1822, (29.) Siege of Valencia, and Songs of the Cid written; -also dramatic fragment of Don Sebastian. 1823, (30.) Contributes to Thomas Campbell's New Monthly Magazine.-Voice of Spring written, (March.)— Siege of Valencia published, along with Last Constantine and Belshazzar's Feast.-Vespers of Palermo performed at Covent Garden, (Dec. 12.) 1824, (31.) Composes De Chatillon, revised MS. of which unfortunately lost.-Writes Lays of Many Lands. Removes with family from Bronwylfa to Rhyllon. 1825, (32.) Treasures of the Deep, The Hebrew Mother, The Hour of Death, Graves of a Household, The Cross in the Wilderness, and many other of her best lyrics written. 1826, (33.) The Forest Sanctuary published, together with Lays of Many Lands.-Commences correspondence with Professor Norton of Boston, U.S., who republishes her works there. 1827, (34.) Mrs Hemans loses her mother (11th January.)— Writes Hymns for Childhood, which are first published in America.-Corresponds with Joanna Baillie, Anne Grant, Mary Mitford, Caroline Hamilton, Captain Basil Hall, and other distinguished literati.-Returns to England, (Sept.)— A Spirit's Return composed. 1830, (37.) Songs of the Affections published.-Visits the Lakes and Mr Wordsworth.—Domiciles during part of summer at Dove's Nest, near Ambleside. --Revisits Scotland, (Aug.)-Returns by Dublin and Holyhead to Wales. 1831. (38.) State of health delicate.-Quits England for last time, (April,) and proceeds to Dublin.-Visits the Hermitage, near Kilkenny, and Woodstock.-Returns to Dublin, (Aug.)—Writes various lyrics. 1832. (39,) Health continues greatly impaired.-- Writes Miscellaneous Lyrics, Songs of Spain, and Songs of a Guardian Spirit. 1833. (40.) Feels recruited during spring.-Writes Songs of Captivity, Songs for Summer Hours, and many of Scenes and Hymns of Life.-Composes Sonnets Devotional and Memorial. - Commences translation of Scenes and Passages from German Authors, (December.) 1834. (41.) Hymns for Childhood published (March ;) also National Lyrics and Songs for Music. - Paper on Tasso, published in New Monthly Magazine, (May.)-Writes Fragment of Paper on Bowles, Mary Howitt, and M. J. Jewsbury. Iphigenia. - Records of Spring 1834 written, The sky is blue, the day serene, And only pleasure now is seen; The rose, the pink, the tulip gay, Combine to bless thy natal day. A PRAYER. WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF NINE. O GOD! my Father and my Friend, Contented with the humblest lotHappy, though in the meanest cot. ADDRESS TO THE DEITY. WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF ELEVEN. THE infant muse, Jehovah! would aspire Source of all good! oh, teach my voice to sing spring; Thee, God of truth, omnipotent and wise, And wake the voice of animated praise! Ah, no! the theme shall swell a cherub's note; With angel-songs an artless voice shall blend, A Yes! Thou wilt breathe a spirit o'er my lyre, And "fill my beating heart with sacred fire!" And when to Thee my youth, my life, I've given, Raise me to join Eliza,1 blest in Heaven. SHAKSPEARE. WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF ELEVEN. [One of her earliest tastes was a passion for Shakspeare, which she read, as her choicest recreation, at six years old; and in later days she would often refer to the hours of romance she had passed in a secret haunt of her own-a seat amongst the branches of an old apple-tree-where, revelling in the treasures of the cherished volume, she would become completely absorbed in the imaginative world it revealed to her. The following lines, written at eleven years old, may be adduced as a proof of her juvenile enthusiasm. - Memoir of Mrs Hemans by her Sister, p. 6, 7.] I LOVE to rove o'er history's page, How sweet the "native woodnotes wild" lished, the pool where fairy ships were launched (generally painted and decorated by herself,) and, dearer still, the fresh free ramble on the seashore, or the mountain expedition to the Signal Station, or the Roman Encampment. In one of her letters, the pleasure with which she looked forward to her return home was thus expressed in rhyme.-Mem. p. 8, 9.] HAPPY Soon we'll meet again, Or view the ships that swiftly glide, SONNET TO MY MOTHER. TO MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE COUNTRY. WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF ELEVEN. [At about the age of eleven, she passed a winter in London with her father and mother; and a similar sojourn was repeated in the following year, after which she never visited the metropolis. The contrast between the confinement of a town life, and the happy freedom of her own mountain home, was even then so distasteful to her, that the indulgences of plays and sights soon ceased to be cared for, and she longed to rejoin her younger brother and sister in their favourite rural haunts and amusements-the nuttery wood, the beloved apple-tree, the old arbour, with its swing, the post-office tree, in whose trunk a daily interchange of family letters was estab 1 A sister whom the author had lost. WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF TWELVE. To thee, maternal guardian of my youth, For thou wilt prize the effusion of the heart Oh! be it mine, with sweet and pious care, To calm thy bosom in the hour of grief; With soothing tenderness to chase the tear, With fond endearments to impart relief: Be mine thy warm affection to repay With duteous love in thy declining hours; My filial hand shall strew unfading flowers, Perennial roses, to adorn thy way: Still may thy grateful children round thee smile— Their pleasing care affliction shall beguile. |