September 1, 1802

Composed September 1, 1802.—Published 1807A

The Poem

Among the capricious acts of Tyranny that disgraced these times, was the chasing of all Negroes from France by decree of the Government: we had a Fellow-passenger who was one of the expelled.—W. W. 1827.

The Poem

text variant footnote line number

We had a female Passenger who came
From Calais with us, spotless in array,
A white-robed Negro, like a lady gay,
Yet downcast as a woman fearing blame;
Meek, destitute, as seemed, of hope or aim
She sate, from notice turning not away,
But on all proffered intercourse did lay
A weight of languid speech, or to the same
No sign of answer made by word or face:
Yet still her eyes retained their tropic fire,
That, burning independent of the mind,
Joined with the lustre of her rich attire
To mock the Outcast—O ye Heavens, be kind!
And feel, thou Earth, for this afflicted Race!

Note
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5

10

Variant 1:

1845

We had a fellow-passenger that came

1803

... who ...

1807

Driven from the soil of France, a Female came

1807

The edition of 1838 returns to the text of 1807, but the edition of 1840 reverts to that of 1827.

Variant 2:

1845

... gaudy ...

1803

... brilliant ...

1827

Variant 3:

1845

A negro woman, ...

1803

Variant 4:

1827

Yet silent ...

1803

Variant 5:

1827

Dejected, downcast, meek, and more than tame:

1803

Dejected, meek, yea pitiably tame,

1807

Variant 6:

1827

But on our proffer'd kindness still did lay

1803

Variant 7:

1845

... or at the same
Was silent, motionless in eyes and face.
She was a negro woman, out of France,
Rejected, like all others of that race:
Not one of whom may now find footing there.
What is the meaning of this ordinance?
Dishonour'd Despots, tell us if ye dare.

1803

... driv'n from France,
Rejected like all others of that race,
Not one of whom may now find footing there;
This the poor Out-cast did to us declare,
Nor murmur'd at the unfeeling Ordinance.

1807

Meanwhile those eyes retained their tropic fire,
Which, burning independent of the mind,
Joined with the lustre of her rich attire
To mock the outcast—O ye Heavens, be kind!
And feel, thou Earth, for this afflicted Race!

1827

Yet still those eyes retained their tropic fire,

1837

Footnote A:

First printed in The Morning Post, February 11, 1803, under the title of The Banished Negroes, and signed W. L. D.—Ed.

return to footnote mark

Note:

It was a natural arrangement which led Wordsworth to place this sonnet, in his edition of 1807, immediately after the one addressed To Toussaint L'Ouverture.—Ed.

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