‘I marvel how Nature could ever find space,’ [A]

and his parsonage in Oxfordshire is described in the sonnet—­

    ’Where holy ground begins, unhallowed ends,
    Is marked by no distinguishable line.’

The following note on Jones was appended to the edition of 1837: 

“This excellent Person, one of my earliest and dearest friends, died in the year 1835.  We were under-graduates together of the same year, at the same college; and companions in many a delightful ramble through his own romantic Country of North Wales.  Much of the latter part of his life he passed in comparative solitude; which I know was often cheered by remembrance of our youthful adventures, and of the beautiful regions which, at home and abroad, we had visited together.  Our long friendship was never subject to a moment’s interruption,—­and, while revising these volumes for the last time, I have been so often reminded of my loss, with a not unpleasing sadness, that I trust the Reader will excuse this passing mention of a Man who well deserves from me something more than so brief a notice.  Let me only add, that during the middle part of his life he resided many years (as Incumbent of the Living) at a Parsonage in Oxfordshire, which is the subject of one of the ‘Miscellaneous Sonnets.’”

Ed.

[Footnote A:  See p. 208 [’A Character’].—­Ed.]

* * * * *

CALAIS, AUGUST 15, 1802

Composed August 15, 1802.—­Published 1807 [A]

One of the “Sonnets dedicated to Liberty”; re-named in 1845, “Poems dedicated to National Independence and Liberty.”—­Ed.

  Festivals have I seen that were not names: 
  This is young Buonaparte’s natal day,
  And his is henceforth an established sway—­
  Consul for life.  With worship France proclaims
  Her approbation, and with pomps and games. 5
  Heaven grant that other Cities may be gay! 
  Calais is not:  and I have bent my way
  To the [1] sea-coast, noting that each man frames
  His business as he likes.  Far other show
  My youth here witnessed, in a prouder time; [2] 10
  The senselessness of joy was then sublime! 
  Happy is he, who, caring not for Pope,
  Consul, or King, can sound himself to know
  The destiny of Man, and live in hope.

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1807.

  ... this ... 1803.]

[Variant 2: 

1827.

  ...  Another time
  That was, when I was here twelve years ago. 1803.

  ... long years ago:  1807.

  ...  Far different time
  That was, which here I witnessed, long ago; 1820.]