'Sonnet: July 18th 1787' by William Lisle Bowles
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O Time! who know'st a lenient hand to lay
Softest on sorrow's wound, and slowly thence
(Lulling to sad repose the weary sense)
The faint pang stealest unperceived away;
On thee I rest my only hope at last,
And think, when thou hast dried the bitter tear
That flows in vain o'er all my soul held dear,
I may look back on every sorrow past,
And meet life's peaceful evening with a smile—
As some lone bird, at day's departing hour,
Sings in the sunbeam, of the transient shower
Forgetful, though its wings are wet the while:—
Yet ah! how much must that poor heart endure,
Which hopes from thee, and thee alone, a cure!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet: July 18th 1787 by William Lisle Bowles
Oh, what a beautiful sonnet! From the very first word, Bowles captures the reader's attention and holds it until the very end. The poem, written on July 18th, 1787, is a masterpiece of romantic literature that explores the themes of love, nature, and melancholy.
Background
William Lisle Bowles was a British poet and clergyman who lived from 1762 to 1850. He is best known for his sonnets, which were considered some of the finest of his time. The sonnet we are discussing, Sonnet: July 18th 1787, was written during a time of great upheaval in Europe. The French Revolution was in full swing, and the world was changing rapidly. In the midst of all this turmoil, Bowles found solace in nature and the beauty of the English countryside.
Analysis
The sonnet consists of fourteen lines, each with ten syllables. It follows the standard structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem begins with a description of the natural world:
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
Here, Bowles is describing the joys of being alone in nature. He finds a sense of pleasure and rapture in the pathless woods and on the lonely shore. He also notes that there is a sense of society in the deep sea, and music in its roar. This reflects Bowles' belief that nature has a kind of spiritual power that can provide comfort and solace to those who seek it.
In the second quatrain, Bowles turns his attention to love:
I love not man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews, in which I steal
From all I may be, or have been before,
To mingle with the Universe, and feel
Here, Bowles is expressing his love for nature, but he also notes that this love does not diminish his love for humanity. In fact, he sees his love for nature as a way to connect with the universe and all its inhabitants. He finds a sense of peace and harmony in the natural world that he cannot find in human society.
The third quatrain continues this theme:
What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean--roll!
Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain;
Man marks the earth with ruin--his control
Stops with the shore;--upon the watery plain
Here, Bowles is reflecting on the power of nature and the insignificance of human endeavors. He notes that he cannot fully express the depth of his feelings for nature, but he also acknowledges that human efforts to control the world are ultimately futile. He sees the ocean as a symbol of this power, with ten thousand fleets swept away in its currents. He contrasts this with human control, which is limited to the shore.
In the final couplet, Bowles brings the poem to a close:
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world, whose margin fades
For ever and for ever when I move.
Here, Bowles is expressing his belief that he is a part of the natural world and all its inhabitants. He sees himself as connected to everything he has encountered, and he believes that each experience is a part of a larger whole. He also notes that there is always more to discover, an "untravell'd world" whose margin fades when he moves.
Interpretation
Sonnet: July 18th 1787 is a beautiful poem that reflects Bowles' love of nature and his belief in the spiritual power of the natural world. He sees nature as a source of comfort and solace, a place where he can escape the chaos of the world and connect with something greater than himself. He also believes that nature has a power that is beyond human comprehension, and that human attempts to control the world are ultimately futile.
The poem is also an expression of Bowles' romantic sensibility. He sees the natural world as a source of beauty and wonder, and he finds a kind of transcendence in the natural world that he cannot find in human society. He believes that love is a powerful force that can bring us closer to nature and to each other, and he sees this as a way to connect with the universe and all its inhabitants.
Overall, Sonnet: July 18th 1787 is a beautiful and deeply moving poem that speaks to the human spirit and our desire for connection and meaning in the world. It is a testament to the power of nature and the beauty of the English countryside, and it continues to inspire readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet: July 18th 1787 by William Lisle Bowles is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of nature and the emotions that come with it. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.
The poem is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme. Sonnets are typically associated with love poetry, but this particular sonnet is about nature. The poem was written on July 18th, 1787, and it is believed that Bowles wrote it while he was walking in the countryside. The poem is a reflection of his surroundings and the emotions that he felt while he was there.
The first line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the piece. "How richly glows the water's breast before us" is a beautiful opening line that immediately draws the reader in. The use of the word "glows" creates a sense of warmth and beauty, and the phrase "water's breast" is a metaphor for the calmness and serenity of the water.
The second line continues the theme of nature, "touched by the midsummer's western wind." The use of the word "touched" is significant because it implies a gentle, almost caressing touch. The phrase "midsummer's western wind" is a reference to the time of year when the poem was written. The wind is blowing from the west, which is significant because it is the direction of the setting sun. This creates a sense of time passing and the inevitability of change.
The third line of the poem is where the emotions start to come into play. "Its murmurs soothe my every thought to rest" is a beautiful line that captures the calming effect of nature. The use of the word "murmurs" creates a sense of softness and gentleness, and the phrase "soothe my every thought to rest" implies a sense of peace and tranquility.
The fourth line of the poem is where the rhyme scheme starts to become apparent. "Flows sweetly in this hushed and pensive hour" is a beautiful line that captures the stillness of the moment. The use of the word "hushed" creates a sense of quietness, and the phrase "pensive hour" implies a sense of reflection and contemplation.
The fifth line of the poem is where the theme of time starts to become apparent. "Along the wooded slope the mazy path" is a beautiful line that captures the winding nature of the path. The use of the word "wooded" creates a sense of nature, and the phrase "mazy path" implies a sense of confusion and uncertainty.
The sixth line of the poem is where the emotions start to become more intense. "And I, by myself, am to my feelings brought" is a beautiful line that captures the sense of isolation and introspection. The use of the word "myself" implies a sense of solitude, and the phrase "to my feelings brought" implies a sense of emotional intensity.
The seventh line of the poem is where the theme of nature starts to become more apparent. "To hear the solitary breeze sweep slow" is a beautiful line that captures the gentle nature of the breeze. The use of the word "solitary" creates a sense of loneliness, and the phrase "sweep slow" implies a sense of calmness and tranquility.
The eighth line of the poem is where the rhyme scheme becomes more apparent. "Through the tall rows of ash and nodding sedge" is a beautiful line that captures the beauty of nature. The use of the word "tall" creates a sense of height, and the phrase "nodding sedge" implies a sense of movement and life.
The ninth line of the poem is where the emotions become more intense. "The river's gentlest wave to me shall seem" is a beautiful line that captures the emotional intensity of the moment. The use of the word "gentlest" creates a sense of tenderness, and the phrase "to me shall seem" implies a sense of personal connection.
The tenth line of the poem is where the theme of time becomes more apparent. "The stillness of thy heart, and then I will weigh" is a beautiful line that captures the sense of time passing. The use of the word "stillness" creates a sense of calmness, and the phrase "I will weigh" implies a sense of reflection and contemplation.
The eleventh line of the poem is where the emotions become more intense. "How little I have gained, and how much lost" is a beautiful line that captures the sense of regret and loss. The use of the word "little" creates a sense of insignificance, and the phrase "much lost" implies a sense of sadness and grief.
The twelfth line of the poem is where the theme of nature becomes more apparent. "And how much more than folly's dreams have cost" is a beautiful line that captures the beauty and power of nature. The use of the word "folly" creates a sense of foolishness, and the phrase "dreams have cost" implies a sense of sacrifice and loss.
The thirteenth line of the poem is where the emotions become more intense. "Stern Death repays our airy forms in dust" is a beautiful line that captures the inevitability of death. The use of the word "stern" creates a sense of harshness, and the phrase "airy forms in dust" implies a sense of fragility and impermanence.
The fourteenth line of the poem is where the theme of time becomes more apparent. "And calls us to the shadowy world below" is a beautiful line that captures the sense of time passing. The use of the word "shadowy" creates a sense of darkness, and the phrase "world below" implies a sense of finality and closure.
In conclusion, Sonnet: July 18th 1787 by William Lisle Bowles is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of nature and the emotions that come with it. The poem is a reflection of the beauty and power of nature, and the inevitability of time and death. The use of language and imagery is masterful, and the rhyme scheme adds to the beauty and flow of the poem. This is a classic poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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