WORDSWORTH'S POETICAL WORKS. 1821-2. THE only poems belonging to the years 1821-22 are the Ecclesiastical Sonnets, originally called Ecclesiastical Sketches. These were written at intervals, from 1821 onwards, but the great majority belong to that year. They were first published in 1822, in three parts, 102 Sonnets in all. Ten were added in the edition of 1827, several others in the years 1835 and 1836, and fourteen in 1845,-the final edition of 1850 containing 132. After Wordsworth's return from the Continent in 1820, he visited the Beaumonts at Coleorton, and as Sir George was then about to build a new Church on his property, conversation turned frequently to ecclesiastical topics, and gave rise to the idea of embodying the history of the Church of England in a series of Ecclesiastical Sketches in verse. The Sonnets Nos. XXXIX., XL., and XLI., in the third series, entitled, "Church to be erected," and "New Churchyard," are probably those to which Wordsworth refers as written first, in memory of his morning walk with Sir George Beaumont to fix the site of the Church: but it was the discussions which were being carried on in the British Parliament and elsewhere, in 1821, on the subject of Catholic Disabilities, that led him to enlarge his idea, and project a series of Sonnets dealing with the whole course of the ecclesiastical history of his country. His brother Christopher had published six volumes of Ecclesiastical Biography; or, the Lives of Eminent Men connected with the History of Religion in England, in 1809, while Dean and Rector of Bocking, and domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Southey's Book of the Church, to which Wordsworth refers in the Fenwick note prefixed to the series-was not published till 1823; and he tells us, in a note to the edition of 1822, that his own work was far advanced before he was aware that Southey had taken up the subject. As several of the Sonnets, however, are very well illustrated by passages in Southey's book, I have given a number of extracts from the latter work in the editorial notes. Wordsworth's own notes appended to the Sonnets, and others which are added, will show his indebtedness to such writers as Bede, Strype, Foxe, Walton, Whittaker, and Sharon Turner. The subject of the Sonnets on the "Aspects of 2 ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS. Christianity in America" were suggested to him by Bishop Doane and Professor Henry Reed, and the completion of the series dealing with offices of the English Liturgy was also suggested by Mr Reed.—ED. ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS.* IN SERIES. Comp. 1821. Pub. 1822. [My purpose in writing this Series was, as much as possible, to confine my view to the introduction, progress, and operation of the Church in England, both previous and subsequent to the Reformation. The Sonnets were written long before ecclesiastical history and points of doctrine had excited the interest with which they have been recently enquired into and discussed. The former particular is mentioned as an excuse for my having fallen into error in respect to an incident which had been selected as setting forth the height to which the power of the Popedom over temporal sovereignty had attained, and the During the month of December, 1820, I accompanied a much-beloved and honoured Friend in a walk through different parts of his estate, with a view to fix upon the site of a new Church which he intended to erect. It was one of the most beautiful mornings of a mild season,-our feelings were in harmony with the cherishing* influences of the scene; and such being our purpose, we were naturally led to look back upon past events with wonder and gratitude, and on the future with hope. Not long afterwards, some of the Sonnets which will be found towards the close of this series were produced as a private memorial of that morning's occupation. The Catholic Question, which was agitated in Parliament about that time, kept my thoughts in the same course; and it struck me that certain points in the Ecclesiastical History of our Country might advantageously be presented to view in verse. Accordingly, I took up the subject, and what I now offer to the reader was the result. When this work was far advanced, I was agreeably surprised to find that my friend, Mr Southey, had been engaged with similar views in writing a concise History of the Church in England. If our Productions, thus unintentionally coinciding, shall be found to illustrate each other, it will prove a high gratification to me, which I am sure my friend will participate. W. WORDSWORTH. RYDAL MOUNT, January 24, 1822. For the convenience of passing from one point of the subject to another without shocks of abruptness, this work has taken the shape of a series of Sonnets: but the Reader, it is to be hoped, will find that the pictures are often so closely connected as to have jointly the effect of passages of a poem in a form of stanza to which there is no objection but one that bears upon the Poet only-its difficulty.-W. W., 1822. * This occurs in all the editions. It may be a misprint for 'cheering.'-ED. INTRODUCTION. 3 arrogance with which it was displayed. I allude to the last Sonnet but one in the first series, where Pope Alexander the Third at Venice is described as setting his foot on the neck of the Emperor Barbarossa. Though this is related as a fact in history, I am told it is a mere legend of no authority. Substitute for it an undeniable truth not less fitted for my purpose, namely the penance inflicted by Gregory the Seventh upon the Emperor Henry the Fourth. Before I conclude my notice of these Sonnets, let me observe that the opinion I pronounced in favour of Laud (long before the Oxford Tract Movement), and which had brought censure upon me from several quarters, is not in the least changed Omitting here to examine into his conduct in respect to the persecuting spirit with which he has been charged, I am persuaded that most of his aims to restore ritual practices which had been abandoned were good and wise, whatever errors he might commit in the manner he sometimes attempted to enforce them. I further believe that, had not he, and others who shared his opinions and felt as he did, stood up in opposition to the reformers of that period, it is questionable whether the Church would ever have recovered its lost ground and become the blessing it now is, and will, I trust, become in a still greater degree, both to those of its communion and to those who unfortunately are separated from it.] FROM THE PART I. INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY INTO 'A verse may catch a wandering Soul, that flies I. INTRODUCTION. I, WHO accompanied with faithful pace1 I, who descended with glad step to chase "A verse may find him, who a Sermon flies, 1822. -The Temple, I. 1.—ED. + See The River Duddon, a Series of Sonnets (Vol. VI., p. 300).—ED. 4 CONJECTURES. Of mountain-quiet and boon nature's grace;1 Now seek upon the heights of Time the source II. CONJECTURES. If there be prophets on whose spirits rest And of my wild Companion dared to sing, In verse that moved with strictly-measured pace; 1822. torrent, fiercely combating, * See the Series of Sonnets dedicated to Liberty and Independence.-ED. + Compare the last Sonnet of this Series (Part III., 47).—ED. It may not be unworthy of note that in this sonnet Wordsworth makes the stream of the Duddon masculine, that of Liberty feminine, and that of the Church neuter.-ED. § Stillingfleet adduces many arguments in support of this opinion, but they are unconvincing. The latter part of this Sonnet refers to a favourite notion of Roman Catholic writers, that Joseph of Arimathea and his com panions brought Christianity into Britain, and built a rude church at Glastonbury; alluded to hereafter, in a passage upon the dissolution of monasteries.-W. W., 1822 TREPIDATION OF THE DRUIDS. And call the Fountain forth by miracle, And with dread signs the nascent Stream invest? Or some of humbler name, to these wild shores 5 III. TREPIDATION OF THE DRUIDS. SCREAMS round the Arch-druid's brow the sea-mewf-white Portending ruin to each baleful rite, That, in the lapse of ages,1 hath crept o'er Haughty the bard: can these meek doctrines blight But all shall be fulfilled;-the Julian spear A way first opened; and, with Roman chains, The tidings come of Jesus crucified; They come—they spread-the weak, the suffering, hear; Receive the faith, and in the hope abide. 1 1827. * St Peter.-Ed. seasons 1822. + This water-fowl was, among the Druids, an emblem of those traditions connected with the Deluge that made an important part of their mysteries. The Cormorant was a bird of bad omen.-W. W., 1822. The reference is to the conquest of Britain by Julius Cæsar.-ED. |