowy speck - In his calm presence! Him the mighty deed - Elates not, brought far nearer the grave’s rest, 10 - As shows that time-worn face, for he such seed - Has sown as yields, we trust, the fruit of fame - In Heaven;[220] hence no one blushes for thy name, - Conqueror, ’mid some sad thoughts, divinely blest! - -[219] Haydon worked at this picture of Wellington from June to -November, 1839. (See his Autobiography, vol. iii. pp. 108-131.) He -writes under date, Sept. 4, 1840:--“Hard at work. I heard from dear -Wordsworth, with a glorious sonnet on the Duke, and Copenhagen.† It is -very fine, and I began a new journal directly, and put in the sonnet. -God bless him.” The following is part of Wordsworth’s letter:-- - -“MY DEAR HAYDON,--We are all charmed with your etching. It is both -poetically and pictorially conceived, and finely executed. I should -have written immediately to thank you for it, and for your letter -and the enclosed one, which is interesting, but I wished to gratify -you by writing a sonnet. I now send it, but with an earnest request -that it may not be put into circulation for some little time, as it -is warm from the brain, and may require, in consequence, some little -retouching. It has this, at least, remarkable attached to it, which -will add to its value in your eyes, that it was actually composed while -I was climbing Helvellyn last Monday.”--ED. - - † Wellington’s war-horse.--ED. - -[220] 1842. - - … Since the mighty deed - Him years have brought far nearer the grave’s rest, - He shows that face time-worn. But he such seed - Has sowed that bears, we trust, the fruit of fame - In Heaven.… - - From a copy sent to Haydon. - - - - -1841 - - -EPITAPH - -IN THE CHAPEL-YARD OF LANGDALE, WESTMORELAND - -Composed 1841.--Published 1842 - -[OWEN LLOYD, the subject of this epitaph, was born at Old Brathay, -near Ambleside, and was the son of Charles Lloyd and his wife Sophia -(_née_ Pemberton), both of Birmingham, who came to reside in this part -of the country, soon after their marriage. They had many children, -both sons and daughters, of whom the most remarkable was the subject -of this epitaph. He was educated under Mr. Dawes, at Ambleside, Dr. -Butler, of Shrewsbury, and lastly at Trinity College, Cambridge, where -he would have been greatly distinguished as a scholar but for inherited -infirmities of bodily constitution, which, from early childhood, -affected his mind. His love for the neighbourhood in which he was -born, and his sympathy with the habits and characters of the mountain -yeomanry, in conjunction with irregular spirits, that unfitted him for -facing duties in situations to which he was unaccustomed, induced him -to accept the retired curacy of Langdale. How much he was beloved and -honoured there, and with what feelings he discharged his duty under the -oppression of severe malady, is set forth, though imperfectly, in the -epitaph.--I.F.] - -One of the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”--ED. - - By playful smiles, (alas! too oft - A sad heart’s sunshine) by a soft - And gentle nature, and a free - Yet modest hand of charity, - Through life was OWEN LLOYD endeared 5 - To young and old; and how revered - Had been that pious spirit, a tide - Of humble mourners testified, - When, after pains dispensed to prove - The measure of God’s chastening love, 10 - Here, brought from far, his corse found rest,-- - Fulfilment of his own request;-- - Urged less for this Yew’s shade, though he - Planted with such fond hope the tree; - Less for the love of stream and rock, 15 - Dear as they were, than that his Flock, - When they no more their Pastor’s voice - Could hear to guide them in their choice - Through good and evil, help might have, - Admonished, from his silent grave, 20 - Of righteousness, of sins forgiven, - For peace on earth and bliss in heaven. - -This commemorative epitaph to the Rev. Owen Lloyd--the friend of -Hartley Coleridge and of Faber--is carved on the headstone over his -grave in the churchyard at the small hamlet of Chapel Stile, Great -Langdale, Westmoreland. The stone also carries the inscription, “To -the memory of Owen Lloyd, M.A., nearly twelve years incumbent of this -chapel. Born at Old Brathay, March 31, 1803, died at Manchester, April -18, 1841, aged 38.” See a letter of Wordsworth’s referring to Lloyd -amongst his letters in a subsequent volume. In a previous edition I -erred by giving this poem an earlier date. Professor Dowden has shown -the true one conclusively. - -Writing from Rydal on 11th August 1841, to his brother Christopher, -Wordsworth said, “I send you with the last corrections an epitaph which -I have just written for poor Owen Lloyd. His brother Edward forwarded -for my perusal some verses which he had composed with a view to that -object; but he expressed a wish that I would compose something myself. -Not approving Edward’s lines altogether, though the sentiments were -sufficiently appropriate, I sent him what I now forward to you, or -rather the substance of it, for something has been added, and some -change of expression introduced. I hope you will approve of it. I find -no fault with it myself, the circumstances considered, except that it -is too long for an Epitaph, but this was inevitable if the memorial was -to be as conspicuous as the subject required, at least according to the -light in which it offered itself to my mind.”--ED. - - - - -1842 - -The poems of 1842 include _The Floating Island_, _The Norman Boy_, _The -Poet’s Dream_, _Airey-Force Valley_, the lines _To the Clouds_, and a -number of miscellaneous sonnets.--ED. - - -“INTENT ON GATHERING WOOL FROM HEDGE AND BRAKE” - -Composed 8th March 1842.--Published 1842 - -[Suggested by a conversation with Miss Fenwick, who along with her -sister had, during their childhood, found much delight in such -gatherings for the purposes here alluded to.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Intent on gathering wool from hedge and brake - Yon busy Little-ones rejoice that soon - A poor old Dame will bless them for the boon: - Great is their glee while flake they add to flake - With rival earnestness; far other strife 5 - Than will hereafter move them, if they make - Pastime their idol, give their day of life - To pleasure snatched for reckless pleasure’s sake. - Can pomp and show allay one heart-born grief? - Pains which the World inflicts can she requite? 10 - Not for an interval however brief; - The silent thoughts that search for stedfast light, - Love from her depths,[221] and Duty in her might, - And Faith--these only yield secure relief. - - _March 8th, 1842._ - -[221] 1845. - - Love from on high, … - - 1842. - - -PRELUDE, - -PREFIXED TO THE VOLUME ENTITLED “POEMS CHIEFLY OF EARLY AND LATE YEARS” - -Composed March 26, 1842.--Published 1842 - -[These verses were begun while I was on a visit to my son John at -Brigham, and were finished at Rydal. As the contents of the volume, -to which they are now prefixed, will be assigned to their respective -classes when my poems shall be collected in one volume, I should be at -a loss where with propriety to place this prelude, being too restricted -in its bearing to serve for a preface for the whole. The lines towards -the conclusion allude to the discontents then fomented through the -country by the agitators of the Anti-Corn-Law League: the particular -causes of such troubles are transitory, but disposition to excite and -liability to be excited are nevertheless permanent, and therefore -proper objects for the poet’s regard.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - In desultory walk through orchard grounds, - Or some deep chestnut grove, oft have I paused - The while a Thrush, urged rather than restrained - By gusts of vernal storm, attuned his song - To his own genial instincts; and was heard 5 - (Though not without some plaintive tones between) - To utter, above showers of blossom swept - From tossing boughs, the promise of a calm, - Which the unsheltered traveller might receive - With thankful spirit. The descant, and the wind 10 - That seemed to play with it in love or scorn, - Encouraged and endeared the strain of words - That haply flowed from me, by fits of silence - Impelled to livelier pace. But now, my Book! - Charged with those lays, and others of like mood, 15 - Or loftier pitch if higher rose the theme, - Go, single--yet aspiring to be joined - With thy Forerunners that through many a year - Have faithfully prepared each other’s way-- - Go forth upon a mission best fulfilled 20 - When and wherever, in this changeful world, - Power hath been given to please for higher ends - Than pleasure only; gladdening to prepare - For wholesome sadness, troubling to refine, - Calming to raise; and, by a sapient Art 25 - Diffused through all the mysteries of our Being, - Softening the toils and pains that have not ceased - To cast their shadows on our mother Earth - Since the primeval doom. Such is the grace - Which, though unsued for, fails not to descend 30 - With heavenly inspiration; such the aim - That Reason dictates; and, as even the wish - Has virtue in it, why should hope to me - Be wanting that sometimes, where fancied ills - Harass the mind and strip from off the bowers 35 - Of private life their natural pleasantness, - A Voice--devoted to the love whose seeds - Are sown in every human breast, to beauty - Lodged within compass of the humblest sight, - To cheerful intercourse with wood and field, 40 - And sympathy with man’s substantial griefs-- - Will not be heard in vain? And in those days - When unforeseen distress spreads far and wide - Among a People mournfully cast down, - Or into anger roused by venal words 45 - In recklessness flung out to overturn - The judgment, and divert the general heart - From mutual good--some strain of thine, my Book! - Caught at propitious intervals, may win - Listeners who not unwillingly admit 50 - Kindly emotion tending to console - And reconcile; and both with young and old - Exalt the sense of thoughtful gratitude - For benefits that still survive, by faith - In progress, under laws divine, maintained. 55 - -RYDAL MOUNT, _March 26, 1842_. - - -FLOATING ISLAND - -Published 1842 - -These lines are by the Author of the _Address to the Wind_, etc., -published heretofore along with my Poems. Those to a Redbreast are by a -deceased female Relative.--W.W. 1842. - -[My poor sister takes a pleasure in repeating these verses, which she -composed not long before the beginning of her sad illness.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - Harmonious Powers with Nature work - On sky, earth, river, lake, and sea; - Sunshine and cloud, whirlwind and breeze, - All in one duteous task agree. - - Once did I see a slip of earth 5 - (By throbbing waves long undermined) - Loosed from its hold; how, no one knew, - But all might see it float, obedient to the wind; - - Might see it, from the mossy shore - Dissevered, float upon the Lake, 10 - Float with its crest of trees adorned - On which the warbling birds their pastime take. - - Food, shelter, safety, there they find; - There berries ripen, flowerets bloom; - There insects live their lives, and die; 15 - A peopled world it is; in size a tiny room. - - And thus through many seasons’ space - This little Island may survive; - But Nature, though we mark her not, - Will take away, may cease to give. 20 - - Perchance when you are wandering forth - Upon some vacant sunny day, - Without an object, hope, or fear, - Thither your eyes may turn--the Isle is passed away; - - Buried beneath the glittering Lake, 25 - Its place no longer to be found; - Yet the lost fragments shall remain - To fertilize some other ground. - - D. W. - -There is one of these floating islands in Loch Lomond in Argyll, -another in Loch Dochart in Perthshire, and another in Loch Treig -in Inverness. Their origin is probably due to a mass of peat being -detached from the shore, and floated out into the lake. A mass of -vegetable matter, however, has sometimes risen from the bottom of the -water, and assumed for a time all the appearance of an island. This -has been probably due to an accumulation of gas, within or under the -detached portion, produced by the decay of vegetation in extremely hot -weather. - -Southey, in an unpublished letter to Sir George Beaumont (10th July -1824), thus describes the Island at Derwentwater: “You will have seen -by the papers that the Floating Island has made its appearance. It -sank again last week, when some heavy rains had raised the lake four -feet. By good fortune Professor Sedgewick happened to be in Keswick, -and examined it in time. Where he probed it a thin layer of mud lies -upon a bed of peat, which is six feet thick, and this rests upon a -stratum of fine white clay,--the same I believe which Miss Barker -found in Borrowdale when building her unlucky house. Where the gas is -generated remains yet to be discovered, but when the peat is filled -with this gas, it separates from the clay and becomes buoyant. There -must have been a considerable convulsion when this took place, for a -rent was made in the bottom of the lake, several feet in depth, and -not less than fifty yards long, on each side of which the bottom rose -and floated. It was a pretty sight to see the small fry exploring this -new made strait and darting at the bubbles which rose as the Professor -was probing the bank. The discharge of air was considerable here, when -a pole was thrust down. But at some distance where the rent did not -extend, the bottom had been heaved up in a slight convexity, sloping -equally in an inclined plane all round: and there, when the pole was -introduced, a rush like a jet followed, as it was withdrawn. The thing -is the more curious, because as yet no example of it is known to have -been observed in any other place.” - -Another of these detached islands used to float about in Esthwaite -Water, and was carried from side to side of the pool at the north end -of the lake--the same pool which the swans, described in _The Prelude_, -used to frequent. This island had a few bushes on it: but it became -stranded some time ago. One of the old natives of Hawkeshead described -the process of trying to float it off again, by tying ropes to the -bushes on its surface,--an experiment which was unsuccessful. Compare -the reference to the Floating or “Buoyant” Island of Derwentwater, and -to the “mossy islet” of Esthwaite, in Wordsworth’s _Guide through the -District of the Lakes_.--ED. - - -“THE CRESCENT-MOON, THE STAR OF LOVE” - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--Ed. - - The Crescent-moon, the Star of Love, - Glories of evening, as ye there are seen - With but a span of sky between-- - Speak one of you, my doubts remove, - Which is the attendant Page and which the Queen? - - -“_A POET!_--HE HATH PUT HIS HEART TO SCHOOL” - -Published 1842 - -[I was impelled to write this Sonnet by the disgusting frequency with -which the word _artistical_, imported with other impertinences from the -Germans, is employed by writers of the present day: for artistical -let them substitute artificial, and the poetry written on this system, -both at home and abroad, will be for the most part much better -characterised.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - _A Poet!_--He hath put his heart to school, - Nor dares to move unpropped upon the staff - Which Art hath lodged within his hand--must laugh - By precept only, and shed tears by rule. - Thy Art be Nature; the live current quaff, 5 - And let the groveller sip his stagnant pool, - In fear that else, when Critics grave and cool - Have killed him, Scorn should write his epitaph.[222] - How does the Meadow-flower its bloom unfold? - Because the lovely little flower is free 10 - Down to its root, and, in that freedom, bold; - And so the grandeur of the Forest-tree - Comes not by casting in a formal mould, - But from its _own_ divine vitality. - -[222] Compare _A Poet’s Epitaph_ (vol. ii. p. 75).--ED. - - -“THE MOST ALLURING CLOUDS THAT MOUNT THE SKY” - -Published 1842 - -[Hundreds of times have I seen, hanging about and above the vale -of Rydal, clouds that might have given birth to this sonnet, which -was thrown off on the impulse of the moment one evening when I was -returning from the favourite walk of ours, along the Rotha, under -Loughrigg.--I.F.] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - The most alluring clouds that mount the sky - Owe to a troubled element their forms, - Their hues to sunset. If with raptured eye - We watch their splendour, shall we covet storms, - And wish the Lord of day his slow decline 5 - Would hasten, that such pomp may float on high? - Behold, already they forget to shine, - Dissolve--and leave to him who gazed a sigh. - Not loth to thank each moment for its boon - Of pure delight, come whensoe’er[223] it may, 10 - Peace let us seek,--to stedfast things attune - Calm expectations, leaving to the gay - And volatile their love of transient bowers, - The house that cannot pass away be ours.[224] - -[223] 1849 - - … whencesoe’er … - - 1842. - -[224] Compare _To the Clouds_, I. 94, p. 145.--ED. - - -“FEEL FOR THE WRONGS TO UNIVERSAL KEN” - -Published 1842 - -[This Sonnet is recommended to the perusal of those who consider that -the evils under which we groan are to be removed or palliated by -measures ungoverned by moral and religious principles.--I.F.] - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Feel for the wrongs to universal ken - Daily exposed, woe that unshrouded lies; - And seek the Sufferer in his darkest den, - Whether conducted to the spot by sighs - And moanings, or he dwells (as if the wren 5 - Taught him concealment) hidden from all eyes - In silence and the awful modesties - Of sorrow;--feel for all, as brother Men! - Rest not in hope want’s icy chain to thaw - By casual boons and formal charities;[225] 10 - Learn to be just, just through impartial law; - Far as ye may, erect and equalise; - And, what ye cannot reach by statute, draw - Each from his fountain of self-sacrifice! - -[225] 1845. - - … Men!-- - Feel for the Poor,--but not to still your qualms - By formal charity or dole of alms; - Learn … - - 1842. - - -IN ALLUSION TO VARIOUS RECENT HISTORIES AND NOTICES OF THE FRENCH -REVOLUTION - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Portentous change when History can appear - As the cool Advocate of foul device;[226] - Reckless audacity extol, and jeer - At consciences perplexed with scruples nice! - They who bewail not, must abhor, the sneer 5 - Born of Conceit, Power’s blind Idolater; - Or haply sprung from vaunting Cowardice - Betrayed by mockery of holy fear. - Hath it not long been said the wrath of Man - Works not the righteousness of God? Oh bend, 10 - Bend, ye Perverse! to judgments from on High, - Laws that lay under Heaven’s perpetual ban - All principles of action that transcend - The sacred limits of humanity. - -[226] Wordsworth wrote this sonnet against Carlyle’s _French -Revolution_ in particular. Carlyle knew it, and this may in -part--although only in part--account for Carlyle’s indifference to -Wordsworth.--ED. - - -CONTINUED - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Who ponders National events shall find - An awful balancing of loss and gain, - Joy based on sorrow, good with ill combined, - And proud deliverance issuing out of pain - And direful throes; as if the All-ruling Mind, 5 - With whose perfection it consists to ordain - Volcanic burst, earthquake, and hurricane, - Dealt in like sort with feeble human kind - By laws immutable. But woe for him - Who thus deceived shall lend an eager hand 10 - To social havoc. Is not Conscience ours, - And Truth, whose eye guilt only can make dim; - And Will, whose office, by divine command, - Is to control and check disordered Powers? - - -CONCLUDED - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Long-favoured England! be not thou misled - By monstrous theories of alien growth, - Lest alien frenzy seize thee, waxing wroth, - Self-smitten till thy garments reek dyed red - With thy own blood, which tears in torrents shed 5 - Fail to wash out, tears flowing ere thy troth - Be plighted, not to ease but sullen sloth, - Or wan despair--the ghost of false hope fled - Into a shameful grave. Among thy youth, - My Country! if such warning be held dear, 10 - Then shall a Veteran’s heart be thrilled with joy, - One who would gather from eternal truth, - For time and season, rules that work to cheer-- - Not scourge, to save the People--not destroy. - - -“LO! WHERE SHE STANDS FIXED IN A SAINT-LIKE TRANCE” - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Lo! where she stands fixed in a saint-like trance, - One upward hand, as if she needed rest - From rapture, lying softly on her breast! - Nor wants her eyeball an ethereal glance; - But not the less--nay more--that countenance, 5 - While thus illumined, tells of painful strife - For a sick heart made weary of this life - By love, long crossed with adverse circumstance. - --Would She were now as when she hoped to pass - At God’s appointed hour to them who tread 10 - Heaven’s sapphire pavement, yet breathed well content, - Well pleased, her foot should print earth’s common grass, - Lived thankful for day’s light, for daily bread, - For health, and time in obvious duty spent. - - -THE NORMAN BOY - -Published 1842 - -[The subject of this poem was sent me by Mrs. Ogle, to whom I was -personally unknown, with a hope on her part that I might be induced -to relate the incident in verse; and I do not regret that I took the -trouble, for not improbably the fact is illustrative of the boy’s -early piety, and may concur with my other little pieces on children -to produce profitable reflection among my youthful readers. This is -said, however, with an absolute conviction that children will derive -most benefit from books which are not unworthy the perusal of persons -of any age. I protest with all my heart against those productions, so -abundant in the present day, in which the doings of children are dwelt -upon as if they were incapable of being interested in anything else. On -this subject I have dwelt at length in the poem on the growth of my own -mind.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems referring to the Period of Childhood.”--ED. - - High on a broad unfertile tract of forest-skirted Down, - Nor kept by Nature for herself, nor made by man his own, - From home and company remote and every playful joy, - Served, tending a few sheep and goats, a ragged Norman boy. - - Him never saw I, nor the spot; but from an English Dame, 5 - Stranger to me and yet my friend, a simple notice came, - With suit that I would speak in verse of that sequestered child - Whom, one bleak winter’s day, she met upon the dreary Wild. - - His flock, along the woodland’s edge with relics sprinkled o’er - Of last night’s snow, beneath a sky threatening the fall of more, 10 - Where tufts of herbage tempted each, were busy at their feed, - And the poor Boy was busier still, with work of anxious heed. - - There _was_ he, where of branches rent and withered and decayed, - For covert from the keen north wind, his hands a hut had made. - A tiny tenement, forsooth, and frail, as needs must be 15 - A thing of such materials framed, by a builder such as he. - - The hut stood finished by his pains, nor seemingly lacked aught - That skill or means of his could add, but the architect had wrought - Some limber twigs into a Cross, well-shaped with fingers nice, - To be engrafted on the top of his small edifice. 20 - - That Cross he now was fastening there, as the surest power and best - For supplying all deficiencies, all wants of the rude nest - In which, from burning heat, or tempest driving far and wide, - The innocent Boy, else shelterless, his lonely head must hide. - - That Cross belike he also raised as a standard for the true 25 - And faithful service of his heart in the worst that might ensue - Of hardship and distressful fear, amid the houseless waste - Where he, in his poor self so weak, by Providence was placed. - - ----Here, Lady! might I cease; but nay, let _us_ before we part - With this dear holy shepherd-boy breathe a prayer of earnest heart, 30 - That unto him, where’er shall lie his life’s appointed way, - The Cross, fixed in his soul, may prove an all-sufficing stay. - - -THE POET’S DREAM[227] - -SEQUEL TO THE NORMAN BOY - -Published 1842 - -One of the “Poems referring to the Period of Childhood.”--ED. - - Just as those final words were penned, the sun broke out in power, - And gladdened all things; but, as chanced, within that very hour, - Air blackened, thunder growled, fire flashed from clouds that hid - the sky, - And, for the Subject of my Verse, I heaved a pensive sigh. - - Nor could my heart by second thoughts from heaviness be cleared, 5 - For bodied forth before my eyes the cross-crowned hut appeared; - And, while around it storm as fierce seemed troubling earth - and air, - I saw, within, the Norman Boy kneeling alone in prayer. - - The Child, as if the thunder’s voice spake with articulate call, - Bowed meekly in submissive fear, before the Lord of All; 10 - His lips were moving; and his eyes, upraised to sue for grace, - With soft illumination cheered the dimness of that place. - - How beautiful is holiness!--what wonder if the sight, - Almost as vivid as a dream, produced a dream at night? - It came with sleep and showed the Boy, no cherub, not transformed, 15 - But the poor ragged Thing whose ways my human heart had warmed. - - Me had the dream equipped with wings, so I took him in my arms, - And lifted from the grassy floor, stilling his faint alarms, - And bore him high through yielding air my debt of love to pay, - By giving him, for both our sakes, an hour of holiday. 20 - - I whispered, “Yet a little while, dear Child! thou art my own, - To show thee some delightful thing, in country or in town. - What shall it be? a mirthful throng? or that holy place and calm - St. Denis, filled with royal tombs,[228] or the Church of Notre - Dame?[229] - - “St. Ouen’s golden Shrine?[230] Or choose what else would please - thee most 25 - Of any wonder Normandy, or all proud France, can boast!” - “My Mother,” said the Boy, “was born near to a blessèd Tree, - The Chapel Oak of Allonville;[231] good Angel, show it me!” - - On wings, from broad and stedfast poise let loose by this reply, - For Allonville, o’er down and dale, away then did we fly; 30 - O’er town and tower we flew, and fields in May’s fresh verdure - drest; - The wings they did not flag; the Child, though grave, was not - deprest. - - But who shall show, to waking sense, the gleam of light that - broke - Forth from his eyes, when first the Boy looked down on that - huge oak, - For length of days so much revered, so famous where it stands 35 - For twofold hallowing--Nature’s care, and work of human hands? - - Strong as an Eagle with my charge I glided round and round - The wide-spread boughs, for view of door, window, and stair that - wound - Gracefully up the gnarled trunk; nor left we unsurveyed - The pointed steeple peering forth from the centre of the shade. 40 - - I lighted--opened with soft touch the chapel’s iron door,[232] - Past softly, leading in the Boy; and, while from roof to floor - From floor to roof all round his eyes the Child with wonder - cast,[233] - Pleasure on pleasure crowded in, each livelier than the last. - - For, deftly framed within the trunk, the[234] sanctuary showed, 45 - By light of lamp and precious stones, that glimmered here, there - glowed, - Shrine, Altar, Image, Offerings hung in sign of gratitude; - Sight that inspired accordant thoughts; and speech[235] I thus - renewed: - - “Hither the Afflicted come, as thou hast heard thy Mother say, - And, kneeling, supplication make to our Lady de la Paix;[236] 50 - What mournful sighs have here been heard, and, when the voice was - stopt - By sudden pangs; what bitter tears have on this pavement dropt! - - “Poor Shepherd of the naked Down, a favoured lot is thine, - Far happier lot, dear Boy, than brings full many to this shrine; - From body pains and pains of soul thou needest no release, 55 - Thy hours as they flow on are spent, if not in joy, in peace. - - “Then offer up thy heart to God in thankfulness and praise, - Give to Him prayers, and many thoughts, in thy most busy days; - And in His sight the fragile Cross, on thy small hut, will be - Holy as that which long hath crowned the Chapel of this Tree; 60 - - “Holy as that far seen which crowns the sumptuous Church in Rome - Where thousands meet to worship God under a mighty Dome;[237] - He sees the bending multitude, He hears the choral rites, - Yet not the less, in children’s hymns and lonely prayer, delights. - - “God for His service needeth not proud work of human skill; 65 - They please Him best who labour most to do in peace His will: - So let us strive to live, and to our Spirits will be given - Such wings as, when our Saviour calls, shall bear us up to heaven.” - - The Boy no answer made by words, but, so earnest was his look, - Sleep fled, and with it fled the dream--recorded in this book, 70 - Lest all that passed should melt away in silence from my mind, - As visions still more bright have done, and left no trace behind. - - But oh! that Country-man of thine, whose eye, loved Child, can see - A pledge of endless bliss in acts of early piety, - In verse, which to thy ear might come, would treat this simple - theme, 75 - Nor leave untold our happy flight in that adventurous dream.[238] - - Alas the dream,[239] to thee, poor Boy! to thee from whom it flowed, - Was nothing, scarcely can be aught, yet ’twas[240] bounteously - bestowed, - If I may dare to cherish hope that gentle eyes will read - Not loth, and listening Little-ones, heart-touched, their fancies - feed. 80 - -[227] 1845. - -The title in 1842 was “SEQUEL TO THE NORMAN BOY.” - -[228] The Abbey Church of St. Denis, to the north of Paris,--one of the -finest specimens of French Gothic,--was the burial-place of the French -Kings for many generations.--ED. - -[229] In Paris.--ED. - -[230] The Church of St. Ouen, in Rouen, is the most perfect edifice of -its kind in Europe.--ED. - -[231] “Among ancient Trees there are few, I believe, at least in -France, so worthy of attention as an Oak which may be seen in the ‘Pays -de Caux,’ about a league from Yvetot, close to the church, and in the -burial-ground of Allonville. - -The height of this Tree does not answer to its girth; the trunk, from -the roots to the summit, forms a complete cone; and the inside of this -cone is hollow throughout the whole of its height. - -Such is the Oak of Allonville, in its state of nature. The hand of Man, -however, has endeavoured to impress upon it a character still more -interesting, by adding a religious feeling to the respect which its age -naturally inspires. - -The lower part of its hollow trunk has been transformed into a Chapel -of six or seven feet in diameter, carefully wainscotted and paved, and -an open iron gate guards the humble Sanctuary. - -Leading to it there is a staircase, which twists round the body of the -Tree. At certain seasons of the year divine service is performed in -this Chapel. - -The summit has been broken off many years, but there is a surface at -the top of the trunk, of the diameter of a very large tree, and from it -rises a pointed roof, covered with slates, in the form of a steeple, -which is surmounted with an iron Cross, that rises in a picturesque -manner from the middle of the leaves, like an ancient Hermitage above -the surrounding Wood. - -Over the entrance to the Chapel an Inscription appears, which informs -us it was erected by the Abbé du Détroit, Curate of Allonville, in the -year 1696; and over a door is another, dedicating it ‘To Our Lady of -Peace.’”--Vide 14 _No. Saturday Magazine_.--W.W. 1842. - -[232] 1845. - - … touch a grated iron door, - - 1842. - -[233] 1845. - - … his eyes the wondering creature cast, - - 1842. - -[234] 1845. - - … a … - - 1842. - -[235] 1845. - - And swift as lightning went the time, ere speech - - 1842. - -[236] See note, p. 137.--ED. - -[237] St. Peter’s Church.--ED. - -[238] This stanza was added in the edition of 1845. - -[239] 1845. - - And though the dream, … - - 1842. - -[240] 1845. - - Was nothing, nor e’er can be aught, ’twas … - - 1842. - - -SUGGESTED BY A PICTURE OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE - -Published 1842 - -[This subject has been treated of in another note. I will here only, by -way of comment, direct attention to the fact, that pictures of animals -and other productions of Nature, as seen in conservatories, menageries, -and museums, etc., would do little for the national mind, nay, they -would be rather injurious to it, if the imagination were excluded by -the presence of the object, more or less out of a state of Nature. If -it were not that we learn to talk and think of the lion and the eagle, -the palm-tree, and even the cedar, from the impassioned introduction of -them so frequently into Holy Scripture, and by great poets, and divines -who wrote as poets, the spiritual part of our nature, and therefore -the higher part of it, would derive no benefit from such intercourse -with such subjects.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems of the Imagination.”--ED. - - The gentlest Poet, with free thoughts endowed, - And a true master of the glowing strain, - Might scan the narrow province with disdain - That to the Painter’s skill is here allowed. - This, this the Bird of Paradise! disclaim 5 - The daring thought, forget the name; - This the Sun’s Bird, whom Glendoveers might own - As no unworthy Partner in their flight - Through seas of ether, where the ruffling sway - Of nether air’s rude billows is unknown; 10 - Whom Sylphs, if e’er for casual pastime they - Through India’s spicy regions wing their way, - Might bow to as their Lord. What character, - O sovereign Nature! I appeal to thee, - Of all thy feathered progeny 15 - Is so unearthly, and what shape so fair? - So richly decked in variegated down, - Green, sable, shining yellow, shadowy brown, - Tints softly with each other blended, - Hues doubtfully begun and ended; 20 - Or intershooting, and to sight - Lost and recovered, as the rays of light - Glance on the conscious plumes touched here and there? - Full surely, when with such proud gifts of life - Began the pencil’s strife, 25 - O’erweening Art was caught as in a snare. - - A sense of seemingly presumptuous wrong - Gave the first impulse to the Poet’s song; - But, of his scorn repenting soon, he drew - A juster judgment from a calmer view; 30 - And, with a spirit freed from discontent, - Thankfully took an effort that was meant - Not with God’s bounty, Nature’s love, to vie, - Or made with hope to please that inward eye - Which ever strives in vain itself to satisfy, 35 - But to recal the truth by some faint trace - Of power ethereal and celestial grace, - That in the living Creature find on earth a place. - - -TO THE CLOUDS[241] - -Published 1842 - -[These verses were suggested while I was walking on the foot-road -between Rydal Mount and Grasmere. The clouds were driving over the top -of Nab-Scar across the vale: they set my thoughts a-going, and the rest -followed almost immediately.--I.F.] - -First published (1842) in “Poems chiefly of Early and Late Years,” -afterwards included in the “Poems of the Imagination.”--ED. - - Army of Clouds! ye wingèd Host in troops - Ascending from behind the motionless brow - Of that tall rock,[242] as from a hidden world, - O whither with[243] such eagerness of speed? - What seek ye, or what shun ye? of the gale[244] 5 - Companions, fear ye to be left behind, - Or racing o’er[245] your blue ethereal field - Contend ye with each other? of the sea - Children, thus post ye over vale and height[246] - To sink upon your mother’s lap--and rest?[247] 10 - Or were ye rightlier hailed, when first mine eyes - Beheld in your impetuous march the likeness - Of a wide army pressing on to meet - Or overtake some unknown enemy?-- - But your smooth motions suit a peaceful aim; 15 - And Fancy, not less aptly pleased, compares - Your squadrons to an endless flight of birds - Aerial, upon due migration bound - To milder climes; or rather do ye urge - In caravan your hasty pilgrimage 20 - To pause at last on more aspiring heights - Than these,[248] and utter your devotion there - With thunderous voice? Or are ye jubilant, - And would ye, tracking your proud lord the Sun, - Be present at his setting; or the pomp 25 - Of Persian mornings would ye fill, and stand - Poising your splendours high above the heads - Of worshippers kneeling to their up-risen God? - Whence, whence, ye Clouds! this eagerness of speed? - Speak, silent creatures.--They are gone, are fled, 30 - Buried together in yon gloomy mass - That loads the middle heaven; and clear and bright - And vacant doth the region which they thronged - Appear; a calm descent of sky conducting - Down to the unapproachable abyss, 35 - Down to that hidden gulf from which they rose - To vanish--fleet as days and months and years, - Fleet as the generations of mankind, - Power, glory, empire, as the world itself, - The lingering world, when time hath ceased to be. 40 - But the winds roar, shaking the rooted trees, - And see! a bright precursor to a train - Perchance as numerous, overpeers the rock - That sullenly refuses to partake - Of the wild impulse. From a fount of life 45 - Invisible, the long procession moves - Luminous or gloomy, welcome to the vale - Which they are entering, welcome to mine eye - That sees them, to my soul that owns in them, - And in the bosom of the firmament 50 - O’er which they move, wherein they are contained, - A type of her capacious self and all - Her restless progeny. - - A humble walk - Here is my body doomed to tread, this path, - A little hoary line and faintly traced,[249] 55 - Work, shall we call it, of the shepherd’s foot - Or of his flock?--joint vestige of them both. - I pace it unrepining, for my thoughts - Admit no bondage and my words have wings. - Where is the Orphean lyre, or Druid harp, 60 - To accompany the verse? The mountain blast - Shall be our _hand_ of music; he shall sweep - The rocks, and quivering trees, and billowy lake, - And search the fibres of the caves, and they - Shall answer, for our song is of the Clouds 65 - And the wind loves them; and the gentle gales-- - Which by their aid re-clothe the naked lawn - With annual verdure, and revive the woods, - And moisten the parched lips of thirsty flowers-- - Love them; and every idle breeze of air 70 - Bends to the favourite burthen. Moon and stars - Keep their most solemn vigils when the Clouds - Watch also, shifting peaceably their place - Like bands of ministering Spirits, or when they lie, - As if some Protean art the change had wrought, 75 - In listless quiet o’er the ethereal deep - Scattered, a Cyclades[250] of various shapes - And all degrees of beauty. O ye Lightnings! - Ye are their perilous offspring;[251] and the Sun-- - Source inexhaustible of life and joy, 80 - And type of man’s far-darting reason, therefore - In old time worshipped as the god of verse,[252] - A blazing intellectual deity-- - Loves his own glory in their looks, and showers - Upon that unsubstantial brotherhood 85 - Visions with all but beatific light - Enriched--too transient were they not renewed - From age to age, and did not, while we gaze - In silent rapture, credulous desire - Nourish the hope that memory lacks not power 90 - To keep the treasure unimpaired. Vain thought! - Yet why repine, created as we are - For joy and rest, albeit to find them only - Lodged in the bosom of eternal things? - -[241] The title in the edition of 1842 was _Address to the Clouds_.--ED. - -[242] See the Fenwick note and compare Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere -Journal, 31st January 1802.--ED. - -[243] 1842. - - … in … - - MS. - -[244] 1842. - - … wind - - MS. - -[245] 1842. - - … on … - - MS. - -[246] 1842. - - … over dale and mountain height - - MS. - -[247] 1842. - - … mother’s joyous lap? - - MS. - -[248] 1842. - - Or come ye as I hailed you first, a Flight - Aerial, on a due migration bound, - Embodied travellers not blindly led - To milder climes; or rather do ye urge - Your Caravan, your hasty pilgrimage - With hope to pause at last upon the top - Of some remoter mountains more beloved - Than these, … - - MS. - -[249] Compare, in the “Poems on the Naming of Places” (1805), the lines -beginning, “When, to the attractions of the busy world,” l. 48-- - - A hoary pathway traced between the trees. - -ED. - -[250] The fifty-three small islands in the Ægean surrounding Delos, as -with a circle (κύκλος)--hence the name.--ED. - -[251] Compare Coleridge’s _Hymn before Sunrise in the Vale of -Chamouni_-- - - Ye lightnings, the dread arrows of the clouds! - -ED. - -[252] Sol = Phoebus = Apollo.--ED. - - -AIREY-FORCE VALLEY - -Published 1842 - -First published (1842) in “Poems, chiefly of Early and Late Years.” -Afterwards one of the “Poems of the Imagination.”--ED. - - ----Not a breath of air - Ruffles the bosom of this leafy glen. - From the brook’s margin, wide around, the trees - Are stedfast as the rocks; the brook itself, - Old as the hills that feed it from afar, 5 - Doth rather deepen than disturb the calm - Where all things else are still and motionless. - And yet, even now, a little breeze, perchance - Escaped from boisterous winds that rage without, - Has entered, by the sturdy oaks unfelt, 10 - But to its gentle touch how sensitive - Is the light ash! that, pendent from the brow - Of yon dim cave,[253] in seeming silence makes - A soft eye-music of slow-waving boughs, - Powerful almost as vocal harmony 15 - To stay the wanderer’s steps and soothe his thoughts. - -The Aira beck rises on the slopes of Great Dodd, passes Dockray, and -enters Ullswater between Glencoin Park and Gowbarrow Park, about two -miles from the head of the lake. The Force is quite near to _Lyulph’s -Tower_, where the stream has a fall of about eighty feet. Compare the -reference to it in _The Somnambulist_ (1833), and Wordsworth’s account -of “Aira-Force,” in his _Guide through the District of the Lakes_, -“Here is a powerful Brook, which dashes among rocks through a deep -glen, hung on every side with a rich and happy intermixture of native -wood; here are beds of luxuriant fern, aged hawthorns and hollies -decked with honeysuckles; and fallow deer glancing and bounding over -the lawns and through the thickets.”--ED. - -[253] An ash-tree may still be seen at Aira-Force.--ED. - - -“LYRE! THOUGH SUCH POWER DO IN THY MAGIC LIVE” - -Composed 1842 (or earlier).--Published 1842 - -One of the “Poems of the Imagination.”--ED. - - Lyre! though such power do in thy magic live - As might from India’s farthest plain - Recal the not unwilling Maid, - Assist me to detain - The lovely Fugitive: 5 - Check with thy notes the impulse which, betrayed - By her sweet farewell looks, I longed to aid. - Here let me gaze enrapt upon that eye, - The impregnable and awe-inspiring fort - Of contemplation, the calm port 10 - By reason fenced from winds that sigh - Among the restless sails of vanity. - But if no wish be hers that we should part, - A humbler bliss would satisfy my heart. - Where all things are so fair, 15 - Enough by her dear side to breathe the air - Of this Elysian weather; - And, on or in, or near, the brook, espy - Shade upon the sunshine lying - Faint and somewhat pensively; 20 - And downward Image gaily vying - With its upright living tree - ’Mid silver clouds, and openings of blue sky - As soft almost and deep as her cerulean eye. - - Nor less the joy with many a glance 25 - Cast up the Stream or down at her beseeching, - To mark its eddying foam-balls prettily distrest - By ever-changing shape and want of rest; - Or watch, with mutual teaching, - The current as it plays 30 - In flashing leaps and stealthy creeps - Adown a rocky maze; - Or note (translucent summer’s happiest chance!) - In the slope-channel floored with pebbles bright, - Stones of all hues, gem emulous of gem, 35 - So vivid that they take from keenest sight - The liquid veil that seeks not to hide them.[254] - -[254] Compare Wordsworth’s description of the Duddon as “diaphanous, -because it travels slowly,”--ED. - - -LOVE LIES BLEEDING - -Composed 1842.--Published 1842 - -[It has been said that the English, though their country has produced -so many great poets, is now the most unpoetical nation in Europe. It -is probably true; for they have more temptation to become so than any -other European people. Trade, commerce, and manufactures, physical -science, and mechanic arts, out of which so much wealth has arisen, -have made our countrymen infinitely less sensible to movements of -imagination and fancy than were our forefathers in their simple state -of society. How touching and beautiful were, in most instances, the -names they gave to our indigenous flowers, or any other they were -familiarly acquainted with!--Every month for many years have we been -importing plants and flowers from all quarters of the globe, many of -which are spread through our gardens, and some perhaps likely to be met -with on the few Commons which we have left. Will their botanical names -ever be displaced by plain English appellations, which will bring them -home to our hearts by connexion with our joys and sorrows? It can never -be, unless society treads back her steps towards those simplicities -which have been banished by the undue influence of towns spreading and -spreading in every direction, so that city-life with every generation -takes more and more the lead of rural. Among the ancients, villages -were reckoned the seats of barbarism. Refinement, for the most part -false, increases the desire to accumulate wealth; and while theories -of political economy are boastfully pleading for the practice, -inhumanity pervades all our dealings in buying and selling. This -selfishness wars against disinterested imagination in all directions, -and, evils coming round in a circle, barbarism spreads in every quarter -of our island. Oh for the reign of justice, and then the humblest man -among us would have more power and dignity in and about him than the -highest have now!--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems of the Fancy.”--ED. - - You call it, “Love lies bleeding,”--so you may,[255] - Though the red Flower, not prostrate, only droops, - As we have seen it here from day to day, - From month to month, life passing not away: - A flower how rich in sadness! Even thus stoops, 5 - (Sentient by Grecian sculpture’s marvellous power) - Thus leans, with hanging brow and body bent - Earthward in uncomplaining languishment, - The dying Gladiator. So, sad Flower! - (’Tis Fancy guides me willing to be led, 10 - Though by a slender thread,) - So drooped Adonis bathed in sanguine dew - Of his death-wound, when he from innocent air - The gentlest breath of resignation drew; - While Venus in a passion of despair 15 - Rent, weeping over him, her golden hair - Spangled with drops of that celestial shower. - She suffered, as Immortals sometimes do; - But pangs more lasting far, _that_ Lover knew - Who first, weighed down by scorn, in some lone bower 20 - Did press this semblance of unpitied smart - Into the service of his constant heart, - His own dejection, downcast Flower! could share - With thine, and gave the mournful name which thou wilt ever bear. - -[255] Compare _Midsummer Night’s Dream_, act II. scene i. ll. -165-168.--ED. - - -“THEY CALL IT LOVE LIES BLEEDING! RATHER SAY” - -The previous poem was originally composed in sonnet form; and it -belongs, in that form, to the year 1833. It occurs in a MS. copy of -the sonnets which record the Tour of 1833 to the Isle of Man and to -Scotland.--ED. - - They call it Love lies bleeding! rather say - That in this crimson Flower Love bleeding _droops_, - A Flower how sick in sadness! Thus it stoops - With languid head unpropped from day to day - From month to month, life passing not away. 5 - Even so the dying Gladiator leans - On mother earth, and from his patience gleans - Relics of tender thoughts, regrets that stay - A moment and are gone. O fate-bowed flower! - Fair as Adonis bathed in sanguine dew, 10 - Of his death-wound, _that_ Lover’s heart was true - As heaven, who pierced by scorn in some lone bower - Could press thy semblance of unpitied smart - Into the service of his constant heart. - - -COMPANION TO THE FOREGOING - -Composed (?)[256]--Published 1845 - - Never enlivened with the liveliest ray - That fosters growth or checks or cheers decay, - Nor by the heaviest rain-drops more deprest, - This Flower, that first appeared as summer’s guest, - Preserves her beauty ’mid autumnal leaves 5 - And to her mournful habits fondly cleaves. - - When files of stateliest plants have ceased to bloom, - One after one submitting to their doom, - When her coevals each and all are fled, - What keeps her thus reclined upon her lonesome bed? 10 - - The old mythologists, more impress’d than we - Of this late day by character in tree - Or herb, that claimed peculiar sympathy, - Or by the silent lapse of fountain clear, - Or with the language of the viewless air 15 - By bird or beast made vocal, sought a cause - To solve the mystery, not in Nature’s laws - But in Man’s fortunes. Hence a thousand tales - Sung to the plaintive lyre in Grecian vales. - Nor doubt that something of their spirit swayed 20 - The fancy-stricken Youth or heart-sick Maid, - Who, while each stood companionless and eyed - This undeparting Flower in crimson dyed, - Thought of a wound which death is slow to cure, - A fate that has endured and will endure, 25 - And, patience coveting yet passion feeding, - Called the dejected Lingerer, _Love lies bleeding_. - -[256] The date of the composition of this poem is uncertain, but, as -“companion” to _Love lies Bleeding_, it must be placed in immediate -succession to it.--ED. - - -THE CUCKOO-CLOCK - -Composed 1842.--Published 1842 - -[Of this clock I have nothing further to say than what the poem -expresses, except that it must be here recorded that it was a -present from the dear friend for whose sake these notes were chiefly -undertaken, and who has written them from my dictation.--I.F.] - -One of the “Poems of the Imagination.”--ED. - - Wouldst thou be taught, when sleep has taken flight, - By a sure voice that can most sweetly tell, - How far-off yet a glimpse of morning light, - And if to lure the truant back be well, - Forbear to covet a Repeater’s stroke, 5 - That, answering to thy touch, will sound the hour; - Better provide thee with a Cuckoo-clock - For service hung behind thy chamber-door; - And in due time the soft spontaneous shock, - The double note, as if with living power, 10 - Will to composure lead--or make thee blithe as bird in bower. - - List, Cuckoo--Cuckoo!--oft tho’ tempests howl, - Or nipping frost remind thee trees are bare, - How cattle pine, and droop the shivering fowl, - Thy spirits will seem to feed on balmy air: 15 - I speak with knowledge,--by that Voice beguiled, - Thou wilt salute old memories as they throng - Into thy heart; and fancies, running wild - Through fresh green fields, and budding groves among, - Will make thee happy, happy as a child; 20 - Of sunshine wilt thou think, and flowers, and song, - And breathe as in a world where nothing can go wrong. - - And know--that, even for him who shuns the day - And nightly tosses on a bed of pain; - Whose joys, from all but memory swept away, 25 - Must come unhoped for, if they come again; - Know--that, for him whose waking thoughts, severe - As his distress is sharp, would scorn my theme, - The mimic notes, striking upon his ear - In sleep, and intermingling with his dream, 30 - Could from sad regions send him to a dear - Delightful land of verdure, shower and gleam, - To mock the _wandering_ Voice[257] beside some haunted - stream.[258] - - O bounty without measure! while the grace - Of Heaven doth in such wise, from humblest springs, 35 - Pour pleasure forth, and solaces that trace - A mazy course along familiar things, - Well may our hearts have faith that blessings come, - Streaming from founts above the starry sky, - With angels when their own untroubled home 40 - They leave, and speed on nightly embassy - To visit earthly chambers,--and for whom? - Yea, both for souls who God’s forbearance try, - And those that seek his help, and for his mercy sigh. - -[257] Compare _To the Cuckoo_ (vol. ii. p. 289)-- - - O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird, - Or but a wandering Voice? - -ED. - -[258] Professor Dowden has appropriately called attention to the -fact that the cuckoo-clock at Rydal Mount was not stopped during -Wordsworth’s last illness.--ED. - - -“WANSFELL! THIS HOUSEHOLD HAS A FAVOURED LOT” - -Composed 1842.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Wansfell![259] this Household has a favoured lot, - Living with liberty on thee to gaze, - To watch while Morn first crowns thee with her rays, - Or when along thy breast serenely float - Evening’s angelic clouds. Yet ne’er a note 5 - Hath sounded (shame upon the Bard!) thy praise - For all that thou, as if from heaven, hast brought - Of glory lavished on our quiet days. - Bountiful Son of Earth! when we are gone - From every object dear to mortal sight, 10 - As soon we shall be, may these words attest - How oft, to elevate our spirits, shone - Thy visionary majesties of light, - How in thy pensive glooms our hearts found rest. - - _Dec. 24, 1842._ - -[259] The Hill that rises to the south-east, above Ambleside.--W.W. -1842. - - -“THOUGH THE BOLD WINGS OF POESY AFFECT” - -Composed (?)--Published 1842 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Though the bold wings of Poesy affect - The clouds, and wheel around the mountain tops - Rejoicing, from her loftiest height she drops - Well pleased to skim the plain with wild flowers deckt, - Or muse in solemn grove whose shades protect 5 - The lingering dew--there steals along, or stops - Watching the least small bird that round her hops, - Or creeping worm, with sensitive respect. - Her functions are they therefore less divine, - Her thoughts less deep, or void of grave intent 10 - Her simplest fancies? Should that fear be thine, - Aspiring Votary, ere thy hand present - One offering, kneel before her modest shrine, - With brow in penitential sorrow bent! - - -“GLAD SIGHT WHEREVER NEW WITH OLD” - -Composed 1842.[260]--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems of the Fancy.”--ED. - - Glad sight wherever new with old[261] - Is joined through some dear homeborn tie; - - The life[262] of all that we behold - Depends upon that mystery. - Vain is the glory of the sky,[263] 5 - The beauty vain of field and grove, - Unless, while with admiring eye[264] - We gaze, we also learn to love.[265] - -[260] A MS. copy of this fragment in Wordsworth’s handwriting, 31st -December 1842, fixes the date approximately.--ED. - -[261] 1845. - - Look up, look round, let things unfold - Far as they may, their mysteries; - What profits it if new with old - Unites not with some homeborn ties. - - MS. 31st Dec. 1842. - - Welcome the sight when new with old - - C. - - Glad sight it is when new with old - - MS. 1843. - -[262] 1845. - - The good … - - C. - -[263] 1845. - - … skies, - - MS. 1843. - -[264] 1845. - - … eyes - - MS. 1843. - -[265] Compare the lines addressed to Mrs. Wordsworth in 1824, -beginning-- - - True beauty dwells in deep retreats. - -ED. - - - - -1843 - -Two sonnets, and an _Inscription_ for a monument to Southey, were -written in 1843.--ED. - - -“WHILE BEAMS OF ORIENT LIGHT SHOOT WIDE AND HIGH” - -Composed 1st January 1843.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - While beams of orient light shoot wide and high, - Deep in the vale a little rural Town[266] - Breathes forth a cloud-like creature of its own, - That mounts not toward the radiant morning sky, - But, with a less ambitious sympathy, 5 - Hangs o’er its Parent waking to the cares - Troubles and toils that every day prepares. - So Fancy, to the musing Poet’s eye, - Endears that Lingerer. And how blest her sway[267] - (Like influence never may my soul reject)[268] 10 - If the calm Heaven, now to its zenith decked[269] - With glorious forms in numberless array, - To the lone shepherd on the hills disclose - Gleams from[270] a world in which the saints repose. - - _Jan. 1, 1843._ - -[266] Ambleside.--W.W. 1845. - -[267] 1845. - - … And blessed be her sway - - MS. - - So Fancy charms the musing Poet’s eye - Fixed on that Lingerer … - - C. - -[268] 1845. - - Ne’er may my soul like influence reject. - - MS.† - -[269] 1845. - - Endear that Lingerer. And how blest her sway, - The faith how pure and holy in effect, - If the calm Heavens, now to their summit decked - - MS.† - -[270] - - … of … - - MS.† - - -† These MS. variants occur in a copy of the sonnet written by -Wordsworth for Mrs. Arnold at Foxhowe. - - -INSCRIPTION - -FOR A MONUMENT IN CROSTHWAITE CHURCH, IN THE VALE OF KESWICK - -Composed 1843.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces.”--ED. - - Ye vales and hills whose beauty hither drew - The poet’s steps, and fixed him here, on you, - His eyes have closed! And ye, lov’d books, no more - Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore, - To works that ne’er shall forfeit their renown 5 - Adding immortal labours of his own-- - Whether he traced historic truth, with zeal - For the State’s guidance, or the Church’s weal, - Or Fancy, disciplined by studious art, - Inform’d his pen, or wisdom of the heart, 10 - Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind - By reverence for the rights of all mankind. - Wide were his aims, yet in no human breast - Could private feelings meet for holier rest. - His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud 15 - From Skiddaw’s top; but he to heaven was vowed - Through his industrious life, and Christian faith - Calmed in his soul the fear of change and death. - -I received, from the late Lord Coleridge, the following extracts -from letters written by Wordsworth to his father, the Hon. Justice -Coleridge, in reference to the Southey Inscription in Crosthwaite -Church. Wordsworth seems to have submitted the proposed Inscription to -Mr. Coleridge’s judgment, and the changes he made upon it, in deference -to the opinions he received, shew, as Lord Coleridge says, “the extreme -care Wordsworth took to have the substance, and the expression also, as -perfect as he could make it.” The original draft of the “Inscription” -was as follows:-- - - SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT SOUTHEY, WHOSE MORTAL REMAINS - ARE INTERRED IN THE ADJOINING CHURCHYARD. HE WAS BORN AT - BRISTOL, OCTOBER YE 4TH, 1774, AND DIED, AFTER A RESIDENCE OF - NEARLY FORTY YEARS, AT GRETA HALL IN THIS PARISH. MARCH 21ST, - 1843. - - Ye Vales and Hills, whose beauty hither drew - The Poet’s steps, and fixed him here, on you - His eyes have closed; and ye, loved Books, no more - Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore, - To Works that ne’er shall forfeit their renown - Adding immortal labours of his own, - As Fancy, disciplined by studious Art - Informed his pen, or Wisdom of the heart, - Or judgments rooted in a Patriot’s mind - Taught to revere the rights of all mankind. - Friends, Family--ah wherefore touch that string, - To them _so_ fondly did the good man cling! - His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud - From Skiddaw’s top; but He to Heaven was vowed - Through a long life; and calmed by Christian faith, - In his pure soul, the fear of change and death. - - This Memorial was erected by friends of Robert Southey. - -Alteration in the Epitaph-- - - … He to Heaven was vowed - Through a life long and pure; and Christian faith - Calmed in his soul the fear of change and death.--W.W. - - December the 6th. - - MY DEAR MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE, - - Notwithstanding what I have written before, I could not but - wish to meet _your wishes_ upon the points which you mentioned, - and, accordingly, have added and altered as on the other side - of this paper. If you approve don’t trouble yourself to answer. - - Ever faithfully yours, - - W. WORDSWORTH. - - Ye torrents, foaming down the rocky steeps, - Ye lakes, wherein the spirit of water sleeps, - Ye vales and hills, etc. - Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind - By reverence for the rights of all mankind. - Friends, Family--within no human breast - Could private feelings need a holier nest. - His joys, his griefs, have vanished. - - These alterations are approved of by friends here, and I hope - will please you. - - * * * * * - - MY DEAR MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE, - - Pray accept my thanks for the pains you have taken with the - Inscription, and excuse the few words I shall have to say upon - your remarks. There are two lakes in the Vale of Keswick; both - which, along with the lateral Vale of Newlands immediately - opposite Southey’s study window, will be included in the words - “Ye _Vales_ and Hills” by everyone who is familiar with the - neighbourhood. - - I quite agree with you that the construction of the lines - that particularize his writings is rendered awkward by so - many participles passive, and the more so on account of the - transitive verb _informed_. One of these participles may be - got rid of, and, I think, a better couplet produced by this - alteration-- - - Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind - By reverence for the rights of all mankind. - - As I have entered into particulars as to the character of S.’s - writings, and they are so various, I thought his historic - works ought by no means to be omitted, and therefore, though - unwilling to lengthen the Epitaph, I added the two following-- - - … Labours of his own, - Whether he traced historic truth with zeal - For the State’s guidance, or the Church’s weal, - Or Fancy, disciplined by studious Art, - Informed his pen, or wisdom of the heart, - Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind - By reverence for the rights of all mankind. - - I do not feel with you in respect to the word “so”; it refers, - of course, to the preceding line, and as the reference is to - fireside feelings and intimate friends, there appears to me - a propriety in an expression inclining to the colloquial. - The couplet was the dictate of my own feelings, and the - construction is accordingly broken and rather dramatic,--but - too much of this. If you have any objection to the couplet - as altered, be so kind as let me know; if not, on no account - trouble yourself to answer this letter. - - _Prematurely_ I object to as you do. I used the word with - reference to that decay of faculties which is not uncommon in - advanced life, and which often leads to dotage,--but the word - must not be retained. - - We regret much to hear that Lady Coleridge is unwell, pray - present to her our best wishes. - - What could induce the Bishop of London to forbid the choral - service at St. Mark’s? It was in execution, I understand, above - all praise. - - Ever most faithfully yours, - - W. WORDSWORTH. - - * * * * * - - _December 2nd, ’43._ - - MY DEAR MR. JUSTICE COLERIDGE, - - The first line would certainly have more spirit by reading - “your” as you suggest. I had previously considered _that_; - but decided in favour of “the,” as “your,” I thought, would - clog the sentence in sound, there being “ye” thrice repeated, - and followed by “_you_” at the close of the 4th line. I also - thought that “_your_” would interfere with the application of - “you” at the end of the fourth line, to the _whole_ of the - particular previous images as I intended it to do. But I don’t - trouble you with this Letter on that account, but merely to ask - you whether the couplet now standing:-- - - Large were his aims, yet in no human breast - Could private feelings find a holier nest, - - would not be better thus - - Could private feelings meet in holier rest. - - This alteration does not quite satisfy me, but I can do no - better. The word “_nest_” both in itself and in conjunction - with “_holier_” seems to me somewhat bold and rather startling - for marble, particularly in a Church. I should not have thought - of any alteration in a merely printed poem, but this makes a - difference. If you think the proposed alteration better, don’t - trouble yourself to answer this; if not, pray be so kind as to - tell me so by a single line. I would not on any account have - trespassed on your time but for this public occasion. We are - sorry to hear of Lady Coleridge’s indisposition; pray present - to her our kind regards and best wishes for her recovery, - united with the greetings of the season both for her and - yourself, and believe me faithfully, - - Your obliged, - - WM. WORDSWORTH. - - RYDAL MOUNT, _December 23rd, ’43_. - - * * * * * - - TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT SOUTHEY, A MAN EMINENT FOR GENIUS, - VERSATILE TALENTS, EXTENSIVE AND ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE, AND - HABITS OF THE MOST CONSCIENTIOUS INDUSTRY. NOR WAS HE LESS - DISTINGUISHED FOR STRICT TEMPERANCE, PURE BENEVOLENCE, AND WARM - AFFECTIONS; BUT HIS MIND, SUCH ARE THE AWFUL DISPENSATIONS OF - PROVIDENCE, WAS PREMATURELY AND ALMOST TOTALLY OBSCURED BY A - SLOWLY-WORKING AND INSCRUTABLE MALADY UNDER WHICH HE LANGUISHED - UNTIL RELEASED BY DEATH IN THE 69TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. - - READER! PONDER THE CONDITION TO WHICH THIS GREAT AND GOOD - MAN, NOT WITHOUT MERCIFUL ALLEVIATIONS, WAS DOOMED, AND LEARN - FROM HIS EXAMPLE TO MAKE TIMELY USE OF THY ENDOWMENTS AND - OPPORTUNITIES, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD. - - * * * * * - - COPY OF THE PRINTED INSCRIPTION - - SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT SOUTHEY, WHOSE MORTAL REMAINS - ARE INTERRED IN THE ADJOINING CHURCHYARD. HE WAS BORN AT - BRISTOL, OCTOBER 4TH, 1774, AND DIED AFTER A RESIDENCE OF - NEARLY 40 YEARS AT GRETA HALL, IN THIS PARISH, MARCH 21ST, 1843. - - Ye torrents, foaming down the rocky steeps, - Ye lakes, wherein the spirit of water sleeps, - Ye vales and hills, whose beauty hither drew - The Poet’s steps and fixed him here, on you - His eyes have closed! and ye, loved books, no more - Shall Southey feed upon your precious lore, - To works that ne’er shall forfeit their renown - Adding immortal labours of his own-- - Whether he traced historic truth, with zeal - For the State’s guidance or the Church’s weal, - Or Fancy, disciplined by studious art, - Informed his pen, or wisdom of the heart, - Or judgments sanctioned in the Patriot’s mind - By reverence for the rights of all mankind. - Wide were his aims, yet in no human breast - Could private feelings find a holier nest. - His joys, his griefs, have vanished like a cloud - From Skiddaw’s top; but he to Heaven was vowed - Through a long life, and calmed by Christian faith, - In his pure soul, the fear of change and death. - - This Memorial was erected by friends of Robert Southey. - -Edward Quillinan wrote, 25th March 1843, “Yesterday I drove Mr. -Wordsworth early over to Keswick, that he and I might attend the -funeral of Mr. Southey, who was buried in Crosthwaite churchyard there -at eleven A.M. It was very affecting to see Kate Southey with her -brother Cuthbert, and brother-in-law Herbert Hill, at her father’s -grave as the coffin was lowered into it. She looked as if she yearned -to be there too. She says she has now got her father back again.”--ED. - - -TO THE REV. CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, D.D., MASTER OF HARROW SCHOOL[271] - -After the perusal of his _Theophilus Anglicanus_, recently published. - -Composed 1843.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Enlightened Teacher, gladly from thy hand - Have I received this proof of pains bestowed - By Thee to guide thy Pupils on the road - That, in our native isle, and every land, - The Church, when trusting in divine command 5 - And in her Catholic attributes, hath trod: - O may these lessons be with profit scanned - To thy heart’s wish, thy labour blest by God! - So the bright faces of the young and gay - Shall look more bright--the happy, happier still; 10 - Catch, in the pauses of their keenest play, - Motions of thought which elevate the will - And, like the Spire that from your classic Hill - Points heavenward, indicate the end and way. - - RYDAL MOUNT, _Dec. 11, 1843_. - -[271] The poet’s nephew, afterwards Canon of Westminster, and Bishop of -Lincoln, and the biographer of his uncle.--ED. - - - - -1844 - -Only four poems were written in 1844.--ED. - - -“SO FAIR, SO SWEET, WITHAL SO SENSITIVE” - -Composed July 1844.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive, - Would that the little Flowers were born to live, - Conscious of half the pleasure which they give; - - That to this mountain-daisy’s self were known[272] - The beauty of its star-shaped shadow, thrown 5 - On the smooth surface of this[273] naked stone! - - And what if hence a bold desire should mount - High as the Sun, that he could take account - Of all that issues from his glorious fount! - - So might he ken how by his sovereign aid 10 - These delicate companionships are made; - And how he rules the pomp of light and shade; - - And were the Sister-power that shines by night - So privileged, what a countenance of delight - Would through the clouds break forth on human sight! 15 - - Fond fancies! wheresoe’er shall turn thine eye - On earth, air, ocean, or the starry sky, - Converse with Nature in pure sympathy;[274] - - All vain desires, all lawless wishes quelled, - Be Thou to love and praise alike impelled, 20 - Whatever boon is granted or withheld.[275][276] - -[272] Compare the lines _To a Child, written in her Album_, in -1834.--ED. - -[273] 1844. - - Its sole companion on this - - C. - -[274] 1845. - - Fond fancies’ bond, between a smile and sigh, - Do thou more wise, where’er thou turn’st thine eye - Converse with Nature in pure sympathy. - - C. - - … be taught to fix an eye - On holy Nature in pure sympathy. - - C. - - Fond fancies, wheresoe’er shall range thine eye - Among the forms and powers of earth or sky, - Converse with Nature in pure sympathy. - - C. - -[275] 1845. - - A thankful heart all lawless wishes quelled, - To joy, to praise, to love alike compelled, - Whatever boon be granted or withheld. - - C. - -The following variation of the two last stanzas is from a MS. copy by -Wordsworth. - - Fond fancies! wheresoe’er shall range thine eye - Among the forms and powers of earth and sky, - Converse with nature in pure sympathy. - A thankful heart, all lawless wishes quell’d, - To joy, to praise, to love alike compell’d, - Whatever boon be granted or withheld. - -_August, 1844._--ED. - -[276] The following account of the circumstance which gave rise to the -preceding poem is from the _Memoir_ of Professor Archer Butler, by Mr. -Woodward, prefixed to the “First Series” of his Sermons. The late Rev. -Archdeacon Graves, of Dublin (in 1849 of Windermere), in writing to Mr. -Woodward, gives an interesting account of a walk, in July 1844, from -Windermere, by Rydal and Grasmere, to Loughrigg Tarn, etc., in which -Butler was accompanied by Wordsworth, Julius Charles Hare, Sir William -Hamilton, etc. He says, “The day was additionally memorable as giving -birth to an interesting minor poem of Mr. Wordsworth’s. When we reached -the side of Loughrigg Tarn (which you may remember he notes for its -similarity, in the peculiar character of its beauty, to the Lago di -Nemi--Dianae Speculum), the loveliness of the scene arrested our steps -and fixed our gaze. The splendour of a July noon surrounded us and -lit up the landscape, with the Langdale Pikes soaring above, and the -bright tarn shining beneath; and when the poet’s eyes were satisfied -with their feast on the beauties familiar to them, they sought relief -in the search, to them a happy vital habit, for new beauty in the -flower-enamelled turf at his feet. There his attention was arrested -by a fair smooth stone, of the size of an ostrich’s egg, seeming to -imbed at its centre, and at the same time to display a dark star-shaped -fossil of most distinct outline. Upon closer inspection this proved -to be the shadow of a daisy projected upon it with extraordinary -precision by the intense light of an almost vertical sun. The poet drew -the attention of the rest of the party to the minute but beautiful -phenomenon, and gave expression at the time to thoughts suggested by -it, which so interested our friend Professor Butler, that he plucked -the tiny flower, and, saying that “it should be not only the theme but -the memorial of the thought they had heard,” bestowed it somewhere -carefully for preservation. The little poem, in which some of these -thoughts were afterwards crystallised, commences with the stanza-- - - So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive, - Would that the little flowers were born to live, - Conscious of half the pleasure that they give.” - -_Memoir_, pp. 27, 28.--ED. - - -ON THE PROJECTED KENDAL AND WINDERMERE RAILWAY - -Composed October 12, 1844.--Published 1844[277] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Is then no nook of English ground secure - From rash assault?[278] Schemes of retirement sown - In youth, and ’mid the busy world kept pure - As when their earliest flowers of hope were blown, - Must perish;--how can they this blight endure? 5 - And must he too the ruthless change bemoan - Who scorns a false utilitarian lure - ’Mid his paternal fields at random thrown? - Baffle the threat, bright Scene, from Orrest-head[279] - Given to the pausing traveller’s rapturous glance: 10 - Plead for thy peace, thou beautiful romance - Of nature; and, if human hearts be dead, - Speak, passing winds; ye torrents, with your strong - And constant voice, protest against the wrong. - - _October 12th, 1844._ - -[277] In the first edition of his pamphlet “On the projected Kendal and -Windermere Railway.”--ED. - -[278] The degree and kind of attachment which many of the yeomanry -feel to their small inheritances can scarcely be over-rated. Near the -house of one of them stands a magnificent tree, which a neighbour of -the owner advised him to fell for profit’s sake. “Fell it!” exclaimed -the yeoman, “I had rather fall on my knees and worship it.” It happens, -I believe, that the intended railway would pass through this little -property, and I hope that an apology for the answer will not be thought -necessary by one who enters into the strength of the feeling.--W.W. -1845. - -Compare the two letters on the Kendal and Windermere Railway, -contributed by Wordsworth to _The Morning Post_ in 1844, at Kendal, -revised and reprinted in the same year. See _The Prose Works of -Wordsworth_, vol. ii. pp. 383-405.--ED. - -[279] Orresthead is the height close to Windermere, to the north of the -town.--ED. - - -“PROUD WERE YE, MOUNTAINS, WHEN, IN TIMES OF OLD” - -Composed 1844.--Published 1845[280] - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Proud were ye, Mountains, when, in times of old, - Your patriot sons, to stem invasive war, - Intrenched your brows; ye gloried in each scar: - Now, for your shame, a Power, the Thirst of Gold, - That rules o’er Britain like a baneful star, 5 - Wills that your peace, your beauty, shall be sold, - And clear way made for her triumphal car - Through the beloved retreats your arms enfold! - Heard YE that Whistle? As her long-linked Train - Swept onwards, did the vision cross your view? 10 - Yes, ye were startled;--and, in balance true, - Weighing the mischief with the promised gain, - Mountains, and Vales, and Floods, I call on you - To share the passion of a just disdain. - -The following by Canon Rawnsley--suggested by an attempt to introduce -a mineral railway into Borrowdale--may be read in connection with -Wordsworth’s two sonnets.--ED. - -A CRY FROM DERWENTWATER - - Shall then the stream of ruinous Lodore - Not fill the valley with its changeful sound - Unchallenged! shall grey Derwent’s sacred bound - Hear the harsh brawl and intermittent roar - Of mocking waves upon an iron shore, - Whereby nor health nor happiness is found!-- - While steam-wains drag from Honister’s heart wound - The long cooled ashes of its fiery core! - - Burst forth ye sulphurous fountains, as ye broke - On Skiddaw, lick the waters, blast the trees, - And let men have the earth they would desire,-- - As well go pass our children through the fire - With shrieks, Cath-Belus, round thine altar’s smoke, - As let old Derwent hear such sounds as these. - - H.D. RAWNSLEY. - - WRAY VICARAGE, AMBLESIDE. - -[280] This sonnet was first published in _The Morning Post_, December -17, 1844.--ED. - - -AT FURNESS ABBEY - -Composed 1844.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Here, where, of havoc tired and rash undoing, - Man left this Structure to become Time’s prey - A soothing spirit follows in the way - That Nature takes, her counter-work pursuing. - See how her Ivy clasps the sacred Ruin[281] 5 - Fall to prevent or beautify decay; - And, on the mouldered walls, how bright, how gay, - The flowers in pearly dews their bloom renewing! - Thanks to the place, blessings upon the hour; - Even as I speak the rising Sun’s first smile 10 - Gleams on the grass-crowned top of yon tall Tower[282] - Whose cawing occupants with joy proclaim - Prescriptive title to the shattered pile - Where, Cavendish,[283] _thine_ seems nothing but a name! - -[281] In the chancel of the church at Furness Abbey, ivy almost covers -the north wall. In the Belfry and in the Chapter House, it is the same. -The “tower,” referred to in the sonnet, is evidently the belfry tower -to the west. It is still “grass-crowned.” The sonnet was doubtless -composed on the spot, and if Wordsworth ascended to the top of the -belfry tower, he might have seen the morning sunlight strike the small -remaining fragment of the central tower. But it is more likely that he -looked up from the nave, or choir, of the church to the belfry, when he -spoke of the sun’s first smile gleaming from the top of the tall tower. -“Flowers”--crowfoot, campanulas, etc.--still luxuriate on the mouldered -walls. With the line, - - Fall to prevent or beautify decay; - -compare, - - Nature softening and concealing, - And busy with a hand of healing, - -in the description of Bolton Abbey in _The White Doe of Rylstone_, -canto i. I. 118. Compare also the _Address from the Spirit of -Cockermouth Castle_, vol. vii. p. 347.--ED. - -[282] See preceding note. - -[283] Furness Abbey is the property of the Duke of Devonshire, whose -family name is Cavendish.--ED. - - - - -1845 - -The Poems of 1845 include one of the group “On the Naming of Places,” -_The Westmoreland Girl_ (addressed to the Poet’s grandchildren), -several fragments addressed to Mrs. Wordsworth, and to friends, with -one or two Sonnets.--ED. - - -“FORTH FROM A JUTTING RIDGE, AROUND WHOSE BASE” - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems upon the Naming of Places.”--ED. - - Forth from a jutting ridge, around whose base - Winds our deep Vale, two heath-clad Rocks ascend[284][285] - In fellowship, the loftiest of the pair - Rising to no ambitious height; yet both, - O’er lake[286] and stream, mountain and flowery mead, 5 - Unfolding prospects fair as human eyes[287] - Ever beheld. Up-led with mutual help, - To one or other brow of those twin Peaks - Were two adventurous Sisters wont to climb, - And took no note of the hour while thence they gazed, 10 - The blooming heath their couch, gazed, side by side, - In speechless admiration. I, a witness - And frequent sharer of their calm[288] delight - With thankful heart, to either Eminence - Gave the baptismal name each Sister bore. 15 - Now are they parted,[289] far as Death’s cold hand - Hath power to part the Spirits of those who love - As they did love. Ye kindred Pinnacles-- - That, while the generations of mankind - Follow each other to their hiding-place 20 - In time’s abyss, are privileged to endure - Beautiful in yourselves, and richly graced - With like command of beauty--grant your aid - For MARY’S humble, SARAH’S silent, claim, - That their pure joy in nature may survive 25 - From age to age in blended memory. - -[284] 1845. - - Winds our sequestered vale, two rocks ascend - - MS. - -[285] These two rocks rise to the left of the lower high-road from -Grasmere to Rydal, after it leaves the former lake and turns eastwards -towards the latter. They are still “heath-clad,” and covered with the -coppice of the old Bane Riggs Wood, so named because the shortest -road from Ambleside to Grasmere used to pass through it; “bain” or -“bane” signifying, in the Westmoreland dialect, a short cut. Dr. -Cradock wrote of them thus:--“They are now difficult of approach, -being enclosed in a wood, with dense undergrowth, and surrounded by -a high, well-built wall. They can be well seen from the lower road, -from a spot close to the three-mile stone from Ambleside. They are -some fifty or sixty feet above the road, about twenty yards apart, and -separated by a slight depression of, say, ten feet. The view from the -easterly one is now much preferable, as it is less encumbered with -shrubs; and for that reason also is more heath-clad. The twin rocks -are also well seen, though at a farther distance, from the hill in -White Moss Common between the roads, which Dr. Arnold used to call ‘Old -Corruption,’ and ‘Bit-by-bit Reform.’ Doubtless the rocks were far more -easily approached fifty years ago, when walls, if any, were low and -ill-built. It is probable, however, that even then they were enclosed -and protected; for heath will not grow on the Grasmere hills, on places -much frequented by sheep.” The best view of these “heath-clad” rocks -from the lower carriage road is at a spot two or three yards to the -west of a large rock on the road-side near the milestone. The view -of them from the Loughrigg Terrace walks is also interesting. The -two sisters were Mary and Sarah Hutchinson (Mrs. Wordsworth and her -Sister); and, in the Rydal household, the rocks were respectively named -“Mary-Point,” and “Sarah-Point.”--ED. - -[286] 1845. - - O’er wood … - - MS. - -[287] 1845. - - … eye - - MS. - -[288] 1845. - - … that deep … - - MS. - -[289] 1845. - - Gone to a common home, their duty done, - In this dear vale the Sisters lived, but long - Have they been parted … - - C. - - True to a common love, their early choice - In this dear Vale, the sisters lived, but long - Have they been parted-- … - - C. - - -THE WESTMORELAND GIRL[290] - -TO MY GRANDCHILDREN - -Composed June 6, 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems referring to the Period of Childhood.”--ED. - - PART I - - Seek who will delight in fable - I shall tell you truth. A Lamb - Leapt from this steep bank to follow - ’Cross the brook its thoughtless dam.[291] - - Far and wide on hill and valley 5 - Rain had fallen, unceasing rain, - And the bleating mother’s Young-one - Struggled with the flood in vain: - - But, as chanced, a Cottage-maiden - (Ten years scarcely had she told) 10 - Seeing, plunged into the torrent, - Clasped the Lamb and kept her hold. - Whirled adown the rocky channel, - Sinking, rising, on they go, - Peace and rest, as seems, before them 15 - Only in the lake below. - - Oh! it was a frightful current - Whose fierce wrath the Girl had braved; - Clap your hands with joy my Hearers, - Shout in triumph, both are saved; 20 - - Saved by courage that with danger - Grew, by strength the gift of love, - And belike a guardian angel - Came with succour from above. - - PART II - - Now, to a maturer Audience, 25 - Let me speak of this brave Child - Left among her native mountains - With wild Nature to run wild. - - So, unwatched by love maternal, - Mother’s care no more her guide, 30 - Fared this little bright-eyed Orphan - Even while at her father’s side. - - Spare your blame,--remembrance makes him - Loth to rule by strict command; - Still upon his cheek are living 35 - Touches of her infant hand, - - Dear caresses given in pity, - Sympathy that soothed his grief, - As the dying mother witnessed - To her thankful mind’s relief. 40 - - Time passed on; the Child was happy, - Like a Spirit of air she moved, - Wayward, yet by all who knew her - For her tender heart beloved. - - Scarcely less than sacred passions, 45 - Bred in house, in grove, and field, - Link her with the inferior creatures, - Urge her powers their rights to shield. - - Anglers, bent on reckless pastime, - Learn how she can feel alike 50 - Both for tiny harmless minnow - And the fierce and sharp-toothed pike. - - Merciful protectress, kindling - Into anger or disdain; - Many a captive hath she rescued, 55 - Others saved from lingering pain. - - Listen yet awhile;--with patience - Hear the homely truths I tell, - She in Grasmere’s old church-steeple - Tolled this day the passing-bell. 60 - - Yes, the wild Girl of the mountains - To their echoes gave the sound, - Notice punctual as the minute, - Warning solemn and profound. - - She, fulfilling her sire’s office, 65 - Rang alone the far-heard knell, - Tribute, by her hand, in sorrow, - Paid to One who loved her well. - - When his spirit was departed - On that service she went forth; 70 - Nor will fail the like to render - When his corse is laid in earth.[292] - - What then wants the Child to temper, - In her breast, unruly fire, - To control the froward impulse 75 - And restrain the vague desire? - - Easily a pious training - And a stedfast outward power - Would supplant the weeds and cherish, - In their stead, each opening flower. 80 - - Thus the fearless Lamb-deliv’rer, - Woman-grown, meek-hearted, sage, - May become a blest example - For her sex, of every age.[293] - - Watchful as a wheeling eagle, 85 - Constant as a soaring lark, - Should the country need a heroine, - She might prove our Maid of Arc. - - Leave that thought; and here be uttered - Prayer that Grace divine may raise 90 - Her humane courageous spirit - Up to heaven, thro’ peaceful ways.[294] - -[290] This Westmoreland Girl was Sarah Mackereth of Wyke Cottage, -Grasmere. She married a man named Davis, and died in 1872 at Broughton -in Furness. The swollen “flood” from which she rescued the lamb, -was Wyke Gill beck, which descends from the centre of Silver Howe. -The picturesque cottage, with round chimney,--a yew tree and Scotch -fir behind it,--is on the western side of the road from Grasmere -over to Langdale by Red Bank. The Mackereths have been a well-known -Westmoreland family for some hundred years. They belong to the “gentry -of the soil,” and have been parish clerks in Grasmere for generations. -One of them was the tenant of the Swan Inn referred to in _The -Waggoner_--the host who painted, with his own hand, the “famous swan,” -used as a sign. (See vol. iii. p. 81.) - -The story of _The Blind Highland Boy_, which gave rise to the poem -bearing that name, was told to Wordsworth by one of these Mackereths -of Grasmere. (See the Fenwick note, vol. ii. p. 420.) In a letter to -Professor Henry Reed (31st July 1845) Wordsworth said this poem might -interest him “as exhibiting what sort of characters our mountains -breed. It is truth to the letter.”--ED. - -[291] 1845. - - … its simple dam. - - MS. - -[292] 1845. - - … must lie in earth. - - MS. - -[293] Compare _Grace Darling_, p. 311 in this volume.--ED. - -[294] 1845. - - Leave that word--and here be offered - Prayer that Grace divine would raise - This humane courageous spirit - Up to Heaven through peaceful ways. - - In a letter to Henry Reed, July 1845. - - -AT FURNESS ABBEY - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Sonnets.”--ED. - - Well have yon Railway Labourers to THIS ground - Withdrawn for noontide rest. They sit, they walk - Among the Ruins, but no idle talk - Is heard; to grave demeanour all are bound; - And from one voice a Hymn with tuneful sound 5 - Hallows once more the long-deserted Quire[295] - And thrills the old sepulchral earth, around. - Others look up, and with fixed eyes admire - That wide-spanned arch, wondering how it was raised, - To keep, so high in air, its strength and grace: 10 - All seem to feel the spirit of the place, - And by the general reverence God is praised: - Profane Despoilers, stand ye not reproved, - While thus these simple-hearted men are moved? - - _June 21st, 1845._ - -[295] See the note to the previous sonnet on Furness Abbey, p. 168.--ED. - - -“YES! THOU ART FAIR, YET BE NOT MOVED” - -Composed possibly in 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems founded on the Affections.”--ED. - - Yes! thou art fair, yet be not moved - To scorn the declaration, - That sometimes I in thee have loved - My fancy’s own creation. - - Imagination needs must stir; 5 - Dear Maid, this truth believe, - Minds that have nothing to confer - Find little to perceive. - - Be pleased that nature made thee fit - To feed my heart’s devotion, 10 - By laws to which all Forms submit - In sky, air, earth, and ocean. - - -“WHAT HEAVENLY SMILES! O LADY MINE” - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems founded on the Affections.”--ED. - - What heavenly smiles! O Lady mine - Through my[296] very heart they shine; - And, if my brow gives back their light, - Do thou look gladly on the sight; - As the clear Moon with modest pride - Beholds her own bright beams - Reflected from the mountain’s side - And from the headlong streams. - -[296] 1845. - - … this … - - MS. - - -TO A LADY, - -IN ANSWER TO A REQUEST THAT I WOULD WRITE HER A POEM UPON SOME DRAWINGS -THAT SHE HAD MADE OF FLOWERS IN THE ISLAND OF MADEIRA - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Poems of the Fancy.”--ED. - - Fair Lady! can I sing of flowers - That in Madeira bloom and fade, - I who ne’er sate within their bowers, - Nor through their sunny lawns have strayed? - How they in sprightly dance are worn 5 - By Shepherd-groom or May-day queen, - Or holy festal pomps adorn, - These eyes have never seen. - - Yet tho’ to me the pencil’s art - No like remembrances can give, 10 - Your portraits still may reach the heart - And there for gentle pleasure live; - While Fancy ranging with free scope - Shall on some lovely Alien set - A name with us endeared to hope, 15 - To peace, or fond regret.[297] - - Still as we look with nicer care, - Some new resemblance we may trace: - A _Heart’s-ease_ will perhaps be there, - A _Speedwell_ may not want its place. 20 - And so may we, with charmèd mind - Beholding what your skill has wrought, - Another _Star-of-Bethlehem_ find, - A new[298] _Forget-me-not_. - - From earth to heaven with motion fleet 25 - From heaven to earth our thoughts will pass, - A _Holy-thistle_ here we meet - And there a _Shepherd’s weather-glass_; - And haply some familiar name - Shall grace the fairest, sweetest, plant 30 - Whose presence cheers the drooping frame - Of English Emigrant. - - Gazing she feels its power beguile - Sad thoughts, and breathes with easier breath; - Alas! that meek that tender smile 35 - Is but a harbinger of death: - And pointing with a feeble hand - She says, in faint words by sighs broken, - Bear for me to my native land - This precious Flower, true love’s last token. 40 - -[297] 1845. - - And there in sweet communion live: - Yet those loved most, in which we own - A touching likeness which they bear - To flower or herb, by Nature sown, - To breathe our English air. - - MS. - - And there in sweet communion live - Admired for beauty of their own, - Loved for the likeness some may bear - To flower … - - MS. - - Thus tempted Fancy with free scope - Will range, and on these aliens set - Names among us endeared to none, - To hearts a fond regret. - - MS. - - So tempted … - May range, … - - MS. - -[298] - - Nor miss … - - MS. - - -TO THE PENNSYLVANIANS - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Days undefiled by luxury or sloth, - Firm self-denial, manners grave and staid, - Rights equal, laws with cheerfulness obeyed, - Words that require no sanction from an oath, - And simple honesty a common growth-- 5 - This high repute, with bounteous Nature’s aid, - Won confidence, now ruthlessly betrayed - At will, your power the measure of your troth!-- - All who revere the memory of Penn - Grieve for the land on whose wild woods his name[299] 10 - Was fondly grafted with a virtuous aim, - Renounced, abandoned by degenerate Men - For state-dishonour black as ever came - To upper air from Mammon’s loathsome den.[300] - -[299] To William Penn, son of Admiral Sir W. Penn, a printer and -Quaker, Charles II. granted lands in America, to which he gave the name -of Pennsylvania.--ED. - -[300] Mr. Ellis Yarnall wrote to me, April 27, 1885: “The three last -lines of the Sonnet _To the Pennsylvanians_, in regard to which you -inquire, I think refer to what at the time Wordsworth wrote was known -as the _repudiation_ by Pennsylvania of her State debt. The language, -however, is too strong, inasmuch as there was _no_ repudiation. For a -year or two the _interest_ on the debt was unpaid, then payment was -resumed. Members of Wordsworth’s family, or his near friends, held, I -believe, some of the Pennsylvania bonds. They held also, as appears -from the _Memoirs_, Mississippi bonds, and these _were_ repudiated, or -at least five million dollars of a certain class of Mississippi bonds. -No such wrong-doing is chargeable to Pennsylvania. I remember the -delight with which Professor Reed showed me the note on the fly-leaf at -the end of the fifth volume of the edition of 1850--words written at -his request, and the last sentences ever composed by the Poet for the -press.”--ED. - - -“YOUNG ENGLAND--WHAT IS THEN BECOME OF OLD” - -Composed 1845.--Published 1845 - -One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order.”--ED. - - Young England--what is then become of Old - Of dear Old England? Think they she is dead, - Dead to the very name? Presumption fed - On empty air! That name will keep its hold - In the true filial bosom’s inmost fold 5 - For ever.--The Spirit of Alfred, at the head - Of all who for her rights watch’d, toil’d and bled, - Knows that this prophecy is not too bold. - What--how! shall she submit in will and deed - To Beardless Boys--an imitative race, 10 - The _servum pecus_ of a Gallic breed? - Dear Mother! if thou _must_ thy steps retrace, - Go where at least meek Innocency dwells; - Let Babes and Sucklings be thy oracles. - - - - -1846 - -The poems written in 1846 were six sonnets, the lines beginning, “I -know an aged man constrained to dwell,” an “Evening Voluntary,” and -other two short pieces.--ED. - - -SONNET[301] - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -This was placed among the “Epitaphs and Elegiac Poems.”--ED. - - Why should we weep or mourn, Angelic boy, - For such thou wert ere from our sight removed, - Holy, and ever dutiful--beloved - From day to day with never-ceasing joy, - And hopes as dear as could the heart employ 5 - In aught to earth pertaining? Death has proved - His might, nor less his mercy, as behoved-- - Death conscious that he only could destroy - The bodily frame. That beauty is laid low - To moulder in a far-off field of Rome; 10 - But Heaven is now, blest Child, thy Spirit’s home: - When such divine communion, which we know, - Is felt, thy Roman-burial place will be - Surely a sweet remembrancer of Thee. - -[301] This sonnet refers to the poet’s grandchild, who died at Rome -in the beginning of 1846. Wordsworth wrote of it thus to Professor -Henry Reed, “_Jan. 23, 1846._ … Our daughter-in-law fell into bad -health between three and four years ago. She went with her husband to -Madeira, where they remained nearly a year; she was then advised to go -to Italy. After a prolonged residence there, her six children (whom her -husband returned to England for), went, at her earnest request, to that -country, under their father’s guidance; then he was obliged, on account -of his duty as a clergyman, to leave them. Four of the number resided -with their mother at Rome, three of whom took a fever there, of which -the youngest--as noble a boy of five years as ever was seen--died, -being seized with convulsions when the fever was somewhat subdued.”--ED. - - -“WHERE LIES THE TRUTH? HAS MAN, IN WISDOM’S CREED” - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. - - Where lies the truth? has Man, in wisdom’s creed, - A pitiable doom; for respite brief - A care more anxious, or a heavier grief? - Is he ungrateful, and doth little heed - God’s bounty, soon forgotten; or indeed, 5 - Must Man, with labour born, awake to sorrow[302] - When Flowers rejoice and Larks with rival speed - Spring from their nests to bid the Sun good morrow? - They mount for rapture as their[303] songs proclaim - Warbled in hearing both of earth and sky; 10 - But o’er the contrast wherefore heave a sigh? - Like those aspirants let us soar--our aim, - Through life’s worst trials, whether shocks or snares, - A happier, brighter, purer Heaven than theirs.[304] - -[302] 1850. - - Who that lies down and may not wake to sorrow - - MS. - -[303] 1850. - - They mount for rapture; this their … - - MS. - -[304] This sonnet was suggested by the death of Wordsworth’s grandson -commemorated in the previous sonnet, and by the alarming illness of his -brother, the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, and the expected -death of a nephew (John Wordsworth), at Ambleside, the only son of his -eldest brother, Richard.--ED. - - -TO LUCCA GIORDANO[305] - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. - - Giordano, verily thy Pencil’s skill - Hath here portrayed with Nature’s happiest grace - The fair Endymion couched on Latmos-hill; - And Dian gazing on the Shepherd’s face - In rapture,--yet suspending her embrace, 5 - As not unconscious with what power the thrill - Of her most timid touch his sleep would chase, - And, with his sleep, that beauty calm and still. - O may this work have found its last retreat - Here in a Mountain-bard’s secure abode, 10 - One to whom, yet a School-boy, Cynthia showed - A face of love which he in love would greet, - Fixed, by her smile, upon some rocky seat; - Or lured along where green-wood paths he trod. - - RYDAL MOUNT, 1846. - -[305] Lucca Giordano was born at Naples, in 1629. He was at first a -disciple of Spagnaletto, next of Pietro da Cortona; but after coming -under the influence of Correggio, he went to Venice, where Titian was -his inspiring master. In his own work the influence of all of these -predecessors may be traced, but chiefly that of Titian, whose style -of colouring and composition he followed so closely that many of his -works might be mistaken for those of his greatest master. The picture -referred to in this sonnet was brought from Italy by the poet’s eldest -son.--ED. - - -“WHO BUT IS PLEASED TO WATCH THE MOON ON HIGH” - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. - - Who but is pleased to watch the moon on high - Travelling where she from time to time enshrouds - Her head, and nothing loth her Majesty - Renounces, till among the scattered clouds - One with its kindling edge declares that soon 5 - Will reappear before the uplifted eye - A Form as bright, as beautiful a moon, - To glide in open prospect through clear sky. - Pity that such a promise e’er should prove - False in the issue, that yon seeming space 10 - Of sky should be in truth the stedfast face - Of a cloud flat and dense, through which must move - (By transit not unlike man’s frequent doom) - The Wanderer lost in more determined gloom. - - -ILLUSTRATED BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - Discourse was deemed Man’s noblest attribute, - And written words the glory of his hand; - Then followed Printing with enlarged command - For thought--dominion vast and absolute - For spreading truth, and making love expand. 5 - Now prose and verse sunk into disrepute - Must lacquey a dumb Art that best can suit - The taste of this once-intellectual Land. - A backward movement surely have we here,[306] - From manhood--back to childhood; for the age-- 10 - Back towards caverned life’s first rude career. - Avaunt this vile abuse of pictured page! - Must eyes be all in all, the tongue and ear - Nothing? Heaven keep us from a lower stage! - -[306] The _Illustrated London News_--the pioneer of illustrated -newspapers--was first issued on 14th May 1842. The painter and artist -may differ from the poet, in the judgment here pronounced; but had -Wordsworth known the degradation to which many newspapers would sink in -this direction, his censure would have been more severe.--ED. - - -SONNET - -TO AN OCTOGENARIAN - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - - Affections lose their object; Time brings forth - No successors; and, lodged in memory, - If love exist no longer, it must die,-- - Wanting accustomed food must pass from earth, - Or never hope to reach a second birth.[307] 5 - This sad belief, the happiest that is left - To thousands, share not Thou; howe’er bereft, - Scorned, or neglected, fear not such a dearth. - Though poor and destitute of friends thou art, - Perhaps the sole survivor of thy race, 10 - One to whom Heaven assigns that mournful part - The utmost solitude of age to face, - Still shall be left some corner of the heart - Where Love for living Thing can find a place. - -[307] Compare Tennyson’s _Lines to J.S._-- - - God gives us love. Something to love - He lends us; but, when love is grown - To ripeness, that on which it throve - Falls off, and love is left alone. - -ED. - - -“I KNOW AN AGED MAN CONSTRAINED TO DWELL” - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - I know an aged Man constrained to dwell - In a large house of public charity, - Where he abides, as in a Prisoner’s cell, - With numbers near, alas! no company. - - When he could creep about, at will, though poor 5 - And forced to live on alms, this old Man fed - A Redbreast, one that to his cottage door - Came not, but in a lane partook his bread. - - There, at the root of one particular tree, - An easy seat this worn-out Labourer found 10 - While Robin pecked the crumbs upon his knee - Laid one by one, or scattered on the ground. - - Dear intercourse was theirs, day after day; - What signs of mutual gladness when they met! - Think of their common peace, their simple play, 15 - The parting moment and its fond regret. - - Months passed in love that failed not to fulfil, - In spite of season’s change, its own demand, - By fluttering pinions here and busy bill; - There by caresses from a tremulous hand. 20 - - Thus in the chosen spot a tie so strong - Was formed between the solitary pair, - That when his fate had housed him ’mid a throng - The Captive shunned all converse proffered there. - - Wife, children, kindred, they were dead and gone; 25 - But, if no evil hap his wishes crossed, - One living Stay was left, and on[308] that one - Some recompense for all that he had lost. - - O that the good old Man had power to prove, - By message sent through air or visible token, 30 - That still he loves the Bird, and still must love; - That friendship lasts though fellowship is broken! - -[308] So all the editions have it; but, as Principal Greenwood -suggested to me, the true reading should be “in that one.”--ED. - - -“THE UNREMITTING VOICE OF NIGHTLY STREAMS” - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. - - The unremitting voice of nightly streams - That wastes so oft, we think, its tuneful powers, - If neither soothing to the worm that gleams - Through dewy grass, nor small birds hushed in bowers, - Nor unto silent leaves and drowsy flowers,-- 5 - That voice of unpretending harmony - (For who what is shall measure by what seems - To be, or not to be,[309] - Or tax high Heaven with prodigality?) - Wants not a healing influence that can creep 10 - Into the human breast, and mix with sleep - To regulate the motion of our dreams - For kindly issues--as through every clime - Was felt near murmuring brooks in earliest time; - As at this day, the rudest swains who dwell 15 - Where torrents roar, or hear the tinkling knell - Of water-breaks, with grateful heart could tell. - -[309] _Hamlet_, act III. scene i. l. 56.--ED. - - -“HOW BEAUTIFUL THE QUEEN OF NIGHT, ON HIGH” - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - -One of the “Miscellaneous Poems.”--ED. - - How beautiful the Queen of Night, on high - Her way pursuing among scattered clouds, - Where, ever and anon, her head she shrouds - Hidden from view in dense obscurity. - But look, and to the watchful eye - A brightening edge will indicate that soon - We shall behold the struggling Moon - Break forth,--again to walk the clear blue sky. - - -ON THE BANKS OF A ROCKY STREAM - -Composed 1846.--Published 1850 - - Behold an emblem of our human mind - Crowded with thoughts that need a settled home - Yet, like to eddying balls of foam - Within this whirlpool, they each other chase - Round and round, and neither find - An outlet nor a resting-place! - Stranger, if such disquietude be thine, - Fall on thy knees and sue for help divine. - - -ODE - -INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD - -Composed 1803-6.--Published 1807 - -[This was composed during my residence at Town-end, Grasmere. Two years -at least passed between the writing of the four first stanzas and -the remaining part. To the attentive and competent reader the whole -sufficiently explains itself; but there may be no harm in adverting -here to particular feelings or _experiences_ of my own mind on which -the structure of the poem partly rests. Nothing was more difficult for -me in childhood than to admit the notion of death as a state applicable -to my own being. I have said elsewhere-- - - A simple child, - That lightly draws its breath, - And feels its life in every limb, - What should it know of death!-- - -But it was not so much from feelings of animal vivacity that my -difficulty came as from a sense of the indomitableness of the Spirit -within me. I used to brood over the stories of Enoch and Elijah, and -almost to persuade myself that, whatever might become of others, I -should be translated, in something of the same way, to heaven. With -a feeling congenial to this, I was often unable to think of external -things as having external existence, and I communed with all that I saw -as something not apart from, but inherent in, my own immaterial nature. -Many times while going to school have I grasped at a wall or tree to -recall myself from this abyss of idealism to the reality. At that -time I was afraid of such processes. In later periods of life I have -deplored, as we have all reason to do, a subjugation of an opposite -character, and have rejoiced over the remembrances, as is expressed in -the lines-- - - Obstinate questionings - Of sense and outward things, - Fallings from us, vanishings, etc. - -To that dream-like vividness and splendour which invest objects of -sight in childhood, every one, I believe, if he would look back, could -bear testimony, and I need not dwell upon it here; but having in the -poem regarded it as presumptive evidence of a prior state of existence, -I think it right to protest against a conclusion, which has given -pain to some good and pious persons, that I meant to inculcate such a -belief. It is far too shadowy a notion to be recommended to faith, as -more than an element in our instincts of immortality. But let us bear -in mind that, though the idea is not advanced in revelation, there is -nothing there to contradict it, and the fall of man presents an analogy -in its favour. Accordingly, a pre-existent state has entered into the -popular creeds of many nations; and, among all persons acquainted with -classic literature, is known as an ingredient in Platonic philosophy. -Archimedes said that he could move the world if he had a point whereon -to rest his machine. Who has not felt the same aspirations as regards -the world of his own mind?[310] Having to wield some of its elements -when I was impelled to write this poem on the “Immortality of the -Soul,” I took hold of the notion of pre-existence as having sufficient -foundation in humanity for authorizing me to make for my purpose the -best use of it I could as a poet.--I.F.] - - The Child is Father of the Man; - And I could wish my days to be - Bound each to each by natural piety.[311] - - I - - There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, - The earth, and every common sight, - To me did seem - Apparelled in celestial light, - The glory and the freshness of a dream. 5 - It is not now as it hath[312] been of yore;-- - Turn wheresoe’er I may, - By night or day, - The things which I have seen I now can see no more. - - II - - The Rainbow comes and goes, 10 - And lovely is the Rose, - The Moon doth with delight - Look round her when the heavens are bare, - Waters on a starry night - Are beautiful and fair; 15 - The sunshine is a glorious birth; - But yet I know, where’er I go, - That there hath passed away a glory from the earth. - - III - - Now, while the birds thus sing a joyous song, - And while the young lambs bound 20 - As to the tabor’s sound, - To me alone there came a thought of grief: - A timely utterance gave that thought relief, - And I again am strong: - The cataracts blow their trumpets from the steep; 25 - No more shall grief of mine the season wrong; - I hear the Echoes through the mountains throng, - The Winds come to me from the fields of sleep, - And all the earth is gay; - Land and sea 30 - Give themselves up to jollity, - And with the heart of May - Doth every Beast keep holiday;-- - Thou Child of Joy, - Shout round me, let me hear thy shouts, thou happy Shepherd-boy! 35 - - IV - - Ye blessed Creatures, I have heard the call - Ye to each other make; I see - The heavens laugh with you in your jubilee; - My heart is at your festival, - My head hath its coronal,[313] 40 - The fulness of your bliss, I feel--I feel it all.[314] - Oh evil day! if I were sullen - While Earth herself is adorning,[315] - This sweet May-morning, - And the Children are culling[316] 45 - On every side, - In a thousand valleys far and wide, - Fresh flowers; while the sun shines warm, - And the Babe leaps up on his Mother’s arm:-- - I hear, I hear, with joy I hear! 50 - --But there’s a Tree, of many, one, - A single Field which I have looked upon, - Both of them speak of something that is gone: - The Pansy at my feet - Doth the same tale repeat: 55 - Whither is fled the visionary gleam? - Where is it now,[317] the glory and the dream? - - V - - Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: - The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star, - Hath had elsewhere its setting, 60 - And cometh from afar: - Not in entire forgetfulness, - And not in utter nakedness, - But trailing clouds of glory do we come - From God, who is our home: 65 - Heaven lies about us in our infancy! - Shades of the prison-house begin to close - Upon the growing Boy, - But He beholds the light, and whence it flows - He sees it in his joy; 70 - The Youth, who daily farther from the east - Must travel, still is Nature’s Priest, - And by the vision splendid - Is on his way attended; - At length the Man perceives it[318] die away, 75 - And fade into the light of common day.[319] - - VI - - Earth fills her lap with pleasures[320] of her own; - Yearnings she hath in her own natural kind, - And, even with something of a Mother’s mind, - And no unworthy aim, 80 - The homely Nurse doth all she can - To make her Foster-child, her Inmate Man, - Forget the glories he hath known, - And that imperial palace whence he came. - - VII - - Behold the Child among his new-born blisses, 85 - A six years’ Darling[321] of a pigmy size! - See, where ’mid work of his own hand he lies, - Fretted by sallies of his mother’s kisses, - With light upon him from his father’s eyes! - See, at his feet, some little plan or chart, 90 - Some fragment from his dream of human life, - Shaped by himself with newly-learned art; - A wedding or a festival, - A mourning or a funeral; - And this hath now his heart, 95 - And unto this he frames his song: - Then will he fit his tongue - To dialogues of business, love, or strife; - But it will not be long - Ere this be thrown aside, 100 - And with new joy and pride - The little Actor cons another part; - Filling from time to time his “humorous stage”[322] - With all the Persons, down to palsied Age, - That Life brings with her in her equipage; 105 - As if his whole vocation - Were endless imitation. - - VIII - - Thou, whose exterior semblance[323] doth belie - Thy Soul’s immensity; - Thou best Philosopher, who yet dost keep 110 - Thy heritage, thou Eye among the blind, - That, deaf and silent, read’st the eternal deep, - Haunted for ever by the eternal mind,-- - Mighty Prophet! Seer blest! - On whom those truths do rest, 115 - Which we are toiling all our lives to find, - In darkness lost, the darkness of the grave;[324] - Thou, over whom thy Immortality - Broods like the Day, a Master o’er a Slave, - A Presence which is not to be put by;[325] 120 - Thou little Child, yet glorious in the might - Of heaven-born freedom on thy being’s height,[326] - Why with such earnest pains dost thou provoke - The years to bring the inevitable yoke, - Thus blindly with thy blessedness at strife? 125 - Full soon thy Soul shall have her earthly freight, - And custom[327] lie upon thee with a weight,[328] - Heavy as frost, and deep almost as life! - - IX - - O joy! that in our embers - Is something that doth live, 130 - That nature yet remembers - What was so fugitive! - The thought of our past years in me doth breed - Perpetual benediction;[329] not indeed - For that which is most worthy to be blest; 135 - Delight and liberty, the simple creed - Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest, - With new-fledged hope still fluttering in his breast:--[330] - Not for these I raise - The song of thanks and praise; 140 - But for those obstinate questionings - Of sense and outward things, - Fallings from us, vanishings; - Blank misgivings of a Creature - Moving about in worlds not realised, 145 - High instincts before which our mortal Nature - Did tremble like a guilty Thing surprised: - But for those first affections, - Those shadowy recollections, - Which, be they what they may, 150 - Are yet the fountain light of all our day, - Are yet a master light of all our seeing; - Uphold us, cherish, and have power to make[331] - Our noisy years seem moments in the being - Of the eternal Silence: truths that wake, 155 - To perish never; - Which neither listlessness, nor mad endeavour, - Nor Man nor Boy, - Nor all that is at enmity with joy, - Can utterly abolish or destroy! 160 - Hence in a season of calm weather, - Though inland far we be, - Our Souls have sight of that immortal sea - Which brought us hither, - Can in a moment travel thither, 165 - And see the Children sport upon the shore, - And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore. - - X - - Then sing, ye Birds, sing, sing a joyous song! - And let the young Lambs bound - As to the tabor’s sound! 170 - We in thought will join your throng, - Ye that pipe and ye that play, - Ye that through your hearts to-day - Feel the gladness of the May! - What though the radiance which was once so bright 175 - Be now for ever taken from my sight, - Though nothing can bring back the hour - Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; - We will grieve not, rather find - Strength in what remains behind; 180 - In the primal sympathy - Which having been must ever be; - In the soothing thoughts that spring - Out of human suffering; - In the faith that looks through death, 185 - In years that bring the philosophic mind. - - XI - - And O, ye Fountains, Meadows, Hills, and Groves, - Forebode not any severing[332] of our loves! - Yet in my heart of hearts I feel your might; - I only have relinquished one delight 190 - To live beneath your more habitual sway. - I love the Brooks which down their channels fret, - Even more than when I tripped lightly as they; - The innocent brightness of a new-born Day - Is lovely yet; 195 - The Clouds that gather round the setting sun - Do take a sober colouring from an eye - That hath kept watch o’er man’s mortality; - Another race hath been, and other palms are won.[333] - Thanks to the human heart by which we live, 200 - Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, and fears, - To me the meanest flower that blows[334] can give - Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.[335] - -This great _Ode_ was first printed as the last poem in the second -volume of the edition of 1807. At that date Wordsworth gave it the -simple title _Ode_, prefixing to it the motto, “Paulò majora canamus.” -In 1815, when he revised the poem throughout, he named it--in -the characteristic manner of many of his titles--diffuse and yet -precise, _Ode. Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early -Childhood_; and he then prefixed to it the lines of his own earlier -poem on the Rainbow (March 1802):-- - - The Child is Father of the Man; - And I could wish my days to be - Bound each to each by natural piety. - -It retained this longer title and motto in all subsequent editions. In -the editions 1807 to 1820, it was placed by itself at the end of the -poems, and formed their natural conclusion and climax. In the editions -1827 and 1832, it was inappropriately put amongst “Epitaphs and Elegiac -Poems.” The evident mistake of placing it amongst these seems to have -suggested to Wordsworth, in 1836, its having a place by itself,--which -he gave it then and retained in the subsequent editions of 1842 and -1849,--when it closed the series of minor poems in Volume V., and -preceded the _Excursion_ in Volume VI. The same arrangement was adopted -in the double-columned single volume edition of 1845. - -Mr. Aubrey de Vere has urged me to take it out of its chronological -place, and let it conclude the whole series of Wordsworth’s poems, as -the greatest, and that to which all others lead up. Mr. De Vere’s wish -is based on conversations which he had with the poet himself. - -The _Ode, Intimations of Immortality_, was written at intervals, -between the years 1803 and 1806; and it was subjected to frequent and -careful revision. No poem of Wordsworth’s bears more evident traces -in its structure at once of inspiration and elaboration; of original -flight of thought and _afflatus_ on the one hand, and on the other of -careful sculpture and fastidious choice of phrase. But it is remarkable -that there are very few changes of text in the successive editions. -Most of the alterations were made before 1815, and the omission of some -feeble lines which originally stood in stanza viii. in the editions -of 1807 and 1815, was a great advantage in disencumbering the poem. -The main revision and elaboration of this Ode, however--an elaboration -which suggests the passage of the glacier ice over the rocks of White -Moss Common, where the poem was murmured out stanza by stanza--was all -finished before it first saw the light in 1807. In form it is irregular -and original. And perhaps the most remarkable thing in its structure, -is the frequent change of the keynote, and the skill and delicacy with -which the transitions are made. “The feet throughout are iambic. The -lines vary in length from the Alexandrine to the line with two accents. -There is a constant ebb and flow in the full tide of song, but scarce -two waves are alike.” (Hawes Turner, _Selections from Wordsworth_.) - -In the “notes” to the _Selections_ just referred to on Immortality, -there is an excellent commentary on this _Ode_, almost every line of -which is worthy of minute analysis and study. Some of the following are -suggested by Mr. Turner’s notes. - - (1) _The Winds come to me from the fields of sleep._ - -The morning breeze blowing from the fields that were dark during the -hours of sleep. - - (2) --_But there’s a Tree, of many, one._ - -Compare Browning’s _May and Death_-- - - Only one little sight, one plant - Woods have in May, etc. - - (3) _The Pansy at my feet_ - _Doth the same tale repeat._ - -French “Pensée.” “Pansies, that’s for thoughts.” Ophelia in _Hamlet_. - - (4) _Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting._ - -This thought Wordsworth owed, consciously or unconsciously, to Plato. -Though he tells us in the Fenwick note that he did not mean to -_inculcate_ the belief, there is no doubt that he clung to the notion -of a life pre-existing the present, on grounds similar to those on -which he believed in a life to come. But there are some differences in -the way in which the idea commended itself to Plato and to Wordsworth. -The stress was laid by Wordsworth on the effect of terrestrial life -in putting the higher faculties to sleep, and making us “forget the -glories we have known.” Plato, on the other hand, looked upon the -mingled experiences of mundane life as inducing a gradual but slow -remembrance (ἀνάμνεσις) of the past. Compare Tennyson’s _Two Voices_, -and Wordsworth’s sonnet, beginning-- - - Man’s life is like a sparrow, mighty king. - - (5) _Filling from time to time his “humorous stage”_ - _With all the Persons,_ - -_i.e._ with the _dramatis personæ_. - - (6) … _thou Eye among the blind,_ - _That, deaf and silent, read’st the eternal deep._ - -There is an admirable parallel illustration of Wordsworth’s use of this -figure (describing one sense in terms of another), in the lines in -_Airey-Force Valley_-- - - A soft eye-music of slow-waving boughs. - - (7) _Full soon thy Soul shall have her earthly freight,_ - _And custom lie upon thee with a weight,_ - _Heavy as frost, and deep almost as life!_ - -Compare with this, the lines in the fourth book of _The Excursion_, -beginning-- - - Alas! the endowment of immortal power - Is matched unequally with custom, time. - - (8) _Fallings from us, vanishings._ - -The outward sensible universe, visible and tangible, seeming to -fall away from us, as unreal, to vanish in unsubstantially. See the -explanation of this youthful experience in the Fenwick note. That -confession of his boyish days at Hawkshead, “many times, while going to -school, have I grasped at a wall or tree, _to recall myself from this -abyss of idealism to the reality_” (by which he explains those-- - - Fallings from us, vanishings, etc.), - -suggests a similar experience and confession of Cardinal Newman’s in -his _Apologia_ (see p. 67). - -The late Rev. Robert Perceval Graves, of Windermere, and afterwards of -Dublin, wrote to me in 1850:--“I remember Mr. Wordsworth saying, that -at a particular stage of his mental progress, he used to be frequently -so rapt into an unreal transcendental world of ideas that the external -world seemed no longer to exist in relation to him, and he _had to -reconvince himself of its existence by clasping a tree, or something -that happened to be near him_. I could not help connecting this fact -with that obscure passage in his great _Ode on the Intimations of -Immortality_, in which he speaks of-- - - Those obstinate questionings - Of sense and outward things; - Fallings from us, vanishings; etc.” - -Professor Bonamy Price further confirms the explanation which -Wordsworth gave of the passage, in a letter written to me in 1881, -giving an account of a conversation he had with the poet, as follows:-- - - “OXFORD, _April 21, 1881_. - - “MY DEAR SIR,--You will be glad, I am sure, to receive an - interpretation, which chance enabled me to obtain from - Wordsworth himself of a passage in the immortal _Ode on - Immortality_.… - - “It happened one day that the poet, my wife, and I were taking - a walk together by the side of Rydal Water. We were then by the - sycamores under Nab Scar. The aged poet was in a most genial - mood, and it suddenly occurred to me that I might, without - unwarrantable presumption, seize the golden opportunity thus - offered, and ask him to explain these mysterious words. So - I addressed him with an apology, and begged him to explain, - what my own feeble mother-wit was unable to unravel, and for - which I had in vain sought the assistance of others, what - were those ‘fallings from us, vanishings,’ for which, above - all other things, he gave God thanks. The venerable old man - raised his aged form erect; he was walking in the middle, - and passed across me to a five-barred gate in the wall which - bounded the road on the side of the lake. He clenched the top - bar firmly with his right hand, pushed strongly against it, - and then uttered these ever-memorable words: ‘There was a time - in my life when I had to push against something that resisted, - to be sure that there was anything outside of me. I was sure - of my own mind; everything else fell away, and vanished into - thought.’ Thought, he was sure of; matter for him, at the - moment, was an unreality--nothing but a thought. Such natural - spontaneous idealism has probably never been felt by any other - man. - - “BONAMY PRICE.” - -This, however, was not an experience peculiar to Wordsworth, as -Professor Price imagined--and its value would be much lessened if it -had been so--but was one to which (as the poet said to Miss Fenwick) -“every one, if he would look back, could bear testimony.” - -The following is from S.T. Coleridge’s _Biographia Literaria_ (chap. -xxii. p. 29, edition 1817)-- - -“To the _Ode on the Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of -Early Childhood_, the poet might have prefixed the lines which Dante -addresses to one of his own Canzoni-- - - Canzone, i’ credo, che saranno radi - Color che tua ragione intendan bene: - Tanto lor sei faticoso ed alto. - - O lyric song, there will be few, think I, - Who may thy import understand aright: - Thou art for them so arduous and so high! - -But the Ode was intended for such readers only as had been accustomed -to watch the flux and reflux of their inmost nature, to venture -at times into the twilight realms of consciousness, and to feel a -deep interest in modes of inmost being, to which they know that the -attributes of time and space are inapplicable and alien, but which yet -cannot be conveyed, save in symbols of time and space. For such readers -the sense is sufficiently plain, and they will be as little disposed to -charge Mr. Wordsworth with believing the Platonic pre-existence in the -ordinary interpretation of the words, as I am to believe, that Plato -himself ever meant or taught it. - - πολλά μοι ὑπ’ ἀγκῶνος ὠκέα βέλη - ἔνδον ἐντὶ φαρέτρας - φωνᾶντα συνετοῖσιν ἐς - δὲ τὸ πᾶν ἑρμηνέων - χατίζει. σοφὸς ὁ πολλὰ εἰδὼς φυᾷ. - μαθόντες δὲ λάβροι - παγγλωσσίᾳ, κόρακες ὥς, - ἄκραντα γαρύετον - Διὸς πρὸς ὄρνιχα θεῖον. - - PINDAR, OLYMP. ii.”[336] - -The following parallel passages from _The Excursion_, _The Prelude_, -Ruskin’s _Modern Painters_, Keble’s _Praelectiones de Poeticae vi -Medica_ (p. 788, Prael. xxxix.), and the _Silex Scintillans_ of -Henry Vaughan, are quoted, in an interesting note to the _Ode_ on -Immortality, in Professor Henry Reed’s American edition of the Poems -(1851). - - I - - Ah! why in age - Do we revert so fondly to the walks - Of childhood--but that there the Soul discerns - The dear memorial footsteps unimpaired - Of her own native vigour--thence can hear - Reverberations; and a choral song, - Commingling with the incense that ascends, - Undaunted, toward the imperishable heavens, - From her own lonely altar? - - _The Excursion_, book ix. ll. 36-44. - - II - - Our childhood sits, - Our simple childhood, sits upon a throne - That hath more power than all the elements. - I guess not what this tells of Being past, - Nor what it augurs of the life to come; etc. - - _The Prelude_, book v. ll. 507-511. - -III - -“ … There was never yet the child of any promise (so far as the -theoretic faculties are concerned) but awaked to the sense of beauty -with the first gleam of reason; and I suppose there are few, among -those who love Nature otherwise than by profession and at second-hand, -who look not back to their youngest and least learned days as those of -the most intense, superstitious, insatiable, and beatific perception of -her splendours. And the bitter decline of this glorious feeling, though -many note it not, partly owing to the cares and weight of manhood, -which leave them not the time nor the liberty to look for their lost -treasure, and partly to the human and divine affections which are -appointed to take its place, yet have formed the subject, not indeed of -lamentation, but of holy thankfulness for the witness it bears to the -immortal origin and end of our nature, to one whose authority is almost -without appeal in all questions relating to the influence of external -things upon the pure human soul. - - Not for these I raise - The song of thanks and praise - But for those obstinate questionings, etc. etc. - -And if it were possible for us to recollect all the unaccountable and -happy instincts of the careless time, and to reason upon them with the -maturer judgment, we might arrive at more right results than either -the philosophy or the sophisticated practice of art has yet attained. -But we love the perceptions before we are capable of methodising or -comparing them.” (Ruskin’s _Modern Painters_, vol. ii. p. 36, part iii. -ch. v. sec. i.) - -“ … Etenim qui velit acutius indagare causas propensae in antiqua -saecula voluntatis, mirum ni conjectura incidat aliquando in commentum -illud Pythagorae, docentis, animarum nostrarum non tum fieri initium, -cum in hoc mundo nascimur; immo ex ignota quadam regione venire eas, -in sua quamque corpora; neque tam penitus Lethaeo potu imbui, quin -permanet quasi quidam anteactae aetatis sapor; hunc autem excitari -identidem, et nescio quo sensu percipi, tacito quidem illo et obscuro, -sed percipi tamen. Atque hac ferme sententia extat summi hac memoria -Poetae nobilissimum carmen; nempe non aliam ob causam tangi pueritiae -recordationem exquisita illa ac pervagata dulcedine, quam propter -debilem quendam prioris aevi Deique propioris sensum. - -Quamvis autem hanc opinionem vix ferat divinae philosophiae ratio, -fatemur tamen eam eatenus ad verum accedere, quo sanctum aliquod -et grave tribuit memoriae et caritati puerilium annorum. Nosmet -certe infantes novimus quam prope tetigerit Divina benignitas; quis -porro scit, an omnis illa temporis anteacti dulcedo habeat quandam -significationem Illius Praesentiae?” (Keble, _Praelectiones de Poeticae -vi Medica_, p. 788, Prael. xxxix.) - -“CORRUPTION - - Sure, it was so. Man in those early days - Was not all stone and earth; - He shined a little, and by those weak rays, - Had some glimpse of his birth. - He saw Heaven o’er his head, and knew from whence - He came condemned hither, - And, as first Love draws strongest, so from hence - His mind sure progressed thither.” - - Henry Vaughan, _Silex Scintillans_. - -Mr. Reed also quotes a passage from Vaughan’s poem _Childehood_; but -a more apposite passage may be found in _The Retreate_, in _Silex -Scintillans_. - - Happy those early dayes, when I - Shined in my Angell-infancy! - Before I understood this place - Appointed for my second race, - Or taught my soul to fancy ought - But a white celestiall thought; - When yet I had not walkt above - A mile or two from my first Love, - And looking back, at that short space, - Could see a glimpse of his bright face; - When on some _gilded Cloud or Flowre_ - My gazing soul would dwell an houre, - And in those weaker glories spy - Some shadows of eternity; - … - But felt through all this fleshly dresse - Bright _shootes_ of everlastingnesse. - -The extent of Wordsworth’s debt to Vaughan has been discussed a good -deal. There was no copy of the _Silex Scintillans_ in the Rydal -Mount sale-catalogue. I believe that he had read _The Retreate_, and -forgotten it more completely perhaps than Coleridge forgot Sir John -Davies’ _Orchestra, a Poem on Dancing_, when he wrote _The Ancient -Mariner_. - -The following may be added from _The Friend_ (the edition of 1818), -vol. i. p. 183:--“To find no contradiction in the union of old and new -to contemplate the Ancient of Days with feelings as fresh as if they -then sprang forth at his own fiat, this characterizes the minds that -feel the riddle of the world, and may help to unravel it! To carry on -the feelings of childhood into the powers of manhood, to combine the -child’s sense of wonder and novelty with the appearances which every -day, for perhaps 40 years, had rendered familiar, - - With sun and moon and stars throughout the year - And man and woman---- - -This is the character and privilege of genius, and one of the marks -which distinguish genius from talent.”--ED. - -[310] Compare the Atman of the Vedanta Philosophy.--ED. - -[311] See vol. ii. p. 292.--ED. - -[312] 1820. - - … has … - - 1807. - -[313] Compare _The Idle Shepherd Boys_, ll. 28-30 (vol. ii. p. -138).--ED. - -[314] 1807. - - Even yet more gladness, I can hold it all. - - MS. - -[315] 1836. - - While the Earth herself … - - 1807. - - … itself … - - 1827. - -The text of 1832 returns to that of 1807. - -[316] 1836. - - … pulling - - 1807. - -[317] - - Where is it gone, … - - MS. - -[318] 1807. - - … beholds it … - - MS. - -[319] Compare, in Bacon’s Essay _Of Youth and Age_, “A certaine Rabbine -upon the Text, _Your Young Men shall see visions, and your Old Men -shall dream dreames_, inferreth that Young Men are admitted nearer to -God than Old, because _Vision_ is a clearer Revelation than a Dreame.” - -See Professor Max Müller’s note to his translation of the Upanishads -(_Sacred Books of the East_, vol. xv. p. 164), beginning “Drivudagomga -uses a curious argument in support of the existence of another -world.”--ED. - -[320] 1807. - - … pleasure … - - MS. - -[321] 1815. - - A four years’ Darling … - - 1807. - -[322] See, in Daniel’s _Musophilus_, the introductory sonnet to Fulke -Greville, l. 1.--ED. - -[323] 1807. - - … presence … - - MS. - -[324] This line is not in the editions of 1807 and 1815. - -[325] The editions of 1807 and 1815 have, after “put by”: - - To whom the grave - Is but a lowly bed without the sense or sight - Of day or the warm light, - A place of thought where we in waiting lie; - - MS. - -The subsequent omission of these lines was due to Coleridge’s -disapproval of them, expressed in _Biographia Literaria_.--ED. - -[326] 1815. - - Of untamed pleasures, on thy Being’s height, - - 1807. - -[327] 1807. - - The world upon thy noble nature seize - With all its vanities, - And custom … - - MS. - -[328] Compare _The Excursion_, book iv. ll. 205, 206-- - - Alas! the endowment of immortal power - Is matched unequally with custom, time. - -ED. - -[329] 1827. - - Perpetual benedictions: … - - 1807. - -[330] 1815. - - Of Childhood, whether fluttering or at rest, - With new-born hope for ever in his breast: - - 1807. - -[331] 1815. - - Uphold us, cherish us, and make - - 1807. - -[332] 1836. - - Think not of any severing … - - 1807. - -[333] Professor Dowden writes of this line: “It is a sunset reflection, -natural to one who has ‘kept watch o’er man’s mortality’: the day is -closing, as human lives have closed; the sun went forth out of his -chamber as a strong man to run a race, and now the race is over and the -palm has been won: all things have their hour of fulfilment.” (See vol. -v. p. 365, of his edition of Wordsworth’s Poems.)--ED. - -[334] Compare the introduction to the first canto of _Marmion_-- - - The vernal sun new life bestows - Upon the meanest flower that blows, - -ED. - -[335] Compare Wither’s _The Shepherds Hunting_, the fourth eclogue, ll. -368-380.--ED. - -[336] The text of Pindar, as given by S.T.C., is corrected in the above -quotation.--ED. - - - - -POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH AND BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH NOT INCLUDED IN -THE EDITION OF 1849-50 - - - - -1787 - - -SONNET, ON SEEING MISS HELEN MARIA WILLIAMS WEEP AT A TALE OF -DISTRESS[337] - - She wept.--Life’s purple tide began to flow - In languid streams through every thrilling vein; - Dim were my swimming eyes--my pulse beat slow, - And my full heart was swell’d to dear delicious pain. - - Life left my loaded heart, and closing eye; 5 - A sigh recall’d the wanderer to my breast; - Dear was the pause of life, and dear the sigh - That call’d the wanderer home, and home to rest. - - That tear proclaims--in thee each virtue dwells, - And bright will shine in misery’s midnight hour; 10 - As the soft star of dewy evening tells - What radiant fires were drown’d by day’s malignant pow’r, - That only wait the darkness of the night - To chear the wand’ring wretch with hospitable light. - - AXIOLOGUS. - -[European Magazine, 1787, vol. xi. p. 302.] - -S.T.C. addressed some lines to Wordsworth under the name Axiologus. The -following is a sample, sent to me by the late Mr. Dykes Campbell, _Ad -Vilmum Axiologum_.--ED.[338] - -AD VILMUM AXIOLOGUM - - This be the meed, that thy song creates a thousand-fold echo! - Sweet as the warble of woods, that awakes at the gale of the morning! - List! the Hearts of the Pure, like caves in the ancient mountains - Deep, deep _in_ the Bosom, and _from_ the Bosom resound it, - Each with a different tone, complete or in musical fragments-- - All have welcomed thy Voice, and receive and retain and prolong it! - - This is the word of the Lord! it is spoken and Beings Eternal - Live and are borne as an Infant, the Eternal begets the Immortal-- - Love is the Spirit of Life, and Music the Life of the Spirit! - -[337] The only justification for republishing this sonnet is that it is -the earliest authoritative record of Wordsworth’s attempts in Verse. It -is a much more authentic one than the _Extract from the conclusion of -a Poem, composed in anticipation of leaving School_, or than the lines -_Written in very early Youth_, and beginning - - Calm is all nature as a resting wheel. - -Wordsworth dated the former of these poems 1786, but I do not believe -that he wrote that poem, and still less that he wrote “Calm is all -nature,” etc., _as we now have it_, in that year. Doubtless he wrote -verses on these two subjects; but the best evidence against the notion -that the text, as we now have it, was written in 1786, is this 1787 -sonnet on Miss Maria Williams. It is not only dated authoritatively, -but it was _published_ in 1787; and therefore serves (as nothing else -can until we come to 1793) as evidence in regard to the development of -his poetic power. The translation of Francis Wrangham’s lines--which -he called _The Birth of Love_--in 1795, is further evidence in the -same direction. No doubt there were many poor poetic utterances by -Wordsworth later in life--failures in his manhood, as dismal as the -“Walford Tragedy” was in his youth--but I think that the _Lines written -in very early Youth_, and the _Extract from the Poem composed in -anticipation of leaving School_, were rehandled by him, and the text -greatly improved before they were first published. The late Mr. J. -Dykes Campbell wrote to me in 1892: “Poets tell dreadful fibs about -their early verses--as witness S.T.C. who declared he wrote _The Advent -of Love_ at fifteen! I _know_ he didn’t, and am going to print one or -two of his prize school verses of that age, which I have found in his -own fifteen-year-old fist.”--ED. - -[338] I should add, in a footnote, that I have no knowledge of the -source whence Mr. Campbell derived this; but I am sure that it must -have reached him from an authentic one.--ED. - - -LINES WRITTEN BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH AS A SCHOOL EXERCISE AT HAWKSHEAD, -ANNO ÆTATIS 14 - -In the “Autobiographical Memoranda”--dictated at Rydal Mount in -1847--Wordsworth said, “The first verses which I wrote were a task -imposed by my master: the subject _The Summer Vacation_, and of my -own accord I added others upon _Return to School_. There was nothing -remarkable in either poem; but I was called upon, among other scholars, -to write verses upon the completion of the second century from the -foundation of the school in 1585, by Archbishop Sandys. These verses -were much admired, far more than they deserved, for they were but a -tame imitation of Pope’s versification, and a little in his style. -This exercise, however, put it into my head to compose verses from the -impulse of my own mind; and I wrote, while yet a schoolboy, a long poem -running upon my own adventures, and the scenery of the county in which -I was brought up.” - -The _Summer Vacation_, and the _Return to School_, were destroyed by -Wordsworth.--ED. - - And has the Sun his flaming chariot driven - Two hundred times around the ring of heaven, - Since Science first, with all her sacred train, - Beneath yon roof began her heavenly reign? - While thus I mused, methought, before mine eyes, 5 - The Power of EDUCATION seemed to rise; - Not she whose rigid precepts trained the boy - Dead to the sense of every finer joy; - Nor that vile wretch who bade the tender age - Spurn Reason’s law and humour Passion’s rage; 10 - But she who trains the generous British youth - In the bright paths of fair majestic Truth: - Emerging slow from Academus’ grove - In heavenly majesty she seem’d to move. - Stern was her forehead, but a smile serene 15 - “Soften’d the terrors of her awful mien.”[339] - Close at her side were all the powers, design’d - To curb, exalt, reform the tender mind: - With panting breast, now pale as winter snows, - Now flushed as Hebe, Emulation rose; 20 - Shame follow’d after with reverted eye, - And hue far deeper than the Tyrian dye; - Last Industry appear’d with steady pace, - A smile sat beaming on her pensive face. - I gazed upon the visionary train, 25 - Threw back my eyes, return’d, and gazed again. - When lo! the heavenly goddess thus began, - Through all my frame the pleasing accents ran. - - When Superstition left the golden light - And fled indignant to the shades of night; 30 - When pure Religion rear’d the peaceful breast - And lull’d the warring passions into rest, - Drove far away the savage thoughts that roll - In the dark mansions of the bigot’s soul, - Enlivening Hope display’d her cheerful ray, 35 - And beam’d on Britain’s sons a brighter day, - So when on Ocean’s face the storm subsides, - Hush’d are the winds and silent are the tides; - The God of day, in all the pomp of light, - Moves through the vault of heaven, and dissipates the night; 40 - Wide o’er the main a trembling lustre plays, - The glittering waves reflect the dazzling blaze; - Science with joy saw Superstition fly - Before the lustre of Religion’s eye; - With rapture she beheld Britannia smile, 45 - Clapp’d her strong wings, and sought the cheerful isle. - The shades of night no more the soul involve, - She sheds her beam, and, lo! the shades dissolve; - No jarring monks, to gloomy cell confined, - With mazy rules perplex the weary mind; 50 - No shadowy forms entice the soul aside, - Secure she walks, Philosophy her guide. - Britain, who long her warriors had adored, - And deemed all merit centred in the sword; - Britain, who thought to stain the field was fame, 55 - Now honour’d Edward’s less than Bacon’s name. - Her sons no more in listed fields advance - To ride the ring, or toss the beamy lance; - No longer steel their indurated hearts - To the mild influence of the finer arts; 60 - Quick to the secret grotto they retire - To court majestic truth, or wake the golden lyre; - By generous Emulation taught to rise, - The seats of learning brave the distant skies. - Then noble Sandys, inspir’d with great design, 65 - Rear’d Hawkshead’s happy roof, and call’d it mine; - There have I loved to show the tender age - The golden precepts of the classic page; - To lead the mind to those Elysian plains - Where, throned in gold, immortal Science reigns; 70 - Fair to the view is sacred Truth display’d, - In all the majesty of light array’d, - To teach, on rapid wings, the curious soul - To roam from heaven to heaven, from pole to pole, - From thence to search the mystic cause of things 75 - And follow Nature to her secret springs; - Nor less to guide the fluctuating youth - Firm in the sacred paths of moral truth, - To regulate the mind’s disorder’d frame, - And quench the passions kindling into flame; 80 - The glimmering fires of Virtue to enlarge, - And purge from Vice’s dross my tender charge. - Oft have I said, the paths of Fame pursue, - And all that virtue dictates, dare to do; - Go to the world, peruse the book of man, 85 - And learn from thence thy own defects to scan; - Severely honest, break no plighted trust, - But coldly rest not here--be more than just; - Join to the rigours of the sires of Rome - The gentler manners of the private dome; 90 - When Virtue weeps in agony of woe, - Teach from the heart the tender tear to flow; - If Pleasure’s soothing song thy soul entice, - Or all the gaudy pomp of splendid Vice, - Arise superior to the Siren’s power, 95 - The wretch, the short-lived vision of an hour; - Soon fades her cheek, her blushing beauties fly, - As fades the chequer’d bow that paints the sky, - So shall thy sire, whilst hope his breast inspires, - And wakes anew life’s glimmering trembling fires, 100 - Hear Britain’s sons rehearse thy praise with joy, - Look up to heaven, and bless his darling boy. - If e’er these precepts quell’d the passions’ strife, - If e’er they smooth’d the rugged walks of life, - If e’er they pointed forth the blissful way 105 - That guides the spirit to eternal day, - Do thou, if gratitude inspire thy breast, - Spurn the soft fetters of lethargic rest. - Awake, awake! and snatch the slumbering lyre, - Let this bright morn and Sandys the song inspire. 110 - - I look’d obedience: the celestial Fair - Smiled like the morn, and vanished into air. - -[339] This quotation I am unable to trace--ED. - - - - -1792 (or earlier) - - -“SWEET WAS THE WALK ALONG THE NARROW LANE” - -This sonnet is found in one of Dorothy Wordsworth’s letters to her -friend Miss Jane Polland, written from Forncett Rectory, on 6th May -1792. She wrote:-- - -“I promised to transcribe some of William’s compositions. As I made -the promise I will give you a little sonnet, but all the same I charge -you, as you value our friendship, not to read it, or to show it to -any one--to your sister, or any other person.… I take the first that -offers. It is only valuable to me because the lane which gave birth to -it was the favourite evening walk of my dear William and me.” … “I have -not chosen this sonnet because of any particular beauty it has; it was -the first I laid my hands upon.”--ED. - - Sweet was the walk along the narrow lane - At noon, the bank and hedgerows all the way - Shagged with wild pale green tufts of fragrant hay, - Caught by the hawthorns from the loaded wain - Which Age, with many a slow stoop, strove to gain; 5 - And Childhood seeming still more busy, took - His little rake with cunning sidelong look, - Sauntering to pluck the strawberries wild unseen. - _Now_ too, on melancholy’s idle dream - Musing, the lone spot with my soul agrees 10 - Quiet and dark; for through the thick-wove trees - Scarce peeps the curious star till solemn gleams - The clouded moon, and calls me forth to stray - Through tall green silent woods and ruins grey. - - -“WHEN LOVE WAS BORN OF HEAVENLY LINE” - -Composed 1795 (or earlier).--Published 1795 - -Translated from some French stanzas by Francis Wrangham, and Printed -in _Poems by Francis Wrangham_, M.A., Member of Trinity College, -Cambridge, London (1795), Sold by J. Mawman, 22 Poultry, pp. 106-111. -In the edition of 1795, the original French lines are printed side by -side with Wordsworth’s translation, which closes the volume.--ED. - - When Love was born of heavenly line, - What dire intrigues disturb’d Cythera’s joy! - Till Venus cried, “A mother’s heart is mine; - None but myself shall nurse my boy.” - - But, infant as he was, the child 5 - In that divine embrace enchanted lay; - And, by the beauty of the vase beguiled, - Forgot the beverage--and pined away. - - “And must my offspring languish in my sight?” - (Alive to all a mother’s pain, 10 - The Queen of Beauty thus her court address’d) - “No: Let the most discreet of all my train - Receive him to her breast: - Think all, he is the God of young delight.” - - Then TENDERNESS with CANDOUR join’d, 15 - And GAIETY the charming office sought; - Nor even DELICACY stay’d behind: - But none of those fair Graces brought - Wherewith to nurse the child--and still he pined. - Some fond hearts to COMPLIANCE seem’d inclined; 20 - But she had surely spoil’d the boy: - And sad experience forbade a thought - On the wild Goddess of VOLUPTUOUS JOY. - - Long undecided lay th’ important choice, - Till of the beauteous court, at length, a voice 25 - Pronounced the name of HOPE:--The conscious child - Stretch’d forth his little arms, and smiled.[340] - - ’Tis said ENJOYMENT (who averr’d - The charge belong’d to her alone) - Jealous that HOPE had been preferr’d 30 - Laid snares to make the babe her own. - - Of INNOCENCE the garb she took, - The blushing mien and downcast look; - And came her services to proffer: - And HOPE (what has not Hope believed!) 35 - By that seducing air deceived, - Accepted of the offer. - - It happen’d that, to sleep inclined, - Deluded HOPE for one short hour - To that false INNOCENCE’S power 40 - Her little charge consign’d. - - The Goddess then her lap with sweetmeats fill’d - And gave, in handfuls gave, the treacherous store: - A wild delirium first the infant thrill’d; - But soon upon her breast he sunk--to wake no more. 45 - -[340] Compare Gray’s _Progress of Poesy_, iii. I. 87-- - - The dauntless child - Stretch’d forth his little arms, and smiled. - -ED. - - -THE CONVICT - -Composed (?).--Published 1798 - - The glory of evening was spread through the west; - --On the slope of a mountain I stood, - While the joy that precedes the calm season of rest - Rang loud through the meadow and wood. - - “And must we then part from a dwelling so fair?” 5 - In the pain of my spirit I said, - And with a deep sadness I turned, to repair - To the cell where the convict is laid. - - The thick-ribbed walls that o’ershadow the gate - Resound; and the dungeons unfold: 10 - I pause; and at length, through the glimmering grate, - That outcast of pity behold. - - His black matted hair on his shoulder is bent, - And deep is the sigh of his breath, - And with stedfast dejection his eyes are intent 15 - On the fetters that link him to death. - - ’Tis sorrow enough on that visage to gaze, - That body dismiss’d from his care; - Yet my fancy has pierced to his heart, and pourtrays - More terrible images there. 20 - - His bones are consumed, and his life-blood is dried, - With wishes the past to undo; - And his crime, through the pains that o’erwhelm him, descried, - Still blackens and grows on his view. - - When from the dark synod, or blood-reeking field, 25 - To his chamber the monarch is led, - All soothers of sense their soft virtue shall yield, - And quietness pillow his head. - - But if grief, self-consumed, in oblivion would doze, - And conscience her tortures appease, 30 - ’Mid tumult and uproar this man must repose, - In the comfortless vault of disease. - - When his fetters at night have so press’d on his limbs, - That the weight can no longer be borne, - If, while a half-slumber his memory bedims, 35 - The wretch on his pallet should turn, - - While the jail-mastiff howls at the dull clanking chain, - From the roots of his hair there shall start - A thousand sharp punctures of cold-sweating pain, - And terror shall leap at his heart. 40 - - But now he half-raises his deep-sunken eye, - And the motion unsettles a tear; - The silence of sorrow it seems to supply, - And asks of me why I am here. - - “Poor victim! no idle intruder has stood 45 - With o’erweening complacence our state to compare, - But one, whose first wish is the wish to be good, - Is come as a brother thy sorrows to share. - - “At thy name though compassion her nature resign, - Though in virtue’s proud mouth thy report be a stain, 50 - My care, if the arm of the mighty were mine, - Would plant thee where yet thou might’st blossom again.” - - - - -1798 - - -“THE SNOW-TRACKS OF MY FRIENDS I SEE” - -The following incomplete stanzas were evidently written when _The -Complaint of a Forsaken Indian Woman_ was being composed. They were all -discarded, but have a biographical interest. I assign them to the year -1798.--ED. - - The snow-tracks of my friends I see, - Their foot-marks do not trouble me, - For ever left alone am I. - Then wherefore should I fear to die? - They to the last my friends did cherish 5 - And to the last were good and kind, - Methinks ’tis strange I did not perish - The moment I was left behind. - - Why do I watch those running deer? - And wherefore, wherefore come they here? 10 - And wherefore do I seem to love - The things that live, the things that move? - Why do I look upon the sky? - I do not live for what I see. - Why open thus mine eyes? To die 15 - Is all that now is left for me, - If I could smother up my heart - My life would then at once depart. - My friends, you live, and yet you seem - To me the people of a dream; 20 - A dream in which there is no love, - And yet, my friends, you live and move. - - When I could live without a pain, - And feel no wish to be alive, - In quiet hopelessness I sleep, 25 - Alas! how quiet, and how deep! - - Oh no! I do not, cannot rue, - I did not strive to follow you. - I might have dropp’d, and died alone - On unknown snows, a spot unknown. 30 - This spot to me must needs be dear, - Of my dear friends I see the trace. - You saw me, friends, you laid me here, - You know where my poor bones shall be, - Then wherefore should I fear to die? 35 - Alas that one beloved, forlorn, - Should lie beneath the cold starlight! - With them I think I could have borne - The journey of another night, - And with my friends now far away 40 - I could have lived another day. - - -THE OLD CUMBERLAND BEGGAR - -MS. Variants, not inserted in Vol. I. - - (l. 3) On a small pile of humble masonry - Placed at the foot of … - - (l. 24) He travels on, a solitary man. - His age has no companion. He is weak, - So helpless in appearance that, for him - The sauntering horseman-traveller does not throw - With careless hand his pence upon the ground - But stops that he may lodge the coin - Safe in the old man’s hat: nor quits him so, - But as he goes towards him turns a look - Sidelong and half-reverted.… - - - - -1800 - - -ANDREW JONES - -Composed 1800.--Published 1800 - -_Andrew Jones_ was included in the “Lyrical Ballads” of 1800, 1802, -1805, and in the Poems of 1815. It was also printed in _The Morning -Post_, February 10, 1801. It was not republished after 1815. With this -poem compare _The Old Cumberland Beggar_.--ED. - - I hate that Andrew Jones; he’ll breed - His children up to waste and pillage. - I wish the press-gang or the drum - Would with its rattling music come,[341] - And sweep him from the village! 5 - - I said not this, because he loves - Through the long day to swear and tipple; - But for the poor dear sake of one - To whom a foul deed he had done, - A friendless man, a travelling cripple! 10 - For this poor crawling helpless wretch - Some horseman who was passing by,[342] - A penny on the ground had thrown; - But the poor cripple was alone - And could not stoop--no help was nigh. 15 - - Inch-thick the dust lay on the ground - For it had long been droughty weather; - So with his staff the cripple wrought - Among the dust till he had brought - The half-pennies together. 20 - - It chanced that Andrew passed that way - Just at the time; and there he found - The cripple in the mid-day heat - Standing alone, and at his feet - He saw the penny on the ground. 25 - - He stooped and took the penny up:[343] - And when the cripple nearer drew, - Quoth Andrew, “Under half-a-crown, - What a man finds is all his own, - And so, my friend, good-day to you.” 30 - - And _hence_ I said, that Andrew’s boys - Will all be trained to waste and pillage: - And wished the press-gang, or the drum - Would with its rattling music come,[344] - And sweep him from the village! 35 - -[341] 1815. - - With its tantara sound would come, - - 1800. - -[342] - - It chanc’d some Traveller passing by, - - MS. - -[343] In the text of 1800, this line is, “He stopped and took the -penny up,” but in the list of _errata_, “stooped” is substituted for -“stopped.”--ED. - -[344] 1815. - - With its tantara sound would come - - 1800. - - -“THERE IS A SHAPELESS CROWD OF UNHEWN STONES” - -Numerous fragments of verse, more or less unfinished, occur in the -Grasmere Journals, written by Dorothy Wordsworth. One of these--which -is broken up into irregular fragments, and very incomplete--is -evidently part of the material which was written about the old Cumbrian -shepherd Michael. The successive alterations of the text of the poem -_Michael_ are in the Grasmere Journal. These fragments have a special -topographical interest, from their description of Helvellyn, and its -spring, the fountain of the mists, and the stones on the summit. On the -outside leather cover of the MS. book there is written, “May to Dec. -1802.” - -The following lines come first:-- - - There is a shapeless crowd of unhewn stones[345] - That lie together, some in heaps, and some - In lines, that seem to keep themselves alive - In the last dotage of a dying form. - At least so seems it to a man who stands - In such a lonely place. - -These are followed by a few lines, some of which were afterwards used -in _The Prelude_ (see vol. iii. p. 269):-- - - Shall he who gives his days to low pursuits, - Amid the undistinguishable crowd - Of cities, ’mid the same eternal flow - Of the same objects, melted and reduced - To one identity, by differences - That have no law, no meaning, and no end, - Shall he feel yearning to those lifeless forms, - And shall we think that Nature is less kind - To those, who all day long, through a long life, - Have walked within her sight? It cannot be. - - Mary Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth, - William Wordsworth. - Sat. Eve., 20 past 6, May 29. - -Other fragments follow, less worthy of preservation. Then the passage, -which occurs in book xiii. of _The Prelude_, beginning-- - - There are who think that strong affection, love, - -(see vol. iii. p. 361), with one or two variations from the final text, -which were not improvements. - -Five lines on Helvellyn, afterwards included in the _Musings near -Aquapendente_ (see vol. viii. p. 47, ll. 61-65), come next. - -The fragments referring to _Michael_ are written down, probably just -as the brother dictated them to his sister, and would be--if not -unintelligible--certainly without any literary connection or unity, -were they printed in the order in which they occur. I therefore -transpose them slightly, to give something like continuity to the -whole; which remains, of course, a torso. - - I will relate a tale for those who love - To lie beside the lonely mountain brooks, - And hear the voices of the winds and flowers. - … - … It befell - At the first falling of the autumnal snows, - Old Michael and his son one day went forth - In search of a stray sheep. It was the time - When from the heights our shepherds drive their flocks - To gather all their mountain family - Into the homestalls, ere they send them back - There to defend themselves the winter long. - Old Michael for this purpose had driven down - His flock into the vale, but as it chanced, - A single sheep was wanting. They had sought - The straggler during all the previous day - All over their own pastures, and beyond. - And now at sunrise, sallying forth again - Far did they go that morning: with their search - Beginning towards the south, where from Dove Crag - (Ill home for bird so gentle), they looked down - On Deep-dale-head, and Brothers water (named - From those two Brothers that were drowned therein); - Thence northward did they pass by Arthur’s seat,[346] - And Fairfield’s highest summit, on the right - Leaving St. Sunday’s Crag, to Grisdale tarn - They shot, and over that cloud-loving hill, - Seat-Sandal, a fond lover of the clouds; - Thence up Helvellyn, a superior mount, - With prospect underneath of Striding edge, - And Grisdale’s houseless vale, along the brink - Of Sheep-cot-cove, and those two other coves, - Huge skeletons of crags which from the coast - Of old Helvellyn spread their arms abroad - And make a stormy harbour for the winds. - Far went these shepherds in their devious quest, - From mountain ridges peeping as they passed - Down into every nook; … - … and many a sheep - On height or bottom[347] did they see, in flocks - Or single. And although it needs must seem - Hard to believe, yet could they well discern - Even at the utmost distance of two miles - (Such strength of vision to the shepherd’s eye - Doth practice give) that neither in the flocks - Nor in the single sheep was what they sought. - So to Helvellyn’s eastern side they went, - Down looking on that hollow, where the pool - Of Thirlmere flashes like a warrior’s shield - His light high up among the gloomy rocks, - With sight of now and then a straggling gleam - On Armath’s[348] pleasant fields. And now they came, - To that high spring which bears no human name, - As one unknown by others, aptly called - The fountain of the mists. The father stooped - To drink of the clear water, laid himself - Flat on the ground, even as a boy might do, - To drink of the cold well. When in like sort - His son had drunk, the old man said to him - That now he might be proud, for he that day - Had slaked his thirst out of a famous well, - The highest fountain known on British land. - Thence, journeying on a second time, they passed - Those small flat stones, which, ranged by traveller’s hands - In cyphers on Helvellyn’s highest ridge, - Lie loose on the bare turf, some half-o’ergrown - By the grey moss, but not a single stone - Unsettled by a wanton blow from foot - Of shepherd, man or boy. They have respect - For strangers who have travelled far perhaps, - For men who in such places, feeling there - The grandeur of the earth, have left inscribed - Their epitaph, which rain and snow - And the strong wind have reverenced. - … - But soon as Luke, full ten years old, could stand - Against the mountain blasts, and to the heights - Not fearing toil, nor length of weary ways, - He with his Father daily went, and they - Were as companions, why should I relate - That objects which the shepherd lov’d before - Were dearer now? that from the Boy there came - Feelings and emanations, things which were - Light to the sun and music to the wind; - And that the old man’s heart seem’d born again? - Thus in his Father’s sight the Boy grew up; - And now when he had reached his eighteenth year, - He was his comfort and his daily hope. - … - Though often thus industriously they passed[349] - Whole hours with but small interchange of speech, - Yet were there times in which they did not want - Discourse both wise and pleasant,[350] shrewd remarks - Of moral prudence,[351] clothed in images - Lively and beautiful, in rural forms, - That made their conversation fresh and fair - As is a landscape; and the shepherd oft - Would draw out of his heart the mysteries[352] - And admirations that were there, of God - And of his works: or, yielding to the bent - Of his peculiar humour, would let loose - His tongue, and give it the wind’s freedom; then, - Discoursing on remote imaginations, strong - Conceits, devices, plans, and schemes,[353] - Of alterations human hands might make - Among the mountains, fens which might be drained, - Mines opened, forests planted, and rocks split, - The fancies of a solitary man.[354] - Not with a waste of words, but for the sake - Of pleasure which I know that I shall give - To many living now, have I described - Old Michael’s manners and discourse, and thus - Minutely spoken of that aged Lamp - Round which the Shepherd and his household sate - --The light was famous in the neighbourhood - And was a public symbol … - -Then follow four pages of Dorothy Wordsworth’s Journal (May 4th and -5th, 1802); and then, irregularly written, and with numerous erasures, -the remainder of these unpublished lines. - - … At length the boy - Said, “Father, ’tis lost labour; with your leave - I will go back and range a second time - The grounds which we have hunted through before.” - So saying, homeward, down the hill the boy - Sprang like a gust of wind: [and with a heart - Brimful of glory said within himself, - “I know where I shall find him, though the storm - Have driven him twenty miles.” - For ye must know][355] that though the storm - Drive one of those poor creatures miles and miles, - If he can crawl, he will return again - To his own hills, the spots where when a lamb - He learned to pasture at his mother’s side. - Bethinking him of this, again the boy - Pursued his way toward a brook, whose course - Was through that unfenced tract of mountain ground - Which to his father’s little farm belonged, - The home and ancient birthright of their flock. - Down the deep channel of the stream he went, - Prying through every nook. Meanwhile the rain - Began to fall upon the mountain tops, - Thick storm, and heavy, which for three hours’ space - Abated not; and all that time the boy - Was busy in his search, until at length - He spied the sheep upon a plot of grass, - An island in the brook. It was a place - Remote and deep, piled round with rocks, where foot - Of man or beast was seldom used to tread. - But now, when everywhere the summer grass - Began to fail, this sheep by hunger pressed - Had left his fellows, made his way alone - To the green plot of pasture in the brook. - Before the boy knew well what he had seen - He leapt upon the island, with proud heart, - And with a shepherd’s joy. Immediately - The sheep sprang forward to the further shore, - And was borne headlong by the roaring flood. - At this the boy looked round him, and his heart - Fainted with fear. Thrice did he turn his face - To either bank, nor could he summon up - The courage that was needful to leap back - ’Cross the tempestuous torrent; so he stood - A prisoner on the island, not without - More than one thought of death, and his last hour. - Meantime the father had returned alone - To his own home, and now at the approach - Of evening he went forth to meet his son, - Nor could he guess the cause for which the boy - Had stayed so long. The shepherd took his way - Up his own mountain grounds, where, as he walked - Along the steep that overhung the brook, - He seemed to hear a voice, which was again - Repeated, like the whistling of a kite. - At this, not knowing why--as often-times - The old man afterwards was heard to say-- - Down to the brook he went, and tracked its course - Upwards among the o’erhanging rocks; nor - Had he gone far ere he espied the boy - Right in the middle of the roaring stream. - Without distress or fear the shepherd heard - The outcry of his son: he stretched his staff - Towards him, bade him leap, which word scarce said - The boy was safe.… - … - -Of Michael it is said-- - - No doubt if you in terms direct had asked - Whether he loved the mountains, true it is - That with blunt repetition of your words - He might have stared at you, and said that they - Were frightful to behold, but had you then - Discoursed with him … - Of his own business, and the goings on - Of earth and sky, then truly had you seen - That in his thoughts there were obscurities, - Wonder, and admiration, things that wrought - Not less than a religion in his heart. - And if it was his fortune to converse - With any who could talk of common things - In an unusual way, and give to them - Unusual aspects, or by questions apt - Wake sudden recognitions, that were like - Creations in the mind (and were indeed - Creations often), then when he discoursed - Of mountain sights, this untaught shepherd stood - Before the man with whom he so conversed - And looked at him as with a poet’s eye. - But speaking of the vale in which he dwelt, - And those bare rocks, if you had asked if he - For other pastures would exchange the same - And dwell elsewhere, … - … you then had seen - At once what spirit of love was in his heart. - … - I have related that this Shepherd loved - The fields and mountains, not alone for this - That from his very childhood he had lived - Among them, with a body hale and stout, - And with a vigorous mind … - … But exclude - Such reasons, and he had less cause to love - His native vale and patrimonial fields - Than others have, for Michael had liv’d on - Childless, until the time when he began - To look towards the shutting in of life. - -In this MS. book there are also some of the original stanzas of _Ruth_, -with a few variations of text.--ED. - -[345] Compare the first line of those _Written with a Slate Pencil upon -a Stone, the largest of a Heap lying near a deserted Quarry, upon one -of the Islands at Rydal_, vol. ii. p. 63.--ED. - -[346] Stone Arthur. See, in the “Poems on the Naming of Places,” the -one beginning-- - - There is an Eminence, - -ED. - -[347] Bottom is a common Cumbrian word for valley.--ED. - -[348] Armboth, on the western side of Thirlmere.--ED. - -[349] Though in these occupations they would pass† - -[350] … prudent, …† - -[351] Of daily Providence …† - -[352] … obscurities† - -[353] Day-dreams, thoughts, and schemes.† - -† These variants occur in a letter of Dorothy Wordsworth to Thomas -Poole.--ED. - -[354] All doubt as to these fragments being originally intended to form -part of _Michael_ is set at rest by a letter from Wordsworth to Thomas -Poole, of Nether Stowey, written from Grasmere on the 9th of April -1801, in which he gives first some new lines to be added to _Michael_, -at pp. 210 and 211 of vol. ii. of the “Lyrical Ballads” (ed. 1800); to -which letter Dorothy Wordsworth added the postscript, “My brother has -written the following lines, to be inserted page 206, after the ninth -line-- - - Murmur as with the sound of summer flies;” - -and then follow-- - - Though in these occupations they would pass - Whole hours, etc. - -as printed above. - -Dorothy Wordsworth adds, “Tell whether you think the insertion of these -lines an improvement.”--ED. - -[355] An erased version.--ED. - - - - -1802 - - -“AMONG ALL LOVELY THINGS MY LOVE HAD BEEN” - -Composed April 12, 1802.--Published 1807 - -This poem--known in the Wordsworth household as _The Glowworm_--was -written on the 12th of April 1802, during a ride from Middleham to -Barnard Castle, and was published in the edition of 1807. It was never -reproduced. The “Lucy” of this and other poems was his sister Dorothy. -In a letter to Coleridge, written in April 1802, he thus refers to -the poem, and to the incident which gave rise to it:--“I parted from -M---- on Monday afternoon, about six o’clock, a little on this side -Rushyford. Soon after I missed my road in the midst of the storm.… -Between the beginning of Lord Darlington’s park at Raby, and two or -three miles beyond Staindrop, I composed the poem the opposite page. I -reached Barnard Castle about half-past ten.… The incident of this poem -took place about seven years ago between my sister and me.” - -I think it probable that the “incident” occurred near Racedown, -Dorsetshire, where, in the autumn of 1795 Wordsworth settled with his -sister. The following is Dorothy’s account of the composition of the -poem:--“Tuesday, April 20, 1802.--We sate in the orchard and repeated -_The Glowworm_, and other poems. Just when William came to a well, or -trough, which there is in Lord Darlington’s park, he began to write -that poem of _The Glowworm_; interrupted in going through the town of -Staindrop, finished it about two miles and a-half beyond Staindrop. He -did not feel the jogging of the horse while he was writing; but, when -he had done, he felt the effect of it.… So much for _The Glowworm_. It -was written coming from Middleham, on Monday, April 12, 1802.”--ED. - - Among all lovely things my Love had been; - Had noted well the stars, all flowers that grew - About her home; but she had never seen - A glow-worm, never one, and this I knew. - - While riding near her home one stormy night 5 - A single glow-worm did I chance to espy; - I gave a fervent welcome to the sight, - And from my horse I leapt; great joy had I. - - Upon a leaf the glow-worm did I lay, - To bear it with me through the stormy night: 10 - And, as before, it shone without dismay; - Albeit putting forth a fainter light. - - When to the dwelling of my Love I came, - I went into the orchard quietly; - And left the glow-worm, blessing it by name, 15 - Laid safely by itself, beneath a tree. - - The whole next day I hoped, and hoped with fear; - At night the glow-worm shone beneath the tree; - I led my Lucy to the spot, “Look here,” - Oh! joy it was for her, and joy for me! 20 - - -“ALONG THE MAZES OF THIS SONG I GO” - -This, and the next two fragments, by Wordsworth, are extracted from his -sister’s Grasmere Journal.--ED. - - Along the mazes of this song I go - As inward motions of the wandering thought - Lead me, or outward circumstance impels. - Thus do I urge a never-ending way - Year after year, with many a sleep between, - Through joy and sorrow; if my lot be joy - More joyful if it be with sorrow sooth’d. - - -“THE RAINS AT LENGTH HAVE CEAS’D, THE WINDS ARE STILL’D” - - The rains at length have ceas’d, the winds are still’d, - The stars shine brightly between clouds at rest, - And as a cavern is with darkness fill’d, - The vale is by a mighty sound possess’d - - -“WITNESS THOU” - - Witness thou - The dear companion of my lonely walk, - My hope, my joy, my sister, and my friend, - Or something dearer still, if reason knows - A dearer thought, or in the heart of love - There be a dearer name.[356] - -[356] Compare Byron’s _Epistle to Augusta_-- - - My sister! my sweet sister! if a name - Dearer and purer were, it should be thine. - -It is a mere coincidence, as Byron could not have seen the Wordsworth -MS.--ED. - - -WILD-FOWL - - The order’d troops - In spiral circles mount aloft, and soar - In prospect far above the denser air - That hangs o’er the moist plain. Again they view - The glorious sun, and while the light of day - Still gleams upon their polish’d plumes--the bright - Sonorous squadrons sing their evening hymn. - - -WRITTEN IN A GROTTO - -Published in _The Morning Post_, March 9, 1802 - -I cannot affirm, with any certainty, that these lines were written by -Wordsworth; but I agree with Mr. Ernest Coleridge in thinking that they -were. He showed them to his relative--the late Chief Justice--who said -that he did not know who else _could_ have written them, at that time. -Lord Coleridge said the same to myself.--ED. - - O moon! if e’er I joyed when thy soft light - Danc’d to the murmuring rill on Lomond’s wave, - Or sighed for thy sweet presence some dark night - When thou wert hidden in thy monthly grave,[357] - If e’er on wings which active fancy gave 5 - I sought thy golden vale with dancing flight - Then stretcht at ease in some sequestered cave - Gaz’d on thy lovely Nymphs with fond delight, - Thy Nymphs with more than earthly beauty bright, - If e’er thy beam, as Smyrna’s shepherds tell, 10 - Soft as the gentle kiss of amorous maid - On the closed eye of young Endymion fell[358] - That he might wake to clasp thee in the shade, - Each night while I recline within this cell - Guide hither, O sweet Moon, the maid I love so well. 15 - -The shepherds of Smyrna show a cave, where, as they say, Luna descended -to Endymion, laid on a bed under a large oak which was the scene of -their loves. See Chandler’s _Travels in Asia Minor_. - -[357] Compare _To the Moon_, vol. viii. p. 15, l. 64.--ED. - -[358] Compare, in the “Evening Voluntaries,” _To Lucca Giordano_ -(1846), p. 183.--ED. - - -HOME AT GRASMERE - -The canto of Wordsworth’s autobiographical poem, unpublished in _The -Prelude_ (1851), and first given to the world in 1888, is appropriately -entitled “Home at Grasmere.” - -The introduction to _The Recluse_ was not only kept back by him during -his lifetime, but was omitted by his representatives--with what must be -regarded as true critical insight--when _The Prelude_ was published in -1850. As a whole, it is not equal to _The Prelude_. Certain passages -are very inferior, but there are others that posterity must cherish, -and “not willingly let die.” It was probably a conviction of its -inequality and inferiority that led Wordsworth to give only one or two -selected extracts from this canto to the world, in his own lifetime. -Two passages were printed in his _Guide to the District of the Lakes_; -another--a description of the flight and movement of birds--was -published in 1827, and subsequent editions, under the title of -_Water-Fowl_; while the Bishop of Lincoln published other two passages -in the _Memoirs_ of his uncle, beginning respectively-- - - On Nature’s invitation do I come, - -and - - Bleak season was it, turbulent and bleak. - -Internal evidence (see the numerous allusions to Dorothy, and the -reference to John Wordsworth) shows that this canto of _The Recluse_ -was written at Grasmere, not long after Wordsworth’s arrival there, -and certainly before his marriage. The text, as now printed, has been -carefully compared with the original MS. by Mr. Gordon Wordsworth. The -MS. heading is--THE RECLUSE. BOOK FIRST, PART FIRST. - -HOME AT GRASMERE - - Once to the verge of yon steep barrier came - A roving school-boy; what the Adventurer’s age - Hath now escaped his memory--but the hour, - One of a golden summer holiday, - He well remembers, though the year be gone. 5 - Alone and devious from afar he came; - And, with a sudden influx overpowered - At sight of this seclusion, he forgot - His haste, for hasty had his footsteps been - As boyish his pursuits; and, sighing said, 10 - “What happy fortune were it here to live! - And, (if a thought of dying, if a thought - Of mortal separation, could intrude - With paradise before him), here to die!” - No prophet was he, had not even a hope, 15 - Scarcely a wish, but one bright pleasing thought, - A fancy in the heart of what might be - The lot of others, never could be his. - The station whence he looked was soft and green, - Not giddy yet aerial, with a depth 20 - Of vale below, a height of hills above. - For rest of body, perfect was the spot, - All that luxurious nature could desire, - But stirring to the spirit. Who could gaze - And not feel motions there? He thought of clouds 25 - That sail on winds, of breezes that delight - To play on water, or in endless chase - Pursue each other through the yielding plain - Of grass or corn, over and through and through, - In billow after billow, evermore 30 - Disporting. Nor unmindful was the Boy - Of sunbeams, shadows, butterflies and birds, - Of fluttering Sylphs, and softly-gliding Fays, - Genii, and winged Angels that are Lords - Without restraint of all which they behold. 35 - The illusion strengthening as he gazed, he felt - That such unfettered liberty was his, - Such power and joy; but only for this end, - To flit from field to rock, from rock to field, - From shore to island, and from isle to shore, 40 - From open ground to covert, from a bed - Of meadow-flowers into a tuft of wood, - From high to low, from low to high, yet still - Within the bound of this high concave; here - Must be his home, this Valley be his world. 45 - Since that day forth the place to him--_to me_ - (For I who live to register the truth - Was that same young and happy being) became - As beautiful to thought, as it had been, - When present, to the bodily sense; a haunt 50 - Of pure affections, shedding upon joy - A brighter joy; and through such damp and gloom - Of the gay mind, as ofttimes splenetic youth - Mistakes for sorrow darting beams of light - That no self-cherished sadness could withstand: 55 - And now ’tis mine, perchance for life, dear Vale, - Beloved Grasmere (let the Wandering Streams - Take up, the cloud-capped hills repeat, the Name), - One of thy lowly dwellings is my Home. - And was the cost so great? and could it seem 60 - An act of courage, and the thing itself - A conquest? who must bear the blame? sage man - Thy prudence, thy experience--thy desires; - Thy apprehensions--blush thou for them all. - Yes, the realities of life so cold, 65 - So cowardly, so ready to betray, - So stinted in the measure of their grace - As we pronounce them, doing them much wrong, - Have been to me more bountiful than hope, - Less timid than desire--but that is passed. 70 - On Nature’s invitation do I come,[359] - By reason sanctioned--Can the choice mislead, - That made the calmest, fairest spot of earth, - With all its unappropriated good, - My own; and not mine only, for with me 75 - Entrenched, say rather peacefully embowered, - Under yon orchard, in yon humble cot, - A younger orphan of a home extinct, - The only daughter of my parents, dwells. - Aye, think on that, my heart, and cease to stir, 80 - Pause upon that, and let the breathing frame - No longer breathe, but all be satisfied. - --Oh if such silence be not thanks to God - For what hath been bestowed, then where, where then - Shall gratitude find rest? Mine eyes did ne’er 85 - Fix on a lovely object, nor my mind - Take pleasure in the midst of happy thoughts, - But either She whom now I have, who now - Divides with me this loved abode, was there, - Or not far off. Where’er my footsteps turned, 90 - Her Voice was like a hidden Bird that sang, - The thought of her was like a flash of light, - Or an _unseen_ companionship, a breath, - Or fragrance independent of the wind. - In all my goings, in the new and old 95 - Of all my meditations, and in this - Favourite of all, in this the most of all. - --What Being, therefore, since the birth of man - Had ever more abundant cause to speak - Thanks, and if favours of the heavenly Muse 100 - Make him more thankful, then to call on verse - To aid him, and in Song resound his joy. - The boon is absolute; surpassing grace - To me hath been vouchsafed; among the bowers - Of blissful Eden this was neither given, 105 - Nor could be given, possession of the good - Which had been sighed for, ancient thought fulfilled - And dear Imaginations realized - Up to their highest measure, yea and more. - Embrace me then, ye Hills, and close me in, 110 - Now in the clear and open day I feel - Your guardianship; I take it to my heart; - ’Tis like the solemn shelter of the night. - But I would call thee beautiful, for mild - And soft, and gay, and beautiful thou art, 115 - Dear Valley, having in thy face a smile - Though peaceful, full of gladness. Thou art pleased, - Pleased with thy crags, and woody steeps, thy Lake, - Its one green Island and its winding shores; - The multitude of little rocky hills, 120 - Thy Church and cottages of mountain stone - Clustered like stars some few, but single most, - And lurking dimly in their shy retreats, - Or glancing at[360] each other cheerful looks, - Like separated stars with clouds between. 125 - What want we? have we not perpetual streams, - Warm woods, and sunny hills, and fresh green fields, - And mountains not less green, and flocks, and herds, - And thickets full of songsters, and the voice - Of lordly birds, an unexpected sound 130 - Heard now and then from morn till latest eve, - Admonishing the man who walks below - Of solitude, and silence in the sky? - These have we, and a thousand nooks of earth - Have also these, but _no_ where else is found, 135 - No where (or is it fancy?) _can_ be found - The one sensation that is here; ’tis here, - Here as it found its way into my heart - In childhood, here as it abides by day, - By night, here only; or in chosen minds 140 - That take it with them hence, where’er they go. - ’Tis, but I cannot name it, ’tis the sense - Of majesty, and beauty, and repose, - A blended holiness of earth and sky, - Something that makes this individual Spot, 145 - This small abiding-place of many men, - A termination, and a last retreat, - A centre, come from wheresoe’er you will, - A whole without dependence or defect, - Made for itself; and happy in itself, 150 - Perfect Contentment, Unity entire. - Bleak season was it, turbulent and bleak,[361] - When hitherward we journeyed, side by side, - Through bursts of sunshine and through flying showers, - Paced the long Vales--how long they were--and yet 155 - How fast that length of way was left behind, - Wensley’s rich Vale and Sedbergh’s naked heights. - The frosty wind, as if to make amends - For its keen breath, was aiding to our steps, - And drove us onward like two ships at sea, 160 - Or like two birds, companions in mid air, - Parted and re-united by the blast. - Stern was the face of Nature. We rejoiced - In that stern countenance, for our souls thence drew - A feeling of their strength. The naked trees, 165 - The icy brooks, as on we passed, appeared - To question us. “Whence come ye? to what end?” - They seemed to say; “What would ye,” said the shower, - “Wild wanderers, whither through my dark domain?” - The sunbeam said, “Be happy.” When this Vale 170 - We entered, bright and solemn was the sky - That faced us with a passionate welcoming, - And led us to our threshold. Daylight failed - Insensibly, and round us gently fell - Composing darkness, with a quiet load 175 - Of full contentment, in a little shed - Disturbed, uneasy in itself as seemed, - And wondering at its new inhabitants. - It loves us now, this Vale so beautiful - Begins to love us! By a sullen storm, 180 - Two months unwearied of severest storm, - It put the temper of our minds to proof, - And found us faithful through the gloom, and heard - The Poet mutter his prelusive songs - With cheerful heart, an unknown voice of joy, 185 - Among the silence of the woods and hills; - Silent to any gladsomeness of sound - With all their Shepherds. - But the gates of Spring - Are opened. Churlish Winter hath given leave - That she should entertain for this one day, 190 - Perhaps for many genial days to come, - His guests, and make them jocund. They are pleased, - But most of all the Birds that haunt the flood - With the mild summons; inmates though they be - Of winter’s household, they keep festival 195 - This day, who drooped, or seemed to droop, so long; - They shew their pleasure, and shall I do less? - Happiest of happy though I be, like them - I cannot take possession of the sky, - Mount with a thoughtless impulse, and wheel there, 200 - One of a mighty multitude, whose way - Is a perpetual harmony, and dance - Magnificent. Behold, how with a grace - Of ceaseless motion,[362] that might scarcely seem - Inferior to angelical, they prolong 205 - Their curious pastime, shaping in mid air, - And sometimes with ambitious wing that soars - High as the level of the mountain tops, - A circuit ampler than the lake beneath, - Their own domain;--but ever, while intent 210 - On tracing and retracing that large round, - Their jubilant activity evolves - Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro, - Upwards and downwards, progress intricate - Yet unperplexed, as if one spirit swayed 215 - Their indefatigable flight. ’Tis done-- - Ten times and more, I fancied it had ceased; - But lo! the vanished company again - Ascending, they approach--I hear their wings - Faint, faint at first; and then an eager sound 220 - Passed in a moment--and as faint again! - They tempt the sun to sport among[363] their plumes; - Tempt the smooth water,[364] or the gleaming ice, - To show them a fair image; ’tis themselves, - Their own fair forms, upon the glimmering plain, 225 - Painted more soft and fair as they descend, - Almost to touch;--then up again aloft, - Up with a sally, and a flash of speed, - As if they scorned both resting-place and rest![365] - This day is a thanksgiving, ’tis a day 230 - Of glad emotion and deep quietness; - Not upon me alone hath been bestowed, - Me rich in many onward-looking thoughts, - The penetrating bliss; oh surely these - Have felt it, not the happy Quires of Spring, 235 - Her own peculiar family of love - That sport among green leaves, a blither train. - But two are missing--two, a lonely pair - Of milk-white Swans, wherefore are _they_ not seen - Partaking this day’s pleasure? From afar 240 - They came, to sojourn here in solitude, - Choosing this Valley, they who had the choice - Of the whole world.[366] We saw them day by day, - Through these two months of unrelenting storm, - Conspicuous at the centre of the Lake, 245 - Their safe retreat. We knew them well, I guess - That the whole Valley knew them; but to us - They were more dear than may be well believed, - Not only for their beauty, and their still - And placid way of life, and constant love 250 - Inseparable, not for these alone, - But that _their_ state so much resembled ours, - They having also chosen this abode; - They strangers, and we strangers; they a pair, - And we a solitary pair like them. 255 - They should not have departed; many days - Did I look forth in vain, nor on the wing - Could see them, nor in that small open space - Of blue unfrozen water, where they lodged, - And lived so long in quiet, side by side. 260 - Shall we behold them, consecrated friends, - Faithful companions, yet another year - Surviving--they for us, and we for them-- - And neither pair be broken? Nay perchance - It is too late already for such hope, 265 - The Dalesmen may have aimed the deadly tube, - And parted them; or haply both are gone - One death, and that were mercy given to both. - Recal my song the ungenerous thought; forgive, - Thrice favoured Region, the conjecture harsh 270 - Of such inhospitable penalty, - Inflicted upon confidence so pure. - Ah, if I wished to follow where the sight - Of all that is before mine eyes, the voice - Which speaks from a presiding Spirit here, 275 - Would lead me, I should whisper to myself; - They who are dwellers in this holy place - Must needs themselves be hallowed, they require - No benediction from the stranger’s lips, - For they are blest already. None would give 280 - The greeting “peace be with you” unto them, - For peace they have, it cannot but be theirs, - And mercy, and forbearance. Nay--not these, - Their healing offices a pure goodwill - Precludes, and charity beyond the bounds 285 - Of charity--an overflowing love, - Not for the creature only, but for all - That is around them, love for every thing - Which in this happy region they behold! - Thus do we soothe ourselves, and when the thought 290 - Is past we blame it not for having come. - What, if I floated down a pleasant Stream - And now am landed, and the motion gone, - Shall I reprove myself? Ah no, the stream - Is flowing, and will never cease to flow,[367] 295 - And I shall float upon that stream again. - By such forgetfulness the soul becomes, - Words cannot say, how beautiful. Then hail, - Hail to the visible Presence, hail to thee, - Delightful Valley, habitation fair! 300 - And to whatever else of outward form - Can give us inward help, can purify, - And elevate, and harmonise, and soothe, - And steal away, and for a while deceive - And lap in pleasing rest, and bear us on 305 - Without desire in full complacency, - Contemplating perfection absolute - And entertained as in a placid sleep. - But not betrayed by tenderness of mind - That feared, or wholly overlooked the truth, 310 - Did we come hither, with romantic hope - To find, in midst of so much loveliness, - Love, perfect love; of so much majesty - A like majestic frame of mind in those - Who here abide, the persons like the place. 315 - Not from such hope, or aught of such belief - Hath issued any portion of the joy - Which I have felt this day. An awful voice, - ’Tis true, hath in my walks been often heard, - Sent from the mountains or the sheltered fields; 320 - Shout after shout--reiterated whoop - In manner of a bird that takes delight - In answering to itself; or like a hound - Single at chase among the lonely woods, - His yell repeating;[368] yet it was in truth 325 - A human voice--a Spirit of coming night, - How solemn when the sky is dark, and earth - Not dark, nor yet enlightened, but by snow - Made visible, amid a noise of winds - And bleatings manifold of mountain sheep, 330 - Which in that iteration recognise - Their summons, and are gathering round for food, - Devoured with keenness ere to grove or bank - Or rocky _bield_ with patience they retire. - That very voice, which, in some timid mood 335 - Of superstitious fancy, might have seemed - Awful as ever stray Demoniac uttered, - His steps to govern in the Wilderness; - Or as the Norman Curfew’s regular beat, - To hearths when first they darkened at the knell: 340 - That Shepherd’s voice, it may have reached mine ear - Debased and under profanation, made - The ready Organ of articulate sounds - From ribaldry, impiety, or wrath - Issuing when shame hath ceased to check the brawls 345 - Of some abused Festivity--so be it. - I came not dreaming of unruffled life, - Untainted manners; born among the hills, - Bred also there, I wanted not a scale - To regulate my hopes. Pleased with the good, 350 - I shrink not from the evil with disgust, - Or with immoderate pain. I look for Man, - The common creature of the brotherhood, - Differing but little from the Man elsewhere, - For selfishness, and envy, and revenge, 355 - Ill neighbourhood--pity that this should be-- - Flattery and double-dealing, strife and wrong. - Yet is it something gained, it is in truth - A mighty gain, that Labour here preserves - His rosy face, a servant only here 360 - Of the fire-side, or of the open field, - A freeman, therefore, sound and unimpaired; - That extreme penury is here unknown, - And cold and hunger’s abject wretchedness, - Mortal to body, and the heaven-born mind; 365 - That they who want, are not too great a weight - For those who can relieve. Here may the heart - Breathe in the air of fellow-suffering - Dreadless, as in a kind of fresher breeze - Of her own native element, the hand 370 - Be ready and unwearied without plea - From tasks too frequent, or beyond its power - For languor, or indifference, or despair. - And as these lofty barriers break the force - Of winds, this deep Vale,--as it doth in part 375 - Conceal us from the storm,--so here abides - A power and a protection for the mind, - Dispensed indeed to other solitudes, - Favoured by noble privilege like this, - Where kindred independence of estate 380 - Is prevalent, where he who tills the field, - He, happy man! is master of the field,[369] - And treads the mountains which his fathers trod. - Not less than half-way up yon Mountain’s side - Behold a dusky spot, a grove of Firs, 385 - That seems still smaller than it is. This grove - Is haunted--by what ghost? a gentle spirit - Of memory faithful to the call of love; - For, as reports the dame, whose fire sends up - Yon curling smoke from the grey cot below, 390 - The trees (her first-born child being then a babe) - Were planted by her husband and herself, - That ranging o’er the high and houseless ground - Their sheep might neither want (from perilous storms - Of winter, nor from summer’s sultry heat) 395 - A friendly covert. “And they knew it well,” - Said she, “for thither as the trees grew up, - We to the patient creatures carried food - In times of heavy snow.” She then began - In fond obedience to her private thoughts 400 - To speak of her dead husband. Is there not - An art, a music, and a strain of words - That shall be like the acknowledged voice of life, - Shall speak of what is done among the fields, - Done truly there, or felt, of solid good 405 - And real evil, yet be sweet withal, - More grateful, more harmonious than the breath, - The idle breath of softest pipe attuned - To pastoral fancies? Is there such a stream, - Pure and unsullied, flowing from the heart 410 - With motions of true dignity and grace? - Or must we seek that stream where Man is not? - Methinks I could repeat in tuneful verse, - Delicious as the gentlest breeze that sounds - Through that aerial fir-grove, could preserve 415 - Some portion of its human history - As gathered from the Matron’s lips, and tell - Of tears that have been shed at sight of it, - And moving dialogues between this pair, - Who in their prime of wedlock, with joint hands 420 - Did plant the grove, now flourishing, while they - No longer flourish, he entirely gone, - She withering in her loneliness. Be this - A task above my skill; the silent mind - Has her own treasures, and I think of these, 425 - Love what I see, and honour humankind. - No, we are not alone, we do not stand, - My Sister, here misplaced and desolate, - Loving what no one cares for but ourselves; - We shall not scatter through the plains and rocks 430 - Of this fair Vale, and o’er its spacious heights - Unprofitable kindliness, bestowed - On objects unaccustomed to the gifts - Of feeling, which were cheerless and forlorn - But few weeks past, and would be so again 435 - Were we not here; we do not tend a lamp - Whose lustre we alone participate, - Which shines dependent upon us alone, - Mortal though bright, a dying, dying flame. - Look where we will, some human hand has been 440 - Before us with its offering; not a tree - Sprinkles these little pastures but the same - Hath furnished matter for a thought; perchance, - For some one, serves as a familiar friend. - Joy spreads, and sorrow spreads; and this whole Vale, 445 - Home of untutored shepherds as it is, - Swarms with sensation, as with gleams of sunshine, - Shadows or breezes, scents or sounds. Nor deem - These feelings, though subservient more than ours - To every day’s demand for daily bread, 450 - And borrowing more their spirit, and their shape - From self-respecting interests, deem them not - Unworthy therefore, and unhallowed: no, - They lift the animal being, do themselves - By Nature’s kind and ever-present aid 455 - Refine the selfishness from which they spring, - Redeem by love the individual sense - Of anxiousness with which they are combined. - And thus it is that fitly they become - Associates in the joy of purest minds, 460 - They blend therewith congenially: meanwhile, - Calmly they breathe their own undying life - Through this their mountain sanctuary. Long, - Oh long may it remain inviolate, - Diffusing health and sober cheerfulness, 465 - And giving to the moments as they pass - Their little boons of animating thought - That sweeten labour, make it seen and felt - To be no arbitrary weight imposed, - But a glad function natural to man. 470 - Fair proof of this, newcomer though I be, - Already have I gained. The inward frame - Though slowly opening, opens every day - With process not unlike to that which cheers - A pensive stranger, journeying at his leisure 475 - Through some Helvetian dell, when low-hung mists - Break up, and are beginning to recede; - How pleased he is where thin and thinner grows - The veil, or where it parts at once, to spy - The dark pines thrusting forth their spiky heads; 480 - To watch the spreading lawns with cattle grazed, - Then to be greeted by the scattered huts, - As they shine out; and _see_ the streams whose murmur - Had soothed his ear while _they_ were hidden: how pleased - To have about him, which way e’er he goes, 485 - Something on every side concealed from view, - In every quarter something visible, - Half-seen or wholly, lost and found again, - Alternate progress and impediment, - And yet a growing prospect in the main. 490 - Such pleasure now is mine, albeit forced, - Herein less happy than the Traveller - To cast from time to time a painful look - Upon unwelcome things, which unawares - Reveal themselves; not therefore is my heart 495 - Depressed, nor does it fear what is to come, - But confident, enriched at every glance. - The more I see the more delight my mind - Receives, or by reflexion can create. - Truth justifies herself, and as she dwells 500 - With Hope, who would not follow where she leads? - Nor let me pass unheeded other loves - Where no fear is, and humbler sympathies. - Already hath sprung up within my heart - A liking for the small grey horse that bears 505 - The paralytic man, and for the brute-- - In Scripture sanctified--the patient brute, - On which the cripple, in the quarry maimed, - Rides to and fro: I know them and their ways.[370] - The famous sheep-dog, first in all the Vale, 510 - Though yet to me a stranger, will not be - A stranger long; nor will the blind man’s guide, - Meek and neglected thing, of no renown! - Soon will peep forth the primrose; ere it fades - Friends shall I have at dawn, blackbird and thrush 515 - To rouse me, and a hundred warblers more; - And if those eagles to their ancient hold - Return, Helvellyn’s eagles! with the pair - From my own door I shall be free to claim - Acquaintance as they sweep from cloud to cloud. 520 - The owl that gives the name to Owlet-Crag - Have I heard whooping, and he soon will be - A chosen one of my regards. See there - The heifer in yon little croft belongs - To one who holds it dear; with duteous care 525 - She reared it, and in speaking of her charge - I heard her scatter some endearing words - Domestic, and in spirit motherly - She being herself a Mother, happy Beast - If the caresses of a human voice 530 - Can make it so, and care of human hands. - And ye as happy under Nature’s care, - Strangers to me, and all men, or at least - Strangers to all particular amity, - All intercourse of knowledge or of love 535 - That parts the individual from his kind, - Whether in large communities ye keep - From year to year, not shunning Man’s abode, - A settled residence, or be from far, - Wild creatures, and of many homes, that come 540 - The gift of winds, and whom the winds again - Take from us at your pleasure--yet shall ye - Not want, for this, your own subordinate place - In my affections. Witness the delight - With which erewhile I saw that multitude 545 - Wheel through the sky, and see them now at rest, - Yet not at rest, upon the glassy lake. - They _cannot_ rest, they gambol like young whelps; - Active as lambs, and overcome with joy. - They try all frolic motions; flutter, plunge, 550 - And beat the passive water with their wings. - Too distant are they for plain view, but lo! - Those little fountains, sparkling in the sun, - Betray their occupation, rising up, - First one and then another silver spout, 555 - As one or other takes the fit of glee, - Fountains and spouts, yet somewhat in the guise - Of play-thing fire-works, that on festal nights - Sparkle about the feet of wanton boys. - --How vast the compass of this theatre, 560 - Yet nothing to be seen but lovely pomp - And silent majesty; the birch-tree woods - Are hung with thousand thousand diamond drops - Of melted hoar-frost, every tiny knot - In the bare twigs, each little budding place 565 - Cased with its several beads, what myriads there - Upon one tree, while all the distant grove - That rises to the summit of the steep - Shows like a mountain built of silver light. - See yonder the same pageant, and again 570 - Behold the universal imagery - Inverted, all its sun-bright features touched - As with the varnish, and the gloss of dreams; - Dreamlike the blending also of the whole - Harmonious landscape; all along the shore 575 - The boundary lost, the line invisible - That parts the image from reality; - And the clear hills, as high as they ascend - Heavenward, so piercing deep the lake below. - Admonished of the days of love to come 580 - The raven croaks, and fills the upper air - With a strange sound of genial harmony;[371] - And in and all about that playful band, - Incapable although they be of rest, - And in their fashion very rioters, 585 - There is a stillness, and they seem to make - Calm revelry in that their calm abode. - Them leaving to their joyous hours I pass, - Pass with a thought the life of the whole year - That is to come, the throng of woodland flowers, 590 - And lilies that will dance upon the waves. - Say boldly then that solitude is not - Where these things are. He truly is alone, - He of the multitude whose eyes are doomed - To hold a vacant commerce day by day 595 - With objects wanting life, repelling love; - He by the vast Metropolis immured, - Where pity shrinks from unremitting calls, - Where numbers overwhelm humanity, - And neighbourhood serves rather to divide 600 - Than to unite. What sighs more deep than his, - Whose nobler will hath long been sacrificed; - Who must inhabit, under a black sky, - A City where, if indifference to disgust - Yield not, to scorn, or sorrow, living men 605 - Are ofttimes to their fellow-men no more - Than to the forest hermit are the leaves - That hang aloft in myriads--nay, far less, - For they protect his walk from sun and shower, - Swell his devotion with their voice in storms, 610 - And whisper while the stars twinkle among them - His lullaby. From crowded streets remote, - Far from the living and dead wilderness - Of the thronged world, Society is here[372] - A true Community, a genuine frame 615 - Of many into one incorporate. - _That_ must be looked for here, paternal sway, - One household under God for high and low, - One family, and one mansion; to themselves - Appropriate, and divided from the world 620 - As if it were a cave, a multitude - Human and brute, possessors undisturbed - Of this recess, their legislative hall, - Their Temple, and their glorious dwelling-place. - Dismissing therefore, all Arcadian dreams, 625 - All golden fancies of the golden age, - The bright array of shadowy thoughts from times - That were before all time, or is to be - Ere time expire, the pageantry that stirs - And will be stirring when our eyes are fixed 630 - On lovely objects, and we wish to part - With all remembrance of a jarring world, - --Take we at once this one sufficient hope, - What need of more? that we shall neither droop, - Nor pine for want of pleasure in the life 635 - Scattered about us, nor through dearth of aught - That keeps in health the insatiable mind; - That we shall have for knowledge and for love - Abundance; and that, feeling as we do - How goodly, how exceeding fair, how pure 640 - From all reproach is yon ethereal vault, - And this deep vale its earthly counterpart, - By which, and under which, we are enclosed - To breathe in peace, we shall moreover find - (If sound, and what we ought to be ourselves, 645 - If rightly we observe and justly weigh) - The inmates not unworthy of their home - The dwellers of their dwelling. - And if this - Were otherwise, we have within ourselves - Enough to fill the present day with joy, 650 - And overspread the future years with hope, - Our beautiful and quiet home, enriched - Already with a stranger whom we love - Deeply, a stranger of our father’s house, - A never-resting Pilgrim of the Sea,[373] 655 - Who finds at last an hour to his content - Beneath our roof. And others whom we love - Will seek us also, sisters of our hearts,[374] - And one, like them, a brother of our hearts, - Philosopher and Poet,[375] in whose sight 660 - These mountains will rejoice with open joy. - --Such is our wealth; O Vale of Peace, we are - And must be, with God’s will, a happy band. - Yet ’tis not to enjoy that we exist, - For that end only; something must be done. 665 - I must not walk in unreproved delight - These narrow bounds, and think of nothing more, - No duty that looks further, and no care. - Each being has his office, lowly some - And common, yet all worthy if fulfilled 670 - With zeal, acknowledgment that with the gift - Keeps pace, a harvest answering to the seed-- - Of ill-advised Ambition and of Pride - I would stand clear, but yet to me I feel - That an internal brightness is vouchsafed 675 - That must not die, that must not pass away. - Why does this inward lustre fondly seek, - And gladly blend with outward fellowship? - Why do _they_ shine around me whom I love? - Why do they teach me whom I thus revere? 680 - Strange question, yet it answers not itself. - That humble roof embowered among the trees, - That calm fire-side, it is not even in them, - --Blest as they are--to furnish a reply, - That satisfies and ends in perfect rest. 685 - Possessions have I that are solely mine, - Something within which yet is shared by none, - Not even the nearest to me and most dear, - Something which power and effort may impart, - I would impart it, I would spread it wide, 690 - Immortal in the world which is to come. - Forgive me if I add another claim, - And would not wholly perish even in this, - Lie down and be forgotten in the dust, - I and the modest partners of my days 695 - Making a silent company in death; - Love, knowledge, all my manifold delights - All buried with me without monument - Or profit unto any but ourselves. - It must not be, if I, divinely taught, 700 - Be privileged to speak as I have felt - Of what in man is human or divine. - While yet an innocent little-one, with a heart - That doubtless wanted not its tender moods, - I breathed (for this I better recollect) 705 - Among wild appetites and blind desires, - Motions of savage instinct, my delight - And exaltation. Nothing at that time - So welcome, no temptation half so dear - As that which urged me to a daring feat. 710 - Deep pools, tall trees, black chasms, and dizzy crags, - And tottering towers; I loved to stand and read - Their looks forbidding, read and disobey, - Sometimes in act, and evermore in thought. - With impulses that scarcely were by these 715 - Surpassed in strength, I heard of danger, met - Or sought with courage; enterprize forlorn - By one, sole keeper of his own intent, - Or by a resolute few who for the sake - Of glory, fronted multitudes in arms. 720 - Yea to this hour I cannot read a tale - Of two brave vessels matched in deadly fight, - And fighting to the death, but I am pleased - More than a wise man ought to be. I wish, - Fret, burn, and struggle, and in soul am there; 725 - But me hath Nature tamed, and bade to seek - For other agitations, or be calm; - Hath dealt with me as with a turbulent stream, - Some nursling of the mountains, which she leads - Through quiet meadows, after he has learnt 730 - His strength, and had his triumph and his joy, - His desperate course of tumult and of glee. - That which in stealth by Nature was performed - Hath Reason sanctioned. Her deliberate voice - Hath said, “Be mild and cleave to gentle things, 735 - Thy glory and thy happiness be there. - Nor fear, though thou confide in me, a want - Of aspirations that _have_ been, of foes - To wrestle with, and victory to complete, - Bounds to be leapt, darkness to be explored, 740 - All that inflamed thy infant heart, the love, - The longing, the contempt, the undaunted quest, - All shall survive--though changed their office, all - Shall live,--it is not in their power to die.” - Then farewell to the Warrior’s schemes, farewell 745 - The forwardness of soul which looks that way - Upon a less incitement than the cause - Of Liberty endangered, and farewell - That other hope, long mine, the hope to fill - The heroic trumpet with the Muse’s breath! 750 - Yet in this peaceful Vale we will not spend - Unheard-of days, though loving peaceful thoughts. - A voice shall speak, and what will be the theme?[18] - -[359] The following lines, 71-97, and 110-125, were first published in -the _Memoirs of Wordsworth_, in 1851.--ED. - -[360] - - … on … - - 1851. - -[361] The lines 152-167 were first published in the _Memoirs of -Wordsworth_ in 1851.--ED. - -[362] - - Mark how the feathered tenants of the flood - With grace of motion … - - MS. - -[363] - - … amid … - - MS. - -[364] - - They tempt the water, or … - - MS. - -[365] The foregoing twenty-seven lines were published under the title -_Water-Fowl_, in the 1827 edition of Wordsworth’s “Poetical Works.” -They are also printed in the fifth edition of the _Guide through the -District of the Lakes in the North of England_ (section first).--ED. - -[366] Compare _Paradise Lost_, book xii. l. 646.--ED. - -[367] Compare, in the _After-Thought_ to “The Duddon Sonnets”-- - - Still glides the Stream, and shall for ever glide. - -ED. - -[368] Compare, in _An Evening Walk_, l. 378-- - - Or yell, in the deep woods, of lonely hound. - -ED. - -[369] Compare Wordsworth’s numerous references to the Cumbrian and -Westmoreland “Statesmen,” in his Prose Works, and elsewhere.--ED. - -[370] Compare _Peter Bell_.--ED. - -[371] Compare _The Excursion_, book iv. ll. 1175-1187.--ED. - -[372] Wordsworth says elsewhere that - - Solitude is blithe Society. - -ED. - -[373] John Wordsworth.--ED. - -[374] The Hutchinsons.--ED. - -[375] Coleridge.--ED. - - -“SHALL HE WHO GIVES HIS DAYS TO LOW PURSUITS” - -The following lines occur in the experimental efforts made by -Wordsworth to write an autobiographical poem. They occur in one of his -sister’s Journals, entitled “May to December, 1802”; and were probably -either dictated to her in that year, or were copied by her from some -earlier fragment. They stand related to passages in _The Prelude_. (See -vol. iii. p. 269.)--ED. - - Shall he who gives his days to low pursuits - Amid the undistinguishable crowd - Of cities, ’mid the same eternal flow - Of the same objects, melted and reduced - To one identity, by differences 5 - That have no law, no meaning, and no end, - Shall he feel yearning to those lifeless forms, - And shall we think that Nature is less kind - To those, who all day long, through a busy life, - Have walked within her sight? It cannot be. 10 - - - - -1803 - - -“I FIND IT WRITTEN OF SIMONIDES” - -Published in _The Morning Post_, October 10, 1803 - -S.T.C. writing to Tom Poole, October 14, 1803, said that Wordsworth -wrote to _The Morning Post_ “as W. L. D., and sometimes with no -signature.” There is ample evidence that the following sonnet was -written by Wordsworth. He had contributed five sonnets to _The Morning -Post_ before the month of September 1803; and on the 10th of October in -that year the following appeared.--ED. - - I find it written of Simonides, - That, travelling in strange countries, once he found - A corpse that lay expos’d upon the ground, - For which, with palms, he caus’d due obsequies - To be perform’d, and paid all holy fees. 5 - Soon after this man’s ghost unto him came, - And told him not to sail, as was his aim, - On board a ship then ready for the seas. - Simonides, admonish’d by the ghost, - Remain’d behind: the ship the following day 10 - Set sail, was wreck’d, and all on board were lost. - Thus was the tenderest Poet that could be, - Who sang in antient Greece his loving lay, - Sav’d out of many by his piety. - - - - -1804 - - -“NO WHIMSEY OF THE PURSE IS HERE” - -Writing to Sir George Beaumont, on Christmas Day, 1804, Wordsworth -said: “We have lately built in our little rocky orchard a circular -hut, lined with moss, like a wren’s nest, and coated on the outside -with heath, that stands most charmingly, with several views from the -different sides of it, of the Lake, the Valley, and the Church.… I will -copy a dwarf inscription which I wrote for it” (_i.e._ the circular -hut, in his Orchard-Garden) “the other day before the building was -entirely finished, which indeed it is not yet.”[376]--ED. - - No whimsey of the purse is here, - No pleasure-house forlorn; - Use, comfort, do this roof endear; - A tributary shed to cheer - The little cottage that is near, - To help it and adorn. - -[376] See the _Memorials of Coleorton_, vol. i. p. 81; and Wordsworth’s -letter on the subject in a later volume of this edition.--ED. - - - - -1805 - - -“PEACEFUL OUR VALLEY, FAIR AND GREEN” - -This is extracted from a copy of an appendix to _Recollections of a -Tour in Scotland_ by Dorothy Wordsworth, written by Mrs. Clarkson, -September-November 1805. It was composed by the poet’s sister. In -February 1892 it was published in _The Monthly Packet_ under the title -“Grasmere: a Fragment,” and with the signature “Rydal Mount, September -26, 1829.” It is now printed from the MS. of 1805.--ED. - - Peaceful our valley, fair and green; - And beautiful the cottages - Each in its nook, its sheltered hold, - Or underneath its tuft of trees. - - Many and beautiful they are; 5 - But there is one that I love best, - A lowly roof in truth it is, - A brother of the rest. - - Yet when I sit on rock or hill - Down-looking on the valley fair, 10 - That cottage with its grove of trees - Summons my heart; it settles there. - - Others there are whose small domain - Of fertile fields with hedgerows green - Might more seduce the traveller’s mind 15 - To wish that there his home had been. - - Such wish be his! I blame him not, - My fancies they, perchance, are wild; - I love that house because it is - The very mountain’s child. 20 - - Fields hath it of its own, green fields; - But they are craggy, steep, and bare; - Their fence is of the mountain stone, - And moss and lichen flourish there. - - And when the storm comes from the North 25 - It lingers near that pastoral spot, - And piping through the mossy walls, - It seems delighted with its lot. - - And let it take its own delight, - And let it range the pastures bare 30 - Until it reach that grove of trees - ----It may not enter there! - - A green unfading grove it is, - Skirted with many a lesser tree, - Hazel and holly, beech and oak, 35 - A fair and flourishing company! - - Precious the shelter of those trees! - They screen the cottage that I love; - The sunshine pierces to the roof - And the tall pine trees tower above. 40 - - When first I saw that dear abode - It was a lovely winter’s day: - After a night of perilous storm - The West wind ruled with gentle sway; - - A day so mild, it might have been 45 - The first day of the gladsome spring; - The robins warbled; and I heard - One solitary throstle sing: - - A stranger in the neighbourhood, - All faces then to me unknown, 50 - I left my sole companion-friend - To wander out alone. - - Lur’d by a little winding path, - I quitted soon the public road, - A smooth and tempting path it was 55 - By sheep and shepherds trod. - - Eastward, toward the mighty hills - This pathway led me on, - Until I reach’d a lofty Rock - With velvet moss o’ergrown. 60 - - With russet Oak and tufts of Fern - Its top was richly garlanded; - Its sides adorn’d with Eglantine - Bedropp’d with hips of glossy red. - - There too in many a shelter’d chink 65 - The foxglove’s broad leaves flourish’d fair, - And silver birch whose purple twigs - Bend to the softest breathing air. - - Beneath that rock my course I stay’d - And, looking to its summit high, 70 - “Thou wear’st,” said I, “a splendid garb, - Here winter keeps his revelry. - - “I’ve been a dweller on the plains, - Have sigh’d when summer days were gone; - No more I’ll sigh; for winter here 75 - Hath gladsome gardens of his own. - - “What need of flowers? The splendid moss - Is gayer than an April mead; - More rich its hues of various green, - Orange and gold and glowing red.” 80 - - ----Beside that gay and lovely rock - There came with merry voice - A foaming streamlet glancing by, - It seem’d to say “Rejoice!” - - My youthful wishes all fulfill’d, 85 - Wishes matured by thoughtful choice, - I stood an Inmate of this vale, - How could I but rejoice? - - -“AH! IF I WERE A LADY GAY” - -The following two stanzas were added by Wordsworth to his sister’s -poem, entitled _The Cottager to her Infant_--composed in 1805, and -issued in 1815 (see vol. iii. pp. 74, 75); but they were never -published in Wordsworth’s lifetime.--ED. - - Ah! if I were a lady gay - I should not grieve with thee to play; - Right gladly would I lie awake - Thy lively spirits to partake, - And ask no better cheer. 5 - - But, Babe! there’s none to work for me, - And I must rise to industry; - Soon as the cock begins to crow - Thy mother to the fold must go - To tend the sheep and kine. 10 - - - - -1806 - - -TO THE EVENING STAR OVER GRASMERE WATER, JULY 1806 - - The Lake is thine, - The mountains too are thine, some clouds there are, - Some little feeble stars, but all is thine, - Thou, thou art king, and sole proprietor. - - A moon among her stars, a mighty vale, 5 - Fresh as the freshest field, scoop’d out, and green - As is the greenest billow of the sea. - - The multitude of little rocky hills, - Rocky or green, that do like islands rise - From the flat meadow lonely there. 10 - … - Embowering mountains, and the dome of Heaven - And waters in the midst, a Second Heaven. - - -MICHAEL ANGELO IN REPLY TO THE PASSAGE UPON HIS STATUE OF NIGHT SLEEPING - -In the first volume of a copy of the edition of 1836,--long kept by -Wordsworth at Rydal Mount, and afterwards the property of the late Lord -Coleridge--which has been referred to in the Preface to Vol. 1., and -very often in the footnotes to all the volumes, signed C.--Wordsworth -wrote in MS. two translations of a fragment of Michael Angelo’s on -Sleep, and a translation of some Latin verses by Thomas Warton on the -same subject. These fragments were never included in any edition of his -published works, and it is impossible to say to what year they belong. -From their close relation to other translations from Michael Angelo, -made by Wordsworth in 1806, I assign them, conjecturally, to the same -year. The title is from Wordsworth’s own MS.--ED. - - I - - Grateful is Sleep, my life, in stone bound fast, - More grateful still: while wrong and shame shall last, - On me can Time no happier state bestow - Than to be left unconscious of the woe. - Ah then, lest you awaken me, speak low. 5 - - II - - Grateful is Sleep, more grateful still to be - Of marble; for while shameless wrong and woe - Prevail, ’tis best to neither hear nor see. - Then wake me not, I pray you. Hush, speak low. - - -“COME, GENTLE SLEEP, DEATH’S IMAGE THO’ THOU ART” - - Come, gentle Sleep, Death’s image tho’ thou art, - Come share my couch, nor speedily depart; - How sweet thus living without life to lie, - Thus without death how sweet it is to die. - -The Latin verse by Thomas Warton, of which these lines are a -translation, is as follows:-- - - Somne veni! quamvis placidissima Mortis imago es, - Consortem cupio te tamen esse tori; - Hue ades, haud abiture citò! nam sic sine vita - Vivere quam suave est, sic sine morte mori! - -Thomas Warton, Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and Professor of -Poetry in that University, is chiefly known by his _History of English -Poetry_ (1774-1781).--ED. - - -“BROOK, THAT HAST BEEN MY SOLACE DAYS AND WEEKS” - -The following version of the sonnet beginning “Brook! whose society the -Poet seeks,” probably written in 1806 and first published in 1815 (see -vol. iv. p. 52), has come to light since that volume was issued. The -variants throughout are sufficient to warrant its publication here. Had -I received it earlier they would have appeared in vol. iv.--ED. - - Brook, that hast been my solace days and weeks, - And months, and let me add the long year through, - I come to thee, thou dost my heart renew; - O happy Thing! among thy flowery creeks, - And happy, dancing down thy water-breaks: 5 - If I some type of thee did wish to view, - Thee, and not thee thyself, I would not do - Like Grecian Poets, give thee human cheeks, - Channels for tears! No Naiad should’st thou be; - Have neither wings, feet, feathers, joints, nor hairs. 10 - It seems the Eternal Soul is clothed in thee - With purer robes than those of flesh and blood, - And hath bestowed on thee a better good; - The joy of fleshly life without its cares. - - -TRANSLATION FROM MICHAEL ANGELO - -The date of this is unknown, and the original MS. is difficult to -decipher. It is here and there illegible. It may belong to the year -of the “Ecclesiastical Sonnets,” but I place it beside the other -translation from Michael Angelo.--ED. - - Rid of a vexing and a heavy load, - Eternal Lord! and from the world set free, - Like a frail Bark, weary I turn to Thee,-- - From frightful storms into a quiet road. - On much repentance Grace will be bestow’d. 5 - The nails, the thorns, and thy two hands, thy face - Benign, meek, …, offers grace - To sinners whom their sins oppress and goad. - Let not thy justice view, O Light Divine, - My fault, and keep it from thy sacred ear. 10 - … - Cleanse with thy blood my sins, to this incline - More readily, the more my years require - Prompt aid, forgiveness speedy and entire. - - - - -1808 - - -GEORGE AND SARAH GREEN - -Composed 1808.--Published 1839 - -This poem was first printed in De Quincey’s “Recollections of -Grasmere,” which appeared in _Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine_, September -1839, p. 573, and afterwards in his _Recollections of the Lakes_ -(1853), p. 23. - -The text is printed as it is found in De Quincey’s article. Doubtless -Wordsworth, or some member of the family, had supplied him with a -copy of these verses. Wordsworth himself seemed to have thought them -unworthy of publication. A copy of the poem was transcribed at Grasmere -by Dorothy Wordsworth for Lady Beaumont on the 20th April 1808. In -this copy there are numerous variations from the text as published by -De Quincey, and these are indicated in the footnotes. In the letter to -Lady Beaumont, Dorothy Wordsworth says, “I am going to transcribe a -poem composed by my brother a few days after his return. It was begun -in the churchyard when he was looking at the grave of the Husband and -Wife, and is in fact supposed to be entirely composed there.” - -Wordsworth returned to his old home at Dove Cottage, Grasmere, after a -short visit to London, on the 6th April 1808; and there he remained, -till Allan Bank was ready for occupation. I therefore conclude that -this poem was written in April 1808. - -Compare De Quincey’s account of the disaster that befell the Greens, as -reported in his _Early Recollections of Grasmere_. The Wordsworths had -evidently taken part in the effort to raise subscriptions in behalf of -the orphan children. They issued a printed appeal on the subject. The -following is an extract from a letter of Dorothy Wordsworth’s to Lady -Beaumont on the subject:-- - - “GRASMERE, _April 20th, 1808_. - - “We received your letter this morning, enclosing the half of a - £5 note. I am happy to inform you that the orphans have been - fixed under the care of very respectable people. The baby is - with its sister--she who filled the Mother’s place in the house - during their two days of fearless solitude. It has clung to her - ever since, and she has been its sole nurse. I went with two - ladies of the Committee (in my sister’s place, who was then - confined to poor John’s bedside) to conduct the family to their - separate homes. The two Girls are together, as I have said; two - Boys at another Home; and the third Boy by himself at the house - of an elderly man who had a particular friendship for their - father. The kind reception that the children met with was very - affecting.” - -See the letters from Wordsworth to Richard Sharpe, Esq., Mark Lane, -London, in a subsequent volume, referring to the catastrophe.--ED. - - Who weeps for strangers? Many wept - For George and Sarah Green; - Wept for that pair’s unhappy fate, - Whose grave may here be seen.[377] - - By night, upon these stormy fells,[378] 5 - Did wife and husband roam; - Six little ones at home had left, - And could not find that home.[379] - - For _any_ dwelling-place of man - As vainly did they seek. 10 - He perish’d; and a voice was heard-- - The widow’s lonely shriek.[380] - - Not many steps, and she was left[381] - A body without life-- - A few short steps were the chain that bound[382] 15 - The husband to the wife.[383] - - Now do those[384] sternly-featured hills - Look gently on this grave; - And quiet now are the depths[385] of air, - As a sea without a wave. 20 - - But deeper lies the heart of peace - In quiet more profound;[386] - The heart of quietness is here - Within this churchyard bound.[387] - - And from all agony of mind 25 - It keeps them safe, and far - From fear and grief, and from all need - Of sun or guiding star.[388] - - O darkness of the grave! how deep,[389] - After that living night-- 30 - That last and dreary living one - Of sorrow and affright! - - O sacred marriage-bed of death, - That keeps[390] them side by side - In bond of peace, in bond of love,[391] 35 - That may not be untied! - -[377] 1839. - - Wept for that Pair’s unhappy end, - Whose Grave may here be seen. - - MS. letter of Dorothy Wordsworth’s. - -[378] 1839. - - … these stormy Heights, - - MS. - -[379] 1839. - - Six little ones the Pair had left, - And could not find their home. - - MS. - -[380] 1839. - - Down the dark precipice he fell, - And she was left alone, - Not long to think of her children dear, - Not long to pray, or groan. - - Added in MS. - -[381] 1839. - - A few wild steps--she too was left, - - MS. - -[382] 1839. - - The chain of but a few wild steps. - - MS. in Dorothy Wordsworth’s handwriting--sent to Lady Beaumont. - -[383] 1839. - -Four stanzas are here added in MS., only one of which need be given-- - - Our peace is of the immortal soul, - Our anguish is of clay; - Such bounty is in Heaven: so pass - The bitterest pangs away. - -[384] 1839. - - Now do the … - - MS. - -[385] 1839. - - … is the depth … - - MS. - -[386] 1839. - - In shelter more profound. - - MS. - -[387] 1839. - - … ground. - - MS. - -[388] 1839. - - From fear, and from all need of hope - From sun or guiding star. - - MS. - -[389] 1839. - - … how calm, - - MS. - -[390] 1839. - - That holds … - - MS. - -[391] 1839. - - In bond of love, in bond of God, - - MS. - - - - -1818 - - -“THE SCOTTISH BROOM ON BIRD-NEST BRAE”[392] - - The Scottish Broom on Bird-nest brae[393] - Twelve tedious years ago, - When many plants strange blossoms bore - That puzzled high and low, - A not unnatural longing felt, 5 - What longing would ye know? - Why, friend, to deck her supple twigs - With _yellow_ in full blow. - - To Lowther Castle she addressed - A prayer both bold and sly, 10 - (For all the Brooms on Bird-nest brae - Can talk and speechify) - That flattering breezes blowing thence - Their succour would supply, - Then she would instantly put forth 15 - A flag of _yellow_ dye. - - But from the Castle turret blew - A chill forbidding blast, - Which the poor Broom no sooner felt - Than she shrank up so fast; 20 - Her _wished-for_ yellow she forswore, - And since that time has cast - Fond looks on colours three or four - And put forth _Blue_ at last. - And now, my lads, the Election comes 25 - In June’s sunshining hours, - When every field and bank and brae - Is clad with yellow flowers. - While faction Blue from shops and booths - Tricks out her blustering powers, 30 - Lo! smiling Nature’s lavish hand - Has furnished wreaths for ours. - -[392] “Written, in my opinion, at the General Election of 1818.”--(The -Rev. Thomas Hutchinson of Kimbolton.) - -[393] “Bird-nest” was the old name of Brougham Hall.--ED. - - -PLACARD FOR A POLL BEARING AN OLD SHIRT - -Wordsworth was deeply interested in the successive parliamentary -elections for Westmoreland (see his “Addresses to the Freeholders of -Westmorland, 1818,” in the Prose Works.) He particularly disliked -Lord Brougham’s candidature. The following squib is in MS. at Lowther -Castle. He wrote on the MS.--“For a version of part of B.’s famous -London Tower Speech see opposite page.”--ED. - - If money’s slack, - The shirt on my back - Shall off, and go to the hammer: - Though I sell shirt and skin - By Jove I’ll be in, - And raise up a radical clamor! - - -“CRITICS, RIGHT HONOURABLE BARD, DECREE” - -I have found this in a catalogue of Autograph Letters, and have no -knowledge of its date, or of the Bard referred to. Solomon Gesner wrote -a poem on _The Death of Abel_, which was translated into English. See -footnote to _The Prelude_, book vii. l. 564.--ED. - - “Critics, right honourable Bard, decree - Laurels to some, a night-shade wreath to thee, - Whose muse a sure though late revenge hath ta’en - Of harmless Abel’s death, by murdering Cain.” - -On Cain, a Mystery, dedicated to Sir Walter Scott:-- - - “A German Haggis from receipt - Of him who cooked the death of Abel, - And sent ‘warm-reeking, rich and sweet,’ - From Venice to Sir Walter’s table.” - - - - -1819 - - -“THROUGH CUMBRIAN WILDS, IN MANY A MOUNTAIN COVE” - -In 1819 Wordsworth wrote the sonnet beginning, “Grief, thou hast lost -an ever ready friend.” In the note to that sonnet (vol. vi. p. 196) -I have given a different version of its last six lines, from a MS. -sonnet. But as these six lines also form the conclusion of another -unpublished sonnet, it may be given in full by itself, in this -Appendix.--ED. - - Through Cumbrian wilds, in many a mountain cove, - The pastoral Muse laments the Wheel--no more - Engaged, near blazing hearth on clean-swept floor, - In tasks which guardian Angels might approve, - Friendly the weight of leisure to remove, 5 - And to beguile the lassitude of ease; - Gracious to all the dear dependencies - Of house and field,--to plenty, peace, and love. - There too did _Fancy_ prize the murmuring wheel; - For sympathies, inexplicably fine, 10 - Instilled a confidence--how sweet to feel! - That ever in the night-calm, when the Sheep - Upon their grassy beds lay couch’d in sleep, - The quickening spindle drew a trustier line. - - -“MY SON! BEHOLD THE TIDE ALREADY SPENT” - -The following sonnet occurs after the above in the same MS. whence both -are extracted.--ED. - - My Son! behold the tide already spent - That rose, and steadily advanced to fill - The shores and channels, working Nature’s will - Among the mazy streams that backward went, - And in the sluggish Ports where ships were pent. 5 - And now, its task performed, the flood stands still - At the green base of many an inland hill, - In placid beauty and entire content. - Such the repose that Sage and Hero find, - Such measured rest the diligent and good 10 - Of humbler name, whose souls do like the flood - Of ocean press right on, or gently wind, - Neither to be diverted nor withstood - Until they reach the bounds by Heaven assigned. - - - - -1820 - - -AUTHOR’S VOYAGE DOWN THE RHINE - -(THIRTY YEARS AGO) - - The confidence of Youth our only Art, - And Hope gay Pilot of the bold design, - We saw the living Landscapes of the Rhine, - Reach after reach, salute us and depart; - Slow sink the Spires,--and up again they start! 5 - But who shall count the Towers as they recline - O’er the dark steeps, or in the horizon line - Striding, with shattered crests, the eye athwart? - More touching still, more perfect was the pleasure, - When hurrying forward till the slack’ning stream 10 - Spread like a spacious Mere, we there could measure - A smooth free course along the watery gleam, - Think calmly on the past, and mark at leisure - Features which else had vanished like a dream. - -This sonnet was published in the first edition of the Memorials of -this Tour (1822), but was struck out of the next edition, and never -republished. Its rejection by Wordsworth is curious. - -It refers to the pedestrian tour which the Poet took, with his -friend Jones, in 1790, which he afterwards recorded in full in his -_Descriptive Sketches_. - -Dorothy Wordsworth, in her Journal of the Tour in 1820, refers to it -thus:--“Our journey through the narrower and most romantic passages -of the Vale of the Rhine was connected with times long past, when my -brother and his Friend (it was thirty years ago) floated down the -stream in their little Bark. Often did my fancy place them with a -freight of happiness in the centre of some bending reach, overlooked -by tower or castle, or (when expectation would be most eager) at the -turning of a promontory, which had concealed from their view some -delicious winding which we had left behind; but no more of my own -feelings, a record of his will be more interesting.” - -She then quotes the sonnet, beginning - - The confidence of Youth our only Art. - -There are also numerous allusions in Mrs. Wordsworth’s Journal to -this early tour; _e.g._ under date August 13. “We left Meyringen; -soon reached a sort of Hotel, which Wm. pointed out to us with great -interest, as being the only spot where he and his friend Jones were ill -used, during the course of their adventurous journey--a wild looking -building, a little removed from the road, where the vale of Hasli -ends.” Again, in describing the sunset from the woody hill Colline de -Gibet, overlooking the two lakes of Brienz and Thun, at Interlaken, -“with the loveliest of green vallies between us and Jungfrau,” “Surely -William must have had this Paradise in his thoughts when he began his -_Descriptive Sketches_-- - - Were there, below, a spot of holy ground, - By Pain and her sad family unfound, etc. - -But no habitation was there among these rocky knolls, and tiny -pastures. One fragment, something like a ruined convent, lurked under -a steep, woody-fringed crag. What a Refuge for a pious Sisterhood!” -Compare also the note to _Stanzas composed in the Simplon Pass_, vol. -vi. p. 359.--ED. - - - - -1822 - - -“THESE VALES WERE SADDENED WITH NO COMMON GLOOM” - -In the _Memoirs of William Wordsworth_ by his nephew (the late Bishop -of Lincoln) vol. i. chap. xxx. the following occurs as an addendum -transferred to the footnotes:-- - -“The first six lines of an epitaph in Grasmere Church were also his -composition. The elegant marble tablet on which they were engraved was -designed by Sir Francis Chantry, and prepared by Allan Cunningham, -1822. It is over the chancel door.” - -The following is the Inscription:-- - - In the Burial Ground - of this Church are deposited the remains of - JEMIMA ANNE DEBORAH, - second daughter of - Sir Egerton Brydges, of Denton Court, Kent, Bart. - She departed this life at the Ivy Cottage, Rydal, - May 25th 1822, aged 28 years. - This memorial is erected by her husband - - EDWARD QUILLINAN. - -The entire sonnet, of which Wordsworth wrote the “first six lines,” is -as follows:-- - - These vales were saddened with no common gloom - When good Jemima perished in her bloom; - When, such the awful will of heaven, she died - By flames breathed on her from her own fireside. - On earth we dimly see, and but in part 5 - We know, yet faith sustains the sorrowing heart; - And she, the pure, the patient and the meek, - Might have fit epitaph could feelings speak; - If words could tell and monuments record, - How Treasures lost are inwardly deplored, 10 - No name by grief’s fond eloquence adorned - More than Jemima’s would be praised and mourned. - The tender virtues of her blameless life, - Bright in the daughter, brighter in the wife, - And in the cheerful mother brightest shone,-- 15 - That light hath past away--the will of God[394] be done. - -[394] - - … of Heaven … - - MS. - - -TRANSLATION OF PART OF THE FIRST BOOK OF THE ÆNEID - -Composed 1823 (?).--Published 1836 - -This translation was included in the _Philological Museum_, edited -by Julius Charles Hare, and published at Cambridge in 1832 (vol. i. -p. 382, etc.). Three Books were translated by Wordsworth, but the -greater portion is still in MS., unpublished. What is now reproduced -appeared in the _Museum_. As it was never included by Wordsworth -himself in any edition of his Works, his own estimate of its literary -value was slight. It was published by Professor Henry Reed in his -American reprint of 1851. Writing to Lord Lonsdale on 9th Nov. 1823, -Wordsworth says, “I have just finished a Translation into English rhyme -of the First _Æneid_. Would you allow me to send it to you? I would -be much gratified if you would take the trouble of comparing some -passages with the original. I have endeavoured to be much more literal -than Dryden, or Pitt--who keeps more close to the original than his -predecessor.”--ED. - - TO THE EDITORS OF THE “PHILOLOGICAL MUSEUM” - - Your letter, reminding me of an expectation I some time since - held out to you of allowing some specimens of my translation - from the _Æneid_ to be printed in the _Philological Museum_ - was not very acceptable; for I had abandoned the thought of - ever sending into the world any part of that experiment,--for - it was nothing more,--an experiment begun for amusement, and I - now think a less fortunate one than when I first named it to - you. Having been displeased in modern translations with the - additions of incongruous matter, I began to translate with a - resolve to keep clear of that fault, by adding nothing; but - I became convinced that a spirited translation can scarcely - be accomplished in the English language without admitting a - principle of compensation. On this point, however, I do not - wish to insist, and merely send the following passage, taken at - random, from a wish to comply with your request.--W.W. - - But Cytherea, studious to invent - Arts yet untried, upon new counsels bent, - Resolves that Cupid, chang’d in form and face - To young Ascanius, should assume his place; - Present the maddening gifts, and kindle heat 5 - Of passion at the bosom’s inmost seat. - She dreads the treacherous house, the double tongue; - She burns, she frets--by Juno’s rancour stung; - The calm of night is powerless to remove - These cares, and thus she speaks to wingèd Love: 10 - - “O son, my strength, my power! who dost despise - (What, save thyself, none dares through earth and skies) - The giant-quelling bolts of Jove, I flee, - O son, a suppliant to thy deity! - What perils meet Æneas in his course, 15 - How Juno’s hate with unrelenting force - Pursues thy brother--this to thee is known; - And oft-times hast thou made my griefs thine own. - Him now the generous Dido by soft chains - Of bland entreaty at her court detains; 20 - Junonian hospitalities prepare - Such apt occasion that I dread a snare. - Hence, ere some hostile God can intervene, - Would I, by previous wiles, inflame the queen - With passion for Æneas, such strong love 25 - That at my beck, mine only, she shall move. - Hear, and assist;--the father’s mandate calls - His young Ascanius to the Tyrian walls; - He comes, my dear delight,--and costliest things - Preserv’d from fire and flood for presents brings. 30 - Him will I take, and in close covert keep, - ’Mid groves Idalian, lull’d to gentle sleep, - Or on Cythera’s far-sequestered steep, - That he may neither know what hope is mine, - Nor by his presence traverse the design. 35 - Do thou, but for a single night’s brief space, - Dissemble; be that boy in form and face! - And when enraptured Dido shall receive - Thee to her arms, and kisses interweave - With many a fond embrace, while joy runs high, 40 - And goblets crown the proud festivity, - Instil thy subtle poison, and inspire, - At every touch, an unsuspected fire.” - - Love, at the word, before his mother’s sight - Puts off his wings, and walks, with proud delight, 45 - Like young Iulus; but the gentlest dews - Of slumber Venus sheds, to circumfuse - The true Ascanius steep’d in placid rest; - Then wafts him, cherish’d on her careful breast, - Through upper air to an Idalian glade, 50 - Where he on soft _amaracas_ is laid, - With breathing flowers embraced, and fragrant shade. - But Cupid, following cheerily his guide - Achates, with the gifts to Carthage hied; - And, as the hall he entered, there, between 55 - The sharers of her golden couch, was seen - Reclin’d in festal pomp the Tyrian queen. - The Trojans, too (Æneas at their head), - On couches lie, with purple overspread: - Meantime in canisters is heap’d the bread, 60 - Pellucid water for the hands is borne, - And napkins of smooth texture, finely shorn. - Within are fifty handmaids, who prepare, - As they in order stand, the dainty fare; - And fume the household deities with store 65 - Of odorous incense; while a hundred more - Match’d with an equal number of like age, - But each of manly sex, a docile page, - Marshal the banquet, giving with due grace - To cup or viand its appointed place. 70 - The Tyrians rushing in, an eager band, - Their painted couches seek, obedient to command. - They look with wonder on the gifts--they gaze - Upon Iulus, dazzled with the rays - That from his ardent countenance are flung, 75 - And charm’d to hear his simulating tongue; - Nor pass unprais’d the robe and veil divine, - Round which the yellow flowers and wandering foliage twine. - - But chiefly Dido, to the coming ill - Devoted, strives in vain her vast desires to fill; 80 - She views the gifts; upon the child then turns - Insatiable looks, and gazing burns. - To ease a father’s cheated love he hung - Upon Æneas, and around him clung; - Then seeks the queen; with her his arts he tries; 85 - She fastens on the boy enamour’d eyes, - Clasps in her arms, nor weens (O lot unblest!) - How great a God, incumbent o’er her breast, - Would fill it with his spirit. He, to please - His Acidalian mother, by degrees 90 - Blots out Sichaeus, studious to remove - The dead, by influx of a living love, - By stealthy entrance of a perilous guest. - Troubling a heart that had been long at rest. - - Now when the viands were withdrawn, and ceas’d 95 - The first division of the splendid feast, - While round a vacant board the chiefs recline, - Huge goblets are brought forth; they crown the wine; - Voices of gladness roll the walls around; - Those gladsome voices from the courts rebound; 100 - From gilded rafters many a blazing light - Depends, and torches overcome the night. - The minutes fly--till, at the queen’s command, - A bowl of state is offered to her hand: - Then she, as Belus wont, and all the line 105 - From Belus, filled it to the brim with wine; - Silence ensued. “O Jupiter, whose care - Is hospitable dealing, grant my prayer! - Productive day be this of lasting joy - To Tyrians, and these exiles driven from Troy; 110 - A day to future generations dear! - Let Bacchus, donor of soul-quick’ning cheer, - Be present; kindly Juno, be thou near! - And, Tyrians, may your choicest favours wait - Upon this hour, the bond to celebrate!” 115 - She spake and shed an offering on the board; - Then sipp’d the bowl whence she the wine had pour’d - And gave to Bitias, urging the prompt lord; - He rais’d the bowl, and took a long deep draught; - Then every chief in turn the beverage quaff’d. 120 - - Graced with redundant hair, Iopas sings - The lore of Atlas, to resounding strings, - The labours of the Sun, the lunar wanderings; - Whence human kind, and brute; what natural powers - Engender lightning, whence are falling showers. 125 - He haunts Arcturus,--that fraternal twain - The glittering Bears,--the Pleiads fraught with rain; - --Why suns in winter, shunning heaven’s steep heights - Post seaward,--what impedes the tardy nights. - The learned song from Tyrian hearers draws 130 - Loud shouts,--the Trojans echo the applause. - --But, lengthening out the night with converse new, - Large draughts of love unhappy Dido drew; - Of Priam ask’d, of Hector--o’er and o’er-- - What arms the son of bright Aurora wore;-- 135 - What steeds the car of Diomed could boast; - Among the leaders of the Grecian host - How look’d Achilles, their dread paramount-- - “But nay--the fatal wiles, O guest, recount, - Retrace the Grecian cunning from its source, 140 - Your own grief and your friends’--your wandering course; - For now, till this seventh summer have ye rang’d - The sea, or trod the earth, to peace estrang’d.” - - - - -1823 - - -“ARMS AND THE MAN I SING, THE FIRST WHO BORE” - -The following version of the first few lines of the _Æneid_ were copied -by Professor Reed of Philadelphia, with Mrs. Wordsworth’s permission, -during a visit to Rydal Mount in 1854, four years after the poet’s -death. Mrs. Reed kindly sent them to me.--ED. - - Arms and the Man I sing, the first who bore - His course to Latium from the Trojan shore, - A fugitive of fate. Long time was he - By powers celestial tossed on land and sea - Thro’ wrathful Juno’s far-famed enmity; - Much too from war endured till new abodes - He planted, and in Latium fixed his Gods, - Whence flows the Latin people, whence have come - The Alban Sites and walls of lofty Rome. - - - - -1826 - - -LINES ADDRESSED TO JOANNA H. FROM GWERNDWFFNANT IN JUNE 1826 - -BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH[395] - - A twofold harmony is here; - I listen with the bodily ear, - But dull and cheerless is the sound - Contrasted with the heart’s rebound. - - Now at the close of fervid June, 5 - Upon this breathless hazy noon, - I seek the deepest darkest shade - Within the covert of that glade, - - Which you and I first named our own - When primroses were fully blown, 10 - Oaks just were budding, and the grove - Rang with the gladdest songs of love. - - Then did the Leader of the Band, - A gallant thrush, maintain his stand - Unshrouded from the eye of day 15 - Upon yon Beech’s topmost spray. - - Within the selfsame lofty tree - A thrush sings now--perchance ’tis he-- - The lusty joyous gallant bird, - Which on that April morn we heard. 20 - - But oh! how different that voice - Which bade the very hills rejoice. - Through languid air, through leafy boughs - It falls, and can no echo rouse. - - But on the workings of my heart 25 - Doth memory act a busy part; - That jocund April morn lives there, - Its cheering sounds, its hues so fair. - - Why mixes with remembrance blithe - What nothing but the restless scythe 30 - Of Death can utterly destroy, - A heaviness, a dull alloy? - - Ah Friend! thy heart can answer why. - Even then I heaved a bitter sigh, - No word of sorrow did’st thou speak, 35 - But tears stole down thy tremulous cheek. - - The wished for hour at length was come, - And thou had’st housed me in thy home, - On fair Gwerndwffnant’s billowy hill, - Had’st led me to its crystal rill, 40 - - And led me through the dingle deep - Up to the highest grassy steep, - The sheep walk where the snow-white lambs - Sported beside their quiet dams. - - But thou wert destined to remove 45 - From all these objects of thy love, - In this thy later day to roam - Far off, and seek another home. - - _Now_ thou art gone--belike ’tis best-- - And I remain a passing guest, 50 - Yet for thy sake, beloved Friend, - When from this spot my way shall tend, - - And if my timid soul might dare - To shape the future in its prayer, - Then fervently would I entreat 55 - Our gracious God to guide thy feet - Back to the peaceful sunny cot, - Where thou so oft hast blessed thy lot. - -[395] I owe my knowledge of this and the following poem to the nephew -of Mrs. Wordsworth, the Reverend Thomas Hutchinson of Kimbolton, -Herefordshire, who wrote: “The two following poems were found among his -papers on the demise of Mr. Monkhouse--a first cousin of Wordsworth; -the first in the hand-writing of Wordsworth’s wife, and the second of -her daughter.”--ED. - - -HOLIDAY AT GWERNDWFFNANT, MAY 1826 - -IRREGULAR STANZAS - -BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH - - You’re here for one long vernal day; - We’ll give it all to social play, - Though forty years have rolled away - Since we were young as you. - - Then welcome to our spacious Hall! 5 - Tom, Bessy, Mary, welcome all! - Though removed from busy men, - Yea lonesome as the foxes’ den, - ’Tis a place for joyance fit, - For frolic games and inborn wit. 10 - - ’Twas nature built this hall of ours; - She shap’d the bank; she framed the bowers - That close it all around; - From her we hold our precious right, - And here, thro’ live-long day and night, 15 - She rules with modest sway. - - Our carpet is our verdant sod; - A richer one was never trod - In prince’s proud saloon. - Purple, and gold, and spotless white, 20 - And quivering shade, and sunny light, - Blend with the emerald green. - - She opened for the mountain brook - A gentle winding pebbly way - Into this placid secret nook. 25 - Its bell-like tinkling--list, you hear-- - ’Tis never loud, yet always clear - As linnet’s song in May. - - And we have other music here: - A thousand songsters through the year 30 - Dwell in these happy groves, - And in this season of their loves - They join their voices with the doves - To raise a perfect harmony. - - Thus spake I while with sober pace 35 - We slipped into that chosen place - And from the centre of our Hall - The young ones played around, - Then, like a flock of vigorous lambs, - That quit their grave and slow-paced dams 40 - To frolic o’er the mead, - - That innocent fraternal troop - Erewhile a steady listening group - Off starting--Girl and Boy - In gamesome race with agile bound 45 - Beat o’er and o’er the grassy ground - As if in motion--perfect joy. - - So vanishes my idle scheme - That we through this long vernal day, - Associates in their youthful play, 50 - With them might travel in one stream. - Ah! how should we whose heads are grey? - Light was my heart, my spirits gay, - And fondly did I dream. - - But now, recalled to consciousness, 55 - With weight of years, of changed estate, - Thought is not needed to repress - Those shapeless fancies of delight - That flash before my dazzled sight - Upon this joy-devoted morn. 60 - - Gladly we seek the stillest nook - Whence we may read, as in a book, - A history of years gone by, - Recalled to faded memory’s eye - By bright reflection from the mirth 65 - Of youthful hearts--a transient second-birth - Of our own childish days. - - Pleasure unbidden is their guide - Their leader--faithful to their side - Prompting each wayward feat of strength: 70 - The ambitious leap, the emulous race, - The startling shout, the mimic chase, - The simple half-disguisèd wile - Detected through the flattering smile. - - A truce to this unbridled course 75 - Doth intervene--no need of force. - We spread upon the flowery grass - The noontide meal--each lad and lass - Obeys the call--we form a Round, - And all are seated on the ground. 80 - - The sun’s meridian hour is passed, - Again begins the emulous race, - Again succeeds the sportive chase. - And thus was spent that vernal day, - Till twilight checked the noisy play; 85 - Then did they feel a languor spread - Over their limbs, the beating tread - Was stilled--the busy throbbing heart-- - And silently we all depart. - - The shelter of our rustic cot 90 - Receives us, and we envy not - The palace, or the stately dome; - But wish that _all_ had such a home. - Each child repeats his nightly prayer - That God may bless their parents’ care 95 - To guide them in the way of truth - Through helpless childhood, giddy youth. - - The closing hymn of cheerful praise - Doth yet again their spirits raise; - But ’tis not now a thoughtless joy. 100 - For tender parents, loving friends, - And all the gifts God’s blessing sends, - Feelingly do they bless his name. - - That homage paid, the young retire - With no unsatisfied desire; 105 - Theirs is one long, one steady sleep, - Till the sun, tip-toe on the steep - In front of our beloved cot, - Casts on the walls her brightest beams. - Within, a startling lustre streams. 110 - They all awaken suddenly; - As at the touch of magic skill, - Or, as the pilgrim, at the bell - That summons him to matin-prayer. - - And is it sorrow that they feel? 115 - Nay! call it not by such a name, - The stroke of sadness that doth steal - With rapid motion through their hearts, - When comes the thought that yesterday - With all its joys is passed away, 120 - The long expected happy day. - - An instant--and all sadness goes; - Nor brighter looks the half-blown rose - Than does the countenance of each child - Whether of ardent soul or mild. 125 - The hour was fixed--they are prepared-- - And homeward now they must depart, - And after many a brisk adieu, - On pony trim, and fleet of limb, - Their bustling journey they pursue. 130 - - The fair-hair’d gentle quiet maid, - And she who is of daring mood, - The valiant and the timid Boy - Alike are ranged to hardihood; - And wheresoe’er the troop appear 135 - They scatter smiles, a hearty cheer - Comes from both old and young, - And blessings fall from many a tongue. - - They reach the dear paternal roof, - Nor dread a cold or stern reproof, 140 - While they pour forth the history - Of three days’ mirth and revelry. - Ah! Children, happy is your lot, - Still bound together in one knot - Beneath your tender mother’s eye! 145 - Too soon these blessed days shall fly, - And brothers shall from sisters part; - And, trust me, whatsoe’er your doom, - Whate’er betide through years to come, - The punctual pleasures of your home 150 - Shall linger in your thoughts, - More clear than any future hope - Though fancy take her freest scope. - For oh! too soon your hearts shall own - The past is all that is your own. 155 - - And every day of _festival_ - Gratefully shall ye then recal, - Less for their own sakes than for this, - That each shall be a resting-place - For memory, and divide the race 160 - Of childhood’s smooth and happy years, - Thus lengthening out that term of life - Which governed by your parents’ care - Is free from sorrow and from strife. - - -COMPOSED WHEN A PROBABILITY EXISTED OF OUR BEING OBLIGED TO QUIT RYDAL -MOUNT AS A RESIDENCE - -The following lines were written by Wordsworth in 1826. He never -published them. They were the result of a slight disagreement between -the Wordsworth family and the Le Flemings, which led the former to fear -that they might have to “quit Rydal Mount as a residence.” It was an -insignificant difference, and the Wordsworths did not leave their home. -The only thing worthy of record, in connection with the matter, is that -the fear of being dispossessed led the poet to write what follows.--ED. - - The doubt to which a wavering hope had clung - Is fled; we must depart, willing or not; - Sky-piercing Hills! must bid farewell to you - And all that ye look down upon with pride, - With tenderness, embosom; to your paths, 5 - And pleasant dwellings, to familiar trees - And wild-flowers known as well as if our hands - Had tended them: and O pellucid Spring! - Unheard of, save in one small hamlet, here - Not undistinguished, for of wells that ooze 10 - Or founts that gurgle from yon craggy steep, - Their common sire, thou only bear’st his name. - Insensibly the foretaste of this parting - Hath ruled my steps, and seals me to thy side, - Mindful that thou (ah! wherefore by my Muse 15 - So long unthanked) hast cheered a simple board - With beverage pure as ever fixed the choice - Of hermit, dubious where to scoop his cell; - Which Persian kings might envy; and thy meek - And gentle aspect oft has ministered 20 - To finer uses. They for me must cease; - Days will pass on, the year, if years be given, - Fade,--and the moralising mind derive - No lessons from the presence of a Power - By the inconstant nature we inherit 25 - Unmatched in delicate beneficence; - For neither unremitting rains avail - To swell thee into voice; nor longest drought - Thy bounty stints, nor can thy beauty mar, - Beauty not therefore wanting change to stir 30 - The fancy pleased by spectacles unlooked for. - Nor yet, perchance, translucent Spring, had tolled - The Norman curfew bell when human hands - First offered help that the deficient rock - Might overarch thee, from pernicious heat 35 - Defended, and appropriate to man’s need. - Such ties will not be severed: but, when we - Are gone, what summer loiterer will regard, - Inquisitive, thy countenance, will peruse, - Pleased to detect the dimpling stir of life, 40 - The breathing faculty with which thou yield’st - (Tho’ a mere goblet to the careless eye) - Boons inexhaustible? Who, hurrying on - With a step quickened by November’s cold, - Shall pause, the skill admiring that can work 45 - Upon thy chance-defilements--withered twigs - That, lodged within thy crystal depths, seem bright, - As if they from a silver tree had fallen-- - And oaken leaves that, driven by whirling blasts, - Sunk down, and lay immersed in dead repose 50 - For Time’s invisible tooth to prey upon - Unsightly objects and uncoveted, - Till thou with crystal bead-drops didst encrust - Their skeletons, turned to brilliant ornaments. - But, from thy bosom, should some venturous[396] hand 55 - Abstract those gleaming relics, and uplift them, - However gently, toward the vulgar air, - At once their tender brightness disappears, - Leaving the intermeddler to upbraid - His folly. Thus (I feel it while I speak), 60 - Thus, with the fibres of these thoughts it fares; - And oh! how much, of all that love creates - Or beautifies, like changes undergo, - Suffers like loss when drawn out of the soul, - Its silent laboratory! Words should say 65 - (Could they depict the marvels of thy cell) - How often I have marked a plumy fern - From the live rock with grace inimitable - Bending its apex toward a paler self - Reflected all in perfect lineaments-- 70 - Shadow and substance kissing point to point - In mutual stillness; or, if some faint breeze - Entering the cell gave restlessness to one, - The other, glassed in thy unruffled breast, - Partook of every motion, met, retired, 75 - And met again. Such playful sympathy, - Such delicate caress as in the shape - Of this green plant had aptly recompensed - For baffled lips and disappointed arms - And hopeless pangs, the spirit of that youth, 80 - The fair Narcissus by some pitying God - Changed to a crimson flower; when he, whose pride - Provoked a retribution too severe, - Had pined; upon his watery duplicate - Wasting that love the nymphs implored in vain. 85 - Thus while my Fancy wanders, thou, clear Spring, - Moved (shall I say?) like a dear friend who meets - A parting moment with her loveliest look, - And seemingly her happiest, look so fair - It frustrates its own purpose, and recalls 90 - The grieved one whom it meant to send away-- - Dost tempt me by disclosures exquisite - To linger, bending over thee: for now, - What witchcraft, mild enchantress, may with thee - Compare! thy earthly bed a moment past 95 - Palpable to sight as the dry ground, - Eludes perception, not by rippling air - Concealed, nor through effect of some impure - Upstirring; but, abstracted by a charm - Of my own cunning, earth mysteriously 100 - From under thee hath vanished, and slant beams - The silent inquest of a western sun, - Assisting, lucid well-spring! Thou revealest - Communion without check of herbs and flowers, - And the vault’s hoary sides to which they cling, 105 - Imaged in downward show; the flower, the Herbs,[397] - _These_ not of earthly texture, and the vault - Not _there_ diminutive, but through a scale - Of vision less and less distinct, descending - To gloom imperishable. So (if truths 110 - The highest condescend to be set forth - By processes minute), even so--when thought - Wins help from something greater than herself-- - Is the firm basis of habitual sense - Supplanted, not for treacherous vacancy 115 - And blank dissociation from a world - We love, but that the residues of flesh, - Mirrored, yet not too strictly, may refine - To Spirit; for the idealising Soul - Time wears the features of Eternity; 120 - And Nature deepens into Nature’s God. - Millions of kneeling Hindoos at this day - Bow to the watery element, adored - In their vast stream, and if an age hath been - (As books and haply votive altars vouch) 125 - When British floods were worshipped, some faint trace - Of that idolatry, through monkish rites - Transmitted far as living memory, - Might wait on thee, a silent monitor, - On thee, bright Spring, a bashful little one, 130 - Yet to the measure of thy promises - True, as the mightiest; upon thee, sequestered - For meditation, nor inopportune - For social interest such as I have shared. - Peace to the sober matron who shall dip 135 - Her pitcher here at early dawn, by me - No longer greeted--to the tottering sire, - For whom like service, now and then his choice, - Relieves the tedious holiday of age-- - Thoughts raised above the Earth while here he sits 140 - Feeding on sunshine--to the blushing girl - Who here forgets her errand, nothing loth - To be waylaid by her betrothed, peace - And pleasure sobered down to happiness! - But should these hills be ranged by one whose soul 145 - Scorning love-whispers shrinks from love itself - As Fancy’s snare for female vanity, - Here may the aspirant find a trysting-place - For loftier intercourse. The Muses crowned - With wreaths that have not faded to this hour 150 - Sprung from high Jove, of sage Mnemosyne - Enamoured, so the fable runs; but they - Certes were self-taught damsels, scattered births - Of many a Grecian vale, who sought not praise, - And, heedless even of listeners, warbled out 155 - Their own emotions given to mountain air - In notes which mountain echoes would take up - Boldly and bear away to softer life; - Hence deified as sisters they were bound - Together in a never-dying choir; 160 - Who with their Hippocrene and grottoed fount - Of Castaly, attest that Woman’s heart - Was in the limpid age of this stained world - The most assured seat of [ ] - And new-born waters, deemed the happiest source 165 - Of inspiration for the conscious lyre. - Lured by the crystal element in times - Stormy and fierce, the Maid of Arc withdrew - From human converse to frequent alone - The Fountain of the Fairies. What to her, 170 - Smooth summer dreams, old favours of the place. - Pageant and revels of blithe elves--to her - Whose country groan’d under a foreign scourge? - She pondered murmurs that attuned her ear - For the reception of far other sounds 175 - Than their too happy minstrelsy,--a Voice - Reached her with supernatural mandate charged - More awful than the chambers of dark earth - Have virtue to send forth. Upon the marge - Of the benignant fountain, while she stood 180 - Gazing intensely, the translucent lymph - Darkened beneath the shadow of her thoughts - As if swift clouds swept o’er it, or caught - War’s tincture, ’mid the forest green and still, - Turned into blood before her heart-sick eye. 185 - Erelong, forsaking all her natural haunts, - All her accustomed offices and cares - Relinquishing, but treasuring every law - And grace of feminine humanity, - The chosen Rustic urged a warlike steed 190 - Toward the beleaguered city, in the might - Of prophecy, accoutred to fulfil, - At the sword’s point, visions conceived in love. - The cloud of rooks descending thro’ mid air - Softens its evening uproar towards a close[398] 195 - Near and more near; for this protracted strain - A warning not unwelcome. Fare thee well! - Emblem of equanimity and truth, - Farewell!--if thy composure be not ours, - Yet as thou still, when we are gone, wilt keep 200 - Thy living chaplet of fresh flowers and fern, - Cherished in shade tho’ peeped at[399] by the sun; - So shall our bosoms feel a covert growth - Of grateful recollections, tribute due - To thy obscure and modest attributes 205 - To thee, dear Spring,[400] and all-sustaining Heaven! - -[396] The MS. has a second reading, “covetous hand.”--ED. - -[397] In MS. also “its herbs.”--ED. - -[398] - - … to a close - - From a MS. copied at Rydal by Professor Reed in 1854. - -[399] - - … pecked at … - - From a MS. copied at Rydal by Professor Reed in 1854. - -[400] - - … clear Spring … - - From a MS. copied at Rydal by Professor Reed in 1854. - - -“I, WHOSE PRETTY VOICE YOU HEAR” - -These lines were written for Miss Fanny Barlow of Middlethorpe Hall, -York. She was first married to the Rev. E. Trafford Leigh, and -afterwards to Dr. Eason Wilkinson of Manchester.--ED. - - I, whose pretty Voice you hear, - Lady (you will think it queer), - Have a Mother, once a Statue, - I, thus boldly looking at you, - Do the name of Paphus bear, 5 - Fam’d Pygmalion’s Son and Heir, - By that wondrous marble wife - That from Venus took her life. - Cupid’s Nephew then am I, - Nor unskill’d his darts to ply; 10 - But from Him I crav’d no warrant, - Coming thus to seek my Parent; - Not equipp’d with bow and quiver - Her by menace to deliver, - But resolv’d with filial care 15 - Her captivity to share. - Hence, while on your toilet, She - Is doom’d a Pincushion to be, - By her side I’ll take my place, - As a humble Needle-case; 20 - Furnish’d too with dainty thread, - For a Sempstress thorough-bred. - Then let both be kindly treated, - Till the Term, for which She’s fated - Durance to sustain, be over; 25 - So will I ensure a Lover - Lady! to your heart’s content; - But on harshness are you bent - Bitterly shall you repent, - When to Cyprus back I go 30 - And take up my Uncle’s bow. - - _Composed_, and in part transcribed, for Fanny Barlow, by her - affectionate Friend - - WM. WORDSWORTH. - - RYDAL MOUNT, - _Shortest Day, 1826_. - - - - -1827 - - -TO MY NIECE DORA - -BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH - -The following lines were written in Dora Wordsworth’s “Album,” in which -Sir Walter Scott also wrote some verses.--ED. - - Confiding hopes of youthful hearts, - And each bright visionary scheme, - Shall here remain in vivid hues - The hues of a celestial dream. - - The farewell of the laurelled Knight 5 - Traced by a brave but tremulous hand, - Pledge of his truth and loyalty - Thro’ changeful years, unchanged shall stand. - - But why should I inscribe my name, - No Poet I--no longer young? 10 - The ambition of a loving heart - Makes garrulous the tongue. - - Memorials of thy aged Friend - Dora thou dost not need; - And when the cold earth covers her 15 - No flattery shall she heed. - - Yet still a lurking wish prevails - That when from life we all have passed - The friends who loved thy Father’s name - On her’s a thought may cast. 20 - - DOROTHY WORDSWORTH. - - _January 1827._ - - - - -1829 - - -“MY LORD AND LADY DARLINGTON” - -These lines were written by Wordsworth, after reading a sentence in -the Stranger’s Book at “The Station,”--not a railway station!--on -the western side of Windermere lake, opposite Bowness. Their poetic -merit is slight, but they illustrate the honesty and directness of -the writer’s mind. The Stranger’s Book at “The Station” contained the -following:-- - - “Lord and Lady Darlington, Lady Vane, Miss Taylor, and Captain - Stamp pronounce this Lake superior to Lac de Genève, Lago - de Como, Lago Maggiore, L’Eau de Zurich, Loch Lomond, Loch - Katerine, or the Lakes of Killarney.”-ED. - - My Lord and Lady Darlington, - I would not speak in snarling-tone; - Nor, to you, good Lady Vane, - Would I give one moment’s pain; - Nor Miss Taylor, Captain Stamp, 5 - Would I your flights of _memory_ cramp. - Yet, having spent a summer’s day - On the green margin of Loch Tay, - And doubled (prospect ever bettering) - The mazy reaches of Loch Katerine, 10 - And more than once been free at Luss, - Loch Lomond’s beauties to discuss, - And wished, at least, to hear the blarney - Of the sly boatmen of Killarney, - And dipped my hand in dancing wave 15 - Of Eau de Zurich, Lac Genève, - And bowed to many a major domo - On stately terraces of Como, - And seen the Simplon’s forehead hoary, - Reclined on Lago Maggiore 20 - At breathless eventide at rest - On the broad water’s placid breast, - I, not insensible, Heaven knows, - To all the charms this Station shows, - Must tell you, Captain, Lord, and Ladies-- 25 - For honest worth one poet’s trade is-- - That your praise appears to me - Folly’s own hyperbole. - - - - -1833 - - -TO THE UTILITARIANS - -These lines were written and sent in a letter to Henry Crabb Robinson, -dated 5th May 1833.--ED. - - Avaunt this œconomic rage! - What would it bring?--an iron age, - Where Fact with heartless search explored - Shall be Imagination’s Lord, - And sway with absolute controul 5 - The god-like Functions of the Soul. - Not _thus_ can knowledge elevate - Our Nature from her fallen state. - With sober Reason Faith unites - To vindicate the ideal rights 10 - Of human-kind--the tone agreeing - Of objects with internal seeing, - Of effort with the end of Being. - -Wordsworth added, in the letter to Robinson, “Is the above -intelligible? I fear not! I know, however, my own meaning, and that’s -enough for Manuscripts.”--ED. - - - - -1835 - - -“THRONED IN THE SUN’S DESCENDING CAR” - -These lines were placed by Wordsworth amongst the “Evening Voluntaries” -in the two editions of _Yarrow Revisited and other Poems_ (1835, 1836); -but they were never afterwards reprinted in his life-time.--ED. - -For printing the following Piece, some reason should be given, as not -a word of it is original: it is simply a fine stanza of Akenside,[401] -connected with a still finer from Beattie[402]by a couplet of -Thomson.[403] This practice, in which the author sometimes indulges, of -linking together, in his own mind, favourite passages from different -authors, seemed in itself unobjectionable; but, as the _publishing_ -such compilations might lead to confusion in literature, he should -deem himself inexcusable in giving this specimen, were it not from -a hope that it might open to others a harmless source of _private_ -gratification.--W. W. 1835. - - Throned in the Sun’s descending car, - What Power unseen diffuses far - This tenderness of mind? - What Genius smiles on yonder flood? - What God in whispers from the wood 5 - Bids every thought be kind? - - O ever-pleasing solitude, - Companion of the wise and good. - - Thy shades, thy silence, now be mine - Thy charms my only theme; 10 - - Why haunt the hollow cliff whose Pine - Waves o’er the gloomy stream; - Whence the scared Owl on pinions grey - Breaks from the rustling boughs, - And down the lone vale sails away 15 - To more profound repose! - -[401] See his Ode V., _Against Suspicion_, stanza viii.--ED. - -[402] See his poem, _Retirement_, 1758.--ED. - -[403] See his _Hymn on Solitude_, which begins, “Hail, ever-pleasing -Solitude!”--ED. - - -“AND OH! DEAR SOOTHER OF THE PENSIVE BREAST” - -The following ten lines were written by Wordsworth in a copy of his -works, after the lines _To the Moon_ (Rydal) 1835. They may have been -intended as a possible sequel to them, or to the lines _To the Moon, -composed by the Seaside--on the coast of Cumberland_ (1835).--ED. - - And oh! dear soother of the pensive breast, - Let homelier words without offence attest - How where on random topics as they hit - The moments’ humour, rough Tars spend their wit. - Thy changes, which to wiser Spirits seem 5 - Dark as a riddle, prove a favourite theme; - Thy motions, intricate and manifold, - Oft help to make bold fancy’s flight more bold; - Beget strange themes; and to freaks give birth - Of speech as wild as ever heightened mirth. 10 - - - - -1836 - - -“SAID RED-RIBBONED EVANS” - -On the 26th of March 1836, Wordsworth sent the following lines to Henry -Crabb Robinson; written, he tells him, “immediately on reading Evans’s -modest self-defence speech the other day.” George de Lacy Evans was -radical member of Parliament for Westminster. “In 1835, he took command -of the British Legion raised for the service of the Queen Regent of -Spain against Don Carlos.” (Professor Dowden.)--ED. - - Said red-ribboned Evans: - “My legions in Spain - Were at sixes and sevens; - Now they’re famished or slain: - But no fault of mine, 5 - For, like brave Philip Sidney, - In campaigning I shine, - A true knight of his kidney. - Sound flogging and fighting - No chief, on my troth, 10 - E’er took such delight in - As I in them both. - Fontarabbia can tell - How my eyes watched the foe, - Hernani knows well 15 - That our feet were not slow; - Our hospitals, too, - They are matchless in story; - Where her thousands Fate slew, - All panting for glory.” 20 - Alas for this Hero! - His fame touched the skies, - Then fell below zero, - Never, never to rise! - For him to Westminster 25 - Did Prudence convey, - There safe as a Spinster - The Patriot to play. - But why be so glad on - His feats or his fall? 30 - He’s got his red ribbon, - And laughs at us all. - - - - -1837 - - -ON AN EVENT IN COL. EVANS’S REDOUBTED PERFORMANCES IN SPAIN - -Mrs. Wordsworth sent this to Henry Crabb Robinson in 1837, “to show -you that _we_ can write an Epigram--we _do not say_ a good one.” She -then quoted it, and added, “The Producer thinks it not amiss, as being -murmured between sleep and awake over the fire, while thinking of you -last night!”--Ed. - - The Ball whizzed by,--it grazed his ear, - And whispered as it flew, - “I only touch--not take--don’t fear, - For both, my honest Buccaneer! - Are to the Pillory due.” - - - - -1838 - - -“WOULDST THOU BE GATHERED TO CHRIST’S CHOSEN FLOCK” - -The following lines were cut on the face of a rock at Rydal Mount in -1838. There, they still remain.--ED. - - Wouldst thou be gathered to Christ’s chosen flock, - Shun the broad way too easily explored, - And let thy path be hewn out of the Rock, - The living Rock of God’s eternal Word. - - -PROTEST AGAINST THE BALLOT, 1838[404] - -Composed 1838.--Published 1838 - - Forth rushed, from Envy sprung and Self-conceit, - A Power misnamed the SPIRIT OF REFORM, - And through the astonished Island swept in storm, - Threatening to lay all Orders at her feet - That crossed her way. Now stoops she to entreat 5 - Licence to hide at intervals her head, - Where she may work, safe, undisquieted, - In a close Box, covert for Justice meet. - St. George of England! keep a watchful eye - Fixed on the Suitor; frustrate her request-- 10 - Stifle her hope; for, if the State comply, - From such Pandorian gift may come a Pest - Worse than the Dragon that bowed low his crest, - Pierced by thy spear in glorious victory. - -[404] In his notes to the volume of Collected Sonnets (1838), -Wordsworth writes:--“‘_Protest against the Ballot._’ Having in this -notice alluded only in general terms to the mischief which, in my -opinion, the Ballot would bring along with it, without especially -branding its immoral and antisocial tendency (for which no political -advantages, were they a thousand times greater than those presumed -upon, could be a compensation), I have been impelled to subjoin a -reprobation of it upon that score. In no part of my writings have -I mentioned the name of any contemporary, that of Buonaparte only -excepted, but for the purpose of eulogy; and therefore, as in the -concluding verse of what follows, there is a deviation from this rule -(for the blank will be easily filled up) I have excluded the sonnet -from the body of the collection, and placed it here as a public record -of my detestation, both as a man and a citizen, of the proposed -contrivance.” - -Then follows the sonnet beginning-- - - Said Secrecy to Cowardice and Fraud. - -ED. - - -“SAID SECRECY TO COWARDICE AND FRAUD” - -Composed, probably, in 1838.--Published 1838[405] - - Said Secrecy to Cowardice and Fraud, - Falsehood and Treachery, in close council met, - Deep under ground, in Pluto’s cabinet, - “The frost of England’s pride will soon be thawed; - Hooded the open brow that overawed 5 - Our schemes; the faith and honour, never yet - By us with hope encountered, be upset;-- - For once I burst my bands, and cry, applaud!” - Then whispered she, “The Bill is carrying out!” - They heard, and, starting up, the Brood of Night 10 - Clapped hands, and shook with glee their matted locks; - All Powers and Places that abhor the light - Joined in the transport, echoed back their shout, - Hurrah for ----, hugging his Ballot-box![406] - -[405] This was first published in a note to the sonnet entitled -_Protest against the Ballot_, in the volume of 1838. It was never -republished by Wordsworth. - -[406] See the note to the previous sonnet. George Grote was the -person satirised. “Since that time,” adds Mr. Reed, in a note to his -American edition, “Mr. Grote’s political notoriety, as an advocate of -the ballot, has been merged in the high reputation he has acquired as -probably the most eminent modern historian of ancient Greece”--ED. - - -A POET TO HIS GRANDCHILD - -(SEQUEL TO THE FOREGOING)[407] - -Published 1838 - - “Son of my buried Son, while thus thy hand - Is clasping mine, it saddens me to think - How Want may press thee down, and with thee sink - Thy Children left unfit, through vain demand - Of culture, even to feel or understand 5 - My simplest Lay that to their memory - May cling;--hard fate! which haply need not be - Did Justice mould the Statutes of the Land. - A Book time-cherished and an honoured name - Are high rewards; but bound they Nature’s claim 10 - Or Reason’s? No--hopes spun in timid line - From out the bosom of a modest home - Extend through unambitious years to come, - My careless Little-one, for thee and thine!”[408][409] - -[407] “The foregoing” was the Sonnet named _A Plea for Authors, May -1838_.--ED. - -[408] 1836. - - Son of my buried Son, whose tiny hand - Thus clings to mine, it {saddens} me to think - {troubles} - That thou pressed down by poverty mayst sink - Even till thy children shall in vain demand - {Culture and neither feel nor} understand - {Culture required to feel and} - {My simplest lay that to their memory} - {My least recondite lay, which memory} - {Perchance may cleave}; hard fate, which need not be - {May keep in trust } - Did justice mould the statutes of the land. - {A book time-cherished} and an honoured name - {A cherished volume } - Are high rewards, but bound not {Reason’s} claim. - {Nature’s} - No--hopes {in fond hereditary line } - {and wishes in a living line} - Spun from the bosom of a modest home - Extend thro’ unambitious years to come, - My careless Little-one, for thee and thine! - - MS. - -[409] The author of an animated article, printed in the _Law Magazine_, -in favour of the principle of Serjeant Talfourd’s Copyright Bill, -precedes me in the public expression of this feeling; which had been -forced too often upon my own mind, by remembering how few descendants -of men eminent in literature are even known to exist.--W.W. 1838. - -This sonnet was not addressed to any grandson of the Poet’s.--ED. - - - - -1840 - - -ON A PORTRAIT OF I.F., PAINTED BY MARGARET GILLIES[410] - -Composed 1840.--Published 1850 - - We gaze--nor grieve to think that we must die, - But that the precious love this friend hath sown - Within our hearts, the love whose flower hath blown - Bright as if heaven were ever in its eye, - Will pass so soon from human memory; 5 - And not by strangers to our blood alone, - But by our best descendants be unknown, - Unthought of--this may surely claim a sigh. - Yet, blessèd Art, we yield not to dejection: - Thou against Time so feelingly dost strive; 10 - Where’er, preserved in this most true reflection, - An image of her soul is kept alive, - Some lingering fragrance of the pure affection, - Whose flower with us will vanish, must survive. - - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. - - RYDAL MOUNT, - _New Year’s Day, 1840_. - -[410] See the note to the next sonnet.--ED. - - -TO I.F.[411] - -Composed 1840.--Published 1850 - - The star which comes at close of day to shine - More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, - Is friendship’s emblem,[412] whether the forlorn - She visiteth, or, shedding light benign - Through shades that solemnize Life’s calm decline, 5 - Doth make the happy happier. This have we - Learnt, Isabel, from thy society, - Which now we too unwillingly resign - Though for brief absence. But farewell! the page - Glimmers before my sight through thankful tears, 10 - Such as start forth, not seldom, to approve - Our truth, when we, old yet unchill’d by age, - Call thee, though known but for a few fleet years, - The heart-affianced sister of our love! - - WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. - - RYDAL MOUNT, - _Feb. 1840_. - -[411] This and the preceding sonnet, beginning “We gaze--nor grieve -to think that we must die,” were addressed to Miss Fenwick, to whom -we owe the invaluable “Fenwick Notes.” Were it not that the date is -very minutely given, I would believe that they belong to 1841, as Miss -Gillies told me she resided at Rydal Mount in that year, when she -painted Mrs. Wordsworth’s portrait.--ED. - -[412] 1850. - - Bright is the star which comes at eve to shine - More heavenly bright than when it leads the morn, - And such is Friendship, whether the forlorn, etc. - - 1840. - - -“OH BOUNTY WITHOUT MEASURE, WHILE THE GRACE” - -In his copy of the edition of 1845 at the close of the poem, _Animal -Tranquillity and Decay_ (1798) (see the “Poem referring to the Period -of Old Age,” vol. i. p. 307), Henry Crabb Robinson wrote the following -lines, sent to him by Wordsworth.--ED. - - Oh Bounty without measure, while the Grace - Of Heaven doth in such wise from humblest springs - Pour pleasures forth, and solaces that trace - A mazy course along familiar things, - Well may our hearts have faith that blessings come 5 - Streaming from points above the starry sky, - With angels, when their own untroubled home - They leave, and speed on mighty embassy - To visit earthly chambers,--and for whom? - Yea, both for souls who God’s forbearance try, 10 - And those that seek his help and for his mercy sigh. - - _7th April 1840. My 70th Birthday._ - - W.W. - - - - -1842 - - -THE EAGLE AND THE DOVE[413] - -The following poem was contributed to, and printed in, a volume -entitled “_La Petite Chouannerie, ou Histoire d’un Collège Breton sous -l’Empire_. Par A. F. Rio. Londres: Moxon, Dover Street, 1842,” pp. 62, -63. The Hon. Mrs. Norton, Walter Savage Landor, and Monckton Milnes -(Lord Houghton), were among the other English contributors to the -volume, the bulk of which is in French. It was printed at Paris, and -numbered 398 pages, including the title. It was a narrative of “the -romantic revolt of the royalist students of the college of Vannes in -1815, and of their battles with the soldiers of the French Empire.” (H. -REED.)--ED. - -Composed (?).--Published 1842 - - Shade of Caractacus, if spirits love - The cause they fought for in their earthly home, - To see the Eagle ruffled by the Dove - May soothe thy memory of the chains of Rome. - - These children claim thee for their sire; the breath 5 - Of thy renown, from Cambrian mountains, fans - A flame within them that despises death, - And glorifies the truant youth of Vannes. - - With thy own scorn of tyrants they advance, - But truth divine has sanctified their rage, 10 - A silver cross enchased with flowers of France - Their badge, attests the holy fight they wage. - - The shrill defiance of the young crusade - Their veteran foes mock as an idle noise; - But unto Faith and Loyalty comes aid 15 - From Heaven, gigantic force to beardless boys. - -[413] In the volume from which the above is copied, the original French -lines (commencing at p. 106) are printed side by side with Wordsworth’s -translation, which ends on p. 111, and closes the volume.--ED. - - -GRACE DARLING[414] - -Composed 1842.--Published 1845 - -Wordsworth’s lines on Grace Darling were printed privately, and -anonymously, at Carlisle, before they were included in the 1845 edition -of his works. A copy was sent to Mr. Dyce, and is preserved in the Dyce -Library at South Kensington. Another was sent to Professor Reed (March -27, 1843), with a letter, in which the following occurs: “I threw it -off two or three weeks ago, being in a great measure impelled to it -by the desire I felt to do justice to the memory of a heroine, whose -conduct presented, some time ago, a striking contrast to the inhumanity -with which our countrymen, shipwrecked lately upon the French coast, -have been treated.” - -Edward Quillinan, writing on 25th March 1843, enclosed a copy, adding, -“Mr. Wordsworth desires me to send you the enclosed eulogy on Grace -Darling, recently composed. He begs me to say that he wishes it kept -out of the newspapers, as he has printed it only for some of his -friends, and his friends’ friends more peculiarly interested in the -subject, for the present. Do not therefore give a copy to any one.” - -“Almost immediately after I had composed my tribute to the memory of -Grace Darling, I learnt that the Queen and Queen Dowager had both just -subscribed towards the erection of a monument to record her heroism, -upon the spot that witnessed it.” (Wordsworth to Sir W. Gomm, March 24, -1843.)--ED. - - Among the dwellers in the silent fields - The natural heart is touched, and public way - And crowded streets resound with ballad strains, - Inspired by ONE whose very name bespeaks - Favour divine, exalting human love; 5 - Whom, since her birth on bleak Northumbria’s coast, - Known unto few but prized as far as known, - A single Act endears to high and low - Through the whole land--to Manhood, moved in spite - Of the world’s freezing cares--to generous Youth-- 10 - To Infancy, that lisps her praise--to Age - Whose eye reflects it, glistening through a tear - Of tremulous admiration. Such true fame - Awaits her _now_; but, verily, good deeds - Do no imperishable record find 15 - Save in the rolls of heaven, where hers may live - A theme for angels, when they celebrate - The high-souled virtues which forgetful earth - Has witness’d. Oh! that winds and waves could speak - Of things which their united power called forth 20 - From the pure depths of her humanity! - A Maiden gentle, yet, at duty’s call, - Firm and unflinching, as the Lighthouse reared - On the Island-rock, her lonely dwelling-place; - Or like the invincible Rock itself that braves, 25 - Age after age, the hostile elements, - As when it guarded holy Cuthbert’s cell.[415] - - All night the storm had raged, nor ceased, nor paused, - When, as day broke, the Maid, through misty air, - Espies far off a Wreck, amid the surf, 30 - Beating on one of those disastrous isles-- - Half of a Vessel, half--no more; the rest - Had vanished, swallowed up with all that there - Had for the common safety striven in vain, - Or thither thronged for refuge.[416] With quick glance 35 - Daughter and Sire through optic-glass discern, - Clinging about the remnant of this Ship, - Creatures--how precious in the Maiden’s sight! - For whom, belike, the old Man grieves still more - Than for their fellow-sufferers engulfed 40 - Where every parting agony is hushed, - And hope and fear mix not in further strife. - “But courage, Father! let us out to sea-- - A few may yet be saved.” The Daughter’s words, - Her earnest tone, and look beaming with faith, 45 - Dispel the Father’s doubts: nor do they lack - The noble-minded Mother’s helping hand - To launch the boat; and with her blessing cheered, - And inwardly sustained by silent prayer, - Together they put forth, Father and Child! 50 - Each grasps an oar, and struggling on they go-- - Rivals in effort; and, alike intent - Here to elude and there surmount, they watch - The billows lengthening, mutually crossed - And shattered, and re-gathering their might; 55 - As if the tumult, by the Almighty’s will - Were, in the conscious sea, roused and prolonged,[417] - That woman’s fortitude--so tried, so proved-- - May brighten more and more! - True to the mark, - They stem the current of that perilous gorge, 60 - Their arms still strengthening with the strengthening heart, - Though danger, as the Wreck is near’d, becomes - More imminent. Not unseen do they approach; - And rapture, with varieties of fear - Incessantly conflicting, thrills the frames 65 - Of those who, in that dauntless energy, - Foretaste deliverance; but the least perturbed - Can scarcely trust his eyes, when he perceives - That of the pair--tossed on the waves to bring - Hope to the hopeless, to the dying, life-- 70 - One is a Woman, a poor earthly sister, - Or, be the Visitant other than she seems, - A guardian Spirit sent from pitying Heaven, - In woman’s shape. But why prolong the tale, - Casting weak words amid a host of thoughts 75 - Armed to repel them? Every hazard faced - And difficulty mastered, with resolve - That no one breathing should be left to perish, - This last remainder of the crew are all - Placed in the little boat, then o’er the deep 80 - Are safely borne, landed upon the beach, - And, in fulfilment of God’s mercy, lodged - Within the sheltering Lighthouse.--Shout, ye Waves! - Send forth a song of triumph. Waves and Winds, - Exult in this deliverance wrought through faith 85 - In Him whose Providence your rage hath served![418] - Ye screaming Sea-mews, in the concert join! - And would that some immortal Voice--a Voice - Fitly attuned to all that gratitude - Breathes out from floor or couch, through pallid lips 90 - Of the survivors--to the clouds might bear-- - Blended with praise of that parental love, - Beneath whose watchful eye the Maiden grew - Pious and pure, modest and yet so brave, - Though young so wise, though meek so resolute-- 95 - Might carry to the clouds and to the stars, - Yea, to celestial Choirs, GRACE DARLING’S name! - -[414] Grace Darling was the daughter of William Darling, the lighthouse -keeper on Longstone, one of the Farne Islands on the Northumbrian -coast. On the 7th of September 1838, the Forfarshire steamship was -wrecked on these islands. At the instigation of his daughter, and -accompanied by her, Darling went out in his lifeboat through the surf, -to the wreck, and --by their united strength and daring--rescued the -nine survivors.--ED. - -[415] St. Cuthbert of Durham, born about 635, was first a shepherd boy, -then a monk in the monastery of Melrose, and afterwards its prior. He -left Melrose for the island monastery of Lindisfarne; but desiring -an austerer life than the monastic, he left Lindisfarne, and became -an anchorite, in a hut which he built with his own hands, on one of -the Farne Islands. He was afterwards induced to accept the bishopric -of Hexham, but soon exchanged it for the see in his old island home -at Lindisfarne, and after two years there resigned his bishopric, -returning to his cell in Farne Island, where he died in 687. His -remains were carried to Durham, and placed within a costly shrine.--ED. - -[416] Fifty-four persons had perished, before Grace Darling’s lifeboat -reached the wreck.--ED. - -[417] 1845. - - As if the wrath and trouble of the sea - Were by the Almighty’s sufferance prolonged, - - In privately printed edition. - -[418] 1845. - -For the last three lines, the privately printed edition has the single -one-- - - Pipe a glad song of triumph, ye fierce Winds. - - -“WHEN SEVERN’S SWEEPING FLOOD HAD OVERTHROWN” - -Composed 23rd January 1842.--Published 1842 - -In 1842 a bazaar was held in Cardiff Castle to aid in the erection of -a Church, on the site of one which had been washed away by a flood in -the river Severn (and a consequent influx of waters into the estuary -of the British Channel) two hundred years before. Wordsworth and James -Montgomery were asked to write some verses, which might be printed and -sold to assist the cause. They did so. The following was Wordsworth’s -contribution.--ED. - - When Severn’s sweeping flood had overthrown - St. Mary’s Church, the preacher then would cry:-- - “Thus, Christian people, God his might hath shown - That ye to him your love may testify; - Haste, and rebuild the pile.”--But not a stone 5 - Resumed its place. Age after age went by, - And Heaven still lacked its due, though piety - In secret did, we trust, her loss bemoan. - But now her Spirit hath put forth its claim - In Power, and Poesy would lend her voice; 10 - Let the new Church be worthy of its aim, - That in its beauty Cardiff may rejoice! - Oh! in the past if cause there was for shame, - Let not our times halt in their better choice. - - RYDAL MOUNT, _23rd Jan. 1842_. - - -THE PILLAR OF TRAJAN - -The Fenwick note to _The Pillar of Trajan_ mentions that the author’s -son having declined to attempt to compete for the Oxford prize poem on -“The Pillar of Trajan,” his father wrote it, to show him how the thing -might be done. This son--the Rev. John Wordsworth of Brigham--wrote -Latin verse with considerable success; and as specimens of the poetic -work of Dorothy Wordsworth and of Sarah Hutchinson are included in -these volumes, the following _Epistola ad Patrem suum_, written at -Madeira by John Wordsworth in 1844, may be reproduced.--ED. - - I pete longinquas, non segnis Epistola, terras, - I pete, Rydaliae conscia saxa lyrae: - I pete quà valles rident, sylvaeque lacusque, - Quamvis Arctoo paenè sub axe jacent. - Parvos quaere Lares, non aurea Tecta, poetae, 5 - Qui tamen ingenii sceptraque mentis habet. - Quid faciat genitor? valeatne, an cura senilis - Opprimat? Ista refer, filius ista rogat. - Scire velit, quare venias tu scripta _latine_? - Dic “fugio linguam, magne poeta, tuam! 10 - Quem Regina jubet circumdare tempora lauro, - Quem verè vatem saecula nostra vocant.” - Inde refer gressus responsaque tradita curae - Fida tuae, numeris in loca digna senis, - Haec ego tradiderim, majoribus ire per altum 15 - Nunc velis miserum me mea musa rapit. - Solvimus è portu, navisque per aequora currit - Neptuni auxilio fluctifragisque rotis. - Neptunus videt attonitus, Neptunia conjux, - Omnis et aequorei nympha comata chori. 20 - Radimus Hispanum litus, loca saxea crebris - Gallorum belli nobilitata malis. - Haud mora, sunt visae Gades,[419] urbs fabula quondam, - Claraque ab Herculeo nomine, clara suo. - Hanc magnam cognovit Arabs, Romanus candem, 25 - Utraque gens illi vimque decusque tulit. - Hora brevis, fragilisque viris! similisque ruina - Viribus humanis omnia facta manet - Pulchra jaces, olim Carthaginis aemula magnae, - Nataque famosae non inhonesta Tyri! 30 - En! ratibus navale caret, nautis caret alnus, - Mercatorque fugit dives inane Forum. - Templa vacant pompâ, nitidisque theatra catervis, - Tristis et it foedâ foemina virque via. - Segnis in officiis, nec rectus ad aethera miles 35 - Pauperis et vestes, armaque juris habet. - Sic gens quaeque perit,[420] quando civilia bella - Viscera divellunt, jusque fidesque fugit. - Auspiciis laetam nostris lux proxima pandit - Te, Calpe[421] celsis imperiosa jugis. 40 - Urbs munimen habet nullo quassabile bello, - Claustrum Tyrrhenis, claustrum et Atlantis, aquis. - Undique nam vastae sustentant moenia rupes, - Quae torvè in terras inque tuentur aquas. - Arteque sunt mirâ sectae per saxa cavernae, 45 - Atria sanguineo saeva sacrata Deo. - Urbs invicta tamen populis commercia tuta - Praebet, et in portus illicit inque Forum. - Hic Mercator adest Maurus cui rebus agendis. - Ah! nimis est cordi Punica prisca fides; 50 - Afer et è mediis Libyae sitientis arenis, - Suetus in immundâ vivere barbarie; - Multus et aequoreis, ut quondam, Graius in undis, - Degener, antiquum sic probat ille genus; - Niliacae potator aquae, Judaeus, et omne 55 - Litus Tyrrhenum quos, et Atlantis, alit. - Hos quàm dissimiles (linguae sive ora notentur) - Hos quàm felices pace Britannus habet! - Anglia! dum pietas et honos, dum nota per orbem - Sit tibi in intacto pectore prisca fides; 60 - Dum pia cura tibi, magnos meruisse triumphos, - Justaque per populos jura tulisse feros; - Longinquas teneat tua vasta potentia terras, - Et maneat Calpe gloria magna Tibi! - Insula Atlanteis assurgit ab aequoris undis, 65 - Insula flammigero semper amata Deo, - Seu teneat celsi flagrantia signa Leonis, - Seu gyro Pisces interiore petat. - “Hic ver assiduum atque alienis mensibus aestas,” - Flavus et autumnus frugibus usque tumet. 70 - Non jacet Ionio felicior Insula ponto - Ulla, nec Eoi fluctibus oceani. - Vix, Madeira! tuum nunc refert dicere nomen, - Floribus, et Bacchi munere pingue solum. - Te vetus haud vanis cumulavit laudibus aetas, 75 - O fortunato conspicienda choro! - Haec nunc terra sinu nos detinet alma, proculque - A Patriae curis, anxietate domi. - Sic cepisse ferunt humanae oblivia curae - Quisquis Lethaeae pocula sumpsit aquae: 80 - Sic semota sequi studiisque odiisque docebas - Otia discipulos, docte Epicure, tuos. - Sed non ulla dies grato sine sole, nec ullo - Fruge carens hortus tempore,[422] fronde nemus;[423] - Nec levis ignotis oneratus odoribus aer, 85 - Quales doctus equum flectere novit Arabs; - Nec caecae quaecumque jacent sub rupe cavernae,[424] - Queîs nunquam radiis Phoebus adire potest; - Nec currentis aquae strepitus,[425] nec saxa, petensque - Mons[426] excelsa suis sidera culminibus; 90 - Nec tranquilla quies, rerumque oblivia, ponti - Suadebunt iterum solicitare vias! - Rideat at quamvis haec vultu terra sereno, - Tabescit pravo gens malefida jugo: - Dum sedet heu! tristis morborum pallor in ore, 95 - Crebraque anhelanti pectore tussis inest. - Ambitus et luxus, totoque accersita mundo, - Queîs omnis populus quoque sub axe peril; - Famae dira sitis, rerumque onerosa cupido, - Raptaque ab irato templa diesque Deo, 100 - Supplicium non lene suum, poenasque tulerunt; - Saepè petis proprio, vir miser, ense latus! - Uxor adhuc aegros dilecta resuscitat artus; - Anxia cura suis, anxia cura mihi. - Altera quodque dies jam roboris attulit, illud 105 - Altera dura suis febribus abstulerit. - Aurea mens illi, mollique in pectore corda, - Et clarum longâ nobilitate genus. - Quanquàm saepe trahunt Libycum non[427] aera sanum - (Gratia magna Dei), pignora nostra vigent. 110 - Iamque vale grandaeve Pater, grandaevaque Mater, - Tuque O dilecto conjuge laeta soror! - Quaeque pias nobis partes cognata ferebas, - Nomina vana cadunt, Tu mihi Mater eras; - Ingenioque mari, pietate ornata fideque, 115 - Sanguine nulla domûs, semper amore, soror; - Tu quoque, care, vale, Frater, quamvis procul absis, - Per virides campos, quà petit aequor Eden. - Denique tota domus, cunctique valete propinqui, - Carmina plura mihi musa manusque negat. 120 - - MADEIRAE, _MARTIIS CALENDIS_, 1844. - -[419] Cadiz. - -[420] Hispania hoc tempore bello civili divulsa fuit. - -[421] Gibraltar. - -[422] Sunt hibernis mensibus aurea mala. - -[423] Laureae sylvae sunt. - -[424] Antris abundat Insula. - -[425] Multos rivos naturâ, mirâque humani ingenii arte constructos -continet Madeira. - -[426] Pace Lusitanorum Insula nil nisi mons est, rectis culminibus mari -conspicua. - -[427] Ventus ex Africa.--_Leste._ - -See also the _Carmen Maiis calendis compositum_, the _Carmen ad Maium -mensem_, and the _Somnivaga_,--evidently by the same writer,--in the -appendix to the second edition of _Yarrow Revisited_, 1836.--ED. - - - - -1846 - - -“DEIGN, SOVEREIGN MISTRESS! TO ACCEPT A LAY” - -In January 1846 Wordsworth sent a copy of his Poems to the Queen, for -the Royal Library at Windsor, and inscribed the following lines upon -the fly-leaf. For their republication I am indebted to the gracious -permission of Her Majesty.--ED. - - Deign, Sovereign Mistress![428] to accept a lay, - No Laureate offering of elaborate art; - But salutation taking its glad way - From deep recesses of a loyal heart. - - Queen, Wife, and Mother! may All-judging Heaven 5 - Shower with a bounteous hand on Thee and Thine - Felicity that only can be given - On earth to goodness blest by grace divine. - - Lady! devoutly honoured and beloved - Through every realm confided to thy sway; 10 - Mayst thou pursue thy course by God approved, - And He will teach thy people to obey. - - As thou art wont, thy sovereignty adorn - With woman’s gentleness, yet firm and staid; - So shall that earthly crown thy brows have worn 15 - Be changed for one whose glory cannot fade. - - And now, by duty urged, I lay this Book - Before thy Majesty, in humble trust - That on its simplest pages thou wilt look - With a benign indulgence more than just. 20 - - Nor wilt thou blame an aged Poet’s prayer, - That issuing hence may steal into thy mind - Some solace under weight of royal care, - Or grief--the inheritance of humankind. - - For know we not that from celestial spheres, 25 - When Time was young, an inspiration came - (Oh, were it mine!) to hallow saddest tears, - And help life onward in its noblest aim. - - W.W. - - _9th January 1846._ - -[428] Compare the address presented by the Deputies of the Kingdom of -Italy to Buonaparte, on Oct. 27, 1808, beginning, “Deign, Sovereign -Master of all Things.”--ED. - - - - -1847 - - -ODE, PERFORMED IN THE SENATE-HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE, ON THE 6TH OF JULY 1847, -AT THE FIRST COMMENCEMENT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS -THE PRINCE ALBERT, CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY.[429] - -INSTALLATION ODE - -Composed 1847.--Published 1847. - - INTRODUCTION AND CHORUS - - For thirst of power that Heaven disowns, - For temples, towers, and thrones, - Too long insulted by the Spoiler’s shock, - Indignant Europe cast - Her stormy foe at last - To reap the whirlwind on a Libyan rock. - - SOLO.--TENOR - - War is passion’s basest game - Madly played to win a name; - Up starts some tyrant, Earth and Heaven to dare; - The servile million bow; - But will the lightning glance aside to spare - The Despot’s laurelled brow? - - CHORUS - - War is mercy, glory, fame, - Waged in Freedom’s holy cause; - Freedom, such as Man may claim - Under God’s restraining laws. - Such is Albion’s fame and glory: - Let rescued Europe tell the story. - - RECIT. (_accompanied_).--CONTRALTO - - But lo, what sudden cloud has darkened all - The land as with a funeral pall? - The Rose of England suffers blight, - The flower has drooped, the Isle’s delight, - Flower and bud together fall-- - A Nation’s hopes lie crushed in Claremont’s desolate hall. - - AIR.--SOPRANO - - Time a chequered mantle wears;-- - Earth awakes from wintry sleep; - Again the Tree a blossom bears,-- - Cease, Britannia, cease to weep! - Hark to the peals on this bright May-morn! - They tell that your future Queen is born! - - SOPRANO SOLO AND CHORUS - - A Guardian Angel fluttered - Above the Babe, unseen; - One word he softly uttered-- - It named the future Queen: - And a joyful cry through the Island rang, - As clear and bold as the trumpet’s clang, - As bland as the reed of peace-- - “VICTORIA be her name!” - For righteous triumphs are the base - Whereon Britannia rests her peaceful fame. - - QUARTETT - - Time, in his mantle’s sunniest fold, - Uplifted in his arms the child; - And, while the fearless Infant smiled, - Her happier destiny foretold:-- - “Infancy, by Wisdom mild, - Trained to health and artless beauty; - Youth, by Pleasure unbeguiled - From the lore of lofty duty; - Womanhood in pure renown, - Seated on her lineal throne: - Leaves of myrtle in her Crown, - Fresh with lustre all their own. - Love, the treasure worth possessing - More than all the world beside, - This shall be her choicest blessing, - Oft to royal hearts denied.” - - RECIT. (_accompanied_).--BASS - - That eve, the Star of Brunswick shone - With stedfast ray benign - On Gotha’s ducal roof, and on - The softly flowing Leine; - Nor failed to gild the spires of Bonn, - And glittered on the Rhine.-- - Old Camus too on that prophetic night - Was conscious of the ray; - And his willows whispered in its light, - Not to the Zephyr’s sway, - But with a Delphic life, in sight - Of this auspicious day: - - CHORUS - - This day, when Granta hails her chosen Lord, - And proud of her award, - Confiding in the Star serene - Welcomes the Consort of a happy Queen. - - AIR.--CONTRALTO - - Prince, in these Collegiate bowers, - Where Science, leagued with holier truth, - Guards the sacred heart of youth, - Solemn monitors are ours. - These reverend aisles, these hallowed towers, - Raised by many a hand august, - Are haunted by majestic Powers, - The memories of the Wise and Just, - Who, faithful to a pious trust, - Here, in the Founder’s spirit sought - To mould and stamp the ore of thought - In that bold form and impress high - That best betoken patriot loyalty. - Not in vain those Sages taught.-- - True disciples, good as great, - Have pondered here their country’s weal, - Weighed the Future by the Past, - Learned how social frames may last, - And how a Land may rule its fate - By constancy inviolate, - Though worlds to their foundations reel, - The sport of factious Hate or godless Zeal. - - AIR.--BASS - - Albert, in thy race we cherish - A Nation’s strength that will not perish - While England’s sceptered Line - True to the King of Kings is found; - Like that Wise[430] Ancestor of thine - Who threw the Saxon shield o’er Luther’s life, - When first, above the yells of bigot strife, - The trumpet of the Living Word - Assumed a voice of deep portentous sound - From gladdened Elbe to startled Tiber heard. - - CHORUS - - What shield more sublime - E’er was blazoned or sung? - And the PRINCE whom we greet - From its Hero is sprung. - Resound, resound the strain - That hails him for our own! - Again, again, and yet again; - For the Church, the State, the Throne!-- - And that Presence fair and bright, - Ever blest wherever seen, - Who deigns to grace our festal rite, - The pride of the Islands, VICTORIA THE QUEEN! - -[429] This “Ode” was printed and sung at Cambridge on the occasion of -the installation of His Royal Highness Prince Albert as Chancellor of -the University. It was published in the newspapers of the following -day, as “written for the occasion by the Poet Laureate, by royal -command.” - -There is no evidence, however, that Wordsworth wrote a single line -of it. Dr. Cradock used to attribute the authorship to the poet’s -nephew, the late Bishop of Lincoln. It is much more likely that Edward -Quillinan was the author of the whole, although Christopher Wordsworth -may have revised it. Mr. Aubrey de Vere wrote to me, November 12, -1893, “It was from Miss Fenwick that I heard that the Laureate poem -(_Ode, etc._), was written by Quillinan, at Wordsworth’s request, he -having himself wholly failed in a reluctant attempt to write one. If -he _had_ written it, I doubt much whether he would ever have admitted -it to a place among his works, for he did not hold ‘Laureate Odes’ in -honour, and had only taken the Laureateship on the condition that he -was to write none. Tennyson made the same condition: which could not, -of course, interfere with either poet addressing lines to the Queen, if -they felt specially moved from within to do so.” - -Miss Frances Arnold writes, “Miss Quillinan was my authority for saying -that the Cambridge Ode had been written by her father, owing to the -deep depression in which Wordsworth then was.”--ED. - -[430] Frederic the Wise, Elector of Saxony (1847). - - -TO MISS SELLON - -This sonnet exists, _in Wordsworth’s handwriting_; but it is doubtful -whether it was written by him, or not. Possibly Mr. Quillinan wrote it. -The place, and the date of composition--given in MS.--are, “Ambleside, -22nd February, 1849.” Miss Sellon was a relation of the late Count -Cavour.--ED. - - The vestal priestess of a sisterhood who knows - No self, and whom the selfish scorn-- - She seeks a wilderness of weed and thorn, - And, undiverted from the blessed mood - By keen reproach or blind ingratitude, 5 - A wreath she twines of blossoms lowly born-- - An amaranthine crown of flowers forlorn-- - And hangs her garland on the Holy Rood. - Sister of Mercy, bravely hast thou won - From men who winnow charity from Faith 10 - The Pharasaic sneer that treats as dross - The works by faith ordained. Pursue thy path, - Till, at the last, thou hear the voice--“Well done, - Thou good and faithful servant of the Cross.” - - -“THE WORSHIP OF THIS SABBATH MORN” - -BY DOROTHY WORDSWORTH - -These lines were published in _The Monthly Packet_, in July 1891, where -the following note is appended by Miss Christabel Coleridge:--“Written -_circa_ 1852-3, and given to Mrs. Derwent Coleridge.” But Miss Edith -Coleridge, and Mr. E. H. Coleridge, tell me that they think they -“belong to an earlier period.” Mr. Coleridge writes, “I have heard Miss -Wordsworth repeat the lines now printed, seated in her arm-chair, on -the terrace at Rydal Mount.”--ED. - - The worship of this Sabbath morn, - How sweetly it begins! - With the full choral hymn of birds - Mingles no sad lament for sins. - - Alas! my feet no more may join 5 - The cheerful Sabbath train; - But if I inwardly lament, - Oh! may a will subdued all grief restrain. - - No prisoner am I on this couch, - My mind is free to roam, 10 - And leisure, peace, and loving friends, - Are the best treasures of an earthly home. - - Such gifts are mine, then why deplore - The body’s slow decay? - A warning mercifully sent 15 - To fix my hopes upon a surer stay. - - - - -A WORDSWORTH BIBLIOGRAPHY - - - - -I.--_GREAT BRITAIN_ - - -I - -EDITIONS PUBLISHED DURING WORDSWORTH’S LIFETIME - -In the Bibliographies by Mr. Tutin and Professor Dowden there are -numerous and valuable details as to these editions, which it is -unnecessary to reproduce here.--ED. - -1 - -1793. AN EVENING WALK. An Epistle; in verse. Addressed to a Young -Lady, from the Lakes of the North of England. By W. Wordsworth, B. A., -of St. John’s, Cambridge. London: printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul’s -Church-yard. 4to. - -2 - -1793. DESCRIPTIVE SKETCHES. In verse. Taken during a pedestrian tour -in the Italian, Grison, Swiss, and Savoyard Alps. By W. Wordsworth, -B. A., of St. John’s, Cambridge. Loca pastorum deserta atque otia -dia.--_Lucret._ Castella in tumulis--Et longe saltus lateque -vacantes.--_Virgil._ London: printed for J. Johnson, St. Paul’s -Churchyard. 4to. - -3 - -1798. LYRICAL BALLADS, with a few other Poems. Bristol: printed by -Biggs and Cottle; for T. N. Longman, Paternoster-Row, London. 8vo. - -1798. LYRICAL BALLADS, with a few other Poems. London: printed for J. & -A. Arch, Gracechurch Street. 8vo.[431] - -4 - -1800. LYRICAL BALLADS, with other Poems. In two volumes. By W. -Wordsworth. Quam nihil ad genium. Papiniane, tuum! Vol. I. Second -Edition. [Vol. II.] London: printed for T. N. Longman and O. Rees, -Paternoster-Row, by Biggs and Co., Bristol. 8vo.[432] - -5 - -1802. LYRICAL BALLADS, with Pastoral and other Poems. In two volumes. -By W. Wordsworth. Quam nihil ad genium, Papiniane, tuum! Third Edition. -London: printed for T. N. Longman & O. Rees, Paternoster-Row, by Biggs -and Cottle, Crane-Court, Fleet-Street. 8vo.[433] - -6 - -1805. LYRICAL BALLADS, with Pastoral and other Poems. In two volumes. -By W. Wordsworth. Quam nihil ad genium, Papiniane, tuum! Fourth -Edition. London: printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, by R. -Taylor and Co., 38 Shoe Lane. 8vo.[434] - -7 - -1807. POEMS, in two volumes, By William Wordsworth, Author of the -Lyrical Ballads. _Posterius graviore sono tibi Musa loquetur Nostra, -dabunt cum securos mihi tempora fructus._ Vol. I. [Vol. II.] London: -printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row. 12mo. - -8 - -1809. CONCERNING THE RELATIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN, SPAIN, AND -PORTUGAL, TO EACH OTHER, AND TO THE COMMON ENEMY, AT THIS CRISIS; -and specifically as affected by the Convention of Cintra: _The whole -brought to the test of those principles by which alone the Independence -and Freedom of Nations can be Preserved or Recovered_. Qui didicit -patriae quid debeat;--Quod sit conscripti, quod judicis officium; quae -Partes in bellum missi ducis. By William Wordsworth. London: printed -for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row. 8vo. - -9 - -1814. THE EXCURSION, being a portion of The Recluse, a Poem. By William -Wordsworth. London: printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 4to.[435] - -10 - -1815. POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH: including Lyrical Ballads, and -the Miscellaneous Pieces of the Author. With additional Poems, a new -Preface, and a Supplementary Essay. In two volumes. Vol. I. [Vol. -II.] London: printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[436] - -11 - -1815. THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE; OR, THE FATE OF THE NORTONS. A Poem. -By William Wordsworth. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, -and Brown, Paternoster-Row, by James Ballantyne and Co., Edinburgh. -4to.[437] - -12 - -1816. A LETTER TO A FRIEND OF ROBERT BURNS: occasioned by an intended -republication of the account of the Life of Burns, by Dr. Currie; -and of the Selection made by him from his Letters. By William -Wordsworth. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[438] - -13 - -1816. THANKSGIVING ODE, January 18, 1816. With other short Pieces, -chiefly referring to Recent Public Events. By William Wordsworth. -London: Printed by Thomas Davison, Whitefriars; for Longman, Hurst, -Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo. - -14 - -1818. TWO ADDRESSES TO THE FREEHOLDERS OF WESTMORELAND. Kendal: Printed -by Airy and Bellingham. 8vo. - -15 - -1819. PETER BELL, a Tale in Verse, by William Wordsworth. London: -Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode. Printers-Street; for Longman, -Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[439] - -16 - -1819. PETER BELL, A Tale in Verse, by William Wordsworth. Second -Edition. London: Printed by Strahan and Spottiswoode, Printers-Street; -for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo. - -17 - -1819. THE WAGGONER, a Poem, to which are added, Sonnets. By William -Wordsworth. “What’s in a NAME?” “Brutus will start a Spirit as soon as -Cæsar,” London: Printed by Strahan & Spottiswoode, Printers-Street; for -Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, & Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[440] - -18 - -1820. THE RIVER DUDDON, a Series of Sonnets; Vaudracour and Julia: -and other Poems. To which is annexed, a Topographical Description -of the Country of the Lakes, in the North of England. By William -Wordsworth. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[441] - -19 - -1820. THE MISCELLANEOUS POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. In four -volumes. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 12mo.[442] - -20 - -1820. THE EXCURSION, being a portion of The Recluse, A Poem. By William -Wordsworth. Second Edition. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, -Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo. - -21 - -1822. MEMORIALS OF A TOUR ON THE CONTINENT, 1820. By William -Wordsworth. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, -Paternoster-Row. 8vo. - -22 - -1822. ECCLESIASTICAL SKETCHES. By William Wordsworth. London: Printed -for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[443] - -23 - -1822. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENERY OF THE LAKES IN THE NORTH OF -ENGLAND. Third Edition (now first published separately), with -additions, and illustrative remarks upon the Scenery of the Alps. By -William Wordsworth. London: printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, -and Brown, Paternoster-Row. 12mo.[444] - -24 - -1827. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. In five volumes. -London: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, -Paternoster-Row. 12mo.[445] - -25 - -1828. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Complete in one volume. -Paris: Published by A. and W. Galignani, No. 18, Rue Vivienne. 8vo.[446] - -26 - -1831. SELECTIONS FROM THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, ESQ., chiefly -for the use of Schools and Young Persons. London: Edward Moxon, 64 New -Bond Street. 12mo.[447] - -27 - -1832. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. A new Edition. In four -volumes. London: Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, & -Longman, Paternoster-Row. 8vo.[448] - -28 - -SELECTIONS FROM THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, ESQ., chiefly for the -use of Schools and young persons. A New Edition. London: Edward Moxon, -Dover Street. MDCCCXXXIV. - -29 - -The Memorial Lines “Written after the Death of Charles Lamb” were -issued privately, without title or date, probably late in 1835, or -early in 1836. 8vo. pp. 7. - -30 - -1835. YARROW REVISITED, AND OTHER POEMS. By William Wordsworth. - - Poets … dwell on earth - To clothe whate’er the soul admires and loves; - With language and with numbers.--AKENSIDE. - -London: printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman, -Paternoster-Row; and Edward Moxon, Dover Street. 12mo. - -31 - -1835. A GUIDE THROUGH THE DISTRICT OF THE LAKES IN THE NORTH OF -ENGLAND, with a Description of the Scenery, &c. For the use of Tourists -and Residents. Fifth Edition, with considerable additions. By William -Wordsworth. Kendal: published by Hudson and Nicholson; and in London by -Longman & Co., Moxon, and Whittaker and Co. 12mo. - -32 - -1836. YARROW REVISITED, AND OTHER POEMS. By William Wordsworth. - - Poets … dwell on earth - To clothe whate’er the soul admires and loves; - With language and with numbers.--AKENSIDE. - -Second Edition. London: printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, -& Longman, Paternoster-Row; and Edward Moxon, Dover Street. 8vo.[449] - -33 - -THE EXCURSION. A Poem. By William Wordsworth. A New Edition. London: -Edward Moxon, Dover Street. MDCCCXXXVI. 8vo.[450] - -34 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. A New Edition. In six -volumes. Vol. I. (Vol. II.-VI.) London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. -MDCCCXXXVI.-MDCCCXXXVII. Fcap. 8vo.[451] - -35 - -THE SONNETS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Collected in one volume, with a -few additional ones, now first published. London: Edward Moxon, Dover -Street. MDCCCXXXVIII. 8vo.[452] - -36 - -YARROW REVISITED; AND OTHER POEMS. By William Wordsworth. London: -Edward Moxon, Dover Street. MDCCCXXXIX. 18mo.[453] - -37 - -POEMS, CHIEFLY OF EARLY AND LATE YEARS; including The Borderers, a -Tragedy. By William Wordsworth. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. -MDCCCXLII. 8vo.[454] - -38 - -1843. SELECT PIECES FROM THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. London: James -Burns. Sq. 12mo.[455] - -39 - -1844. KENDAL AND WINDERMERE RAILWAY. Two Letters, re-printed from -the Morning Post. Revised, with additions. Kendal: printed by R. -Branthwaite and Son. - -40 - -1845. THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, D.C.L., Poet Laureate, etc. etc. -A New Edition. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. MDCCCXLV. Royal -8vo.[456] - -41 - -1847. ODE, performed in the Senate-House, Cambridge, on the sixth of -July, M.DCCC.XLVII. At the first commencement after the Installation -of his Royal Highness the Prince Albert, Chancellor of the University. -Cambridge: printed at the University Press. 4to. - -42 - -1847. ODE on the installation of His Royal Highness Prince Albert as -Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. By William Wordsworth, Poet -Laureate. London: Printed, by permission, by Vizetelley Brothers & Co. -Published by George Bell, Fleet Street. 4to. - -43 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, D.C.L., Poet Laureate, etc. -etc. In six volumes. A New Edition. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. -MDCCCXLIX.-MDCCCL. 12mo.[457] - -[431] These two editions of 1798 are the same; but as Cottle sold to -Arch most of the copies printed, the majority bear the name of Arch as -publisher. - -Four of the poems were by S.T. Coleridge, viz. _The Rime of the -Ancyent Marinere_; _The Foster-Mother’s Tale_; _The Nightingale, a -Conversational Poem_; and _The Dungeon_.--ED. - -[432] The first volume of this edition is a reprint of the editions -of 1798, _The Convict_ being left out. In it there is one poem by -Coleridge entitled _Love_, which was not in the edition of 1798. The -poems in the second volume are new. The preface to Volume 1. contains -Wordsworth’s poetical theory in its original form. This preface was -included in the 1802 and 1805 editions of Lyrical Ballads, and also--in -an expanded form--in almost every subsequent edition of his poems.--ED. - -[433] This was almost a reproduction of the two volumes of 1800, with -a few variations of text. The preface, however, was much enlarged. -The poem _A Character in the Antithetical Manner_ was left out, also -Coleridge’s poem _The Dungeon_.--ED. - -[434] A reprint of the edition of 1802, with slight variations of -text.--ED. - -[435] The _Essay on Epitaphs_ inserted in the notes to this volume was -originally published in _The Friend_, February 22, 1810.--ED. - -[436] This was the first edition of Wordsworth’s Poems arranged by -him under distinctive headings, viz. “Poems referring to the Period -of Childhood,” “Juvenile Pieces,” “Poems founded on the Affections,” -“Poems of the Fancy,” “Poems of the Imagination,” “Poems proceeding -from Sentiment and Reflection,” “Miscellaneous Sonnets,” “Sonnets, -etc., dedicated to Liberty,” “Poems on the Naming of Places,” -“Inscriptions,” “Poems referring to the Period of Old Age,” “Epitaphs -and Elegiac Poems,” “Ode, Intimations of Immortality from Recollections -of Childhood.” In it, he gave _dates_ to his poems. - -In Volume I. is an engraving by Mr. Bromley from a picture by Sir -George Beaumont; Volume II. has an engraving by Mr. Reynolds from Sir -George’s picture of Peele Castle in a storm.--ED. - -[437] The poem _The Force of Prayer; or, the Founding of Bolton Priory_ -follows the _White Doe of Rylstone_; and the volume contains an -engraving by Mr. Bromley from a painting of Bolton Abbey by Sir George -Beaumont.--ED. - -[438] The “Friend” was Mr. James Gray, Edinburgh.--ED. - -[439] The volume contains an engraving by Mr. Bromley from a painting -by Sir George Beaumont. In addition to _Peter Bell_, this volume -contained four sonnets.--ED. - -[440] This volume was dedicated to Charles Lamb.--ED. - -[441] In 1820 the four separate publications, _The Waggoner_, etc., -_Thanksgiving Ode_, etc., _Peter Bell_, etc., and _The River Duddon, -Vaudracour and Julia_, etc., were bound up together with their separate -title-pages, and issued under the title, _Poems by William Wordsworth_, -making Volume III. of the _Miscellaneous Poems_.--ED. - -[442] Each of these volumes contained an engraving from a picture by -Sir George Beaumont. They were “Lucy Gray,” “Peter Bell,” “The White -Doe of Rylstone,” and “Peele Castle.” All had appeared in previous -editions. The “Advertisement” states that this edition contains the -whole of the published poems of the Author, with the exception of _The -Excursion_, and that a few Sonnets “are now first published.” - -It is worthy of note that, in this edition, Wordsworth for the first -time abandoned the practice of putting in an apostrophe, instead of -a vowel letter, in words ending with “ed,” and in similar cases of -contraction.--ED. - -[443] Wordsworth added to this series of Sonnets, in the one-volume -edition of 1845 which contained 132. In the first edition, there were -102 sonnets.--ED. - -[444] This originally appeared as an Introduction to Wilkinson’s -_Select Views in Cumberland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire_, which was -published in 1810. In 1820 it was included (see No. 18) in _The River -Duddon: A Series of Sonnets_. In 1823 a fourth edition appeared which -was a reprint of that of 1822.--ED. - -[445] To this edition Wordsworth prefixed the following -“Advertisement”:--“In these volumes will be found the whole of the -Author’s published poems, for the first time collected in a uniform -edition, with several new pieces interspersed.”--ED. - -[446] In this edition--copied without authority, from the poet or -his publishers, and with many errata, from the issue of 1827--there -is an engraving of Wordsworth by Mr. Wedgewood, after the portrait -by Carruthers, now in the possession of Mr. Hutchinson at Kimbolton. -The Galignani edition of Southey is even worse; three poems, not by -Southey, being included in it.--ED. - -[447] The editor of these selections was Joseph Hine.--ED. - -[448] The “Advertisement” to this edition is as follows:--“The contents -of the last edition in five volumes are compressed into the present -of four, with some additional pieces reprinted from miscellaneous -publications.”--ED. - -[449] As this volume (No. 32 in the list) was the last printed for the -Messrs. Longman, and issued by that firm and by Mr. Moxon jointly, -it is desirable to mention here, in a footnote, that, with the -exception of _The Evening Walk_ and _Descriptive Sketches_ (which were -published by J. Johnson) every one of Wordsworth’s works from 1798 to -1836--thirty in number--were introduced to the world by the Messrs. -Longman. It is questionable if any firm has ever had a similar “record” -in connection with the works of any great poet.--ED. - -[450] A reprint of the sixth volume of the 1836-37 edition. It was -again reprinted in 1841, 1844, and 1847.--ED. - -[451] Volumes one and two are dated 1836; the remaining four 1837. This -edition was stereotyped. It was reprinted in 1840, 1841, 1842, 1843, -1846, 1849, etc.; and some of the reprints contain slight variations -of text, etc. All the editions issued after 1841 include the volume, -_Poems of Early and Late Years_ (see No. 37) as a seventh volume. After -1850 _The Prelude_ was added as an eighth volume. - -In the first volume of this edition there is a steel engraving by -Mr. Watt of a portrait of the Poet by W. Pickersgill, which is in -St. John’s College, Cambridge. This engraving was reproduced in the -editions of 1840, 1841, and following ones.--ED. - -[452] This edition includes (as its “Advertisement” tells us) “twelve -new Sonnets which were composed while the sheets were going through the -press.”--ED. - -[453] Mr. Tutin writes in his Wordsworth Bibliography:--“This Pocket -edition of _Yarrow Revisited_, etc., is the third separate issue of the -Poem. It seems to have been intended as a supplementary volume to the -four vol. edition of 1832, as the sheets of it are all imprinted ‘Vol. -v.,’ but I have no direct proof that it was ever so issued.”--ED. - -[454] In his “Advertisement” the Author states that about one-third of -the Poem _Guilt and Sorrow_ was written in 1794, and was published in -the year 1798 under the title of _The Female Vagrant_.--ED. - -[455] This volume is dedicated “To her Most Sacred Majesty, -Victoria.”--ED. - -[456] Frequently republished. After 1851 _The Prelude_ was included. -The edition of 1869 has “nine additional poems,” dated 1846. All the -editions which I have seen contain an engraving by Mr. Finden from the -bust of Wordsworth by Chantrey--the original of which is at Coleorton -Hall--and a picture of Rydal Mount engraved by Mr. House after Finden. -Professor Dowden tells us that, in some later editions “the Pickersgill -portrait, engraved by J. Skelton, replaces Chantrey’s bust.” In this -edition, as in that of 1815, Wordsworth gave dates to his poems.--ED. - -[457] Volumes I. and II. are dated 1849, and Volumes III.-VI. 1850. -_The Excursion_ formed the sixth volume. It was reprinted separately in -1851, 1853, and 1857.--ED. - - -II - -EDITIONS OF THE POEMS, AND OF SELECTIONS FROM THEM, PUBLISHED AFTER THE -POET’S DEATH. - -1 - -1850. THE PRELUDE, OR GROWTH OF A POET’S MIND; an Autobiographical -Poem; by William Wordsworth. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. Demy -8vo. - -2 - -1851. THE PRELUDE, OR GROWTH OF A POET’S MIND; an Autobiographical -Poem; By William Wordsworth. Second Edition. London: Edward Moxon, -Dover Street. Fcap. 8vo. - -3 - -1855. SELECT PIECES FROM THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. London: -Edward Moxon. Sq. 12mo. - -4 - -1857. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. In six volumes. A new -Edition. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. 8vo.[458] - -5 - -THE EARLIER POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Corrected as in the latest -Editions. With Preface, and Notes showing the text as it stood in 1815. -By William Johnston. London: Edward Moxon, Dover Street. Fcap. 8vo. - -6 - -1859. THE DESERTED COTTAGE. By William Wordsworth. Illustrated with -twenty-one designs by Birket Foster, J. Wolf, and John Gilbert, -engraved by the Brothers Dalziel. London: George Routledge and Co., -Farringdon Street. New York: 18 Beekman Street. Small 4to.[459] - -7 - -POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Selected and Edited by Robert Aris -Willmott, Incumbent of Bear Wood. Illustrated with one hundred designs -by Birket Foster, J. Wolf, and John Gilbert, Engraved by the Brothers -Dalziel. London: George Routledge and Co., Farringdon Street. New York: -18 Beekman Street, MDCCCLIX. Small 4to. - -8 - -THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE; OR, THE FATE OF THE NORTONS. By William -Wordsworth. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts. Small -4to.[460] - -9 - -PASSAGES FROM “THE EXCURSION,” by William Wordsworth, Illustrated -with Etchings on Steel by Agnes Fraser. London: published by Paul and -Dominic Colnaghi and Co., publishers to Her Majesty, 13 and 14 Pall -Mall East. Oblong 4to.[461] - -10 - -THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE; OR, THE FATE OF THE NORTONS. With -Illustrations by Birket Foster, and others. London: Longman, Brown, -Green, Longmans, and Roberts. - -11 - -PASTORAL POEMS, by William Wordsworth. London: Sampson, Low, etc. - -12 - -1864. THE SELECT POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Copyright -Edition. In two volumes. Leipzig, Bernhard Tauchnitz.[462] - -13 - -1865. A SELECTION FROM THE WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, Poet Laureate. -Moxon’s Miniature Poets. Selected and arranged by Francis Turner -Palgrave. Published in London: Edward Moxon & Co., Dover Street. Sq. -12mo.[463] - -14 - -THE POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. A new Edition. London: Edward Moxon & -Co., Dover Street. - -15 - -1867. THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE; OR, THE FATE OF THE NORTONS. By -William Wordsworth. London: Bell and Daldy, 186 Fleet Street. 8vo.[464] - -16 - -1869. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. A new Edition. London: -Edward Moxon, Son, & Co., 44 Dover Street, Piccadilly. - -17 - -1870. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited, with a critical -Memoir, by William Michael Rossetti. Illustrated by artistic etchings -by Edwin Edwards. London: E. Moxon, Son, & Co., Dover Street. Small 4to. - -18 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited, with a critical -Memoir, by William Michael Rossetti. Illustrated by Henry Dell. London: -E. Moxon, Son, & Co., Dover Street. 8vo.[465] - -19 - -1876. THE PROSE WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. For the first time -collected, with additions from unpublished manuscripts. Edited, with -Preface, Notes and Illustrations, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart, St. -George’s, Blackburn, Lancashire. In three volumes. Volume I. Political -and Ethical. Volume II. Æsthetical and Literary. Volume III. Critical -and Ethical. London: Edward Moxon, Son, and Co., 1 Amen Corner, -Paternoster Row. 8vo. - -20 - -1879. POEMS OF WORDSWORTH, chosen and edited by Matthew Arnold. London: -Macmillan and Co. 18mo.[466] - -21 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited by William Knight, -LL.D., Professor of Moral Philosophy, St. Andrews. Edinburgh: William -Paterson. MDCCCLXXXII. [MDCCCLXXXII.-- MDCCCLXXXVI.] 8 vols. Demy -8vo.[467] - -22 - -SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH. Edited, with an Introductory Memoir, by J. -S. Fletcher. London: Alex. Gardner, 12 Paternoster Row, and Paisley. -MDCCCLXXXIII. Fcap. 8vo. Parchment.[468] - -23 - -1883. WINNOWINGS FROM WORDSWORTH. Edited by J. Robertson. Simpkin & Co. -1883. - -24 - -THE BROTHERS, AND OTHER POEMS FOUNDED ON THE AFFECTIONS. 18mo. Collins. - -25 - -1884. THE RIVER DUDDON. A Series of Sonnets. By William Wordsworth. -With ten Etchings by R. S. Chattock, The Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond -Street, London. Folio. - -26 - -THE SONNETS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Collected in one volume, with an -Essay on The History of the English Sonnet by Richard Chenevix Trench, -D.D., Archbishop of Dublin, Chancellor of the Order of St. Patrick. -London: Suttaby and Co., Amen Corner. MDCCCLXXXIV. 8vo.[469] - -27 - -SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH. By Misses Wordsworth. London: Kegan Paul, & -Co. April 8, 1884. - -28 - -THE WORDSWORTH BIRTHDAY BOOK. Edited by Adelaide and Violet Wordsworth. -London: Kegan Paul, Trench, & Co. - -29 - -BIRTHDAY TEXTS FROM WORDSWORTH. Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo. N. D. - -30 - -THE GOLDEN POETS. “Wordsworth.” London: Marcus Ward & Co. N. D. - -31 - -1885. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, With a Prefatory -Notice, Biographical and Critical. By Andrew James Symington. London: -Walter Scott, 14 Paternoster Square and Newcastle-on-Tyne. 16mo.[470] - -32 - -WORDSWORTH’S EXCURSION. THE WANDERER. Edited, with Notes, etc., by H. -H. Turner. London: Rivingtons. N. D. - -33 - -ODE ON IMMORTALITY, AND LINES ON TINTERN ABBEY. Illustrated. Cassell. -4to. - -34 - -TINTERN ABBEY, ODES, AND THE HAPPY WARRIOR. 8vo. Chambers. (Republished -in 1892.) - -35 - -1887. THROUGH THE WORDSWORTH COUNTRY. By Harry Goodwin and Professor -Knight. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., Paternoster Square. -Imperial 8vo.[471] - -36 - -WORDSWORTH AND KEATS, Selections. In 16mo. M. Ward. - -37 - -1888. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. With an -Introduction by John Morley. With a Portrait. London: Macmillan & Co. -Crown 8vo. - -38 - -1888. SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH. By William Knight, and other Members -of the Wordsworth Society. With Preface and Notes. London: Kegan -Paul, Trench, & Co., 1 Paternoster Square. MDCCCLXXXVIII. Large Crown -8vo.[472] - -39 - -1888. THE RECLUSE. By William Wordsworth. London: Macmillan and Co.[473] - -40 - -1888. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WORDSWORTH. With Memoir, Explanatory Notes, -etc. London: Griffith, Farren, & Co., Newbury House, Charing Cross Road. - -41 - -PROSE WRITINGS OF WORDSWORTH: Selected and Edited, with an -Introduction, by William Knight. London: Walter Scott. No date. - -42 - -1889. WE ARE SEVEN. Illustrated by Agnes Gardner King. 16mo. - -43 - -1891. LYRICS AND SONNETS OF WORDSWORTH. With Introduction and -Bibliography. By Clement R. Shorter. Scott Library. 32mo. - -44 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited, with Memoir, by -Edward Dowden. London: George Bell & Sons. 1892-1893.[474] - -45 - -1891. LYRICAL BALLADS, ETC. A reprint of the original edition of 1798. -Edited by Edward Dowden. London: David Nutt. 16mo. - -46 - -1891. THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE, WITH THE SONG AT THE FEAST OF BROUGHAM -CASTLE. Edited, with introduction and notes, by William Knight. Oxford: -At the Clarendon Press. - -47 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edinburgh: W.P. Nimmo, Hay, -and Mitchell. 1892. - -48 - -WORDSWORTH FOR THE YOUNG. With notes by J.C. Wright. 8vo. 1893. - -49 - -1895. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, with introductions and -notes. Edited by Thomas Hutchinson, M.A. London: Henry Froude, Oxford -University Press Warehouse, Amen Corner, E.C. - -50 - -THE PENNY POETS, in “The Masterpiece Library.” Wordsworth. Nos. XXXII. -and XXXVII. - -51 - -1896. LYRIC POEMS. Edited by Ernest Rhys. 8vo. London: Dent & Co. - -52 - -THE PRELUDE; OR, GROWTH OF A POET’S MIND. 18mo. London: Dent & Co. - -53 - -“The Lansdowne Poets” included one of Wordsworth. The “Albion” edition -was published by Messrs. Froude, Oxford University Press.[475] - -[458] In this edition--reprinted as “The Centenary Edition” in 1870, -1881, and 1882--the Fenwick notes were printed, for the first time in -full, as prefatory notes to the poems.--ED. - -[459] Reproduced in 1864.--ED. - -[460] It contains illustrations by H. N. Humphreys and Birket -Foster.--ED. - -[461] This volume contains eleven etchings of varying merit.--ED. - -[462] These are volumes 707 and 708 of Tauchnitz’s “Collection of -British Authors.”--ED. - -[463] It contains a steel engraving from Chantrey’s bust of the Poet. -This selection was re-issued in 1866, and 1869; and, recently, in a -small pocket edition.--ED. - -[464] This is a reprint, in a different form, of No. 8.--ED. - -[465] In this edition, which is a reprint, on smaller paper, of No. 19. -there is an engraving from one of the portraits of the Poet by Miss -Gillies. The engraving first appeared in Volume I. of _The New Spirit -of the Age_, edited by R. H. Horne.--ED. - -[466] It contains an idealised engraving of one of Haydon’s portraits -of Wordsworth, after Lupton, by C. H. Jeens, and on the outside cover a -drawing of Dove Cottage.--ED. - -[467] In this edition the Poems were arranged for the first time -in the chronological order of composition; the changes of text, in -the successive editions, were given in footnotes, with the dates of -these changes; many new readings, or suggested changes of text--which -were written by the Poet on the margins of a copy of the edition of -1836-37, kept at Rydal Mount, and afterwards in the possession of Lord -Coleridge--were added; all the Fenwick notes were printed as Prefatory -notes; Topographical notes--containing allusions to localities in the -English Lake District, and elsewhere--were given; several Poems and -Fragments hitherto unpublished were printed; a Bibliography of the -Poems, and of editions published in England and America from 1793 to -1850 was added. Etchings of localities associated with the Poet, from -drawings by Mr. MacWhirter, were given as frontispieces to Volumes I., -II., III., IV., V., VI., and VII. The text adopted was Wordsworth’s -final text of 1849-50.--ED. - -[468] It contains an engraving of Rydal Mount on the fly-leaf.--ED. - -[469] This volume is a reprint of Wordsworth’s own edition of his -Sonnets, published in 1838, with the addition of Archbishop Trench’s -_History of the English Sonnet_.--ED. - -[470] This is one of the volumes of _The Canterbury Poets_. It is only -a selection, though described on the title as “The Poetical Works.”--ED. - -[471] This volume contains fifty-five engravings from drawings by -Harry Goodwin of scenes in the English Lake District associated with -Wordsworth, with the poems, or portions of poems, referring to the -places.--ED. - -[472] The poems are arranged in chronological order of composition; -and there is, as frontispiece, an etched portrait of the Poet from a -miniature by Margaret Gillies in the possession of Sir Henry Doulton. -Amongst those who contributed to it were Robert Browning, James -Russell Lowell, the late Lord Selborne, Mr. R. H. Hutton, the Dean -of Salisbury, the late Lord Coleridge, the Rev. Stopford Brooke, Mr. -Aubrey de Vere, the late Lord Houghton, Canon Rawnsley, the late -Principals Shairp and Greenwood and Professor Veitch, Mr. Spence -Watson, Mr. Rix, Mr. Heard, Mr. Cotterill, the late Bishop Wordsworth -of St. Andrews, and the Editor.--ED. - -[473] In the prefatory advertisement to the first edition of _The -Prelude_ 1850, it is stated that that poem was designed to be -introductory to _The Recluse_, and that _The Recluse_ if completed, -would have consisted of three parts. The second part is _The -Excursion_. The third part was only planned. The first book of the -first part was left in manuscript by Wordsworth. It was published for -the first time _in extenso_ in 1888.--ED. - -[474] This Aldine edition, by Professor Dowden, is one of great merit, -and permanent value. Although it is not immaculate--as no literary work -ever is--as a contribution to Wordsworthian Literature it will hold an -honoured place. Its “critical apparatus” is succinct and admirable.--ED. - -[475] Mr. Andrew Lang tells me that he is about to edit a _Selection_ -of the Poems, for the Messrs. Longman; which will, no doubt, be as -useful, and popular, as Matthew Arnold’s Selection has been.--ED. - - -III - -ESTIMATES OF WORDSWORTH IN VARIOUS BOOKS[476] - -1811. SEWARD, ANNA. Letters written between the Years 1784 and 1807. -Edited by A. Constable, vol. vi. No. 66.[477] 8vo. Edinburgh. - -1817. COLERIDGE, S. T. Biographia Literaria; or, Biographical Sketches -of my Literary Life and Opinions. 2 vols. 8vo. London: Rest Fenner. -Second Edition. London: William Pickering. 1847. Bohn’s Standard -Library. 1866. - -COLERIDGE, S. T. In _The Friend, passim_. Second Edition. London: Rest -Fenner. - -HAZLITT, WILLIAM. The Round Table: a Collection of Essays on -Literature, Men, and Manners. Observations on Mr. Wordsworth’s Poem, -“The Excursion.” 12mo. London: Templeman. Also in Bohn’s Standard -Library. Edited by W. Carew Hazlitt. Pp. 158-176. London. 1871. - -1818. HAZLITT, WILLIAM. Lectures on the English Poets. 8vo. London: -Taylor and Hessey. Also in Bohn’s Standard Library. 1870. - -1819. HAZLITT, WILLIAM. Political Essays, with Sketches of Public -Characters. My First Acquaintance with Poets. 8vo. London: Templeman. -Also in Winterslow, pp. 255-277. Bohn’s Standard Library. 1872. - -1823. SOLIGNY, VICTOIRE DE, COUNT, _pseud._ (_i.e._ Peter George -Patmore, father of the late Coventry Patmore). Letters on England, vol. -ii. pp. 7-19. 8vo. London: Henry Colburn and Co. - -1824. LANDOR, W. S. Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and -Statesmen. Southey and Porson, i. 39. 8vo. London: Taylor and Hessey. -New Edition, i. 11, 68, 182. London: Edward Moxon. 1846. New Edition, -iv. 18. London: Chapman and Hall. 1876. - -1825. HAZLITT, WILLIAM. The Spirit of the Age; or, Contemporary -Portraits. 8vo. London: Henry Colburn and Co.; Fourth Edition. George -Bell and Sons. 1886. - -1827. HONE, WILLIAM. The Table Book. Wordsworth, ii. 275. 8vo. London: -Hunt and Clarke. - -COLERIDGE, S. T. Table Talk. July 21, 1832; July 31, 1832; February 16, -1833. - -1833. MONTGOMERY, JAMES. Lectures on Poetry and General Literature, -delivered at the Royal Institution in 1830 and 1831. Wordsworth’s -Theory of Poetic Diction, pp. 134-141. 8vo. London: Longmans. - -1836. Conversations at Cambridge. The Poet Wordsworth and Professor -Smythe, pp. 235-252. 8vo. London: John W. Parker. - -1837. COTTLE, JOSEPH. Early Recollections; chiefly relating to the late -Samuel Taylor Coleridge, during his long Residence in Bristol. 2 vols. -8vo. London: Longman, Rees and Co. - -1838. CHORLEY, H. F. The Authors of England. 4to. London. New Edition, -revised (by G. B.) London. 1861. - -HARE, JULIUS C. and AUGUSTUS W. Guesses at Truth, by Two Brothers. -Second Series. 8vo. London: Taylor and Walton. The Dedication of this -edition is to William Wordsworth. New Edition, in one volume. Macmillan -and Co. 1866. - -1840. HUNT, LEIGH. The Seer. “Wordsworth and Milton,” pp. 5-53. London: -Edward Moxon. - -RUSKIN, JOHN. Modern Painters (1843-1860), _passim_ in all the five -volumes. London: George Allen. - -1843. CHAMBERS, ROBERT. Cyclopædia of English Literature. Wordsworth, -ii. 322-333. Fourth Edition, revised by Robert Carruthers, LL.D. 1888. -8vo. Edinburgh: William and Robert Chambers. - -1844. HORNE, R. H. A New Spirit of the Age. William Wordsworth and -Leigh Hunt, vol. i. pp. 307-332. 12mo. London: Smith, Elder and Co. - -KEBLE, JOHN. Praelectiones Academicae Oxonii habitae, annis -MDCCCXXXII.-MDCCCXLI., tom. ii. pp. 615, 789. 8vo. Oxonii: J. H. Parker. - -1845. GILFILLAN, GEORGE. A Gallery of Literary Portraits. 12mo. -Edinburgh: Groombridge. - -CRAIK, E. L. Sketches of the History of Literature and Learning in -England. Vol. vi., pp. 114-139. London: Charles Knight. - -1847. HOWITT, WILLIAM. Homes and Haunts of the most eminent British -Poets, vol. ii. pp. 259-291. 8vo. London: Richard Bentley. Third -Edition. Routledge and Sons. 1862. - -TUCKERMAN, HENRY T. Thoughts on the Poets. 8vo. London: J. Chapman. - -1849. GILFILLAN, GEORGE. A Second Gallery of Literary Portraits. 8vo. -Edinburgh: Groombridge. - -SHAW, THOMAS B. Outlines of English Literature. Wordsworth, pp. -518-526. 8vo. London: John Murray. Sixteenth Edition, edited by William -Smith, D.C.L. 1887. - -TAYLOR, HENRY. Notes from Books. In four Essays. Wordsworth’s Poetical -Works and Sonnets, pp. 1-186. 8vo. London: John Murray. Works: Author’s -Edition, vol. v. London: C. Kegan Paul and Co. 1878. - -1849-50. SOUTHEY, ROBERT. Life and Correspondence. Edited by the Rev. -Charles Cuthbert Southey. 6 vols. Comments on Wordsworth in chaps, -ix.-xiii. xv. xix. xxvi. xxxii. and xxxvi. 8vo. London: Longman, Brown, -Green and Longmans. - -1851. GILLIES, R. P. Memoirs of a Literary Veteran; including Sketches -and Anecdotes of the most distinguished Literary Characters from 1794 -to 1849. Wordsworth, vol. ii. pp. 136-173. 8vo. London: Richard Bentley. - -The Poetic Companion, vol. i., pp. 168-173. A Biographical and Critical -Sketch of William Wordsworth. - -MOIR, D. M. Sketches of the Poetical Literature of the past -Half-Century, pp. 59-81; 120. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. -Third Edition, 1856. - -WORDSWORTH, CHRISTOPHER. Memoirs of William Wordsworth, Poet-Laureate, -D.C.L. 2 vols. 8vo. London: Edward Moxon. 1851. - -1852. JANUARY SEARLE (George S. Phillips). Memoirs of William -Wordsworth, compiled from Authentic Sources. 12mo. London: Partridge -and Oakey. - -MITFORD, M. R. Recollections of a Literary Life; or, Books, Places, and -People, vol. iii. chap. i. 8vo. London: Richard Bentley. - -1853. An Essay on the Poetry of Wordsworth, 72 pp. 8vo. Liverpool. - -AUSTIN, W. S., and JOHN RALPH. The Lives of the Poets-Laureate. With -an Introductory Essay on the Title and Office. William Wordsworth, pp. -396-428. 8vo. London: Richard Bentley. - -WRIGHT, JOHN. The Genius of Wordsworth harmonised with the Wisdom and -Integrity of his Reviewers. 8vo. London: Longman, Brown, Green and -Longmans. - -SPALDING, WILLIAM. The History of English Literature. 8vo. Edinburgh: -Oliver & Boyd. - -1854. DE QUINCEY, THOMAS. Autobiographic Sketches. Early Memorials -of Grasmere, vol. ii. pp. 104-141; William Wordsworth, pp. 227-314; -William Wordsworth and Robert Southey, pp. 315-345. 8vo. Edinburgh: -James Hogg. Also Collected Writings. New and Enlarged Edition. By David -Masson. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. 1889-90. - -SPALDING, WILLIAM. Wordsworth, pp. 849-851. Cyclopædia of Biography, -edited by Elihu Rich. 8vo. Glasgow: Richard Griffin and Co. - -MOORE, THOMAS. Memoirs, Journal, and Correspondence of. Edited by the -Right Honourable Lord John Russell, vol. iii. pp. 161, 163; vol. iv. -pp. 48, 335; vol. vii pp. 72, 85, 197-8; vol. viii. pp. 69, 73, 291. - -1856. CARLYON, CLEMENT. Early Years and Late Reflections, vol. i. 8vo. -London: Whittaker and Co. - -HOOD, E. P. William Wordsworth: a Biography. 8vo. London: W. and F. G. -Cash. - -MASSON, DAVID. Essays, Biographical and Critical: chiefly on English -Poets. Wordsworth, pp. 346-390. 8vo. Cambridge: Macmillan and Co. -Reprinted from _The North British Review_, August 1850. - -ROGERS, SAMUEL. Recollections of the Table Talk of Samuel Rogers. 8vo. -London: Edward Moxon. - -WILSON, JOHN. Noctes Ambrosianae, vols. i.-iii. 8vo. Edinburgh: William -Blackwood and Sons. New Edition, 1864. - -WILSON, JOHN. Essays, Critical and Imaginative. Wordsworth, vol. i. pp. -387-408. 8vo. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. - -1857. DE QUINCEY, THOMAS. Sketches, Critical and Biographic. On -Wordsworth’s Poetry, vol. v. pp. 234-268. 8vo. Edinburgh: James Hogg -and Sons. - -REED, HENRY. Lectures on the British Poets. Wordsworth, Lecture XV. -8vo. London. - -WILSON, JOHN. Recreations of Christopher North, vol. ii. Sacred Poetry. -Wordsworth, pp. 54-70. 8vo. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. - -1858. BRIMLEY, GEORGE. Essays. Edited by William George Clark, M.A. -Wordsworth’s Poems, pp. 104-187. 8vo. Cambridge: Macmillan and Co. -Second Edition, 1860. Third Edition, 1882. Reprinted from _Fraser’s -Magazine_, 1851. - -ROBERTSON, F. W. Lectures and Addresses on Literary and Social Topics. -Wordsworth, pp. 203-256. 8vo. London: Smith, Elder and Co. - -THE ENGLISH CYCLOPÆDIA. A New Dictionary of Universal Knowledge. -Conducted by Charles Knight. Wordsworth, vol. vi. pp. 808-812. - -1859. MILL, J. S. Dissertations and Discussions. Thoughts on Poetry and -its Varieties, i. 63-94. 8vo. London: John W. Parker and Son. Second -Edition. Longmans, Green, Reader and Dyer. 1867. - -1860. CARRUTHERS, R. William Wordsworth. The _Encyclopædia Britannica_, -Eighth Edition, xxi. 929-932. 4to. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. - -1861. CRAIK, GEORGE L. A Compendious History of English Literature, -and of the English Language from the Norman Conquest. Wordsworth, ii. -435-456; 463-467; 473. 8vo. London: Griffin, Bohn and Co. - -1862. GORDON, MRS. “Christopher North.” A Memoir of John Wilson, -compiled from Family Papers and other Sources. 2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh: -Edmonston and Douglas. New Edition, 1879. - -PATTERSON, A. S. Poets and Preachers of the Nineteenth Century: Four -Lectures, Biographical and Critical, on Wordsworth, Montgomery, Hall, -and Chalmers. 8vo. Glasgow: A. Hall. - -1863. RUSHTON, WILLIAM. The Classical and Romantic Schools of English -Literature, as represented by Spenser, Dryden, Pope, Scott, and -Wordsworth. The Afternoon Lectures on English Literature, delivered in -Dublin, pp. 43-92. 8vo. London: Bell and Daldy. - -1864. COLQUHOUN, J. C. Scattered Leaves of Biography. IV.--Life of -William Wordsworth. 8vo. London: Macintosh. - -KNIGHT, CHARLES. Passages from a Working Life during half a century: -with a prelude of Early Reminiscences, vol. iii. chap. ii. pp. 27-29. - -1865. The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography. Edited by J. F. -WALLER. Wordsworth, vol. vi. p. 1389. 8vo. London: W. Mackenzie. - -1865. DENNIS, JOHN. Evenings in Arcadia. Edited by John Dennis. 12mo. -London. - -1868. BUCHANAN, ROBERT. David Gray, and Other Essays, chiefly on -Poetry. Sampson Low. - -MACDONALD, GEORGE. England’s Antiphon, pp. 303-7. 8vo. London. - -SHAIRP, J. C. Studies in Poetry and Philosophy. Wordsworth: the Man -and the Poet, pp. 1-115. 8vo. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. Third -Edition, 1876. Fourth Edition, 1886. - -_Chambers’s Encyclopædia._ A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the -People. Wordsworth, vol. x. pp. 272-274. New Edition, pp. 737-740. -1892. 8vo. London: W. and R. Chambers. - -1869. CLOUGH, A. H. Poems and Prose Remains. Lecture on the Poetry of -Wordsworth, vol. i. pp. 309-325. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -G., F. J. The Old College, being the Glasgow University Album for -MDCCCLXIX. Edited by Students. William Wordsworth, pp. 243-259. 8vo. -Glasgow: James Maclehose. - -GRAVES, R. P. Recollections of Wordsworth and the Lake Country. The -Afternoon Lectures on Literature and Art, delivered in Dublin, pp. -275-321. 8vo. Dublin: William M’Gee. - -MARTINEAU, HARRIET. Biographical Sketches. Mrs. Wordsworth, pp. -402-408. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -ROBINSON, HENRY CRABB. Diary, Reminiscences, and Correspondence. -Selected and edited by Thomas Sadler. 3 vols. 8vo. London: Macmillan -and Co. - -1870. EMERSON, R. W. English Traits, First Visit to England. Bohn’s -Standard Library; also Macmillan and Co. 1883. - -1871. HUTTON, R. H. Essays, Theological and Literary. Wordsworth and -his Genius, vol. ii. Literary Essays, pp. 101-146. 8vo. London: Strahan -and Co. Second Edition, 1877. - -TAINE, H. A. History of English Literature. Translated by H. Van -Laun. With a preface by the author. Vol. ii. pp. 248; 260-265. 8vo. -Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. - -HALL, S. C. A Book of Memories of Great Men and Women of the Age, from -Personal Acquaintance. London: Virtue and Co. Wordsworth, pp. 287-318. - -1872. COOPER, THOMAS, Life of: An Autobiography. Reminiscence of -Wordsworth (first published in _Cooper’s Journal_, May 1850), pp. -287-295. - -DE MORGAN, AUGUSTUS. A Budget of Paradoxes. Wordsworth and Byron, p. -435. 8vo. London: Longmans, Green and Co. - -NEAVES, CHARLES (Lord Neaves). A Lecture on Cheap and Accessible -Pleasures. With a Comparative Sketch of the Poetry of Burns and -Wordsworth, etc. 8vo. Edinburgh. - -YONGE, CHARLES D. Three Centuries of English Literature. Wordsworth, -pp. 251-267. 8vo. London: Longmans, Green and Co. - -1873. COLERIDGE, SARA. Memoir and Letters. Edited by her Daughter. 2 -vols. 8vo. London: Henry S. King and Co. - -DEVEY, JOSEPH. A Comparative Estimate of Modern English Poets. -Wordsworth, pp. 87-103. 8vo. London: Moxon and Son. - -LONSDALE, HENRY. The Worthies of Cumberland. William Wordsworth, vol. -iv. pp. 1-40. 8vo. London: George Routledge and Sons. - -MORLEY, H. A First Sketch of English Literature. 8vo. London: Cassell, -Petter, and Galpin. - -NICHOLS, W. L. The Quantocks and their Associations. A Paper read -before the Members of the Bath Literary Club. 12mo. Bath. Printed for -Private Circulation. Second Edition. London: Sampson Low, Marston and -Co. - -1874. BROOKE, STOPFORD A. Theology in the English Poets. Wordsworth, -pp. 93-286. 8vo. London: Henry S. King and Co. - -MASSON, DAVID. Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, and other Essays. -Wordsworth, pp. 3-74. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -WORDSWORTH, DOROTHY. Recollections of a Tour made in Scotland, A.D. -1803. Edited by J. C. Shairp. 8vo. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. - -1875. FLETCHER, MRS. Autobiography. With Letters and other Family -Memorials. 8vo. Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. - -1876. FORSTER, JOHN. The Works and Life of Walter Savage Landor. Vol. -i. The Life. 8vo. London: Chapman and Hall. - -LAMB, CHARLES. The Life, Letters, and Writings of Charles Lamb. Edited, -with Notes and Illustrations, by Percy Fitzgerald. References to, and -Criticisms of Wordsworth in vols. i. ii. 8vo. London: E. Moxon and Co. - -LOWELL, J. RUSSELL. Among my Books. Second Series. Wordsworth, pp. -201-251. 8vo. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington. - -MORLEY, HENRY. Cassell’s Library of English Literature. Vols. iii., -iv., v. Wordsworth. 8vo. London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. - -STEDMAN, E. C. Victorian Poets. 8vo. London: Chatto and Windus. - -TICKNOR, GEORGE. Life, Letters, and Journals. 2 vols. 8vo. London: -Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington. - -1877. DOYLE, SIR FRANCIS H. Lectures on Poetry delivered at Oxford. -Second Series. Wordsworth Lectures, i.-iii. pp. 1-77. 8vo. London: -Smith, Elder and Co. - -SHAIRP, J. C. On Poetic Interpretation of Nature. Wordsworth as an -Interpreter of Nature, pp. 225-270. 8vo. Edinburgh: David Douglas. - -ADAMS (W. DAVENPORT). Dictionary of English Literature. Wordsworth, pp. -700-701. 8vo. London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin. - -1878. DOWDEN, E. Studies in Literature, 1789-1877. The Prose Works of -Wordsworth, pp. 122-158. 8vo. London: C. Kegan Paul and Co. - -KNIGHT, WILLIAM. The English Lake District as Interpreted in the Poems -of Wordsworth. 12mo. Edinburgh: David Douglas. Second Edition, revised -and enlarged 1891. - -ROSSETTI, W. M. Lives of Various Poets. Wordsworth, pp. 203-218. 8vo. -London: E. Moxon and Son. - -The Treasury of Modern Biography. Edited by Robert Cochrane. -Wordsworth, pp. 98-116. 8vo. Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo. - -1879. BAGEHOT, WALTER. Literary Studies. Edited by Richard Holt Hutton. -Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Browning; or, Pure, Ornate, and Grotesque Art -in English Poetry, vol. ii. pp. 338-390. 8vo. London: Longmans, Green -and Co. - -KNIGHT, WILLIAM. Studies in Philosophy and Literature. Wordsworth, pp. -283-317. Nature as Interpreted by Wordsworth, pp. 405-426. 8vo. London: -C. Kegan Paul and Co. - -STEPHEN, LESLIE. Hours in a Library. Third Series. Wordsworth’s Ethics, -pp. 178-229. 8vo. London: Smith, Elder and Co. - -1880. BAYNE, PETER. Two Great Englishwomen: Mrs. Browning and Charlotte -Brontë. With an Essay on Poetry, illustrated from Wordsworth, Burns, -and Byron, pp. xi.-lxxviii. 8vo. London: James Clarke and Co. - -CHURCH, R. W. William Wordsworth. The English Poets. Edited by Thomas -Humphry Ward, vol. iv. pp. 1-15. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -MAIN, DAVID M. A Treasury of English Sonnets. Edited from the Original -Sources, with Notes and Illustrations, pp. 365-390. 8vo. Manchester: -Alexander Ireland and Co. - -MYERS, F. W. H. Wordsworth (English Men of Letters). 8vo. Macmillan and -Co. - -1881. CARLYLE, THOMAS. Reminiscences. Edited by James Anthony Froude. -Vol. ii. pp. 330-341. 8vo. London: Longmans, Green and Co. - -DOWDEN, E. The Correspondence of Robert Southey with Caroline Bowles. -Edited, with an Introduction, by Edward Dowden. 8vo. Dublin: Hodges, -Figgis, and Co. - -MILNER, GEORGE. The Literature and Scenery of the English Lake -District. Reprinted from the Papers of the Manchester Literary Club, -vol. vii. pp. 1-21. 8vo. Manchester. - -SHAIRP, J. C. Aspects of Poetry, being Lectures delivered at Oxford. -The Three Yarrows, pp. 316-344. The White Doe of Rylstone, pp. 345-376. -8vo. Oxford: Clarendon Press. - -SHORTHOUSE, J. H. On the Platonism of Wordsworth. A Paper read to the -Wordsworth Society, 19th July 1881. 4to. Birmingham: Cornish Brothers. - -SYMINGTON, A. J. William Wordsworth: a Biographical Sketch, with -Selections from his Writings in Poetry and Prose. 2 vols. 8vo. London: -Blackie and Son. - -1882. BUCKLAND, ANNA. The Story of English Literature. 8vo. London: -Cassell and Co. - -COTTERILL, H. B. An Introduction to the Study of Poetry. Wordsworth, -pp. 208-241. 8vo. London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Co. - -OLIPHANT, MRS. The Literary History of England in the end of the -Eighteenth and beginning of the Nineteenth Century. 3 vols. 8vo. -London: Macmillan and Co. - -SCHERER, J. A History of English Literature. Translated from the German -by M. V. 8vo. London: Sampson Low and Co. - -SEELEY, J. R. Natural Religion. By the Author of _Ecce Homo_, pp. -94-111. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -IRELAND, ALEXANDER. Recollections of George Dawson, etc., pp. 22-25. - -1883. CAINE, T. HALL. Cobwebs of Criticism. A Review of the First -Reviewers of the “Lake,” “Satanic,” and “Cockney” Schools. Wordsworth, -pp. 1-29. 8vo. London: Elliot Stock. - -DENNIS, JOHN. Heroes of Literature: English Poets. William Wordsworth, -pp. 278-299. 8vo. London: S.P.C.K. - -HALL, S. C. Retrospect of a Long Life: from 1815 to 1883. Wordsworth, -vol. ii. pp. 36-42. 8vo. London: Richard Bentley and Son. - -HAWTHORNE, N. English Note-Books, vol. ii. 8vo. London: Kegan Paul, -Trench and Co. - -The Lyme Parish Church Magazine. Lyme-Regis: Walton. - -1884. HOFFMANN, F. A. Poetry, its Origin, Nature, and History. -Wordsworth, chap. xxvi. pp. 359-375. 8vo. London: Thurgate and Sons. - -KERR, R. N. Our English Laureates and the Birds. Dundee: John Leng -and Co. Pp. 29-51. (Originally published in the _Newcastle Weekly -Chronicle_.) - -NICHOLSON, ALBERT. The Literature of the English Lake District. -Manchester. - -SHORTER, C. K. William Wordsworth. The National Cyclopædia: a -Dictionary of Universal Knowledge. New Edition. 8vo. London: W. -Mackenzie. - -TRAILL, H. D. Coleridge. English Men of Letters. 8vo. London: Macmillan -and Co. - -1885. COURTHOPE, W. J. The Liberal Movement in English Literature. -Essay III. Wordsworth’s Theory of Poetry, pp. 71-108. 8vo. London: John -Murray. - -ELIOT, GEORGE. George Eliot’s Life, as related in her Letters and -Journals. By J. W. Cross. Vol. i. p. 61; iii. 388. 8vo. Edinburgh: W. -Blackwood and Sons. - -HUTTON, LAWRENCE. Literary Landmarks, pp. 321-7. London: T. Fisher -Unwin. - -CARNE, JOHN, Letters of, 1813-1837. Privately printed. Pp. 133-138. - -TAYLOR, SIR HENRY. Autobiography 1800-1875. 2 vols. 8vo. London: -Longmans, Green and Co. - -1886. DAWSON, GEORGE. Biographical Lectures. Edited by George St. -Clair. The Poetry of Wordsworth, pp. 251-307. 8vo. London: Kegan Paul, -Trench and Co. - -LAW, DAVID. Wordsworth’s Country. A series of Five Etchings of the -English Lake District. 24mo. London: Robert Dunthorne. - -LEE, EDMUND. Dorothy Wordsworth. The Story of a Sister’s Love. 8vo. -London: James Clarke and Co. New and revised edition 1894. - -NICHOLSON, CORNELIUS. Wordsworth and Coleridge: Two Parallel Sketches. -Ventnor: R. Madley. 1886. - -NOEL, HON. RODEN B. W. Essays on Poetry and Poets. Wordsworth, pp. -132-149. 8vo. London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Co. - -SWINBURNE, A. C. Miscellanies, Wordsworth and Byron, pp. 63-156. 8vo. -London. 1886. - -LAUNCELOT CROSS (F. Carr). Thinkers of the World in relation to the -New Church. 1. Childhood as revealed in Wordsworth; 2. Wordsworth on -Infancy and Youth. N.D. - -1887. DE VERE, AUBREY. Essays, chiefly on Poetry. The Genius and -Passion of Wordsworth, vol. i. pp. 101-173; The Wisdom and Truth of -Wordsworth’s Poetry, vol. i. pp. 174-264; Recollections of Wordsworth, -vol. ii. pp. 275-295. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -GOODWIN, H., and WILLIAM KNIGHT. Through the Wordsworth Country. 8vo. -London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey and Co. Third Edition, 1892. - -LOWELL, J. RUSSELL. Democracy and other Addresses, pp. 137-156. 8vo. -London: Macmillan and Co. - -Memorials of Coleorton: being Letters from Coleridge, Wordsworth and -his Sister, Southey, and Sir Walter Scott, to Sir George and Lady -Beaumont of Coleorton, Leicestershire, 1803 to 1834. Edited, with -Introduction and Notes, by William Knight. 2 vols. 8vo. Edinburgh: -David Douglas. - -SUTHERLAND, J. M. William Wordsworth: the Story of his Life, with -Critical Remarks on his Writings. 8vo. London: Elliot Stock. - -1888. ARNOLD, MATTHEW. Essays in Criticism. Second Series. Wordsworth, -pp. 122-162. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -CHURCH, R. W. Dante and other Essays. William Wordsworth, pp. 193-219. -8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -DOWDEN, E. Transcripts and Studies. The Text of Wordsworth’s Poems, pp. -112-152. 8vo. London: Kegan Paul, Trench and Co. Reprinted from _The -Contemporary Review_. - -INGLEBY, C. M. Essays. Edited by his Son. 8vo. Trübner and Co. - -MINTO, W. William Wordsworth. The _Encyclopædia Britannica_, Ninth -Edition, xxiv. pp. 668-676. 4to. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. - -SANDFORD, MRS. HENRY. Thomas Poole and his Friends. 2 vols. 8vo. -London: Macmillan and Co. - -1889. CLAYDEN, P. W. Rogers and his Contemporaries. 2 vols. 8vo. -London: Smith, Elder and Co. - -HOWITT, MARY. Autobiography. Edited by her daughter Margaret Howitt. 2 -vols. 8vo. London: William Isbister. - -Letters from the Lake Poets, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William -Wordsworth, Robert Southey, to Daniel Stuart. Printed for Private -Circulation. Wordsworth, pp. 329-386. 8vo. London: West, Newman and Co. - -PATER, WALTER. Appreciations. With an Essay on Style. 8vo. London: -Macmillan and Co. - -WORDSWORTHIANA. A Selection from Papers read to the Wordsworth Society. -Edited by William Knight. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -1890. BOLAND, R. Yarrow, its Poets and Poetry, pp. 77-9. Dalbeattie. - -BROOKE, STOPFORD A. Dove Cottage, Wordsworth’s Home from 1800-1808. -December 21, 1799, to May 1808. 12mo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -DAVEY, SIR HORACE. Wordsworth. An Address read to the Stockton Literary -and Philosophical Society. 8vo. Stockton-on-Tees. 1890. - -DAWSON, W. J. Makers of Modern English. Ch. x. William Wordsworth; ch. -xi. The Connection between Wordsworth’s Life and Poetry; ch. xii. Some -Characteristics of Wordsworth’s Poetry; ch. xiii. Wordsworth’s View of -Nature and Man; ch. xiv. Wordsworth’s Patriotic and Political Poems; -ch. xv. Wordsworth’s Personal Characteristics; ch. xvi. Concluding -Survey. - -MALLESON, F. A. Holiday Studies of Wordsworth, by Rivers, Woods, and -Alps. The Wharfe, the Duddon, and the Stelvio Pass. 4to. Cassell and Co. - -M’WILLIAMS, R. Handbook of English Literature, pp. 456-466. London: -Longmans, Green and Co. - -TUTIN, J. R. Birthday Texts. W. P. Nimmo. - -1891. DE QUINCEY, THOMAS. De Quincey Memorials. Being Letters and -Records here first published.… Edited, with Introduction, Notes, -and Narrative, by Alexander H. Japp. 2 vols. 8vo. London: William -Heinemann. - -GOSSE, E. Gossip in a Library. _Peter Bell_ and his Tormentors, pp. -253-267. 8vo. London: W. Heinemann. Third Edition, 1893. - -GRAHAM, P. A. Nature in Books: some Studies in Biography. 8vo. London: -Methuen and Co. - -MORLEY, JOHN. Studies in Literature. Wordsworth, pp. 1-53. 8vo. London: -Macmillan and Co. - -SCHERER, EDMOND. Essays on English Literature, translated by George -Saintsbury, with a Critical Introduction. 8vo. London: Sampson Low, -Marston and Co. - -TUTIN, J. R. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Persons and Places, with -the Familiar Quotations from his Works (including full Index) and a -chronologically-arranged List of his best Poems. 8vo. Hull: J. R. Tutin. - -WORDSWORTH, ELIZABETH. William Wordsworth. 8vo. London: Percival and Co. - -1892. CAIRD, EDWARD. Essays on Literature and Philosophy. Wordsworth, -vol. i. pp. 147-189. 8vo. Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. - -DAWSON, W. J. Quest and Vision: essays in Life and Literature. -Wordsworth and his Message, pp. 41-72. 8vo. London: Hodder and -Stoughton. - -TUTIN, J. R. An Index to the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms of -Wordsworth. Hull. - -TUTIN, J. R. Wordsworth in Yorkshire. First published in _Yorkshire -Notes and Queries_. Part xix. - -WINTRINGHAM, W. H. The Birds of Wordsworth: Poetically, Mythologically, -and Comparatively examined. 8vo. London: Hutchinson and Co. - -1894. CAMPBELL, J. DYKES. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. A Narrative of the -Events of his Life. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -MINTO, W. The Literature of the Georgian Era. Edited, with a -Biographical Introduction, by William Knight, LL.D., pp. 140-177. 8vo. -Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons. - -RAWNSLEY, H. D. Literary Associations of the English Lakes. 2 vols. -8vo. Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons. - -1895. COLERIDGE, S. T. Letters. Edited by Ernest Hartley Coleridge. 2 -vols. 8vo. London: William Heinemann. - -In Lakeland, a Wordsworthic Pilgrimage, Easter 1895. - -1896. SAINTSBURY, GEORGE. A History of Nineteenth Century Literature -(1780-1895). Wordsworth, pp. 49-56. 8vo. London: Macmillan and Co. - -A REMINISCENCE OF WORDSWORTH DAY. Cockermouth, April 7, 1896. Edited by -the Rev. H. D. Rawnsley, Hon. Canon of Carlisle. Cockermouth: A. Lang. - -[476] There are numerous notes and letters on Wordsworth in such -Journals as _The Athenæum_, _The Academy_, _Notes and Queries_, the -examination of which will repay perusal. In _Notes and Queries_ there -are at least twenty-four valuable ones which cannot be recorded -here.--ED. - -[477] A criticism of the “dancing daffodils.”--ED. - - -IV - -CRITICAL ESTIMATES IN BOOKS, PAMPHLETS, MAGAZINES, AND REVIEWS - -In the following section when the name of an author is placed within -brackets, it is to be understood that the name was not given on the -publication of the Review, but that it is otherwise known.--ED. - -1793. “Descriptive Sketches in Verse.” _The Monthly Review_, xii. 216. - -“An Evening Walk.” _The Monthly Review_, xii. 218. - -1799. “Lyrical Ballads, with a few other Poems.” _The Monthly Review_, -xxix. 202; _The British Critic_, xiv. 364. - -1801. “Lyrical Ballads, with other Poems.” In 2 vols. Second Edition. -_The British Critic_, xvii. 125. - -1802. “Lyrical Ballads, with other Poems.” Vol. ii. _The Monthly -Review_, xxxviii. 209. - -1807. “Poems.” In 2 vols. _The Edinburgh Review_, xi. 214. By Francis -Jeffrey. _Monthly Literary Recreations_, 65. (By Lord Byron.) - -1808. “Poems.” In 2 vols. _The Eclectic Review_, vii. 35. - -1809. “Poems.” In 2 vols. _The British Critic_, xxxiii. 298. - -1810. “Concerning the relations of Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal, -to each other, and to the Common Enemy, at this Crisis, etc.” _The -British Critic_, xxxiv. 305. - -1814. “The Excursion; being a portion of The Recluse, a Poem.” _The -Edinburgh Review_, xxiv. 1. (By Francis Jeffrey); _The Quarterly -Review_, xii. 100. (By Charles Lamb.) - -1815. “Poems; including Lyrical Ballads, and the miscellaneous -pieces of the Author. With additional Poems, a new Preface, and -a supplementary Essay.” _The Monthly Review_, lxxviii. 225; _The -Quarterly Review_, xiv. 201. (By W. Gifford.) - -“The Excursion; being a portion of The Recluse: a Poem.” _The Eclectic -Review_, xxi. 13; _The Monthly Review_, lxxvi. 123; _The British -Critic_, iii. 449. - -“The Excursion: being a portion of The Recluse: a Poem.” _The British -Review_, vi. 49. - -“The White Doe of Rylstone.” _The Quarterly Review_, xiv. 201. (By W. -Gifford.) _The Edinburgh Review_, xxv. 355. (By Francis Jeffrey.) _The -Monthly Review_, lxxviii. 235. - -1816. “The White Doe of Rylstone.” _The Eclectic Review_, xxiii. 33. - -“Thanksgiving Ode, with other short Pieces.” _The Eclectic Review_, -xxiv. 1. - -“The White Doe of Rylstone.” _The British Review_, vii. 370. - -1817. “Thanksgiving Ode, with other short Pieces.” _The Monthly -Review_, lxxxii. 98. - -“Observations on Mr. Wordsworth’s Letter relative to a new Edition of -Burns’s Works.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, i. 261. - -“Vindication of Mr. Wordsworth’s Letter to Mr. Gray on a new Edition of -Burns.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, ii. 65. - -“Letter occasioned by N.’s Vindication of Mr. Wordsworth in last -Number.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, ii. 201. - -1818. “Essays on the Lake School of Poetry. I. Wordsworth’s White Doe -of Rylstone.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, iii. 369. - -1819. “Peter Bell: a Tale in Verse.” _The Edinburgh Monthly Review_, -ii. 654; _Blackwood’s Magazine_, v. 130; _The Eclectic Review_, xxx. -62; _The Monthly Review_, lxxxix. 419; _The Literary Gazette_, 273. - -“The Waggoner: a Poem, to which are added Sonnets.” _The Monthly -Review_, xc. 36; _The Edinburgh Monthly Review_, ii. 654; _Blackwood’s -Magazine_, v. 332; _The Eclectic Review_, xxx. 62. - -“Benjamin the Waggoner, a ryghte merrie and conceitede Tale in Verse.” -_The Monthly Review_, xc. 41. - -“Peter Bell: a Lyrical Ballad.” _The Monthly Review_, lxxxix. 422; _The -Eclectic Review_, xxix. 473. - -“Memoir of William Wordsworth, Esq.” (with a portrait). _The New -Monthly Magazine_, i. 48. - -1820. “Lake School of Poetry--Mr. Wordsworth.” _The New Monthly -Magazine_, xiv. 361. - -“Wordsworth.” _The London Magazine_, i. 275, 435. - -“Wordsworth’s River Duddon, and other Poems.” _The Gentleman’s -Magazine_, xc. 344; _The London Magazine_, i. 618; _The London Review -and Literary Journal_, 523; _Blackwood’s Magazine_, vii. 206; _The -Eclectic Review_, xxxii. 170; _The Monthly Review_, xciii. 132. - -“The River Duddon, and other Poems.” _The British Review_, xvi. 37. - -“Essay on Poetry, with Observations on the Living Poets.” _The London -Magazine_, ii. 557. - -“The Dead Asses: A Lyrical Ballad.” _The Monthly Review_, xci. 322. - -“Description of the Scenery of the Lakes.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, xii. - -1822. “Memorials of a Tour on the Continent.” _The British Critic_, -xviii. 522; _The Edinburgh Review_, xxxvii. 449. (By F. Jeffrey.) -_Blackwood’s Magazine_, xii. 175; _The British Review_, xx. 459; _The -Literary Gazette_, 192, 210; _The Museum_, i. 339. - -“Ecclesiastical Sketches.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, xii. 175; _The -British Critic_, xviii. 522; _The Literary Gazette_, 123. - -1829. “An Essay on the Theory and the Writings of Wordsworth.” -_Blackwood’s Magazine_, xxvi. 453, 593, 774, 894. - -1831. “Literary Characters--No. III. Mr. Wordsworth.” _Fraser’s -Magazine_, iii. 557. By Pierce Pungent. - -“Selections from the Poems of W. Wordsworth, chiefly for the use of -Schools and Young Persons.” _The New Monthly Magazine_, xxxiii. 304; -_The Monthly Review_, ii. 602. - -1832. “Gallery of Literary Characters--No. XXIX. William Wordsworth.” -_Frasers Magazine_, vi. 313. - -“Poetical Works.” New Edition. _Fraser’s Magazine_, vi. 607. - -1833. “What is Poetry? The two kinds of Poetry.” _The Monthly -Repository_, New Series, vii. 60, 714. By Antiquus (John Stuart Mill). - -1834. “The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.” A New Edition. _The -Quarterly Review_, lii. 317. (By Henry Taylor.) - -“Selections from the Poems of William Wordsworth.” _The Quarterly -Review_, lii. 317. (By Henry Taylor.) - -1835. “Yarrow Revisited, and other Poems.” _The New Monthly Magazine_, -xliv. 12; _Blackwood’s Magazine_, xxxvii. 699; _Fraser’s Magazine_, -xi. 689; _The Quarterly Review_, liv. 181; _The Dublin University -Magazine_, v. 680; _The Monthly Literary Gazette_, 257; _The Athenæum_, -293; _The Monthly Review_, cxxxvii. 605; _The Monthly Repository_, New -Series, ix. 430. - -1838. “Letter from Tomkins--Bagman _versus_ Pedlar.” _Blackwood’s -Magazine_, xliv. 509. - -“Our Pocket Companions.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, xliv. 584. - -“The Sonnets of William Wordsworth.” _The Literary Gazette_, 540. - -1839. “Lake Reminiscences, from 1807 to 1830--Nos. I.-III. William -Wordsworth; No. IV. William Wordsworth and Robert Southey.” _Taits -Edinburgh Magazine_, vi. I, 90, 246, 453. (By Thomas de Quincey.) - -1841. “Wordsworth.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, xlix. 359. - -“The Sonnets of William Wordsworth.” _The Quarterly Review_, lxix. 1. -(By Henry Taylor.) - -1842. “Poems, chiefly of Early and Late Years; including The -Borderers.” _The Monthly Review_, ii. 270; _The Eclectic Review_, -lxxvi. 568; _The Christian Remembrancer_, iii. 655; _The Athenæum_, 757. - -Criticism in a Review of “The Book of the Poets” in _The Athenæum_. (By -Elizabeth Barrett Browning.) - -“Poems of the Fancy,” “Poems of the Imagination.” _The Gentleman’s -Magazine_, xvii. 3. - -“Imaginary Conversation. Southey and Porson.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, -lii. 687. (By Walter Savage Landor.) - -1844. “Oswald Herbst’s Letters from England--No. II. Wordsworth and his -Poetry.” _Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine_, xi. 641. - -1845. “On Wordsworth’s Poetry.” _Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine_, xii. 545. -(By Thomas de Quincey.) - -“Poems, chiefly of Early and Late Years; including The Borderers.” _The -Gentleman’s Magazine_, xxiv. 555. - -“William Wordsworth.” _Hogg’s Weekly Instructor_, ii. 243. - -1850. “William Wordsworth.” _Chambers’s Papers for the People_, v. I. - -“William Wordsworth.” _The Gentleman’s Magazine_, New Series, xxxiii. -668; _The Athenæum_, 447; _Sharpe’s London Magazine_, xi. 349. - -“Poetical Works.” _The Eclectic Review_, xcii. 56; _The North British -Review_, xiii. 473. (By David Masson.) - -“The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind.” _The Eclectic Review_, -xcii. 550; _The Gentleman’s Magazine_, xxxiv. 459; _Fraser’s Magazine_, -xlii. 119; _The Westminster Review_, liv. 271; _The British Quarterly -Review_, xii. 549; _Tait’s Edinburgh Magazine_, xvii. 521; _The Dublin -University Magazine_, xxxvi. 329; _The Literary Gazette_, 513; _The -Athenæum_, 805; _Sharpe’s London Journal_, xii. 185; _The London -Examiner_, 478. - -“William Wordsworth.” _Household Words_, i. 210. - -“Wordsworth and his Poetry.” _Chambers’s Journal_, xiii. 363. By C. R. - -“Poetical Works.” _The Christian Observer_, i. 307. - -“Religious Character of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” _The Christian Observer_, -i. 381. - -“Death of Wordsworth.” _The London Examiner_, 259, 265. - -“The Poetry of Wordsworth.” _The Wesleyan Methodist Magazine_, 27. - -1851. “Memoirs of William Wordsworth.” _Fraser’s Magazine_, xliv. -101, 186; _The Dublin University Magazine_, xxxviii. 77; _The Dublin -Review_, xxxi. 313; _The Gentleman’s Magazine_, New Series, xxxvi. 107; -_The Athenæum_, 445. - -“Poetical Works.” _The Dublin Review_, xxxi. 313. - -“The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind.” _The Prospective Review_, -vii. 94. - -1852. “Memoirs of William Wordsworth.” By Christopher Wordsworth. _The -Quarterly Review_, xcii. 182. - -“Memoirs of William Wordsworth, compiled from Authentic Sources.” By -January Searle. _The Quarterly Review_, xcii. 182. - -“Lives of the Illustrious. William Wordsworth.” _The Biographical -Magazine_, I. - -1853. “William Wordsworth.” _Sharpe’s London Journal_, xvii. 148. - -“The Genius of Wordsworth harmonised with the Wisdom and Integrity of -his Reviewers.” By J. C. Wright. _The Athenæum_, 824. - -1855. “William Wordsworth.” _The Leisure Hour_, iv. 439. - -1856. “Poems of William Wordsworth, D.C.L.” _The Dublin Review_, xl. -338. - -“William Wordsworth.” _Sharpe’s London Journal_, xi. 349. - -1857. “William Wordsworth. A Biography.” By Edwin Paxton Hood. _The -National Review_, iv. 1. - -“The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.” A New Edition. _The -Athenæum_, 109. - -“The Earlier Poems of William Wordsworth.” Edited by William Johnston. -_The Athenæum_, 109. - -“Wordsworth’s Sister.” By E. P. Hood. _The Leisure Hour_. - -1859. “Passages from Wordsworth’s Excursion.” Illustrated with Etchings -on Steel. By Agnes Fraser. _The Athenæum_, i, 361. - -“William Wordsworth. A Biography.” By Edwin Paxton Hood. _The Christian -Observer_, lix. 156. - -“A Talk about Rydal Mount.” _Once a Week_, i. 107. (By Thomas -Blackburne.) - -1860. “Collected Works of William Wordsworth.” A New and Revised -Edition. _The British Quarterly Review_, xxxi. 79. - -“The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind.” _The British Quarterly -Review_, xxxi. 79. - -“Richard Baxter paraphrased by Wordsworth.” Varieties in _The Leisure -Hour_. - -1863. “The Poems of Hood and of Wordsworth.” _The Christian Observer_, -lxiii. 677. - -“William Wordsworth.” _The Leisure Hour_, xii. 628. - -1864. “Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Browning; or, Pure, Ornate, and -Grotesque Art in English Poetry.” _The National Review_, xix. 27. W. B. -(Walter Bagehot.) - -“Wordsworth: the Man and the Poet.” _The North British Review_, xli. 1. -(By J. C. Shairp.) - -1865. “Two Poets of England. Wordsworth and Landor.” _Temple Bar_, xvi. -106. - -“Wordsworth at Rydal Mount in 1849.” In _The Leisure Hour_. - -1866. “Memories of the Authors of the Age.” William Wordsworth. _The -Art Journal_, xviii. 245, 273. S. C. Hall and Mrs. S. C. Hall. - -1868. “Characteristic Letters”; communicated by the author of Men I -have Known--W. Wordsworth. - -1870. “Wordsworth at Work.” _Chambers’s Journal_, xlvii. 247. - -“Personal Recollections of the Lake Poets.” In _The Leisure Hour_, 651. -The Rev. Edward Whately. - -“Wordsworth’s Study,” in _The Leisure Hour_. - -1871. “A Century of Great Poets, from 1750 downwards--No. III. William -Wordsworth.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, cx. 299. - -1872. “Wordsworth impartially weighed.” _Temple Bar_, xxxiv. 310. - -1873. “Wordsworth.” _Macmillan’s Magazine_, xxviii. 289. Sir John Duke -Coleridge. - -“Wordsworth’s Three Yarrows.” _Good Words_, xiv. 649. J. C. Shairp. - -1874. “On Wordsworth.” _The Fortnightly Review_, xxi. 455. Walter H. -Pater. - -“William and Dorothy Wordsworth.” _Chambers’s Journal_, li. 513. -William Chambers. - -“White Doe of Rylstone.” _Good Words_, xv. 269. J. C. Shairp. - -“The Cycle of English Song.” _Temple Bar_, xl. 478. - -1875. “The Prose Works of William Wordsworth.” Edited by the Rev. A. -B. Grosart. _The Fortnightly Review_, xxiv. 449. Edward Dowden. _The -Dublin University Magazine_, lxxxvi. 756. - -1876. “Hours in a Library.” Wordsworth’s Ethics. _The Cornhill -Magazine_, xxxiv. 206. Leslie Stephen. - -“The Prose Works of William Wordsworth.” Wordsworth and Gray. _The -Quarterly Review_, cxli. 104. - -“The Prose Works of William Wordsworth.” Edited by the Rev. A. B. -Grosart. _The London Quarterly Review_, xlvii. 102. - -1877. “The Wordsworths at Brinsop Court.” _Temple Bar_, xlix. 110. - -1878. “The Text of Wordsworth’s Poems.” _The Contemporary Review_, -xxxiii. 734. Edward Dowden. - -“Wordsworth.” _Transactions of the Cumberland Association for the -Advancement of Literature and Science_, Part III. William Knight. - -1879. “Wordsworth.” _Macmillan’s Magazine_, xl. 193. Matthew Arnold. - -“Matthew Arnold’s Selections from Wordsworth.” _The Fortnightly -Review_, xxxii. 686. J. A. Symonds. - -1880. “Milton and Wordsworth.” _Temple Bar_, lx. 106. - -“Wordsworth.” _Frasers Magazine_, ci. 205. Edward Caird. - -“Wordsworth’s Poems.” Selected and edited by Matthew Arnold. _The -Modern Review_, i, 235. William Knight. - -“The Genius and Passion of Wordsworth.” _The Month_, xxxviii. 465; -xxxix. 1. Aubrey De Vere. - -1881. “Carlyle’s Reminiscences.” Carlyle’s Impressions of Wordsworth. -_The Nineteenth Century_, lx. 1010. Henry Taylor. - -“Wordsworth.” _The Churchman_, March. - -1882. “Wordsworth and Byron.” _The Quarterly Review_, cliv. 53. Matthew -Arnold. - -“My Rare Book.” _The Gentleman’s Magazine_, New Series, xxviii. 531. -Frederick Wedmore. - -“Wordsworth’s Two Styles.” _The Modern Review_, iii. 525. R. H. Hutton. - -“A French Critic on Wordsworth--M. Schérer.” _The Saturday Review_, -liv. 565. - -“Poetical Works.” Edited by William Knight. _The Academy_, xxii. III. -Edward Dowden. _The Spectator_, lv. 1141; _The Modern Review_, iii, -861. - -“Transactions of the Wordsworth Society--No. I. Bibliography of the -Poems; No. II. On the Platonism of Wordsworth.” J. H. Shorthouse. _The -Spectator_, lv. 238. - -“The Weak Side of Wordsworth.” _The Spectator_, lv. 687. - -1883. “Wordsworth and the Duddon.” _Good Words_, xxiv. 573. F. A. -Malleson. - -“Address to the Wordsworth Society.” _Macmillan’s Magazine_, xlviii. -154. Matthew Arnold. - -“Poetical Works.” Edited by William Knight. _The Spectator_, lvi. 614. - -“In Wordsworth’s Country.” _The Yorkshire Illustrated Monthly_, 32. N. -Paton. - -“Poets’ Pictures.” _Temple Bar_, lxxx. 232. - -“Old Age in Bath, to which are added a few unpublished remains of -Wordsworth.” Henry Julian Hunter. - -1884. “Wordsworth and Byron.” _The Nineteenth Century_, xv. 583, 764. -A. C. Swinburne. - -“The Wisdom and Truth of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” _The Catholic World_. -Aubrey de Vere. - -“Wordsworth and ‘Natural Religion.’” _Good Words_, xxv. 307. J. C. -Shairp. - -“Wordsworth’s Relations to Science.” _Macmillan’s Magazine_, l. 202. R. -Spence Watson. - -“Sonnets.” Edited by the Archbishop of Dublin. _The Academy_, xxv. 108. -Samuel Waddington. - -“The Literature of the English Lake District.” _The Manchester -Quarterly_, No. xii. Albert Nicholson. - -“A Stroll up the Brathay.” _Good Words_, xxv. 392. Herbert Rix. - -“The Liberal Movement in English Literature--III. Wordsworth’s Theory -of Poetry.” _The National Review_, iv. 512. William John Courthope. - -1885. “Wordsworth’s Influence in Scotland.” _The Spectator_, lviii. -1292. - -“Dorothy Wordsworth.” _The Christian World Magazine_, 314, 360, 464, -548. - -“Archbishop Sandys’ Endowed School, Hawkshead, near Ambleside. -Tercentenary Commemoration.” - -1886. “Wordsworth.” _Temple Bar_, lxxvii. 336. Charles F. Johnson. - -“Poetical Works.” Edited by William Knight. _The Spectator_, lix. 355. - -1887. “Memorials of Coleorton.” Edited by William Knight. _The -Spectator_, lx. 1656. - -“Wordsworth, the Poet of Nature.” _The Sunday Magazine_, xvi. 166. -Henry C. Ewart. - -“The Mystical Side of Wordsworth.” _The National Review_, ix. 833. John -Hogben. - -1888. “Mr. Morley on Wordsworth.” _The Spectator_, lxi. 1807. - -“The Recluse.” _The Spectator_, lxi. 1852. - -“Selections from Wordsworth.” By William Knight, and other Members of -the Wordsworth Society. _The Spectator_, lxi. 1852. - -1889. “Selections from Wordsworth.” By William Knight, and other -Members of the Wordsworth Society. _The Athenæum_, i. 109. - -“A Modern Poetic Seer.” _The Christian World._ - -“The Recluse.” _The Edinburgh Review_, clxix. 415. _The Academy_, xxxv. -17. Edward Dowden. _The Saturday Review_, lxvii. 43; _The Athenæum_, i. -109. - -“Complete Poetical Works.” With an Introduction by John Morley. _The -Edinburgh Review_, clxix. 415. _The Academy_, xxxv. 17. Edward Dowden. -_The Athenæum_, i. 109. - -“Wordsworthiana.” Edited by William Knight. _The Edinburgh Review_, -clxix. 415; _The Academy_, xxxv. 229. Edward Dowden. _The Spectator_, -lxii. 369. - -“Wordsworth’s Great Failure.” _The Nineteenth Century_, xxvi. 435. -William Minto. - -“The Life of William Wordsworth.” By William Knight. _The Saturday -Review_, lxvii. 732; _The Spectator_, lxiii. 143; _The Athenæum_, i. -719. - -“Wordsworth and the Quantock Hills.” _The National Review_, xiv. 67. -William Greswell. - -1890. “Lyrical Ballads.” Edited by Edward Dowden. _The Spectator_, -lxiv. 479. - -“The Story of a Sonnet.” _The Athenæum_, i. 641. James Bromley. - -“Some Early Poems of Wordsworth.” _The Athenæum_, ii. 320. J. D. C. -(James Dykes Campbell). - -“The Lyrical Ballads of 1800.” _The Athenæum_, ii. 699. J. D. C. - -“Wordsworth’s Verses in his Guide to the Lake Country.” _The Athenæum._ -J. D. C. - -1891. “Wordsworth’s ‘Immortal’ Ode.” _The Parent’s Review_, i. 864, -944; ii. 70. - -“The Wordsworth Dictionary of Persons and Places,” with the Familiar -Quotations from his Works. (By J. R. Tutin.) _The Athenæum_, ii. 756, -834. - -“The College Days of William Wordsworth.” _The Eagle_, xvi., No. 94. G. -C. M. Smith. - -“William Wordsworth.” By Elizabeth Wordsworth. _The Athenæum_, ii. 516. - -1892. “The Yarrow of Wordsworth and Scott.” _Blackwood’s Magazine_, -cli. 638. John Veitch. - -“The last Decade of the last Century.” _The Contemporary Review_, lxii. -422. J.W. Hales. - -“The Influence of Burns on Wordsworth.” _The Manchester Quarterly_, xi. -285. George Milner. - -“Wordsworth on Old Age.” _Literary Opinion_, vii. 186, Sir Edward -Strachey. - -“The Birds of Wordsworth, practically, mythologically, and -comparatively examined.” By William H. Wintringham. _The Athenæum_, i. -594, 634, 666, 697. - -“Dove Cottage,” in _The Athenæum_, i. 727. - -“The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.” Edited by Edward Dowden. -_The Athenæum._ No. 3404. - -1893. “Some Unpublished Letters of William Wordsworth.” _The Cornhill -Magazine_, New Series, xx. 257. - -“Reminiscences of Scott, Campbell, Jeffrey, and Wordsworth.” _The -Bookman_, iv. 47. - -“Our Poet’s Corner.” _The Girls’ Own Paper_, xiv. 772. - -“Dove Cottage, Grasmere--Wordsworth’s Home.” _The Girls’ Own Paper_, -xiv. 772. Milward Wood. - -“Down the Duddon with Wordsworth.” _The Leisure Hour_, xlii. 532. -Herbert Rix. - -“Wordsworth’s ‘Grace Darling.’” _The Athenæum_, No. 3440. Edward Dowden. - -“Note by Wordsworth.” _The Athenæum_, No. 3443. E. H. C. (Ernest H. -Coleridge). - -“Wordsworth and the _Morning Post_.” _The Athenæum_, No. 3445. E. H. C. - -1894. “Wordsworth’s ‘Castle of Indolence’ Stanzas.” _The Fortnightly -Review_, lxii. 685. T. Hutchinson. - -“A Century of Wordsworth.” _The Sunday at Home_, 641, 646. By E. S. -Capper. - -1895. “The Charm of Wordsworth.” _Great Thoughts_, iv. 399. - -“Wordsworth and Carlyle: a Literary Parallel.” _Temple Bar_, cv. 261. - -“Dorothy Wordsworth, 1771-1855.” _Great Thoughts_, v. 56. Alexander -Small. - -1896. “Wordsworth’s Quantock Poems.” _Temple Bar_, April 1896. William -Greswell. - - -V - -PARODIES ON WORDSWORTH - -THE BATTERED TAR; OR, THE WAGGONER’S COMPANION. A Poem, with Sonnets, -etc. J. Johnston. - -1839. PETER BELL THE THIRD. By Miching Mallecho, Esq. (Percy B. -Shelley). - -1876. LITERARY REMAINS. By Catherine Maria Fanshawe. B. M. Pickering. -London. - -1888. THE POETS AT TEA. _The Cambridge Fortnightly_ (Feb. 7). - -1819. THE DEAD ASSES. A Lyrical Ballad. - -1819. PETER BELL. a Lyrical Ballad. By John Hamilton Reynolds. London: -Taylor and Hessey. - -1816. THE POETIC MIRROR; OR, THE LIVING BARDS OF BRITAIN, pp. 131-187. -(By James Hogg.) - -The Stranger; being a further portion of “The Recluse,” a poem. - -The Flying Taylor; further extract from “The Recluse,” a poem. - -James Rigg; still further extract from “The Recluse,” a poem. 12mo. -London: Longmans. Second Edition. 1817. - -1888. HAMILTON, WALTER. Parodies of the Works of English and American -Authors, collected and annotated by Walter Hamilton. _William -Wordsworth_, pp. 88-106. 8vo. London: Reeves and Turner. - - -VI - -POEMS ADDRESSED TO WORDSWORTH, AND ALLUSIONS TO HIM BY CONTEMPORARY AND -SUBSEQUENT POETS - -1. COLERIDGE, S. T. _To William Wordsworth, composed on the night -after his recitation of a poem on the growth of an individual mind._ -Published in “Sibylline Leaves.” - -2. COLERIDGE, HARTLEY. _To William Wordsworth, on his seventy-fifth -Birthday._ - -3. WILSON, JOHN. In “The Angler’s Tent,” p. 257 of the edition of 1858. - -4. KEATS, JOHN. In his Sonnets [the 2nd addressed to Haydon]. - -5. SHELLEY, PERCY B. _To Wordsworth._ Another reference occurs in -_Alastor_. - -6. MOIR, D. M. _To Wordsworth._ In _Blackwood’s Magazine_, viii. 542; -afterwards included amongst his “Poems,” vol. ii. p. 28. 1852. - -7, 8. BROWNING, MRS. _On a Portrait of Wordsworth by B. R. Haydon._ -(Sonnets.) 1866. Vol. ii. p. 264. Also in _Lady Geraldine’s Courtship_, -vol. ii. p. 109. 1866. - -9. ELLIOTT, EBENEZER. In _The Village Patriarch_. Book iv. 1840. - -10. TENNYSON, ALFRED LORD. In the Dedication of his _Poems_ “To the -Queen.” March 1851. - -11, 12. ALFORD, HENRY. In _The School of the Heart_, pp. 66, 67; and -_Recollections of Wordsworth’s_ “_Ruth_,” p. 163. 1868. - -13. LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL. In _A Fable for Critics_, p. 133. 1873. - -14, 15. BYRON, LORD. In _English Bards and Scotch Reviewers_. Also in -_Don Juan_. - -16. HUNT, LEIGH. In _The Feast of the Poets_. This first appeared in -_The Reflector_, which survived from 1810 to 1812. - -17. HEMANS, MRS. _To Wordsworth_, in her “Miscellaneous Poems.” - -18. Scenes and Hymns of Life. Dedicated to Wordsworth. p. 568. N. D. - -19. HALLAM, A. H. _Meditative Fragments._ No. vi. 1863. - -20, 21, 22. ARNOLD, MATTHEW. _Memorial Verses._ April 1850. Also in -_Youth and Nature_, and in _Obermann Once More_. p. 203. 1869. - -23, 24, 25. DE VERE, SIR AUBREY. _In Rydal with Wordsworth_ (Sonnets). -p. 208. 1842. _Wordsworth._ Composed at Rydal, 1st Sept. 1860. p. 392. -_Wordsworth, on Visiting the Duddon_, p. 393. - -26. TOLLEMACHE, The Hon. BEATRIX L. _Wordsworth_, in “Safe Studies,” p. -409. 1884. - -27. TOLLEMACHE, The Hon. BEATRIX L. _To Wordsworth_, in “Engleberg, and -other Verses.” 1890. - -28. BELL, GEORGE. _Rydal Mount_, in “Descriptive and other -Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse.” Penrith, 1835. - -29. HOUGHTON, LORD. Sonnet beginning “The hour may come,” etc. Poetical -Works, vol. i. p. 267. 1876. - -30. WORSLEY, P. S. Stanzas to Wordsworth, in _Blackwood’s Magazine_, -xcii. pp. 92-93. - -31. AUSTIN, ALFRED. _Wordsworth at Dove Cottage._ 1890. - -32, 33. SCOTT, W. B. Poems (three Sonnets), pp. 180-182. 1875. Also in -“A Poet’s Harvest Home,” 1893. _Wordsworth_, p. 123. - -34, 35, 36. RAWNSLEY, H. D. In “Sonnets at the English Lakes.” IX. -_Wordsworth’s Seat, Rydal_; LI. _A Tree planted by William Wordsworth -at Wray Castle_; LXII. _Wordsworth’s Tomb._ - -37. PAYNE, JAMES. _Wordsworth’s Grave_, in “Lakes in Sunshine.” 1870. - -38. LANDOR, L. E. _On Wordsworth’s Cottage, near Grasmere Lake_, in her -“Poetical Works,” pp. 551-4. 1873. - -39. ALLINGHAM, WILLIAM. _On reading of the Funeral of the Poet -Wordsworth_, p. 258 of “Poems.” 1850. - -40. PALGRAVE, FRANCIS TURNER. _William Wordsworth_, in his “Lyrical -Poems.” 1871. - -41. ANDERSON, G. F. R. _Wordsworth_, in “The White Book of the Muses,” -p. 67. 1895. - -42. DAWSON, JAMES, jun. _Wordsworth and Hartley Coleridge: in Grasmere -Churchyard, Westmoreland._ In _Macmillan’s Magazine_, xiii. 26. - -43. WATSON, WILLIAM. _Wordsworth’s Grave._ Originally published in -the _National Review_, x. 40; afterwards included in the volume, -“Wordsworth’s Grave, and other Poems.” 1890. - -44. MATSURA (a Japanese poet). _Moonlight on Windermere_, translated by -H. D. Rawnsley in _Murray’s Magazine_, Oct. 1887. - - - - -II.--_AMERICA_ - -BIBLIOGRAPHY of the Various Editions of WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS, -which have been printed and published in the United States of America, -from 1801 to 1895, arranged in Chronological Order: also a BIBLIOGRAPHY -OF CRITICAL ESSAYS, and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, of Wordsworth’s Life and -Works in Books, Reviews, and Periodicals; with Notes, by Mrs. HENRY A. -ST. JOHN, Ithaca, New York. - - -PREFATORY NOTE - -My ideal in attempting to prepare a _Bibliography of Wordsworth in -America_ was high. I hoped to see each edition, or at least to identify -the editions hinted at in the various catalogues. I determined to -read every article, in criticism, or review; and to know if the many -references, given by Poole and other authorities, were correct. As -is usually the case, the reality has fallen far short of the ideal. -But, while the results are not what were desired, there have been many -fortunate discoveries. - -Two things were learned to begin with. First, that astonishingly little -care had been taken to preserve the history of the early American -Editions, or to preserve, even, the earlier American Periodicals. -Most of our larger libraries are amazingly deficient in these works. -Second, it was found that existing Catalogues or Lists are not only -far from complete, but full of gross blunders. Roorbach (the Addenda, -Supplements, etc.) was found to be a mere rehash of the old trade sales -Catalogues, swarming with blunders. In the matter of dates, imprints, -the particular editions, the size of books, Roorbach is utterly -untrustworthy. Allibone (so far as Wordsworth is concerned) is also -confusing and incomplete. I did not find much in the various Public or -College Library Catalogues. - -I wrote to the librarians of some of the older libraries, after I had -made out a preliminary list, to ascertain if they could add thereto any -editions, from their cards or manuscript catalogues. From these sources -I was enabled several times to solve seemingly insolvable problems. - -I had assistance from, and in some instances visited, the following -libraries: Cornell University, Boston Public Library, Boston Athenæum, -Harvard College, Philadelphia Public Library, the Library College of -Philadelphia, Mercantile Library College, Philadelphia; the Public -Library, St. Louis; that of Lennox and Astor, the University of -Virginia, the State Library, Richmond, Va., and one or two other -Southern libraries. I have written more than one hundred letters -to publishers, editors, authors, the descendants of early American -Wordsworthians, Professors of Literature, and professed Wordsworthians -in Seminaries and Colleges. I have examined, or employed others to -examine, the following works for editions of Wordsworth: the _New York -Literary World_, _Norton’s Literary Gazette_, _American Publishers’ -Circular_, _Publishers’ Weekly_, _Catalogues of Congress Library_, _The -Port Folio_, _American Quarterly Review_, _Knickerbocker Magazine_, -_New York Quarterly Review_, _American Review_, _North American -Review_. And this is but half of my story. - -Poole’s “Index,” of course, was a great assistance. But I did not rely -altogether on him, after I had discovered several mistakes in titles -and numbering--mistakes which were confusing in the extreme. I have -consulted all other Indexes and Reference Lists that I could procure, -and have carefully examined the periodicals in which it was possible -that such articles could be found. - -My greatest light, however, came from responses to personal appeals, -to those in the North, South, East, and West of the Country, who -enlightened me in particular directions. I needed assistance, not only -to discover the articles, but more particularly to secure the articles -to read, or to procure proper persons to read the few articles that I -could not obtain. When valuable books were sent me, by express, from -distant College Libraries, that I might read for myself, I realised the -bond there is between Wordsworthians. - -I cannot begin to speak of the delight that I have had in this work, -delight because of the response I have met with, and in opening -up unknown and rich veins of criticism. I have learned too, that -Wordsworth has many enthusiastic followers in America. - -I have included in the Bibliography the accounts of visits paid to -Wordsworth by certain well-known Americans, a half-dozen poems on -Wordsworth, and three or four unpublished Lectures. - -I am exceedingly grateful to the many who (to my surprise) have -answered my questions, and have given me of their valuable time. I -am especially indebted to Mr. George P. Philes, of Philadelphia, and -also to Mr. F. Saunders of the Astor Library, New York. Dean Murray of -Princeton rendered me exceedingly gracious service, and but for Mr. -Edwin H. Woodruff of Stanford University, California, I should not have -known how or where to begin my investigations. - -In all probability my work is not perfect. I would that it were. I only -know that I have been enabled, by enthusiasm alone, to lay a foundation -for Wordsworth Bibliography in America, that may be an assistance to -future scholars, and will aid the next Wordsworthian who is brave -enough to build enduringly. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -I - -AMERICAN EDITIONS OF WORDSWORTH - -INCLUDING A FEW WORKS WHICH ARE NOT STRICTLY EDITIONS OF WORDSWORTH - -I have endeavoured to include in this list every distinctive American -edition of Wordsworth, published during the poet’s lifetime, and -since his death. There are many others, issued with the imprints of -honourable publishers; which, upon investigation, were found to be -English reprints; to say nothing of those editions made from worn-out -plates, and issued by houses of less reputation for honourableness. -I was puzzled to account for so many editions of Matthew Arnold’s -Selections, some of them bearing the imprint of Harper Brothers, some -of Macmillan, and several of Crowell. The Harpers wrote me that these -various publications were possible in view of the fact that there -was no copyright of the work, and that all of them might properly be -called American Editions. I have not placed those bearing the Macmillan -imprint, of course, among purely American editions. Nor have I included -the several cheap ones of Crowell. The one of Crowell, given in the -list, is copyrighted by the Crowell Company. - -The fact that the introduction of Wordsworth’s poetry into America is -so easily authenticated, and that the history of it is so concise, -is my apology for deviating from ordinary bibliographical rule in -including among the regular editions certain numbers of America’s first -Literary Journal, and two or three other volumes. - -I have confined myself to a simple chronological arrangement of the -Editions, with place of imprint, name of publisher, number, and size -of volumes. This makes the most convenient list for easy reference, -especially as I have tried to mention technical points of difference. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -1 - -1801. THE PORT FOLIO. (Edited by Joseph Dennie.) Philadelphia. 4to. - -The following poems appeared in “The Port Folio,” vol. i., before the -publication of the First American Edition of “Lyrical Ballads”-- - - (1) _Simon Lee_, p. 24.[478] - (2) _The Last of the Flock_, p. 48. - (3) _The Thorn_, p. 94. - (4) _The Mad Mother_, p. 232. - (5) _Anecdote for Fathers_, p. 232. - (6) _Ellen Irwin_, p. 391. - (7) _Strange Fits of Passion_, etc., p. 392. - (8) _The Waterfall and the Eglantine_, p. 408. - (9) _Lucy Gray_, p. 408. - (10) _Andrew Jones_, p. 408. - -2 - -1801. INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGLISH READER. By Lindley Murray. -Philadelphia: Johnson and Warner. 12mo.[479] - -3 - -1802. LYRICAL BALLADS, with Other Poems. In two volumes. By W. -Wordsworth. - - Quam nihil ad genium, Papiniane, tuum! - -From the London second edition. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by James -Humphreys. 2 vols. in one. 12mo.[480] - -4 - -1823. THE AMERICAN FIRST CLASS BOOK. By John Pierpont. Boston: William -B. Fowle. 1 vol. 12mo.[481] - -5 - -1824. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Boston: published by -Cummings, Hilliard and Co. 4 vols. 12mo.[482] - -6 - -1833. SKETCH OF THE GENIUS AND CHARACTER OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. With -Selections from his “Lyrical Ballads.”[483] Philadelphia: Greenbak’s -Periodical Library. Vol. ii. pp. 181-202. - -7 - -1835. YARROW REVISITED, and Other Poems. New York: R. Bartlett and S. -Raynor. 16mo. pp. 17-244. - -1835. Same Title. Boston: R. Bartlett and S. Raynor. 16mo; also, -Boston: James Munroe and Co. 16mo. - -1835. Same Title. Philadelphia. 12mo. - -8 - -1836. YARROW REVISITED. Second Edition. Boston: William D. Ticknor. -16mo. - -9 - -1836. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. The first complete -American, from the last London, edition. New Haven: Peck and Newton. In -1 vol. Royal 8vo.[484] - -10 - -1836. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, together with -a Description of the Country of the Lakes, etc. Edited by Henry Reed. -With Portrait. Philadelphia: Kay and Brother. Royal 8vo; also, by James -Kay and Brother.[485] - -1839. Same Title. Philadelphia: Kay and Brother. Boston: Munroe and Co. -Pittsburg: Kay and Co. - -1844. Same Title. Philadelphia: James Kay jun.[486] - -11 - -1842. WORDSWORTH’S POEMS. In “The New World,” vol. iv. No. 16. -New York: Park Benjamin, Editor. Sat. April 9, _Sonnet Written at -Florence_; April 16, _Address to the Clouds, Suggested by a Picture -of the Bird of Paradise_; _Maternal Grief_ (“New Poems, never before -published”). May 7, _Guilt and Sorrow_ (“From proof sheets received in -advance”).[487] - -12 - -1843. POEMS FROM THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Selected by -Henry Reed. - - Go forth, my little Book; pursue thy way; - Go forth, and please the gentle and the good. - -Philadelphia: John Locken. 32mo. - -(Entered according to the Act of Congress in 1841.) - -1846. Same Title. Philadelphia: Uriah Hunt and Son. 32mo. - -Same Title. New York: Leavitt and Co.[488] - -1853. Same Title. New York: Leavitt and Allen. 24mo. - -1856. Same Title.[489] New York: Leavitt and Allen. - -13 - -1847. WORDSWORTH’S COMPLETE POETICAL AND PROSE WORKS.[490] In 5 vols. -(In Press.) Philadelphia: Kay and Troutman. 12mo. - -14 - -1849. POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH: with an Introductory Essay on his -Life and Writings. By H. T. Tuckerman. New York: C. S. Francis and Co. -12mo. pp. 21-356; also, Boston: J. H. Francis.[491] - -15 - -1849. THE EXCURSION: a Poem. New York: C. S. Francis and Co. 12mo. - -1850. THE EXCURSION, etc. New York: C. S. Francis and Co. 12mo. - -1852-55. The above was again republished. - -16 - -1850. THE PRELUDE; or, Growth of a Poet’s Mind. New York: Appleton and -Co. 12mo. - -1850. THE PRELUDE, etc. Philadelphia: George S. Appleton and Co. 12mo. - -17 - -1850. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Boston: Phillips, -Sampson and Co. 12mo. Reprinted in 1857 and 1859. - -1859. Same Title. Boston: Phillips, Sampson and Co. 16mo. - -18 - -1851. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited by -Henry Reed. Royal 8vo. Philadelphia: James Kay jun. and Brother. Also, -Kay and Troutman. Also, Troutman and Hayes. Also, Hayes and Zell. Also, -Porter and Coates.[492] - -1852. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited by -Henry Reed. 8vo. Philadelphia: Troutman and Hayes. - -1860. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited by -Henry Reed. Royal 8vo. pp. 727.[493] - -19 - -1854. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, with a Memoir.[494] -Boston: Little, Brown and Co. Also, New York: Evans and Dickenson. -Also, Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grant and Co. 18mo. 7 vols. - -20 - -1855. POETICAL WORKS OF W. WORDSWORTH. Portrait. Boston: Crosby and -Nichols(?) 12mo. - -21 - -1855. THE PRELUDE. New York: Appleton and Co. 12mo. Second Edition. - -22 - -1860. POETICAL WORKS OF WORDSWORTH.[495] 2 vols. New York: 12mo. - -23 - -1863. SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH, with an Essay by H. T. Tuckerman. -Philadelphia. 32mo.[496] - -1863. Same Title. Boston. - -24 - -1865. POEMS OF NATURE AND SENTIMENT. By William Wordsworth. Elegantly -illustrated. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler and Co.[497] - -25 - -THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.[498] A new edition. Boston: -Crosby and Nichols. 12mo. - -1867. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. A new edition. Boston: -Crosby and Ainsworth. New York: Oliver S. Felt. 16mo. pp. 539.[499] - -26 - -1870. THE EXCURSION: a Poem. A new edition. New York: J. Miller. 16mo. - -27 - -1871-75. THE HOWE MEMORIAL PRIMER, in raised letters for the Blind. -WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS, with a Memoir. Boston. 7 vols. 16mo. -Portrait. - -28 - -1876. WORDSWORTH’S POEMS. Selected and Prepared for Schools. Edited by -H. N. Hudson. Boston: Ginn and Co. 12mo. “Text-book of Prose and Poetry -Series.” - -1882. Same Title. In paper. Hudson’s Pamphlet Selections of Poetry. -(No. VI. Wordsworth.) - -29 - -1877. FAVORITE POEMS. Vest-pocket Series. Boston: Osgood. Illustrated. -32mo. - -1877. FAVORITE POEMS. Illustrated. Boston, Massachusetts. (Printed at -Cambridge.) 16mo. - -30 - -1877. THE POETICAL WORKS. New edition. Boston: Hurd and Houghton. 8vo. -3 vols. - -31 - -1878. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, with Memoir. 7 vols. in -3. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Co. Riverside Press. 8vo; also, - -1880. Same Title.[500] - -32 - -1879. WORDSWORTH’S POEMS. Chosen and Edited by Matthew Arnold. Franklin -Square Library. New York: Harper and Brother. Paper 4to. - -1880. Another Edition. - -1891. Another Edition. - -33 - -1881. THE EXCURSION, with a Biographical Sketch. English Classic -Series. New York: Clark and Maynard. 16mo. - -1889. Same Title. With Explanatory Notes. New York: Effingham, Maynard -and Co. - -34 - -1881-82. FAVORITE POEMS. By William Wordsworth. In Modern Classics, No. -VII. Illustrated. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. 32mo. - -35 - -1884. ODE, INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY. By William Wordsworth. -Illustrated. Boston: D. Lothrop Company. Small 4to. Copyright by D. -Lothrop. - -36 - -1884. POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Selected and Prepared for use in -Schools. (From Hudson’s _Text-Book of Poetry_.) Section I. Boston: -Ginn, Heath and Co. 12mo. - -37 - -1888. PRELUDE; or, Growth of a Poet’s Mind. With Notes by A. J. George. -Boston: D. C. Heath and Co. 12mo. - -38 - -1888. BITS OF BURNISHED GOLD, from William Wordsworth. Compiled by Rose -Porter. New York: A. D. F. Randolph and Co. 12mo. - -39 - -1889. SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH. With Notes by A. J. George. Boston: -D. C. Heath and Co. 12mo. - -40 - -1889. MELODIES FROM NATURE. (From Wordsworth.) Illustrated. Boston: D. -Lothrop Company. 4to. - -41 - -1889. SELECT POEMS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.[501] Edited, with Notes, by -W. J. Rolfe. With Engravings. New York: Harper Brothers. Square 16mo. - -42 - -1889. POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Selected and Prepared for use in -School. Paper. (From Hudson’s _Text-Book of Poetry_.) Section II. 12mo. -Boston: Ginn and Co. - -43 - -1890. SELECT POEMS FROM WORDSWORTH, with Explanatory Notes. Edited by -James H. Dillard. New York: Effingham, Maynard and Co. 12mo. - -44 - -1890. PASTORALS, LYRICS AND SONNETS FROM THE POETIC WORKS OF WILLIAM -WORDSWORTH. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. 16mo. White -and Gold Series. - -45 - -1891. A SELECTION OF THE SONNETS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH.[502] With -numerous Illustrations. By A. Parsons. New York: Harper Brothers. 4to. - -46 - -1891. WORDSWORTH FOR THE YOUNG. Selections. Illustrated. With an -Introduction for parents and teachers by Cynthia Morgan St. John. -Boston: D. Lothrop Company. Small 4to. 153 pp. - -47 - -1892. WORDSWORTH’S PREFACES AND ESSAYS ON POETRY. Edited by A. J. -George. (Heath’s English Classics.) Boston: D. C. Heath and Co. 12mo. - -48 - -1892. POEMS OF WORDSWORTH. Chosen and Edited by Matthew Arnold. -Illustrated by Edmund H. Garrett. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell and Co. -(Copyright 1892 by T. Y. Crowell.) - -[478] _Simon Lee_ was probably the first poem of Wordsworth’s published -in a Literary Journal in America, and is the beginning of Wordsworth’s -Bibliography in U.S.A. A note in “The Port Folio” (vol. i. p. 24) is as -follows: “The public may remember reading in some of the newspapers the -interesting little ballads, _We are Seven_, and _Goody Blake and Harry -Gill_. They were extracted from the ‘Lyrical Ballads,’ a collection -remarkable for originality, simplicity, and nature.… The following, -_Simon Lee_, is from the same work.” - -It is evident from this that two, at least, of Wordsworth’s poems were -copied into American newspapers as early as 1800, and that Joseph -Dennie, the founder, as well as editor, of “The Port Folio”--the first -purely Literary Journal established in this country--was the first -American champion of Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[479] _The Pet Lamb_ appeared in this Book almost immediately after -its publication in England. It was the first poem of Wordsworth’s -published in a book in America. It was also the first instance of the -introduction of a poem of Wordsworth’s into a School Book. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[480] The first American edition, and the first work by Wordsworth, -printed in America. It looks as if the Poet found appreciative readers -in America sooner than in England; the first edition of “Lyrical -Ballads,” which had fallen dead in his own country in 1798, being -published in Philadelphia in 1802. The American edition was delayed in -the press, in order to include certain pieces which first appeared in -the second (English) edition of 1802. See Humphreys’ Preface. - -A copy of “Lyrical Ballads,” 1802, is in the possession of Judge Henry -Reed, with exactly the same title-page as the above, except that it -reads-- - -“Printed by James Humphreys for Joseph Groff.” - -It is believed that the work was printed at the joint expense of -Humphreys and Groff, each bookseller taking a certain number of copies -upon which was placed his individual imprint. Both book-sellers -advertised the volumes almost simultaneously. I know of another copy -of (1802) “Lyrical Ballads,” of which the first volume contains the -imprint of Humphreys, and the second volume that of Groff. The two -volumes are bound together, and are _identical_ in type, paper, etc. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[481] Amongst the contents there are four long extracts from _The -Excursion_, with titles attributed to W.W. _Goody Blake and Harry Gill_ -is amongst the extracts from “Lyrical Ballads,” and there is a long -note to the former poem by Joseph Dennie. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[482] The first collected edition of Wordsworth’s Poems printed in -America. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[483] The sketch is by R. H. Home. The poems are _The Last of the -Flock_, _The Dungeon_, _The Mad Mother_, _Anecdote for Fathers_, _We -are Seven_, _Lines Written in Early Spring_, _The Female Vagrant_, -_Goody Blake and Harry Gill_, _The Waterfall and the Eglantine_, _The -Oak and the Broom_, _Lucy Gray_, _Hart-Leap Well_, _Lucy_, _Nutling_, -_Ruth_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[484] Printed and published by Peck and Newton. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[485] First double-column edition of the poems, adopted by Moxon in -1845 edition. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[486] The Boxall portrait was engraved for the above. I could not find -the 1844 imprint, but presume that it is the same as that of 1837 and -1839. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[487] In an editorial of April 16 of “The New World” is the following: -“We are enabled by the purchase of the printed sheets considerably in -advance of their publication in England to present the first and only -American Editions of new poems by William Wordsworth.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[488] This is spoken of in Ellis Yarnall’s Reminiscences as having no -date. When John Locken--the first publisher--failed, the plates passed -into the possession of Messrs. Uriah Hunt and Son. They retired from -business, and Messrs. Leavitt and Co. took the plates. It is possible -that there was an edition earlier than 1843. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[489] The last two named are exactly as in 1843, except that they are -printed on larger paper. Why one is put down 32mo and the other 24mo is -a mystery! - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[490] If this edition was published, it seems to have disappeared. It -is advertised in A. V. Blake’s _American Booksellers’ Complete Trade -List_, published at Claremont, N.H., 1847. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[491] Copyright in 1848. It contains about one-fifth of all -Wordsworth’s poems. The Essay, which occupies ten pages, is taken “by -permission” from Tuckerman’s _Thoughts on Poets_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[492] In connection with this edition, I can vouch for the five firms -of Publishers in Philadelphia, but I cannot explain it. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[493] “This edition contains some pieces omitted--inadvertently it is -believed--from the latest London edition.” Additional poems have been -introduced, and the arrangement changed since the 1839 edition. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[494] This edition contains a remarkable “Sketch of Wordsworth’s -Life,” by James Russell Lowell, which was afterwards embodied, with -additions, in _Among my Books_. Mr. Ellis Yarnall believed that this -edition was an English reprint. I doubt this from the fact that it is -“Entered according to the Act of Congress in 1854,” and was “Printed at -Cambridge by H.O. Houghton.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[495] This edition is mentioned in some lists, but I am inclined to -doubt if it can be authenticated. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[496] The size is given as 32mo. I have not seen the book. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[497] Edited by Waldron J. Cheney, though not credited to him. C. M. -ST. JOHN. - -[498] No date is given to this edition. The firm-name and place of -business according to the Boston Directory would limit the date of -the title page at least to 1863-65. It is in the New Haven Library. -Allibone notes a volume of “Selections,” Boston, 12mo, 1863, which may -be this. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[499] I have placed the two works together, as they are closely -related, if not identical. The edition contains _The Excursion_ and -fifty-seven other poems. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[500] From plates of the 1854 edition, with changes. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[501] This excellent edition--as to selection, size, paper, binding, -and illustrations--is the best handy edition of Wordsworth issued in -America. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[502] Eighty-eight of the sonnets are here illustrated with rare skill -and artistic effect. The illustrations first appeared in wood-cuts in -Harper’s _Monthly Magazine_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -II - -REPRINTS, AND BOOKS, BOTH ENGLISH AND AMERICAN - -A Bibliography of Wordsworth in America is not complete without some -reference to the many editions of Wordsworth, and of works pertaining -to him, which have--for the most part--appeared simultaneously in -England and America. These works cannot properly be termed American, -but they have been welcomed, and they have also supplied a want, on -this side of the Atlantic. The editions are confined, for the most -part, to the last twenty years. I have endeavoured to select those -which are of most value. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -1 - -1859. WORDSWORTH’S PASTORAL POEMS. Illustrated. New York: D. Appleton -and Co. 12mo. - -1875. Same Title. New York: Putnam. 12mo. - -2 - -1859. POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Selected and Edited by Robert Aris -Willmott. Illustrated with 100 Designs by Birket Foster and others. -London and New York: George Routledge and Co. 4to. - -1870. The above republished. - -3 - -1869. THE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Globe Edition. Square -12mo. Philadelphia: Lippincott and Co. - -4 - -1874. RECOLLECTIONS OF A TOUR MADE IN SCOTLAND. By Dorothy Wordsworth. -Edited by J. C. Shairp. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons. (Printed at the -Edinburgh University Press.) 12mo. - -5 - -1880. WORDSWORTH’S POEMS. Chosen and Edited by Matthew Arnold. Large -Paper Edition. London and New York: Macmillan and Co. 8vo. - -1892. Same Title. With Steel Portrait. Printed on India paper. London -and New York: Macmillan and Co. 8vo. - -6 - -1881. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH: a Biography with Selections from Prose and -Poetry. By A. J. Symington. Boston: Roberts Brothers. 2 vols. 16mo. - -7 - -1885. ODE ON IMMORTALITY AND LINES ON TINTERN ABBEY. London and New -York: Cassell and Co. 12mo. (Popular Illustrated Series.) - -8 - -1886. PASTORAL POEMS. London and New York: Cassell and Co. 4to. - -9 - -1887. MEMORIALS OF COLEORTON. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by -William Knight. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. 12mo. -(Printed at the Edinburgh University Press.) - -10 - -1887. THROUGH THE WORDSWORTH COUNTRY. By William Knight. London and New -York: Scribner and Welford. Engraving. 8vo. - -11 - -1888. THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. With an -Introduction by John Morley. London and New York: Macmillan and Co. -Crown 8vo. - -12 - -1888. THE RECLUSE. London and New York: Macmillan and Co. 16mo. - -13 - -1889. WORDSWORTHIANA. Edited by William Knight. London and New York: -Macmillan and Co. 16mo. - -14 - -1889. POETICAL WORKS, with Memoir. Illustrated. 8 vols. New York: A. C. -Armstrong and Son. 16mo. (Printed at the University Press, Glasgow.) - -15 - -1889. SELECTIONS FROM WORDSWORTH. By William Knight, and other Members -of the Wordsworth Society. With Preface and Notes. New York: Scribner -and Welford. 8vo. - -16 - -1889. WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS. Edited by William Knight. New York: -Macmillan and Co. 8 vols. 8vo. (First published in Edinburgh 1882-89.) - -17 - -1889. LIFE OF WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. By William Knight. New York (and -London): Macmillan and Co. 3 vols. 8vo. (First published in Edinburgh, -in 1889.) - -18 - -1891. WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. By Elizabeth Wordsworth. New York: Scribner. -18mo. (Also London: Percival and Co.) - -19 - -1889. EARLY POEMS BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH. Edited by J. R. Tutin. London, -etc., and New York: George Routledge and Sons. (Routledge’s Pocket -Library.) - -20 - -1890. DOVE COTTAGE, Wordsworth’s Home from 1800 to 1808. By Stopford A. -Brooke. Small paper. London and New York: Macmillan and Co. - -21 - -1891. WORDSWORTH’S THE WHITE DOE OF RYLSTONE, etc. Edited with -Introduction and Notes by William Knight. (Clarendon Press Series.) -London and New York: Macmillan and Co. - -22 - -1892. WORDSWORTH’S LYRICS AND SONNETS. Selected and Edited by C. K. -Shorter. London: David Stott. New York: Macmillan and Co. 32mo. - -23 - -1892. WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS. Edited with Memoir by E. Dowden. 7 -vols. 16mo. London: George Bell and Sons. New York: 112 Fourth Avenue. - -24 - -GLEANINGS FROM WORDSWORTH. Edited by J. Robertson. Vest-pocket Edition. -New York: White, Stokes and Allen. (Printed at the University Press, -Glasgow.) - -25 - -WE ARE SEVEN. By William Wordsworth.[503] With Drawings by Mary L. -Grow. Small 4to. New York: E. P. Dutton and Co. - -26 - -ODE. INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY. With Biographical Sketch and Notes. -Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co., “Riverside Literature Series,” No. -76. March 1895. - -[503] This was lithographed and printed by Ernest Nister at Nuremberg. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -III - -BOOKS CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, AND CRITICAL ESSAYS - -THE WRITERS ARE ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER - -1 - -1867. ALGER, W. R. _The Genius of Solitude._ Boston: Roberts Brothers. -16mo. _Wordsworth_, p. 277. - -2 - -1859-71. ALLIBONE, S. A. _Critical Dictionary of English Literature, -and British and American Authors._ Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. 3 -vols. Imperial 8vo. _Wordsworth_, vol. iii. pp. 2843-2849. - -3 - -1884. BURROUGHS, J. “Fresh Fields.” Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. -16mo. _In the Wordsworth Country_, p. 161.[504] - -4 - -1878. CALVERT, G. H. _Wordsworth; A Biographic, Aesthetic Study._ -Boston: Lee-Sheperd. 16mo. - -5 - -1863. CALVERT, G. H. _Scenes and Thoughts in Europe._ Boston: 16mo.[505] - -6 - -1873. CHANNING, W. ELLERY. Address before the Mercantile Library -Company of Philadelphia, May 11, 1841. Also in his “Complete Works.” -Boston.[506] - -7 - -1895. CHENEY, JOHN VANCE. _Thoughts on Poetry and the Poets._ Chicago. -Chapter X. is on Wordsworth. - -8 - -1879. DESHLER, C. D. _Afternoons with the Poets._ New York: Harper and -Brothers. 12mo. _Wordsworth._ - -9 - -1871. FIELDS, J. T. _Yesterdays with Authors._ Boston: Houghton, -Mifflin and Co.; also, - -1889. _Wordsworth, A Sketch_, p. 253. - -10 - -1838. FROST, JOHN. _Select Works of the British Poets, with -Biographical Sketches._ Philadelphia: Thomas Wardle. _Wordsworth._ - -11 - -1849. GRAHAM, G. F. _English Synonyms._ New York: D. Appleton and Co. -Edited with an Introduction and Illustrative Authorities. By Henry -Reed.[507] - -12 - -1854. GILES, H. T. _Illustrations of Genius._ Boston: Ticknor and -Fields. 16mo. _William Wordsworth_, pp. 239-266. - -13 - -1886. GRISWOLD, H. T. _Home Life of Great Authors._ Chicago. 18mo. -_William Wordsworth_, p. 43. - -14 - -1849. GRISWOLD, R. W. _Sacred Poets of England and America._ New York. -_Wordsworth._ - -15 - -1842. GRISWOLD, R. W. _Poets and Poetry of England._ Philadelphia: -Carey and Hunt. A Review and Selections. - -16 - -HODGKINS, LOUISE M. _Guide to Nineteenth Century Authors._ Boston. -_Wordsworth Bibliography._ - -17 - -1884. HUDSON, H. N. _Studies in Wordsworth._ Boston: Little, Brown and -Co.[508] - -18 - -1886. JOHNSON, C. F. _Three Americans and Three Englishmen._ New York. -_Wordsworth._ - -19 - -1864. LOWELL, J. R. _The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth._ Boston: -Little, Brown and Co. 4 vols. Vol. 1.--_A Sketch of Wordsworth’s Life._ - -20 - -1876. LOWELL, J. R. _Among my Books._ Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. -_Wordsworth_,[509] pp. 201-251. - -21 - -1887. LOWELL, J. R. _Democracy and other Addresses._ Boston: Houghton, -Mifflin and Co. _Wordsworth_,[510] 22 pp. - -22 - -1885. MASON, E. T. _Personal Traits of British Authors._ New York: -Charles Scribner’s Sons. _William Wordsworth_, pp. 7-55. - -What follows is due to American Enterprise, but it is, of course, not -strictly American. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -23 - -1883. MACDONALD, GEORGE. _The Imagination and other Essays_ -(“Wordsworth’s Poetry,” pp. 245-263). Boston: D. Lothrop and Co. - -24 - -1881. MYERS, F. W. H. _William Wordsworth._ (“English Men of Letters -Series.”) New York: Harper and Brothers. 12mo. - -1884. Same Title. New York: J. W. Lovell. 12mo. - -1889. Same Title. New York. Harper and Brothers. - -25 - -1838. OSBORN, LAUGHTON. _The Vision of Rubeta._[511] Boston: Weeks, -Jordan and Co. 8vo. - -26 - -1846. OSSOLI, MARGARET FULLER. _Art, Literature, and the Drama._ -Boston. _Wordsworth._[512] - -27 - -1885. PHILLIPS, MAUD GILLETTE. _A Popular Manual of English -Literature._ New York: Harper and Brothers. Vol. ii. pp. 217-264. - -28 - -1851. REED, HENRY. _Memoirs of Wordsworth._ By C. Wordsworth. Edited by -Henry Reed. Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields.[513] - -29 - -1857. REED, HENRY. _Lectures on the British Poets._ In two vols. -Philadelphia: Claxton, Remsen and Haffelfinger. Vol. ii. pp. 199-231. -Lecture XV.--_Wordsworth._ - -30 - -1870. REED, HENRY. _Lectures on the British Poets._ Philadelphia: -Claxton, Reinsen and Haffelfinger. _Essay on the English Sonnet_, vol. -ii. pp. 235-272.[514] - -31 - -1887. SAUNDERS, FREDERICK. _Story of some Famous Books._ New York: -Armstrong and Son. _William Wordsworth_, p. 125. - -32 - -SAUNDERS, FREDERICK. _Evenings with Sacred Poets._ New York: Randolph -and Co. _Wordsworth._[515] - -33 - -1894. SCUDDER, HORACE E. _Childhood in Literature and Art._ Boston: -Houghton, Mifflin and Co. In the chapter entitled “In English -Literature and Art,” Wordsworth is dealt with (chap. vi. pp. -145-157).[516] - -34 - -1895. SCUDDER, VIDAD. _The Life of the Spirit in Modern English Poets._ -Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. Crown 8vo. - -35 - -1892. STEDMAN, C. E. _Nature and Elements of Poetry._ Boston: Houghton, -Mifflin and Co.[517] - -36 - -1846. TUCKERMAN, H. T. _Thoughts on the Poets._ New York. _Genius and -Writings of Wordsworth._ - -37 - -1882. WELSH, A. H. _Development of English Literature and Language._ -Chicago. _Wordsworth_, vol. ii. pp. 330-339. - -38 - -1850. WHIPPLE, E. P. _Essays and Reviews._ Boston: Houghton, Mifflin -and Co. _Wordsworth_, vol. i. p. 222.[518] - -39 - -1871. WHIPPLE, E. P. _Literature and Life._ Boston: Houghton, Mifflin -and Co. _Wordsworth_, p. 253.[519] - -40 - -1854. WILLIS, N. P. _Famous Persons and Places._ New York: Charles -Scribner.[520] - -[504] A reprint of the article was published in _The Century Magazine_, -1884. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[505] Not of much importance--the author praises Wordsworth and -criticises Jeffrey. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[506] About the same in the “Address” as in the “Complete Works.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[507] Contains four hundred quotations from Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[508] Contains 258 pages on Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[509] The same as above with some corrections, and twenty-three new -pages added. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[510] The above was first given as an address to “The Wordsworth -Society,” 1884, and appeared in _Wordsworthiana_ in 1889. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[511] In the Appendix are about twenty pages containing a ferocious -criticism on “Wordsworth, his Poetry and his Misrepresentations.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[512] In the Memoirs of M. F. Ossoli (Boston, vol. iii. p. 84) there is -a short reference to Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[513] Introduction and Editorial Notes by H. R., interesting and -valuable. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[514] In the Lecture on the Sonnet, there are interesting allusions to -Wordsworth’s Sonnets. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[515] This book and the previous one have about half a dozen pages each -on Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[516] The substance of this chapter on Wordsworth as a revealer of -Childhood, first appeared in _The Atlantic Monthly_, October 1885. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[517] In this volume there are many references to Wordsworth of -interest--especially at pp. 202, 206, 210 and 263--on _Subjective -Interpretation, The Pathetic Fallacy_, etc. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[518] This essay was also published in _The Complete Poetical Works_. -Philadelphia: James Kay jun. and Brothers, 1837. Also in _The North -American Review_, 1844. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[519] The above appeared first in _The North American Review_. It was -“written when the news came of Wordsworth’s death.” It is not given -elsewhere in this list. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[520] Letter V. contains some characteristic remarks on Wordsworth -by “Christopher North,” who gave Willis a note of introduction to -Wordsworth and Southey. Willis did _not_ write about Wordsworth in this -book. As it is inserted in some of the lists, I include it, with this -explanation. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -IV - -REVIEW AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES ON WORDSWORTH PUBLISHED IN AMERICA - -FROM 1801 TO 1840 - -In examining American Reviews and Magazines, for articles on -Wordsworth, I find--after much laborious search--only some -insignificant notices of his poems, of no critical or literary merit. - -I have carefully read each article which appears in this list, and I -add brief explanatory notes, indicative of the general tenor of the -articles. It was disheartening to find that many of the references to -Wordsworth, in Poole’s elaborate _Index to Periodical Literature_, -were inaccurate and misleading; and that nearly all the articles on -Wordsworth published in _Harper’s Monthly Magazine_ for 1850 were -“conveyed” from contemporary English journals. - -1 - -1801. _The Port Folio._ Vol. i. - -Memoranda regarding the first publication of “Lyrical Ballads” in -America. - -1801. December, p. 407. The Original Prospectus of “Lyrical -Ballads.”[521] (James Humphreys publisher.) - -1801. P. 408.[522] - -1802. Vol. ii. p. 62.[523] - -1803. Vol. iii. p. 288.[524] - -1803. P. 320. Note on the poem beginning, - -“A whirl-blast from behind the hill.” - -1804. Vol. iv. p. 87. Announcement that the editor wishes to obtain a -copy of _Descriptive Sketches_ (1798) from some publisher or reader. - -1804. P. 96.[525] - -2 - -1802. _The Philadelphia Gazette and Daily Advertiser._ (Published by -Samuel Relf.) Friday, Jan. 15, “Wordsworth’s Lyrical Ballads.” (The -publisher’s advertisement of the First American Edition.) - -3 - -1819. DANA, R. H.[526] _North American Review._ Vol. xxiii. p. 276. In -review of Hazlitt’s _English Poets_. - -4 - -1824. _North American Review._ Vol. xviii. p. 356.[527] - -5 - -1824. _United States Literary Gazette._ Vol. i. p. 245.[528] - -6 - -1825. _The Atlantic Magazine_, vol. ii. pp. 334-348. - -7 - -1827. _Christian Monthly Spectator._ Vol. ix. p. 244. (A short article -on Wordsworth.) - -8 - -1832. PRESCOTT, W. H. _North American Review._ Vol. xxxv. pp. 171, -173-176. (In a “Review of English Literature of Nineteenth Century,” is -an important reference to Wordsworth.) - -9 - -1836. EDWARDS, B. B. _American Biblical Repository._ Vol. vii. pp. -187-204.[529] - -10 - -1836. _American Quarterly Review._ Vol. xix. p. 66.[530] - -11 - -1836. _American Quarterly Review._ Vol. xix. pp. 420-442.[531] - -12 - -1836. FELTON, C. C. _The Christian Examiner._ Vol. xix. p. 375.[532] - -13 - -1836. PORTER, NOAH. _Christian Quarterly Spectator._[533] Vol. viii. -pp. 127-151. - -14 - -_Christian Monthly Spectator._ Vol xviii. p. 1.[534] - -15 - -1837. _“Waldie’s” Octavo Library._ (Edited by John J. Smith.)[535] - -16 - -1837. _“Waldie’s” Octavo Library._ March 21.[536] - -17 - -1837. _Southern Literary Messenger._ Vol. iii. p. 705. “By a -Virginian.”[537] - -18 - -1837. WHIPPLE, E. P. _The Complete Poetical Works of William -Wordsworth_[538] (1837). - -19 - -1839. _New York Review._ Vol. iv. pp. 1-71.[539] - -20 - -1839. _American Biblical Repository._[540] Vol. i. pp. 206-239. (Second -edition.) - -21 - -1839. _Boston Quarterly Review._ Vol. ii. pp. 137-169. (A review of -“Wordsworth’s Poetical Works,” London, 1832.) - -22 - -1839. _American Methodist Review._[541] Vol. xxi. p. 449. - -[521] An enthusiastic announcement. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[522] An appreciatory and critical Introductory Note to _The Waterfall -and the Eglantine_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[523] Editorial reporting the increasing popularity of “Lyrical -Ballads,” and further commendation of the poems. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[524] Note on _The Fountain_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[525] An editorial announcement that “Lyrical Ballads” had reached -a third edition, and containing one of the most ardent tributes to -Wordsworth in the language. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[526] Not long, but of much interest. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[527] An unsigned and excellent review of the 1824 (Boston) edition -of the poems. The writer remarks that not a volume of Wordsworth’s -poems has been published in America since 1802. Attributed to F.W.P. -Greenwood. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[528] Anonymous review of the 1824 (Boston) edition of the poems. One -of the very best. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[529] Sectarian in spirit, but on the whole fair to Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[530] Anonymous. A well-written article of about twenty-four pages, -reviewing _Yarrow Revisited_. It was one of the earliest reviews in an -American journal that claimed for Wordsworth a high order of genius. It -was probably written by Robert Walsh, the editor of the _Review_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[531] An article on Wordsworth’s sonnets on Capital Punishment, in an -article on “The English Sonnet.” Judge Henry Reed found this to have -been written by his father, Professor Henry Reed. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[532] An appreciative criticism of eight pages. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[533] Entitled “Wordsworth and his Poetry.” A review of the 1824 -edition and of _Yarrow Revisited_, Boston, 1835. An estimate of -Wordsworth’s claims as a poet, and as a man. A more comprehensive, -stronger, more inviting criticism (in appealing to those to whom the -poetry is unknown) has not been written. It ranks, in my opinion, among -the best criticisms on Wordsworth written in America. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[534] H. Tuckerman wrote an article on Wordsworth for his magazine. -This may be the article. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[535] The number for 7th March contains a notice of Wordsworth, in a -review of Reed’s _Complete Poetical Works of Wordsworth_ (1837). - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[536] Another mention of Reed’s edition, and of the discovery that “a -fellow-townsman,” Dr. T. C. James, anticipated the fact of Wordsworth’s -popularity. A quotation from “Memoirs of Historical Society of -Pennsylvania” to prove Dr. James’ prophecy. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[537] Writer unknown. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[538] To class this review with others of an early date, I have placed -it among Periodical Reviews. It appeared in _The North American -Review_, 1844; and again, in 1850, in _Essays and Reviews_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[539] A review of Reed’s 1837 edition of “Wordsworth’s Poetical Works.” -Professor Henry Reed’s son--Judge Henry Reed of Philadelphia--informs -me that it was written by his father. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[540] This article is entitled “Modern English Poetry--Byron, Shelley, -and Wordsworth.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[541] By an unknown author. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -V - -CRITICISMS AND REVIEWS IN PERIODICALS FROM 1840 TO 1870 - -Arranged as far as possible according to merit. It is difficult -to distinguish between the first twelve or fifteen. After them I -have placed the articles in the _Literary World_. Most of them have -not been noted in other lists, and are especially interesting, as -being additional tributes of Wordsworth’s intimate friend, Henry -Reed. I am indebted to Judge Henry Reed of Philadelphia, for more -carefully examining his father’s papers, and to the _Literary World_ -for ascertaining, as far as possible, all that his father wrote on -Wordsworth. The criticisms that immediately follow are not without -interest. The last half dozen are given, for the most part, because -they appear in _Poole’s Index_, or in other lists. I have omitted two -or three which are of no value whatever. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -1 - -1844. WHIPPLE, E. P. _North American Review._[542] Vol. lix. pp. -352-384. - -2 - -1857. HAVEN, GILBERT. _Methodist Quarterly Review._ Vol. xxxix. p. -362.[543] - -3 - -1851. PASSMORE, J. C. _The Church Review._ Vol. iv. pp. 169-188.[544] - -4 - -1866. ALGER, W. R. _Monthly Religious Magazine._ Vol. xxxvi. p. 294. - -5 - -1850. MUZZEY, A. B. _The Christian Examiner._ Vol. xlix. p. 100. (The -title of this article is “Wordsworth, the Christian Poet.”) - -6 - -1851. GOODWIN, H. M. _The New Englander._ Vol. xlvii. p. 309. (Title, -“Wordsworth as a Spiritual Teacher.”) - -7 - -1851. _North American Review._ Vol. lxxiii. p. 473.[545] - -8 - -1851. MOUNTFORD, W. _The Christian Examiner._ Vol. li. p. 275.[546] - -9 - -1851. PORTER, NOAH. _The New Englander Magazine._ Vol. ix. p. 583.[547] - -10 - -1851. WIGHT, ORLANDO WILLIAMS. _American Whig Review._ Vol. xiv. pp. -68-81.[548] - -11 - -1851. WIGHT, ORLANDO WILLIAMS. _American Whig Review._ Vol. xiii. pp. -448-458.[549] - -12 - -1854. _Presbyterian Quarterly Review._ Vol. ii. pp. 643-663.[550] -Article 1. - -13 - -1854. _Presbyterian Quarterly Review._ Vol. iii. pp. 69-88.[551] -Article 2. - -14 - -1841. TUCKERMAN, H. _Southern Literary Messenger._ Vol. vii. p. 105. - -15 - -1850. _Literary World._ Vol. vi. p. 485. “William Wordsworth.”[552] - -16 - -1850. REED, HENRY. _Literary World._ Vol. vi. pp. 581, 582. On -Wordsworth. - -17 - -1850. REED, HENRY. _Literary World._ Vol. vii. pp. 205, 206. A second -short article. - -18 - -1850. _Literary World._ “The Prelude.” Vol. vii. p. 167.[553] - -19 - -1850. _Literary World._ “Visit to Wordsworth’s Grave.” Vol. vii. p. -225.[554] - -20 - -1850. SPENCER, J. A. _Literary World._ “Visit to Wordsworth.” November -23.[555] - -21 - -1851. _Literary World._ Vols. viii. ix. (May 24, June 14, July 12, -August 2.)[556] Reviews of Christopher Wordsworth’s _Memoirs_ of his -uncle. - -22 - -1853. REED, HENRY. _Literary World._ Vol. xii. June 25.[557] - -23 - -1850. _Southern Quarterly Review._ Vol. xviii. p. 1. Review of the -_Poetical Works of Wordsworth_. London: Moxon, 1845. - -24 - -1856. _United States Democratic Review._ Vol. vi. pp. 281-295. (New -Series.) Article 1. “Of Wordsworth’s life, beginning at Bristol.” - -25 - -1856. _United States Democratic Review._ Vol. vi. p. 363. (New Series.) -Article 2. - -26 - -1850. _Graham Magazine._ Vol. i. pp. 105-116. Supposed to be written -by Charles J. Peterson. (Signed P.) Review of the life and poetry -of Wordsworth, written by one who confessed to an admiration for -Wordsworth’s genius bordering on veneration. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -27 - -1878. _American Journal of Education._ Wordsworth and Cambridge. Vol. -xxviii. p. 426.[558] - -28 - -1843. _United States Democratic Review._ Vol. xii. p. 158.[559] - -29 - -1836-63. _Christian Review._ Vol. xvi. p. 434. “Wordsworth as a -Religious Poet.” - -30 - -1844. CUYLER, T. L. _Godey’s Lady’s Book._ Vol. xxviii. (January). “On -the English Lakes and Wordsworth.” - -31 - -1850. _International Magazine._ Vol. i. p. 271. “A Review of _The -Prelude_, from _The Examiner_.” - -32 - -1855. _Brownson’s Quarterly Review._ Vol. xii. p. 525. “Wordsworth’s -Poetical Works.” - -33 - -1850. _Graham Magazine._ Vol. i. pp. 322, 323.[560] - -34 - -1842. _United States Democratic Review._ Vol. x. pp. 272-288. (New -Series.)[561] - -35 - -1865. _North American Review._ Vol. c. p. 508. Boston: Little, Brown -and Co. - -36 - -1850. _Southern Literary Messenger._ Vol. xvi. p. 474.[562] - -37 - -1851. _Harper’s Monthly Magazine._ Vol. iii. p. 502.[563] - -38 - -1845. BOWEN, F. _North American Review._ Vol. lxi. p. 217.[564] - -39 - -1863. ALGER, W. R. _North American Review._ Vol. xcvi. p. 141.[565] - -40 - -1850. _Southern Literary Messenger._ Vol. xvi. p. 637.[566] - -41 - -1863. WARD, J. H. _North American Review._ Vol. xcvii. p. 387. - -42 - -1853. _The National Magazine._ Vol. iii. No. 7, “An Estimate of -Wordsworth.” - -43 - -1853. _The Christian Observer._ Vol. 1. pp. 307-381.[567] - -44 - -1858. “The Genius of Wordsworth,” in the “Editor’s Table” of _Russell’s -Magazine_. Charleston, S.E. Vol. iii. pp. 271-274. - -[542] A review of the 1837 edition of Wordsworth’s poems. Perhaps no -abler or more comprehensive review of Wordsworth’s life and writings -has been written than this, by America’s foremost critic. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[543] One of the best of the early American criticisms. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[544] A review of the 1851 edition. Contains an earnest plea for the -study of Wordsworth’s poetry in America. One of the noblest criticisms -written. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[545] On the “Life and Poetry of Wordsworth.” A review of _The -Prelude_. Unsigned; but the name is given elsewhere, as T. Chase. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[546] A review of the _Memoirs of Wordsworth_, by his nephew, the -Bishop of Lincoln. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[547] A review of Professor Reed’s edition of the _Memoirs of -Wordsworth_, Boston, 1851. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[548] A review of the _Memoirs_, signed O. W.W. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[549] A review of _The Prelude_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[550] Anonymous. A short review of _The Prelude_, and, at greater -length, of _The Life_ (edited by Reed). An estimate of his work and -influence. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[551] Traces the literary life of the poet. Claims for Wordsworth the -precedence to Coleridge in the utterance of a spiritual Philosophy. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[552] A notice of Wordsworth’s death, unsigned; but Mr. Wilberforce -Eames--of the Lenox Library--informs me, that their library now owns -Mr. Evert A. Duyckinck’s copy of the _Literary World_, and that -gentleman’s own initials are appended in pencil to this article. Mr. -Duyckinck was editor of the _Literary World_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[553] Judge Reed, Professor Henry Reed’s son, does not attribute this -article to his father. There is an impression that Professor Reed -published an article on _The Prelude_. His lecture on that poem was -never published. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[554] Signed by R. F. Correspondence, _London Literary Gazette_, August -31. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[555] Possibly the same as in that scarce number of the _Southern -Literary Messenger_. Vol. xvi. p. 474. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[556] These articles, in the opinion of Judge Henry Reed, are not by -his father, Professor Henry Reed. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[557] Notice to those who wish to subscribe to the Memorial to -Wordsworth, signed. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[558] An article on the University of Cambridge, and an account of -Wordsworth’s residence at St. John’s College, 1787-1791. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[559] Six pages on Wordsworth’s _Sonnet to Liberty_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[560] A brief review of _The Prelude_ and _Excursion_, and a comparison -between the two poems. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[561] On Wordsworth’s sonnets in favour of Capital Punishment. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[562] On the house at Rydal. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[563] An unsigned, four paged article on Wordsworth, Byron Scott, and -Shelley. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[564] In a “Review of Longfellow’s _Poets and Poetry of Europe_,” a -page on Wordsworth’s influence. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[565] In “The Origin and Uses of Poetry,” a few lines on Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[566] A notice, with extracts from _The Prelude_. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[567] “The Religion of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -VI - -CRITICISMS AND REVIEWS IN PERIODICALS FROM 1870 TO 1895 - -These are not chronologically arranged by Mrs. St. John, but see her -note to Section V.--ED. - -1 - -1882. DEWITT, DR. JOHN. _Presbyterian Review._ Vol. iii. p. 241.[568] - -2 - -1884. BURROUGHS, JOHN. _The Century Magazine._ Vol. v. p. 418. This is -entitled “Wordsworth’s Country.” - -3 - -1880. CRANCH, C. P. _The Atlantic Monthly._ Vol. xlv. p. 241. Entitled -“Wordsworth.” A review of the 1880 Poetical Works (Boston). The writer -notes what he considers the chief excellency as well as defects of -Wordsworth’s poetry. - -4 - -1888. MURRAY, J. O. _The Homiletic Review._ Vol. xvi. pp. 295-304. -Title, “The Study of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” - -5 - -1890. PATTISON, T. H. _The Baptist Review._ Vol. xii. p. 265. “The -Religious Influence of Wordsworth.” - -6 - -1889. HUTTON, LAWRENCE. _Harper’s Monthly Magazine._ Vol. lxxviii.[569] -(in Literary Notes). - -7 - -1880-1. CONWAY, MONCURE D. _Harper’s Monthly Magazine._ “The English -Lakes and their Genii.” Vol. lxii. pp. 7, 161, 339. - -8 - -1883. PEDDER, H. C. _The Manhattan._ Vol. ii. pp. 418-433.[570] - -9 - -1876. YARNALL, ELLIS. _Lippincott’s Magazine._ Vol. xviii. pp. 543-554, -669-683. “Walks and Visits in Wordsworth’s Country.” Written in the -summer of 1855 and 1857. - -10 - -1871. FIELDS, J. T. _The Atlantic Monthly._ Vol. xxviii. p. 750. On -Wordsworth, in an article entitled “Our Whispering Gallery.” The same -article is cut down in _Yesterdays with Authors_.[571] - -11 - -1892. PARSONS, EUGENE. _The Examiner._ Vol. lxx. p. 1. On “Tennyson and -Wordsworth.” - -12 - -1888. WILLIAMS, T. C. _Andover Review._ Vol. ix. p. 30. - -13 - -1889. NOBLE, FRED PERRY. _The Homiletic Review._ Vol. xviii. p. 306. -“The Value of Wordsworth to the Preacher.” - -14 - -1873. HIMES, JOHN A. _Lutheran Quarterly Review._ Vol. iii. p. 252. -“The Religious Faith of Wordsworth and Tennyson as shown in their -Poems.” - -15 - -1881. JOHNSON, E. E. _American Church Review._ Vol. xxxiii. p. 139. -“Influence of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” - -16 - -1886. COAN, T. M. _The New Princeton Review._ Vol. i. pp. 297-319. -“Wordsworth’s Passion.” - -17 - -1889. VEDDER, H. C. _The New York Examiner_, August 28. “The Decline of -Wordsworth.”[572] - -18 - -1877. COAN, T. M. _The Galaxy._ Vol. xxiii. pp. 322-336. “Wordsworth’s -Corrections.”[573] - -19 - -1881. BOWEN, F. F. _The Dial._ Vol. i. p. 21. “A Review of Myers’ -Wordsworth.” - -20 - -1881. GERHART, R. L. _Reformed Quarterly Review._ Vol. xxviii. p. 344. -“Wordsworth and his Art.” - -21 - -1887. WOODBERRY, G. E. _The Nation._ Vol. xlv. p. 487. “Wordsworth and -the Beaumonts.” - -22 - -1881. BROWNELL, W. C. _The Nation._ Vol. xxxii. p. 153. “Myers’ -Account of Wordsworth.” - -23 - -1872. CROFFUT, W. A. _Lakeside Monthly._ Vol. viii. pp. 418-425. -“Wordsworth.” - -24 - -1895. THORPE, F. W. _The Philadelphia Call._ “The Home of Wordsworth.” -Autobiographic and critical. - -25 - -1879. _Appleton’s Journal._ Vol. xxii. p. 223. “How to Popularise -Wordsworth.” - -26 - -1874. DE-VERE, A. _The Catholic World._ Vol. xix. p. 795. -“Recollections of Wordsworth.” - -27 - -1875. DE-VERE, A. _The Catholic World._ Vol. xxii. p. 329. - -28 - -1891. PAGE, H. A. _The Century Magazine._ No. 1. pp. 453-864. -“Wordsworth and De Quincey. With hitherto unpublished letters.”[574] - -29 - -1853. _The National Magazine._ Vol. iii. pp. 36-40. - -30 - -1853. _Brownson’s Quarterly Review._ Vol. xii. 525. - -31 - -1896. THEODORE W. HUNT in _Bibliotheca Sacra_. No. 66. “William -Wordsworth.” - -32 - -1896. J. W. BRAY. _The Literary Democracy of Wordsworth_ in “Poet -Love.” Vol. iii. No. 6. - -[568] On “The Homiletic Value of Wordsworth’s Poetry.” One of the -ablest papers ever written on Wordsworth. It contains the best reply to -Matthew Arnold’s estimate of his poetry. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[569] This is a review of Rolf’s _Wordsworth’s Selected Poems_. -It contains one of the most appreciative tributes to Wordsworth’s -influence which has appeared in America. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[570] On “Wordsworth and the Modern Age.” Illustrated by W. St. -J. Harper, and other artists. It deals with the especial need of -Wordsworth’s “calming influence in the exacting competition for -success,” and gives a comparison between Virgil and Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[571] Of interest to Americans. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[572] It aims to give some explanation of the lack of interest in -Wordsworth’s poetry in later days. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[573] An attempt, the writer says, to point out the corrections, -leaving their interpretation to the reader. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -[574] Written by an Englishman, but published first in an American -magazine. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - - -VII - -VISITS TO WORDSWORTH BY EMINENT AMERICANS - -The following books record visits made by eminent Americans to -Wordsworth. - -C. M. ST. JOHN. - -1 - -1863. HAWTHORNE, N. _Our Old Home, and English Note-Books._ Vol. ii. -pp. 24-56, etc.; also, - -1883. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. “A Visit to Wordsworth.” - -2 - -1856. EMERSON, R. W. _English Traits._ Boston: James Munroe and Co. pp. -24-31; also, - -1881. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Co. Visit to Wordsworth, in chapter -entitled “First Visit to England.” - -3 - -1876. TICKNOR, GEORGE. _Life, Letters, and Journals._ Boston: James R. -Osgood and Co. 2 vols. Vol. i. pp. 287, 288, etc. Vol. ii. p. 167, etc. - -4 - -1836. DEWEY, ORVILLE. _The Old World and the New._ Boston: 2 vols. pp. -89-96. - -5 - -1884. BRYANT, W. C. Prose Works. In a chapter on “Poets and Poetry of -the English Language” (New York: D. Appleton and Co.) a few pages deal -with Wordsworth. - - -VIII - -A FEW POEMS ON WORDSWORTH - -1 - -1846. WALLACE, W. _Poem on Wordsworth._ New York: 12mo. - -2 - -1850. FIELD, JAMES T. _Graham Magazine_ (October). “Wordsworth.” - -3 - -1850. ALEXANDER, W. _Graham Magazine_ (November), p. 221. “Wordsworth. -(A Sonnet.)” - -4 - -1850. H. M. R. _Harpers Magazine._ “Sonnet on the Death of Wordsworth.” -Vol. i. p. 218. - -5 - -1850. E. A. W. _Literary World._ “Sonnet on Wordsworth.” Vol. vii. p. -255. - -6 - -1874. WHITTIER, J. G. Whittier’s Works. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and -Co. “Poem on Wordsworth. Written on a blank leaf of _Wordsworth’s -Memoirs_, 1851.” Vol. iv. p. 66. - -7 - -1890. SCOLLARD, CLINTON (?) _Northern Christian Advocate._ “The Poet’s -Seat. A Sonnet on Wordsworth. Written at Ambleside, 1890.” - -8 - -1893. “To Wordsworth, after reading his XXX Ecclesiastical Sonnets” in -_The Echo and the Poet_, by William Cushing Bamburgh. N. Y. 1893. - - -IX - -UNPUBLISHED LECTURES ON WORDSWORTH - -ESSAYS OF SPECIAL INTEREST - -1 - -1892. CORSON, HIRAM. “The Divine Immanence in Nature, and the -relationship of the human spirit thereto, as presented in Wordsworth’s -Poetry.” - -2 - -WINCHESTER, C. T. “The Lake District and Wordsworth.” - -3 - -PRENTISS, GEORGE L. “Hurstmonceaux Rectory and Rydal Mount.” (Personal -Recollections.) - -4 - -HOYT, A. S. “Wordsworth, the Man and the Poet.” (Imperfectly reported -in _The Houghton Record_.) - - - - -III.--_FRANCE_ - -WORDSWORTH IN FRANCE - -By ÉMILE LEGOUIS, Professeur à la Faculté de Lettres, Université de -Lyon, France - - -I - -BIBLIOGRAPHY - -There is no separate or whole book on Wordsworth that I know of. - -ARTICLES IN MAGAZINES, OR CHAPTERS IN BOOKS - -_Voyage historique et littéraire en Angleterre et en Écosse_, par -Amédée Pichot (_passim_). 3 vols. in 8. Paris, 1829.[575] An English -translation was published in London in 1825. - -_Revue Britannique._ - -Mai 1827. Wordsworth, Crabbe, and Campbell, pp. 61-79, a criticism -translated from the _New Monthly Magazine_. - -Février 1835. Poésie domestique de la grande Bretagne, translated from -the _New Monthly Magazine_. - -Janvier 1836, p. 190. Compte-rendu de “Yarrow Revisited and other -Poems,” translated from the _Repository of Knowledge_. - -_Revue des Deux Mondes._ 1er Août 1835. William Wordsworth, par A. -Fontaney.[576] - -_Revue Contemporaine._ 15 Décembre 1853. Poètes contemporains de -l’Angleterre: William Wordsworth et John Wilson, par L. Étienne. - -_Littérature anglaise_ de H. Taine.[577] 1864. Vol. iv. pp. 311-324. - -_Études sur la Littérature contemporaine_, par Éd. Schérer.[578] - -_Revue critique d’histoire et de littérature._ 16 Janvier 1882. Article -de James Darmesteter sur la Biographie de Wordsworth, par Myers.[579] - -_Essais de Littérature anglaise_, par James Darmesteter. Paris, -1883.[580] - -_Histoire de la Littérature anglaise_, par M. Léon Boucher. Paris, -1890. pp. 355-363. - -_La Renaissance de la Poésie anglaise_, par Gabriel Sarrazin. 1887. - -_Études et Portraits_, par Paul Bourget. Vol. ii. Études -anglaises.[581] 1888. - -_Étude sur la Vie et les Œuvres de Robert Burns_, par Auguste -Angellier. Paris, 1892. (_Passim_, et surtout vol. ii. pp. 362-393, -Étude sur le sentiment de la nature dans Wordsworth et autres poètes -anglais contemporains.) - -_Le général Michel Beaupuy_, par Georges Bussière et Émile Legouis. -Paris, 1891. - -[575] Vol. ii. pp. 363-394.--ED. - -[576] This was signed Y, which was Fontaney’s pseudonym.--E.L. - -[577] Wordsworth et la poésie moderne de l’Angleterre.--_Histoire de la -Littérature anglaise_, par H. Taine.--ED. - -[578] Vol. vi. pp. 127, 128, and vol. vii. pp. 1-59.--ED. - -[579] pp. 227-236.--ED. - -[580] pp. 227-236.--ED. - -[581] Vol. ii. pp. 83; 126-134.--ED. - - -II - -TRANSLATIONS - -Pas de traduction complète, ni de volume spécial de traductions de -Wordsworth. - -Une traduction par Fontaney annoncée en 1837 comme devant paraître dans -le _Bibliothèque anglo-française_, n’a pas paru. - -En dehors des poèmes ou parties de poèmes traduit par les critiques -énumérés plus haut, il n’y a guère de traduction en prose de quelque -importance. - -TRADUCTIONS EN VERS - -MADAME AMABLE TASTU. _We are Seven._ - -SAINTE-BEUVE. _Joseph Delorme._ 1829. - - “Le plus long jour de l’année,” p. 88. - Sonnet, “Personal Talk,” p. 123. - “Sonnet sur le Sonnet,” p. 124. - -_Consolations._ 1830. - - Sonnet, “It is a beauteous evening,” p. 234. - Sonnet, “Not Love, nor War,” p. 239. - Sonnet, “Quand le poète en pleurs,” p. 236. - -_Pensées d’Août._ Trois sonnets imités de Wordsworth. - - I. “Reposez-vous et remerciez.” - II. “La Cabane du Highlander.” - III. “Le Château de Bothwell.” - -Sainte-Beuve cite en outre dans ses _Nouveaux Lundis_ des 21 et 22 -Avril 1862, trois sonnets de Wordsworth traduits en vers, par l’Abbé -Roussel. Ces traductions assez pauvres de poésie sont celles des -sonnets suivants-- - - “Nuns fret not.…” - “Dark and more dark.…” - “These words were uttered as in pensive mood.” - -JEAN AICARD a traduit _We are Seven_ dans _La Chanson de l’Enfant_. - -PAUL BOURGET (_Études et Portraits_, vol. ii. _op. cit._) a traduit -l’un des sonnets au Duddon. - - “What aspect bore the Man …?” - - -III - -INFLUENCE - -Wordsworth’s influence on French literature was altogether very slight, -nor did it make itself felt till about 1830; when, after a very limited -period, it silently died away. - -Wordsworth was but little known by his contemporary Châteaubriand, who -merely names him among other poets in his _Essai sur la Littérature -anglaise_. Byron, Walter Scott, and in a lesser degree Thomas -Moore, were the only writers of Great Britain whose works told on -our literature at that time. Villemain, in his criticism of Byron, -contemptuously dismisses all the so-called lake-poets to fix on his -hero. He calls them: “Des métaphysiciens, raisonneurs sans invention, -mélancoliques sans passion, qui, dans l’éternelle rêverie d’une vie -étroite et peu agitée, n’avaient produit que des singularités sans -puissance sur l’imagination des autres hommes. Tel était Woodsworth -(_sic_) et le subtil mais non touchant Coléridge.” - -To Byron also, and to him alone (Ossian being excepted) among the -poets of England, was Lamartine indebted. I am not sure that he names -Wordsworth once; but still the striking analogy between the ideas and -imaginative style of both cannot fail to be noticed by the reader. -Without insisting on a parallel that might be drawn between many pages -of _The Excursion_ and of _Jocelyn_, I will only point out two short -pieces of Lamartine that bear strong resemblance to two poems of -Wordsworth, so much so that they almost read like free imitations-- - - Lamartine Wordsworth’s - - “A Augusta,” _Recueillements | - Poètiques_, xx. | _Nightingale and Stock-dove._ - | - “Le Fontaine du Foyard,” | - _Nouvelles Confidences_. | _The Fountain._ - -Victor Hugo, so far as I know, only names Wordsworth once, in _L’Âne_-- - - …Young le pleureur des nuits, - Wordsworth l’esprit des lacs … - -M. Sully Prudhomme when he wrote _A l’Hirondelle_ (stanzas, la vie -intérieure) appears to have borne in mind _To a Skylark_, “Ethereal -minstrel,” etc. - -M. Coppée has often been called a French Wordsworth, owing to his -poetical collection called _Les Humbles_, wherein he shows the same -partiality as the English Poet does for humble themes and characters, -together with a bold attempt to naturalise trivial or ludicrous -details in serious poetry; but there is no proof, as far as I know, of -Wordsworth’s influence having been strong upon him. - -If we except two or three disciples of Wordsworth, neither he, nor -the lake-poets taken as a whole, seem to have been much thought of, or -even read, by our contemporary verse-writers. The word _Lakist_ has -generally been used as a synonym for “weak and doleful mysticism.” -Ex.:-- - -(_a_) _Revue Encyclopédique._ 1831. Article de Pierre Leroux, sur la -“Poésie de notre Époque.” “L’Angleterre a entendu autour de ses lacs -bourdonner comme des ombres plaintives un essaim de poètes abîmés dans -une mystique contemplation.” - -(_b_) _Journal d’un Poète_, par Alfred de Vigny. (Ed. Michel Lévy. -1867. p. 80.) “Barbier vient de publier _Il Pianto_. Les délices de -Capone ont amolli son caractère de poésie et Brizeux a déteint sur -lui ses douces couleurs virgiliennes et laquistes (_sic_) dérivant de -Sainte-Beuve.” - -(_c_) THÉOPHILE GAUTIER (_Portraits Contemporains_, p. 174) almost -seems to derive the word _Lakiste_ from Lamartine’s poem called _Le -Lac_. He has just mentioned the poem and goes on: “Il ne faut pas -croire que Lamartine, parce qu’il y a toujours chez lui une vibration -et une résonnance de harpe éolienne, ne soit qu’un mélodieux _lakiste_ -et ne sache que soupirer mollement la mélancolie et l’amour. S’il a le -soupir, il a la parole et le cri …” (_Journal Officiel_, 8 Mars 1869.) - -I now come to the man who, first and foremost among our poets and -critics, paid due homage to Wordsworth, _i.e._ Sainte-Beuve. I have -already enumerated his several translations in verse from Wordsworth. -Strange to say, the voluminous critic has no single article with -Wordsworth for its main subject; but, whoever will go through his many -volumes will find many judicious and admiring references to the poet. - -Moreover, as a poet, Sainte-Beuve has endeavoured to naturalise in -France the poetic style that has been associated with the name of -Wordsworth. He expressly claims Wordsworth as one of his masters in his -_Consolations_ xviii. “A Antony Deschamps.” Among his bosom-poets he -reckons-- - - …Wordsworth peu connu, qui des lacs solitaires - Sait tòus les bleus reflets, les bruits et les mystères, - Et qui, depuis trente ans vivant au même lieu, - En contemplation devant le même Dieu, - A travers les soupirs de la mousse et de l’onde, - Distingue, au soir, des chants venus d’un meilleur monde. - -The original attempt of Sainte-Beuve (for he was original in his very -choice of Wordsworth as a model at a time when Byron engrossed all -the admiration of the French poets) has been ably characterised by -Théophile Gautier in his “Portraits Contemporains” (pp. 208, 209), an -article reprinted from _La Gazette de Paris_, 19 Novembre 1871:-- - - “(Sainte-Beuve) avait été en poésie un inventeur. Il avait - donné une note nouvelle et toute moderne, et de tout le cénacle - c’était à coup sûr le plus réellement romantique. Dans cette - humble poésie qui rappelle par la sincérité du sentiment et - la minutie du détail observé sur nature, les vers de Crabbe, - de Wordsworth, et de Cowper, Sainte-Beuve s’est frayé de - petits sentiers à mi-côte, bordés d’humbles fleurettes, où nul - en France n’a passé avant lui. Sa facture un peu laborieuse - et compliquée vient de la difficulté de réduire à la forme - métrique des idées et des images non exprimées encore ou - dédaignées jusque-là, mais que de morceaux merveilleusement - venus où l’effort n’est plus sensible!” - -Sainte-Beuve’s admiration of Wordsworth is a well-known fact. Less -generally known is the influence of this admiration on several poets -of that time (_circa_ 1830-40), who, either through Sainte-Beuve’s -imitations, or with a direct knowledge of Wordsworth’s poems, to the -reading of which they had thus been stimulated, offer great marks of -resemblance with Wordsworth. I have quoted a judgment of De Vigny that -considers Brizeux and Barbier as having turned _laquistes_ through -Sainte-Beuve. I know no other immediate proof of this influence. -Perhaps Barbier and Brizeux have consigned it somewhere. Anyhow Brizeux -with his glorification of his youthful years and school-time, with -his intense love of his native Brittany, his fond attachment to local -customs and habits, his lamentations on the death of the poetical poet -as embodied in his own province (_Élégie de la Bretagne_), is to all -extent and purposes the most thoroughly Wordsworthian of all our poets. -There may be more of Wordsworth’s _philosophy_ in Lamartine, but there -is more of his _poetry_ proper in Brizeux. - -The influence of Wordsworth on Maurice de Guérin and Hippolyte de la -Morvonnais, is more easily ascertained than the preceding. Here, again, -Sainte-Beuve appears to have been the intermediate agent.[582] - -In 1832-33 Maurice de Guérin, fresh from the reading of the -_Consolations_, and De la Morvonnais, who came to be a direct admirer -of the Lake Poets, and chiefly of Wordsworth, set to write short -poems which they aspired to make as little different from prose as -possible, rejecting all traditional ornaments, and making little of -the rhythmical improvements of the _Romantiques_ proper. Some of those -pieces were inserted in a local paper as downright prose (no stop -intervening at the end of the lines), whereas the said paper would -not have made room for verse.[583] This looks like trifling, but the -earnestness of this attempted revolution is shown in the interesting -poems of Maurice de Guérin. Another outcome of this was an intended -publication on Wordsworth, of which it is impossible to say whether it -was to be a criticism, or a translation, of the English Poet. It is -thus mentioned in a letter of Guérin to De la Morvonnais of June 30, -1836: “Nous avons adressé des circulaires à un grand nombre d’éditeurs -pour l’impression Wordsworth. Nous attendons la réponse d’un moment à -l’autre.” The answer must have been unfavourable, as nothing more was -heard of the intended publication. - -The early death of Guérin left it for De la Morvonnais alone to spread -the influence of Wordsworth’s poetry in France. Of him we read in -Sainte-Beuve’s _Étude sur Maurice de Guérin_:-- - - “La Morvonnais, vers ce temps même (1834), en était fort - préoccupé (des lakistes et de leur poésie), au point d’aller - visiter Wordsworth à sa résidence de Rydal Mount, près des lacs - du Westmoreland, et de rester en correspondance avec ce grand - et pacifique esprit, avec ce patriarche de la Muse intime. - Guérin, sans tant y songer, ressemblait mieux aux Lakistes en - ne visant nullement à les imiter.” - -Of the supposed correspondence between Wordsworth and De la Morvonnais -no trace remains. M. Hippolyte de la Blanchardière, De la Morvonnais’ -grandson, has informed me that in the collection of his grandfather’s -letters there is no letter of Wordsworth to be found. That at least -a Study of Wordsworth existed at the time is proved by the following -preface to his poem _La Thébaïde des Grèves_, written by his friend A. -Duquesnel (ed. by Didier, Quai des Augustins. 1864. p. xxvii.) - - “Nous avons trouvé dans les _Reliquiae_ du poète de - l’Arguenon[584] de précieuses études sur les lakistes. Il - s’était passionné pour ces hommes dans les dix dernières années - de sa vie (1843-53).[585] Wordsworth lui semblait plus grand - que Byron, qu’il trouvait trop emphatique, trop solennel, - pas assez près de la nature. L’auteur de _l’Excursion_ a - exercé une pénétrante influence sur l’esprit et le cœur de la - Morvonnais, nous trouvons dans ses cahiers des traductions - en vers de Wordsworth, de Coléridge, de Crabbe, qui, lui, ne - faisait pas partie de ce groupe. Nous les publierons peut-être - un jour; elles ont d’autant plus d’intérêt que l’on ne connaît - guère les lakistes en France, que par de rares extraits. Il - s’était livré, comme on le verra, à une étude approfondie de la - littérature anglaise. Son admiration pour Walter Scott était - inexprimable.” - -The study and translations above-mentioned have also been lost, many -manuscripts of De la Morvonnais having been destroyed. - -It remains for me to point out some allusions to, or imitations of, -Wordsworth in the existing verse of De la Morvonnais. - -In the _Thébaïde des Grèves_ (1838), “Le Petit Patour” is a close -imitation of _We are Seven_, the conclusion being-- - - Cet enfant en sait plus que moi sur l’existence; - Savoir vivre est savoir souffrir avec constance. - -“Le Vagabond,” a story of a vagrant by whom the poet is taught -resignation, is an imitation of _Resolution and Independence_. - -In “A Sainte-Beuve” are found these two lines-- - - J’ai posé sous mon bras mon penseur solitaire, - Mon Wordsworth tant aimé de l’amant du mystère. - -In “Dispersion, à Mistress Hemans,” etc., we read this-- - - Nous primes un poète, une femme angélique - Dont peu savent chez nous la voix mélancolique, - Disciple de Wordsworth, le sublime penseur, - Des lakistes chéris je la nomme la sœur. - -In “Dernières Paroles” we find this praise of Wordsworth-- - - Or, ce soir-là, je lus un homme de génie; - Celui dont la mystique et profonde harmonie - Sonne pour les élus des poétiques dons, - Et soulève notre âme en ses grands abandons … - …Oh! ne pourrai-je voir - Ces lacs du Westmoreland, mon désir, mon espoir? - … - Cet homme est honoré des puissances secrètes; - Lui mort, à ses beaux lacs, romantiques retraites, - Des pèlerins viendront, penseurs religieux. - Le monde méconnut l’homme mélodieux. - -I pass over many sonnets, and divers other poems, in which the -influence of Wordsworth is unmistakable, and come to a last quotation -which is useful to elucidate an allusion in Wordsworth’s _The Poet’s -Dream: Sequel to the Norman Boy_. In this poem, written in 1842, -Wordsworth says-- - - But oh! that Country-man of thine, whose eye, loved Child, can see - A pledge of endless bliss in acts of early piety, - In verse, which to thy ear might come, would treat this simple theme, - Nor leave untold our happy flight in that adventurous dream. - -As Wordsworth read very little French poetry in his old age, I think he -here alludes to a poem of his admirer De la Morvonnais, who very likely -sent him that _Thébaïde des Grèves_ (1838), in which Wordsworth was so -highly praised. The passage alluded to is taken from “Solitude,” and -reads thus-- - - Enfant, Il (Dieu) te promet le domaine de l’ange - Si tu gardes l’amour et la foi des aïeux, - Et sa mère, aujourd’hui loin de l’humaine fange, - Que tu n’as pas connue et qui t’attend aux cieux. - -As a whole, De la Morvonnais, though he imitates Wordsworth, is very -unlike him. Of course I do not mean to compare the two, but even -in like subjects he differs from Wordsworth, owing to a sort of -constitutional nervousness and brooding melancholy.[586] - -[582] Voir Maurice de Guérin, _Journal, Lettres et Poèmes_, publiés par -J. S. Trébutien avec Préface de Sainte-Beuve (1860).--E.L. - -[583] In the above work--_Séjour de M. de Guérin en Bretagne; -Impressions et Souvenirs de M. François du Breil de Marzan_, pp. -434-441.--E.L. - -[584] H. de la Morvonnais.--E.L. - -[585] A mistake: his admiration of Wordsworth began before 1832.--E.L. - -[586] In _Voyage historique et littéraire en Angleterre et en Écosse_, -par Amédée Puchot, Lettre XXIV. there are numerous references to -Wordsworth. It begins with a quotation from _Tintern Abbey_. In -Lettre LXV. there is additional critical reference to Wordsworth and -Coleridge. In the _Album poétique des jeunes personnes_, par Mme. -Tastu, there is a “Sonnet imité de Wordsworth,” by St. Beuve, pp. 101, -102. - - C’est un beau soir, un soir paisible et solennel, - A la fin du saint jour la nature en prière - Le tait, comme Marie à genoux sur la pierre, etc.--ED. - -See also the _Nouveaux Lundis_ of St. Beuve, 21 and 22 Avril 1862, -where there are “trois sonnets traduits en vers par l’Abbé Roussel” -from Wordsworth. - - - - -ERRATA AND ADDENDA LIST - -REFERRING TO VOLUMES I. TO VIII. - - -1. _Inistar omnium._--I wish to explain the accidental omission of Mr. -T. Hutchinson’s name amongst those who helped me in Volumes I. and II. -(see the prefatory note to this volume), and also that of Mr. Hill. It -was due to my returning, “for press,” an uncorrected copy of my Preface. - -2. Vol. ii. p. 106, _Ruth_, l. 54--The following extract from Bartram’s -_Travels_, etc., illustrates Wordsworth’s debt to him:-- - - Proceeding on our return to town in the cool of the evening - … we enjoyed a most enchanting view; … companies of young - innocent Cherokee virgins, some busy gathering the rich - fragrant fruit, others having already filled their baskets, lay - reclined under the shade of floriferous and fragrant native - bowers … disclosing their beauties to the fluttering breeze - … whilst other parties, more gay and libertine, were yet - collecting strawberries, or wantonly chasing their companions, - tantalising them, staining their lips and cheeks with the ripe - fruit. - -3. In vol. ii. p. 348, the date of publication should be Sept. 17, -1802, not 1803. - -4. In _The Prelude_ (vol. iii. p. 202, book v. l. 26) the quotation -which I could not trace is from Shakespeare, Sonnet No. 64-- - - This thought is as a death, which cannot choose - But weep to have that which it fears to lose. - -5. Vol. v. p. 113 (_The Excursion_, book iii. l. 187).--Mr. William -E. Walcott--Laurence, Mass. U.S.A.--sends me the following variant -readings, which he has found in a copy of the edition of 1814-- - - … crystal tube - Be lodged therein … - -P. 151, book iv. l. 187-- - - Nor sleep, nor … - -6. Vol. vii. p. 276.--This sonnet first appeared in the _New Monthly -Magazine_, part ii. p. 26, under the title, _To B. R. Haydon. Composed -on seeing his Picture of Napoleon, musing at St. Helena_; and it is -dated “Saturday, June 11th, 1831.” - -7. Vol. vii. p. 336.--This poem was published in the _Saturday -Magazine_, May 18, 1844, in which the fifth line is-- - - Woe to the purblind men who fill. - -8. It may be worth mentioning (1) that the quotation (not noted, -unfortunately, where it occurs)-- - - Some natural tears she drops, but wipes them soon, - -is from _Paradise Lost_, book xii. l. 645. See also _An Elegy delivered -at the Hot Wells_, Bristol, July 1789. (2) That the phrase “numerous -verse” is from _Paradise Lost_, book v. l. 150; and (3) that “lenient -hand of Time” is from Bowles’ sonnet-- - - O Time, who know’st a lenient hand to lay - Softest on sorrow’s wound. - -Amongst those which I have failed to trace are the following: - - _Ecclesiastical Sonnets_, II. xxxiv.-- - - … murtherer’s chain partake, - Corded, and burning at the social stake. - - xlv.-- - - … in the painful art of dying - - _The Russian Fugitive_, Part II. l. 51-- - - … if house it be or bower. - - _Elegiac Musings_, l. 41-- - - Let praise be mute where I am laid. - - _Stanzas suggested in a Steamboat off Saint Bees’ Heads_, l. 37-- - - Cruel of heart were they, bloody of hand. - - - - -INDEX TO THE POEMS - - - VOL. PAGE - - Aar, The Fall of the vi 308 - - Abbeys, Old vii 100 - - Address from the Spirit of Cockermouth Castle vii 347 - - Address to a Child iv 50 - - Address to Kilchurn Castle ii 400 - - Address to my Infant Daughter, Dora iii 14 - - Address to the Scholars of the Village School of ---- ii 84 - - Admonition iv 34 - - Æneid, Translation of Part of the First Book of the viii 276 - - “Aerial Rock--whose solitary brow” vi 187 - - Affliction of Margaret--, The iii 7 - - Afflictions of England vii 72 - - After-Thought (Duddon) vi 263 - - After-Thought (Tour on the Continent) vi 315 - - Airey-Force Valley viii 146 - - Aix-la-Chapelle vi 295 - - “Alas! what boots the long laborious quest” iv 216 - - Alban Hills, From the viii 65 - - Albano, At viii 64 - - Alfred vii 24 - - Alfred, His Descendants vii 25 - - Alice Fell; or, Poverty ii 272 - - Aloys Reding vi 310 - - Ambleside viii 156 - - America, Aspects of Christianity in (Three Sonnets) vii 84 - - American Episcopacy vii 85 - - American Tradition vi 246 - - Ancient History, On a celebrated Event in (Two Sonnets) iv 242 - - Andrew Jones viii 221 - - Anecdote for Fathers i 234 - - Animal Tranquillity and Decay i 307 - - Anticipation (October 1803) ii 436 - - Anticipation of leaving School, Composed in i 1 - - Apennines, Among the Ruins of a Convent in the viii 82 - - Apology (Ecclesiastical Sonnets, 1st part) vii 18 - - Apology (Ecclesiastical Sonnets, 2nd part) vii 55 - - Apology (Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death) viii 112 - - Apology (Yarrow Revisited) vii 309 - - Applethwaite, At iii 23 - - Aquapendente, Musings near viii 42 - - Armenian Lady’s Love, The vii 232 - - Artegal and Elidure vi 45 - - Authors, A plea for, viii 99 - - Author’s Portrait, To the vii 318 - - Autumn (September) vi 64 - - Autumn (Two Poems) vi 201 - - Avarice, The last Stage of ii 60 - - Avon, The (Annan) vii 303 - - Bala-Sala, At vii 365 - - Balbi iv 237 - - Ballot, Protest against the viii 304 - - Bangor, Monastery of Old vii 13 - - Baptism vii 89 - - Barbara ii 178 - - Beaumont, Sir George, Epistle to iv 256 - - Beaumont, Sir George, Upon perusing the foregoing Epistle to iv 267 - - Beaumont, Sir George, Picture of Peele Castle, painted by iii 54 - - Beaumont, Sir George, Beautiful Picture, painted by iv 271 - - Beaumont, Sir George, Elegiac Stanzas addressed to vii 132 - - Beaumont, To Lady iv 57 - - Beggar, The Old Cumberland i 299 - - Beggars (Two Poems) ii 276 - - “‘Beloved Vale!’ I said, ‘when I shall con’” iv 35 - - Benefits, Other (Two Sonnets) vii 40 - - Bible, Translation of the vii 58 - - Binnorie, The Solitude of ii 204 - - Bird of Paradise, Coloured Drawing of the viii 29 - - Bird of Paradise, Suggested by a Picture of viii 140 - - Biscayan Rite (Two Sonnets) iv 241 - - Bishops, Acquittal of the vii 79 - - Bishops and Priests vii 86 - - Black Comb, Inscription on a Stone on the side of iv 281 - - Black Comb, View from the top of iv 279 - - “Blest Statesman He, whose Mind’s unselfish will” viii 101 - - Bologna, At (Three Sonnets) viii 85 - - Bolton Priory, The Founding of iv 204 - - Books and Newspapers, Illustrated viii 184 - - Borderers, The i 112 - - Bothwell Castle vii 299 - - Boulogne, On being stranded near the Harbour of vi 378 - - Bran, Effusion on the Banks of the vi 28 - - Breadalbane, Ruined Mansion of the Earl of vii 295 - - Brientz, Scene on the Lake of vi 315 - - Brigham, Nun’s Well vii 347 - - Britons, Struggle of the vii 11 - - Brothers, The ii 184 - - Brothers Water, Bridge at the foot of ii 293 - - Brougham Castle, Song at the Feast of iv 82 - - Brownie’s Cell vi 16 - - Brownie, The vii 297 - - Brugès (Two Poems) vi 288 - - Brugès, Incident at vii 198 - - Buonaparté ii 323 - - Buonaparté ii 331 - - Buonaparté iv 228 - - Burial in the South of Scotland, A Place of vii 285 - - Burns, At the Grave of ii 379 - - Burns, Thoughts suggested near the Residence of ii 383 - - Burns, To the Sons of ii 386 - - Butterfly, To a ii 383 - - Butterfly, To a ii 297 - - Calais, August 1802 ii 331 - - Calais, August 15, 1802 ii 334 - - Calais, Composed by the Seaside, near ii 330 - - Calais, Composed near ii 332 - - Calais, Composed on the Beach, near ii 335 - - Calais, Fish-women at vi 286 - - Calvert, Raisley iv 44 - - Camaldoli, At the Convent of (Three Sonnets) viii 72 - - Canute vii 27 - - Canute and Alfred vi 130 - - Castle, Composed at ---- ii 410 - - “Castle of Indolence,” Written in my Pocket Copy of - Thomson’s ii 305 - - Casual Incitement vii 14 - - Catechising vii 91 - - Cathedrals, etc. vii 105 - - Catholic Cantons, Composed in one of the (Two Poems) vi 312 - - Celandine, The Small iii 21 - - Celandine, To the Small (Two Poems) ii 300 - - Cenotaph (Mrs. Fermor) vii 135 - - Chamouny, Processions in the Vale of vi 363 - - Character, A ii 208 - - Charles the First, Troubles of vii 71 - - Charles the Second vii 75 - - Chatsworth vii 272 - - Chaucer, Selections from (Three Poems) ii 238 - - Chiabrera, Epitaphs translated from iv 229 - - Chichely, Archbishop, to Henry V. vii 47 - - Child, Address to a iv 50 - - Child, Characteristics of a, three years old iv 252 - - Child, To a (Written in her Album) viii 7 - - Childless Father, The ii 181 - - Christianity in America, Aspects of (Three Sonnets) vii 84 - - Churches, New vii 102 - - Church to be erected (Two Sonnets) vii 103 - - Churchyard, New vii 104 - - Cintra, Convention of (Two Sonnets) iv 210 - - Cistertian Monastery vii 37 - - Clarkson, Thomas, To iv 62 - - Clergy, Corruptions of the Higher vii 49 - - Clergy, Emigrant French vii 101 - - Clerical Integrity vii 78 - - Clermont, The Council of vii 30 - - Clifford, Lord iv 82 - - Clouds, To the viii 142 - - Clyde, In the Frith of, Ailsa Crag vii 369 - - Clyde, On the Frith of vii 370 - - Cockermouth Castle, Address from the Spirit of vii 347 - - Cockermouth, In sight of vii 346 - - Coleorton, Elegiac Musings in the grounds of vii 269 - - Coleorton, A Flower Garden at vii 125 - - Coleorton, Inscription for an Urn in the grounds of iv 78 - - Coleorton, Inscription for a Seat in the groves of iv 80 - - Coleorton, Inscription in a garden of iv 76 - - Coleorton, Inscription in the grounds of iv 74 - - Coleridge, Hartley, To ii 351 - - Collins, Remembrance of i 33 - - Cologne, In the Cathedral at vi 297 - - Commination Service vii 96 - - Complaint, A iv 17 - - “Complete Angler,” Written on a blank leaf in the vi 190 - - Conclusion (Duddon) vi 262 - - Conclusion (Ecclesiastical Sonnets) vii 108 - - Conclusion (Miscellaneous Sonnets) vii 177 - - Conclusion (Prelude) iii 367 - - Conclusion (Sonnets upon the Punishment of Death) viii 111 - - Confirmation (Two Sonnets) vii 92 - - Congratulation vii 102 - - Conjectures vii 5 - - Contrast, The. The Parrot and the Wren vii 141 - - Convent in the Apennines viii 82 - - Convention of Cintra, Composed while writing a Tract - occasioned by the (Two Sonnets) iv 210 - - Conversion vii 17 - - Convict, The viii 217 - - Cora Linn, Composed at vi 26 - - Cordelia M----, To vii 400 - - Cottage Girls, The Three vi 351 - - Cottager to her Infant, The iii 74 - - Council of Clermont, The vii 30 - - Countess’ Pillar vii 307 - - Covenanters, Persecution of the Scottish vii 79 - - Cranmer vii 62 - - Crosthwaite Church viii 157 - - Crusaders vii 41 - - Crusades vii 31 - - Cuckoo and the Nightingale, The ii 250 - - Cuckoo at Laverna, The viii 67 - - Cuckoo Clock, The viii 151 - - Cuckoo, To the ii 289 - - Cuckoo, To the vii 169 - - Cumberland Beggar, The Old i 299 - - Cumberland Beggar, The Old, MS. Variants viii 220 - - Cumberland, Coast of (In the Channel) vii 358 - - Cumberland, On a high part of the coast of vii 337 - - Daffodils, The iii 4 - - Daisy, To the (Two Poems) ii 353 - - Daisy, To the ii 360 - - Daisy, To the iii 51 - - Daniel, Picture of (Hamilton Palace) vii 303 - - Danish Boy, The ii 96 - - Danish Conquests vii 27 - - Danube, The Source of the vi 303 - - Dati, Roberto iv 234 - - Dedication (Miscellaneous Sonnets) vii 159 - - Dedication (Tour on the Continent) vi 285 - - Dedication (White Doe of Rylstone) iv 102 - - Dedication (White Doe of Rylstone) vi 42 - - Departure from the Vale of Grasmere ii 377 - - “Deplorable his lot who tills the ground” vii 38 - - Derwent, To the River vi 193 - - Derwent, To the River vii 345 - - Descriptive Sketches i 35 - - Descriptive Sketches i 309 - - Desultory Stanzas vi 382 - - Detraction which followed the Publication of a certain - Poem, On the vi 212 - - Devil’s Bridge, To the Torrent at the vii 129 - - Devotional Incitements vii 314 - - Dion vi 116 - - Dissensions vii 10 - - Distractions vii 68 - - Dog, Incident characteristic of a favourite iii 48 - - Dog, Tribute to the Memory of the same iii 49 - - Donnerdale, The Plain of vi 251 - - Dora, To (A little onward) vi 132 - - Dora, To my Niece viii 297 - - Douglas Bay, Isle of Man, On entering vii 360 - - Dover, Composed in the Valley near ii 341 - - Dover, Near ii 343 - - Dover, The Valley of (Two Sonnets) vi 380 - - Druidical Excommunication vii 7 - - Druids, Trepidation of the vii 6 - - Duddon, The River vi 225 - - Dungeon-Ghyll Force ii 138 - - Dunollie Castle (Eagles) vii 292 - - Dunolly Castle, On Revisiting vii 371 - - Dunolly Eagle, The vii 372 - - Duty, Ode to iii 37 - - Dyer, To the Poet John iv 273 - - Eagle and the Dove, The viii 309 - - Eagles (Dunollie Castle) vii 292 - - Eagle, The Dunolly vii 372 - - Easter Sunday, Composed on vi 194 - - Ecclesiastical Sonnets vii 2 - - Echo, The Mountain iv 25 - - Echo upon the Gemmi vi 360 - - Eclipse of the Sun, The vi 345 - - Eden, The River (Cumberland) vii 385 - - Edward VI. vii 59 - - Edward VI. signing the Warrant vii 60 - - Egremont Castle, The Horn of iv 12 - - Egyptian Maid, The vii 252 - - Ejaculation vii 107 - - Elegiac Musings (Coleorton Hall) vii 269 - - Elegiac Stanzas (Goddard) vi 371 - - Elegiac Stanzas (Mrs. Fermor) vii 132 - - Elegiac Stanzas (Peele Castle) iii 54 - - Elegiac Verses (John Wordsworth) iii 58 - - Elizabeth vii 65 - - Ellen Irwin ii 124 - - Emigrant French Clergy vii 101 - - Emigrant Mother, The ii 284 - - Eminent Reformers (Two Sonnets) vii 66 - - Emma’s Dell ii 153 - - Engelberg vi 316 - - Enghien, Duke d’ vi 114 - - “England! the time is come when thou should’st wean” ii 432 - - England, Afflictions of vii 72 - - Enterprise, To vi 218 - - Episcopacy, American vii 85 - - Epistle to Sir George Beaumont iv 256 - - Epistle to Sir George Beaumont, Upon perusing the foregoing iv 267 - - Epitaph, A Poet’s ii 75 - - Epitaph in the Chapel-yard of Langdale viii 120 - - Epitaphs translated from Chiabrera iv 229 - - “Ere with cold beads of midnight dew” vii 145 - - “Even as a dragon’s eye that feels the stress” vi 69 - - Evening of extraordinary splendour, Composed upon an vi 176 - - Evening Star over Grasmere Water, To the viii 263 - - Evening Walk, An i 4 - - Event in Ancient History, On a celebrated (Two Sonnets) iv 242 - - Excursion, The v 1 - - Expostulation and Reply i 272 - - Fact, A, and an Imagination vi 130 - - Faery Chasm, The vi 241 - - Fancy iv 36 - - Fancy and Tradition vii 306 - - Fancy, Hints for the vi 242 - - Farewell, A ii 324 - - Farewell Lines vii 155 - - Farewell (Tour, 1833) vii 341 - - Farmer of Tilsbury Vale, The ii 147 - - Far-Terrace, The vii 154 - - Father, The Childless ii 181 - - Fathers, Anecdote for i 234 - - Fermor, Mrs. (Cenotaph) vii 135 - - Fermor, Mrs. (Elegiac Stanzas) vii 132 - - Fidelity iii 44 - - Filial Piety vii 231 - - Fir Grove (John Wordsworth) iii 66 - - Fishes in a Vase, Gold and Silver vii 214 - - Fish-women vi 286 - - Flamininus, T. Quintius (Two Sonnets) iv 242 - - Fleming, To the Lady (Rydal Chapel), (Two Poems) vii 109 - - Floating Island (D. W.) viii 125 - - Florence (Four Sonnets) viii 78 - - Flower Garden, A (Coleorton) vii 125 - - Flowers vi 235 - - Flowers (Cave of Staffa) vii 378 - - Flowers in the Island of Madeira viii 177 - - “Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale!” ii 419 - - Foresight, or Children gathering Flowers ii 298 - - Forms of Prayer at Sea vii 97 - - Forsaken Indian Woman, Complaint of a i 275 - - Forsaken, The iii 10 - - Fort Fuentes vi 328 - - Fountain, The ii 91 - - Fox, Mr., Lines composed on the expected death of iv 47 - - France, Sky-prospect from the Plain of vi 377 - - Francesco Pozzobonnelli iv 236 - - French Army in Russia (Two Poems) vi 107 - - French Clergy, Emigrant vii 101 - - French Revolution ii 34 - - French Revolution, In allusion to Histories of the - (Three Sonnets) viii 130 - - French Royalist, Feelings of a vi 114 - - Friend, To a (Banks of the Derwent) vii 348 - - Funeral Service vi 97 - - Furness Abbey, At viii 168 - - Furness Abbey, At viii 176 - - Gemmi, Echo upon the vi 360 - - General Fast, Upon the late (1832) vii 323 - - George the Third (November, 1813) iv 282 - - George the Third, On the death of vi 209 - - Germans on the Heights of Hockheim, The vi 216 - - Germany, Written in ii 73 - - Gillies, Margaret, To (Two Poems) viii 114 - - Gillies, Margaret viii 306 - - Gillies, Robert Pearce vi 33 - - Gipsies iv 65 - - Glad Tidings vii 15 - - Gleaner, The vii 202 - - Glen-Almain, or, The Narrow Glen ii 393 - - Glencroe, At the Head of vii 295 - - Glowworm, The viii 231 - - Goddard, Elegiac Stanzas vi 371 - - Gold and Silver Fishes in a Vase (Two Poems) vii 214 - - Goody Blake and Harry Gill i 253 - - Gordale vi 185 - - Grace Darling viii 310 - - Grasmere, Departure from the Vale of (August 1803) ii 377 - - Grasmere, Home at viii 235 - - Grasmere, Inscription on the Island at ii 213 - - Grasmere, Return to ii 419 - - Grasmere Lake, Composed by the side of iv 73 - - Grave-stone, A (Worcester Cathedral) vii 201 - - “Great men have been among us; hands that penned” ii 346 - - Green, George and Sarah viii 266 - - Green Linnet, The ii 367 - - Greenock vii 383 - - Greta, To the River vii 344 - - “Grief, thou hast lost an ever ready friend” vi 195 - - Grotto, Written in a viii 234 - - Guernica, Oak of iv 245 - - Guilt and Sorrow i 77 - - Gunpowder Plot vii 69 - - Gustavus IV iv 227 - - Gwerndwffnant, Holiday at viii 284 - - H. C., Six years old, To ii 351 - - Hambleton Hills, After a journey across the ii 349 - - Happy Warrior, Character of the iv 7 - - Hart-Leap Well ii 128 - - Hart’s-Horn Tree vii 305 - - Haunted Tree, The vi 199 - - Hawkshead, Written as a School Exercise at viii 211 - - Hawkshead School, In anticipation of leaving i 1 - - Hawkshead School, Address to the Scholars of ii 84 - - Haydon, To B. R. vi 61 - - Haydon, To B. R. (Picture of Napoleon Buonaparte) vii 276 - - Heidelberg, Castle of (Hymn for Boatmen) vi 301 - - Helvellyn, To ----, on her first ascent of vi 135 - - Henry Eighth, Portrait of vii 166 - - Her eyes are wild i 258 - - Hermitage (St. Herbert’s Island) ii 210 - - Hermitage, Near the Spring of the vi 175 - - Hermit’s Cell, Inscriptions in and near vi 170 - - Highland Boy, The Blind ii 420 - - Highland Broach, The vii 310 - - Highland Girl, To a ii 389 - - Highland Hut vii 296 - - Hint from the Mountains vi 156 - - Hints for the Fancy vi 242 - - Historian, Plea for the viii 61 - - Hoffer iv 213 - - Hogg, James, Extempore Effusion upon the death of viii 24 - - Holiday at Gwerndwffnant viii 284 - - Home at Grasmere viii 235 - - Horn of Egremont Castle, The iv 12 - - Howard, Mrs., Monument of (Wetheral), (Two Sonnets) vii 386 - - Humanity vii 222 - - Hutchinson, Sarah, To vii 162 - - Hymn for Boatmen (Heidelberg) vi 301 - - Hymn, The Labourer’s Noon-day vii 408 - - I.F., To viii 307 - - Idiot Boy, The i 283 - - Illustrated Books and Newspapers viii 184 - - Illustration (The Jung-Frau) vii 70 - - Imagination vi 67 - - Immortality, Ode, Intimations of viii 189 - - Indian Woman, Complaint of a Forsaken i 275 - - Infant Daughter, Address to my iii 14 - - Infant M---- M----, To the vii 170 - - Infant, The Cottager to her iii 74 - - Influence Abused vii 26 - - Influence of Natural Objects ii 66 - - Influences, Other vii 19 - - Inglewood Forest, Suggested by a View in vii 304 - - Inscription for a Monument in Crosthwaite Church (Southey) viii 157 - - Inscription for a Stone (Rydal Mount) vii 269 - - Inscriptions (Coleorton) iv 74 - - Inscriptions (Hermit’s Cell) vi 170 - - Installation Ode viii 320 - - Interdict, An vii 32 - - Introduction (Ecclesiastical Sonnets) vii 4 - - Introduction (Prelude) iii 132 - - Invasion, Lines on the expected ii 437 - - Inversneyde ii 389 - - Invocation to the Earth vi 95 - - Iona (Two Sonnets) vii 379 - - Iona, The Black Stones of vii 381 - - Isle of Man (Two Sonnets) vii 362 - - Isle of Man, At Bala-Sala vii 365 - - Isle of Man, At Sea off the vii 359 - - Isle of Man, By the Sea-shore vii 361 - - Isle of Man (Douglas Bay) vii 360 - - Italian Itinerant, The vi 338 - - Italy, After leaving (Two Sonnets) viii 84 - - “It is no Spirit who from heaven hath flown” ii 375 - - “I watch, and long have watched, with calm regret” vi 197 - - Jedborough, The Matron of ii 414 - - Jewish Family, A vii 195 - - Joanna, To ii 157 - - Joanna H., Lines addressed to viii 282 - - Joan of Kent, Warrant for Execution of vii 60 - - Jones, Rev. Robert vi 257 - - Journey Renewed vi 257 - - June, 1820 vi 214 - - Jung-Frau, The, and the Fall of the Rhine vii 70 - - Kendal, Upon hearing of the death of the Vicar of vi 40 - - Kendal and Windermere Railway, On the projected viii 166 - - Kent, To the Men of (October, 1803) ii 434 - - Kilchurn Castle, Address to ii 400 - - Killicranky, In the Pass of ii 435 - - King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, Inside of (Three Sonnets) vii 106 - - Kirkstone, The Pass of vi 158 - - Kirtle, The Braes of ii 124 - - Kitten and Falling Leaves, The iii 16 - - Laborer’s Noon-day Hymn, The vii 408 - - Lady, To a, upon Drawings she had made of Flowers in - Madeira viii 177 - - Lady E. B., and the Hon. Miss P., To the vii 128 - - Lamb, Charles, Written after the death of viii 17 - - Lancaster Castle, Suggested by the view of viii 103 - - Langdale, Epitaph in the Chapel-yard of viii 120 - - Laodamia vi 1 - - Last of the Flock, The i 279 - - Last Supper, by Leonardo da Vinci, The vi 343 - - Latimer and Ridley vii 61 - - Latitudinarianism vii 76 - - Laud vii 71 - - Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper vi 343 - - Lesbia viii 32 - - Liberty (Gold and Silver Fishes) vii 216 - - Liberty (Tyrolese Sonnets) iv 214 - - Liberty, Obligations of Civil to Religious vii 81 - - Liege, Between Namur and vi 293 - - Lines, composed a few miles above Tintern Abbey ii 51 - - Lines composed on the expected death of Mr. Fox iv 47 - - Lines, Farewell vii 155 - - Lines left upon a Seat in a Yew-tree i 108 - - Lines on the expected Invasion, 1803 ii 437 - - Lines suggested by a Portrait from the Pencil of F. Stone - (Two Poems) viii 1 - - Lines written as a School Exercise at Hawkshead viii 211 - - Lines written in Early Spring i 268 - - Lines written in the Album of the Countess of Lonsdale viii 8 - - Lines written upon a Stone, upon one of the Islands at Rydal ii 63 - - Lines written upon hearing of the death of the late Vicar - of Kendal vi 40 - - Lines written while sailing in a Boat at Evening i 32 - - Liturgy, The vii 88 - - Loch Etive, Composed in the Glen of vii 291 - - Lombardy, In viii 83 - - London, Written in (1802), (Two Sonnets) ii 344 - - Longest Day, The vi 153 - - Long Meg and her Daughters vii 390 - - Lonsdale, The Countess of (Album) viii 8 - - Lonsdale, To the Earl of v 20 - - Lonsdale, To the Earl of vii 392 - - Louisa ii 362 - - Love, The Birth of viii 215 - - Love lies bleeding (Two Poems) viii 148 - - Loving and Liking vii 320 - - Lowther vii 391 - - Lowther, To the Lady Mary vi 211 - - Lucca Giordano viii 183 - - Lucy Gray; or, Solitude ii 99 - - Lucy (Three Poems) ii 78 - - Lucy (Three years she grew) ii 81 - - Lycoris, Ode to (Two Poems) vi 145 - - M. H., To ii 167 - - Madeira, Flowers in the Island of viii 177 - - Malham Cove vi 184 - - Manse, On the sight of a (Scotland) vii 286 - - March, Written in ii 293 - - Margaret ----, The Affliction of iii 7 - - Mariner, By a Retired vii 364 - - “Mark the concentred hazels that enclose” vi 71 - - Marriage Ceremony vii 94 - - Marriage of a Friend, Composed on the Eve of the iv 276 - - Marshall, To Cordelia vii 400 - - Mary Queen of Scots, Captivity of vi 191 - - Mary Queen of Scots, Lament of vi 162 - - Mary Queen of Scots (Workington) vii 349 - - Maternal Grief iv 248 - - Matron of Jedborough, The ii 414 - - Matthew ii 87 - - May Morning, Composed on (1838) viii 97 - - May Morning, Ode composed on vii 146 - - May, To vii 148 - - Meditation vii 401 - - Memory vii 117 - - “Men of the Western World!” viii 112 - - Mental Affliction viii 36 - - Merry England vii 343 - - Michael ii 215 - - Michael Angelo, From the Italian of (Three Sonnets) iii 380 - - Michael Angelo, Translation from viii 265 - - “Milton! thou should’st be living at this hour” ii 346 - - Missions and Travels vii 23 - - Monasteries, Dissolution of the (Three Sonnets) vii 52 - - Monasteries, Saxon vii 22 - - Monastery, Cistertian vii 37 - - Monastery of Old Bangor vii 13 - - Monastic Power, Abuse of vii 50 - - Monastic Voluptuousness vii 51 - - Monkhouse, Mary vii 170 - - Monks and Schoolmen vii 39 - - Monument of Mrs. Howard (Two Sonnets) vii 386 - - Monument (Long Meg and her Daughters) vii 390 - - Moon, The (The Shepherd, looking eastward) vi 68 - - Moon, The (With how sad steps, O Moon) iv 38 - - Moon (The Crescent-moon, the Star of Love) viii 127 - - Moon, The (Sea-side) viii 13 - - Moon, The (Rydal) viii 15 - - Moon, The (Who but is pleased to watch) viii 184 - - Moon, The (How beautiful the Queen of Night) viii 188 - - Moon, The (Once I could hail) vii 152 - - Morning Exercise, A vii 178 - - Mosgiel Farm (Burns) vii 383 - - Mother, The Mad i 258 - - Mother’s Return, The iv 63 - - Mountains, Hint from the vi 156 - - Mull, In the Sound of vii 293 - - Music, Power of iv 20 - - Mutability vii 100 - - Naming of Places, Poems on the ii 153 - - Namur and Liege, Between vi 293 - - Natural Objects, Influence of ii 66 - - “Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove” viii 65 - - Needlecase in the form of a Harp, On seeing a vii 157 - - Negro Woman ii 342 - - Newspaper, Composed after reading a vii 290 - - Nightingale, The vi 214 - - Nightingale, The Cuckoo and the ii 250 - - Night Piece, A i 227 - - Night-thought, A viii 88 - - Nith, On the Banks of ii 383 - - Norman Boy, The viii 132 - - Norman Conquest, The vii 28 - - North Wales, Composed among the Ruins of a Castle in vii 131 - - Nortons, The Fate of the iv 100 - - November, 1806 iv 49 - - November, 1813 iv 282 - - November 1 (1815) vi 63 - - Nunnery vii 388 - - Nun’s Well, Brigham vii 347 - - Nutting ii 70 - - Oak and the Broom, The ii 174 - - Oak of Guernica iv 245 - - Octogenarian, To an viii 185 - - Ode, Installation viii 320 - - Ode, Vernal vi 138 - - Ode (Who rises on the Banks of Seine) vi 104 - - Ode (1814) (When the soft hand) vi 96 - - Ode (1815) (Imagination--ne’er before content) vi 88 - - Ode, The Morning of the Day of Thanksgiving vi 74 - - Ode to Duty iii 37 - - Ode to Lycoris (Two Poems) vi 145 - - Ode composed on May Morning vii 146 - - Ode, Intimations of Immortality viii 189 - - Oker Hill in Darley Dale, A Tradition of vii 230 - - “O Nightingale! thou surely art” iv 67 - - “On Nature’s invitation do I come” ii 118 - - Open Prospect vi 243 - - Ossian, Written in a blank leaf of Macpherson’s vii 373 - - Our Lady of the Snow vi 318 - - Oxford, May 30, 1820 (Two Sonnets) vi 213 - - Painter, To a (Two Sonnets) viii 114 - - Palafox iv 222 - - Palafox iv 228 - - Palafox iv 240 - - Papal Abuses vii 33 - - Papal Dominion vii 34 - - Papal Power vii 36 - - Papal Unity vii 42 - - Parrot and the Wren, The vii 141 - - Parsonage in Oxfordshire, A vi 217 - - Pastoral Character vii 87 - - Patriotic Sympathies vii 74 - - Paulinus vii 15 - - Peele Castle, Suggested by a Picture of iii 54 - - Pelion and Ossa ii 238 - - Pennsylvanians, To the viii 179 - - Persecution vii 8 - - Personal Talk iv 30 - - Persuasion vii 16 - - Peter Bell ii 1 - - Peter Bell, On the detraction which followed vi 212 - - Pet-Lamb, The ii 142 - - Philoctetes vii 167 - - Picture, Upon the sight of a beautiful iv 271 - - Piety, Decay of vii 163 - - Piety, Filial vii 231 - - Pilgrim Fathers (Two Sonnets) vii 84 - - Pilgrim’s Dream, The vi 167 - - Pillar of Trajan, The vii 137 - - Places of Worship vii 87 - - Plea for Authors, A viii 99 - - Plea for the Historian viii 61 - - Poet and the Caged Turtledove, The vii 265 - - Poet’s Dream, The viii 135 - - Poet’s Epitaph, A ii 75 - - Poet to his Grandchild, A viii 305 - - Point at issue, The vii 58 - - Point Rash Judgment ii 163 - - Poor Robin viii 116 - - Poor Susan, The Reverie of i 226 - - Popery, Revival of vii 61 - - Portrait, Lines suggested by a (Two Poems) viii 1 - - Portrait of I.F., On a viii 306 - - Portrait of the Duke of Wellington, On a viii 118 - - Portrait, To the Author’s vii 318 - - Postscript (John Dyer) vi 264 - - Power of Music iv 20 - - Power of Sound, On the vii 203 - - Prayer at Sea, Forms of vii 97 - - Prayer, The Force of iv 204 - - Prelude, Prefixed to “Poems of Early and Late Years” viii 123 - - Prelude, The iii 121 - - Presentiments vii 266 - - Primrose of the Rock, The vii 274 - - Prioress’ Tale, The ii 240 - - Processions (Chamouny) vi 363 - - Prophecy, A. February, 1807 iv 59 - - Punishment of Death, Sonnets upon the viii 103 - - Queen, To the viii 319 - - Quillinan, To Rothay vii 171 - - Railway, On the projected Kendal and Windermere viii 166 - - Railways, etc. vii 389 - - Rainbow, The ii 291 - - Ranz des Vaches, On hearing the vi 326 - - Recovery vii 9 - - Redbreast chasing the Butterfly, The ii 295 - - Redbreast, The vii 410 - - Redbreast, To a viii 38 - - Reflections vii 57 - - Reformation, General view of the Troubles of the vii 64 - - Reformers, Eminent (Two Sonnets) vii 66 - - Reformers in Exile, English vii 64 - - Regrets vii 99 - - Regrets, Imaginative vii 56 - - Repentance iii 11 - - Reproof vii 21 - - Resolution and Independence ii 312 - - Rest and be thankful vii 295 - - Resting-place, The (Two Sonnets) vi 254 - - Retirement vii 165 - - Return vi 248 - - Return, The Mother’s iv 63 - - Reverie of Poor Susan i 226 - - Rhine, Author’s Voyage down the viii 273 - - Rhine, Upon the Banks of the vi 299 - - Richard I vii 31 - - Richmond Hill (Thomson) vi 214 - - Ridley, Latimer and vii 61 - - Robinson, To Henry Crabb (Tour in Italy, 1837) viii 41 - - Rob Roy’s Grave ii 403 - - Rock, Inscribed upon a vi 173 - - Rocks, Two heath-clad viii 170 - - Rocky Stream, Composed on the Banks of a vi 208 - - Rocky Stream, On the Banks of a viii 188 - - Rogers, Samuel, To vii 280 - - Roman Antiquities viii 33 - - Roman Antiquities (Old Penrith) vii 308 - - Roman Refinements, Temptations from vii 10 - - Romance of the Water Lily vii 252 - - Rome (Two Sonnets) viii 62 - - Rome, At (Three Sonnets) viii 59 - - Rome, The Pine of Monte Mario at viii 58 - - Roslin Chapel, Composed in vii 287 - - Rotha Q----, To vii 171 - - Ruins of a Castle in North Wales vii 131 - - Rural Architecture ii 206 - - Rural Ceremony vii 98 - - Rural Illusions vii 319 - - Russian Fugitive, The vii 239 - - Ruth ii 104 - - Rydal, At, on May Morning (1838) viii 94 - - Rydal Chapel vii 109 - - Rydal, Written upon a Stone at ii 63 - - Rydal, In the woods of vii 176 - - Rydal Mere, By the side of vii 403 - - Rydal Mount, Inscription for a Stone in the Grounds of vii 269 - - S. H., To vii 162 - - Sacheverel vii 82 - - Sacrament vii 93 - - Sailor’s Mother, The ii 270 - - Saint Bees’ Head, In a Steam-boat off vii 351 - - Saint Catherine of Ledbury viii 34 - - Saint Gothard (Ranz des Vaches on the Pass of) vi 326 - - Saint Herbert’s Island, Derwent-water (Hermitage) ii 210 - - Saints vii 54 - - Salinero, Ambrosio iv 233 - - Salisbury Plain, Incidents upon i 77 - - San Salvador, The Church of vi 332 - - Saxon Clergy, Primitive vii 19 - - Saxon Conquest vii 12 - - Saxon Monasteries vii 22 - - Saxons vii 29 - - “Say, what is Honour?--’Tis the finest sense” iv 225 - - Schill iv 226 - - Scholars of the Village School of ----, Address to the ii 84 - - School, Composed in anticipation of leaving i 1 - - School Exercise at Hawkshead, Written As a viii 211 - - Schwytz vi 324 - - Scottish Covenanters, Persecution of the vii 79 - - Scott, Sir Walter, Departure of vii 284 - - Sea-shore, Composed by the vii 340 - - Sea-side, Composed by the ii 330 - - Sea-side, By the vii 338 - - Seasons, Thoughts on the vii 229 - - Seathwaite Chapel vi 249 - - Seclusion (Two Sonnets) vii 20 - - Sellon, To Miss viii 325 - - September 1, 1802 ii 342 - - September, 1815 vi 64 - - September, 1819 vi 201 - - Seven Sisters, The ii 204 - - Sexton, To a ii 95 - - Sheep-washing vi 253 - - Shepherd-Boys, The Idle ii 138 - - “She was a Phantom of delight” iii 1 - - Simon Lee i 262 - - Simplon Pass, Column lying in the vi 356 - - Simplon Pass, Stanza’s composed in the vi 357 - - Simplon Pass, The ii 69 - - Sister, To my i 270 - - Skiddaw ii 238 - - Sky-lark, To a iii 42 - - Sky-lark, To a vii 143 - - Sky-prospect--From the Plain of France vi 377 - - Sleep, To (Three Sonnets) iv 42 - - Snow-drop, To a vi 191 - - Sobieski, John vi 110 - - Solitary Reaper, The ii 397 - - Solitude (The Duddon) vi 245 - - Somnambulist, The vii 393 - - Song at the Feast of Brougham Castle iv 82 - - Song for the Spinning Wheel iv 275 - - Song for the Wandering Jew ii 182 - - Sonnet, The vii 163 - - Sonnet, June, 1820 (Fame tells of groves) vi 214 - - Sonnet, September 1, 1802 (We had a female Passenger) ii 342 - - Sonnet, September, 1802 (Inland, within a hollow vale) ii 343 - - Sonnet, September, 1815 (While not a leaf seems faded) vi 64 - - Sonnet, October, 1803 (One might believe) ii 430 - - Sonnet, October, 1803 (These times strike monied worldlings) ii 432 - - Sonnet, October, 1803 (When, looking on the present face - of things) ii 433 - - Sonnet, November, 1806 (Another year!) iv 49 - - Sonnet, November, 1813 (Now that all hearts are glad) iv 282 - - Sonnet, November 1, 1815 (How clear, how keen) vi 63 - - Sonnet, November, 1836 (Even so for me a Vision) viii 37 - - Sound of Mull, In the vii 293 - - Sound, The Power of vii 203 - - Southey, Edith May vii 157 - - Southey, (Inscription for monument) viii 157 - - Spade of a Friend, To the iv 2 - - Spaniards (Three Sonnets) iv 246 - - Spanish Guerillas, The French and the iv 248 - - Spanish Guerillas iv 253 - - Sparrow’s Nest, The ii 236 - - Spinning Wheel, Song for the iv 275 - - Sponsors vii 90 - - Spring, Lines written in Early i 268 - - Staffa, Cave of (Four Sonnets) vii 376 - - Star and the Glow-worm, The vi 167 - - Star-gazers iv 22 - - Staubbach, On approaching the vi 306 - - Steamboats, Viaducts, and Railways vii 389 - - Stepping-stones, The (Two Sonnets) vi 239 - - Stepping Westward ii 396 - - Stone, F., Lines suggested by a Portrait from the Pencil - of (Two Poems) viii 1 - - Storm, Composed during a vi 187 - - Stray Pleasures iv 18 - - Stream, Composed on the Banks of a Rocky vi 208 - - Stream, On the Banks of a Rocky viii 188 - - Stream, Tributary vi 250 - - Streams (The Duddon) vi 255 - - Streams, The unremitting voice of nightly viii 187 - - Swan, The vi 198 - - Sweden, The King of ii 338 - - Sweden, The King of iv 227 - - Switzerland, Subjugation of iv 60 - - Tables Turned, The i 274 - - Tell, Effusion in presence of the Tower of vi 321 - - Temptations from Roman Refinements vii 10 - - Thanksgiving after Childbirth vii 95 - - Thanksgiving Ode vi 74 - - “The leaves that rustled on this oak-crowned hill” vii 406 - - “There is a bondage worse, far worse, to bear” ii 431 - - “There is a little unpretending Rill” iv 53 - - There was a Boy ii 57 - - “The Stars are mansions built by Nature’s hand” vi 210 - - “This Lawn, a carpet all alive” vii 228 - - Thomson’s “Castle of Indolence,” Stanzas written in ii 305 - - Thorn, The i 239 - - Thrasymene, Near the Lake of (Two Sonnets) viii 66 - - Thrush, The (Two Sonnets) viii 93 - - Thun, Memorial near the Lake of vi 310 - - Tillbrook, Rev. Samuel vi 65 - - Tilsbury Vale, The Farmer of ii 147 - - Tintern Abbey, Lines, composed a few miles above ii 51 - - To ---- in her seventieth year vii 172 - - To ---- Upon the birth of her First-born Child vii 328 - - To ---- (Mrs. Wordsworth), (Two Poems) vii 121 - - To ---- (Look at the fate of summer flowers) vii 124 - - To ---- (Miscellaneous Sonnets--Dedication) vii 159 - - To ---- (Miscellaneous Sonnets--Conclusion) vii 177 - - To ---- (Wait, prithee, wait!) viii 32 - - To ---- on her First Ascent of Helvellyn vi 135 - - To ---- (The Haunted Tree) vi 199 - - Torrent at Devil’s Bridge vii 129 - - Tour among the Alps (1791-2), (Descriptive Sketches) i 35 - - Tour among the Alps (1791-2), (Descriptive Sketches) i 309 - - Tour in Italy (1837), Memorials of a viii 39 - - Tour in Scotland (1803), Memorials of a ii 377 - - Tour in Scotland (1814), Memorials of a vi 15 - - Tour in Scotland (1831) vii 278 - - Tour in the Summer of 1833 vii 341 - - Tour on the Continent (1820), Memorials of a vi 285 - - Toussaint L’Ouverture, To ii 339 - - Tradition vi 253 - - Tradition, American vi 246 - - Tradition, Fancy and vii 306 - - Tradition of Oker Hill vii 230 - - Trajan, The Pillar of vii 137 - - Translation of the Bible vii 58 - - Transubstantiation vii 44 - - Triad, The vii 181 - - Tributary Stream vi 250 - - Troilus and Cresida ii 264 - - Trosachs, The vii 288 - - Turtledove, The Poet and the Caged vii 265 - - Twilight vi 67 - - Two April Mornings, The ii 89 - - Two Thieves, The ii 60 - - Tyndrum, Suggested at vii 294 - - Tynwald Hill vii 366 - - Tyrolese, Feelings of the iv 215 - - Tyrolese, On the final submission of the iv 217 - - Tyrolese Sonnets iv 213 - - Ulpha, Kirk of vi 260 - - Uncertainty vii 7 - - Utilitarians, To the viii 299 - - Valedictory Sonnet (Miscellaneous Sonnets) viii 102 - - Vallombrosa, At viii 75 - - Vaudois, The (Two Sonnets) vii 44 - - Vaudracour and Julia iii 24 - - Venetian Republic, On the Extinction of ii 336 - - Venice, Scene in vii 34 - - Venus, To the Planet (January 1838) viii 92 - - Venus, To the Planet (Loch Lomond) vii 299 - - Vernal Ode vi 138 - - Vienna, Siege of, raised by John Sobieski vi 110 - - Virgin, The vii 54 - - Visitation of the Sick vii 96 - - Waggoner, The iii 76 - - Waldenses vii 46 - - Wallace’s Tower vi 26 - - Walton, Isaac vi 190 - - Walton’s Book of Lives vii 77 - - Wandering Jew, Song for the ii 182 - - Wansfell viii 153 - - Warning, The vii 330 - - Wars of York and Lancaster vii 48 - - Waterfall and the Eglantine, The ii 170 - - Water-fowl iv 277 - - Waterloo, After visiting the Field of vi 292 - - Waterloo, Occasioned by the Battle of (Three Sonnets) vi 111 - - We are Seven i 228 - - Wellington, On a Portrait of the Duke of viii 118 - - Westall, Mr. W., Views of the Caves, etc., in Yorkshire, by - (Three Poems) vi 183 - - Westminster Bridge, Composed upon ii 328 - - Westmoreland Girl, The viii 172 - - “Whence that low voice?--A whisper from the heart” vi 252 - - “Where lies the truth? has Man, in wisdom’s creed” viii 182 - - “While Anna’s peers and early playmates tread” vii 169 - - Whirl-blast, The i 238 - - Whistlers, The Seven iv 68 - - White Doe of Rylstone iv 100 - - “Who fancied what a pretty sight?” ii 374 - - “Why, Minstrel, these untuneful murmurings” vii 161 - - Wicliffe vii 49 - - Widow on Windermere Side, The viii 89 - - Wild Duck’s Nest, The vi 189 - - Wild-Fowl viii 234 - - William the Third vii 80 - - Winter (French Army), (Two Poems) vi 107 - - Wishing-gate, The vii 189 - - Wishing-gate Destroyed, The vii 192 - - Worcester Cathedral, A Grave-Stone in vii 201 - - Wordsworth, Catherine vi 72 - - Wordsworth, Dora vi 132 - - Wordsworth, John, Elegiac Verses in memory of iii 58 - - Wordsworth, John (Fir Grove) iii 66 - - Wordsworth, To the Rev. Christopher viii 162 - - Wordsworth, To the Rev. Dr. (Duddon) vi 227 - - Wordsworth, Thomas viii 39 - - Wren’s Nest, A vii 325 - - Yarrow Unvisited ii 411 - - Yarrow Visited vi 35 - - Yarrow Revisited vii 278 - - Yew-trees ii 369 - - Yew-tree Seat i 108 - - York and Lancaster, Wars of vii 48 - - Young England viii 180 - - Young Lady, To a ii 365 - - Youth, Written in very early i 3 - - Zaragoza iv 224 - - - - -INDEX TO FIRST LINES - - - VOL. PAGE - - A barking sound the Shepherd hears, iii 44 - - A Book came forth of late, called PETER BELL; vi 212 - - A bright-haired company of youthful slaves, vii 14 - - Abruptly paused the strife;--the field throughout vi 216 - - A dark plume fetch me from yon blasted yew, vi 248 - - Adieu, Rydalian Laurels! that have grown vii 342 - - Advance--come forth from thy Tyrolean ground, iv 214 - - Aerial Rock--whose solitary brow vi 188 - - A famous man is Robin Hood, ii 403 - - Affections lose their object; Time brings forth, viii 185 - - A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by, iv 43 - - A genial hearth, a hospitable board, vii 87 - - A German Haggis from receipt viii 272 - - Age! twine thy brows with fresh spring flowers, ii 414 - - Ah! if I were a lady gay viii 262 - - Ah, think how one compelled for life to abide, viii 110 - - A humming Bee--a little tinkling rill-- v 106 - - Ah, when the Body, round which in love we clung, vii 19 - - Ah! where is Palafox? Nor tongue nor pen iv 240 - - Ah why deceive ourselves! by no mere fit, viii 86 - - Aid, glorious Martyrs, from your fields of light, vii 64 - - Alas! what boots the long laborious quest iv 216 - - “_A little onward lend thy guiding hand_” vi 133 - - All praise the Likeness by thy skill portrayed, viii 114 - - Along the mazes of this song I go, viii 233 - - A love-lorn Maid, at some far-distant time, vi 253 - - Ambition--following down this far-famed slope vi 356 - - Amid a fertile region green with wood vii 301 - - Amid the smoke of cities did you pass ii 157 - - Amid this dance of objects sadness steals vi 299 - - Among a grave fraternity of Monks, viii 6 - - Among all lovely things my Love had been, viii 232 - - Among the dwellers in the silent fields, viii 310 - - Among the dwellings framed by birds vii 325 - - Among the mountains were we nursed, loved Stream! vi 193 - - Among the mountains were we nursed, loved Stream! vii 345 - - A month, sweet Little-ones, is past iv 63 - - An age hath been when Earth was proud vi 146 - - A narrow girdle of rough stones and crags, ii 164 - - And has the Sun his flaming chariot driven, viii 211 - - And is it among rude untutored Dales, iv 222 - - And is this--Yarrow?--_This_ the Stream vi 36 - - And, not in vain embodied to the sight, vii 40 - - “And shall,” the Pontiff asks, “profaneness flow” vii 30 - - And what is Penance with her knotted thong; vii 50 - - And what melodious sounds at times prevail! vii 40 - - An Orpheus! an Orpheus! yes, Faith may grow bold, iv 20 - - Another year!--another deadly blow! iv 49 - - A pen--to register; a key-- vii 117 - - A Pilgrim, when the summer day vi 167 - - A plague on your languages, German and Norse! ii 73 - - A pleasant music floats along the Mere, vii 27 - - _A Poet!_--He hath put his heart to school, viii 128 - - A point of life between my Parents’ dust, vii 346 - - Arms and the Man I sing, the first who bore viii 281 - - Army of Clouds! ye wingèd Host in troops, viii 142 - - A Rock there is whose homely front vii 274 - - A Roman Master stands on Grecian ground, iv 242 - - Around a wild and woody hill vi 310 - - Arran! a single-crested Teneriffe, vii 370 - - Art thou a Statist in the van ii 75 - - Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, ii 295 - - As faith thus sanctified the warrior’s crest vii 42 - - A simple Child, i 231 - - As indignation mastered grief, my tongue, viii 85 - - As leaves are to the tree whereon they grow, viii 87 - - A slumber did my spirit seal; ii 83 - - As often as I murmur here vii 265 - - As star that shines dependent upon star vii 87 - - “As the cold aspect of a sunless way” vi 191 - - A Stream, to mingle with your favourite Dee, vii 129 - - A sudden conflict rises from the swell vii 82 - - As, when a storm hath ceased, the birds regain vii 9 - - As with the Stream our voyage we pursue, vii 33 - - At early dawn, or rather when the air vi 185 - - A Traveller on the skirt of Sarum’s Plain i 79 - - A trouble, not of clouds, or weeping rain, vii 284 - - At the corner of Wood Street, when daylight appears, i 226 - - A twofold harmony is here viii 282 - - Avaunt all specious pliancy of mind iv 247 - - Avaunt this œconomic rage! viii 299 - - A voice, from long-expecting thousands sent vii 79 - - A volant Tribe of Bards on earth are found, vii 119 - - Avon--a precious, an immortal name! vii 303 - - A weight of awe, not easy to be borne, vii 390 - - A whirl-blast from behind the hill i 238 - - A wingèd Goddess--clothed in vesture wrought vi 292 - - A Youth too certain of his power to wade vii 362 - - Bard of the Fleece, whose skilful genius made iv 273 - - Beaumont! it was thy wish that I should rear iii 23 - - Before I see another day, i 276 - - Before the world had past her time of youth, viii 107 - - “Begone, thou fond presumptuous Elf,” ii 170 - - Beguiled into forgetfulness of care, viii 2 - - Behold an emblem of our human mind, viii 188 - - Behold a pupil of the monkish gown, vii 24 - - Behold her, single in the field, ii 397 - - Behold, within the leafy shade, ii 237 - - “Beloved Vale!” I said, “when I shall con” iv 35 - - Beneath the concave of an April sky, vi 138 - - Beneath these fruit-tree boughs that shed ii 367 - - Beneath yon eastern ridge, the craggy bound, iv 80 - - Be this the chosen site; the virgin sod, vii 103 - - Between two sister moorland rills ii 96 - - Bishops and Priests, blessed are ye, if deep vii 86 - - Black Demons hovering o’er his mitred head, vii 34 - - Bleak season was it, turbulent and bleak, ii 121 - - Blest is this Isle--our native Land; vii 109 - - Blest Statesman He, whose Mind’s unselfish will, viii 101 - - Bold words affirmed, in days when faith was strong vii 359 - - Brave Schill! by death delivered, take thy flight iv 226 - - Bright Flower! whose home is everywhere, ii 360 - - Bright was the summer’s noon when quickening steps iii 186 - - Broken in fortune, but in mind entire vii 365 - - Brook and road ii 69 - - Brook, that hast been my solace days and weeks, viii 265 - - Brook! whose society the Poet seeks, iv 52 - - Brugès I saw attired with golden light vi 288 - - But Cytherea, studious to invent, viii 277 - - But here no cannon thunders to the gale; vi 262 - - But liberty, and triumphs on the Main, vii 102 - - But, to outweigh all harm, the sacred Book, vii 58 - - But, to remote Northumbria’s royal Hall, vii 15 - - But what if One, through grove or flowery mead, vii 21 - - But whence came they who for the Saviour Lord vii 44 - - By a blest Husband guided, Mary came, viii 35 - - By antique Fancy trimmed--though lowly, bred vi 324 - - By Art’s bold privilege Warrior and War-Horse stand, viii 118 - - By chain yet stronger must the Soul be tied: vii 93 - - By playful smiles, (alas, too oft, viii 120 - - By such examples moved to unbought pains, vii 22 - - By their floating mill, iv 18 - - By vain affections unenthralled, vii 135 - - Call not the royal Swede unfortunate, iv 227 - - Calm as an under-current, strong to draw, vii 80 - - Calm is all nature as a resting wheel i 4 - - Calm is the fragrant air, and loth to lose vii 317 - - Calvert! it must not be unheard by them iv 44 - - “Change me, some God, into that breathing rose!” vi 237 - - Chatsworth! thy stately mansion, and the pride vii 273 - - Child of loud-throated War! the mountain Stream ii 401 - - Child of the clouds! remote from every taint vi 231 - - Clarkson! it was an obstinate hill to climb: iv 62 - - Closing the sacred Book which long has fed vii 98 - - Clouds, lingering yet, extend in solid bars iv 73 - - Coldly we spake. The Saxons, overpowered vii 29 - - Come, gentle Sleep, Death’s image tho’ thou art, viii 264 - - Come ye--who, if (which Heaven avert!) the Land ii 437 - - Companion! by whose buoyant Spirit cheered, viii 41 - - Complacent Fictions were they, yet the same, viii 61 - - Confiding hopes of youthful hearts, viii 297 - - Critics, right honourable Bard, decree viii 272 - - Dark and more dark the shades of evening fell; ii 349 - - Darkness surrounds us: seeking, we are lost vii 7 - - Days passed--and Monte Calvo would not clear, viii 64 - - Days undefiled by luxury or sloth, viii 179 - - Dear be the Church, that, watching o’er the needs vii 89 - - Dear Child of Nature, let them rail! ii 366 - - Dear Fellow-travellers! think not that the Muse, vi 285 - - Dear native regions, I foretell, i 2 - - Dear Reliques! from a pit of vilest mould vi 114 - - Dear to the Loves, and to the Graces vowed, vii 350 - - Deep is the lamentation! Not alone vii 56 - - Degenerate Douglas! oh, the unworthy Lord! ii 410 - - Deign, Sovereign Mistress, to accept a lay, viii 319 - - Departed Child! I could forget thee once iv 249 - - Departing summer hath assumed vi 202 - - Deplorable his lot who tills the ground, vii 38 - - Desire we past illusions to recal? vvii 360 - - Desponding Father! mark this altered bough viii 31 - - Despond who will--_I_ heard a voice exclaim, vii 368 - - Destined to war from very infancy iv 234 - - Did pangs of grief for lenient time too keen, vii 363 - - Discourse was deemed Man’s noblest attribute, viii 184 - - Dishonoured Rock and Ruin! that, by law, vii 292 - - Dogmatic Teachers, of the snow-white fur! vi 208 - - Doomed as we are our native dust vi 312 - - Doubling and doubling with laborious walk, vii 295 - - Down a swift Stream, thus far, a bold design vii 83 - - Dread hour! when, upheaved by war’s sulphurous blast, vi 329 - - Driven in by Autumn’s sharpening air vii 410 - - Earth has not any thing to show more fair: ii 328 - - Eden! till now thy beauty had I viewed vii 385 - - Emperors and Kings, how oft have temples rung vi 113 - - England! the time is come when thou should’st wean ii 433 - - Enlightened Teacher, gladly from thy hand viii 162 - - Enough! for see, with dim association vii 44 - - Enough of climbing toil!--Ambition treads vi 149 - - Enough of garlands, of the Arcadian crook, vii 294 - - Enough of rose-bud lips, and eyes vii 239 - - Ere the Brothers through the gateway iv 12 - - Erewhile to celebrate this glorious morn vi 195 - - Ere with cold beads of midnight dew vii 145 - - Ere yet our course was graced with social trees vi 235 - - Eternal Lord! eased of a cumbrous load, viii 81 - - Ethereal minstrel! pilgrim of the sky! vii 143 - - Even as a dragon’s eye that feels the stress vi 69 - - Even as a river,--partly (it might seem) iii 293 - - Even so for me a Vision sanctified viii 37 - - Even such the contrast that, where’er we move, vii 71 - - Even while I speak, the sacred roofs of France vii 101 - - Excuse is needless when with love sincere vii 162 - - Failing impartial measure to dispense viii 99 - - Fair Ellen Irwin, when she sate ii 124 - - Fair is the Swan, whose majesty, prevailing vi 116 - - Fair Lady! can I sing of flowers viii 177 - - Fair Land! Thee all men greet with joy; bow few, viii 84 - - Fair Prime of life! were it enough to gild vii 165 - - Fair Star of evening, Splendour of the west, ii 330 - - Fallen, and diffused into a shapeless heap, vi 256 - - Fame tells of groves--from England far away-- vi 214 - - Fancy, who leads the pastimes of the glad, vii 178 - - “Farewell, deep Valley, with thy one rude House,” v 196 - - Farewell, thou little Nook of mountain-ground, ii 324 - - Far from my dearest Friend, ’tis mine to rove i 6 - - Far from our home by Grasmere’s quiet Lake, iv 259 - - Father! to God himself we cannot give vii 90 - - Fear hath a hundred eyes that all agree vii 69 - - Feel for the wrongs to universal ken viii 129 - - Festivals have I seen that were not names: ii 334 - - Fit retribution, by the moral code viii 108 - - Five years have past; five summers, with the length ii 51 - - Flattered with promise of escape vii 229 - - Fly, some kind Harbinger, to Grasmere-dale! ii 419 - - Fond words have oft been spoken to thee, Sleep! iv 43 - - For action born, existing to be tried, viii 67 - - Forbear to deem the Chronicler unwise, viii 61 - - For ever hallowed be this morning fair, vii 15 - - For gentlest uses, oft-times Nature takes vi 316 - - Forgive, illustrious Country! these deep sighs, viii 65 - - Forth from a jutting ridge, around whose base viii 170 - - For thirst of power that Heaven disowns, viii 320 - - Forth rushed from Envy sprung and Self-conceit, viii 304 - - For what contend the wise?--for nothing less vii 58 - - Four fiery steeds impatient of the rein viii 32 - - From Bolton’s old monastic tower iv 106 - - From early youth I ploughed the restless Main, vii 364 - - From false assumption rose, and fondly hail’d vii 36 - - From Little down to Least, in due degree, vii 91 - - From low to high doth dissolution climb, vii 100 - - From Nature doth emotion come, and moods iii 355 - - From Rite and Ordinance abused they fled vii 85 - - From Stirling castle we had seen ii 411 - - From that time forth, Authority in France iii 330 - - From the Baptismal hour, thro’ weal and woe, vii 97 - - From the dark chambers of dejection freed, vi 34 - - From the fierce aspect of this River, throwing vi 308 - - From the Pier’s head, musing, and with increase vi 381 - - From this deep chasm, where quivering sunbeams play vi 245 - - Frowns are on every Muse’s face, vii 157 - - Furl we the sails, and pass with tardy oars vii 41 - - Genius of Raphael! if thy wings vii 195 - - Giordano, verily thy Pencil’s skill viii 183 - - Glad sight wherever new with old viii 154 - - Glide gently, thus for ever glide, i 33 - - Glory to God! and to the Power who came vii 107 - - Go back to antique ages, if thine eyes vii 174 - - Go, faithful Portrait! and where long hath knelt vii 318 - - Grant, that by this unsparing hurricane vii 57 - - Grateful is Sleep, my life, in stone bound fast, viii 264 - - Great men have been among us; hands that penned ii 346 - - Greta, what fearful listening! when huge stones vii 344 - - Grief, thou hast lost an ever-ready friend vi 196 - - Grieve for the Man who hither came bereft, viii 72 - - Had this effulgence disappeared vi 177 - - Hail, orient Conqueror of gloomy Night! vi 78 - - Hail to the crown by Freedom shaped--to gird v 235 - - Hail to the fields--with Dwellings sprinkled o’er vi 243 - - Hail, Twilight, sovereign of one peaceful hour! vi 67 - - Hail, Virgin Queen! o’er many an envious bar vii 65 - - Hail, Zaragoza! If with unwet eye iv 224 - - Happy the feeling from the bosom thrown vii 159 - - Hard task! exclaim the undisciplined, to lean viii 86 - - Hark! ’tis the Thrush, undaunted, undeprest, viii 93 - - Harmonious Powers with Nature work viii 125 - - Harp! could’st thou venture, on thy boldest string vii 72 - - Hast thou seen, with flash incessant, vi 174 - - Hast thou then survived-- iii 14 - - Haydon! let worthier judges praise the skill vii 277 - - Here closed the Tenant of that lonely vale v 145 - - _Here Man more purely lives, less oft doth fall_, vii 37 - - Here, on our native soil, we breathe once more ii 341 - - Here on their knees men swore; the stones were black, vii 381 - - Here pause: the poet claims at least this praise, iv 255 - - Here stood an Oak, that long had borne affixed vii 305 - - Here, where, of havoc tired and rash undoing, viii 168 - - Her eyes are wild, her head is bare, i 258 - - Her only pilot the soft breeze, the boat vii 160 - - “High bliss is only for a higher state,” vii 156 - - High deeds, O Germans, are to come from you! iv 59 - - High in the breathless Hall the Minstrel sate, iv 83 - - High is our calling, Friend!--Creative Art vi 61 - - High on a broad unfertile tract of forest-skirted Down, viii 133 - - High on her speculative tower vi 345 - - His simple truths did Andrew glean ii 174 - - Holy and heavenly Spirits as they are, vii 67 - - Homeward we turn. Isle of Columba’s Cell, vii 382 - - Hope rules a land for ever green: vii 190 - - Hope smiled when your nativity was cast, vii 378 - - Hopes, what are they?--Beads of morning vi 170 - - How art thou named? In search of what strange land, vii 129 - - How beautiful the Queen of Night, on high viii 188 - - How beautiful, when up a lofty height viii 90 - - How beautiful your presence, how benign, vii 19 - - How blest the Maid whose heart--yet free vi 351 - - How clear, how keen, how marvellously bright vi 63 - - “How disappeared he?” Ask the newt and toad; vii 297 - - How fast the Marian death-list is unrolled! vii 61 - - How profitless the relics that we cull, vii 308 - - How richly glows the water’s breast i 32 - - How rich that forehead’s calm expanse! vii 123 - - How sad a welcome! To each voyager vii 380 - - How shall I paint thee?--Be this naked stone, vi 232 - - How soon--alas! did Man, created pure-- vii 35 - - How sweet it is, when mother Fancy rocks iv 36 - - Humanity, delighting to behold vi 107 - - Hunger, and sultry heat, and nipping blast iv 248 - - I am not One who much or oft delight iv 31 - - I come, ye little noisy Crew, ii 84 - - I dropped my pen; and listened to the Wind iv 211 - - I find it written of Simonides, viii 258 - - If from the public way you turn your steps ii 215 - - If Life were slumber on a bed of down, vii 351 - - If money’s slack, viii 271 - - If Nature, for a favourite child, ii 88 - - If there be prophets on whose spirits rest vii 5 - - If these brief Records, by the Muses’ art vii 177 - - If the whole weight of what we think and feel, vii 165 - - If this great world of joy and pain vii 336 - - If thou indeed derive thy light from Heaven, vii 175 - - If thou in the dear love of some one Friend ii 210 - - If to Tradition faith be due vii 311 - - If with old love of you, dear Hills! I share viii 95 - - I grieved for Buonaparté, with a vain ii 323 - - I hate that Andrew Jones; he’ll breed viii 221 - - I have a boy of five years old; i 234 - - I heard (alas! ’twas only in a dream) vi 198 - - I heard a thousand blended notes, i 269 - - I know an aged Man constrained to dwell viii 186 - - I listen--but no faculty of mine, vi 326 - - Imagination--ne’er before content, vi 88 - - I marvel how Nature could ever find space ii 208 - - I met Louisa in the shade, ii 362 - - Immured in Bothwell’s Towers, at times the Brave vii 299 - - In Brugès town is many a street vii 198 - - In days of yore how fortunately fared v 67 - - In desultory walk through orchard grounds, viii 123 - - In distant countries have I been, i 279 - - In due observance of an ancient rite, iv 241 - - Inland, within a hollow vale, I stood; ii 343 - - Inmate of a mountain-dwelling, vi 135 - - In my mind’s eye a Temple, like a cloud vii 173 - - In one of those excursions (may they ne’er iii 367 - - Intent on gathering wool from hedge and brake viii 122 - - In these fair vales hath many a Tree vii 269 - - In the sweet shire of Cardigan, i 262 - - In this still place, remote from men, ii 393 - - In trellised shed with clustering roses gay, iv 102 - - Intrepid sons of Albion! not by you vi 111 - - In youth from rock to rock I went, ii 353 - - I rose while yet the cattle, heat-opprest, vi 257 - - I saw a Mother’s eye intensely bent vii 92 - - I saw an aged Beggar in my walk; i 300 - - I saw far off the dark top of a Pine, viii 58 - - I saw the figure of a lovely Maid vii 74 - - Is _Death_, when evil against good has fought, viii 106 - - I shiver, Spirit fierce and bold, ii 379 - - Is it a reed that’s shaken by the wind, ii 331 - - Is then no nook of English ground secure, viii 166 - - Is then the final page before me spread, vi 382 - - Is there a power that can sustain and cheer iv 228 - - Is this, ye Gods, the Capitolian Hill, viii 59 - - _I thought of Thee, my partner and my guide_, vi 263 - - It is a beauteous evening, calm and free, ii 335 - - It is no Spirit who from heaven hath flown, ii 376 - - It is not to be thought of that the Flood ii 347 - - It is the first mild day of March: i 271 - - I travelled among unknown men, ii 80 - - It seems a day ii 70 - - It was a beautiful and silent day iii 311 - - It was a dreary morning when the wheels iii 168 - - It was a _moral_ end for which they fought; iv 217 - - It was an April morning: fresh and clear ii 154 - - I’ve watched you now a full half-hour, ii 297 - - I wandered lonely as a cloud iii 4 - - I was thy neighbour once, thou rugged Pile! iii 54 - - I watch, and long have watched, with calm regret vi 197 - - I, who accompanied with faithful pace vii 4 - - I, whose pretty Voice you hear, viii 295 - - I will relate a tale for those who love viii 224 - - Jesu! bless our slender Boat, vi 301 - - Jones! I as from Calais southward you and I ii 332 - - Just as those final words were penned, the sun broke out - in power, viii 135 - - Keep for the Young the Impassioned smile vi 218 - - Lady! a Pen (perhaps with thy regard, viii 8 - - Lady! I rifled a Parnassian cave vi 211 - - Lady! the songs of Spring were in the grove iv 58 - - Lament! for Diocletian’s fiery sword vii 8 - - Lance, shield, and sword relinquished--at his side vii 20 - - Last night, without a voice, that Vision spake vii 74 - - Let other bards of angels sing, vii 121 - - Let thy wheel-barrow alone ii 95 - - Let us quit the leafy arbour, vi 153 - - Lie here, without a record of thy worth, iii 50 - - Life with yon Lambs, like day, is just begun, viii 97 - - Like a shipwreck’d Sailor tost vii 328 - - List, the winds of March are blowing; vii 331 - - List--’twas the Cuckoo.--O with what delight, viii 68 - - List, ye who pass by Lyulph’s Tower vii 394 - - Lo! in the burning west, the craggy nape vi 377 - - Lone Flower, hemmed in with snows and white as they vi 191 - - Long-favoured England! be not thou misled, viii 131 - - Long has the dew been dried on tree and lawn, viii 63 - - Long time have human ignorance and guilt iii 345 - - Lonsdale! it were unworthy of a Guest, vii 392 - - Look at the fate of summer flowers, vii 124 - - Look now on that Adventurer who hath paid iv 228 - - Lord of the vale! astounding Flood; vi 26 - - Loud is the Vale! the Voice is up iv 47 - - Loving she is, and tractable, though wild; iv 252 - - Lo! where she stands fixed in a saint-like trance, viii 132 - - Lo! where the Moon along the sky, viii 88 - - Lowther! in thy majestic Pile are seen vii 392 - - Lulled by the sound of pastoral bells, vi 372 - - Lyre! though such power do in thy magic live, viii 147 - - “Man’s life is like a Sparrow, mighty King!” vii 16 - - Mark how the feathered tenants of the flood, iv 278 - - Mark the concentred hazels that enclose vi 71 - - Meek Virgin Mother, more benign vi 318 - - Men of the Western World! in Fate’s dark book, viii 112 - - Men, who have ceased to reverence, soon defy vii 68 - - Mercy and Love have met thee on thy road, vii 7 - - Methinks that I could trip o’er heaviest soil, vii 66 - - Methinks that to some vacant hermitage vii 21 - - Methinks ’twere no unprecedented feat vi 255 - - Methought I saw the footsteps of a throne iv 46 - - ’Mid crowded obelisks and urns ii 387 - - Mid-noon is past;--upon the sultry mead vi 254 - - Milton! thou should’st be living at this hour: ii 346 - - Mine ear has wrung, my spirit sunk subdued, vii 104 - - “_Miserrimus!_” and neither name nor date, vii 201 - - Monastic Domes! following my downward way, vii 100 - - Most sweet it is with unuplifted eyes vii 401 - - Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost, vii 54 - - Motions and Means, on land and sea at war, vii 389 - - My frame hath often trembled with delight vi 250 - - My heart leaps up when I behold ii 292 - - My Lord and Lady Darlington viii 298 - - My Son! behold the tide already spent, viii 273 - - Nay, Traveller! rest. This lonely Yew-tree stands i 109 - - Near Anio’s stream, I spied a gentle Dove, viii 65 - - Never enlivened with the liveliest ray, viii 150 - - Next morning Troilus began to clear ii 264 - - No fiction was it of the antique age: vi 241 - - No more: the end is sudden and abrupt, vii 309 - - No mortal object did these eyes behold iii 381 - - No record tells of lance opposed to lance, vi 258 - - Nor scorn the aid which Fancy oft doth lend vii 18 - - Nor shall the eternal roll of praise reject vii 78 - - Nor wants the cause the panic-striking aid vii 12 - - Not a breath of air, viii 146 - - Not envying Latian shades--if yet they throw vi 230 - - Not hurled precipitous from steep to steep; vi 261 - - Not in the lucid intervals of life vii 402 - - Not in the mines beyond the western main, vii 400 - - Not, like his great Compeers, indignantly vi 303 - - Not Love, not War, nor the tumultuous swell vii 118 - - Not ’mid the World’s vain objects that enslave iv 210 - - Not sedentary all: there are who roam vii 23 - - Not seldom, clad in radiant vest, vi 175 - - Not so that Pair whose youthful spirits dance vi 240 - - Not the whole warbling grove in concert heard vii 169 - - Not to the clouds, not to the cliff, he flew; vii 372 - - Not to the object specially designed, viii 106 - - Not utterly unworthy to endure vii 55 - - Not without heavy grief of heart did He iv 236 - - No whimsey of the purse is here, viii 259 - - Now that all hearts are glad, all faces bright, iv 282 - - Now that the farewell tear is dried, vi 338 - - Now we are tired of boisterous joy, ii 420 - - Now when the primrose makes a splendid show, viii 116 - - Nuns fret not at their convent’s narrow room; iv 28 - - Oak of Guernica! Tree of holier power iv 245 - - O blithe New-comer! I have heard, ii 289 - - O dearer far than light and life are dear, vii 122 - - O’er the wide earth, on mountain and on plain, iv 223 - - O’erweening Statesmen have full long relied iv 247 - - O Flower of all that springs from gentle blood, iv 235 - - Of mortal parents is the Hero born iv 214 - - O for a dirge! But why complain? vii 132 - - O, for a kindling touch from that pure flame, vi 110 - - O for the help of Angels to complete vi 297 - - O Friend! I know not which way I must look ii 345 - - Oft have I caught, upon a fitful breeze, vii 373 - - Oft have I seen, ere Time had ploughed my cheek, vii 163 - - Oft I had heard of Lucy Gray: ii 99 - - Oft is the medal faithful to its trust iv 77 - - Oft, through thy fair domains, illustrious Peer! v 20 - - O gentle Sleep! do they belong to thee, iv 42 - - O happy time of youthful lovers (thus iii 24 - - Oh Bounty without measure, while the Grace viii 308 - - Oh Life! without thy chequered scene vi 315 - - Oh! pleasant exercise of hope and joy! iii 35 - - Oh what a Wreck! how changed in mien and speech, viii 36 - - Oh! what’s the matter? what’s the matter? i 254 - - “O Lord, our Lord! how wondrously,” (quoth she) ii 240 - - O Moon! if e’er I joyed when thy soft light viii 235 - - O mountain Stream! the Shepherd and his Cot vi 245 - - Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee; ii 336 - - Once I could hail (howe’er serene the sky) vii 152 - - Once in a lonely hamlet I sojourned ii 285 - - Once more the Church is seized with sudden fear, vii 49 - - Once on the top of Tynwald’s formal mound vii 366 - - Once to the verge of yon steep barrier came viii 236 - - One might believe that natural miseries ii 431 - - One morning (raw it was and wet-- ii 270 - - One who was suffering tumult in his soul vi 187 - - On his morning rounds the Master iii 48 - - O Nightingale! thou surely art iv 67 - - On, loitering Muse--the swift Stream chides us--on! vi 242 - - “On Man, on Nature, and on Human Life,” v 23 - - On Nature’s invitation do I come, ii 118 - - O now that the genius of Bewick were mine, ii 60 - - On to Iona!--What can she afford vii 379 - - Open your gates, ye everlasting Piles! vii 105 - - O there is blessing in this gentle breeze, iii 132 - - O thou who movest onward with a mind iv 231 - - O thou! whose fancies from afar are brought; ii 351 - - Our bodily life, some plead, that life the shrine, viii 109 - - Our walk was far among the ancient trees: ii 167 - - Outstretching flame-ward his upbraided hand vii 62 - - Pansies, lilies, kingcups, daisies, ii 301 - - Part fenced by man, part by a rugged steep vii 286 - - Pastor and Patriot!--at whose bidding rise vii 349 - - Patriots informed with Apostolic light vii 85 - - Pause, courteous Spirit!--Balbi supplicates iv 237 - - Pause, Traveller! whosoe’er thou be vi 173 - - Peaceful our valley, fair and green; viii 259 - - Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side, ii 238 - - “People! your chains are severing link by link;” vii 290 - - Perhaps some needful service of the State iv 230 - - Pleasures newly found are sweet ii 303 - - Portentous change when History can appear, viii 130 - - Praised be the Art whose subtle power could stay iv 272 - - Praised be the Rivers, from their mountain springs vii 45 - - Prejudged by foes determined not to spare, vii 71 - - Presentiments! they judge not right vii 266 - - Prompt transformation works the novel Lore; vii 17 - - Proud were ye, Mountains, when, in times of old, viii 167 - - Pure element of waters! wheresoe’er vi 184 - - Queen of the Stars!--so gentle, so benign, viii 15 - - Ranging the heights of Scawfell or Black-Comb, vii 358 - - Rapt above earth by power of one fair face, viii 81 - - Realms quake by turns: proud Arbitress of grace, vii 32 - - Record we too, with just and faithful pen, vii 39 - - Redoubted King, of courage leonine, vii 31 - - Reluctant call it was; the rite delayed; vii 323 - - “Rest, rest, perturbèd Earth!” vi 95 - - Return, Content! for fondly I pursued, vi 255 - - Rid of a vexing and a heavy load, viii 265 - - Rise!--they _have_ risen: of brave Aneurin ask vii 11 - - Rotha, my Spiritual Child! this head was grey vii 171 - - Rude is this Edifice, and Thou hast seen ii 213 - - Sacred Religion! “mother of form and fear,” vi 249 - - Sad thoughts, avaunt!--partake we their blithe cheer vi 253 - - Said red-ribboned Evans: viii 302 - - Said Secrecy to Cowardice and Fraud, viii 304 - - Say, what is Honour?--’Tis the finest sense iv 225 - - Say, ye far-travelled clouds, far-seeing hills-- vii 287 - - Scattering, like birds escaped the fowler’s net, vii 64 - - Scorn not the Sonnet; Critic, you have frowned, vii 163 - - Screams round the Arch-druid’s brow the seamew--white vii 6 - - Seek who will delight in fable, viii 172 - - See the Condemned alone within his cell, viii 110 - - See what gay wild flowers deck this earth-built Cot, vii 296 - - See, where his difficult way that Old Man wins, viii 83 - - Serene, and fitted to embrace, vi 117 - - Serving no haughty Muse, my hands have here, viii 102 - - Seven Daughters had Lord Archibald, ii 204 - - Shade of Caractacus, if spirits love, viii 309 - - Shall he who gives his days to low pursuits viii 257 - - Shame on this faithless heart! that could allow vi 214 - - She dwelt among the untrodden ways ii 79 - - She had a tall man’s height or more; ii 278 - - She was a Phantom of delight iii 2 - - She wept.--Life’s purple tide began to flow viii 209 - - Shout, for a mighty Victory is won! ii 436 - - Show me the noblest Youth of present time, vii 181 - - Shun not this rite, neglected, yea abhorred, vii 96 - - Since risen from ocean, ocean to defy, vii 369 - - Six changeful years have vanished since I first iii 247 - - Six months to six years added he remained, viii 39 - - Six thousand veterans practised in war’s game, ii 435 - - Small service is true service while it lasts, viii 8 - - Smile of the Moon!--for so I name vi 163 - - So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive, viii 164 - - Soft as a cloud is yon blue Ridge--the Mere vii 405 - - Sole listener, Duddon! to the breeze that played vi 234 - - Son of my buried Son, while thus thy hand, viii 305 - - Soon did the Almighty Giver of all rest iv 267 - - Spade! with which Wilkinson hath tilled his lands, iv 3 - - Stay, bold Adventurer; rest awhile thy limbs iv 281 - - Stay, little cheerful Robin! stay, viii 38 - - Stay near me--do not take thy flight! ii 283 - - Stern Daughter of the Voice of God! iii 38 - - Strange fits of passion have I known: ii 78 - - Stranger! this hillock of mis-shapen stones ii 63 - - Stretched on the dying Mother’s lap, lies dead vii 387 - - Such age how beautiful! O Lady bright, vii 172 - - Such fruitless questions may not long beguile vi 246 - - Surprised by joy--impatient as the Wind vi 72 - - Sweet Flower, belike one day to have iii 51 - - Sweet Highland Girl, a very shower ii 390 - - “Sweet is the holiness of Youth”--so felt vii 59 - - Sweet was the walk along the narrow lane, viii 215 - - Swiftly turn the murmuring wheel! iv 275 - - Sylph was it? or a Bird more bright vii 319 - - Take, cradled Nursling of the mountain, take vi 233 - - Tax not the royal Saint with vain expense, vii 106 - - Tell me, ye Zephyrs! that unfold, vii 125 - - Tenderly do we feel by Nature’s law, viii 104 - - Thanks for the lessons of this Spot--fit school vii 377 - - That happy gleam of vernal eyes, vii 202 - - That heresies should strike (if truth be scanned vii 10 - - That is work of waste and ruin-- ii 298 - - That way look, my Infant, lo! iii 16 - - The Baptist might have been ordained to cry, viii 80 - - The Bard--whose soul is meek as dawning day, vi 112 - - The captive Bird was gone;--to cliff or moor vii 371 - - The cattle crowding round this beverage clear vii 348 - - The Cock is crowing, ii 293 - - The confidence of Youth our only Art, viii 273 - - The Crescent-moon, the Star of Love, viii 127 - - The Danish Conqueror, on his royal chair, vi 130 - - The days are cold, the nights are long, iii 74 - - The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; ii 143 - - The doubt to which a wavering hope had clung viii 289 - - The embowering rose, the acacia, and the pine, iv 74 - - The encircling ground, in native turf arrayed, vii 104 - - The fairest, brightest, hues of ether fade; vi 66 - - The feudal Keep, the bastions of Cohorn, vii 360 - - The fields which with covetous spirit we sold, iii 12 - - The floods are roused, and will not soon be weary; vii 388 - - The forest huge of ancient Caledon vii 304 - - The formal World relaxes her cold chain, viii 112 - - The gallant Youth, who may have gained, vii 281 - - The gentlest Poet, with free thoughts endowed, viii 141 - - The gentlest Shade that walked Elysian plains ii 378 - - The glory of evening was spread through the west; viii 217 - - The God of Love--_ah, benedicite!_ ii 250 - - The imperial Consort of the Fairy-king vi 189 - - The imperial Stature, the colossal stride, vii 166 - - The Kirk of Ulpha to the pilgrim’s eye vi 260 - - The Knight had ridden down from Wensley Moor ii 129 - - The Lake is thine, viii 263 - - The Land we from our fathers had in trust, iv 215 - - The leaves that rustled on this oak-crowned hill, vii 407 - - The leaves were fading when to Esthwaite’s banks iii 222 - - The linnet’s warble, sinking towards a close, vii 403 - - The little hedgerow birds, i 307 - - The lovely Nun (submissive, but more meek vii 52 - - The Lovers took within this ancient grove vii 306 - - The martial courage of a day is vain, iv 217 - - The massy Ways, carried across these heights vii 154 - - The Minstrels played their Christmas tune vi 227 - - The most alluring clouds that mount the sky, viii 128 - - The old inventive Poets, had they seen, vi 251 - - _The oppression of the tumult--wrath and scorn--_ vii 13 - - The order’d troops viii 234 - - The peace which others seek they find; iii 11 - - The pensive Sceptic of the lonely vale v 327 - - The pibroch’s note, discountenanced or mute; vii 290 - - The post-boy drove with fierce career, ii 273 - - The power of Armies is a visible thing, iv 254 - - The prayers I make will then be sweet indeed iii 382 - - The rains at length have ceas’d, the winds are still’d, viii 233 - - There are no colours in the fairest sky vii 77 - - There is a bondage worse, far worse, to bear ii 431 - - There is a change--and I am poor; iv 17 - - There is a Flower, the lesser Celandine, iii 21 - - There is a little unpretending Rill iv 53 - - There is an Eminence,--of these our hills ii 162 - - _There is a pleasure in poetic pains_ vii 166 - - There is a shapeless crowd of unhewn stones viii 223 - - There is a Thorn--it looks so old, i 242 - - There is a Yew-tree, pride of Lorton Vale, ii 370 - - There never breathed a man who, when his life iv 232 - - “There!” said a Stripling, pointing with meet pride vii 384 - - There’s George Fisher, Charles Fleming, and Reginald Shore, ii 207 - - There’s more in words than I can teach: vii 321 - - There’s not a nook within this solemn Pass, vii 289 - - There’s something in a flying horse, ii 3 - - There was a Boy; ye knew him well, ye cliffs ii 57 - - There was a roaring in the wind all night; ii 314 - - There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, viii 190 - - The Roman Consul doomed his sons to die, viii 105 - - The Sabbath bells renew the inviting peal; vii 96 - - The saintly Youth has ceased to rule, discrowned vii 61 - - The Scottish Broom on Bird-nest brae viii 270 - - These times strike monied worldlings with dismay: ii 432 - - These Tourists, heaven preserve us! needs must live ii 184 - - These vales were saddened with no common gloom viii 275 - - The Sheep-boy whistled loud, and lo! iii 58 - - The Shepherd, looking eastward, softly said, vi 68 - - The sky is overcast i 227 - - The snow-tracks of my friends I see, viii 219 - - The soaring lark is blest as proud vii 214 - - The Spirit of Antiquity--enshrined vi 290 - - The stars are mansions built by Nature’s hand, vi 210 - - The star which comes at close of day to shine, viii 307 - - The struggling Rill insensibly is grown vi 239 - - The sun has long been set, ii 327 - - The sun is couched, the sea-fowl gone to rest; vii 338 - - The Sun, that seemed so mildly to retire, vii 337 - - The sylvan slopes with corn-clad fields vi 201 - - The tears of man in various measure gush vii 60 - - The Troop will be impatient; let us hie i 114 - - The turbaned Race are poured in thickening swarms vii 31 - - The unremitting voice of nightly streams, viii 187 - - The valley rings with mirth and joy; ii 138 - - The vestal priestess of a sisterhood who knows viii 325 - - The Vested Priest before the Altar stands; vii 94 - - The Virgin Mountain, wearing like a Queen vii 70 - - The Voice of song from distant lands shall call ii 338 - - The wind is now thy organist;--a clank vii 288 - - The woman-hearted Confessor prepares vii 28 - - The world forsaken, all its busy cares, viii 73 - - The world is too much with us; late and soon, iv 39 - - The worship of this Sabbath morn, viii 326 - - They called Thee MERRY ENGLAND, in old time; vii 343 - - They call it Love lies bleeding! rather say, viii 150 - - They dreamt not of a perishable home vii 107 - - The Young-ones gathered in from hill and dale, vii 92 - - They seek, are sought; to daily battle led, iv 253 - - They--who have seen the noble Roman’s scorn, viii 62 - - This Height a ministering Angel might select: iv 271 - - “This Land of Rainbows spanning glens whose walls,” vii 299 - - This Lawn, a carpet all alive vii 228 - - This Spot--at once unfolding sight so fair, viii 103 - - Those breathing Tokens of your kind regard, vii 217 - - Those had given earliest notice, as the lark vii 46 - - Those old credulities, to nature dear, viii 60 - - Those silver clouds collected round the sun vi 199 - - Those words were uttered as in pensive mood iv 37 - - Though I beheld at first with blank surprise viii 115 - - Though joy attend Thee orient at the birth vii 299 - - Though many suns have risen and set vii 148 - - Though narrow be that old Man’s cares, and near, iv 69 - - Tho’ searching damps and many an envious flaw vi 343 - - Though the bold wings of Poesy affect viii 154 - - Though the torrents from their fountains ii 182 - - Though to give timely warning and deter viii 109 - - “Thou look’st upon me, and dost fondly think,” vii 347 - - Thou sacred Pile! whose turrets rise vi 333 - - Threats come which no submission may assuage, vii 52 - - Three years she grew in sun and shower, ii 81 - - Throned in the Sun’s descending Car viii 300 - - Through Cumbrian wilds, in many a mountain cove, viii 272 - - Through shattered galleries, ’mid roofless halls, vii 131 - - Thus all things lead to Charity, secured vii 102 - - Thus far, O Friend! have we, though leaving much iii 153 - - Thus is the storm abated by the craft vii 48 - - Thy functions are ethereal, vii 204 - - ’Tis eight o’clock,--a clear March night, i 283 - - ’Tis gone--with old belief and dream vii 192 - - ’Tis He whose yester-evening’s high disdain viii 94 - - ’Tis not for the unfeeling, the falsely refined, ii 147 - - ’Tis said, fantastic ocean doth enfold vi 286 - - ’Tis said, that some have died for love: ii 178 - - ’Tis said that to the brow of yon fair hill vii 230 - - ’Tis spent--this burning day of June! iii 76 - - To a good Man of most dear memory viii 18 - - To appease the Gods; or public thanks to yield; vi 363 - - To barren heath, bleak moor, and quaking fen, vi 16 - - “To every Form of being is assigned,” v 353 - - To kneeling Worshippers no earthly floor vii 97 - - Too frail to keep the lofty vow ii 383 - - To public notice, with reluctance strong, vi 40 - - Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men! ii 339 - - Tradition, be thou mute! Oblivion, throw vii 293 - - Tranquillity! the sovereign aim wert thou vii 387 - - Troubled long with warring notions vi 175 - - True is it that Ambrosio Salinero iv 233 - - ’Twas summer, and the sun had mounted high: v 26 - - Two Voices are there; one is of the sea, iv 61 - - Under the shadow of a stately Pile, viii 78 - - Ungrateful Country, if thou e’er forget vii 81 - - Unless to Peter’s Chair the viewless wind vii 34 - - Unquiet Childhood here by special grace vii 170 - - Untouched through all severity of cold; vii 231 - - “Up, Timothy, up with your staff and away!” ii 181 - - Up to the throne of God is borne vii 408 - - Up! up! my Friend, and quit your books; i 274 - - Up with me! up with me into the clouds! iii 42 - - Urged by Ambition, who with subtlest skill vii 26 - - Uttered by whom, or how inspired--designed vi 306 - - Vallombrosa! I longed in thy shadiest wood vi 357 - - “Vallombrosa--I longed in thy shadiest wood” viii 76 - - Vanguard of Liberty, ye men of Kent, ii 434 - - “Wait, prithee, wait!” this answer Lesbia threw viii 32 - - Wanderer! that stoop’st so low, and com’st so near viii 13 - - Wansfell! this Household has a favoured lot, viii 153 - - Ward of the Law!--dread Shadow of a King! vi 209 - - Was it to disenchant, and to undo, vi 295 - - Was the aim frustrated by force or guile, vi 184 - - Watch, and be firm! for, soul-subduing vice, vii 10 - - “Weak is the will of Man, his judgment blind;” vi 67 - - We can endure that He should waste our lands, iv 246 - - Weep not, belovèd Friends! nor let the air iv 230 - - We gaze--nor grieve to think that we must die, viii 306 - - We had a female Passenger who came ii 342 - - _We_ have not passed into a doleful City, vii 383 - - Well have yon Railway Labourers to THIS ground viii 176 - - Well may’st thou halt--and gaze with brightening eye! iv 34 - - Well sang the Bard who called the grave, in strains vii 295 - - Well worthy to be magnified are they vii 84 - - Were there, below, a spot of holy ground i 37 - - Were there, below, a spot of holy ground, i 310 - - We saw, but surely, in the motley crowd, vii 376 - - We talked with open heart, and tongue ii 91 - - We walked along, while bright and red ii 89 - - What aim had they, the Pair of Monks, in size viii 74 - - What aspect bore the Man who roved or fled, vi 237 - - What awful pérspective! while from our sight vii 106 - - “What beast in wilderness or cultured field” vii 47 - - What beast of chase hath broken from the cover? vi 360 - - What crowd is this? what have we here! we must not - pass it by iv 22 - - What heavenly smiles! O Lady mine viii 177 - - What He--who, mid the kindred throng vi 29 - - What if our numbers barely could defy viii 87 - - “What is good for a bootless bene?” iv 205 - - “What know we of the Blest above” vi 315 - - What lovelier home could gentle Fancy choose? vi 294 - - What mischief cleaves to unsubdued regret, vii 340 - - What need of clamorous bells, or ribands gay, iv 276 - - What sounds are those, Helvellyn, that are heard iii 270 - - What strong allurement draws, what spirit guides, viii 92 - - What though the Accused, upon his own appeal vii 223 - - What though the Italian pencil wrought not here, vi 321 - - What way does the Wind come? What way does he go? iv 50 - - “_What, you are stepping westward?_”--“_Yea._” ii 396 - - When Alpine Vales threw forth a suppliant cry, vii 79 - - Whence that low voice?--A whisper from the heart, vi 252 - - When Contemplation, like the night-calm felt iii 201 - - When, far and wide, swift as the beams of morn iv 244 - - When first descending from the moorlands, viii 27 - - When haughty expectations prostrate lie, vi 192 - - When here with Carthage Rome to conflict came, viii 66 - - When human touch (as monkish books attest), viii 34 - - When I have borne in memory what has tamed ii 348 - - When in the antique age of bow and spear vii 115 - - When, looking on the present face of things, ii 433 - - When Love was born of heavenly line, viii 216 - - When Philoctetes in the Lemnian isle vii 167 - - When Ruth was left half desolate, ii 104 - - When Severn’s sweeping flood had overthrown, viii 314 - - When the soft hand of sleep had closed the latch vi 97 - - When thy great soul was freed from mortal chains, vii 25 - - When, to the attractions of the busy world, iii 66 - - When years of wedded life were as a day vi 43 - - Where are they now, those wanton Boys? ii 281 - - Where art thou, my beloved Son, iii 7 - - Where be the noisy followers of the game vi 380 - - Where be the temples which, in Britain’s Isle, vi 45 - - Where holy ground begins, unhallowed ends, vi 217 - - Where lies the Land to which yon Ship must go? iv 41 - - Where lies the truth? has Man, in wisdom’s creed, viii 182 - - Where long and deeply hath been fixed the root vii 43 - - Where towers are crushed, and unforbidden weeds vii 137 - - Where will they stop, those breathing Powers, vii 314 - - While Anna’s peers and early playmates tread, vii 169 - - While beams of orient light shoot wide and high, viii 156 - - While flowing rivers yield a blameless sport, vi 190 - - While from the purpling east departs vii 146 - - While Merlin paced the Cornish sands, vii 252 - - While not a leaf seems faded; while the fields, vi 65 - - While poring Antiquarians search the ground, viii 33 - - While the Poor gather round, till the end of time vii 307 - - While thus from theme to theme the Historian passed, v 283 - - “Who but hails the sight with pleasure” vi 156 - - Who but is pleased to watch the moon on high, viii 184 - - Who comes--with rapture greeted, and caress’d vii 75 - - Who fancied what a pretty sight ii 374 - - Who is the happy Warrior? Who is he iv 8 - - Who ponders National events shall find, viii 131 - - Who rashly strove thy Image to portray, viii 29 - - Who rises on the banks of Seine, vi 104 - - Who swerves from innocence, who makes divorce vi 260 - - Who weeps for strangers? Many wept, viii 267 - - Why art thou silent! Is thy love a plant, viii 12 - - Why cast ye back upon the Gallic shore, vi 378 - - “Why, Minstrel, these untuneful murmurings--” vii 161 - - Why should the Enthusiast, journeying through this Isle, vii 343 - - Why should we weep or mourn, Angelic boy, viii 181 - - Why sleeps the future, as a snake enrolled, vii 108 - - Why stand we gazing on the sparkling Brine, vii 361 - - “Why, William, on that old grey stone,” i 272 - - Wild Redbreast! hadst thou at Jemima’s lip vii 176 - - Wisdom and Spirit of the universe! ii 66 - - With copious eulogy in prose or rhyme vii 270 - - With each recurrence of this glorious morn vi 194 - - With how sad steps, O Moon, thou climb’st the sky, iv 38 - - Within her gilded cage confined, vii 142 - - Within our happy Castle there dwelt One ii 306 - - Within the mind strong fancies work, vi 158 - - With little here to do or see ii 358 - - “With sacrifice before the rising morn” vi 2 - - With Ships the sea was sprinkled far and nigh, iv 40 - - Witness thou, viii 234 - - Woe to the Crown that doth the Cowl obey! vii 27 - - “Woe to you, Prelates! rioting in ease” vii 49 - - Woman! the Power who left his throne on high, vii 95 - - Wouldst thou be gathered to Christ’s chosen flock, viii 303 - - Wouldst thou be taught, when sleep has taken flight, viii 151 - - Would that our scrupulous Sires had dared to leave vii 99 - - Ye Apennines! with all your fertile vales, viii 45 - - Ye brood of conscience--Spectres! that frequent, viii 107 - - Ye Lime-trees, ranged before this hallowed Urn, iv 78 - - Ye sacred Nurseries of blooming Youth! vi 213 - - Ye shadowy Beings, that have rights and claims vii 377 - - Yes! hope may with my strong desire keep pace, iii 381 - - Yes, if the intensities of hope and fear vii 88 - - Yes, it was the mountain Echo, iv 25 - - Yes! thou art fair, yet be not moved, viii 176 - - Yes, though He well may tremble at the sound, viii 111 - - Ye Storms, resound the praises of your King! vi 109 - - Yet are they here the same unbroken knot iv 65 - - Yet many a Novice of the cloistral shade, vii 53 - - Yet more,--round many a Convent’s blazing fire vii 51 - - Ye, too, must fly before a chasing hand, vii 54 - - Ye torrents, foaming down the rocky steeps, viii 161 - - Ye Trees! whose slender roots entwine, viii 82 - - Yet Truth is keenly sought for, and the wind vii 76 - - Yet, yet, Biscayans! we must meet our Foes iv 242 - - Ye vales and hills whose beauty hither drew, viii 157 - - You call it, “Love lies bleeding,”--so you may, viii 149 - - You have heard “a Spanish Lady” vii 232 - - YOUNG ENGLAND--what is then become of Old, viii 180 - - You’re here for one long vernal day; viii 284 - - END OF VOL. VIII - - _Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Poetical Works of William -Wordsworth -- Volume 8 (of 8), by William Wordsworth - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POETICAL WORKS--WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, VOL 8 *** - -***** This file should be named 52836-0.txt or 52836-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/3/52836/ - -Produced by Jonathan Ingram and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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