The Poem

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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!
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[Contents 1802]
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[Variant 1:]

1845
We had a fellow-passenger that came 1803
... who ...1807
Driven from the soil of France, a Female came1807

We had a fellow-passenger that came

... who ...

Driven from the soil of France, a Female came

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

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[Variant 2:]

1845
... gaudy ...1803
... brilliant ...1827

... gaudy ...

... brilliant ...

[return]

[Variant 3:]

1845
A negro woman, ...1803

A negro woman, ...

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[Variant 4:]

1827
Yet silent ...1803

Yet silent ...

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[Variant 5:]

1827
Dejected, downcast, meek, and more than tame:1803
Dejected, meek, yea pitiably tame,1807

Dejected, downcast, meek, and more than tame:

Dejected, meek, yea pitiably tame,

[return]

[Variant 6:]

1827
But on our proffer'd kindness still did lay1803

But on our proffer'd kindness still did lay

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[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

... 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.

... 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.

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!

Yet still those eyes retained their tropic fire,

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[Footnote A:]

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

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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.

[Contents 1802]
[Main Contents]

September, 1802, near Dover[A]