Fondly forgot. Too late I woke, and sigh'd- 1795. THE HOUR WHEN WE SHALL MEET AGAIN1 (Composed during Illness, and in Absence.) DIM Hour! that sleep'st on pillowing clouds afar, Bend o'er the traces, blame each lingering Dove, ? 1795. LINES 2 WRITTEN AT SHURTON BARS, NEAR BRIDGEWATER, SEPTEMBER 1795, IN ANSWER TO A LETTER FROM BRISTOL Good verse most good, and bad verse then seems better For what so sweet can labour'd lays impart As one rude rhyme warm from a friendly heart?-ANON. 45 5 IO 15 First published in The Watchman, No. III, March 17, 1796 (signed C.): included in 1797, 1803, 1844, and 1852. It was first reprinted, after 1803, in Literary Remains, 1836, i. 43, under the sportive title "Darwiniana", on the supposition that it was written' in half-mockery of Darwin's style with its dulcia vitia. (See 1852, Notes, p. 885.) 2 First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, 1828, 1829, and 1834. Below 1. 45 July 1795 1797, 1803. The Hour, &c.-Title] Darwiniana. The Hour, &c. L. R., 1844 : Composed during illness and absence 1852. 9-10 om. 1803. Watchman. 14 her] the Lil. Rem., 1844, 1852. Lines written, &c.-Title] Epistle I. 17 New] Now Lines written, &c. The motto is printed on the reverse of the half-title 'Poetical Epistles' [pp. 109, 110], Move with green radiance' through the grass, An emerald of light. O ever present to my view! Beloved Woman! did you fly Chill'd Friendship's dark disliking eye, But why with sable wand unblessed The expression 'green radiance' is borrowed from Mr. Wordsworth, a Poet whose versification is occasionally harsh and his diction too frequently obscure; but whom I deem unrivalled among the writers of the present day in manly sentiment, novel imagery, and vivid colouring. Note, 1796, p. 185: Footnote, 1797, p. 88. [The phrase 'green radiance' occurs in An Evening Walk, 11. 264-8, first published in 1793, and reprinted in 1820. In 1836 the lines were omitted. Oft has she taught them on her lap to play Delighted with the glow-worm's harmless ray, Toss'd light from hand to hand; while on the ground 1796: Ode to Sara, written at Shurton Bars, &c. 1797, 1803. The motto is omitted in 1797, 1803: The motto is prefixed to the poem in 1828, 1829, and 1834. In 1797 and 1803 a note is appended to the title :-Note. The first stanza alludes to a Passage in the Letter. [The allusions to a 'Passage in the Letter' must surely be contained not in the first but in the second and third stanzas. The reference is, no doubt, to the alienation from Southey, which must have led to a difference of feeling between the two sisters Sarah and Edith Fricker.] I felt it prompt the tender Dream, With viewless influence. And hark, my Love! The sea-breeze moans The onward-surging tides supply Dark reddening from the channel'd Isle' Unslated by the blast) The Watchfire, like a sullen star 25 30 35 40 Twinkles to many a dozing Tar Rude cradled on the mast. Even there--beneath that light-house tower— Ere Peace with Sara came, 45 Time was, I should have thought it sweet And there in black soul-jaundic'd fit And listen to the roar: When mountain surges bellowing deep Plung'd foaming on the shore. Then by the lightning's blaze to mark And when a second sheet of light Flash'd o'er the blackness of the night To see no vessel there! But Fancy now more gaily sings; 1 The Holmes, in the Bristol Channel. 26 sank] sunk 1796-1829. 34 fast-encroaching 1797, 1803. 49 black and jaundic'd fit 1797. 50 55 60 33 With broad impetuous 1797, 1803. 48 storm-vex'd] troubled 1797, 1803, On summer fields she grounds her breast: Nods, till returning morn. O mark those smiling tears, that swell The open'd rose! From heaven they fell, Blest visitations from above, Such are the tender woes of Love When stormy Midnight howling round 65 70 75 The tears that tremble down your cheek, 80 In Pity's dew divine; And from your heart the sighs that steal The answering swell of mine! How oft, my Love! with shapings sweet I seize you in the vacant air, 'Tis said, in Summer's evening hour A fair electric flame:1 1 LIGHT from plants. In Sweden a very curious phenomenon has been observed on certain flowers, by M. Haggern, lecturer in natural history. One evening he perceived a faint flash of light repeatedly dart from a marigold. Surprised at such an uncommon appearance, he resolved to examine it with attention; and, to be assured it was no deception of the eye, he placed a man near him, with orders to make a signal at the moment when he observed the light. They both saw it constantly at the same moment. The light was most brilliant on marigolds of an orange or flame colour; but scarcely visible on pale ones. The flash was frequently seen on the same flower two or three times in quick succession; but more commonly at intervals of several minutes; and when several flowers in the same And so shall flash my love-charg'd eye 1795. Shoots rapid through the frame! THE EOLIAN HARP1 COMPOSED AT CLEVEDON, SOMERSETSHIRE My pensive Sara! thy soft cheek reclined To sit beside our Cot, our Cot o'ergrown With white-flower'd Jasmin, and the broad-leav'd Myrtle, And watch the clouds, that late were rich with light, Shine opposite! How exquisite the scents Snatch'd from yon bean-field! and the world so hush'd! Tells us of silence. And that simplest Lute, Placed length-ways in the clasping casement, hark! 95 5 ΤΟ place emitted their light together, it could be observed at a considerable distance. This phenomenon was remarked in the months of July and August at sun-set, and for half an hour when the atmosphere was clear; but after a rainy day, or when the air was loaded with vapours nothing of it was seen. The following flowers emitted flashes, more or less vivid, in this order :-1. The marigold, galendula [sic] officinalis. 2. Monk's-hood, tropaelum [sic] majus. 3. The orange-lily, lilium bulbiferum. 4. The Indian pink, tagetes patula et erecta. From the rapidity of the flash, and other circumstances, it may be conjectured that there is something of electricity in this phenomenon. Notes to Poems, 1796. Note 13, pp. 186, 188. In 1797 the above was printed as a footnote on pp. 93, 94. In 1803 the last stanza, lines 91-96, was omitted, and, of course, the note disappeared. In 1828, 1829, and 1834 the last stanza was replaced but the note was not reprinted. 1 First published in 1796: included in 1797, 1803, Sibylline Leaves, 1817, 1828, 1829, and 1834. The Eolian Harp-Title] Effusion xxxv. Composed August 20th, 1795, At Clevedon, Somersetshire 1796: Composed at Clevedon Somersetshire 1797, 1803: The Eolian Harp. Composed, &c. S. L. 1817, 1828, 1829, 1834. 5 om. 1803. 8 om. 1803. II Hark! the still murmur 1803. And th' Eolian Lute, 1803. 13 om. 1803. 12 |