ibe 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.]

This sonnet, as the title indicates, does not refer to an actual
victory; because, since the Norman conquest, no "Invaders" have ever set
foot "on British ground." It was written--like the two preceding
sonnets, and the one that follows it--"in anticipation" of Napoleon's
project for the invasion of England being actually carried out; a
project never realised. The assembling of the immense French army
destined for this purpose--one of the finest brought together since the
days of the Roman legions--between the mouths of the Seine an