For, high-souled Maid, what sorrow would it be And neither awful Voice be heard by thee! In 1807, the whole of the Continent of Europe was prostrate under Napoleon. It is impossible to say to what special incident (if to any in particular) Wordsworth refers in the phrase, “with holy glee thou fought'st against him:" but, as the sonnet was composed at Coleorton in 1807-after Austerlitz and Jena, and Napoleon's practical mastery of Europe-our knowledge of the particular event or events in Swiss history to which he refers, would not add much to our understanding of the poem. In the Fenwick note Wordsworth incorrectly separates his song on the Restoration of Lord Clifford from that at the Feast of Brougham Castle. They are the same song.—ED. TO THOMAS CLARKSON, ON THE FINAL PASSING OF THE BILL FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. CLARKSON! it was an obstinate hill to climb: 2 Is won, and by all Nations shall be worn! The blood-stained Writing is for ever torn; On the 25th of March 1807, the Royal assent was given to the Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The movement for its abolition was begun by Wilberforce, and carried on by Clarkson. Its abolition was voted by the House of Lords on the motion of Lord Grenville, and in the Commons on the motion of Charles James Fox on the 10th of June 1806. The bill was read a second time in the Lords on the 5th of February, and became law on the 25th of March 1807.—ED. 1 1836. [Written at Town-end, Grasmere.] A MONTH, Sweet little-ones, is past O blessed tidings! thought of joy! I told of hills, and far-off towns, And long, long vales to travel through ;— He listens, puzzled, sore perplexed, But he submits; what can he do? No strife disturbs his sister's breast; Of time and distance, night and day; Her joy is like an instinct, joy She dances, runs without an aim, Her brother now takes up the note, Then, settling into fond discourse, We told o'er all that we had done,- We talked of change, of winter gone, To her these tales they will repeat, To her our new-born tribes will show, -But, see, the evening star comes forth! A moment's heaviness they feel, A sadness at the heart: 'Tis gone-and in a merry fit I could have joined the wanton chase. Five minutes past-and, O the change! And closed the sparkling eye. The Fenwick note is inaccurate. These lines were written by Miss Wordsworth at Coleorton, on the eve of her brother and sister's return in the spring of 1807 from London, whither they had gone for a month -Dorothy remaining at Coleorton, in charge of the children. The poem was placed by Wordsworth amongst those "referring to the period of childhood."-ED. [Composed at Coleorton. I had observed them, as here described, near Castle Donnington, on my way to and from Derby.] YET are they here the same unbroken knot1 Of human Beings, in the self-same spot! Men, women, children, yea the frame Of the whole spectacle the same! 1 1827. Yet are they here ?-the same unbroken knot 1807. Only their fire seems bolder, yielding light, Their bed of straw and blanket-walls. -Twelve hours, twelve bounteous hours are gone, while I Much witnessing of change and cheer, The weary Sun betook himself to rest;— The glorious path in which he trod. 1 1836. 1 Regard not her :-oh better wrong and strife, The silent Heavens have goings-on ; Regard not her :-oh better wrong and strife, The stars have tasks-but these have none ! Regard her not; oh better wrong and strife Yet witness all that stirs in heaven or earth! In scorn I speak not: they are what their birth And breeding suffers them to be ; Wild outcasts of society! 1807. 1820. 1827. |