It is recorded in Dampier's Voyages that a Boy, the Son of a Captain of a Man of War, seated himself in a Turtleshell and floated in it from the shore to his Father's Ship, which lay at anchor at the distance of half a mile. Upon the suggestion of a Friend, I have substituted such a Shell for that less elegant vessel in which my blind voyager did actually intrust himself to the dangerous current of Loch Levin, as was related to me by an Eye-witness.-W. W. 1815.

This note varies slightly in later editions.

The Loch Leven referred to is a sea-loch in Argyllshire, into which the tidal water flows with some force from Loch Linnhe at Ballachulish.

By night and day

The great Sea-water finds its way

Through long, long windings of the hills.

The friend referred to in the note of 1815, who urged Wordsworth to give his blind voyager a Shell, instead of a washing-tub to sail in, was Coleridge. The original tale of the tub was not more unfortunate than the lines in praise of Wilkinson's spade, and several of Wordsworth's friends, notably Charles Lamb and Barron Field, objected to the change. Lamb wrote to Wordsworth in 1815, "I am afraid lest that substitution of a shell (a flat falsification of the history) for the household implement, as it stood at first, was a kind of tub thrown out to the beast" [i.e. the reviewer !] "or rather thrown out for him. The tub was a good honest tub in its place, and nothing could fairly be said against it. You say you made the alteration for the 'friendly reader,' but the 'malicious' will take it to himself."-(The Letters of Charles Lamb, edited by Alfred Ainger, vol. i. p. 283.) Wordsworth could not be induced to "undo his work," and go back to his own original; although he evidently agreed with what Lamb had said (as is seen in a letter to Barron Field, Oct. 24, 1828).—ED.

OCTOBER, 1803

Composed October 1803.-Published 1807

Included among the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; renamed in 1845, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-Ed.

ONE might believe that natural miseries
Had blasted France, and made of it a land
Unfit for men; and that in one great band
Her sons were bursting forth, to dwell at ease.
But 'tis a chosen soil, where sun and breeze
Shed gentle favours: rural works are there,
And ordinary business without care;

Spot rich in all things that can soothe and please!
How piteous then that there should be such dearth
Of knowledge; that whole myriads should unite
To work against themselves such fell despite :
Should come in phrensy and in drunken mirth,
Impatient to put out the only light

Of Liberty that yet remains on earth!

5

10

"THERE IS A BONDAGE WORSE, FAR
WORSE, TO BEAR"

Composed possibly in 1803.- Published 1807

Included among the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; renamed in 1845, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."—Ed.

THERE is a bondage worse, far worse, to bear 1 Than his who breathes, by roof, and floor, and wall, Pent in, a Tyrant's solitary Thrall :

'Tis his who walks about in the open air,

One of a Nation who, henceforth, must wear
Their fetters in their souls. For who could be,
Who, even the best, in such condition, free
From self-reproach, reproach that 2 he must share
With Human-nature ? Never be it ours

5

To see the sun how brightly it will shine,
And know that noble feelings, manly powers,

Instead of gathering strength, must droop and pine;
And earth with all her pleasant fruits and flowers
Fade, and participate in man's decline.

OCTOBER, 1803

Composed October 1803.-Published 1807

This was

10

one of the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; afterwards called, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."—Ed.

THESE times strike 1 monied worldlings with dismay :
Even rich men, brave by nature, taint the air
With words of apprehension and despair:

While tens of thousands, thinking on the affray,
Men unto whom sufficient for the day
And minds not stinted or untilled are given,
Sound, healthy, children of the God of heaven,
Are cheerful as the rising sun in May.
What do we gather hence but firmer faith
That every gift of noble origin

Is breathed upon by Hope's perpetual breath;
That virtue and the faculties within

Are vital, and that riches are akin

To fear, to change, to cowardice, and death?

"ENGLAND! THE TIME IS COME WHEN THOU SHOULD'ST WEAN"

Composed possibly in 1803.-Published 1807

5

IO

This was one of the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; afterwards called, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-ED.

1 1837.

touch

1807.

ENGLAND the time is come when thou should'st wean Thy heart from its emasculating food;

The truth should now be better understood;

Old things have been unsettled; we have seen

Fair seed-time, better harvest might have been
But for thy trespasses; and, at this day,

If for Greece, Egypt, India, Africa,

Aught good were destined, thou would'st step between.
England! all nations in this charge agree:
But worse, more ignorant in love and hate,
Far-far more abject, is thine Enemy:

Therefore the wise pray for thee, though the freight
Of thy offences be a heavy weight:

Oh grief that Earth's best hopes rest all with Thee!

5

ΙΟ

OCTOBER, 1803

Composed October 1803.-Published 1807

Included among the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; afterwards called, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-Ed.

WHEN, looking on the present face of things,

I see one man, of men the meanest too!
Raised up to sway the world, to do, undo,
With mighty Nations for his underlings,
The great events with which old story rings
Seem vain and hollow; I find nothing great :
Nothing is left which I can venerate;

So that a doubt almost 1 within me springs
Of Providence, such emptiness at length
Seems at the heart of all things. But, great God!
I measure back the steps which I have trod;

1 1845.

5

9

almost a doubt

VOL. II

1807.

2 F

And tremble, seeing whence proceeds the strength 1
Of such poor Instruments, with thoughts sublime
I tremble at the sorrow of the time.

The reference is, of course, to Napoleon.-ED.

TO THE MEN OF KENT.

OCTOBER, 1803

Composed October 1803.-Published 1807

One of the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty"; re-named in 1845, "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-ED.

VANGUARD of Liberty, ye men of Kent,*

Ye children of a Soil that doth advance

Her 2 haughty brow against the coast of France,
Now is the time to prove your hardiment !
To France be words of invitation sent!
They from their fields can see the countenance
Of your
fierce war, may ken the glittering lance
And hear you shouting forth your brave intent.
Left single, in bold parley, ye, of yore,
Did from the Norman win a gallant wreath ;
Confirmed the charters that were yours before ;
No parleying now! In Britain is one breath ;
We all are with you now from shore to shore :-
Ye men of Kent, 'tis victory or death!

* Compare Michael Drayton's Barons' Wars, book i.— Then those of Kent, unconquered of the rest, That to this day maintain their ancient right.

ED.