Volume 2 — "Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side"

Composed 1801.—Published 1815

One of the "Miscellaneous Sonnets." From 1836 onwards it bore the title 1801.—Ed.

The Poem

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Pelion and Ossa flourish side by side, Together in immortal books enrolled: His ancient dower Olympus hath not sold; And that inspiring Hill, which "did divide Into two ample horns his forehead wide," Shines with poetic radiance as of old; While not an English Mountain we behold By the celestial Muses glorified. Yet round our sea-girt shore they rise in crowds: What was the great Parnassus' self to Thee, Mount Skiddaw? In his natural sovereignty Our British Hill is nobler far; he shrouds His double front among Atlantic clouds, And pours forth streams more sweet than Castaly. Contents 1801 Main Contents 1 2 3 A 5 10

Variant 1:

1815

illustrious ... MS.

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Variant 2:

1834

fairer ... 1815

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Variant 3:

1827

His double-fronted head in higher clouds, 1815

... among Atlantic clouds, MS.

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Footnote A:

See Spenser's translation of Virgil's Gnat, ll. 21-2:

'Or where on Mount Parnasse, the Muses brood. Doth his broad forehead like two horns divide, And the sweet waves of sounding Castaly With liquid foot doth glide down easily.'

Ed.

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Contents 1801 Main Contents