Complete Poetical Works of Charlotte Smith

by Charlotte Smith

  Page 22. Line 3. “By the rude arms of trees, lovely in spring.”

  Every cottage in this country has its orchard; and I imagine that not even those of Herefordshire, or Worcestershire, exhibit a more beautiful prospect, when the trees are in bloom, and the “Primavera candida e vermiglia,” is every where so enchanting.

  Page 24. Line 10. “Where purple tassels of the tangling vetch—”

  Vetch. — Vicia sylvatica.

  Line 11. “With bittersweet, and bryony inweave.”

  Bittersweet — Solanum dulcamara.

  Bryony. — Bryonia alba.

  Line 12. “And the dew fills the silver bindweed’s cups—”

  Bindweed. — Convolvulus sepium.

  Line 14. “Nourish the harebell, and the freckled pagil.”

  Harebell. — Hyacinthus non scriptus.

  Pagil. — Primula veris.

  Page 25. Line 5. “Plucks the wood sorrel—”

  Oxalis acetosella.

  Line 8. “Gathers, the copse’s pride, anémones.”

  Anemóne nemorosa. — It appears to be settled on late and excellent authorities, that this word should not be accented on the second syllable, but on the penultima. I have however ventured the more known accentuation, as more generally used, and suiting better the nature of my verse.

  Page 26. Line 3. “Of sea-shells; with the pale calcareous soil

  Mingled, and seeming of resembling substance.”

  Among the crumbling chalk I have often found shells, some quite in a fossil state and hardly distinguishable from chalk. Others appeared more recent; cockles, muscles, and periwinkles, I well remember, were among the number; and some whose names I do not know. A great number were like those of small land snails. It is now many years since I made these observations. The appearance of sea-shells so far from the sea excited my surprise, though I then knew nothing of natural history. I have never read any of the late theories of the earth, nor was I ever satisfied with the attempts to explain many of the phenomena which call forth conjecture in those books I happened to have had access to on this subject.

  Page 26. Line 11. “Or did this range of chalky mountains,”&c.

  The theory here slightly hinted at, is taken from an idea started by Mr. White.

  Page 27. Last line. “Rest the remains of men, of whom is left—”

  These Downs are not only marked with traces of encampments, which from their forms are called Roman or Danish; but there are numerous tumuli among them. Some of which having been opened a few years ago, were supposed by a learned antiquary to contain the remains of the original natives of the country.

  Page 28. Line 8 “Where the mail’d legions, under Claudius,”&c.

  That the legions of Claudius were in this part of Britain appears certain. Since this emperor received the submission of Cantii, Atrebates, Irenobates, and Regni, in which latter denomination were included the people of Sussex.

  Page 28. “What time the huge unwieldy elephant

  Auxiliary reluctant, hither led—”

  In the year 1740, some workmen digging in the park at Burton in Sussex, discovered, nine feet below the surface, the teeth and bones of an elephant; two of the former were seven feet eight inches in length. There were besides these, tusks, one of which broke in removing it, a grinder not at all decayed, and a part of the jaw-bone, with bones of the knee and thigh, and several others. Some of them remained very lately at Burthon House, the seat of John Biddulph, Esq. Others were in possession of the Rev. Dr. Langrish, minister of Petworth at that period, who was present, when some of these bones were taken up, and gave it as his opinion, that they had remained there since the universal deluge. The Romans under the Emperor Claudius probably brought elephants into Britain. Milton, in the Second Book of his History, in speaking of the expedition, says that “He like a great eastern king, with armed elephants, marched through Gallia.” This is given on the authority of Dion Cassius, in his Life of the Emperor Claudius. It has therefore been conjectured, that the bones found at Burton might have been those of one of these elephants, who perished there soon after its landing; or dying on the high downs, one of which, called Duneton Hill, rises immediately above Burton Park, the bones might have been washed down by the torrents of rain, and buried deep in the soil. They were not found together, but scattered at some distance from each other. The two tusks were twenty feet apart. I had often heard of the elephant’s bones at Burton, but never saw them; and I have no books to refer to. I think I saw, in what is now called the National Museum at Paris, the very large bones of an elephant, which were found in North America: though it is certain that this enormous animal is never seen in its natural state, but in the countries under the torrid zone of the old world. I have, since making this note, been told that the bones of the rhinoceros and hippopotamus have been found in America.

  Page 28. Line 16. “ — and in giants dwelling on the hills—”

  The peasants believe that the large bones sometimes found belonged to giants, who formerly lived on the hills. The devil also has a great deal to do with the remarkable forms of hill and vale: the Devil’s Punch Bowl, the Devil’s Leaps, and the Devil’s Dyke, are names given to deep hollows, or high and abrupt ridges, in this and the neighbouring county.

  Page 29. Line 8. “The pirate Dane, who from his circular camp—”

  The incursions of the Danes were for many ages the scourge of this island.

  Line 12. “The savage native, who his acorn meal—”

  The Aborigines of this country lived in woods, unsheltered but by trees and caves; and were probably

  as truly savage as any of those who are now termed so.

  Page 30. Line 10. “Will from among the fescue bring him flowers—”

  The grass called Sheep’s Fescue, “Festuca ovina,” clothes these Downs with the softest turf.

  “ —— —— —— — some resembling bees

  In velvet vest intent on their sweet toil—”

  Ophrys apifera, Bee Ophrys, or Orchis, found plentifully on the hills, as well as the next.

  Line 13. “While others mimic flies, that lightly sport—”

  Ophrys muscifera. — Fly Orchis. Linnæus, misled by the variations to which some of this tribe are really subject, has perhaps too rashly esteemed all those which resemble insects, as forming only one species, which he terms Ophrys insectifera. See English Botany.

  Page 31. Line 3. “Blue bells wave tremulous.—”

  “Campanula rotundifolia.”

  “ —— —— —— — The mountain thyme

  Purples the hassock of the heaving mole.”

  Thymus serpyllum. “It is a common notion, that the flesh of sheep which feed upon aromatic plants, particularly wild thyme, is superior in flavour to other mutton. The truth is, that sheep do not crop these aromatic plants, unless now and then by accident, or when they are first turned on hungry to downs, heaths, or commons; but the soil and situations favourable to aromatic plants, produce a short sweet pasturage, best adapted to feeding sheep, whom nature designed for mountains, and not for turnip grounds and rich meadows. The attachment of bees to this, and other aromatic plants, is well known.” —— Martyn’s Miller.

  Line 5. “And the short turf is gay with tormentil.”

  Tormentilla reptans.

  “And bird’s foot trefoil, and the lesser tribes

  Of hawkweed; spangling it with fringed stars.—”

  Bird’s foot trefoil. — Trifolium ornithopoides.

  Hawkweed. — Hieracium, many sorts.

  Line 11. “The guardian of the flock, with watchful care,—”

  The downs, especially to the south, where they are less abrupt, are in many places under the plough; and the attention of the shepherds is there particularly required to keep the flocks from trespassing.

  Page 31. Line 13. “While his boy visits every wired trap—”

  Square holes cut in the turf, into which a wire noose is fixed, to catch Wheatears. Mr. White says, that these bird
s “Motacilla oenanthe” are never taken beyond the river Adur, and Beding Hill; but this is certainly a mistake.

  Line 15. “The timid migrants, who from distant wilds,—”

  These birds are extremely fearful, and on the slightest appearance of a cloud, run for shelter to the first rut, or heap of stones, that they see.

  Page 32. “ —— —— —— — the Shepherd still protects

  The social bird, who from his native haunts—”

  The Yellow Wagtail. — Motacilla flava. It frequents the banks of rivulets in winter, making its nest in meadows and corn-fields. But after the breeding season is over, it haunts downs and sheepwalks, and is seen constantly among the flocks, probably for the sake of the insects it picks up. In France the shepherds call it La Bergeronette, and say it often gives them, by its cry, notice of approaching danger.

  Page 33. “ —— —— — a gnarled thorn,

  Bent by the sea blast,—”

  The strong winds from the south-west occasion almost all the trees, which on these hills are exposed to it, to grow the other way.

  Line 3. “ —— —— — how wide the view !”

  So extensive are some of the views from these hills, that only the want of power in the human eye to travel so far, prevents London itself being discerned. Description falls so infinitely short of the reality, that only here and there, distinct features can be given.

  Line 9. “Of Kentish hills, — —”

  A scar of chalk in a bill beyond Sevenoaks in Kent, is very distinctly seen of a clear day.

  Line 11. “And airy summits, — —”

  The hills about Dorking in Surry; over almost the whole extent of which county the prospect extends.

  Line 13. “Of Black-down shagg’d with heath, — —”

  This is an high ridge, extending between Sussex and Surry. It is covered with heath, and has almost always a dark appearance. On it is a telegraph.

  Page 34. Line 2. “The portal and the ruin’d battlements — —”

  In this country there are several of the fortresses or castles built by Stephen of Blois, in his contention for the kingdom, with the daughter of Henry the First, the empress Matilda. Some of these are now converted into farm houses.

  Page 35. Line 5. “Or night-jar, chasing fern-flies. —— —”

  Dr. Aikin remarks, I believe, in his essay “On the Application of Natural History to the Purposes of Poetry,” how many of our best poets have noticed the same circumstance, the hum of the Dor Beetle “Scaraboeus stercorarius,” among the sounds heard by the evening wanderer. I remember only one instance in which the more remarkable, though by no means uncommon noise, of the Fern Owl, or Goatsucker, is mentioned. It is called the Night Hawk, the Jar Bird, the Churn Owl, and the Fern Owl, from its feeding on the Scaraboeus solstitialis, or Fern Chafer, which it catches while on the wing with its claws, the middle toe of which is long and curiously serrated, on purpose to hold them. It was this bird that was intended to be described in the Forty-second Sonnet “Smith’s Sonnets”. I was mistaken in supposing it as visible in November; it is a migrant, and leaves this country in August. I had often seen and heard it, but I did not then know its name or history. It is called Goatsucker “Caprimulgus”, from a strange prejudice taken against it by the Italians, who assert that it sucks their goats;

  and the peasants of England still believe that a disease in the backs of their cattle, occasioned by a fly, which deposits its egg under the skin, and raises a boil, sometimes fatal to calves, is the work of this bird, which they call a Puckeridge. Nothing can convince them that their beasts are not injured by this bird, which they therefore hold in abhorrence.

  Page 39. Line 2.

  The Barkmen. — As soon as the sap begins to rise, the trees intended for felling are cut and barked. At which time the men who are employed in that business pass whole days in the woods.

  Line 3.

  The Wedgecutters. — The wedges used in ship-build ing are made of beech wood, and great numbers are cut every year in the woods near the Downs.

  Line 5. “The shaggy dog following the truffle hunter.”

  Truffles are found under the beech woods, by means of small dogs trained to hunt them by the scent.

  Page 41. Line 3. “The banks with cuckoo-flowers are strewn.”

  Lychnis dioica.

  Line 4. “The woodwalks blue with columbines.”

  Aquilegia vulgaris.

  Shakspeare describes the Cuckoo buds as being yellow. He probably meant the numerous Ranunculi, or March marigolds “Caltha palustris,” which so gild the meadows in Spring; but poets have never been

  botanists. The Cuckoo flower is the Lychnis floscuculi.

  Page 41. Line 6.

  Flag-flower. — Iris pseudacorus.

  Page 42. Line 9.

  Yaffils. — Woodpeckers “Picus”; three or four species in Britain.

  Page 43. Line 5. “And gales that close—”

  “And liquid notes that close the eye of day.”

  Milton.

  The idea here meant to be conveyed is of the evening wind, so welcome after a hot day of Summer, and which appears to sooth and lull all nature into tranquillity.

  Page 44. Line 3. “But the gay bird of blushing breast.”

  The Robin, “Motacilla rubecula,” which is always heard after other songsters have ceased to sing.

  Line 4. “And Woodlarks still will haunt the shade.”

  The Woodlark, “Alauda nemorosa,” sings very late.

  Line 6.

  Reed-wrens, “Motacilla arundinacea,” sing all the summer and autumn, and are often heard during the night.

  Page 47. Line 3. “May haply build,”&c.

  An allusion to the visionary delights of the new

  discovered islands, where it was at first believed men lived in a state of simplicity and happiness; but where, as later enquiries have ascertained, that exemption from toil, which the fertility of their country gives them, produces the grossest vices; and a degree of corruption that late navigators think will end in the extirpation of the whole people in a few years.

  Line 14. “Dwelt one,”&c.

  In a cavern almost immediately under the cliff called Beachy Head, there lived, as the people of the country believed, a man of the name of Darby, who for many years had no other abode than this cave, and subsisted almost entirely on shell-fish. He had

  often administered assistance to ship-wrecked mariners; but venturing into the sea on this charitable mission during a violent equinoctial storm, he himself perished. As it is above thirty years since I heard this tradition of Parson Darby “for so I think he was called”: it may now perhaps be forgotten.

  Page 48. Line 9. “Betrayed not then the little careless sheep.”

  Sometimes in thick weather the sheep feeding on the summit of the cliff, miss their footing, and are killed by the fall.

  Page 49. Line 5. “Or the dark porpoises.”

  Delphinus phocoena.

  NOTES TO THE FABLES.

  These are old stories, which I have endeavoured to tell with such a degree of novelty, as natural history can lend them. They have been so often repeated, that probably the original inventors have been long since forgotten. La Fontaine, whose graceful simplicity in such light narrative has been universally allowed, is the most usually referred to.

  La Fontaine, in his manner of telling the story of Les deux Pigeons, calls them Friends . But the proverbial conjugal fidelity of this race of birds, makes it seem more natural to describe them as the pigeon and his mate. If it be objected, that the Truant Dove is represented as repeating the apology of Henry the Fourth of France— “Toujours perdrix, toujours Chapon bouilli ne vaut rien;” and that his partner talks

  from Shakspeare; I must take refuge under the authority of Chaucer; or rather his polisher Dryden; who makes his Dame Partlet quote Galen and Cato, while Chanticleer explains Latin sentences: “For in the days of yore the birds of parts,

  Were bred to speak and sing;
and learn the liberal arts.”

  In fact, if the mind momentarily acquiesces in the absurdity of animals having the passions and the faculties of man, every thing else may be granted.

  It might be necessary to apologize for inserting these fables; but that which Prior and Cowper, and so many other of the most eminent writers have not disdained, can never need any defence.

  La Fontaine begins the second Fable here inserted thus:

  “L’Alouette et ses Petits, avec le Maître d’un Champ.

  Ne t’attends qu’à toi seul, c’est un commun proverbe;

  Voici comme Esope le mit

  En credit.”

  There is nothing I am more desirous of avoiding, even in a trifle like this, than the charge of plagiarism. I must in the present instance defend myself by stating, that so long since as April 1805, Mr. Johnson was in possession of the MS. copy of this Fable. In July 1806, a friend brought with her from London, a volume called “The Birds of Scotland, with other Poems,” in which I read, what, if my fable had been first published, I might perhaps have thought very like an imitation. My lines of the Lark are: “ —— —— —— But like a dart