V But cease, ye pitying bosoms, cease to bleed! With every patriot virtue in her train! No fetter vile the mind shall know, Yes! Liberty the soul of Life shall reign, Shall throb in every pulse, shall flow thro' every vein! VI Shall France alone a Despot spurn? Shall she alone, O Freedom, boast thy care? Lo, round thy standard Belgia's heroes burn, Tho' Power's blood-stain'd streamers fire the air, And still, as erst, let favour'd Britain be First ever of the first and freest of the free! ? 1789. LIFE' 25 30 35 40 As late I journey'd o'er the extensive plain The glorious prospect woke me from the dream. At every step it widen'd to my sight Wood, Meadow, verdant Hill, and dreary Steep, Following in quick succession of delight, Till all at once-did my eye ravish'd sweep! 1 First published in 1834. 5 32 Shall She, O Freedom, all thy blessings share MS. O crased. Life-Title] Sonnet II. Written September, 1789 MS. 0: Sonnet written just after the writer left the Country in Sept. 1789, aetat. 15 MS. 0 (c). 6 dreary] barren MS. 0, MS. OC. MS. O, MS. Oc). 8 my ravish'd eye did sweep. May this (I cried) my course through Life portray! And Knowledge open as my days advance! And thought suspended lie in Rapture's blissful trance. 1789. PROGRESS OF VICE [Nemo repente turpissimus] DEEP in the gulph of Vice and Woe Then swift the soul to disenthrall And Fear before the Victim's eyes Bid future ills and dangers rise. But hark! the Voice, the Lyre, their charms combine- 15 And Virtue vanquish'd-scorn'd-with hasty flight retires. But soon to tempt the Pleasures cease; Yet Shame forbids return to peace, 1 First published in 1834, from MS. 0. 12 Till when death pours at length MS. O (c). 20 14 While thought suspended lies MS. 0: While thought suspended lies in Transport's blissful trance MS. O (c). Progress of Vice-Title] Progress of Vice. An Ode MS. 0. The motto first appears in Boyer's Liber Aureus. 1 Vice] Guilt L. A. heart to disenthrall L. A. 3 inborn innate L. A. 13 But hark! their charms the voice L. A. 9 Yet still the ills] woes L. A. 15 The mazy dance and 20 Still on to urge MS. 0. The drear black paths of Vice the wretch must try, Where Hate-where Murder scowl-where starts Affright! Ah! close the scene-ah! close-for dreadful is the sight. 1790. MONODY ON THE DEATH OF CHATTERTON 1 [FIRST VERSION, IN CHRIST'S HOSPITAL BOOK-1790] And froze the genial current of his soul. Now prompts the Muse poetic lays, And high my bosom beats with love of Praise! But, Chatterton! methinks I hear thy name, For cold my Fancy grows, and dead each Hope of Fame. When Want and cold Neglect had chill'd thy soul, Athirst for Death I see thee drench the bowl! Thy corpse of many a livid hue On the bare ground I view, Whilst various passions all my mind engage; Darts through the tear, that glistens in my eye. Is this the land of liberal Hearts! Is this the land, where Genius ne'er in vain 5 IO 15 20 1 First published in 1893. The version in the Ottery Copy-book (MS. 0) was first published in P. and D. W., 1880, ii. 355*-8*. Three MSS. of the Monody, &c. are extant: (1) the Ottery Copy-book [MS. O]; (2) Boyer's Liber Aureus the text as printed; (3) the transcription of S. T. C.'s early poems made in 1823 [MS. O (c)]. Variants in 1 and 3 are given below. = 24 Ah! close the scene, for dreadful MS. 0. Monody-Title] A Monody on Chatterton, who poisoned himself at the age of eighteen-written by the author at the age of sixteen. MS. 0 (c). Motto] The motto does not appear in MS. O, but a note is prefixed: "This poem has since appeared in print, much altered, whether for the better I doubt. This was, I believe, written before the Author went to College' (J. T. C.). 6 drench] drain MS. O, MS. 0 (c). 7 corpse] corse MS, 0, MS. 0 (c). 13 Hearts] Heart MS. 0, MS. 0 (c). 20 taught] bade MS, O, MS, o (c). Sank beneath a load of Woe; This ever can the generous Briton hear, Elate of Heart and confident of Fame, From vales where Avon sports, the Minstrel came, He meditates the future song, How Ella battled with his country's foes, Paints him many a vision fair His eyes dance rapture and his bosom glows. He soothes to peace the care-worn breast, And now he punishes the heart of steel, And her own iron rod he makes Oppression feel. To feel the Hope now rais'd, and now deprest, In vain, O Youth, I turn th' affrighted eye; The hateful picture forces on my sight. In vain I seek the charms of youthful grace, Thy sunken eye, thy haggard cheeks it shews, The quick emotions struggling in the Face When each strong Passion spurn'd controll, And not a Friend was nigh to calm thy stormy soul. Such was the sad and gloomy hour 21 Sank] Sunk MS. O, MS. 0 (c). hear MS. O, MS. 0 (c). MS. O. 55 22 This ever] Which can the... ever 29 whilst while MS. 0. 32 ideal] rising 42 To feel] With all MS. 0. 36 eyes] too MS. 0 (c). 43 Lo! from thy dark Fate's sorrow keen MS. 0. 45 powerful] busy MS. O. 50 cheeks it] cheek she MS. 0: looks she MS. 0 (c). 51 the thy MS. O. 6c Thy fixed eyes she bade thee roll Thy native cot she held to view, On scenes that well might melt thy soul 65 Thy native cot, where Peace ere long And from thy Fate shall such distress ensue? Recoiling back, thou sent'st the friend of Pain Whether th' eternal Throne around, Thou pourest forth the grateful hymn, 70 75 80 83 And soar beyond the storms with upright eye elate!1 90 1790. 60 eyes] eye MS. 0. 61 On scenes which MS. 0. On] To MS. 0 (c). 64 evening] Evening's MS. O (c). 66 thrilling] frequent MS. O 78 sent'st] badest MS. 0. 79 81 eternal] Eternal's 67 made] bade MS. 0, MS. 0 (c). 88 But 89 To leave behind Contempt, and Want, and State, MS. 0. 1 [Note to 11. 88-90.] Altho' this latter reflection savours of suicide, it will easily meet with the indulgence of the considerate reader when he reflects that the Author's imagination was at that time inflam'd with the idea of his beloved Poet, and perhaps uttered a sentiment which in his cooler moments he would have abhor'd the thought of. [Signed] J, M. MS. 0 (c), |