consequence, there are still other sonnets dedicated to liberty, or, as he puts it later, to "National Independence." Napoleon's sway and ambitious projects seem to be a disturbing influence with him. Most of these sonnets are born of his observations and reflections concerning the movements of the French "Tyrant." The sonnets "One might believe that natural miseries," "There is a bondage worse, far worse, to bear," "These times strike monied worldlings with dismay," "England! the time is come when thou shouldst wean," and "When looking on the present face of things" reveal his state of mind so far as events of the time are concerned. "To the Men of Kent," "In the Pass of Killicranky," "Lines on the Expected Invasion," and "Anticipation" are poems written really in anticipation of a possible, if not indeed a probable, invasion of England by Napoleon. The French conqueror had amassed a large army for this purpose, and the English people were on fire with patriotic zeal to defend their land and liberties. It was natural that such a liberty-loving poet as Wordsworth should celebrate in advance, by anticipation, the inevitable result of such an attempt on the part of the French ruler. We have another evidence of Wordsworth's humanity in "Lines" composed in September, 1806, in expectation of the death of Charles James Fox, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Professor Knight, in a note appended to the poem, says: "Wordsworth's sadness on this occasion, his recognition of Fox as great and good, and as 'a Power' that was 'passing from the earth,' may have been due partly to personal and political sympathy, but also probably to Fox's appreciation of the better side of the French Revolution, and to his welcoming the pacific proposals of Talleyrand, perhaps also to his efforts for the abolition of slavery."1 In this year matters reached a crisis with England. Napoleon had conquered the Germans. Another power had been laid low, and on November 21 of this year he issued a decree for the blockade of England. Wordsworth, as a consequence, writes another sonnet "dedicated 1 Poetical Works, edited by William Knight, IV, 48-49 n. to Liberty," entitled "November, 1806," in which he recognizes the fact that England's safety now depends upon herself, and again anticipates rejoicing over victory, if they who rule the land Be men who hold its many blessings dear, Wise, upright, valiant; not a servile band, Who are to judge of danger which they fear, And honour which they do not understand.1 If many of the "Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty" are to be fully understood, they must be read in the light of the spirit of the times the social and political movements of the age; otherwise we shall miss their true import. Furthermore, they must be read with a consciousness that we are dealing with a poet whose heart is close to Man-who views events with a liberty-loving eye and soul, with a heart that throbs not only with a profound love for his own country, and its free institutions, but with a universal love, a love for Man as Man. Poet of Nature that he is as much so, if indeed not more so, during his residence in Grasmere Vale than at any other time in his whole career - he is also the poet of Man, with a deep and abiding interest in those conditions which make for social and political welfare. In his soul sounds "the still sad music of humanity," and his poet's heart and mind are enlisted in the service of humanity's sacred cause. 1 November, 1806, 10-14. CHAPTER XII GRASMERE (CONTINUED). "THE PRELUDE." "ODE TO DUTY." "CHARACTER OF THE HAPPY WARRIOR " If we could place no further work to Wordsworth's credit, during his residence in Grasmere Vale, than the poems already considered, they would bear testimony to the fertility of his genius, and are of sufficient number and quality to give him a recognized place in English poetry. But, as a matter of fact, they do not represent the greater part of his work during this period, nor his most important contributions to literature. A large part of his time and effort was spent on more ambitious productions, some of which, at least, constitute a fair measure of his claim to immortality. The productions referred to include the autobiographical poem "The Prelude"; the famous "Ode to Duty"; the well-known poem "Character of the Happy Warrior"; and the great "Ode. Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood." These poems throw a bright light on the development of Wordsworth, both as a poet of Nature and as a poet of Man. They are important, too, not only from the standpoint of his personal psychology, but also as giving an insight into the content of his philosophic faith. Therefore they call for careful examination, and a strict regard for chronology requires that we begin with "The Prelude.” As far back at least as the Racedown days Wordsworth had in mind the composition, sooner or later, of a work that should really be his magnum opus—a work of large scope, more or less philosophical in character, and having for its subject, "Nature, Man, and Society." In a letter written to James Losh, in 1798, he says: "I have written 706 lines of a poem which I hope to make of 12 considerable utility. Its title will be, The Recluse, or Views of Nature, Man, and Society." According to the Bishop of Lincoln, Coleridge wrote to Wordsworth in the summer of 1799, urging him to steady work on "The Recluse." He says, "I am anxiously eager to have you steadily employed on 'The Recluse."" Again, as was stated in a previous chapter, Coleridge writes to him at Sockburne, October 12, 1799, saying: "I long to see what you have been doing. O let it be the tail-piece of 'The Recluse,' for of nothing but 'The Recluse' can I hear patiently. That it is to be addressed to me makes me more desirous that it should not be a poem of itself. To be addressed, as a beloved man, by a thinker, at the close of such a poem as 'The Recluse,' a poem non unius populi, is the only event, I believe, capable of inciting in me an hour's vanity-vanity, nay, it is too good a feeling to be so called; it would indeed be a self-elevation produced ab extra." In still another letter, dated December, 1799, he writes from London, saying, "I grieve that 'The Recluse' sleeps."4 Again, at the close of the fragment "The Recluse," which records the journey of Wordsworth and Dorothy to Grasmere Vale, and their settlement there, we find these words: Yet in this peaceful Vale we will not spend Unheard of days, though loving, peaceful thoughts. A voice shall speak, and what will be the theme?" The theme is indicated in a manuscript note, published in 1814: Wordsworth himself, in his preface to "The Excursion," published in 1814, explains the relation of "The Prelude" to this elaborate poem. His explanation throws much light on the entire scheme. In it he says: "Several years ago, when the Author retired to his native mountains, with the hope of being enabled to construct a 1 Knight, The Life of William Wordsworth, I, 148. 4 Ibid., 202. 2 Ibid., 195. • Ibid., 254 n. literary Work that might live, it was a reasonable thing that he should take a review of his own mind, and examine how far Nature and Education had qualified him for such employment. As subsidiary to this preparation, he undertook to record, in verse, the origin and progress of his own powers, as far as he was acquainted with them. That Work, addressed to a dear Friend, most distinguished for his knowledge and genius, and to whom the Author's Intellect is deeply indebted, has been long finished; and the result of the investigation which gave rise to it was a determination to compose a philosophical poem, containing views of Man, Nature, and Society; and to be entitled, 'The Recluse'; as having for its principal subject the sensations and opinions of a poet living in retirement. The preparatory poem is biographical, and conducts the history of the Author's mind to the point when he was emboldened to hope that his faculties were sufficiently matured for entering upon the arduous labour which he had proposed to himself; and the two Works have the same kind of relation to each other, if he may so express himself, as the ante-chapel has to the body of a Gothic church. Continuing this allusion, he may be permitted to add, that his minor Pieces, which have been long before the Public, when they shall be properly arranged, will be found by the attentive Reader to have such connection with the main work as may give them claim to be likened to the little cells, oratories, and sepulchral recesses, ordinarily included in those edifices." 1 It is manifest here that the elaborate work "The Recluse " was to consist of three parts, and the autobiographical poem was to constitute the introduction. But "The Recluse," as originally planned, was never finished. "The Excursion," however, which represents the second part, was completed. The First Part of the First Book of "The Recluse" was left in manuscript, and the Third Part was merely planned. "The materials of which it would have been formed, have, however, been incorporated, for the most 1 The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth, edited by Thomas Hutchinson, 754, London, 1895. |