we at first only looked into the dell or chasm.  It is much grander seen from below, near the river’s bed.  Everybody knows that this Pass is famous in military history.  When we were travelling in Scotland, an invasion was hourly looked for, and one could not but think with some regret of the times when, from the now depopulated Highlands forty or fifty thousand men might have been poured down for the defence of the country, under such leaders as the Marquis of Montrose or the brave man who had so distinguished himself upon the ground where we were standing.  I will transcribe a sonnet suggested to William by this place, and written in Oct. 1803.”

Ed.

* * * * *

ANTICIPATION.  OCTOBER, 1803

Composed October 1803.—­Published 1807 [A]

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

  Shout, for a mighty Victory is won! 
  On British ground the Invaders are laid low;
  The breath of Heaven has drifted them like snow,
  And left them lying in the silent sun,
  Never to rise again!—­the work is done. 5
  Come forth, ye old men, now in peaceful show
  And greet your sons! drums beat and trumpets blow! 
  Make merry, wives! ye little children, stun
  Your grandame’s ears with pleasure of your noise! [1]
  Clap, infants, clap your hands!  Divine must be 10
  That triumph, when the very worst, the pain,
  And even the prospect of our brethren slain, [2]
  Hath something in it which the heart enjoys:—­
  In glory will they sleep and endless sanctity. [3]

* * * * *

VARIANTS ON THE TEXT

[Variant 1: 

1807.

  ... with transports of your own.  C.

  ... with transport of your noise! 1838.

The edition of 1840 returns to the text of 1807.]

[Variant 2: 

1807.

  The loss and e’en the prospect of the slain, MS. 1803.

And in ‘The Poetical Register’, 1803.

  And prospect of our Brethren to be slain, MS. 1803.]

[Variant 3: 

1807.

  True glory, everlasting sanctity.  MS. 1803.

And in ‘The Poetical Register’, 1803.]

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE ON THE TEXT

[Footnote A:  i. e. in the edition of 1807, but this sonnet was previously printed in 1803 in ‘The Poetical Register’, vol. iii. p. 340, in the ‘Anti-Gallican’ (1804), and in the ‘Poetical Repository’ (1805).—­Ed.]