Part 22

It was for Sarah Hutchinson that this _Song_ was written. She lived, for the most part, either at Brinsop Court Herefordshire, or at Rydal Mount Westmoreland, or at Greta Hall Keswick. When living at Greta Hall, she acted as Southey's amanuensis. She also frequently transcribed poems for Wordsworth, at Grasmere, Coleorton, and Rydal Mount.

Compare the sonnet addressed _To S. H._ in the "Miscellaneous Sonnets," I. xx.--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1827.

Rest ... 1820.

[2] 1832.

With a motion smooth and fine Gathers ... 1820.

Runs with motion smooth and fine, Gathering ... 1827.

COMPOSED ON THE EVE OF THE MARRIAGE OF A FRIEND IN THE VALE OF GRASMERE, 1812

Composed 1812.--Published 1815

Classed among the "Miscellaneous Sonnets."--ED.

What need of clamorous bells, or ribands gay, These humble nuptials to proclaim or grace? Angels of love, look down upon the place; Shed on the chosen vale a sun-bright day! Yet no proud gladness would the Bride display 5 Even for such promise:[1]--serious is her face, Modest her mien; and she, whose thoughts keep pace With gentleness, in that becoming way Will thank you. Faultless does the Maid appear; No disproportion in her soul, no strife: 10 But, when the closer view of wedded life Hath shown that nothing human can be clear From frailty, for that insight may the Wife To her indulgent Lord become more dear.

This refers to the marriage of Thomas Hutchinson (Mrs. Wordsworth's brother) to Mary Monkhouse, sister of the Mr. Monkhouse with whom Wordsworth afterwards travelled on the Continent. The marriage took place on November 1, 1812. They lived at Nadnorth for eighteen years, and afterwards at Brinsop Court, Herefordshire, for twenty-one years. To their son--the Rev. Thomas Hutchinson of Kimbolton, Leominster, Herefordshire--and to their daughter--Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson of Rock Villa, West Malvern--I am indebted for much information in reference to their uncle and aunts. The portrait of Wordsworth in his forty-seventh year, by Richard Carruthers, is in Mr. Hutchinson's possession at the Rectory, Kimbolton.--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1827.

Even for such omen would the Bride display No mirthful gladness:-- 1815.

WATER-FOWL[A]

Composed 1812.--Published 1827

"Let me be allowed the aid of verse to describe the evolutions which these visitants sometimes perform, on a fine day towards the close of winter."--_Extract from the Author's Book on the Lakes._--W. W. 1827.

[Observed frequently over the lakes of Rydal and Grasmere.--I. F.]

Placed among the "Poems of the Imagination."--ED.

Mark how the feathered tenants of the flood, With grace of motion that might scarcely seem[B] Inferior to angelical, prolong Their curious pastime! shaping in mid air (And sometimes with ambitious wing that soars 5 High as the level of the mountain-tops) A circuit ampler than the lake beneath-- Their own domain; but ever, while intent On tracing and retracing that large round, Their jubilant activity evolves 10 Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fro, Upward and downward, progress intricate Yet unperplexed, as if one spirit swayed Their indefatigable flight. 'Tis done-- Ten times, or more, I fancied it had ceased; 15 But lo! the vanished company again Ascending; they approach--I hear their wings, Faint, faint at first; and then an eager sound, Past in a moment--and as faint again! They tempt the sun to sport amid their plumes; 20 They tempt the water, or the gleaming ice, To show them a fair image; 'tis themselves, Their own fair forms, upon the glimmering plain, Painted more soft and fair as they descend Almost to touch;--then up again aloft, 25 Up with a sally and a flash of speed, As if they scorned both resting-place and rest!

FOOTNOTES:

[A] This is part of the canto of _The Recluse_, entitled "Home at Grasmere."--ED.

[B] For the original text, which differs from this, see _The Recluse_, vol. viii. of this edition.--ED.

1813

See the note to the previous year, 1812.--ED.

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF BLACK COMB

Composed 1813.--Published 1815

Black Comb stands at the southern extremity of Cumberland: its base covers a much greater extent of ground than any other mountain in these parts; and, from its situation, the summit commands a more extensive view than any other point in Britain.--W. W. 1827.

[Mrs. Wordsworth and I, as mentioned in the _Epistle to Sir G. Beaumont_, lived sometime under its shadow.--I. F.]

Included among the "Poems of the Imagination." (See the editorial note to the following poem.)--ED.

This Height a ministering Angel might select: For from the summit of BLACK COMB (dread name Derived from clouds and storms!) the amplest range Of unobstructed prospect may be seen That British ground commands:--low dusky tracts, 5 Where Trent is nursed, far southward! Cambrian hills To the south-west, a multitudinous show; And, in a line of eye-sight linked with these, The hoary peaks of Scotland that give birth To Tiviot's stream, to Annan, Tweed, and Clyde:-- 10 Crowding the quarter whence the sun comes forth Gigantic mountains rough with crags; beneath, Right at the imperial station's western base Main ocean, breaking audibly, and stretched Far into silent regions blue and pale;-- 15 And visibly engirding Mona's Isle That, as we left the plain, before our sight Stood like a lofty mount, uplifting slowly (Above the convex of the watery globe) Into clear view the cultured fields that streak 20 Her[1] habitable shores, but now appears A dwindled object, and submits to lie At the spectator's feet.--Yon azure ridge, Is it a perishable cloud? Or there Do we behold the line[2] of Erin's coast?[A] 25 Land sometimes by the roving shepherd-swain (Like the bright confines of another world) Not doubtfully perceived.--Look homeward now! In depth, in height, in circuit, how serene The spectacle, how pure!--Of Nature's works, 30 In earth, and air, and earth-embracing sea, A revelation infinite it seems; Display august of man's inheritance, Of Britain's calm felicity and power![B]

VARIANTS:

[1] 1827.

Its ... 1815.

[2] 1832.

... the frame ... 1815.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] The Irish coast can be seen from Black Comb, but it is seldom visible till after sundown.--ED.

[B] Compare, in _The Minstrels of Winandermere_, by Charles Farish, p. 33--

Close by the sea, lone sentinel, Black Comb his forward station keeps; He breaks the sea's tumultuous swell, And ponders o'er the level deeps. ED.

WRITTEN WITH A SLATE PENCIL ON A STONE, ON THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN OF BLACK COMB

Composed 1813.--Published 1815

[The circumstance, alluded to at the conclusion of these verses, was told me by Dr. Satterthwaite, who was Incumbent of Bootle, a small town at the foot of Black Comb. He had the particulars from one of the engineers who was employed in making trigonometrical surveys of that region.--I. F.]

Included among the "Inscriptions."--ED.

Stay, bold Adventurer; rest awhile thy limbs On this commodious Seat! for much remains Of hard ascent before thou reach the top Of this huge Eminence,--from blackness named, And, to far-travelled storms of sea and land, 5 A favourite spot of tournament and war! But thee may no such boisterous visitants Molest; may gentle breezes fan thy brow; And neither cloud conceal, nor misty air Bedim, the grand terraqueous spectacle, 10 From centre to circumference, unveiled! Know, if thou grudge not to prolong thy rest, That on the summit whither thou art bound, A geographic Labourer pitched his tent, With books supplied and instruments of art, 15 To measure height and distance; lonely task, Week after week pursued!--To him was given Full many a glimpse (but sparingly bestowed On timid man) of Nature's processes Upon the exalted hills. He made report 20 That once, while there he plied his studious work Within that canvass Dwelling, colours, lines, And the whole surface of the out-spread map,[1] Became invisible: for all around Had darkness fallen--unthreatened, unproclaimed-- 25 As if the golden day itself had been Extinguished in a moment; total gloom, In which he sate alone, with unclosed eyes, Upon the blinded mountain's silent top!

In the editions of 1815 and 1820, the note to the previous poem, _View from the top of Black Comb_, was appended to this one. In 1827 it was transferred to its appropriate and permanent place.--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1837.

Within that canvass Dwelling, suddenly The many-coloured map before his eyes 1815.

NOVEMBER, 1813

Composed November 1813.--Published 1815

Included among the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty."--ED.

Now that all hearts are glad, all faces bright, Our aged Sovereign sits, to the ebb and flow Of states and kingdoms, to their joy or woe, Insensible. He sits deprived of sight, And lamentably wrapped in twofold night, 5 Whom no weak hopes deceived; whose mind ensued, Through perilous war, with regal fortitude, Peace that should claim respect from lawless Might. Dread King of Kings, vouchsafe a ray divine To his forlorn condition! let thy grace 10 Upon his inner[1] soul in mercy shine; Permit his heart to kindle, and to embrace[2] (Though it were[3] only for a moment's space) The triumphs of this hour; for they are THINE!

The reference is to the rejoicings on the Leipzig victory of the Allied Forces, October 16 to 19, 1813. Napoleon crossed the Rhine on the 2nd November, and returned to Paris with the wreck of his army. George III. was English Sovereign; but, owing to his illness, the Prince of Wales had been appointed Regent, and assumed executive power in January 1811. The King died at Windsor in 1820, being eighty-two years of age. He had been entirely blind for some years before his death. The "twofold night" referred to in the sonnet is sufficiently obvious.--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1815.

... inmost ... 1838.

The text of 1840 returns to that of 1815.

[2] C. and 1838.

... and embrace, 1815.

[3] 1832.

(Though were it ...) 1815.

END OF VOL. IV

_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note:

1. The Tyrolese Sonnets in German were originally printed in the Fraktur Black Letter font and are unmarked. Within these sonnets several words appear in gesperrt (s p a c e d), these words have been surrounded by ~tilde signs~.

2. A full line ellipsis in poetry is represented by a single "..." and a full line ellipsis in quoted text is represented by a row of spaced periods, " . . . . . "

3. Minor punctuation errors have been corrected.

4. All footnotes have been moved to the chapter or sub-chapter ends EXCEPTING the footnote at the end of Tyrolese Sonnet VI which has been placed immediately after the sonnet though the chapter continues and other succeeding footnotes appear at the end.

Numbered footnotes are "variants" of words or phrases changed by Mr. Wordsworth in various published versions of his work. Lettered footnotes are those of the Editor Mr. Knight.

In the original text the printer used multiple periods to push single and multiple word "Variants" into the place in the notes where they occured in the poem. In this e-text a single ellipsis (...) is used to represent positioning of preceeding and succeeding words. The variant anchor point indicates the relative position of the word variant in the poem.

In footnote [A] to the poem "In the Grounds of Coleorton", p. 79 "l. 7." has been changed to p. 79 "l. 13." While the note correctly identifies the 7th line of the text of the poem printed on p. 79, it is actually l. 13. of the poem.

5. All poetry line markers have been retained as placed and numbered by the printer at 5, 4 or 6 line intervals.

6. No spelling alterations have been made. A number of alternate and/or inconsistent spellings appear in this text, including but not limited to:

"achieves" and "atchieved"

"antient", "ancyent", and "ancient"

"belovèd" and "beloved"

"birthplace" (by ED.) and "birth-place" (in poetry and notes)

"blessèd" and "blessed"

"Buonaparté" and "Buonaparte"

"cheer(ed)(ful)" and "chear(ed)(ful)"

"eye-sight" and "eyesight"

"farm-house" and "farmhouse"

"Mauleverers" and "Mauliverers"

"negociation" and "negotiation"

"out-spread" and "outspread"

"re-appearing" and "reappearing"

"recognised" and "recognized"

"Shakspeare('s)" (3) and "Shakespeare('s)" (3)

"Stockton-on-Tees" and "Stockton-upon-Tees"

"strong-hold" (in poetry) and "stronghold" (in letter)

"wingèd" and "winged"

"wreathèd" and "wreathed"

Printers error corrections:

7. Pg. 5. "in" to "on" (befell him on the way.)

8. Pg. 197, Note II. corrected p. "201" to "204" (Founding of Bolton Priory, p. 204.)