The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 2 (of 8)

1827
But on our proffer'd kindness still did lay	1803

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Variant 7:

1845
... or at the same Was silent, motionless in eyes and face. She was a negro woman, out of France, Rejected, like all others of that race: Not one of whom may now find footing there. What is the meaning of this ordinance? Dishonour'd Despots, tell us if ye dare.	1803
... driv'n from France, Rejected like all others of that race, Not one of whom may now find footing there; This the poor Out-cast did to us declare, Nor murmur'd at the unfeeling Ordinance.	1807
Meanwhile those eyes retained their tropic fire, Which, burning independent of the mind, Joined with the lustre of her rich attire To mock the outcast—O ye Heavens, be kind! And feel, thou Earth, for this afflicted Race!	1827
Yet still those eyes retained their tropic fire,	1837

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Footnote A:

First printed in The Morning Post, February 11, 1803, under the title of The Banished Negroes, and signed W. L. D.—Ed.

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Note:

It was a natural arrangement which led Wordsworth to place this sonnet, in his edition of 1807, immediately after the one addressed To Toussaint L'Ouverture.—Ed.

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September, 1802, near Dover ^A

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807

The Poem

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Inland, within a hollow vale, I stood; And saw, while sea was calm and air was clear, The coast of France—the coast of France how near! Drawn almost into frightful neighbourhood. I shrunk; for verily the barrier flood Was like a lake, or river bright and fair, A span of waters; yet what power is there! What mightiness for evil and for good! Even so doth God protect us if we be Virtuous and wise. Winds blow, and waters roll, Strength to the brave, and Power, and Deity; Yet in themselves are nothing! One decree Spake laws to them, and said that by the soul Only, the Nations shall be great and free. Note Contents 1802 Main Contents		B	5 10

Footnote A:

From 1807 to 1843 the title was September, 1802; "near Dover" appeared in the "Sonnets" of 1838, but did not become a permanent part of the title until 1845.—Ed.

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Footnote B:

Compare in S. T. Coleridge's Ode to the Departing Year, stanza vii.:

'And Ocean 'mid his uproar wild
Speaks safety to his island-child.'

Ed.

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Note:

In The Friend (ed. 1818, vol. i. p. 107), Coleridge writes:

"The narrow seas that form our boundaries, what were they in times of old? The convenient highway for Danish and Norman pirates. What are they now? Still, but a 'Span of Waters.' Yet they roll at the base of the Ararat, on which the Ark of the Hope of Europe and of Civilization rested!"

He then quotes this sonnet from the line "Even so doth God protect us if we be."

The note appended to the sonnet, Composed in the Valley near Dover, on the day of Landing (p. 341), shows that this one refers to the same occasion; and that while "Inland, within a hollow vale," Wordsworth was, at the same time, on the Dover Cliffs; the "vale" being one of the hollow clefts in the headland, which front the Dover coast-line. The sonnet may, however, have been finished afterwards in London.—Ed.

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Written in London, September, 1802

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807

The Poem

[This was written immediately after my return from France to London, when I could not but be struck, as here described, with the vanity and parade of our own country, especially in great towns and cities, as contrasted with the quiet, and I may say the desolation, that the Revolution had produced in France. This must be borne in mind, or else the reader may think that in this and the succeeding Sonnets I have exaggerated the mischief engendered and fostered among us by undisturbed wealth. It would not be easy to conceive with what a depth of feeling I entered into the struggle carried on by the Spaniards for their deliverance from the usurped power of the French. Many times have I gone from Allan Bank in Grasmere Vale, where we were then residing, to the top of Raise-gap, as it is called, so late as two o'clock in the morning, to meet the carrier bringing the newspapers from Keswick. Imperfect traces of the state of mind in which I then was may be found in my tract on the Convention of Cintra, as well as in these Sonnets.—I. F.]

The Poem

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O Friend! I know not which way I must look For comfort, being, as I am, opprest, To think that now our life is only drest For show; mean handy-work of craftsman, cook, Or groom!—We must run glittering like a brook In the open sunshine, or we are unblest: The wealthiest man among us is the best: No grandeur now in nature or in book Delights us. Rapine, avarice, expense, This is idolatry; and these we adore: Plain living and high thinking are no more: The homely beauty of the good old cause Is gone; our peace, our fearful innocence, And pure religion breathing household laws. Note Contents 1802 Main Contents	1	A B	5 10

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1807
O thou proud City! which way shall I look	1838

The text of 1840 returns to that of 1807.

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Footnote A:

The "Friend" was Coleridge. In the original MS. it stands "Coleridge! I know not," etc. Wordsworth changed it in the proof stage.—Ed.

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Footnote B:

Compare—in Hartley Coleridge's Lives of Distinguished Northerners—what is said of this sonnet, in his life of Anne Clifford, where the passing cynicism of Wordsworth's poem is pointed out.—Ed.

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Note:

Wordsworth stayed in London from August 30th to September 22nd 1802.—Ed.

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London, 1802

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807

The Poem

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Milton! thou should'st be living at this hour: England hath need of thee: she is a fen Of stagnant waters: altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower, Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh! raise us up, return to us again; And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a Star, and dwelt apart: Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet thy heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay. Contents 1802 Main Contents	1	A	5 10

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1820
... itself ...	1807

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Footnote A:

In old English "yet" means "continuously" or "always"; and it is still used in Cumberland with this signification.—Ed.

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"Great men have been among us; hands that penned"

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807

The Poem

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Great men have been among us; hands that penned And tongues that uttered wisdom—better none: The later Sidney, Marvel, Harrington, Young Vane, and others who called Milton friend. These moralists could act and comprehend: They knew how genuine glory was put on; Taught us how rightfully a nation shone In splendour: what strength was, that would not bend But in magnanimous meekness. France, 'tis strange, Hath brought forth no such souls as we had then. Perpetual emptiness! unceasing change! No single volume paramount, no code, No master spirit, no determined road; But equally a want of books and men! Contents 1802 Main Contents	1	A	5 10

Variant 1:

1807
But to ...	MS.

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Footnote A:

See Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, book iii.—Ed.

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Contents 1802
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"It is not to be thought of that the Flood"

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807 ^A

The Poem

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It is not to be thought of that the Flood Of British freedom, which, to the open sea Of the world's praise, from dark antiquity Hath flowed, "with pomp of waters, unwithstood," Roused though it be full often to a mood Which spurns the check of salutary bands, That this most famous Stream in bogs and sands Should perish; and to evil and to good Be lost for ever. In our halls is hung Armoury of the invincible Knights of old: We must be free or die, who speak the tongue That Shakespeare spake; the faith and morals hold Which Milton held.—In every thing we are sprung Of Earth's first blood, have titles manifold. Contents 1802 Main Contents	1 2	B	5 10

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1827
... unwithstood, Road by which all might come and go that would, And bear out freights of worth to foreign lands;	1803

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Variant 2:

1807
... must live ...	1803

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Footnote A:

It was first printed in The Morning Post, April 16. 1803, and signed W. L. D.—Ed.

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Footnote B:

Compare Daniel's Civil War, book ii. stanza 7.—Ed.

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Contents 1802
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"When I have borne in memory what has tamed"

Composed September, 1802.—Published 1807 ^A

The Poem

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When I have borne in memory what has tamed Great Nations, how ennobling thoughts depart When men change swords for ledgers, and desert The student's bower for gold, some fears unnamed I had, my Country!—am I to be blamed? Now, when I think of thee, and what thou art, Verily, in the bottom of my heart, Of those unfilial fears I am ashamed. For dearly must we prize thee; we who find In thee a bulwark for the cause of men; And I by my affection was beguiled: What wonder if a Poet now and then, Among the many movements of his mind, Felt for thee as a lover or a child! Contents 1802 Main Contents	1 2 3		5 10

Variant 1:

1845
But,...	1803

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Variant 2:

1807
I of those fears of mine am much ashamed.	1803

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Variant 3:

1845
But dearly do I prize thee for I find In thee a bulwark of the cause of men;	1803
But dearly must we prize thee; we who find	1807
... for the cause of men;	1827
Most dearly	1838

The text of 1840 returns to that of 1827.

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Footnote A:

But printed previously in The Morning Post, September 17, 1803, under the title England, and signed W. L. D. Also, see Coleridge's Poems on Political Events, 1828-9.—Ed.

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Contents 1802
Main Contents