194. *_Sonnets_ XXIV.  XXV.  XXVI.

Translations from Michael Angelo, done at the request of Mr. Duppa, whose acquaintance I made through Mr. Southey.  Mr. Duppa was engaged in writing the life of Michael Angelo, and applied to Mr. Southey and myself to furnish some specimens of his poetic genius.

195. *_Sonnet_ XXVII.

    ‘Surprised by joy,’ &c.

This was in fact suggested by my daughter Catherine long after her death.

196. *_Sonnets_ XXVIII.  XXIX.

    ‘Methought I saw,’ &c.  ‘Even so for me,’ &c.

The latter part of the first of these was a great favourite with my sister, Sara Hutchinson.  When I saw her lying in death, I could not resist the impulse to compose the sonnet that follows.

197. *_Sonnet_ XXX.

    ‘It is a beauteous evening,’ &c.

This was composed on the beach near Calais, in the autumn of 1802.

198. *_Sonnet_ XXXVI.

    ‘Calvert! it must not be,’ &c.

This young man, Raisley Calvert, to whom I was so much indebted, died at Penrith, 179-.

* * * * *

PART II.

199. *_Sonnet_ IV.

    ‘From the dark chambers,’ &c.

Composed in Edinburgh, during my Scotch tour with Mary and Sara, in the year 1814.  Poor Gillies never rose above the course of extravagance in which he was at that time living, and which soon reduced him to poverty and all its degrading shifts, mendicity being far from the worst.  I grieve whenever I think of him; for he was far from being without genius, and had a generous heart—­which is not always to be found in men given up to profusion.  He was nephew of Lord Gillies, the Scotch judge, and also of the historian of Greece.  He was cousin of Miss Margaret Gillies, who painted so many portraits with success in our house.

200. *_Sonnet_ V.

‘Fool, prime of life,’ &c.

Suggested by observation of the way in which a young friend, whom I do not choose to name, misspent his time and misapplied his talents.  He took afterwards a better course, and became an useful member of society, respected, I believe, wherever he has been known.

201. *_Sonnet_ VI.

‘I watch, and long have watched,’ &c.

Suggested in front of Rydal Mount, the rocky parapet being the summit of Loughrigg Fell opposite.  Not once only but a hundred times have the feelings of this sonnet been awakened by the same objects from the same place.

202. Sonnet VII.

‘The ungenial Hollow.’

See the ‘Phaedon’ of Plato, by which this sonnet was suggested.

203. Sonnet VIII.

‘For the whole weight,’ &c.

Composed, almost extempore, in a short walk on the western side of Rydal Lake.

204. *_Sonnet_ X.

‘Mark the concentred hazels,’ &c.