5 Stirred by the breeze; they rose, a Nation, true, THOUGHT OF A BRITON ON THE Composed 1807. - Published 1807 [This was composed while pacing to and fro between the Hall of Coleorton, then rebuilding, and the principal Farmhouse of the Estate, in which we lived for nine or ten months. I will here mention that the Song on the Restoration of Lord * The "new-born Kings" were the lesser German potentates, united in the Confederation of the Rhine. By a treaty signed at Paris (July 12th, 1806), by Talleyrand, and the ministers of twelve sovereign houses of the Empire, these princes declared themselves perpetually severed from Germany, and united together as the Confederate States of the Rhine, of which the Emperor of the French was declared Protector.-ED. † On December 11, 1806, Napoleon concluded a treaty with Frederick Augustus, the Elector of Saxony-who had been secretly on the side of France for some time to whom he gave additional territories, and the title of King, admitting him into "the Confederation of the Rhine." He had fallen, as one of the Prussian statesmen put it, into "that lowest of degradations, to steal at another man's bidding."-ED. Clifford, as well as that on the Feast of Brougham Castle, were produced on the same ground.-I. F.] This sonnet was classed among those " dedicated to Liberty," re-named in 1845, “Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-ED. Two Voices are there; one is of the sea, They were thy chosen music, Liberty! There came a Tyrant, and with holy glee 5 10 In 1807 the whole of the Continent of Europe was prostrate under the power of Napoleon. It is impossible to say to what special incident, if to any in particular, Wordsworth refers in the phrase, "with holy glee thou fought'st against him;" but, as the sonnet was composed at Coleorton in 1807-after the battles of Austerlitz and Jena, and Napoleon's practical mastery of Europe-our knowing the particular event or events in Swiss history to which he refers, would not add much to our understanding of the poem. In the Fenwick note Wordsworth incorrectly separates his Song on the Restoration of Lord Clifford from the Feast of Brougham Castle. They are the same song.-ED. TO THOMAS CLARKSON, ON THE FINAL PASSING OF THE BILL FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE, MARCH, 1807 Composed 1807. - Published 1807 One of the "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty."-ED. CLARKSON! it was an obstinate hill to climb : 5 10 On the 25th of March 1807, the Royal assent was given to the Bill for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The movement for its abolition was begun by Wilberforce, and carried on by Clarkson. Its abolition was voted by the House of Lords on the motion of Lord Grenville, and by the Commons on the motion of Charles James Fox, on the 10th of June 1806. The bill was read a second time in the Lords on the 5th of February, and became law on the 25th of March 1807. THE MOTHER'S RETURN BY MY SISTER Composed 1807. - Published 1815 [Written at Town-end, Grasmere. I. F.] One of the "Poems referring to the Period of Childhood."-ED. A MONTH, sweet Little-ones, is past O blessed tidings! thought of joy! 5 Louder and louder did he shout, 10 I told of hills, and far-off towns, And long, long vales to travel through ;— 15 He listens, puzzled, sore perplexed, No strife disturbs his sister's breast; The bonds of our humanity. Her joy is like an instinct, joy 20 Her brother now takes up the note, Then, settling into fond discourse, We told o'er all that we had done, - We talked of change, of winter gone, To her these tales they will repeat, 25 30 35 40 -But, see, the evening star comes forth ! 45 To bed the children must depart; A sadness at the heart: 'Tis gone and in a merry fit 50 Five minutes past-and, O the change! 55 |