RYDAL MOUNT, 1846. [305] Lucca Giordano was born at Naples, in 1629. He was at first a disciple of Spagnaletto, next of Pietro da Cortona; but after coming under the influence of Correggio, he went to Venice, where Titian was his inspiring master. In his own work the influence of all of these predecessors may be traced, but chiefly that of Titian, whose style of colouring and composition he followed so closely that many of his works might be mistaken for those of his greatest master. The picture referred to in this sonnet was brought from Italy by the poet’s eldest son.--ED. “WHO BUT IS PLEASED TO WATCH THE MOON ON HIGH” Composed 1846.--Published 1850 One of the “Evening Voluntaries.”--ED. Who but is pleased to watch the moon on high Travelling where she from time to time enshrouds Her head, and nothing loth her Majesty Renounces, till among the scattered clouds One with its kindling edge declares that soon 5 Will reappear before the uplifted eye A Form as bright, as beautiful a moon, To glide in open prospect through clear sky. Pity that such a promise e’er should prove False in the issue, that yon seeming space 10 Of sky should be in truth the stedfast face Of a cloud flat and dense, through which must move (By transit not unlike man’s frequent doom) The Wanderer lost in more determined gloom. ILLUSTRATED BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS Composed 1846.--Published 1850 One of the “Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.”--ED. Discourse was deemed Man’s noblest attribute, And written words the glory of his hand; Then followed Printing with enlarged command For thought--dominion vast and absolute For spreading truth, and making love expand. 5 Now prose and verse sunk into disrepute Must lacquey a dumb Art that best can suit The taste of this once-intellectual Land. A backward movement surely have we here,[306] From manhood--back to childhood; for the age-- 10 Back towards caverned life’s first rude career. Avaunt this vile abuse of pictured page! Must eyes be all in all, the tongue and ear Nothing? Heaven keep us from a lower stage! [306] The _Illustrated London News_--the pioneer of illustrated newspapers--was first issued on 14th May 1842. The painter and artist may differ from the poet, in the judgment here pronounced; but had Wordsworth known the degradation to which many newspapers would sink in this direction, his censure would have been more severe.--ED. SONNET TO AN OCTOGENARIAN Composed 1846.--Published 1850