onnection in the Reader's mind with a Name so
illustrious."

* * * * *

This note would seem to warrant our removing the date of the composition
of the poem from 1806 to 1805; since Lord Nelson died at the battle of
Trafalgar, on the 21st of October 1805. On the other hand, Wordsworth
himself gave the date 1806; and the "soon after" of the above note may
perhaps be stretched to include two months and a half. In writing to Sir
George Beaumont on the 11th of February 1806, and enclosing a copy of
these verses, he says, "they were written several weeks ago." Southey,
writing to Sir Walter Scott, from Keswick, on the 4th of February 1806,
says, "Wordsworth was with me last week; he has of late been more
employed in correcting his poems than in writing others; but one piece
he has written, upon the ideal character of a soldier, than which I have
never seen anything more full of meaning and sound thought. The subject
was suggested by Nelson's most glorious death, though having no
reference to it. He had some thoughts of sending it to _The Courier_, in
which case you will easily recognise his hand." (_The Life and
Correspondence of Robert Southey_, vol. iii. p. 19.) As it is impossible
to decide with accuracy, in the absence of more definite data, I follow
the poet's own statement, and assign it to the year 1806.

Wordsworth tells us that features in the character, both of Lord Nelson
and of his own brother John, are delineated in this poem. Mr. William
Davies writes to me, "He might very well have set the name of Cuthbert,
Lord Collingwood, Nelson's contemporary, at the head of the poem, as
embodying its spirit and lofty rule of life."--ED.

VARIANTS:

[1] 1820.

Whom ... 1807.

[2] 1845.

... childish ... 1807.

[3] 1832.

... make ... 1807.

[4] 1837.

He fixes good on good alone, ... 1807.

[5] C. and 1840.

Or He must go to dust without his fame, 1807.

Or he must fall and sleep without his fame, 1837.

[6] 1845.

Whom ... 1807.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Compare Pope's _Temple of Fame_ (ll. 513, 514)--

Nor Fame I slight, nor for her favours call;
She comes unlook'd for, if she comes at all.

And Carew's _Epistle to the Countes