The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 1 (of 8)Wordsworth, William
General
The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 1 (of 8)
Wordsworth, William
English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century
[Footnote T: For most of the images in the next sixteen verses I am
indebted to M. Raymond's interesting observations annexed to his
translation of Coxe's 'Tour in Switzerland'.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote U: The people of this Canton are supposed to be of a more
melancholy disposition than the other inhabitants of the Alps: this, if
true, may proceed from their living more secluded.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote V: This picture is from the middle region of the Alps.--W. W.
1815. _Chalets_ are summer huts for the Swiss herdsmen.--W. W. 1836.]
[Footnote W: Sugh, a Scotch word expressive of the sound of the wind
through the trees.--W. W. 1793.
It may be as well to add that, in this Scotch word, the "gh" is
pronounced; so that, as used colloquially, the word could never rhyme
with "blue."--Ed.]
[Footnote X: See Smollett's 'Ode to Leven Water' in 'Humphry Clinker',
and compare 'The Italian Itinerant and the Swiss Goatherd', in
"Memorials of a Tour on the Continent" in 1820, part ii. 1.--Ed.]
[Footnote Y: Alluding to several battles which the Swiss in very small
numbers have gained over their oppressors the house of Austria; and in
particular, to one fought at Naeffels near Glarus, where three hundred
and thirty men defeated an army of between fifteen and twenty thousand
Austrians. Scattered over the valley are to be found eleven stones, with
this inscription, 1388, the year the battle was fought, marking out as I
was told upon the spot, the several places where the Austrians
attempting to make a stand were repulsed anew.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote Z: As Schreck-Horn, the pike of terror. Wetter-Horn, the pike
of storms, etc., etc.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote Aa: The effect of the famous air called in French Ranz des
Vaches upon the Swiss troops.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote Bb: This shrine is resorted to, from a hope of relief, by
multitudes, from every corner of the Catholick world, labouring under
mental or bodily afflictions.--W. W. 1793.]
[Footnote Cc: Compare the Stanzas 'Composed in one of the Catholic
Cantons', in the "Memorials of a Tour on the Continent" (1820), which
refer to Einsiedlen.--Ed.]
[Footnote Dd: Rude fountains built and covered with sheds for the
accommodation of the pilgrims, in their ascent of the mountain.--W. W.
1793.]
[Footnote Ee: Compare Coleridge's 'Hymn before Sun-rise, in the Vale of
Chamouni':
And you, ye five wild torrents fiercely glad!
...
... Who, with living flowers
Of loveliest blue, spread garlands at your feet?
...
O struggling with the darkness all the night,
And visited all night by troops of stars,
...
The Arve and Arveiron at thy base
Rave ceaselessly;
Compare also Shelley's 'Mont Blanc'.--Ed.]
[Footnote Ff: See note on Coleridge's 'Hymn before Sun-rise' on previous
page.--Ed.[in Footnote Ff directly above]]
[Footnote Gg: An insect so called, which emits a short, melancholy cry,
heard, at the close of the summer evenings, on the banks of the
Loire.--W. W, 1793.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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