book iii

. 11. 468-474.--ED.

[697] 1837.

... that chase 1835.

[698] A supposed reading of this line printed, but placed by Wordsworth amongst the _errata_ of the edition of 1835, may be quoted, as it has given rise to some controversy. In that edition the phrase was "Thrice happy Guest." In a copy of the same edition of 1835, which Wordsworth presented to the Rev. T.C. Judkin, he crossed out the G and wrote in Q in pencil. It was a point on which the late Matthew Arnold was much interested; and although he retained, in his Selections, the reading finally sanctioned by the poet, he thought, as many others have done, that a good deal might be said in favour of the other reading.--ED.

[699] 1837.

This ... 1835.

VII

"THE PIBROCH'S NOTE, DISCOUNTENANCED OR MUTE"

The pibroch's note, discountenanced or mute; The Roman kilt, degraded to a toy Of quaint apparel for a half-spoilt boy; The target mouldering like ungathered fruit; The smoking steam-boat eager in pursuit, 5 As eagerly pursued; the umbrella spread To weather-fend the Celtic herdsman's head-- All speak of manners withering to the root, And of[700] old honours, too, and passions high: Then may we ask, though pleased that thought should range 10 Among the conquests of civility, Survives imagination--to the change Superior? Help to virtue does she give?[701] If not, O Mortals, better cease to live!

FOOTNOTES:

[700] 1845.

And some ... 1835.

[701] 1845.

... it give? 1835.

VIII

COMPOSED AFTER READING A NEWSPAPER OF THE DAY[702]

"People! your chains are severing link by link; Soon shall the Rich be levelled down--the Poor Meet them half-way." Vain boast! for These, the more They thus would rise, must low and lower sink Till, by repentance stung, they fear to think; 5 While all lie prostrate, save the tyrant few Bent in quick turns each other to undo, And mix the poison they themselves must drink. Mistrust thyself, vain Country! cease to cry, "Knowledge will save me from the threatened woe." For, if than other rash ones more thou know, 11 Yet on presumptuous wing as far would fly Above thy knowledge as they dared to go, Thou wilt provoke a heavier penalty.

FOOTNOTES:

[702] This Sonnet ought to have followed No. vii. in the series of 1831, but was omitted by mistake.--W. W. 1835.

As the above note indicates Wordsworth's own wish as to where this sonnet should be placed, and approximately gives the date of composition, it is placed as No. VIII. in the sonnets of 1831. In later editions, Wordsworth placed it as the first in the series of "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Order." The original title was _Sonnet, composed after reading a Newspaper of the Day_.--ED.

IX

COMPOSED IN THE GLEN OF LOCH ETIVE

["That make the Patriot spirit." It was mortifying to have frequent occasions to observe the bitter hatred of the lower orders of the Highlanders to their superiors; love of country seemed to have passed into its opposite. Emigration was the only relief looked to with hope.[703]--I. F.]

"This Land of Rainbows spanning glens whose walls, Rock-built, are hung with rainbow-coloured mists-- Of far-stretched Meres whose salt flood never rests-- Of tuneful Caves and playful Waterfalls-- Of Mountains varying momently their crests-- 5 Proud be this Land! whose poorest huts are halls Where Fancy entertains becoming guests; While native song the heroic Past recals." Thus, in the net of her own wishes caught, The Muse exclaimed; but Story now must hide 10 Her trophies, Fancy crouch; the course of pride Has been diverted, other lessons taught, That make the Patriot-spirit bow her head Where the all-conquering Roman feared to tread.

FOOTNOTES:

[703] This Fenwick note is significant. These things repeat themselves, and are as true in 1896, as they were in 1831.--ED.

X

EAGLES

COMPOSED AT DUNOLLIE CASTLE IN THE BAY OF OBAN

["The last I saw was on the wing," off the promontory of Fairhead, county of Antrim. I mention this because, though my tour in Ireland with Mr. Marshall and his son was made many years ago, this allusion to the eagle is the only image supplied by it to the poetry I have since written. We travelled through that country in October, and to the shortness of the days and the speed with which we travelled (in a carriage and four) may be ascribed this want of notices, in my verse, of a country so interesting. The deficiency I am somewhat ashamed of, and it is the more remarkable as contrasted with my Scotch and Continental tours, of which are to be found in these volumes so many memorials.--I. F.]

Dishonoured Rock and Ruin! that, by law Tyrannic, keep the Bird of Jove embarred Like a lone criminal whose life is spared. Vexed is he, and screams loud. The last I saw Was on the wing; stooping, he struck with awe 5 Man, bird, and beast; then, with a consort paired,[704] From a bold headland, their loved aery's guard, Flew high[705] above Atlantic waves, to draw Light from the fountain of the setting sun. Such was this Prisoner once; and, when his plumes The sea-blast ruffles as the storm comes on, 11 Then, for a moment, he, in spirit, resumes[706] His rank 'mong freeborn creatures that live free, His power, his beauty, and his majesty.

FOOTNOTES:

[704] 1835.

Was on the wing, and struck my soul with awe, Now wheeling low, then with a consort paired,

MS. copy sent to Sir William Rowan Hamilton.

[705] 1835.

Flying ...

MS. to Sir W. R. Hamilton.

[706] 1845.

In spirit, for a moment, he resumes

MS. to Sir W. R. Hamilton, and 1835.

XI

IN THE SOUND OF MULL

[Touring late in the season in Scotland is an uncertain speculation. We were detained a week by rain at Bunaw on Loch Etive in a vain hope that the weather would clear up and allow me to show my daughter the beauties at Glencoe. Two days we were at the Isle of Mull, on a visit to Major Campbell; but it rained incessantly, and we were obliged to give up our intention of going to Staffa. The rain pursued us to Tyndrum, where the Twelfth Sonnet was composed in a storm.--I. F.]

Tradition, be thou mute! Oblivion, throw Thy veil in mercy o'er the records, hung Round strath and mountain, stamped by the ancient tongue On rock and ruin darkening as we go,-- Spots where a word, ghost-like, survives to show 5 What crimes from hate, or desperate love, have sprung; From honour misconceived, or fancied wrong, What feuds, not quenched but fed by mutual woe. Yet, though a wild vindictive Race, untamed By civil arts and labours of the pen, 10 Could gentleness be scorned by those[707] fierce Men, Who, to spread wide the reverence they claimed[708] For patriarchal occupations, named Yon towering Peaks, "Shepherds of Etive Glen?"[709]

FOOTNOTES:

[707] 1837.

... these ... 1835.

[708] 1837.

... reverence that they claimed. 1835.

[709] In Gaelic, _Buachaill Etive_.--W. W. 1835.

XII

SUGGESTED AT TYNDRUM IN A STORM[710]

Enough of garlands, of the Arcadian crook, And all that Greece and Italy have sung Of Swains reposing myrtle groves among! _Ours_ couch on naked rocks,--will cross a brook Swoln with chill rains, nor ever cast a look 5 This way or that, or give it even a thought More than by smoothest pathway may be brought Into a vacant mind. Can written book Teach what _they_ learn? Up, hardy Mountaineer! And guide the Bard, ambitious to be One 10 Of Nature's privy council, as thou art, On cloud-sequestered heights, that see and hear To what dread Powers[711] He delegates his part On earth, who works in the heaven of heavens, alone.

FOOTNOTES:

[710] 1837.

In 1835 the title was _At Tyndrum_.

[711] 1837.

... Power ... 1835.

XIII

THE EARL OF BREADALBANE'S RUINED MANSION, AND FAMILY BURIAL-PLACE, NEAR KILLIN

Well sang the Bard who called the grave, in strains Thoughtful and sad, the "narrow house."[712] No style Of fond sepulchral flattery can beguile Grief of her sting; nor cheat, where he detains The sleeping dust, stern Death. How reconcile 5 With truth, or with each other, decked remains Of a once warm Abode, and that _new_ Pile, For the departed, built with curious pains And mausolean pomp?[713] Yet here they stand Together,--'mid trim walks and artful bowers, 10 To be looked down upon by ancient hills, That, for the living and the dead, demand And prompt a harmony of genuine powers; Concord that elevates the mind, and stills.

FOOTNOTES:

[712] This phrase is used by James Graham, in _The Poor Man's Funeral_; by Southey, in _Joan of Arc_ (