The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)

Name: The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)
Author: Wordsworth, William

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Not 'mid the World's vain objects that[1] enslave
    The free-born Soul--that World whose vaunted skill
    In selfish interest perverts the will,
    Whose factions lead astray the wise and brave--
    Not there; but in dark wood and rocky cave,                  5
    And hollow vale which foaming torrents fill
    With omnipresent murmur as they rave
    Down their steep beds, that never shall be still:
    Here, mighty Nature! in this school sublime
    I weigh the hopes and fears of suffering Spain;             10
    For her consult the auguries of time,
    And through the human heart explore my way;
    And look and listen--gathering, whence[2] I may,
    Triumph, and thoughts no bondage can restrain.


Wordsworth began to write on the Convention of Cintra in November 1808,
and sent two articles on the subject to the December (1808) and January
(1809) numbers of _The Courier_. The subject grew in importance to him
as he discussed it: and he threw his reflections on the subject into the
form of a small treatise, the preface to which was dated 20th May 1809.
The full title of this (so-called) "Tract" is "Concerning the Relations
of Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal to each other, and to the common
Enemy, at this crisis; and specifically as affected by the Convention of
Cintra: the whole brought to the test of those Principles, by which
alone the Independence and Freedom of Nations can be Preserved or
Recovered."--ED.


VARIANTS:

[1] 1820.

      ... which ...                                      1815.

[2] 1827.

      ... where ...                                      1815.




COMPOSED AT THE SAME TIME AND ON THE SAME OCCASION

Composed 1808.--Published 1815


One of the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty."--ED.


    I dropped my pen; and listened to the Wind
    That sang of trees up-torn and vessels tost--
    A midnight harmony; and wholly lost
    To the general sense of men by chains confined
    Of business, care, or pleasure; or resigned                  5
    To timely sleep. Thought I, the impassioned strain,
    Which, without aid of numbers, I sustain,
    Like acceptation from the World will find.
    Yet some with apprehensive ear shall drink
    A dirge devoutly breathed o'er sorrows past;                10
    And to the attendant promise will give heed--
    The prophecy,--like that of this wild blast,
    Which, while it makes the heart with sadness shrink,
    Tells also of bright calms that shall succeed.




1809

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)Wordsworth, William

General

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)

Wordsworth, William

English poetry -- 18th century; English poetry -- 19th century

Not 'mid the World's vain objects that[1] enslave
    The free-born Soul--that World whose vaunted skill
    In selfish interest perverts the will,
    Whose factions lead astray the wise and brave--
    Not there; but in dark wood and rocky cave,                  5
    And hollow vale which foaming torrents fill
    With omnipresent murmur as they rave
    Down their steep beds, that never shall be still:
    Here, mighty Nature! in this school sublime
    I weigh the hopes and fears of suffering Spain;             10
    For her consult the auguries of time,
    And through the human heart explore my way;
    And look and listen--gathering, whence[2] I may,
    Triumph, and thoughts no bondage can restrain.


Wordsworth began to write on the Convention of Cintra in November 1808,
and sent two articles on the subject to the December (1808) and January
(1809) numbers of _The Courier_. The subject grew in importance to him
as he discussed it: and he threw his reflections on the subject into the
form of a small treatise, the preface to which was dated 20th May 1809.
The full title of this (so-called) "Tract" is "Concerning the Relations
of Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal to each other, and to the common
Enemy, at this crisis; and specifically as affected by the Convention of
Cintra: the whole brought to the test of those Principles, by which
alone the Independence and Freedom of Nations can be Preserved or
Recovered."--ED.


VARIANTS:

[1] 1820.

      ... which ...                                      1815.

[2] 1827.

      ... where ...                                      1815.




COMPOSED AT THE SAME TIME AND ON THE SAME OCCASION

Composed 1808.--Published 1815


One of the "Sonnets dedicated to Liberty."--ED.


    I dropped my pen; and listened to the Wind
    That sang of trees up-torn and vessels tost--
    A midnight harmony; and wholly lost
    To the general sense of men by chains confined
    Of business, care, or pleasure; or resigned                  5
    To timely sleep. Thought I, the impassioned strain,
    Which, without aid of numbers, I sustain,
    Like acceptation from the World will find.
    Yet some with apprehensive ear shall drink
    A dirge devoutly breathed o'er sorrows past;                10
    And to the attendant promise will give heed--
    The prophecy,--like that of this wild blast,
    Which, while it makes the heart with sadness shrink,
    Tells also of bright calms that shall succeed.




1809

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)

The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth — Volume 4 (of 8)

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