"That Hill, whose flowery platform," etc. (page 64). This hill at St. Alban's must have been an object of great interest to the imagination of the venerable Bede, who thus describes it, with a delicate feeling, delightful to meet with in that rude age, traces of which are frequent in his works:-"Variis herbarum floribus depictus imò usquequaque vestitus, in quo nihil repentè arduum, nihil præceps, nihil abruptum, quem lateribus longè latèque deductum in modum æquoris natura complanat, dignum videlicet eum pro insitâ sibi specie venustatis jam olim reddens, qui beati martyris cruore dicaretur."-W. W. Recovery; Temptations from Roman Refinement (page 65). Text unchanged.-ED. Dissensions (page 66). L. 5 (1827); in 1822, "Lifting towards," etc.-ED. Struggle of the Britons (page 66). Ll. 3, 4 (1837); previously: "The spirit of Caractacus defends The Patriots, animates their glorious task ;—”—ED. L. 11, Saxon Conquest (page 67). Who, as the fields" (1827); "Intent, as fields," 1822. In 1. 12, "Will build" (1827); in 1822, "To build." Ll. 13, 14 (1827); in 1822: "Witness the foss, the barrow, and the girth Of many a long-drawn rampart, green and bare."-ED. "Nor wants the cause the panic-striking aid Alluding to the victory gained under Germanus.—See Bede.-W. W. "By men yet scarcely conscious of a care For other monuments than those of earth;" (page 67). The last six lines of this Sonnet are chiefly from the prose of Daniel; and here I will state (though to the Readers whom this Poem will chiefly interest it is unnecessary) that my obligations to other prose writers are frequent, obligations which, even if I had not a pleasure in courting, it would have been presumptuous to shun, in treating an historical subject. I must, however, particularise Fuller, to whom I am indebted in the Sonnet upon Wicliffe and in other instances. And upon the acquittal of the Seven Bishops I have done little more than versify a lively description of that event in the MS. Memoirs of the first Lord Lonsdale.-W. W. Sonnet XII. (page 68). "Ethelforth reached the convent of Bangor, he perceived the Monks, twelve hundred in number, offering prayers for the success of their countrymen: if they are praying against us,' he exclaimed, they are fighting against us; and he ordered them to be first attacked: they were destroyed; and, appalled by their fate, the courage of Brocmail wavered, and he fled from the field in dismay. Thus abandoned by their leader, his army soon gave way, and Ethelforth obtained a decisive conquest. Ancient Bangor itself soon fell into his hands, and was demolished; the noble monastery was levelled to the ground; its library, which is mentioned as a large one, the collection of ages, the repository of the most precious monuments of the ancient Britons, was consumed; half ruined walls, gates, and rubbish were all that remained of the magnificent edifice."-See Turner's valuable history of the Anglo-Saxons. Taliesin was present at the battle which preceded this desolation. The account Bede gives of this remarkable event, suggests a most striking warning against National and Religious prejudices.-W. W. L. 10, "vanish like a dream" (1827); “ steam" (1822).-Ed. Casual Incitement (page 68). pass away like L. 4, "immortal City" (1827); "glorious City" (1822). L.6 (1837); previously" His wing who seemeth lovelier in Heaven's eye."-ED. Glad Tidings (page 69). Ed. 1838 (only) has "holy prayer” in l. 8; and 11. 9, 10 are: "Rich conquest over minds which they would free Awaits their coming :-the tempestuous sea."-Ed. Sonnet XV. (page 69). The person of Paulinus is thus described by Bede, from the memory of an eye-witness: :-"Longæ staturæ, paululum incurvus, nigro capillo, facie macilentâ, naso adunco, pertenui, venerabilis simul et terribilis aspectu.” -W. W. L. 10 (1832); previously "Towards the Truths;" -ED. "Man's life is like a Sparrow," (page 70). See the original of this speech in Bede.--The Conversion of Edwin, as related by him, is highly interestingand the breaking up of this Council accompanied with an event so striking and characteristic, that I am tempted to give it at length in a translation. "Who,' exclaimed the King, when the Council was ended, 'shall first desecrate the altars and the temples ?' 'I,' answered the Chief Priest; 'for who more fit than myself, through the wisdom which the true God hath given me, to destroy, for the good example of others, what in foolishness I worshipped?' Immediately, casting away vain superstition, he besought the King to grant him what the laws did not allow to a priest, arms and a courser (equum emissarium); which mounting, and furnished with a sword and lance, he proceeded to destroy the Idols. The crowd, seeing this, thought him mad-he, however, halted not, but, approaching, he profaned the temple, casting against it the lance which he had held in his hand, and, exulting in acknowledgment of the worship of the true God, he ordered his companions to pull down the temple, with all its enclosures. The place is shown where those Idols formerly stood, not far from York, at the source of the river Derwent, and is at this day called Gormund Gaham, ubi pontifex ille, inspirante Deo vero, polluit ac destruxit eas, quas ipse sacraverat aras." The last expression is a pleasing proof that the venerable monk of Wearmouth was familiar with the poetry of Virgil.-W. W. Ll. 2-4 (1837); previously: "That, stealing in while by the fire you sit Conversion (page 71). Text unchanged.—ED. "such the inviting voice Heard near fresh streams;" (page 71). The early propagators of Christianity were accustomed to preach near rivers, for the convenience of baptism. -W. W. Apology (page 71). L. 6 (1827); in 1822, "Then let the good be free to breathe a note." L. 9 (1837); previously “Outshining nightly tapers, or the blaze."-ED. Sonnet XIX. (page 72). Having spoken of the zeal, disinterestedness, and temperance of the clergy of those times, Bede thus proceeds :- "Unde et in magna erat veneratione tempore illo religionis habitus, ita ut ubicunque clericus aliquis, aut monachus adveniret, gaudenter ab omnibus tanquam Dei famulus exciperetur. Etiam si in itinere pergens inveniretur, accurrebant, et flexâ cervice, vel manu signari, vel ore illius se benedici, gaudebant. Verbis quoque horum exhortatoriis diligenter auditum præbebant." Lib. iii. cap. 26.-W. W. Text unchanged.-ED. Other Influences (page 72). L. 1, "Body" (1837); previously "Frame." Seclusion (page 73). L. 13 (1837); previously "Yet, while they strangle without mercy, bring."-ED. Continued (page 73). L. 7, “sylvan” (1837); previously “ forest.” L. 9, "Would elevate" (1827); "Perchance would throng" (1822).—ED. Reproof (page 74). L. 4 (1827); in 1822, “The hovering Shade of venerable Bede." L. 7, -ED. "thou heard'st" (1827); in 1822, "he heard." Saxon Monasteries (page 75). L. 7 (1832); previously "And peace, and equity.—Bold faith! yet rise." L. 8 (1827); in 1822, "The sacred Towers for universal gains."-ED. "The people work like congregated bees" (page 75). See, in Turner's History, vol. iii. p. 528, the account of the erection of Ramsey Monastery. Penances were removable by the performance of acts of charity and benevolence.-W. W. Missions and Travels (page 75). L. 11 (1827); in 1822, "Nor leaves her speech wherewith to clothe a sigh." L. 13, "but" (1827); "while" (1822). — Ed. Alfred (page 76). Ll. 13, 14 (1827); in 1822: "And Christian India gifts with Alfred shares "pain narrows not his cares" (page 76). Through the whole of his life, Alfred was subject to grievous maladies.-W. W. His Descendants (page 76). Ll. 1-4 (1837); previously: "Can aught survive to linger in the veins |