172 WILLIAM BARTRAM 



way for miles around, in dreadful peals vibrating through the dark 

 extensive forests, meadows and lakes." — ^P, 135.*^ 



The query becomes even more pertinent when it is remembered 

 that Wordsworth's lines were written in Germany in 1799,*^ 

 where Wordsworth wrote " Ruth," a poem " saturated with 

 Bartram." One is tempted to add the owls in Ecclesiastical Son- 

 nets, especially because of the atmospheric context in which they 

 are usually placed, to the query of coincidence. In I, xxii Words- 

 worth dreams of a hermitage: 



— to some dry nook 

 Scooped out of living rock, and near a brook 

 Hurled down a mountain-cove from stage to stage. 

 Yet tempering, for my sight, its bustling rage 

 In the soft heaven of a translucent pool ; 

 Thence creeping under sylvan arches cool. 

 Fit haunt of shapes whose glorious equipage ' 

 Would elevate my dreams . . . 

 Crisp, yellow leaves my bed ; the hooting owl 

 My night-watch . . . 



This may be a place in the Lake country, but its coloring is 

 strongly reminiscent of Bartram's region. One again sees Bar- 

 tram asleep in his retreat by the river while the owls scream 

 (p. 135) . In sonnet II, xxi Wordsworth writes of " The owl of 

 evening and the woodland fox," a collocation reminiscent of 

 Bartram's owl whooping to the wolves below. Another owl 

 appears in "A Morning Exercise," this time not far from 

 " naked Indians": 



and when the owl 

 Tries his two voices for a favourite strain — 

 Tu-whit — Tu-whoo\ the unsuspecting fowl 

 Forebodes mishap or seems but to complain; 



Through border wilds where naked Indians stray. 

 Myriads of notes attest her subtle skill; 

 A feathered task- master cries, "Work away! " 

 And, in thy iteration, " WHIP POOR WILL! "... 



(LI. 7-16) 



Ibid., p. 500. ■ Poems, II, 57. 



