[Footnote A: In the edition of 1842 the following footnote is given by
Wordsworth,
"This biographical Sonnet, if so it may be called, together with the
Epistle that follows, have been long suppressed from feelings of personal
delicacy.
William Wordsworth
And should these slacken, honoured BEAUMONT! still
Even then we may perhaps in vain implore 10
Leave of our fate thy wishes [1] to fulfil.
Whether this boon be granted us or not,
Old Skiddaw will look down upon the Spot
With pride, the Muses love it evermore. [2] [A]
* * * * *
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
... pleasure ... MS.]
[Variant 2:
... will be proud, and that same spot
Be dear unto the Muses evermore. MS.
]
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: In the edition of 1842 the following footnote is given by
Wordsworth,
"This biographical Sonnet, if so it may be called, together with the
Epistle that follows, have been long suppressed from feelings of personal
delicacy.
"
The "Epistle" was that addressed to Sir George Beaumont in 1811.--Ed.]
This little property at Applethwaite now belongs to Mr. Gordon
Wordsworth, the grandson of the poet. It is a "sunny dell" only in its
upper reaches, above the spot where the cottage--which still bears
Wordsworth's name--is built. This sonnet, and Sir George Beaumont's wish
that Wordsworth and Coleridge should live so near each other, as to be
able to carry on joint literary labour, recall the somewhat similar wish
and proposal on the part of W. Calvert, unfolded in a letter from
Coleridge to Sir Humphry Davy.--Ed.
* * * * *
VAUDRACOUR AND JULIA
Composed 1804.--Published 1820
The following Tale was written as an Episode, in a work from which its
length may perhaps exclude it. [A] The facts are true; no invention as
to these has been exercised, as none was needed.--W. W. 1820.
