Book 2 — XI[87:2]
Reading edition
XI[87:2]
TO RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN, ESQ.
It was some Spirit, Sheridan! that breath'd O'er thy young mind such wildly-various power! [88]My soul hath mark'd thee in her shaping hour, Thy temples with Hymettian[88:1] flow'rets wreath'd: And sweet thy voice, as when o'er Laura's bier 5 Sad Music trembled thro' Vauclusa's glade; Sweet, as at dawn the love-lorn Serenade That wafts soft dreams to Slumber's listening ear. Now patriot Rage and Indignation high Swell the full tones! And now thine eye-beams dance 10 Meanings of Scorn and Wit's quaint revelry! Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance The Apostate by the brainless rout ador'd, As erst that elder Fiend beneath great Michael's sword.
January 29, 1795.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] To Sheridan MS. E: Effusion vi. 1796: Sonnet xi. 1803: Sonnet v. 1828, 1829, 1834.
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1-5
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Some winged Genius, Sheridan! imbreath'd His various influence on thy natal hour: My fancy bodies forth the Guardian power, His temples with Hymettian flowrets wreath'd And sweet his voice
MS. Letter, Dec. 9, 1794.
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1-2
]
Was it some Spirit, Sheridan! that breath'd His various &c.
M. C.
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1-3
]
Some winged Genius, Sheridan! imbreath'd O'er thy young Soul a wildly-various power! My Fancy meets thee in her shaping hour
MS. E.
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8
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wafts] bears MS. Letter, 1794, M. C., MS. E.
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9
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Rage] Zeal MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E, M. C.
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10
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thine] his Letter, 1794, M. C.
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12
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While inly writhes from the Soul-probing glance
M. C.
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12-14
]
Th' Apostate by the brainless rout ador'd Writhes inly from the bosom-probing glance As erst that nobler Fiend
MS. Letter, 1794, MS. E.
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14
]
elder] other M. C.