Despond who will--_I_ heard a voice exclaim, "Though fierce the assault, and shatter'd the defence,[877] It cannot be that Britain's social frame, The glorious work of time and providence, Before a flying season's rash pretence,[878] 5 Should fall; that She, whose virtue put to shame, When Europe prostrate lay, the Conqueror's aim, Should perish, self-subverted. Black and dense The cloud is; but brings _that_ a day of doom To Liberty? Her sun is up the while,[879] 10 That orb whose beams round Saxon Alfred shone: Then laugh, ye innocent Vales! ye Streams, sweep on, Nor let one billow of our heaven-blest Isle[880] Toss in the fanning wind a humbler plume." FOOTNOTES: [877] 1835. Clear voices from pure worlds of hope exclaim "Tho' fierce the assault, and shattered the defence," MS. [878] 1835. Before a season's calculating sense, MS. [879] 1835. ... The sun is up ... MS. [880] 1835. ... of this heaven-blest Isle MS. XXIII IN THE FRITH OF CLYDE, AILSA CRAG[881] DURING AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN, JULY 17 [The morning of the eclipse was exquisitely beautiful while we passed the Crag as described in the Sonnet. On the deck of the steam-boat were several persons of the poor and labouring class, and I could not but be struck by their cheerful talk with each other, while not one of them seemed to notice the magnificent objects with which we were surrounded; and even the phenomenon of the eclipse attracted but little of their attention. Was it right not to regret this? They appeared to me, however, so much alive in their own minds to their own concerns that I could not look upon it as a misfortune that they had little perception for such pleasures as cannot be cultivated without ease and leisure. Yet, if one surveys life in all its duties and relations, such ease and leisure will not be found so enviable a privilege as it may at first appear. Natural Philosophy, Painting, and Poetry, and refined taste are no doubt great acquisitions to society; but among those who dedicate themselves to such pursuits, it is to be feared that few are as happy, and as consistent in the management of their lives, as the class of persons who at that time led me into this course of reflection. I do not mean by this to be understood to derogate from intellectual pursuits, for that would be monstrous: I say it in deep gratitude for this compensation to those whose cares are limited to the necessities of daily life. Among them, self-tormentors, so numerous in the higher classes of society, are rare.--I. F.]