Toussaint, the most unhappy man of men! [B]
Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough Within thy hearing, or thy head be now Pillowed in some deep dungeon"s earless den;--[1]
O miserable Chieftain! where and when 5 Wilt thou find patience? Yet die not; do thou Wear rather in thy bonds a cheerful brow: Though fallen thyself, never to rise again, Live, and take comfort. [2] Thou hast left behind Powers that will work for thee; air, earth, and skies; 10 There"s not a breathing of the common wind That will forget thee; thou hast great allies; Thy friends are exultations, agonies, And love, and man"s unconquerable mind. [C]
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1827.
Whether the rural milk-maid by her cow Sing in thy hearing, or thou liest now Alone in some deep dungeon"s earless den, 1803.
Whether the all-cheering sun be free to shed His beams around thee, or thou rest thy head Pillowed in some dark dungeon"s noisome den, 1815.
Whether the whistling Rustic tend his plough Within thy hearing, or Thou liest now Buried in some deep dungeon"s earless den;--1820.]
[Variant 2:
1807.
... Yet die not; be thou Life to thyself in death; with chearful brow Live, loving death, nor let one thought in ten Be painful to thee ... 1803.]
FOOTNOTES ON THE TEXT
[Footnote A: But previously printed in "The Morning Post" of February 2, 1803, under the signature W. L. D.--Ed.]
[Footnote B: Compare Ma.s.singer, "The Bondman", act I. scene iii. l. 8:
"Her man of men, Timoleon."
Ed.]
[Footnote B: Compare Rowe"s "Tamerlane", iii. 2:
"But to subdue the unconquerable mind."
Also Gray"s poem "The Progress of Poesy", ii. 2, l. 10:
"Th" unconquerable Mind, and Freedom"s holy flame."
Ed.]
Francois Dominique Toussaint (who was surnamed L"Ouverture), the child of African slaves, was born at St. Domingo in 1743. He was a Royalist in political sympathy till 1794, when the decree of the French convention, giving liberty to the slaves, brought him over to the side of the Republic. He was made a general of division by Laveux, and succeeded in taking the whole of the north of the island from the English. In 1796 he was made chief of the French army of St. Domingo, and first the British commander, and next the Spanish, surrendered everything to him. He became governor of the island, which prospered under his rule. Napoleon, however, in 1801, issued an edict re-establishing slavery in St.
Domingo. Toussaint professed obedience, but showed that he meant to resist the edict. A fleet of fifty-four vessels was sent from France to enforce it. Toussaint was proclaimed an outlaw. He surrendered, and was received with military honours, but was treacherously arrested and sent to Paris in June 1802, where he died, in April 1803, after ten months"
hardship in prison. He had been two months in prison when Wordsworth addressed this sonnet to him.--Ed.
COMPOSED IN THE VALLEY NEAR DOVER, ON THE DAY OF LANDING
Composed August 30, 1802.--Published 1807
Here, on our native soil, we breathe once more. [1]
The c.o.c.k that crows, the smoke that curls, that sound Of bells;--those boys who [2] in yon meadow-ground In white-sleeved shirts are playing; [A] and the roar Of the waves breaking on the chalky sh.o.r.e;--[3] 5 All, all are English. Oft have I looked round With joy in Kent"s green vales; but never found Myself so satisfied in heart before.
Europe is yet in bonds; but let that pa.s.s, Thought for another moment. Thou art free, 10 My Country! and "tis joy enough and pride For one hour"s perfect bliss, to tread the gra.s.s Of England once again, and hear and see, With such a dear Companion at my side.
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1827.
Dear fellow Traveller! here we are once more. 1807.]
[Variant 2:
1820.
... that ... 1807.]
[Variant 3: