A PARSONAGE IN OXFORDSHIRE. Written in 1820 and published in a note in “ Ecclesiastical Sketches,” 1822. Wordsworth was engaged upon this sonnet at Bruges in July, 1820. The Parsonage was that of his friend the Rev. R. Jones, to whom he dedicated "Descriptive Sketches." II, 12. In 1822 (only): Meanwhile between these Poplars, as they wave "A VOLANT TRIBE OF BARDS," etc. Probably written between 1820 and 1823; first published in 1823 in Joanna Baillie's "A Collection of Poems chiefly MS. and from living Authors." 1. . Volant, flying, light and nimble, here with a touch of irony. 3. "Coignes of vantage" from " Macbeth," I, 6, 7, a corner that may be taken advantage of. In Joanna Baillie's Collection" (only) ll. 4-10 run thus: Work cunningly devised, and seeming sound; But quickly from its airy hold unbound If man must build admit him to thy ground, O Truth! to work within the eternal ring, In 1. 12 also "when" is found in 1823. "NOT LOVE, NOT WAR," etc. The date is uncertain; first published in 1823 in Joanna Baillie's "A Collection of Poems chiefly MS. and from living Authors." The only changes of text which require notice are the following. Watching the blue smoke of the elmy grange In 1838 (only) "hut" stood in place of "cot." 12. Diaphanous: Gr. diapavýs, transparent, translucent. 13. Charm: in 1823, "please." has a special appropriateness to music. "Charm " (Lat., carmen, a song) Observe the succession of double rhymes in the sextet. TO [LADY FITZGERALD], IN HER SEVENTIETH YEAR. The date is probably 1824; published in 1827. The text is unchanged (except "toward," in 1. 11, substituted for " towards " in 1832). The "Lady bright" was Lady Fitzgerald, as described to Wordsworth by Lady Beaumont. Professor Knight prints an earlier version, sent by Mary Wordsworth to Lady Beaumont, Dec. 9, 1824: Lady, what delicate graces may unite In age - so often comfortless and bleak! Though from thy unenfeebled eye-balls break Those saintly emanations of delight, A snow-drop let me name thee; pure, chaste, white, Too pure for flesh and blood; with smooth, blanch'd cheek, And head that droops because the soul is meek, And not that Time presses with weary weight. As pensive evening deepens into night. The gain in the sonnet as printed in 1827 is remarkable. "SCORN NOT THE SONNET," etc. This sonnet, composed almost extempore in a short walk on the western side of Rydal Lake, is of uncertain date; probably, however, after 1820, and certainly not later than 1827, when it was published. The only textual change is a transposition of words in 1. 6; before "Camoëns soothed with it." 1837, 1, 2. Through the earlier part of the 18th century the sonnet was not in favour. Johnson, who carried on this feeling, wrote that the fabric of a sonnet has never succeeded in our language; of the best of Milton's sonnets "it can only be said that they are not bad." Milton, Madam," he said to Hannah More, was a genius that could carve a Colossus from a rock, but could not carve heads upon cherry stones." er Wordsworth in 1. 12 refers more especially to Milton's political sonnets, which first inspired his own. 2, 3. Shakspeare. In Wordsworth's "Essay, Supplementary to the Preface" to "Lyrical Ballads," he speaks of the sonnets of Shakspeare as expressing "his own feelings in his own person." Robert Browning, in the poem "House," writes: With this same key, Shakespeare unlocked his heart,' once more! Did Shakespeare? If so, the less Shakespeare he! 4. Petrarch's wound. The sonnets suggested by Laura are meant, especially those written after her death. 5. Tasso. Tasso's sonnets are not of the highest order. Some were inspired by his love of Leonora, some by the sufferings of his life. 6. Camoëns was banished from Lisbon partly on the ground of his passion for the golden-haired Donna Caterina. At Goa he heard of her death, and laments her in his "Rimas." 8. Dante. Many of Dante's sonnets will be found in the "Vita Nuova," translated by Dante Rossetti. 10. Spenser. Spenser's sonnets tell the story of his love for Elizabeth Boyle, who became his wife. TO ROTHA QUILLINAN. The date of the sonnet is unknown; it probably lies between 1820 and 1827, when it was published. The text is unchanged. Rotha was the daughter of Edward Quillinan (afterwards married to Wordsworth's daughter) by his first wife. Southey's beautiful lines written in Rotha Quillinan's album may be compared. The date is uncertain; probably between 1820 and 1827, when it was published. The text is unchanged. 2. Invidious, envious, malignant, hostile. ON THE DEPARTURE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT FROM ABBOTSFORD FOR NAPLES. Written in 1831, a day or two after Wordsworth left Abbotsford, and published in the "Literary Souvenir" for 1833; and again in "Yarrow Revisited and other Poems," 1835. The text remains unchanged. For the occasion which suggested this sonnet, see note to "Yarrow Revisited." 13. The midland sea, the Mediterranean. 14. Parthenope, the classical name for Naples, from the siren Parthenope. Her tomb was there shown, and a torch-race was held every year in her honour. ९९ THE TROSSACHS. This is No. VI of the "Yarrow Revisited" series, 1831; published in 1835. "The sentiment that runs through this sonnet," Wordsworth says, was natural to the season in which I again saw this beautiful spot; but this and some other sonnets that follow were coloured by the remembrance of my recent visit to Sir Walter Scott, and the melancholy errand on which he was going [i.e., to Italy in broken health].” The text is unchanged, except that "which" in 1. 5 in 1837 replaced "that," and in 1. 13"That" at the same time replaced "This." "THE PIBROCH'S NOTE," etc. No. VII of the "Yarrow Revisited" series, composed during a tour in the autumn of 1831; published in 1835. The only textual changes are the substitution in 1845 of " And of" in l. 9 for the earlier " And some," and the personifying of imagination at the same date by " she " in 1. 13 replacing " it." 1. Pibroch, either the series of variations played on the bagpipe, or used, as by Byron in "Lachin Gair," for the bagpipe itself. EAGLES. No. IX of the "Yarrow Revisited” series; written in 1831, published in 1835. In the autumn of 1829 Wordsworth visited Ireland; this sonnet contains a reminiscence in his verse of the Irish tour, in its reference to the eagle which he saw on the wing (1. 5) off the promontory of Fairhead, County Antrim. He travelled through Ireland in October, when the days were short, and with speed, in a carriage and four, to which circumstances, he says, "may be ascribed this want of notices, in my verse, of a country so interesting." His spirits and imagination also were depressed by the sight of Irish misery. 12. Before 1845: "In spirit for a moment he resumes." HIGHLAND HUT. Written in 1831, the year of Wordsworth's visit to Abbotsford and of " Yarrow Revisited"; published in 1835. The text is unchanged. TO THE PLANET VENUS, AN EVENING STAR. No. XVII of the " Yarrow Revisited" series; written in 1831, published in 1835. The text is unchanged. 1. Orient, rising. 12. This seat of care, the earth. ROMAN ANTIQUITIES. No. XXV of the "Yarrow Revisited" series; written in 1831, published in 1835. The text was not altered, except one word, " tenacious" in 1. 10, which in 1837 replaced "insatiate." 12. Fibulæ (Lat.), buckles, clasps. 14. Lacrymals, vessels intended to contain tears. TO THE AUTHOR'S PORTRAIT. The portrait was painted in 1832 and now hangs in the Hall of St. John's College; an autograph copy of the sonnet is in the Library. The sonnet was probably then written; it was published in 1835. Pickersgill's portrait, which fails to give the strength of Wordsworth's countenance, has been frequently engraved. The last six lines," Wordsworth said, “are not written for poetical effect, but as a matter of fact, which, in more than one instance, could not escape my notice in the servants of the house." The text is unchanged except that "And," 1. 8, replaced in 1837 "To." ९९ 2. Wordsworth's College, St. John's, Cambridge, was founded by the Lady Margaret, Countess of Richmond and Derby, mother of King Henry VII. She died June 29, 1509; the College was begun in or about 1511 and was formally opened by Bishop Fisher in 1516. IN SIGHT OF THE TOWN OF COCKERMOUTH. This is one of the poems composed or suggested during a tour in the summer of 1833; it was published in 1835. The text is unchanged. |